Dan Glotz

Dan Glotz wears many hats in the Warren County community.

He works with youth.

He works with people with disabilities.

One of his current endeavors is an effort to promote healthy lifestyles.

He is active in his church.

And he serves of numerous local and regional boards and commissions.

If there were a hat for recipients of the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry’s (WCCBI) annual Community Service Award, he could start wearing that.

Past winners have included judges, artists, entrepreneurs and the county’s captains of industry, educators, historians, people who have brought beauty and talent to the county, and some who combine many of those titles.

A few of the names include DeFrees, Bollinger, Sokolski, Smith, Crone, Putnam, Hill, Schneck, MacKenzie, and Flick.

This year, Glotz joins that list.

“It was a complete shock to me,” Glotz said when asked about the award.

Among his many accomplishments, one stands out to Glotz.

“Probably the thing I’m most proud of is Walkable Warren,” he said.

Glotz and Farley Wright, former director of the Area Agency on Aging, founded Walkable Warren. “He and I were partners in getting that off the ground,” Glotz said. He said the City of Warren, including the Department of Public Works and the Police Department, have been supportive partners in the effort.

The founders secured funding and construction of kiosks, and had selected photos and written text for them. “The idea behind it was to promote healthy lifestyles and walking and bicycling,” Glotz said. “It’s a program for all ages — youth to seniors.”

A focus on youth is evident from him long-standing work with the Boy Scouts.

“I’m involved in the Boy Scouts,” he said.

‘Involved’ means Glotz is a leader of Troop 13, Cubmaster of Pack 6, has been training Scout leaders for almost 25 years, and is the Chief Cornplanter Council Executive Board Commissioner.

The commissioner’s role is to focus on unit health throughout the council, including Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venturing Crews, and Explorer Posts.

Glotz is also active with Warren County Special Olympics, in which he is the Games and Competition Coordinator.

He fills out the paperwork for every local, sectional, and state event. “We have a lot of programs for our athletes year-round,” Glotz said.

The kinds of rewards he finds in Scouting and Special Olympics generally don’t end up with Glotz having his name engraved among a list of some of the most influential people of Warren County.

“The youth in the scouts and the athletes in the Special Olympic program are so appreciative,” Glotz said. “People go out of their way to say hello or ‘You were my Cubmaster.'”

Glotz is a cantor at St. Joseph Catholic Church, the same church that sponsors Cub Scout Pack 6.

He serves on the Intergovernmental Council (COG), Pennsylvania Wilds Team Board of Directors, is vice-president of the Route 6 Alliance, and was past vice-president of the Lumber Heritage Region.

One of the nominating criteria for the Community Service Award is that “candidates’ contributions to Warren County shall be external to his or her professional duties and expectations.” Glotz loses many more hats to that restriction.

Gala awards

The 2017 WCCBI Celebration of Excellence Gala will be held starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Conewango Club.

Glotz will receive the Community Service Award.

The Community Foundation of Warren County will be recognized with the Investment in the Community award.

The Still House receives Excellence in New Business and the Audubon Community Nature Center receives Excellence in Education.

Three organizations will receive milestone awards: CTI Physical Therapy, 25 years; Warren County YMCA, 150 years; and Gaughn’s Drug Store, 100 years.