By MaryHelen Swanson

Being grateful for the support heís been given, and a love of volunteering, are reasons why Rush City Chamber of Commerce 2004 Community Service Award winner Glen Kuhlman keeps doing the many things he does for his community.

A Rush City resident since a young boy of 8, Kuhlman has been finding many ways to say thanks for the support heís received from the community over the years.

Doing things for kids is on top of the list of important activities. In fact, Kuhlman said his heart is in working in school programs right now. And heís been part of the AWANA program at Rush City Baptist for three years also.

Kuhlman has supported his own children in school, especially sports, he said, he even became a scout for the football program.
Beyond his work with young people, Kuhlman has been active as a supervisor on the Rushseba Town Board.
And a very important part of his involvement, he believes, is his work with the Jaycee organization.
He has been a member for 20 years, and has even been involved at the state level participation where he was president from 1991-92.

Kuhlman joined the Jaycees right out of high school. He said he has learned a lot from participating in this organization at all levels.
He learned through activities in Jaycees that volunteering comes naturally to him. He said it is very rewarding to help others.

Others often include, what else, children. The Rush City Jaycees started working with On The Trail for Missing Children in 1993.
Through the annual snowmobile fund-raising ride, they have raised a lot of money to help reunite children and parents.
Kuhlman was struck with the effect of the program the first year when a child was reunited with its mother after many years.
He has also helped with Special Olympics as part of his statewide Jaycee participation.

ìJaycees,î he said, ìhas changed my life.î

Kuhlman said the Jaycees has had the biggest impact on his life and he owes it to the positive reinforcement that comes from belonging to the organization.
Kuhlman realizes that with so many people working away from home these days it is harder for them to be a part of their community.
But itís really important to become involved, he said.

Kuhlman believes there is a high level of involvement in Rush City; the local people have taken the responsibility to become involved, he said.
Itís better to try to make a difference, he went on, than to constantly complain about things not being right.
Kuhlman believes that Rush City is a positive community.
Kuhlman also served on the fair board a couple of years.

A nearly life-long resident of Rush City, Kuhlman has also been, and still is, a local businessman.
In the 70s, he and his wife, Tracie, owned Spankyís, a downtown eating establishment.
Today, he owns GT Storage on the east end of town and T.J. Kooleyís, an ice cream and sub sandwich shop, in the Main Street Market Mall area.

He also is vice-president of Three Diamond Corporation, a pull tab distributor.
His four children, two sons and two daughters, all grew up in the Rush City School District and participated in athletics. Kuhlman said participating in sports is a positive thing to do.

Today his two sons work for him at Three Diamond and one daughter works at T.J. Kooleyís. His youngest daughter also helps out at the sub shop.

Probably the most supportive person in his life is his wife, Tracie. The award, he said, should have been for the two of them, as she is behind him in everything he does.

Kuhlman also appreciates the support he and his wife receive from the town as business people.
It is because of the townís support that he enjoys giving back to the community through the many volunteer activities.
Upon learning of the Chamber award, Kuhlman said he was ìreally surprised.î

It was a nice thank you, he said, but he never really thought about being the recipient of the award.
Knowing the members of the awardís nominating committee, makes it even better. He said he has tremendous respect for them.
Looking over the names of the past recipients, Kuhlman said he is humbled to be on that list.

ìIím pretty honored to be a part of that group,î he said.

Future plans? ìWeíre going to continue to volunteer and do the things we do,î he said.

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