Plymouth Recognizes Kaminskis For Years of Service

If you have ever been to an event in Plymouth odds are John and Paula Kaminski helped put it together.  For more than two decades the Plymouth couple has volunteered for the city. 

“We’ve done a little of everything,” said Paula Kaminski. “I think the only event we haven’t done is the garden tour because I have a black thumb."

At the Aug. 9 Plymouth City Council meeting, the duo was awarded plaques and given many thanks from city staff and the council for their many years of service.

Plymouth's Volunteer Coordinator Jackie Maas talked about the couple's unmeasurable contributions to the city of Plymouth and got emotional. Others also said how much the two have done.

"You've left a mark on this city," said Mayor Kelli Slavik.

Since 1989, the duo has worked as election judges, ticket takers at the Plymouth Ice Center, crunched crime statistics for the police department, gone to City Hall to do data entry work for administrators, taken photos of city events and the list goes on and on.

“When I started volunteering decades ago I kept the statistics for the rec teams, but that job dried up as computers took over,” Paula said.  “Once that ended the staff found another area they needed help with and the ball just kept rolling.”

The Kaminski’s, who got married in 1983, have volunteer gigs they do together and ones they do separately. For example, John is a member of the senior police core, but they both enjoy volunteering at the Environmental Quality Fair each year.

“I got involved because my wife told me too,” said John Kaminski and joked. “In all honestly, I really enjoy giving back to the community.”

Now the Kaminski’s, both in their mid 60s, are preparing to leave Plymouth and heading to a warmer climate. The couple bought a house in Palm Bay, Florida and plan to leave for their new home at the end of the month.

“We’ve talked about moving for awhile,” John said.

After this last winter, that was it, Paula added. 

“We both decided we just didn’t want to spend another long, snowy winter here," she said.

Breaking the news to others wasn't easy.

“I had a few tears when I heard the news,” Maas said. “They have been tremendous assets to our city.”

Before the couple heads south the Plymouth City Council will honor the couple at an upcoming meeting.

“It’s not often that we do something like this, but John and Paula have never turned down a job we needed them to do," Maas said. "And for that we want to thank them.”

The Kaminski’s will be given a certificate at the Aug. 9 council meeting and say they are honored to be recognized.

“We have enjoyed all of the things we’ve done for the city,” Paula said.  “We’re just glad we could be helpful.”