Elks name Diane Gamble citizen of the year

The Minden-Douglas Elks in the Gardnerville Ranchos have named Diane Gamble their Citizen of the Year for 2008.

A special dinner was held in her honor last Friday at the Elks Lodge on Pit Road.

Diane, along with her husband Dave, operates City of Refuge which offers shelter, assistance and guidance to pregnant girls and women in need.

In the early 1990s, the Gambles were inspired to become a host family for pregnant teens. They quickly determined that the one extra bedroom in their Genoa home was not enough to meet the needs of their vision. A decision was made to sell their house and purchase something larger in order to accommodate more girls.

From there, Diane says, things just snowballed. Word spread throughout the community and monetary donations started coming in. Then there was an acquisition of 40 acres in the Pine Nuts from Stoddard and Jewel Jacobsen. The first incarnation of City of Refuge was a double-wide on that remote, sagebrush-rich stretch of property.

The Gambles started speaking publicly about their vision for City of Refuge. "We'd talk to anyone who would listen to us," Diane says with a laugh.

People everywhere offered assistance. "Contractors, individuals, this community just came around us incredibly," Diane says. To this day the nonprofit center is financed solely through private donations and fundraising.

City of Refuge now consists of the main residence, the House that Jack Built, which houses girls awaiting the births of their babies. The second floor of the house, called Second Step, consists of independent studios. Residents who qualify may opt to stay there after the birth of their baby, which gives them an additional opportunity to prepare for independent living.

The Shepard's Home is a licensed foster care facility equipped to house up to six children. Then there's the Gamble's own residence, which is actually a miniature version of the barn that was donated by the Chichester family. Wood from the original barn was scraped down and used in the construction of their home. Cupboards and counters from the barn are used inside.

And that original double-wide? It's been completely remodeled and now houses people who are waiting to adopt, and sometimes even family members of the residents.

"There's a huge effort to reconcile the girls with their families," says Diane.

City of Refuge places a strong emphasis on spirituality, education and personal responsibility. Daily devotions are from 9-10 a.m. Mt. Sierra Christian Academy has maintained their certification in order to assist the residents in earning their high school diplomas or GEDs. Family Support Council offers parenting courses. Volunteers from the local community teach classes such as cooking or quilting. Life skills are taught and each girl has daily chores. Residents are treated like members of a family.

Celebrations are revered. There are graduations, complete with cap and gown, for each girl who earns her diploma. Every mom creates a scrapbook page of her baby and gets to plant a tree on the property. An annual reunion is held on Dec. 26. There have even been weddings held on the grounds.

Almost 400 girls have received services at City of Refuge since it opened in 1991.

Adoption is encouraged, though every situation is unique. The ultimate decision rests with each mother. As a licensed counselor, Diane spends a lot of time with residents, encouraging and empowering each girl, helping her to navigate life issues and get her back on track. It's that personal connection with the girls that keeps her going.

Gamble attended last Friday's dinner under the impression that it was to honor her husband, Dave. She became curious when she spotted her pastor, Brian Borgman, and suspicions were further raised when several residents from City of Refuge showed up. Even then, she assumed any recognition would be centered on the facility.

Her surprise was evident when the Elk's Exalted Ruler Dave Trueblood announced her as Citizen of the Year. Her eyes widened and she covered her face as the hoops and hollers began. People stood, she was handed a bouquet of flowers, tears came.

Pastor Borgman gave a touching tribute, speaking fondly of her and her dedicated vision. Her husband, Dave, recalled the early days of City of Refuge and referred to her as "the citizen of all my years."

It was a lovely way to honor a woman who has done so much for so many - opening both her heart and home to strangers so that they may have a shot at something better, providing a lifeline for young mothers-to-be.

City of Refuge welcomes anyone at any time to tour their facilities and see what they are all about. Newborn items (especially diapers) and monetary donations are gratefully accepted. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 2663, Gardnerville, NV 89410. They can be reached at 265-2034.

Congratulations to Diane Gamble, a most worthy recipient of this honor.

-- Amy Roby can be reached at RanchosRoundup@hotmail.com.