Few people have the stamina to assume a leadership role in a
volunteer effort. It entails long hours, power struggles and
sleepless nights, all for no pay
– only the satisfaction of working towards an ideal that one
truly believes in.
Few people have the stamina to assume a leadership role in a volunteer effort. It entails long hours, power struggles and sleepless nights, all for no pay – only the satisfaction of working towards an ideal that one truly believes in.
Other people, however, live and breathe it – and once in awhile, it’s nice to give them a pat on the back.
The San Benito County Chamber of Commerce announced the Man and Woman of the year on Wednesday, the 27th such pair to be honored since the Chamber of Commerce began the awards in 1978.
The honors were bestowed upon Jim Sleznick and Barbara Nicoara, longtime community volunteers who, coincidentally, have both put an emphasis on the health and well being of others in their work.
“When I heard about the award, I was really excited that the organizations I work with would have a chance to be spotlighted,” said Nicoara. “I’d rather see them get that sort of recognition than me.”
The awards are given every year, in recognition of those who devote their lives to causes greater than themselves year after year. Chamber of Commerce members nominate those they’d like to see honored and, once nominated, the nominees fill out an extensive application detailing their service to the community. The applications are then reviewed by a committee, which has the difficult task of selecting which applicants stand out from the rest and, ultimately, will take home the award.
“I found out about the award a couple weeks ago,” said Sleznick. “But now I guess I can start enjoying the limelight a little.”
Sleznick was chosen, in part, due to his extensive service as Superintendent of Pinnacles National Monument, a position he held down for nine years. After his retirement in 1999, he only became more active in the community, throwing his lot in with numerous clubs and non-profit organizations. But the work he’s most proud of, he says, is his role as member of the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation board.
“It’s just a great experience,” he said. “Because you can go into that hospital, and see what’s going on with the patients and staff, and know that you had a tiny little part in making it work. And now it’s a real fine medical campus for everyone in the community.”
Sleznick is switching his focus from hospital work to the Community Pantry, helping the organization find a space to operate from, as well as stepping up to the role of President of the San Juan Bautista Rotary Club.
“This has been a wonderful community to my wife Gayle and I,” he said. “It’s full of wonderful people who give their time and money, and that just makes you want to do more. It’s like payback, in contemporary words.”
Nicoara, on the other hand, uses her extensive legal background to help further the causes she believes in most, with a special focus on health, senior citizens and the arts. She also served on the Hospital Foundation’s board, and in her capacity as Campaign Chair spearheaded the effort to raise over $500,000 for the Mabie Northside Skilled Nursing Facility, which she considers her greatest achievement.
“My father was in that facility years ago, and he didn’t have a very good experience, but when he went to the Southside Facility, under the hospital, he received wonderful care,” he said. “I always thought that I would do anything I could to help people get that kind of care, but I never would have guessed that I’d actually get the opportunity to. I’m excited to be a part of that process for other people.”
Currently, Nicoara is serving as co-chair of the San Benito County Diabetes Collaborative, a community-wide effort to promote awareness of diabetes and encourage healthy lifestyles – her biggest project is developing a school outreach program.
“It has to be about families and children, if you want the kids to eat better and move different, the rest of the family has to be doing it too,” she said. “Hopefully we can help get the community exercising, eating smaller portions, and just living a healthier life in general.”
Sleznick and Nicoara, as well as the community’s businesses of the year, will be honored at the Chamber of Commerce’s 85th Annual Dinner Dance, at San Juan Oaks on Jan. 21.
“It’s important to recognize when someone goes the extra mile,” said Liz Sparling, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. “There’s a lot of people in this community that do, and that’s a really special thing.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or
ds****@fr***********.com
