Somehow, amidst his rampant volunteerism with a number of local groups and charities, Douglass Sell still found time to co-found an organization called Urban BoatWorks, a group that teaches inner-city Camden youth the craft of wooden boat building as a way to develop skills and values.
Is there any wonder this guy was a unanimous choice for 2012 Citizen of the Year? In front of hundreds on Wednesday, Feb. 1, Sell was officially named the citizen of the year by the Moorestown Service Council, which is comprised of members from the Y Service Club, the Lion’s Club and Rotary Clubs.
“When you have an event there’s a lot of pressure on the awardee. We spent a fair amount of time together for the past month and a half. He’s a simple man and he’s humble,” said Tim Kerrihard, president of the Y Service Club. “He doesn’t brag about what he’s done or who he is. It’s not pretend. I came to appreciate that about him and I would never have known. It was nice that the dinner brought that to light.”
Currently, Sell serves as treasurer of the board of directors for the Interfaith Hospitality Network. An active member of the Moorestown Rotary Lunch Club since 1984, he has previously served as president and treasurer.
As well as his volunteerism with the local organizations, he also helps inner city youths learn the fine art of wooden boat building. Established a few years ago, Sell said several representatives approached him to help start the organization because of his experience in building boats.
“Three years ago a mutual friend of ours invited me to participate and start the program, at that point I had built several boats on my own, that’s why they called me, I was the only person they knew with experience,” Sell said. “I told them that I’d love to do that, I’d love to build more boats. One thing led to another and we made several boats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and sailboats.”
The group has about 100 members and is looking to expand, he said.
He remembers his father in law pushing him to become more involved when he was a newlywed at 21.
“Honestly, the beginning of an awareness of needs beyond myself was when my father in law introduced me to rotary. I was married at 21, so somewhere around that timeframe he was always quick to say yes to help people out. One thing led to another, I became exposed to rotary, and then men’s bible study,” he said. “Once you take that first step you realize that it didn’t kill me, so you want to try another and another. At this point, I still enjoy service, but I get as much of satisfaction, or even more so, to help facilitate others to take that first step.”
People kept coming up to him throughout the award ceremony and asking him if he really “knew everyone here.”
“I kind of do know all of them in some way, it’s cool,” he said. “I firmly believe that god has called us all to serve those around us who are less fortunate. It’s his call, I’ve answered it, and it’s my pleasure.”
Sell is a self-employed certified public accountant with an office on North Church Street in Moorestown.
Since 1954, the Moorestown Service Club Council has been making the citizen of the year award, to honor a Moorestown citizen who has significantly contributed to the quality of life of the community and its citizens through varied community service activities. The Moorestown Service Club Council chooses the citizen of the year recipient based on nominations made by Moorestown citizens.
For more information on the Urban BoatWorks program, please visit www.urbantrekkers.org/urban-boatworks.
