The Bainbridge Pilot Club has received three nominations for their annual “Woman of the Year.” The winner will be announced on Thursday, January 22 at the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner meeting.
The third and final nomination to be printed in The Post Searchlight is Kimberly Walden, who was nominated by the Rotary Club Board of Directors.

The letter of recommendation reads:
“On behalf of the Rotary Cub of Bainbridge, we would like to nominate Kimberly Walden for the 2014 Woman of the Year. We feel she would be a good nomination because of her very active participation in so many of the civic organizations that support our community.
“First, Kim is the Rotary Club President. Our club was established in 1936 and as our more than 78 past-presidents know, being a Rotary president is a full-time job! Kim is doing a great job leading our club and she came up with a plan that would make our entire club a 100 percent Paul Harris Fellow Club. It’s an achievement that only about 40 percent of clubs so far have achieved. This means a $1,000 donation was made for more than 26 individuals and the donation supports the Rotary Foundation, which focuses aid in the six global areas of Rotary focus: 1) Peace and conflict prevention/resolution. 2) Disease prevention and treatment. 3) Water and sanitation. 4) Maternal and child health. 5) Basic education and literacy. 6) Economic and community development.
“Kim also established a Little Free Library on behalf of our literacy goals, which will be placed in the town square and will offer books for free.
“You might have seen her most recently ringing the bell as a Rotarian in support of the Salvation Army.
“Kim is also the Chairman of the United Way of Bainbridge-Decatur County. Last year, United Way met their $65,000 campaign goals and even exceeded them by almost $15,000, which gave the funded charities in our community a much- unexpected bonus in support of their community programs.
“Fundraising requires a lot of coordination and she seems to love doing it. United Way recently met the $68,000 campaign goal for 2014 and will once again return extra support to the charities that United Way funds.
“When Kim joined United Way several years ago, she began organizing a Day of Action volunteer project that provides a services opportunity for the United Way Board of Directors and community volunteers. During that day, volunteers help a funded agency with service projects like painting, maintenance and other much-needed work. All services are voluntary, and donated, requiring a lot of organization and effort in determining viable projects and what is needed to accomplish them.
Some past projects have helped the Salvation Army, YMCA, RISE Educational Tutoring Center and most recently the Friendship House.
“Kim also is the Vice-President of the Bainbridge-Decatur YMCA and serves on their Executive Board as well as the Board of Directors. She is also a member of the CEO Search Committee, Kim has been active in putting together partnerships in support of the YMCA during their annual campaign, volunteering during their Healthy Kids Day and even helping run a concession stand. Being a member of these three groups at the YMCA requires lots of extra time and Kim can always be counted on to lend her help.
“Kim is a member of the Bainbridge Service Club, an organization that volunteers their time and support to many organizations that need volunteer help or other financial resources in our community.
“Kim cares so for the community and always provides a great attitude of support and assistance during all her volunteer activities. For these reasons, and many more that we didn’t mention, we would like to nominate her for Woman of the Year,”
Signed, Rotary Club Board of Directors by Richard Youmans, Treasurer.