Couple recognized for volunteerism

The American Association of Retired Persons - AARP - recognized a Plains couple for their volunteer work in the community with the prestigious 2022 Andrus Award for Community Service.

John and Karen Thorson were honored for their volunteer work at the Paradise Center, a nonprofit entity that the Thorsons have been with even before it was created. Part of the award was a $2,000 gift to a charity of the Thorsons' choice, which was the Paradise Center.

"Your tireless work with Paradise Center in Plains is amazing and you both have been the heart and soul of the project," said Nancy Andersen, the volunteer program manager for AARP in Helena. The award was part of AARP's Andrus Award winners for 2022 and included 11 others across the state for other individual achievements. There were five other nominations in the same category as the Thorson couple. Ellen Childress of Plains nominated the Thorsons for the award. "I was so impressed with their vision, foresight, energy and dedication to the project and I do not know anyone else who could or would have done what they did with the old Paradise school," said Childress. "This award is a symbol of the power of individuals to make a difference in the lives of others," according to the AARP press release.

John and Karen Thorson have been involved with the Paradise Center from the time Paradise Elementary School closed its doors in 2013 after 100 years of service to the education of the community. The center, operated by a group of volunteers, is a combination community, visitor and art center. "This is a great way of letting John and Karen and the public know that they went above and beyond what the average volunteer does," said Dave Colyer, president of the Paradise Center. "Their commitment to the center in so many ways is amazing," added Colyer, who's also been with the program since the beginning and attended Paradise Elementary School as a student from 1962 to 1970.

John Thorson said there was never any doubt that the $2,000 would go to the Paradise Center, their "shared volunteer passion." The Thorsons were involved in creating the nonprofit organization, raising funds and formulating the plans to take possession of the schoolhouse in July 2016. They helped create a feasibility plan for the center and helped raise the $50,000 initial funds needed to start the project. They were also involved in the negotiations to draft an agreement for the outgoing school trustees to deed the property to the county commissioners, who then leased the property to the Parade Preservation Committee, the nonprofit organization that initially managed the Paradise Center.

"The center has had a significant impact in your community by honoring the history of Paradise, providing a welcoming local activity center, offering impressive educational and cultural programming for youth and adults, as well as the preservation and extensive rehab of a local landmark building important to the area. From the beginning you engaged community members in the project and the results are impressive," said Andersen in the AARP press release.

The Thorsons, both 76-year-olds, were both taken by surprise when they received word about the award. An AARP representative formally presented the award to John and Karen via Zoom two weeks ago and congratulated them on their work at the Paradise Center. The rep gave them background on the award being named after Ethel Percy Andrus, the founder of AARP, and why the couple was selected.

"The Thorsons have recognized the important role community plays in the quality of life for those living there," said Montana State Director Tim Summers. "A community center brings together residents, neighbors, volunteers and visitors creating a tightly-knit community, ultimately making things better for all who live there. It's a pleasure to present this honor to the Thorsons, who have given of themselves to make an important difference in the lives of others," he stated.

According to an AARP press release, the "Thorsons pulled together a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers, and Montana historians to identify the scope of the project and a large team of volunteers to help with implementation."

John is the organization's treasurer and Karen is its secretary. The Thorsons each routinely spend 15-20 hours a week at the center or at home doing center business. "We live with much uncertainty and grunt work, but once we complete a construction project, an exhibit, or have a performance or art class, we get much satisfaction from the project or event and realize how important it is to keep the center going," said John, who shares the grant writing responsibility with Karen. "Our grant writing is collaborative; one of us usually takes the lead on a specific grant and the other edits," said John. The couple has applied for 30 to 50 state, federal and private grants through the years - some unsuccessful, said John - and grants have paid for the majority of the substantial repairs and renovations, such as a new heating system, an ADA ramp to the front entrance and an ADA elevator system inside. The center's largest grant was an historic preservation grant from the Montana Department of Commerce for $154,000, which included matching funds from Sanders County. According to the nomination letter, the Paradise Center has received grants for $450,000 along with over $250,000 in donations.

"Sanders County, Montana, is very rural with limited opportunities for residents to enjoy or participate in cultural enrichment activities. Because John and Karen Thorson have a wide range of managerial and curriculum development experience between them, they were well positioned to see the possibilities inherent in the Old Paradise School for meeting that need," said Childress in the nomination.

John believes that Paradise School had a profound influence on the people of Paradise, providing a good education for children and for being a primary place for community gatherings. "The school has much yet to give. It is a place for community meetings and gatherings. It is an ever-evolving museum presenting the story of the school, Paradise, and Northwest Montana," he said, adding that the center is also a performance place and one of the finest public buildings in Sanders County. Last year, it was placed on the National Register of historic places. He said that a lot of progress has been made at the center, but there is a lot more to do. He added that it meant a lot to him and Karen that Childress nominated them.

"From the beginning John and Karen have insisted that the Paradise Center needed to be visible as a viable project for and to the community," wrote Childress. "To that end they scheduled guest artist performances and opened the building to class reunions, birthday parties, and retirement events. The center hosts an annual Artists in Paradise art and craft fair, which coincides with a Baroque Music Festival held at a nearby resort," she continued. John Thorson said they built on the community's broad goals for repurposing the school, making it a combination community center, visitors center, and art center. He said their next big project is building a reduced scale railroad roundhouse to house historic railroad items too large to display inside the center. "This award is a great way to create exposure to the Paradise Center. It also lets the public know that many outstanding volunteers play a vital role in the rural area," he said.

"John and Karen are an inspiration to others. This project truly represents the principles of the Andrus Award for Community Service,'" said Summers.