By Mary Owen
Sublimity First Citizen Pam Lamb’s greatest accomplishment is bestowing a love of community on her four children.
“I try to be a role model for my kids and grandkids,” Lamb said. “I like to show them how awesome it is to help others.”
Lamb added helping others is her therapy.
“The rewards come back to you many times over,” she said. “When you do good for others, you can’t help but feel good yourself.”
Lamb’s community work includes volunteering for the Union Hill Grange, working for the Stayton Booster Club auctions, volunteering at Sublimity School, and supporting Stayton and Sublimity athletic programs. She is a member of the Altar Society at St. Boniface Church and helps with the elderly and countless others in need.
Despite the many hours she spends helping in the community, she was humbled and honored to be named the Stayton/Sublimity Chamber of Commerce’s First Citizen of the Year for Sublimity.
“Living in a small community feels like family,” she said. “We celebrate births and weddings. We come together when there are deaths, and we are there for each other during sicknesses. If I can help in anyway, there isn’t anything I would rather do.”
Nominator Jodi Hack was pleased Lamb was named First Citizen, saying, “Pam exudes the characteristics that embody what this award stands for, and I am so happy that she will be honored for being such a giving person.”
Hack said Lamb exudes humility, has a giving spirit and gives much to the community expecting nothing in return.
“Pam has demonstrated to me, time after time, her enduring dedication to family, business and to bettering the world she lives in,” said Sue Harteloo, who nominated Lamb with Hack for the First Citizen honor.
“She is always wearing a smile, and has turned lemons into lemonade on so many occasions, it could cause your head to spin!”
Harteloo commended Lamb for stepping in when she sees something that needs done.
“She steps up to take on the challenge or finds the person who can,” Harteloo said. “The Sublimity and Stayton communities are much better because of Pam’s involvement and dedication to making them better places to live and raise your family. She and her late husband, Jay, have been shining examples of selflessness to their children and grandchildren and the community at large.”
Harteloo called Lamb “so very deserving” to take First Citizen honors for Sublimity.
“God has blessed our world with amazing givers of heart and love in the Lamb family,” Harteloo said.
Lamb plans to continue helping others and “showing my kids that volunteering is like a very inexpensive doctor visit. It’s very therapeutic. You just can’t help but feel good when you help someone else!”
Volunteering makes her happy, she added.
“Everyone has the same amount of minutes in a day,” Lamb said. “How you choose to spend your minutes is up to you. Sometimes volunteering only takes a little bit of your time, but you will never be sorry for using your time to help someone else.”
