He’s an educator. A volunteer. A tutor. A counselor. A caring friend. A father and a grandfather.

And he’s become a profoundly important member of the Duneland community.

Dr. Dan Keilman is the 2009 recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year award, presented by the Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday at its annual State of the Chamber and Community Awards Luncheon.

Keilman--who serves on the Duneland Resale Board, the Parents as Teachers Board, and the Chamber’s Ambassadors Committee--was the “natural choice” for the award this year “of just about everyone asked,” Chamber President Chuck Parkinson said, a “member of just about every club you can think of.”

“Humanitarian is fitting to everything he does, no matter what hat he’s wearing,” Parkinson noted. “He always considers the broader implications of what we’re doing. ‘What do our actions say about us?’ he asks. ‘And what should we do?’ And Dan answers every question by his own example.”

Named the 2009 Duneland Distinguished Woman for her tireless advocacy of children was Jackie Ruge-Perkins, vice-president of the First State Bank of Porter.

Presenting the award was last year’s recipient, Ann Howard, who called Ruge-Perkins a “true asset to the Duneland community.”

Ruge-Perkins, a founding member of the Duneland Exchange Club, was “committed at an early age to making the community a better place to live” and has “devoted herself to children and youth,” serving as well on the Duneland Education Foundation Board and the Brummitt Elementary School PTO.

Ruge-Perkins was instrumental in introducing the highly successful Body Safety program into the Duneland elementary schools this year.

“Jackie started serving the community when she was single,” Howard said. “And she continues to serve after becoming a devoted wife and mother.”

Named the 2009 Volunteer of the Year was Bob Capehart, a member of the Duneland YMCA Board, the Duneland Education Foundation Board, and the Chamber Board.

Capehart “goes to great lengths to help others without ever expecting anything in return,” Jim Anton said. “He’s the first to pitch in and the last to go when there’s work to be done. And he’s dedicated to any organization he belongs to.”

For their enormous investment in the Downtown, on the site of the old Muffler Man business and assorted gas stations of the past, Raymond and Steve Brickner, owners of The Flower Cart, were presented the 2009 New Construction award by past Chamber president Mark Chamberlain.

“They’ve been part of the community for more than 30 years,” Chamberlain said. “And they went above and beyond what was required for the community and their customers.”

The Flower Cart, which opened at its new location in November 2008, has essentially become the northern anchor of South Calumet Road, its fine brick exterior and tower seamlessly and elegantly extending the architectural profile of the Downtown.

The recipient of the 2009 Business Renovation award was Taco Bell. Accepting the award was Andy Piffer.

“Good things happen to good people,” Brock Lloyd said. “And good things happen to good businesses. Good businesses always crunch numbers but at the end of the day, when you do good things, good things will happen.”