The Staten Island Runner sirunning.com

Alma Ramos - Dedicated to Service
by David Panza

November 9, 2003 - At our November SIAC monthly meeting, we selected the 2003 Lou Marli Service award winner, an individual who is well-deserving given the list of credentials. A candidate for the award must have a career of service to the running community spanning at least five years, and the winner certainly does.

However, I want to also publicly acknowledge our friend Alma Ramos for her service to SIAC and the community over the last couple of years. Where to begin? Perhaps with Alma's devotion to keeping the memory of Steve Lauria alive for his grieving friends - the beautiful quilt for Steve's mom, the website specifically for Steve, the street sign ceremony in memory of Steve.

Other recent community projects were spearheaded by Alma - the gardening project at Seaview Hospital, the food collection project for Project Hospitality, which will culminate with our group meal service at a Stapleton soup kitchen this weekend.

If Alma is not running in a race, she can be seen helping with its administration, or shouting encouragement from the sidelines with a teacher's enthusiasm. She is heavily involved with the annual SIAC dinner, and is frequently called upon for her beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner or God Bless America, at races or dinners.

I could probably add to this list if I thought about it, but you get the picture. One of these years, I feel certain, Alma will be the recipient of the coveted Marli service award, and it will be well-deserved. On behalf of SIAC, thanks for all your help, Alma!
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Keep on running!