Paul Harris Awardees
Posted by Norman Bindon
Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded Nov. 25 to club members Paul Chisholm, Doug Leighton and Rob van Kessel. And to Dianne Gamble for her community service work. Congratulations. Click headline for more
All of our Rotarians who receive Paul Harris Fellow recognition from the Club are outstanding Rotarians in many areas but there is usually one activity that for which they are best known and for which they have a special passion.
Rotarian Doug Leighton nearly missed the Paul Harris Awards night again. Doug never knew he was selected for recognition at the Spring 2002 Awards Night because Doug was in Arusha, Tanzania working on the 3H project for the second time. Doug delayed a third trip by two days so he could make a presentation on Arusha as our guest speaker on the Paul Harris evening without knowing he was to be an awardee.
Past District Governor Paul Truex was with Doug last June. This is an excerpt from his report: " I just want to tell you what an outstanding job Doug Leighton is doing here on the 3H project. He has personally taken over direction of some of the key bottlenecks on the project and has single-handedly moved the project ahead by several weeks in just a few short days." As this is written, Doug is again supervising the digging of the water pipeline trench or working at the Street Kids Facility or perhaps finding out why the electricity has not been installed as promised at the dairy.
Rotarian Rob van Kessel is the kind of Rotarian who just quietly and consistently does good work for the Club and the Community. Rob, like most Rotarians, leads a very busy life. Rotary makes it even busier. Rob recently started another term on the Board of Directors.
A few years ago Rob came up with the idea of the Blade-a-Thon. Almost entirely through his determination the Blade-a-Thon to benefit the Canadian Cancer society was born. The first year was discouraging but he persevered. Now many members work on the project and it is becoming one of our premier events.
Rotarian Paul Chisholm's list of Rotary Activities would make you think he has been a Rotarian much longer than he has. He is currently on the Board of directors and the Security Committee but most would identify him with Easter Seals and especially with one of the Triple Crown Events, Thunder Run. From the motorcycle rally to the Siberian tiger it is a class event. But the Easter Seals Summer Picnic is the part that is closest to the hearts of many Rotarians.
All of our recipients were again surprised that they were selected but none more so than Paul. He spotted Chief Catney at the back of the room just minutes before the presentation started but still didn't realize he was about to be recognized. The look on his face when he caught on was one of the highlights of the evening.
Dianne Gamble is not a Rotarian. She probably wouldn't have time to be. She is very busy doing those things that improve the quality of life for many. Her activities are eclectic, ranging from the Board of Directors of St. Leonard's House to providing breast prostheses to women in Africa. The selection committee for the Award thought we might be reading of the accomplishments of three women.
Dianne is also a role model for her daughters. They have started to follow in her footsteps. One was sponsored by our Club two years ago, to a citizenship course in Ottawa. She is now on the executive of a Z Club sponsored by Zonta at a Brampton High School.
Our four awardees have earned the recognition of their peers. The Rotary Club of Brampton has donated $1000US to Rotary Foundation in the name of each of them. We are proud to know them.
Rotarian Doug Leighton nearly missed the Paul Harris Awards night again. Doug never knew he was selected for recognition at the Spring 2002 Awards Night because Doug was in Arusha, Tanzania working on the 3H project for the second time. Doug delayed a third trip by two days so he could make a presentation on Arusha as our guest speaker on the Paul Harris evening without knowing he was to be an awardee.
Past District Governor Paul Truex was with Doug last June. This is an excerpt from his report: " I just want to tell you what an outstanding job Doug Leighton is doing here on the 3H project. He has personally taken over direction of some of the key bottlenecks on the project and has single-handedly moved the project ahead by several weeks in just a few short days." As this is written, Doug is again supervising the digging of the water pipeline trench or working at the Street Kids Facility or perhaps finding out why the electricity has not been installed as promised at the dairy.
Rotarian Rob van Kessel is the kind of Rotarian who just quietly and consistently does good work for the Club and the Community. Rob, like most Rotarians, leads a very busy life. Rotary makes it even busier. Rob recently started another term on the Board of Directors.
A few years ago Rob came up with the idea of the Blade-a-Thon. Almost entirely through his determination the Blade-a-Thon to benefit the Canadian Cancer society was born. The first year was discouraging but he persevered. Now many members work on the project and it is becoming one of our premier events.
Rotarian Paul Chisholm's list of Rotary Activities would make you think he has been a Rotarian much longer than he has. He is currently on the Board of directors and the Security Committee but most would identify him with Easter Seals and especially with one of the Triple Crown Events, Thunder Run. From the motorcycle rally to the Siberian tiger it is a class event. But the Easter Seals Summer Picnic is the part that is closest to the hearts of many Rotarians.
All of our recipients were again surprised that they were selected but none more so than Paul. He spotted Chief Catney at the back of the room just minutes before the presentation started but still didn't realize he was about to be recognized. The look on his face when he caught on was one of the highlights of the evening.
Dianne Gamble is not a Rotarian. She probably wouldn't have time to be. She is very busy doing those things that improve the quality of life for many. Her activities are eclectic, ranging from the Board of Directors of St. Leonard's House to providing breast prostheses to women in Africa. The selection committee for the Award thought we might be reading of the accomplishments of three women.
Dianne is also a role model for her daughters. They have started to follow in her footsteps. One was sponsored by our Club two years ago, to a citizenship course in Ottawa. She is now on the executive of a Z Club sponsored by Zonta at a Brampton High School.
Our four awardees have earned the recognition of their peers. The Rotary Club of Brampton has donated $1000US to Rotary Foundation in the name of each of them. We are proud to know them.