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Forestville’s Citizen of the Year is grateful to help out
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| FORESTVILLE’S BEST — Fred Von Renner was recently honored as Forestville’s Citizen of the Year. Among many other voluntary duties in the community, Von Renner works with volunteers at Forestville Youth Park. - Photo by George Snyder |
Fred Von Renner calls himself lucky man
by George Snyder
Sonoma West Staff Writer
FORESTVILLE — Even though Fred Von Renner sold his trucking and equipment business a year and a half ago, he’s been busier than ever doing the thing he loves best – serving his community.
A West County native, Von Renner, 58, will be honored as Forestville’s 2008 Citizen of the Year at the Forestville Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at Oddfellows Hall, Oddfellows Park Road, in Guerneville.
In addition to Von Renner, Vickie Holden, will be honored as 2008 Volunteer of the Year.
In addition to the Chamber honor, meanwhile, Von Renner, who was busy working with a volunteer at his beloved Forestville Youth Park, had been feted by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisor’s earlier Tuesday morning in a unanimous proclamation.
“I was totally surprised,” Von Renner, said, “I had only gone there to apply to have the supervisors waive the fees for the Youth Park benefits we hold there. I had no idea.”
The proclamation cited Von Renner for being Forestville’s Citizen of the Year in recognition “for community service to the people and community of Forestville … and tireless dedication and devotion to the Forestville Youth Park, El Molino Little League and El Molino High School and years of determined and personal contribution…”
One of the things Von Renner is being honored for is his efforts in coordinating donated labor and materials from area contractors that resulted in a $100,000 upgrade of the park’s parking lot and the remodeling of the Youth Park’s restrooms to meet modern standards three years ago.
“The Youth Park is my passion and I feel honored by all of this,” he said. “Somebody told me once that the Youth Park was lucky to have me. I said no…I’m lucky to have the Youth Park.”
Von Renner was also instrumental in having a modern lighting system installed at the El Molino High School athletic field. Von Renner has also served for many years on the Forestville Youth Park Board and for nearly a decade on the El Molino Little League.
“I’ve never done any of this for any kind of recognition,” Von Renner, who seemed surprised at the honors. “It always was appealing to me to give back to the community because the community has always supported me. Besides, I also just enjoyed helping out. It makes me feel good.”
Although Von Renner says he sold his business to a former staffer after 28 years, he insists he is not retired, a fact supported by the fact his cell phone never quits ringing, and that in addition to his community work, enjoys raising “pigs, chickens, dogs and cats,” on an 80-acre ranch he owns near Guerneville.
Von Renner is also proud of his local roots — his father, Bob Dewitt, well known for his rodeo announcing, and late mother, Ida, were long time owners of Guerneville’s Buck’s restaurant.
“My mother,” he said, “even worked the telephone switchboard in Occidental when they were connected with Negri’s there.”
Von Renner said he got seriously involved in his community work while he was on the board of the El Molino Little League, saying he was appointed by the board as a liaison with the park’s board “and it grew from there. I went to the meetings and saw the big picture.”
He said being the owner of a contracting business gave him the opportunity to help, adding, “I had the trucks, the equipment and the crew.”
Work at El Molina and Youth Park, he said, is largely the result of donations of both material, volunteers and money from area firms like Lunardi Electric, the Exchange Bank, West America Bank and the Bank of The West, and Sebastopol and Guerneville Rotary among others.
The Youth Park board also puts on two fund raisers, the annual barbeque on the first full weekend in June and a September golf tourney, both of which raise tens of thousands of dollars to help the park meet it’s $50,000 annual budget and keep the place running.
“Some 700 youth use this park and the facilities in groups like El Molino Little League, Wesco Soccer, 4-H, the Boy Scouts and even a student sewing group,” Von Renner said. “And we never charge them a cent. Any youth group can use our grounds and the barbeque and all of the costs are borne by us,” he said, adding the park is “totally self-sufficient.”
“There is no tax money that goes into this park,” said, “it’s all from the community and given what’s going on these days, the operation is a model for parks and community groups everywhere.”
Right now the park’s board, which Von Renner praised for its efficiency and community dedication, is trying to raise some $75,000 to replace the park’s aging playground equipment.
“It’s 20 years old,” he said, “and we can’t find replacement parts. Also it doesn’t meet disabled standards and so we need a new one.”
