Salute to two important Sauk Valley servants

Two people who have contributed much to the Sauk Valley’s overall success will step down later this year.

Doug Wiersema has been president and CEO of the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce for 7 years.

Connie Lange has been executive director of the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon for 5 years.

Both recently announced their retirements.

Both will be missed.

It will not be easy to replace either person, but we are confident that creative and dedicated individuals will be recruited and hired to carry on their important work.

In Wiersema’s case, that work involved taking the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce to the next level.

Under Wiersema’s watch, membership rose from 140 to 340 – an astonishing record of growth.

He promoted the Southern Loop Tourism Project, which was on full display during the Ronald Reagan Centennial last year.

He said he also was proud of helping to expand the chamber’s summer cookout and its relocation to the riverfront.

Among projects we recall, Wiersema helped Rock Falls capitalize on the 100th anniversary of the Hennepin Canal with a special festival in 2007. He strongly supported the Whiteside County Barn Tour. Utilizing his communications skills, the one-time Gazette wire editor wrote a newspaper column on behalf of the chamber.

We were particularly grateful when Wiersema agreed to write his recollections on the life of former Gazette editor Ron Schafer upon the ex-newsman’s death about a year ago.

Lange’s focus – on the boyhood home of Sauk Valley favorite son Ronald Reagan – became the region’s focus in the run-up to the 40th president’s centennial celebration in 2011.

As Lange recounted in an interview, her job at the Reagan home could be emotional at times. She told about sharing Reagan’s story with a visiting German couple from Berlin who had lived under communism’s yoke. The impact of Reagan’s stand for freedom in their personal lives brought tears to her eyes.

Activities expanded at the Reagan home in the past 5 years. Along with playing host to centennial visitors, Lange was involved with the establishment of a gala and wine-tasting event to raise operational funds.