NEREJ's managing editor Ben Summers honored with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award

The New England Real Estate Journal's managing editor, Ben Summers recently was honored by receiving the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. It was recommended by the Talking Information Center where Ben has volunteered for 2,000 hours during the past more than 30 years. He reads and records Bloomberg Business Week and the Economist every week. The recordings are broadcast to blind and handicapped residents throughout Massachusetts over a special FM frequency. The award was created by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation to encourage ongoing involvement in service and civic engagement. It was created by the first President George H.W. Bush and has been continued by all succeeding Presidents. Shown in photo are nearly all of the Journal employees - editors, publishers and staffers. Financial Digest publisher Jeff Keller is holding the framed award. Ben is holding an Official Citation from the Mass. Senate and Sabrina Andrews is holding the Official Citation from the House of Representatives. Karen Dowell is holding a letter from President Obama. That letter is as follows: "Congratulations. In my Inaugural Address, I stated that we need a new era of responsibility - a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our Nation and the world ... that we seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit than giving our all to a difficult talk. Your volunteer service demonstrates the kind of commitment to your community that moves America a step closer to its great promise."