The Indianhead Kiwanis Club, which has been assisting at UW-Eau Claire athletic events since 2007, will receive the 2014 Jim Mueller Blugold Spirit Award, which will be awarded at the 2014 Blugold Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, October 4.

Club members can be seen regularly at Blugold football, basketball, hockey and other special events, helping with event management. 

The award, named in honor if its first recipient Jim Mueller, recognizes non-staff individuals for long-term support of the Blugold athletics program. The recipients must have demonstrated exemplary interest in and concern for Blugold student-athletes and coaches.  Their pride and spirit as a friend and ambassador of the Blugold program epitomizes the true meaning of a Blugold.

Former Blugold administrator Tim Petermann said the utilization of the Indianhead Kiwanians has been a win-win for everyone involved.  “The 26 members of this club are great ambassadors for the athletics program as the front line greeters of Blugold spectators.  Getting fans to cooperate and sit in their designated areas is not always the easiest job, but the club members do their best to mitigate potentially volatile situations.  We certainly appreciate their authoritative presence at the gates and in the stands,” said Petermann.

The club uses its work with the athletics program as a major fundraiser for its community support, according to club member Roger Dillenbeck, who serves as the liaison with the athletics department.  The club supports these local organizations:  Beacon House, Boys & Girls Club, Community Table, Eau Claire Academy, Family Resource Center, Public Library, Paul Bunyan Camp, Elementary School Winter Clothes, YMCA Youth, Young Life, WYSP and the Leader-Telegram’s Warm the Children campaign as well as the Kiwanis District and International Foundations.

The club members, whom Petermann estimates work 30 or more events each year, include Henk Boese, Lee Buenzli, Tim Coburn, Mel Crisp, Kirk Day, Denny Denk, Roger Dillenbeck, Krina Fenske, Chuck Johnson, Randy Kilness, Lonnie Kolar, John Kopf, Gene Matacynski, Chuck McLeod, Susan Merten, Tom Miller, Mike Moch, Dave Patrow, Fred Roadt, Jerry Shay, Chad Skogstad, Dave Smith, Dick Veleke, Roger Weber, Tom Wineinger and Mark Wold.

Since Mueller, the previous Blugold Spirit recipients have included Milt & Marci Siker, Bill Arnsdorf, Dave Hanson, Mike Sullivan and Ron Buckli.

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