Founder's Award

In 1972 the founding fathers of the Allenspark Area Club created the Founder’s Award with the intent that it be awarded to anyone in the community who has “made a major contribution to better living within the geographical limits of the Allenspark Area Club”. Anyone in the community may nominate anyone they feel is deserving of this award. Please submit the name and reasons why you believe they should be considered by May 31st to the Area Club, PO Box 176, AP, CO 80510-0176 or via email to allensparkareaclub@gmail.com.

Area Club’s 2021 Founders Award Goes To

Percy Lopez and Diane Turechek

Look around when you’re attending a meeting or an event in the Allenspark area and you’ll find this year’s Founders Award recipients, Percy Lopez and Diane Turechek, participating in that activity 100%. They both come through whenever called upon. That’s part of the criteria for awarding the Founder’s Award:

“Made a major contribution to better living in our community”

Starting with the Area Club, Percy has served on the Board of Directors for quite a few years, serving in almost all capacities. In addition, they both always volunteer to help with everything the club does: Highway 7 road clean up; set up and clean up at the various venues for club meetings; Diversion Day and pancake breakfasts. If not able to help physically, you’ll find Percy on the sidelines giving encouragement and guidance until the job is done.

The Hilltop Guild’s annual bazaar -- again you’ve seen these people doing set up and clean up, helping in the “White Elephant” and “Boy’s Toys” areas and the loom room. Diane is always at the bazaar happy to show the items the weavers have made to everyone who passes by. As a “Hilltop Honey”, Percy washes the dishes after Wednesday’s luncheons and does repairs/maintenance at the Kelley House. Their spare time, if any, is spent in the loom room creating items to be sold at the bazaar.

Diane has served as President of the Hilltop Guild and continues to be a contributing member of its board of directors. She is one of the weavers at the Guild and has volunteered her time to help set up the Guild’s display area on the second floor of The Old Gallery and to be there proudly showing off these handmade items.

We also have to mention that Percy has been chairman of the Area Club’s committee for the Estes Park Duck Race several times. He even donned his waders and got into Fall River to help get the yellow plastic ducks headed in the right direction. One year he and Paul Nuzum set up a booth at the race site to let people know about the club and sell tickets to anyone who stopped by.

The Allenspark Senior Advisory Council has also had the benefit of their involvement in the community by serving on the council for over 5 years, Diane serving as secretary for many years For Lunch Bunch, Diane volunteers to serve and clean up the room when at the Community Church. Percy handles the chores at the check in table, makes sure the required paperwork was complete and has taken on the duties of making the announcements to the attendees in the absence of the Council Chair.

The Old Gallery is another place this couple has donated their time, helping with various events and activities. Peggy Mauerman, former manager of The Old Gallery, shared her thoughts regarding Percy and Diane’s involvement at TOG:

“They were both always more than willing to jump in and help with anything such as volunteering for events. Diane led the seniors walking group that many of our Allenspark friends and neighbors enjoyed and Percy was always willing to don the fluorescent vest to help with parking. Just their presence at events and activities made it special. How lucky are we to call Percy and Diane our friends!”

There was a group of men in Boulder who volunteered to assist senior citizens with various chores at their homes, i.e. install grab bars, change light bulbs, make small repairs, etc. Because those men were often unable to come up to Allenspark, Percy and a few other men in the Allenspark community became the “Mr. Fixit” guys who would do those chores and more for residents in the area. Percy helped rebuild a porch after a moose tore it up, laid a patio floor, stacked wood, trimmed trees and many other tasks. These men volunteer their time. Should the subject of payment come up, they tell the client “a glass of water and a donation to Lunch Bunch would be appreciated”.

Percy, for many years, has worked at a bicycle shop in Colorado Springs and brought that expertise here in order to make repairs to resident’s bikes, usually on a no-pay or lower than average compensation. He has also helped friends and neighbors with rides to Lunch Bunch, various activities and doctor appointments.

We think you’ll agree that Percy and Diane are people who not only lead when called to do so, but also serve as team members to get a project completed, people who believe that the world is changed more by example, and not so much by opinion.

Congratulations Percy and Diane -- recipients of the

Area Club’s 2021 Founder’s Award!