The city receives the Florida League of Cities' Spirit Award because of its volunteer program.
By By MEGAN SCOTT and SHANNON TAN
Published June 29, 2004
DUNEDIN - There was no best-actress category.
Or documentary of the year.
But they wore evening gowns and tuxedos. They sashayed down the red carpet. And when their city's name was called as a winner, they screamed.
The Florida League of Cities honored Dunedin with the Spirit Award on Saturday at its inaugural Cities of Excellence banquet in Orlando. Dunedin was recognized for its volunteer program, which has more than 600 members.
"It was the Oscars of municipalities set up statewide," said Maureen Freaney, assistant city manager. "The volunteer program is the core of our community."
The award was the second big honor Dunedin has received in the past month. The June issue ofMoney magazine named the city one of the "Best Places to Live on the Coast." Dunedin was in the Gulf of Mexico category, along with two other places, Pass Christian, Miss., and Rockport, Texas.
Jan Sebald, volunteer coordinator, said what makes Dunedin special is that all the volunteer aspects are under the umbrella of one director.
Before 2000, the library, senior center and Recreation Department each had volunteer programs.
In the past year, Dunedin has saved $600,000 using volunteers for events such as a community house painting event, the city's Films in the Park program and the Honeymoon Island Seafood Festival.
"When I went up on stage and they said, "Say a few words,' I said, "We have 600 plus volunteers in Dunedin,"' said Sebald, who nominated the volunteer program for the award. "They are ordinary people doing extraordinary things to serve delightfully different Dunedin."
Dunedin beat four other finalists, including St. Petersburg, to take the Spirit Award.
The only other Tampa Bay area city to win an award was Largo.
Kim Adams, the city's management services director for the past 17 years, was named City Finance Officer of the Year.
"I really appreciate the faith and trust placed in me by the City Commission and the city manager," Adams said.
The winners in each of nine categories will be featured in the league's publication, Quality Cities, and listed in a winner's brochure.
Dottie Reeder, the president of the organization, came up with the idea for excellence awards because she wanted to highlight the positive projects and work cities are doing.
"It truly spotlighted the best of the best in municipal government," said Reeder, mayor of Seminole. "They deserve to be recognized for their exceptional accomplishments, dedication and hard work."
