Being a member of a Rotary club does not make someone a Rotarian, it only makes them a member of a club. A good Rotarian helps the club achieve its goals and acts with high ethical standards. A good Rotarian also participates in the club’s fellowship and fundraising and community service projects.  

 

This award recognizes not a good Rotarian but the one outstanding Rotarian who, in the past year has demonstrated outstanding achievement in Rotary and through his actions has been an inspiration to others to do the same.  The one Rotarian in our club who clearly stands out and who promotes Rotary by his actions and involvement is John Thompson. 

 

John is not a “knife and forker”.  His involvement with the Club does not begin and end with our luncheon meetings.  John has, over his years of Membership, supported the Club more as a “hands-on” doer, avoiding the sitting around discussing what we could or should do – he does it.  

 

I want to congratulate Maria Greco in recruiting John to lead THE PROJECT of the Year acknowledging, recognizing and celebrating, in these most challenging and difficult times, our 40^th Anniversary.  John has again demonstrated an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts.  John took the role leading, managing and coordinating the creation, design and production of the Rotary Club of Kitchener-Westmount’ s 40^th Anniversary Commemorative Book.  

 

This task required a great deal of planning and research – fortunately John has led similar projects in the past – all the more reason he should have avoided saying “yes” to Maria.  Barely a day has gone by that John hasn’t been consumed by tasks – some big and others small – and managing details to complete this project.  And the year is not close to being over, and neither is his work.  

 

As with any project, but especially with collecting 40 years of service club history, there were numerous challenges along the way – multiple archives in basements, garages, attics, closets, file cabinets, desks or Brad’s place - missing records, missing past Presidents, fading memories, contrary memories and numerous dead-ends.  He treated each hurdle as an opportunity to seek another path to follow, a distant name to track down, an old Member or acquaintance to reconnect with - and to find another way to achieve success.  John’s drive and enthusiasm, skill and experience were critical components to the success of this important Club project.

 

I approached John to discuss my choice knowing John would resist - John is not unaccustomed to receiving accolades however he never seeks it for himself – although he has approached me twice in the past 6 months to support recognition for someone else. 

 

He has received considerable recognition in the Community for his volunteer work, especially where sports are involved.  And he has also been recognized in the past for his contributions and ongoing value to our Club – he received the Rotarian of the Year Award in 2011-2012, served as our President for the year 2014-2015, and has been recognized with a Paul Harris Award 1^st in 2013 and again in 2017. 

 

At first, he refused to accept this award stating it was someone else’s turn. However, I persisted arguing that his leadership and contribution to this specific project was critical to not only recognizing our past but creating a firm foundation on which to launch our Club anew.  He has reached back reconnecting with our past – both leaders and community accomplishments - and provided for our current Members the self-awareness of our value as a Club to return to normal Club activities serving both the Community and our Membership once the virus subsides.  

 

John’s greatest value is not what he does but how he does it.  

Humbleness, humility, modesty, unpretentiousness, decency, lack of vanity – words I would use to describe John.  His approach to this and every project is in lending his talents and skills where best served, not to execute leadership or assume control, but to address the wants and requirements of the task. He leads by listening to others carefully to better understand their interests, by holding himself and others accountable for the critical timelines, commitments and the achievement of the goal.

 

This annual award is designated for the one Rotarian in our club who clearly stands out and who promotes Rotary by their actions and involvements. With thanks and in recognition of the many good things John Thompson does for our Club and in the community, this award specifically recognises his contributions to meeting a specific challenge of successfully leading the team that is creating, in extremely difficult times, the Club’s 40^th Anniversary Commemorative Book.  

 

It is my great pleasure to award John the Rotarian of the Year Award for 2020-2021.  

 

President Jack

Since Past President Tony Giovinazzo presented the 1st Gord Ferguson Community Builder Award almost 10 years ago our Club has honoured the outstanding Rotarian volunteer who has work tirelessly and collaboratively within our Club and within organizations, partnerships, agencies, neighbourhood groups, and religious organizations in our communities to help ensure our communities are better for everyone. 

 

This individual being recognized again this year has been a member of our club for the past 20 years.  She has supported the Club and the Board for most of those years as Club Secretary.  But Karin Voisin’s commitment and service goes way beyond her official roles - she really is an excellent model of a committed Rotarian dedicating herself to service in every way possible.  

 

You all know Karin is busy but let me share just a little of what she does.  1^st let’s look at what Karin, through her official role as Club Secretary, contributes to the Club and the Board, and particularly the President – 

 

The primary role of the Club Secretary is to ensure the club functions effectively.  I must say that I, and many others, rely heavily on Karin to guide us individually, and the Board and the Club collectively on almost every action, reaction or function.  She has rescued me on numerous occasions through my year as President.

She is our Administrative backbone - the custodian of all the club and foundation records.  Let me give you a glimpse at just some of the administrative tasks she is responsible for:

She also supports the incoming President in preparation for Presidents Night.  We just show up, but she is the one that makes sure everything is ready for the celebration of the Past Year and the Launch of the next.  This includes,

Without resistance or judgement, and showing a whole lot of tolerance she does all the inane things requested of her by the never-ending line of newly elected Presidents – each one of us inexperienced and unfamiliar with Club routine and protocol than the last!  I honestly do not know what our club would do without Karin!

In addition to supporting the Club as Secretary, she is so much more

Really, a Rotarian extraordinaire! 

But her contributions to Waterloo Region go far beyond our Club. 

In addition to all she has contributed as a volunteer

She has a passion for working with people and, as Rotarian Mac Graham notes, “she gets shit done!" 

  

Karin has been recognized in the past but her commitment however her current and continuous service warrants this further recognition.  It is my great pleasure to acknowledge Karin’s many contributions to our Club and to her greater Communities by awarding her the Gord Ferguson Community Builder Award for the year 2020-2021.

 

President Jack