Joe Gifford: Recipient of our “Service Above Self” Award
The Waconia-West Caver Rotary announces that Joe Gifford is the Rotary’s Service Above Self Award recipient for 2021. Joe Gifford epitomizes the words of author Elizabeth Andrew: “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart; by visualizing the impossible, they begin to see the possibilities.”
photos of the golfing event at (2021: June Golfing Event)
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Gifford has a passion for making a difference in the community. He lives in and has been doing just that since moving here in 2008. Employed as an IT operations manager for Syngenta, he makes the time and has the energy to volunteer for multiple projects and organizations.
Originally from Nebraska, Gifford grew up seeing both of his parents volunteering. They instilled in him the value of giving back at a young age.
“The best way to get to know a community and its people is through volunteering. We need to encourage our younger generations to get involved in their communities so that our communities continue to grow and develop,” Gifford said.
“The best way to get to know a community and its people is through volunteering. We need to encourage our younger generations to get involved in their communities so that our communities continue to grow and develop,” Gifford said.
Gifford obtained his degree in business management from Peure College. As an undergraduate, he was a member of the Army National Guard and a Scottish Rite Mason in the Blue Lodge from 1997 through 2002.
Gifford’s efforts are influential in the community, say volunteer colleagues. People love volunteering with Joe because he is a natural leader with a great sense of humor.
From 2008-2011 Joe coached Waconia girls community basketball. He became a member of the Waconia Lions Club in 2011 , holding various officer roles leading to president in 2014. He worked at the district level for Lions on the District Public Relations Committee and was an active volunteer organizer for the Korean/ Vietnam Veterans Washington, D.C. trip in 2016.
Gifford likes to keep his volunteering efforts local and was very active in parent volunteering for both the Waconia Show Choir and Waconia Marching Band programs from 2014 through 2017. At the same time, his wife, Jackie served as the chaperone nurse.
“The best way to get to know a community is through volunteering,” Gifford says. “I like to see the outcomes in my community, Gifford said. I want to see the impact, either small or large.”
For the past three years, Gifford has been a member of the American Legion 150 Post in Waconia. He is currently on the Board of Directors and membership director. Formerly, holding roles as both 1st and 2nd Vice Commander, he now prepares a bi-monthly newsletter and leads the task force to acquire a new building for the American Legion. Joe’s best days are spent at the Legion’s omelet breakfast and steak fries.
Currently, Gifford leads the American Legion restoration effort for the Civil War Soldiers Memorial, Civil War cannon and World War I memorials located at Waconia’s City Square Park.
He is most excited about the opportunity to restore the Civil War soldiers’ memorial. The monument, erected in 1892, includes the names of all soldiers from Carver County who fought and died in the Civil War.
Joe Gifford keeps on giving and serving our community. His volunteering efforts are evident throughout so many organizations in the Waconia area, and because of that, the Rotary honors him with the Rotary Service Above Self Award for 2021.