Annual Rotary Awards 2017

 

 

            There are institutions throughout our communities that do great work and we are familiar with most of them.  Last year, we learned of an organization that has been quietly serving a segment of our population long overlooked.  How many times have we heard of people going to jail and getting stuck in a vicious cycle of getting out, committing crimes and going back to jail.  One group is helping to break that cycle by giving women leaving incarceration a safe and structured place to live while they get back on their feet and work to become productive members of society.  Through the promotion of faith, discipline, hard work and interactions, this organization has succeeded in saving women from inevitable repeated incarceration which is not only good for those individuals but great for society in general.

 

            As Rotarians, we should embrace and recognize such quiet examples of success.  We do so by giving this year's Biddeford Saco Rotary Club Private Sector Award to The Esther Residence.

 

 

 

            There are people with the knowledge and tools needed to help solve problems who for whatever reason choose not to use their expertise to address the issues which confront us.  There are others who use their skills to run headlong into a crisis in an effort to improve the world.

 

            Our Club knows all too well that drug misuse and addiction are at epidemic levels.  While organizations like our Red Ribbon Committee can work to raise awareness and promote  healthy alternatives, our Red Ribbon Committee is much more effective when armed with information.

 

            This year's Public Sector Award winner is a person who has been more than willing to share his extensive knowledge in an effort to lead the battle against the imposing threat of drug misuse.  His career has focused on addiction, but he has volunteered an incredible amount of his time to lead efforts locally and at the state level related to the dangers of drug use.  He has been an incredible resource to our Red Ribbon Committee in its efforts to raise drug awareness.

 

            We should all be grateful that we have this person on our side of this incredibly important fight.

 

            This year's deserving recipient of the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club's Public Sector Award is

 

 

 

            Over the last several years, this Club has had the privilege of donating 10s of thousands of dollars to individuals and other charities from our Charitable Fund and the Company B Fund.  It is essential that we insure that the funds we work so hard to raise are responsibly distributed to those who most need it.  It is important that we are good stewards of all of our charitable funds so that they get into the hands of those who really need them.  While it is wonderful to give away large sums of money it has to be done in a systematic and caring way.  Those efforts require a compassionate person who thoughtfully reviews requests in an objective manner.

 

            We are really lucky to have someone so dedicated to the Club and to the effort of giving.

 

            For doing such a tremendous job for so long while truly caring about all who approach our Club for money, this year's Humanitarian Award goes to

 

 

 

 

            In order to improve anything, frequently we must think outside the box.  After decades of building modular-style homes as part of the COT's building trade curriculum, some felt that a change was needed to bring the building trade education to the next level.  When asked if the City of Biddeford would think outside the box and create what Jeremy Roy called a win, win, win situation, this group said yes.  Yes, let's promote technical education by letting students work on a real house, yes, let's get an abandoned property fixed up and back on the tax rolls and yes, let's help Rotary raise money to continue to support young people entering the trades.

 

            It would have been easy to do the same old thing and just try to sell the tax acquired property at auction but this group took the bold step of entering into an agreement with our Club to let us develop 471 Main Street which has clearly been such a huge success that we have another house coming our way.

 

            For demonstrating the courage and creativity to support technical education, this year's Biddeford Saco Rotary Club's Vocational Service Award goes to the Biddeford City Council.

 

 

            I am going to make this perfectly simple.  If I was starting a Rotary Club, I would do two things:

 

            1)         Pick a name;

            2)         Recruit this person to be the first member of the Club.

 

            No more needs to be said.  This year's Goodwin Outstanding Service Award winner is

 

 

 

 

Paul Harris Awards are arguably the highest distinctions that can be given to Rotarians.  Our Club has had a practice of recognizing worthy members of the Club and non-members for their work in and outside the Club.  Each past Paul Harris recipient has been very worthy and this year we have three more equally worthy winners of the award.

 

In no particular order:

 

 

In order for a club of our size and level of accomplishment to do all of the things that it does,  it takes the dedication and commitment of club members to get things done.  They not only need to take the tasks on but they have to do them well and they have to take the initiative to make sure that all of the details are addressed.  Our first Paul Harris recipient is a person who has taken on projects with enthusiasm and seen them through to successful conclusions.  From the Wine Tasting event to the Rotary house thank you celebration and many other events in between this person is truly a go to person in the Club who works to make our Club so successful.  Furthermore, this member does all this with a smile and a “can do” attitude which is infectious.

 

 

In Malcolm Gladwell’s Book, The Tipping Point in which he discussed how little things can make a big difference, he talked about people who are connectors.  Connectors are people who can bring parties together to get things done.  Our next Paul Harris recipient is a true connector in that this person has consistently demonstrated a willingness to bring parties together to promote better results.  Through this person’s leadership and willingness to be creative our club has been able to vastly improve technical education by giving students new opportunities to learn skills.  This member has gone to bat many times in an effort to have the students learning a trade work on a real house.  At the same time this person has demonstrated a willingness to roll up his sleeves and get the job done when needed.  The person’s efforts have benefitted our communities while extending the influence of our club.

 

 

Last and certainly not least, it is simply a fact that our club has very infrequently, if ever, given more than one Paul Harris Award to a member.  Being a multiple Paul Harris recipient is clearly a high honor and most of this Club’s multiple Paul Harris recipients have achieved the distinction through their giving to the Foundation.  There is a member of our Club who just keeps on giving to our communities way above and beyond anyone’s reasonable expectations.  Whether it is with this person’s hands, back, wallet or heart, this person’s tireless efforts help so many in so many ways. 

 

Another plaque seemed inadequate and I am guessing there is no room on this person’s walls for another plaque.  Making this person a multiple Paul Harris winner from our club, however, is a distinction worthy of all that he does.