Alan Nerad named Citizen of the Year in Lincolnshire

Alan Nerad has been volunteering in Lincolnshire community events for so long, he can tell stories about events that do not even exist anymore.

For his service, the Lincolnshire Community Association named him Citizen of the Year. Nerad received the honor Saturday night during the Red, White & Boom celebration at Spring Lake Park. He said he was humbled and excited when he learned a few days earlier he was the winner, but it also made him think about all the other folks he has met through his many activities.

"My first reaction was: 'Come on; there are so many people who do so much around here,'" he said.

He has probably served with most of them in one way or another. Nerad's volunteering resume includes the Lincolnshire Morning Star Rotary Club, Boy Scout Troop 78, the community foundations of Elementary School District 103 and Stevenson High School, and the Lincolnshire Swim Club. His first project was back in 1992, working one of the "scary exhibits" on the Balzer Park walking path during the association's now-defunct BooFest.

"That got me involved, because it was a lot of fun, and we were entertaining the kids in the community," Nerad said.

Nerad has built a reputation for helping younger residents during the last 18 years.

"His devotion to children and their needs is evident," wrote Sandy Saltiel, chair of the Citizen of the Year committee, in an e-mail. "With Alan, kids come first."

In fact, kids are why he and his wife, Tina, moved to Lincolnshire. He said they were residing in Chicago, but wanted to get into a safer neighborhood before expanding their family. A friend who lived in Lincolnshire invited them out to the country for a barbecue, and the Nerads liked what they saw.

Both found right away that they enjoyed community service: Once they had their kids, Tina joined the board at the Lincolnshire Community Nursery School.

His focus has been on the Rotary Club, he said. Upon joining the club in 2002, he said, he saw that his efforts were hands-on and hands-dirtying, and that he could connect with multiple other groups' causes.

"We weren't just writing checks to solve problems," Nerad said. "It allowed me to access and be involved indirectly with many different organizations."

For someone involved in so many different activities, focusing on one is always tough.

"I just get satisfaction out of keeping busy and helping people," he said.

By RONNIE WACHTER - Pioneer Press

Previous Citizens of the Year are:

Citizen of the Year Selection Criteria

Nominee must possess and demonstrate a generous community spirit. Nominee has proven his or her commitment and has a recurring pattern of effort directed toward the community. Nominee is a role model in the community and, thereby, raises the standards of social responsibility.