Noon Exchange honors Panter
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County commissioner and WCPI radio personality Bill Zechman presented the award to Panter, noting her unflagging dedication to Warren County children and the local soccer program, as well as her church work. Emily and her husband, Lionel, who recently retired from the Warren County Co-op, have two children, Corey and Suzi. Emily is currently employed at the Outdoor Shop.
?Emily always seems to stay busy,? Zechman said. ?She has taught a ladies class at Mt. Leo Church of Christ for years. She?s been a driving force in helping to organize and host youth and ladies get-togethers and devotionals.?
Zechman also touted Emily?s work in children?s athletics and local charities.
?Another of Emily?s passions is her love for sports and the kids involved in them,? Zechman said. ?She has spent time coaching soccer and working with Ben Bannerjee and others at the Civic Center and Pistole Park for years.?
?She has been helping with Relay for Life for years,? Zechman continued. ?This is just another example of how she cares about people. Emily has shown herself to be a true friend when you need one. These are only a few of the reasons we feel Emily Panter deserves the 2006 Humanitarian award tonight.?
Panter said she was pleased, but surprised, to be chosen for the Noon Exchange Club?s premier recognition for community service. She says her hours of volunteering have been a joy to her.
?I never expected any recognition for it. I enjoy doing it, working with the kids. It?s something I can do for them,? Panter said. ?Especially the soccer, it?s just a passion I?ve had, working with Ben,? she added. ?I wouldn?t be doing it if I didn?t enjoy it.?
Panter says healthy activities, like athletics, are a vital part of bringing up a well-rounded child.
?I think it?s probably more important today than ever,? she said. ?If you didn?t provide that then you?d have all the kids sitting in front of the TV or in front of the computer, or out trying to get into something, so I think it?s really important.?
Panter believes funding youth athletics is money well spent, since it provides children with a constructive activity.
?I?ve always said it?s cheaper to build a ballpark than to keep someone in jail,? Panter said. ?I?d much rather have them involved in soccer than sitting in a courtroom.?
Two-term Noon Exchange Club past-president Duane Sherrill was named Exchangite of the Year.
Incoming Noon Exchange president Tammy Vinson presented the Exchangite of the Year award to him, touting his two terms as club president and his involvement in club projects and activities, as well as his service on the organization?s board of directors.
?He?s been a real asset to Noon Exchange,? Vinson said, ?and we?re pleased to give him this award.?
Like Panter, Sherrill said the recognition was a surprise, but a pleasant one.
?It?s a great honor,? Sherrill said, noting he got involved in the community service organization for a simple reason. ?I wanted to give back to the community,? he said. ?Because by working together we can make this a better place to live for ourselves and our children and their children.?