The Arcadia Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Jim and Shelly Romo have been named Citizens of the Year for 2013-14.
Individually and together the couple who have known each other since seventh grade has devoted a lifetime of volunteer service to the community of Arcadia through scouting, schools, church and myriad organizations.
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Jim and Shelly Romo
Most recently, Shelly, a former school teacher, has been President of Assistance League of Arcadia and overseen the operation of the annual Holiday sale of the Bargain Box thrift store that funds the providing of clothing and school supplies to needy children. Jim, a partner in the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Rund & Romo, where he has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine for six of the last nine years, has been the first Vice President of the new Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation board of directors for the past year, and also continues to serve on the board of directors at Methodist Hospital and board of trustees at Church of the Good Shepherd.
“Our participation in this wonderful community has given us many rewards – the most important is the friendship of so many giving and caring people,” said the couple who still find time for community work while enjoying even more rewarding volunteer time spent with their two grandchildren and three adult children.
In nominating the couple, Councilman Gary Kovacic said, “Jim and Shelly are never satisfied with just ‘putting in the time.’ They gladly accept important leadership positions that make a difference in our community. They are extremely conscientious in their duties and consistently display a genuine care and concern for the welfare of our residents, from seniors to youth and everyone in between. Their participation always includes the personal touch and a genuine concern for our community. Jim and Shelly are Arcadia’s treasures. They always place the needs and concerns of our community ahead of their own.”
The Romos will succeed Alice Wang, this year’s Citizen of the Year, at the 2013 Citizen of the Year / Installation Dinner to be held on March 21 in the Chandelier Room at Santa Anita Park. The annual dinner event, featuring the induction of new Chamber executives including Chairman-elect Arlynn Robinson, and presentations by Chamber and City leaders and political dignitaries, is considered one of Arcadia’s premier events and features an auction.
For information and tickets, call the Chamber office at 626-447-2159.
Other recent Citizens of the Year include Sho Tay, Vince Foley, current City Councilmen Gary Kovacic and Mickey Segal, the latter along with his wife Lee Segal, and Gail Jensen.
Over the years, Jim has been President of the Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education twice during his 10 years on the board, and also served two terms as President of the Arcadia Educational Foundation. For his volunteering efforts with the schools, Jim has received the Golden Apple Service Award from Arcadia school district, the Honorary Service Award from the Council PTA, and the “Very Special Person” award from Arcadia High School. He has been a coach and advisor for 15 years to the AHS recent state and national champion Government/Constitution Competition Team.
Jim also devoted five years (so far) to the Board of Trustees for the Church of the Good Shepherd; four years to the Santa Anita YMCA Board of Directors; three years to the Board of Directors of the AHS School Athletic Booster Club; and a year (so far) on Methodist Hospital’s board of directors. He coached youth sports for 15 years and was a member of the AHS and Foothills Middle School Music Club Booster Clubfor eight years.
Shelly, who taught in the Glendale School District, has been President of Assistance League of Arcadia twice and been named Most Valuable Member by the organization. She has also been President of the Sierra Madre Nursery School board of directors, and served as President of the PTA at Highland Oaks Elementary School and Arcadia High and in other capacities at the PTAs at Foothills Jr. High and Arcadia Council.
Shelly has also been recognized by the schools with awards for Honorary Service, Continuing Service, and Golden Oak from the PTAs, and her own Golden Apple award from the school district.
Among the highlights of her school volunteering was establishing “Showcasing Arcadia High” andworking with the Intercultural Committee to create Diversity Summits for students, Unity Summits for parents, a community Intercultural Night, and an intercultural week at the high school that included an intercultural museum showcasing our wealth of heritages.
