By Robert Burns

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – Close to 200 of this region’s most important people enjoyed dinner and rubbed elbows Thursday, March 25, at Tiano’s Italian Restaurant at NSB’s Municipal Golf Course. The honorees of the evening were the Southeast Volusia YMCA’s ‘Very Important Persons’ of 2010: Mike and Dana Thompson of Oak Hill. 
The evening’s mistress of ceremonies duties fell on the glittering shoulders of Kaye Walker and Sally Gillespie, as the two social butterflies greeted and entertained a broad array of this region’s leadership of today and yesteryear. A host of speakers which included Cecil Goodrich, Gene Sheldon, Kaye Brannon, and yours truly, had an opportunity to toast and very gently roast the civically engaged couple. As she presented Dana a lovely home-made jacket, Ms. Brannon, a close friend of Dana’s and fellow educator said, “I love you and would gladly give you the shirt off my back.”
The appreciative crowd cheered.
The Thompsons have distinguished themselves after years, actually donating decades of selfless service to the community; she as a veteran teacher, mentor, cause coordinator, librarian and founder of the Burns-Oak Hill Trust; and he as an active member of the community, and former mayor of Oak Hill.
Both Mike and Dana are huge supporters of the YMCA and its mission to serve the children of southeast Volusia County.
“We are so thankful for their support and on-going involvement,” said SEV YMCA Executive Director Lori DeVilbiss. “Actually, we’re thankful for the support of all the people who showed up to salute Mike and Dana this evening. It is heartening.”