2003 Iowa Community Association Awards
ICEA extends our thanks and congratulations to our 2004 Iowa Community Association Award winners presented at the annual conference in Des Moines on October 19, 2004. These awards recognize outstanding individuals and organizations throughout Iowa that have demonstrated exceptional commitment and service to lifelong learning and community involvement.

Multicultural Leadership and Involvement Award
Barbara Jean Long
West Des Moines, Iowa

The Multicultural Leadership and Involvement Award is presented to an agency, organization, institution, or individual who has demonstrated a commitment to promoting, developing, and nurturing leadership opportunities for persons of diverse ethnic and/or cultural.  This year’s award winner is Barbara Jean Long of West Des Moines, Iowa.

Barbara has a long list of accomplishments including serving as the Polk County Democratic Party Zone Captain, active member of the Mount Hebron Missionary Baptist Church, speaker and presenter at various church conventions on family matters and working with young people, Civic Rights Activist in the 1960’s, various roles at the West Des Moines Opportunity Center, including its acting director, member and liaison to the City Council for the Valley Junction Resident Association, co-founder of the West Des Moines Child Care Center, board member of the Eddie Davis Community Center, President of AMIKAE, sister organization of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Nu Mu Chapter, and instructor with the Juvenile Justice Program and the West Des Moines Police Department.

Currently, Mrs. Long is an active member of the West Des Moines Opportunity Center and has been instrumental in the design and promotion of programs for all ages.  Her leadership and hands-on efforts have been invaluable resources to the Center and to its clients.

As a life-long resident of West Des Moines, she is a parent, grandparent, volunteer and responsible citizen.  She understands the needs, efforts and wishes of people and will step forward to promote it.  She is a good listener, responsible worker, and fundraiser.  She also has taken the time to assist neighborhood members manage their finances, complete income tax forms and set up family budgets.  As an excellent recruiter of community volunteers, she is known throughout the West Des Moines community for her integrity, hard-working attitude, and a super organizer.

Outstanding Organization
Greenbelt Bank
Iowa Falls, Iowa

The outstanding organization award is presented to an agency, organization, or institution at the local or state level that has exemplified leadership and involvement in the principles of community education.  Greenbelt Bank of Iowa Falls is today’s honored organization.

Nominated by teacher Pat Phipps, Greenbelt Bank has been a stellar partner by providing mentors to her classroom for the past 5 years.  Their commitment to her high school students usually extends to all 4 years of the student’s career, but oftentimes the relationship continues beyond their high school career. Committed to America’s Promise, these mentors visit students once per week for at least 45 minutes per visit and host a bowling/pizza party each year for students.  Greenbelt also provides job shadowing opportunities and takes students to business luncheons and sometimes even provide the student with a small gift!

Greenbelt Bank is an active community partner!  They clean road ditches, host the local Hershey Track meet, work with the Chamber Main Street program and host picnic dinners, collect donations for the Red Cross and National Guard and host a Christmas dinner for the needy.  The bank also works with all schools in the district, the Iowa Department of Transportation, Times Citizen, the local newspaper, Iowa Falls State Bank, Franklin County Fair Association and many other local businesses.

Citizen Service
Rich Goodwin
New Hampton, Iowa

The Citizen Service Award is given to a community member who has rendered exemplary leadership and service in developing the principles of community education in the community. Rich Goodwin of New Hampton is today’s winner.

Mr. Goodwin has many formidable accomplishments including election to the Board of Education in 2001.  In this role, he is an active member of the CHARACTER COUNTS! Task Force, active member of the New Hampton Elementary School Success4 Team, and has been a Partner in Education for 8 years.

His greatest accomplishment is his family that includes 3 young daughters.  He is also a role model for all youth in the community.

As an active member of the CHARCTER COUNTS! Task Force, Rich has helped develop floats for community parades.  This role was instrumental in his recent receipt of the Governor’s Volunteer Award.

Rich is a quiet, soft-spoken man who does not seek approval or praise.  He manages the Pamida Store in New Hampton and has introduced the Six Pillars of CHARACTER COUNTS! at his store, where he and his employees wear CHARACTER COUNTS! t-shirts to work!  His commitment to the program was expressed in an address to high school students and attending a day-long workshop with high school teachers.  He has sold Advocacy Memberships to the CHARACTER COUNTS! Task Force contacting countless businesses and residents of the community.  He has also recruited many businesses to participate in the district’s Partners in Education program.