Smith honored as BOCC award finalist
Roxie Smith of Fort Myers Beach has been named one of the finalists for the 19th annual Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year Award for 2009. The annual award recognizes a Lee County citizen who has provided outstanding civic contributions to Lee County Government.
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners announced four finalists for the award last week. Besides Smith, the finalists are: Samira Beckwith of Fort Myers; Mary Miller of North Fort Myers; and George Szymanski of Lehigh Acres.
“The real pleasure is doing the work for the community and the church,” said Smith. “It’s always nice to have people say ‘we recognize what you do, and we appreciate it.'”
Smith has been nominated as a finalist for this award in the past. Selection criteria include a positive attitude; knowledgeable of the objectives and activities of county government; demonstrated interest in community/county government partnership; and the promotion of harmony between the community and county government.
The winner will be announced at the BOCC meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 9:30 a.m. at the Lee County Commission meeting in the second floor chambers in the Old Lee County Courthouse (2110 Main Street in downtown Fort Myers.)
A BOCC-appointed committee of seven individuals was narrowed from 16 nominations to the four finalists. The Commissioners will select the winner from that list of four.
Smith was nominated by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce’s John Albion, president, and D.J. Petrucelli, past president and executive director of the foundation. Her long list of community, town and county participation includes the following:
n director, treasurer, vice chair and chair of FMB Chamber Board of Directors; helped form and vice-president of FMB Chamber Foundation since 1985; founding member of ‘Build a Pool Committee’
n eight years on FMB Local Planning Agency; serves on Historic Preservation Subcommittee and Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board; past vice chair of Newton Park Committee; Lynn Hall Park Redevelopment and Advisory Committee; vice chair of Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve; founder and board member of Estero Island Historic Society; board member of the Marine Institute; served as board member of the Main Street U.S.A. Committee and director of the Spirit of the Holidays Committee
n 24 years on Tourist Development Council (past vice chair); chairperson of the Superior Small Lodging Committee; 2007 Search Committee member for TDC executive director; served on the Lee County Coastal Advisory Committee and Business Leaders Advisory Group; founder and secretary of Horizon Council; first chair of FMB & Lee County CRA; appointed by BOCC to serve on several ‘search committees’ including Barbara B. Mann Hall Study Group; served on ‘Keep Lee county Beautiful Committee; founding board member of Uncommon Friends Foundation; serves on Edison/Ford Foundation
n 1986 graduate of Leadership Lee County and Lee Grows; served on Southwest Florida Regional Hospital Advisory Group, Lee Memorial Health System and 2007 Community Health Vision Steering Committee
n a committee originator for FMB Relay For Life; Community Emergency Response Team member; helped form local ‘Save The Manatee Chapter’
n appointed and re-appointed to Florida Commission on Tourism (co-chair); served as co-chair of Visit Florida’s Cultural Heritage and Nature Tourism Development Committee.
In the nomination form, Albion and Petrucelli wrote: “We believe that Roxie Smith has shown an amazing dedication to our community. Her tireless efforts through a lifetime of effort and commitment have been both inspiring and recognized by leaders at both the county and state level. Her resume is remarkable and has only been exceeded by her heart for others. She has exemplified both the selfless importance of ‘helping the team’ as well as representing our area as a citizen in ways that have made a real difference in so many people’s lives.”
The award was created in 1991 to honor Mrs. Burton, a long-time Sanibel Island resident and government watch dog. She spent many years serving as a voice of the people to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners as well as playing an active role in Sanibel politics. She died in a 1991 car accident.