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Volkman receives Chamber Service Award

The 2012 winner of the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce’s Service Award is Don Volkman.

The Wisconsin Rapids native is senior vice president/lending at Farmers State Bank.

Next month is Volkman’s 27th anniversary with the bank, and his involvement with the Chamber dates back to about the same time.

Not long after he and his wife, Nancy, moved here in 1986, he found himself volunteering in the community.

“Chris Johnson, of Johnson Insurance, asked if I’d be co-chair of the July 4th parade with him,” Volkman said. “That is how I got involved in the Chamber.”

The first year Volkman co-chaired the parade was in 1987, and he did so for a number of years, eventually chairing it by himself for several years.

On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Volkman was honored for his service during the Chamber’s annual awards program, which was held at the Waupaca Ale House.

“I was very surprised,” Volkman said of being the recipient of the Chamber’s Service Award. “I’m very honored to be selected for this.”

Through the years, he has served the Chamber in a number of ways.

“At some point, I was asked to serve on the Chamber Board,” Volkman said. “Eventually, I worked my way up the chairs and became president.”

He enjoyed being on the board, where he got to know the Chamber’s staff and to work with other business people.

In addition to the Chamber, Volkman has served the community in other ways.

He was on the Common Council from 1990 to 1993, was a member of the Waupaca Jayceees and the Kiwanis Club and also a part of the city’s Census 2000 Committee.

Volkman also served the community by being a part of Main Street Waupaca and the Waupaca Area United Way.

He has also been involved in the Waupaca International Cultural Exchange Committee.

His family has hosted visitors from Waupaca’s sister city in Japan, with Volkman traveling to Japan as part of the exchange program in 2001 with son Dan and in 2006 with son Matt.

A member of Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church, Volkman has also served on church councils there.

With his background in banking, Volkman’s service with many groups and committees has often resulted in him serving as treasurer for many of them.

He sees community involvement as a great way to meet people and to learn what is happening in the city.

Through service, he feels a sense of satisfaction in knowing he is helping the community.

“I enjoy being involved. I have a very understanding, supportive wife,” Volkman said. “I think, like anything, when you get involved in one project, you meet people and get asked to do other things, too.”

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