By BRIAN LAWSON
Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Robin Boyd has been involved in countless charitable organizations, and will be honored Friday, May 9, by the Hooksett Lions Club as its Citizen of the Year.

Despite being recognized for her personal achievements, Boyd said all of her volunteering is because of one reason: love for the town she was born and raised in.

“I guess life isn’t about doing more for yourself, it’s about giving to your community,” Boyd said. “Your community is really your extended family, so being there for your family, and being there for your extended family, is what life is all about.”

Boyd said her involvement in charitable organizations stems from her desire to develop a stronger community for future generations.

“I enjoy being part of a community, and, because we have such a strong community, a close-knit community, I feel being a part of that is important for our children so they know what being part of a community is all about,” she said.

Boyd became a member of the Girl Scouts in the second grade and has stayed involved with the organization ever since.

“I was a Girl Scout as a child and felt that it offered me opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she said. “As an adult, having the opportunity to continue keeping those opportunities for girls is important.”

Within the past couple of years, she has served on Girl Scout committees for everything from program development to mentoring new members.

For her work with the organization, Volunteer NH awarded Boyd its 2008 Volunteer Service Award.

When discussing her current participation with the Girl Scouts, Boyd said she is simply a member of a team working toward the betterment of the community.

“As an adult, I think it’s important for adults to network and we have a marvelous team. Girl Scouting doesn’t involve one person. It’s a team,” Boyd said.

In addition to being a devoted member of the Girl Scouts, Boyd has been involved with the Hooksett Food Pantry, the Hooksett Commerce Alliance and serves on the board of the directors for Robie’s Country Store Historic Preservation Corporation. Boyd also finds time each year to assemble the Old Home Day program book.

Boyd said she helps organize Old Home Day because she sees it as an opportunity for the town to grow closer together.

“We get caught up in politics, we get caught up in town government, we get caught up in national government. The day-to-day burdens are on us all, but Old Home Day provides us a chance to put all that aside,” she said. “It’s really a time to just ... say that I might have differed with you on that referendum but I’m your neighbor and I just want to sit down with you and have a cup of coffee together.”

Boyd added that her favorite part of Old Home Day is the chance to see families enjoy a fun afternoon.

“I just love seeing families come down and have a great time because we always have fun at Old Home Day, we always do.”

James Sullivan, a member of the Lions Club who is organizing an event to honor Boyd, praised Boyd’s charity efforts with the Girl Scouts.

“From the first time I met Robin Boyd at a Robie’s Country Store open house, I was very impressed with her level of involvement in town celebrations,” Sullivan said. “The joy and enthusiasm she showed when she was with the Girl Scouts was astonishing. She really loves the Girl Scouts.” Sullivan added, “She is a great ‘little’ lady with truly a great big heart.”

Reflecting upon her experiences, Boyd said she would like to see the town’s numerous volunteer organizations work closer together and wants to become more involved in her church community.

When she is not volunteering, Boyd is a graphic designer who builds Web sites and social networking sites for companies.