Posted: 4/25/07
Rush City's Community Service Award recipient is Scott Friday
 Scott Friday keeps himself busy volunteering in Rush City including a special seasonal task. Any similarity to Santa Claus, who visits the town each year, is purely intentional, but don't let the kids know that. |
By MaryHelen Swanson
Preferring to be in the background, Scott Friday, Rush City Chamber of Commerce's 2006 Community Service Award recipient, is a bit ruffled about the honor.
In an interview this week, Friday said he is rather humbled to be among the list of recipients that goes back to 1972.
He chuckled as he went down the list, because some he worked with and some he worked for over the years. All of them he respects and is too modest to believe he should be among them.
But Friday's list of community service projects is impressive and includes organizing an all-school reunion in 1993, being involved in Santa Day (in a big way, he's very close friends with Santa), Lions, church, Relay for Life, school board, county fair parade and Chamber of Commerce. Now serving in his third term as president of the Chamber, Friday has been involved in Chamber events such as the annual Music Fest, Holiday Extravaganza and Cookies and Carnation.
He does it for his hometown.
Friday was born and raised in Rush City, and graduated from high school in 1981. In high school he was involved in golf, manager of boys basketball and track, involved with the all-school play (every year) and such activities as children's theater through an English elective.
He liked high school.
While he doesn't like to be in the limelight, and doesn't even think of himself as a leader, he comes by community service naturally.
It started at a young age, he said, being there when grandparents and parents, Richard and Diane Friday, participated in community projects and organizations.
That included such things as VFW, Eagles and lots of cooking for events. It even included building some buildings in town.
"As kids, we got to be there," he said, indicating that having to tag along with the folks was a privilege rather than a pain.
Rush City has given him good memories, especially during the 60s and 70s. So he wants to give back and hopefully help Rush City return to the more bustling little town it used to be.
Having been to the Cities for a while, he understands that it is harder to get involved there than it is in a smaller town.
To him, volunteering means sharing time and talents.
"It's listening to people whether you agree with them or not," he added.
He has learned in his nearly 45 years, that as one gets older it's harder to listen because so many opinions are formed.
Still, Friday wants to see people come together for the betterment of the town.
He believes that some walls have been built up over the years and it's time to tear them down and work together again.
Friday said if the folks in Rush City have an hour or two, call him, he'll find something for them to do.
If they have a dollar or two, call him, he'll find something to invest it in.
Friday also believes newcomers should get involved right away and the old timers should help them filter in to projects and organizations. It's best if everyone works together, he said.
Scott Friday will be honored by the RC Chamber at a banquet Saturday, May 19 at the Bull Rush Country Club. The evening starts with a social hour at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $12.50 and can be reserved by calling Harold Lind at (320) 358-4557; Loring Nelson at (320) 358-4209; Bob Frandsen at (320) 358-3181 or Jim Ertz at (320) 358-5630. Tickets may also be purchased at Rush City Hardware.
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