Goettsch is Daily News Citizen of the Year on Faribault Daily News

The Faribault Daily News presented its 17th annual Citizen of the Year award Friday at the Elks Lodge.

Paula Patton, editor and publisher of the Daily News, presented the 2010 award to Ron Goettsch.

The selection is made by past Citizen of the Year winners as well as other community leaders.

“The only guideline that I give them is to remember that the Citizen of the Year award is given to a person who is still active in the community’s affairs,” Patton said. “This is not an award for a career of volunteerism and activity; its focus is on current events. The honor is for leadership and initiative outside the person’s job.”

Goettsch, who is retired, knows and loves the computer world. He saves local nonprofits thousand of dollars in computer repairs, doing them on his own time — and his own dime.

In 2009, Goettsch logged 310 hours, 590 miles and $4,300 in cost savings — just for the Faribault Senior Center. He volunteers there in other ways as well as serves on the board of directors.

He and his wife also teach computer classes to senior citizens.

“That was a great surprise,” he said of the announcement.

Goettsch received the honor in an event held to note the publication of “Profile 2010,” a magazine published annually for the past 19 years and distributed in Saturday’s issue of the Daily News.

The award comes just months after Goettsch suffered a stroke. He’s recovering, he said, but it’s been a challenge for someone who does so much complicated computer work.

Also recognized Friday evening were this year’s Unsung Heroes, 10 residents of the community nominated for their time and talents in making Faribault a better place to live.

This year, Patton received more than 100 entries in the category.

“The most inspirational thing I do is sit and read what everybody writes about their friends and neighbors,” she said. “Then I narrow it down to 10.”

Each winner was presented with a plaque.

The Profile project, Patton said, wouldn’t be possible without the staff, local advertisers, readers and loyal subscribers of the Daily News.

Stories about Goettsch and each of the Unsung Heroes are included in this year’s edition of Profile.

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Member Opinions: By: lonsdale on 3/20/10 Congratulations Ron!!! You deserved this for all the time and energy you put into this. By: bigdaddy on 3/22/10 "In 2009, Goettsch logged 310 hours, 590 miles and $4,300 in cost savings" Just think, if he had switched them to Macs it would have only needed to be about 31 hours...
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