North Suburban Gavel Association Marks a Milestone

This year marks the 50^th year for the North Suburban Gavel Association, also known as the Gavel Club.

The purpose of the North Suburban Gavel Association, founded in 1964, was to facilitate the communication and cooperation of community organization leaders in the north suburban Ramsey County area, to keep leaders informed about community activities, and to recognize outstanding volunteer leaders.

The idea was the brainchild of Don Salverda and written about in Editor’s Viewpoint, by Ken Wisneski in a column entitled ‘Fresh Ideas’. While I am not sure of the exact publication date, it looks like spring or summer of 1963 because, once the idea was born, the first group meeting was at Uncle John’s Pancake House on Snelling and County Road B.

At that meeting Don Salverda was named temporary chairman until the group met next at 8AM on October 19, 1963.

The article stated, ‘Don Salverda is a young man with all kinds of fresh ideas. Don, who is one of the more energetic (his friends will call that an understatement) of the Roseville Jaycees, is also the group’s president. Don not only keeps his own organization full of projects, he’s launched one that will involve other local service organizations. Don and other service group presidents met Saturday morning for breakfast. Purpose: to start an organization composed strictly of service club presidents.’

Today, GAVEL Meetings are held monthly on the third Wednesday of the month from 12:15 to 1:30 pm. at the Roseville City Hall.  We usually have about 20 people present and most times invite a guest speaker from the community to give us an overview of their organization, event or current trend and after that each member organization gives and update on their upcoming programs or events.

Every year in May the Association hosts a dinner to honor individuals, nominated by member organizations or by past recipients, for their outstanding leadership and volunteerism. Nominations for this award are taken for individual community leaders or youth whose outstanding leadership and volunteerism has made a significant difference within their organization or community.

Nominations are accepted from current North Suburban Gavel member organizations, individual members, past award recipients, and honorary members. Nominations are reviewed and the top most qualified candidates, up to 8, are selected to receive the annual award at a dinner held at the Roseville Skating Center.

If you are interested in learning more visit us online, see below, or stop in at our next meeting at City Hall on April 17, 2013. 

Currently membership is open to all organizations and agencies, as well as to individuals, in the north suburban Ramsey County area. Current annual dues are $15.00. For more info: http://gavel-club.org/