Frontline Workers Named Citizens of the Year

The Vincennes Civitan Club will honor local frontline workers as the 2020-2022 Citizens of the Year on Tuesday, July 12 at Good Samaritan at 8:30 a.m. Civitan donated a bench to recognize the frontline workers that will be unveiled during the dedication ceremony in front of Gibault Memorial.

“Our dedicated frontline workers deserve to be recognized for helping us get through the COVID pandemic. And we include among them the volunteers who have worked for many weeks at our hospital and vaccination clinic. We appreciate what they have done to serve our families and community during very trying times” said Vincennes Civitan Club President, Karen Tolliver.

Throughout the COVID pandemic, health care workers have been vital in the health and recovery of patients, especially locally at Good Samaritan. Between wearing appropriate PPE, creating negative pressure rooms, sterilizing N95 masks so they could be reused, establishing a comfort cart for employees, creating a triage station outside the ER, opening a respiratory clinic to treat patients, and countless other initiatives, Good Samaritan was on the forefront ensuring the health and safety of its patients, community and staff.

“The past few years have been trying for health care workers,” said Rob McLin, President and CEO of Good Samaritan. “However, we have worked to remain positive and diligent in the care of our patients. No matter the circumstances, Good Samaritan caregivers are dedicated to providing the best care in a safe environment. That is why the dedication of this bench means so much to all of us in health care. It is a symbol that our hard work has not gone unnoticed.”

Last year, the Vincennes Civitan Club dedicated an inscribed bench saluting health care workers for their efforts during the pandemic. “As club members discussed Citizen of the Year nominees for this year, the consensus was that all frontline workers should also be saluted due to the valuable role they played in helping our community get through the pandemic. We owe them a lot and we want them to know we appreciate their efforts,” Tolliver said.

First presented to the late Isaac K. Beckes, Civitan’s Citizen of the Year award has been presented to 61 recipients since 1954 who have demonstrated outstanding service to the community. In addition to health care workers, the most recent recipients are Will Drews, Norbert Brown, Phyllis Sweeney, Robert “Angel” Lange, Scott Shipman, Helen Seirp, Jim Osborne, LaDonna Lane and Georgiann Leonard.

Founded in 1952, the Vincennes Civitan Club provides multiple services to the community, recently completing a $15,000 pledge for Gregg Park playground equipment, with a special emphasis to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Civitan supported the construction in 1987 of the Civitan Children’s Center and the Vincennes Civitan Club has a long history of supporting major improvements to benefit its students, most recently including new playground equipment.

The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony of the bench on July 12 outside Gibault Memorial next to the Health Pavilion entrance. The ceremony will take place at 8:30 a.m. (ET). Questions about the Vincennes Civitan Club can be sent to Duane Chattin by calling 812-887-6397.