Golden Deeds

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

On Wednesday, the Morning Exchange Club named their recipient of the Book of Golden Deeds Award for 2015, Nicole Vess. The award is given annually to an Exchange Club member to recognize them for volunteer efforts in the local community. Vess joins past winners of the award, some of which were present Wednesday morning. “This is one of the most important events we plan,” said Morning Exchange Club president Mark Peterson. “This is for a person who is sincere about helping the community, who has a track record of unselfish giving.” Vess was described as one who “loves to help children, her community, our Exchange Club and is a Dallas Cowboys ‘crazy fan.’” Born and raised in Germany, Vess has been in the U.S. for over 18 years and has been a longtime fan of the Dallas Cowboys. She and her husband are season ticket holders and have become part of the tailgating regulars at AT&T stadium, where she and fellow tailgaters have started a game day tradition by holding fundraisers for selected charities. “There is nothing greater than fans of different teams coming together for the good of the less fortunate,” Vess has said. One of the charities for which she has raised funds is the Coryell County Rainbow Room, which provides necessities for abused and neglected children who have been removed from their homes by CPS. Recently, Vess has become the treasurer for the Rainbow Room as well. Vess is also the president of the chamber of commerce Ambassadors, the vice president of programs for the Exchange Club, and is a regular volunteer for Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful. “She believes in supporting her team, community service, supporting charities, and making a positive difference in someone’s life,” Peterson said of Vess. Vess has also been given the Yes award from the Chamber of Commerce, along with being recognized as Ambassador of the Year in 2013 and 2014. She was named one of the Exchangites of the Quarter during 2014 for her efforts in the community. The first Golden Deeds award recipient in Copperas Cove was Miss Jewell Yarborough, in 1973.