DPPA's Civic Activist Award for 2003 Goes to Bill Hardesty By Barb Olsen With a list of civic involvements as long as your arm --- and probably a couple of legs as well! --- DPPA member Bill Hardesty was a natural choice for this year's DPPA Civic Activist Award. Bill accepted the award at a reception in his honor in the Fireside Room at Fitger's on April 11. Bill has been a member and leader of the Duluth Civitan Club --- raising money and supporting programs for the developmentally disabled --- as well as a member of the Courage Center's Advisory Board. He was the founding member of Duluth's first Montessori School Board and a founder of the UMD School of Social Development (now the School of Social Work). In the world of politics, Bill has for 30 years been a familiar face, performing as a DFL party worker and active in local, state, and national campaigns. And Bill was as well a founding member of DPPA; he served as a DPPA board member in 2000 and 2001. Currently, Bill is a member of Friends of the North Shore, People With Disabilities For Change, Comprehensive Plan Planning District 9, Neighborhood Housing Services Board of Directors, CHUM Housing Task Force --- and the list goes on and on! At the reception for Bill, DPPA's newest board member, Marsh Stenersen, spoke about the value to a community of civic activism. DPPA then presented Bill with a certificate of recognition and announced what Bill has chosen as his gift from DPPA: a digital camera to be given in his honor to Neighborhood Housing services, for their use in promoting quality housing for all of Duluth's citizens. Thank you, Bill Hardesty, for all you have done for Duluth! It has been an honor for DPPA to count you as one of our members. These articles are retained on the web for historical interest and do not necessarily reflect the views or goals of DPPA today.

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