Volunteers receive after life of giving

Bob Pugh walked to the microphone at a crowded Sophia’s restaurant Tuesday night after his son Doug had joked with the audience about his father always being gone at “important” meetings when he was a child.

Pugh, a former Columbia mayor and Fourth Ward city councilman who was honored by the Voluntary Action Center on Tuesday for his community service, had some jokes as well. He offered three tenets that have guided him in his volunteer life.

“One, we live in the best town in the U.S.,” Pugh said. “Two, if you don’t do it, someone else will, and they might not do it the way you want; and three, being involved in committees keeps you out of the bars, where you’ll probably end up doing involuntary service.”

Pugh and Bernie Lensmeyer were given awards for their volunteer work over the years at the Voluntary Action Center’s fifth annual Spring Into Action dinner and awards banquet. Lensmeyer received the Hazel Riback Award for being committed to the Voluntary Action Center, and Pugh received the Outstanding Community Volunteer Award for his years of community involvement.

“I feel humble,” Lensmeyer said. “It’s a sincere award, not a people award. I’m not looking for any publicity or praise. There is only so much you can take from your community; at some point you have to give back.”

C.J. Dykhouse, a partner with Cline and Dykhouse LLC, introduced Lensmeyer, offering an example of Lensmeyer’s life of volunteerism. He told how Lensmeyer had paid for one of his children’s friends to go to college for two years, then loaned him the money to buy a car when he transferred to a school in Colorado.

“Bernie has the ability not only to see the ability in people but bring that out of them,” Dykhouse said. “He is a really good guy deserving of the award. He doesn’t like being the center of attention, but he deserves it.”

Like Lensmeyer, Pugh also doesn’t like to talk about his contributions. Pugh’s son, however, likes to brag on his father.

“He has been generous not only with his time as city councilman and mayor,” he said. “In addition, he has been extremely generous financially, personally and with his company. He is not a person who talks about the things he does for the community. I think it’s special he is receiving recognition.”

Lensmeyer worked with the Voluntary Action Center for about six years and started the Spring Into Action event five years ago. He has also volunteered with many other organizations. He has been a sponsor for Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center, a member of an annual committee for cancer research, a board member of the Central Missouri Food Bank and an influential member of the Elks Club. Even though he has worked with many organizations, he said that the Voluntary Action Center was special to him.

“It’s just a great organization,” Lensmeyer said. “It’s a good way to give back to your community. Everything that you give stays here.”

In addition to the awards ceremony, the banquet and an accompanying auction served as a fundraiser for the Voluntary Action Center.

The agency provides emergency assistance to families when local programs cannot meet current needs. It also coordinates volunteers when serious social problems occur and acts as a catalyst in identifying and addressing community needs.