I would like to thank the committee members who nominated me as the Businessman of the Year, as well as the sponsors for this great event. I was truly honored to receive such an award for only doing the things Mary and I, indeed, love performing.

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. I do not believe we can help everyone, but God expects us to help as many people as we can. This honor would not have been possible without the help of many people in this community and especially my wife, Mary.

Mary is at every event function in which I manage to get us involved. Our son, Eric, is away in the Air Force finishing his Ph.D. at MIT. When I need a power point presentation prepared, I just give it to several MIT students. Mike is the son who keeps me on task. My office staff puts the finishing touches on all my projects, which makes me look great. Friends and church family are always in the background encouraging me; they are my personal cheering section.

When I came up with the idea to feed the community, my church family was there with 25 cooked turkeys and all the trimmings. When it was decided to feed as many people as possible at the Wild Flower Cafe, the Oasis or Charlie’s Cafe, the entire community jumped in to help. I believe one of the most important things to learn about life is that each person can make a difference in a community no matter who they are or where they live.

I believe so many people have been helped and lives improved because someone cares. Therefore, lock your house, go across the street, find someone in need and do something for him or her. The service we render to others is really the rent we pay for our room on this earth. The purpose of this world is not “to have and to hold” but “to give and serve.”

God bless our armed forces and the great people of Burley. Thank you.

JACK ZARYBNISKY

MARY ZARYBNISKY

Burley