FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Booch DeMarchi, Lee County Public Resources
                (941) 335-2481

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 19, 2001) – The Board of Lee County Commissioners will announce Lee County’s "Citizen of the Year" at its meeting Tuesday (Feb. 20) from six already named finalists.

The finalists for the 2000 award are:

Dodie Booher (Fort Myers),
Charles Foster (Alva),
Michael Miller (Cape Coral),
Joanne Semmer (Fort Myers Beach),
Jake Slot (Fort Myers) and
Meg Venceller (Estero).

The award is given each year to a citizen who has exhibited outstanding civic contributions to Lee County. The award was created in 1991 and named after Paulette Burton, a longtime Sanibel resident and political activist who died in a 1991 car accident. The selection criteria include having a positive attitude, knowledge of the objectives and activities of Lee County government, demonstrating an interest in community/county government partnerships and promoting harmony between the community and county government.

Past winners are: Hannah Davis (1991), Israel Suarez (1992), Ed and Sylvia Blue (1993), P. Michael Villalobos (1994), Bill Davis and Duera Mae Everett (1995), Judy Jenkins (1996), Dr. Lee Duffus (1997), Roberta Morgan (1998) and Jim and Ellie Newton (1999).

The Board of County Commissioners selected a five-member screening committee that narrowed the nominations to the six finalists. Commissioners selected the winner through a blind voting process. The six finalists and some of their civic/professional activities are:

Dodie Booher (Marketing Representative, Sam’s Club) – Active in Fort Myers Beach, Greater Fort Myers, North Fort Myers and Cape Coral chambers, Horizon Council, Metropolitan Planning Organization and Golden Apple Awards.

Charles Foster (Retired Educator) – 20-year member, Lee County Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee; volunteer for Calusa Nature Center and county Land Stewardship Program; Audubon Society President of the Year.

Michael Miller (Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy) – Pine Manor Community Policing Officer; active in Pine Manor Improvement Association and Neighborhood District Committee, T-ball, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Joanne Semmer (Founder, Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center) – Wildlife advocate; active in Fort Myers Beach July 4th Fireworks Committee, San Carlos Island Community Redevelopment Committee, Island Waterfronts Florida Program.

Jake Slot (Director, Governmental Affairs, REALTOR Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach) – Chairman of Lee County Roadway Landscape Advisory Committee; member of Conservation Lands Acquisition & Stewardship Advisory Committee; active in Lee County Horizon Council and American Cancer Society.

Meg Venceller (Estero Activist) – Active in Estero Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association, East Broadway Sidewalk Project, Preserve Estero Bay & River Project, and Corkscrew Road Improvement Project.