By Theresa-Marie Wilson
One of the niceties of living in a small community are the bonds that form between people from all walks of life who share the common goal of giving back to the cities in which they live and work. In that spirit, Coast News sat down with the three folks, each awarded the 2015 Citizen of the Year from their respective chambers of commerce.
It was a gathering that began with the shaking of hands and ended with hugs all around.
At the table were Effie McDermott, from Pismo Beach, Sean Schuur, from Arroyo Grande and Bruce Van Vort, from Grover Beach.
Sean Schuur—Arroyo Grande & Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year
“It is truly a blessing,” said Schuur, the owner of Sure Mortgage Solutions. “I am grateful to be in this area, for my family and my customers. My Lord blessed me to be here. This award is a tribute to all of them because without them I wouldn’t be here.”
Schuur moved to the area from Georgia about 20 years ago after visiting a former roommate.
He serves with the Pismo Beach/Five Cities Rotary, Junior Achievement, Arroyo Grande Car Club, Community Health Center, International Footprints , New Life Community Church Men’s Board, Toys for Tots, Cuesta Crankers, the Elks, Nipomo Rotary, and was named the official Santa Claus of Southern San Luis Obispo County by the Salvation Army.
His accolades include the Pismo Board of Realtors Affiliate of the Year, the San Luis Obispo Board of Realtors Affiliate of the year, and Nipomo Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.
He says his work with Toys for Tots is the “true blessing” of his volunteer work.
“Christmas is the birth of my Savoir and I am very excited during that time,” said Schuur. “The blessing is watching the individuals pick up the toys for the children so that they can have that Christmas experience that I was lucky enough to have.”
Schuur said volunteering was instilled in him when he was growing up.
“It’s what my parents taught me, and it is the right thing to do,” said Schuur. “I’ve been blessed in my life more than I can imagine. I feel like I need to continue that. I never met a stranger in my life.”
Effie McDermott—Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year
McDermott hails from Grand Prairie, Texas, but has been a county resident since 1958.
“It struck me after I had received the award how great it is and what an honor it is,” said McDermott, a businesswoman and unofficial local historian. “It was absolutely a surprise.”
She is a founding member of the Pismo Beach Business Improvement Group, organized the first Pismo Beach Doo Dah Parade, and author of “Images of America: Pismo Beach,” as well as a driving force behind the restoration and preservation of the Price House and creation Price Historical Park.
She has served on numerous city committees including the Waterfront Redevelopment Committee that recommended the diamond design of the 1985 reconstruction of the Pismo Beach Pier, the Local Coastal Plan Citizens Advisory Committee and served on the Pismo Beach Planning Commission.
She was even a guide for the late Huell Howser in an episode of the television series “California’s Gold” about Pismo Clams. And, if you happen to be driving on Effie Way in Pismo Beach, yes there is a street named after her.
“I am very proud of what has been done out at the Price House and the Price Historical Park,” said McDermott. “I’ve been involved with it for about 20 years, and it is just a gorgeous park. It is going to be fantastic when it is done.”
Another project near and dear to her heart, was being a part of the planning team behind the design of the reconstruction of the pier project, which also included building the adjacent boardwalk.
“When you take something on, it becomes yours,” said McDermott. “Even though there are other people doing it too, it becomes your project. You do it because you want to do it, you can’t imagine not doing it, and you love doing it. It is its own reward.”
Bruce Van Vort–Arroyo Grande & Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year
Van Vort was general manager in charge of concessions at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota until about 14 years ago when he moved to the area and is the owner of Fin’s Seafood Restaurant in Grover Beach. He also runs concessions at the neighboring Pismo State Beach Golf Course.
“It’s a great honor,” said Van Vort. “I accept it with my employees in mind. A lot of us give out of abundance, but I have employees that have given out of poverty. Every time I ask them if they want to volunteer their time for one of the events, everyone of them for the last five or six years has volunteered their time. They are the real heroes.”
Van Vort is a sponsor and supporter of the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition, sponsor of the Haiti Earthquake Relief Benefit, and supporter of the International Footprint Association.
Van Vort is also a foster father with a history of taking in troubled youth from broken homes. He has four adopted children, one foster child and recently married a woman who has five kids.
“I only adopted older children, because nobody wants them,” Van Vort said. “They only want little babies. The most meaningful thing I have every done is raising my kids. They are my inspiration.”
All of his children were homeless at one time in their lives before being adopted, which is part of the reason Van Vort is so passionate about the 5Cities Homeless Coalition.
He and his work crew hold three major fundraisers a year at the restaurant or the golf course with 100 percent of the proceeds going to benefit the 5Cities Homeless Coalition.
“I was amazed when I came out to this area and saw that there were so many homeless kids running around,” he said. “They are 12 to 17 years of age with no mom, no dad, no foster parents, no ward of the state. They come out of the dunes in the morning and they go to school. Can you imagine the courage that takes?”
Van Vort attributes his volunteer efforts to his upbringing. He was raised in New Year by a single mom.
“She was the strongest, most wonderful person I have ever seen,” he said. “She gave me the greatest gift of all, which was poverty. When you come from that, you never forget about it.”
Schuur, McDermott and Van Vort were honored at their respective chambers of commerce installation and awards dinner
