Seiler Couple Earns AARP Nod for Community Service
Left, Jan & Mark Seiler (front), with SPARTA President Mary Ann Krems (rear). (Contributed photo)
Contributed by Mary Ann Krems
Mark and Jan Seiler received the AARP Community Service Award-2013 at the Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers’ Association (SPARTA) meeting Monday, May 13, for their outstanding community service and the impact they have had on the community.
Mark Seiler joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) in 1969 where he taught German until his retirement in 2004. He is a member of SPARTA and has worked at the SPARTA book sales in the spring and fall.
He has been a member of the church choir, the church council and the Personnel Committee at Trinity Lutheran Church, as well as the ecumenical choir. He has also been a member of the Monteverdi Master Chorale since its inception in 1985.
Since 2004, Mark has been a member and vice president of the Board of Directors of the Portage County Historical Society and co-editor of its newsletter. He researched the history of the Stevens Point Jewish community to facilitate the listing of the Society’s Temple Beth Israel on the National Register of Historic Places.
He has also developed exhibits for the Jewish community for the Temple Beth Israel museum and written a book, “The Jewish Community of Stevens Point” published by Worzalla Publishing Co. The proceeds of the sale of the book help maintain the synagogue museum.
As a member of the UWSP Preservation Committee, he was instrumental in listing Nelson Hall dormitory on the National Register of Historic Places and restoring the historic Founders Room in the university’s Old Main building.
He also prepared the documents for the J.G. Rosholt House in Rosholt to be included on the National Register and researched the contributions of John Gilbert Rosholt to the village of Rosholt.
He is also on the board of directors of the Portage County Cultural Festival and the LIFE (Learning is ForEver) organization.
Jan Seiler was a member of the faculty of the Department of Foreign Languages at UWSP from 1969 to 2006. During her tenure she was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award, the Faculty Service Award, the Letters and Science Distinguished Achievement Award, and the Wisconsin School Boards’ Outstanding Teacher Educator of the Year Award. Jan was the chair of the Department of Foreign Languages from 1994-2004. She is a member of SPARTA and has worked at the SPARTA book sales.
Jan is also a member of the LIFE organization, serving the last two years on the Board of Directors as well as co-chair of the Curriculum Committee. The committee’s responsibility is to choose program topics and solicit speakers or trip leaders for the approximately 80 separate programs offered to members each semester.
Jan has served the past six years on the board of the North Central Conservancy Trust. She has served the past four years as the treasurer of the organization and chair of the Finance Committee.
Jan has been active in the League of Women Voters, serving on the Steering Committee for six years, as secretary for three years and as treasurer for the past three years. Jan has also served on the board of the Portage County Mental Health Association.
Jan has been active in volunteering in community musical groups. She has played flute and piccolo in the Stevens Point Municipal Band and the Grenadiers. She has been a regular performer in the Stevens Point Area Community Theatre musicals, as well as in the Rosholt High School musicals and madrigals.
Jan is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church’s choir and often accompanies the choir and bell choir on flute.