MARIE ORTIZ Keyport residents Roger Goedtel (l) and Sid Becnel, winners of a state volunteerism honorable mention award, pose by a historic anchor mounted near the American Legion Drive bulkhead in Keyport.
KEYPORT — An award application submitted by the Greater Keyport Chamber of Commerce has resulted in an honorable mention from the New Jersey Governor’s Volunteer Awards 2000.
The application was submitted for the 10 consecutive years of volunteering by Sidney Becnel and Roger Goedtel. They were selected from among 300 applications statewide.
Becnel and Goedtel were involved in much of the town’s visual-improvement projects, including "Welcome to Keyport" signs, historic district signs, the "Chingorara Creek Rediscovery" and acquisition and installation of two historic anchors.
Both men have also served at various times on several borough-based volunteer committees.
Becnel chaired the Keyport Historic Preservation Commission for two consecutive years during the early 1990s. He currently serves as first vice president of the Keyport Chamber of Commerce and is slated to become next year’s president of the chamber.
Goedtel has served on many committees, including the Waterfront Committee of the Keyport Partnership Inc. The nonprofit organization preceded the newly functioning Keyport Business Alliance.
Currently, he serves on the Environmental Commission and is involved with the Keyport Historical Society and Preservation Commission.
The passage of a volunteer ordinance on Oct. 3 will acknowledge volunteers by granting them permit and license fee waivers as a token of Keyport’s appreciation.
Becnel and Goedtel are considering asking officials to endorse a spring "Volunteerism Parade" to honor not only borough volunteers, but others serving in various forms of nonpaid service to and in the borough.