Becky Beckman a deserving recipient of award

Jasper — “Holy Schmoly!”

So began Mary “Becky” Beckman’s acceptance speech after learning she had been awarded the 2013 President’s Community Excellence Award. An award given to members of the Jasper community who exemplify service to others throughout their lives.

An emotional Beckman began her acceptance speech with compliments to the many who serve in the community, “We have learned that we are all neighbors — rich or poor, old, young, Democrat, Republican — we are all neighbors. And as I learned as a good German, we take care of our own,” she said. “All I can say to all of you who have served, is that you do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. And as people in our community and as people who take care of our neighbors, we refuse to turn our head when our neighbors need help. This is a tribute to all of you because we are all in this together. Thank you.”

Beckman’s acceptance speech — totally off the cuff because she thought she was there to support her sister, Jane Chappel — was short, concise and moving. In her one minute at the podium, Beckman made the audience of over 350 in attendance at the 60th Annual Jasper Chamber of Commerce Luncheon laugh, tear up, and then cheer. It was perfect.

The speech was so good  that keynote speaker Governor Mike Pence borrowed two lines for his own speech — depending on punctuation, her speech was only about six lines long.

It was a short speech for a long history of volunteering.

Juanita Boehm nominated Beckman for the award. In her letter to the board she wrote, “So often people who have volunteered for many years or as people age, they seem to reduce the time they spend volunteering, but not Becky Beckman. She volunteers now as much as ever.”

Boehm submitted a long list of activities Beckman does to support the community but she also pointed out how Beckman supports the community by attending events and shopping and eating at local businesses.

Among her many volunteer activities, Beckman is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children who have been abused or neglected, serves on the Jasper Community Arts Council, serves on the Dubois County Public Health Partnership, is on a team that sits with ill patients through the Prayer and Presence Program, serves as a Eucharistic minister, and numerous other activities outside of these organizations including stints acting out parts like Rosie the Riveter at fundraisers or playing the part of “Delta Dawn” to make her classmates laugh during reunions or parties.

Beckman is the ninth of ten children born to Oscar Leo and Roselyn (Thyen) Beckman, both deceased. O. Leo Beckman was the first chamber board president, the same year Becky was born.

She explained that service to community was instilled in her by her father, “Dad was big in community and did so many different things,” she said, “Dad and mom both looked at the community and realized they got a lot of benefit from the community. We were raised with the understanding that the more education you had the more you had to pay back to the community. Dad had trouble with people who advanced themselves and forgot that other people were still there and in need of assistance.”

Boehm ended her nomination letter for Beckman by writing what many true volunteers exemplify.

“Becky would think she is not worthy of this recognition because when she gives of her time she expects nothing in return. The most she would ask is that one consider paying it forward but she never wants one to pay it back.”