Patty Rogers thought she was coming to the Polk County Commission Work Session on Monday night to talk about the work being done by Ferst Readers.

Instead, she was asked to come to the work session on Tuesday night for the December meetings to receive a special honor, a proclamation naming her the 2023 Citizen of the Year.

Rogers, a former educator and longtime community volunteer involved with several organizations, was completely shocked by Tuesday’s announcement.

Friend and County Commissioner Linda Liles presented the award to Rogers on Tuesday night, and said it was honor for her to announce this year’s recipient.

“This recipient has volunteered many, many hours with organizations and civic clubs throughout this county,” Liles added

Along with a proclamation, Rogers also received a gift basket filled with items native to Polk County from local businesses.

Rogers said simply “what a surprise!” when she came to the front of the meeting room to receive the proclamation honoring her long service to the community as a volunteer.

“It really is an honor,” she said. “I really just thought y’all wanted to hear a little more about Ferst Readers.”

A Cedartown High graduate in 1971, she went onto become an educator in the Polk School District at Westside Elementary. After a long career in the classroom in Clayton and Fayette Counties that began when she moved away in 1978, Rogers came home. She went onto spend her time in retirement helping several organizations around the county including Ferst Readers, the Polk County Historical Society and the Cedartown Kiwanis Club.

She’s also been a longtime advocate for tourism, economic development and helping youth in the community by “promoting the community with a positive attitude.”

“I love all the things I do here in our community, and I have received so much from it,” Rogers said. “I see my purpose as a promoter of all the good things being done in Polk County through engagement with many dedicated and passionate community leaders. It’ll always be my desire to help make Polk County the best place it can be.”

WATCH: Polk County Commission Work Session for the full ceremony

Rogers unfortunately was duped into coming to the County Commission to promote Ferst Readers and was instead rewarded for her longtime service to Polk County, so take this opportunity below to learn a couple of things about the organizations she’s involved in locally.

Ferst Readers (formerly the Ferst Foundation) is an organization dedicated toward increasing childhood literacy through the promotion of reading early in the lives of youth around the nation. Locally, Ferst Readers of Polk County raises thousands of dollars annually through fundraisers and individual donors to send quality books to children from birth to their fifth birthday without any cost to the parents. The organization was founded in 1999, and a $40 donation can provide a child with books for the year.

Check out Ferst Readers of Polk County on their Facebook Page.

The Polk County Historical Society founded in 1974 provides local residents with a resource for a glimpse into the past of Cedartown, Rockmart and Aragon. Members help fund the organization’s Museum and the Hawkes Library for Genealogy Research. Learn more about the PCHS and follow upcoming events at Polkhist.com.

The Cedartown Kiwanis Club like all civic organizations has a focus on fundraising and helping local organizations, but also meet on Fridays at the Cherokee Golf and Country Club for lunch and to hear speakers provide information on various topics. Learn more about the club on their Facebook page.