Vocational Service Award
Mike Thor said it was an honour to present the Vocational Service Award for the year 2007-08. This Award marks recognition in one of the four avenues of Rotary service and is given to those who share their skill and expertise with the community while acting as an ambassador to the community for their profession.
The Award recognizes the promotion of the highest ethical standards to employees, to the public and to customers. Mark and Carol Cruden exemplify these standards.
Both started with McDonalds as part time employees in their home communities and each worked their way through the ranks to become managers. Carol went on to become a senior administrator responsible for 180 stores while Mark went in to business ownership. Both were considering taking a franchise and when the opportunity to purchase in Midland arose, they jumped at it. Midland appealed because of the quality of life, the Bay, the people and the atmosphere, all of which made it a great place to raise their children - Ashley, now 17, Michelle, 15 and Mark, 7.
Owners of the franchise since 2003, they have the main store on 93, the one in Wal-Mart and the one in Elmvale. They have 'great customers and great employees'. They maintian this by treating others fairly, promoting employee morale through events, scholarships and training. In the community they promote the Terry Fox run and a wide range of ongoing and one time fund raising through collection boxes, discount coupons and donations from the sale of food. $0.10 from every cup of coffee goes to the Huronia Hospital Foundation. Community Living receives $2,500.00 a year from a similar arrangement. United Way is supported through a 12 Days of Christmas promotion and the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign receives $1.00 from every sandwich sold on YMCA Day, while donation boxes raise another $3,200.00.
There's at least another dozen charities that are supported by the Crudens. Grants solicited by them from the Ronald McDonald Foundation have supported accessibility at the Wye Marsh.
Mike said that Mark and Carol believe that if everybody who was able to make a contribution back to society with money or time, whether it be large or small, did so, the impact would be huge. Every contribution makes a difference and the Cruden's have made a huge difference. He said he was honoured to present the Vocational Service Award to them both.
Carol received it and said that they had terrific help from the community to their initiatives and thought that no community can compare to the level of support and generosity demonstrated by the people of this area. She said she and Mark are lucky to be part of it and thanked the Club for the Award.