Posted 1/31/01
North Branch resident Charlie Sutton receives On Behalf of Youth Award
The Forest Lake Area Youth Service Bureau announced the winners of the 2000 On Behalf of Youth Award this week.
North Branch resident Charlie Sutton is the adult recipient of the award and, in a tie, the youth award goes to Bill Burgess Jr. and Careth Sorenson, both ninth graders at Century Jr. High and residents of Forest Lake.
The three will be recognized at the Youth Service Bureauís annual meeting and On Behalf of Youth Award Event March 8.
Sutton and his wife of 50 years, Jinny, live in North Branch. He has been retired from 3M for a number of years, although he works almost full time as a volunteer.
Sutton volunteers mainly in the school setting and also at the YSBís tobacco awareness class. He sees about 5000-8000 students a year educating them about the effects of smoking from first-hand experience.
Students soon learn of his experience as they watch Sutton speak with a larenjectomy that he received because of his smoking.
He is a straightforward and motivating speaking and is never condemning. The youth really listen to him.
Sutton has motivated many people, both young and adults, to quit smoking by personalizing the message of what could happen and that it could happen to anybody.
One youth who heard Sutton speak said, ìCharlie will affect me the most because I could turn out like that. Maybe even worse.î
One adult who heard Sutton speak was surprised to hear that, ìa regular Minnesota guy would not only get cancer, but then would volunteer to talk about it.î
His willingness to share his personal story has made a huge difference.
The student award
Burgess and Sorenson are both involved and caring students, which can be seen in their attitudes and activities.
Burgess loves spending time with younger students and is a great role model. He is dedicated and compassionate to his activities and to the youth involved. He is also always willing to jump in and help with whatever needs to be done.
Sorenson is dedicated to making a difference in the community She is very respectful and open-minded. She always steps up to help with a smile.
The two students are best of friends and are involved in volunteering for many different programs at the YSB.
They are both on the youth advisory board where they are advocates for youth, making sure a youthís voice is heard in the community.
Also, both have served as part of the Jr. High panel where they answer questions for upcoming seventh graders in the Moviní On program.
They volunteered at YSBís summer camps as Jr. Counselors; and they helped build the YSBís 4th of July float.
Burgess and Sorenson also volunteered to be youth chaperones for fifth and sixth-grade youth nights.
Sorenson helped plan the Dreams with Wings Conference for mothers, daughters, girls and women.
In addition to their volunteer work, Burgess and Sorenson serve on the ISD #831 Youth Advisory Council where they reach out communitywide to have an impact and to get more youth involved to make a difference in their community.
During the summer of 2000, Burgess was trained as a PACER puppeteer and now goes to elementary schools to teach children about people with disabilities.
The annual meeting and awards event will be held at Scandia Community Center at 6 p.m. March 8.
Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for youth. To arrange for a ticket call Dennis Patton at the Youth Service Bureau at 651-464-3685. Seating is limited.