Which given the board’s — and Von Renner’s track record — is certain to happen.
“It feeds me to see the networking in the community when you reach out and contact people,” he said. “There are a lot people out there who want to help but don’t know how until they’re touched by someone.”
A West County native, Von Renner, 58, will be honored as Forestville’s 2008 Citizen of the Year at the Forestville Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at Oddfellows Hall, Oddfellows Park Road, in Guerneville.
In addition to Von Renner, Vickie Holden, will be honored as 2008 Volunteer of the Year.
In addition to the Chamber honor, meanwhile, Von Renner, who was busy working with a volunteer at his beloved Forestville Youth Park, had been feted by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisor’s earlier Tuesday morning in a unanimous proclamation.
“I was totally surprised,” Von Renner, said, “I had only gone there to apply to have the supervisors waive the fees for the Youth Park benefits we hold there. I had no idea.”
The proclamation cited Von Renner for being Forestville’s Citizen of the Year in recognition “for community service to the people and community of Forestville … and tireless dedication and devotion to the Forestville Youth Park, El Molino Little League and El Molino High School and years of determined and personal contribution…”
One of the things Von Renner is being honored for is his efforts in coordinating donated labor and materials from area contractors that resulted in a $100,000 upgrade of the park’s parking lot and the remodeling of the Youth Park’s restrooms to meet modern standards three years ago.
“The Youth Park is my passion and I feel honored by all of this,” he said. “Somebody told me once that the Youth Park was lucky to have me. I said no…I’m lucky to have the Youth Park.”
Von Renner was also instrumental in having a modern lighting system installed at the El Molino High School athletic field. Von Renner has also served for many years on the Forestville Youth Park Board and for nearly a decade on the El Molino Little League.
“I’ve never done any of this for any kind of recognition,” Von Renner, who seemed surprised at the honors. “It always was appealing to me to give back to the community because the community has always supported me. Besides, I also just enjoyed helping out. It makes me feel good.”
Although Von Renner says he sold his business to a former staffer after 28 years, he insists he is not retired, a fact supported by the fact his cell phone never quits ringing, and that in addition to his community work, enjoys raising “pigs, chickens, dogs and cats,” on an 80-acre ranch he owns near Guerneville.
Von Renner is also proud of his local roots — his father, Bob Dewitt, well known for his rodeo announcing, and late mother, Ida, were long time owners of Guerneville’s Buck’s restaurant.
“My mother,” he said, “even worked the telephone switchboard in Occidental when they were connected with Negri’s there.”
Von Renner said he got seriously involved in his community work while he was on the board of the El Molino Little League, saying he was appointed by the board as a liaison with the park’s board “and it grew from there. I went to the meetings and saw the big picture.”
He said being the owner of a contracting business gave him the opportunity to help, adding, “I had the trucks, the equipment and the crew.”
Work at El Molina and Youth Park, he said, is largely the result of donations of both material, volunteers and money from area firms like Lunardi Electric, the Exchange Bank, West America Bank and the Bank of The West, and Sebastopol and Guerneville Rotary among others.
The Youth Park board also puts on two fund raisers, the annual barbeque on the first full weekend in June and a September golf tourney, both of which raise tens of thousands of dollars to help the park meet it’s $50,000 annual budget and keep the place running.
“Some 700 youth use this park and the facilities in groups like El Molino Little League, Wesco Soccer, 4-H, the Boy Scouts and even a student sewing group,” Von Renner said. “And we never charge them a cent. Any youth group can use our grounds and the barbeque and all of the costs are borne by us,” he said, adding the park is “totally self-sufficient.”
“There is no tax money that goes into this park,” said, “it’s all from the community and given what’s going on these days, the operation is a model for parks and community groups everywhere.”
Right now the park’s board, which Von Renner praised for its efficiency and community dedication, is trying to raise some $75,000 to replace the park’s aging playground equipment.
“It’s 20 years old,” he said, “and we can’t find replacement parts. Also it doesn’t meet disabled standards and so we need a new one.”
Which given the board’s — and Von Renner’s track record — is certain to happen.
“It feeds me to see the networking in the community when you reach out and contact people,” he said. “There are a lot people out there who want to help but don’t know how until they’re touched by someone.”
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