Northfield Rotary announces ‘Good Neighbour’ Award

Carol and Gerry Gengenbach were honoured with the Northfield Rotary Club’s Good Neighbour Award. The award goes each year to someone outside the club whose community work reflects Rotary’s commitment to “service above self.”
Carol, a retired teacher, has served for four years on the board of Northfield Community Action Center, one year as vice president. She has been a member of the programme committee and was a leader in the CAC’s Bridges Out of Poverty workshop. Carol currently chairs the organization’s Housing Task Force, serves as a mentor for Northfield Works and volunteers at Thursday’s Table and the Northfield Food Shelf. Carol tutors children in math and reading as part of Accelerate Northfield. She also serves on the board of Northfield Retirement Community Foundation. Previously, she served on the NRC Board of Directors.
Gerry, a retired Lutheran minister, has served for six years as president of Northfield Senior Center and sits on every board committee. His spirit of hospitality is credited with helping develop the fun and warm welcome that permeates the center. He also repairs furniture for the organisation’s Used-A-Bit shop. Gerry delivers Meals-On-Wheels and financially supports the work of the Northfield Historical Society, Northfield Retirement Center and others.
Erica Zweifel, chair of Rotary’s Good Neighbour selection committee, said the Gengenbachs are outstanding examples of Northfielders who invest in their community.
“With their numerous volunteer activities, Carol and Gerry are living out the Rotary motto of ‘service above self,’” she said. “They are building community left and right and making a real difference in the lives of their neighbors.”
Previous winners of this award include Alice Thomas, Judy Code, Margit Johnson, Zach Pruitt and Judy Dirks. To learn more about this Rotary club, log on to website: northfieldrotary.org.