Shaffer said service over self is key to building a stronger community
Published 3:17 pm Friday, May 1, 2026
QUNCY — A recurring theme to be found in recipients of the Quincy Service Club, former Quincy Exchange Club, Book of Golden Deed Award is the belief that there are others more deserving.
This year’s recipient is no different. Pam Shaffer said when she was notified that she had been selected, she hadn’t expected to be selected.
“When I first learned I would be receiving the Golden Deeds Award, (my) first thought was ‘surely there must be, somewhere, someone more deserving,” Shaffer said in her speech. “The truth is, the work that led me here has never been about recogntion.”
Some of Shaffer’s accomplishments throughout the community over her lifetime were touched on, including her leadership of the Adams County Red Cross during the Flood of 1993. More recently, Shaffer served for three years as co-chair of the Adams County Bicentennial Commission, culminating in the year-long, county-wide celebration in 2025.
This year marks the third Book of Golden Deeds recognition presented under the Service Club moniker, but it’s the 74 such award going back to the roots of the organization as the Quincy Exchange Club.
In his keynote speech, Dennis Koch focused on the similar but divergent concepts of “not guilty” versus “innocent.” He said that “not guilty” is a legal determination, but that a person deemed not guilty is someone that simply does what’s expected by not breaking laws.
To be innocent in a community sense, Koch said, requires the decision to actively participate to make life better. He said that Shaffer embodies that philosophy, making her the perfect choice for the award.
“Pam Schaefer (has) chosen the innocent path of radical involvement,” Koch said. “The Book of Golden Deeds isn’t awarded for staying out of trouble. It isn’t conferred for having good intentions. It’s bestowed for the innocent act of getting your hands dirty in the service of others.”
Long-time Golden Deeds committee member Rick Gengenbacher stepped into the role of committee chairman for this year’s selection. He noted that the process is a challenge because of the entire community’s spirit of giving.
“Our community have a number of people who are worthy of this award,” Gengenbacher said. “We’re so thankful for those people that take the time to actually write nominations for them.”
Shaffer said joining the list of recipients is humbling since she knows a lot of those who came before her, including a man she named as her mentor for giving back through servant-leadership, Phil Conover. Even in her gratitude for the award, Shaffer turned the attention back on those who suggested her for the award.
“I know many of those previous 73 Golden Deed Award winners,” she said. “It’s humbling just to be in their class. I’ve received copies of, I think there was about 15 letters. that to read those letters and to see the words again, I’m just very, very grateful for the time and energy that they put into the nomination.”
Shaffer said that while it can be a challenge at times, the process for giving back to the community is a simple one for anyone willing to make the commitment.
“Get involved,” she said. “When there is a need in the community, step back and say, ‘if not me, then who?’ We to plant those seeds to the younger generation, I think. That’s very important, that we plant those seeds of community service, in serving others before ourselves.”
