The Maquoketa Valley Dollars for Scholars is pleased to announce that Doug Dabroski, MV Board of Directors, will be among the guests at the Maquoketa Valley Dollars for Scholars (MVDFS) Awards Event this Sunday, May 6th, at 3 pm in Delhi. Doug will have the honor of presenting four individual scholarships from the Maquoketa Valley Dollars for Scholars General Fund to the selected seniors who will be furthering their education after high school. We are pleased to preface Doug's attendance with sharing more about his personal accolades and story, and why community volunteerism efforts are so widely important.

People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others it serves as an example to family, friends and younger community members how a little effort can make a large impact.

Regardless of the motivation, the result of the efforts is what makes a community great. Volunteerism comes naturally to Doug Dabroski, which is why his list of contributions is long and impressive. Doug has used his talents and personal interests to give back and says his motivation for volunteerism is how it makes him feel. Doug adds, "It gives me a sense of accomplishment and it just feels good to do something for someone else. You just do it order to make your community strong and vibrant."

Doug spent much of his life working for Tri-State Engineering in Manchester and Delaware County Secondary Roads in the Engineering and Surveying Department and recently served as a Delaware County Supervisor. His wife, Karen, was a teacher at Maquoketa Valley for thirty-three years. It was important to them that the community they were living and raising their children provided the same opportunities as surrounding communities. They are proud to say that their children, Jason, a third grade teacher in the Marion School District; Megan, a physical education teacher at Linn Mar; and Kelli, a nurse at St. Luke's, are successful in part due to the opportunities provided to them by their community and the Maquoketa Valley School District. Doug started his service to others as he proudly entered the United States Marine Corps in 1970, going on to serve a tour in Vietnam as 0311 Rifleman and 8541 Scout Sniper. This experience set the stage for a life of service that Doug continues to live. As Doug and his wife started their life in Delaware County, they quickly fell in love with the community and discovered opportunities to give back. Doug's love of sports made volunteerism related to athletics a natural fit for him. He coached for many years and was the head of the Earlville Athletic Association when he approached the school board about reconstructing the Earlville baseball diamond. Doug also continues to referee basketball. He was the President of the Lone Pine Country Club Board of Directors in Colesburg which helped this small town keep the golf course a staple in the community. In addition to his contributions to baseball and golf, he assisted with the efforts to build a new high school track and softball and baseball diamonds. His civic duty led to serving years on the Earlville City Council which presented him with the opportunity to influence positive change throughout the community. As a member of the council Doug was able to influence decisions that would benefit the community as a whole and keep it vibrant and thriving. Doug views his participation on the Maquoketa Valley School District School Board as extremely important because he knows that a great school district is what drives and determines the success of each student who passes through. Doug believes that through a solid administration and exceptional teachers, the district is able to offer its students an education that provides the foundation for a strong future, whether going straight into the workforce or on to post-secondary education. "Our students are provided opportunities to excel in academics and participate in athletics and fine arts," says Doug. He believes that the Maquoketa Valley Dollars for Scholars program is "second to none". His family supports the program because it provides students resources that help them get a jump start on their college education.

As Doug reflects on his service to the community, he is surprised by the long list of things he has been involved in and the number of hours he has spent on various boards. His surprise comes because he does not inventory what he does. Doug adds, "I do what I do because of how it makes me feel when I give back."

As Doug and his wife enjoy retirement they are focused on spending time with their children and five grandchildren. Doug intends to continue to give back in any way he can. He has most recently  been asked to be the speaker at a Memorial Day celebration in Earlville. He also gives presentations to various schools, historical societies, and other organizations about his Vietnam War experiences. "I have come to realize that I need to share my story with the younger generation. I think it is important that they understand the sacrifices that were made for them," says Doug.

In closing, Doug encourages everyone to find a way to volunteer. He believes that the more we give, the better we feel. Volunteering builds relationships, increases skills and provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Doug also mentions to, "find a way, identify what you enjoy doing or what expertise you have that can benefit others and then apply it to whatever project is in need of help."