Bosek wins Sertoma's highest honor

• Sertoma award

Sertoma award

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The name of the 2009 Sertoma Service to Mankind award recipient is one well-known to many area residents.

Whether it be at church; a meeting of the American Legion, VFW or Eagles auxiliaries; a blood drive; or a local sporting event, you say the name “Arlene Bosek” and people know who you’re talking about.

Bosek was awarded the Service to Mankind honor at a luncheon Wednesday, May 13 at the Broadway Ballroom in Alexandria.

The award recognizes outstanding community service and volunteer work by a non-Sertoman. Recipients are selected by a Sertoma committee from nominations submitted by members of the community.

“Arlene serves on lots of committees,” noted Dorothy Schultz, American Legion Auxiliary president, which is just one reason why she nominated Bosek for the honor.

Following are just a few of her involvements:

Bosek is an inside guard for the Eagles Auxiliary, senior vice president of the VFW Auxiliary, secretary of the American Legion Auxiliary and director of the Viking Sportsmen’s Club.

She has also been active with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Ducks Unlimited and the Lions Club.

She collects, and encourages others to collect, aluminum can pull tabs to benefit the Ronald McDonald House charity for families of children with severe illness.

She is a regular volunteer and donor at area blood drives and for fundraising events for the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.

She has worked tirelessly with the Viking Sportsmen’s Club to put on an annual fishing event for senior citizens and citizens with disabilities, as well as a kids’ fishing event.

She is a substitute Sunday School teacher and once even gave a sermon at her church.

Schultz noted at Wednesday’s award ceremony that Bosek is a great person to have on any committee.

“She is just Johnny-on-the-spot,” Schultz said. “Whenever there is something to be done, she gets it done.”

When Bosek isn’t busy with her volunteer efforts, she can be found cheering on her children and grandchildren at sporting events, or spending time with them at community functions.

Now retired from her job as an X-ray technician at Alexandria Clinic, she also has more time to enjoy her other favorite hobbies – hunting, fishing and sports of all kinds.

And if that isn’t enough, Bosek is quick to give a helping hand to those who need one. Friends note that she often gives rides to others, takes care of people’s kids, runs errands for others, etc.

In fact, that’s how she ended up at Wednesday’s Sertoma event.

“I told her I needed a ride and that she may as well come with me!” Schultz said with a laugh.

Bosek had no idea she would be receiving any kind of honor.

“I just gave her a ride and came along!” Bosek said. When the emcee was reading through the award recipient’s accomplishments, Bosek said she was surprised at how much they had in common, but it didn’t dawn on her right away that she was the one being talked about.

“I thought, ‘I do that,’ but other people do those things, too,” she said.

It wasn’t until they mentioned that the honoree had six children and 21 grandchildren that she realized they were talking about her.

“I couldn’t believe it!” she said. “I had no idea this was going to happen. It’s unreal. I’m really honored.”

Bosek said she volunteers because it is rewarding for her.

“You don’t do it for any glory,” she said, “you do it to make people happy.”

Tags: news, local, awards, sertoma, arlene, bosek