The Port Angeles Noon Rotary Club has had the distinction of having two of its members be selected as the Port Angeles Citizen of the Year for the years 2020 and 2021. Steve Deuterman and Steve Methner were recognized for their involvement in a multitude of volunteer projects.
Steve Deuterman, a member of our club since 2018, was recognized for his many volunteer efforts such as being involved in CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates helping children in dependency, coordinator for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots in Clallam County, participating in the Marine Corps Honor Guard, Chair of the Clallam County Civil Service Commission, an office holder in his church, a hospital volunteer, and on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula.
The high point of all his service however, was his crucial involvement in the Capital Campaign for the construction of the new Boys and Girls Club facility throughout 2020, an extremely difficult time during the pandemic to get construction projects funded and completed. His zeal and hard work enabled their beautiful building to be finished so that over 800 local youth now have a safe place to grow and learn.
Steve Methner, recognized as the Citizen of the Year for 2021, has been equally involved in a multitude of volunteer projects. A member of the Noon Rotary Club since 2002, for 12 years he has been chair of Port Angeles Citizens for Education, a citizens’ group that advocates and campaigns for school levies and bonds. He was instrumental in helping pass a 65 million dollar capital levy measure that will kick off a 30-year school renewal and construction plan. He also serves on the Port Angeles School District Capital Projects Advisory Committee.
Steve is at the forefront of every service opportunity that arises in the community, but he is most well known for being the president of the Dream Playground Foundation. He was the fundraising chair for the original playground being built by volunteers in 2002. When it was determined it was needed to totally replace the playground due to deterioration over the years, Steve took the lead. This project was almost totally volunteer designed and built, the design being inspired by recommendations from children in the community. The rebuild was postponed because of the pandemic, and in 2021 ended up landing on a week with record-breaking temperatures. Despite the heat, Steve inspired enough volunteers to come and help build the playground, a truly herculean effort.
Both of these community minded members of Rotary exemplify the motto, “Service above self”. And in both cases, the community has benefited tremendously from their service. Most especially, the children of Port Angeles now have a safe place to learn and to play because of all their volunteer efforts. The Port Angeles Noon Rotary Club is proud to have these dedicated and inspiring citizens in its club.
