To close out the month of April, the Rotary Club of Kingston held a special evening hybrid meeting combining Online attendees and live attendees at a wine and cheese social. The reason was the presentation of Paul Harris Fellowships to four members and two citizens from the community. Each in a special way went over and above the norm in personifying Rotary's motto "Service Above Self".
Each year, Rotarians are asked to personally contribute to the Rotary International Foundation. When $1000 USD is reached, they are recipients of a Paul Harris Fellowship. Clubs may also contribute directly to the Foundation by honoring members and community citizens for a $1000 USD donation for each person so honored. Of the persons honored in this report, all four from the club and the two non-Rotarians from the community are being honored by the Club.
Candidates were put forth by a committee composed of Rotarians, Barry Slater (chair), Adrienne Brown, Lloyd Fleming, Don Heath, David Ibbott, Ken Mann, and Maijke Wilkins.
The program began with a special Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) Invocation created by Rotarian, Ken Mann.
Next Rotarian, Barry Slater provided a brief explanation of the history of the Foundation and the creation of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award.
Lloyd Fleming introduced the first PHF recipient Peter Burrell, a retired military pilot who joined the club in 2016 and has become very involved in the area of International Service (IS), both in the club and as Director of IS at the District level.
In his acceptance speech Peter said, "As Canadians, we won the birth lottery...and we have a responsibility to make the World a better place...through Rotary."
The second recipient was introduced by Adrienne Brown, who described the numerous ways Carol Cartier served the club with special emphasis on the work she has done internationally in Nepal, Cambodia, and Dominica. "Carol", she said, "was a philanthropist and we are fortunate to have her as a member of our club and the city is also fortunate to have Carol as a citizen who does so much for our community."
In accepting her PHF award Carol said, "In my five years as a Rotarian, I have received more than I have given. Rotary, has enriched my life and I am proud to be a Rotarian."
The third member to be recognized as a PHF was Trevor Dagilis. Dagilis was introduced to the club by Don Heath. Heath said, "Trevor epitomizes our motto of 'Service Above Self'. Leading by example he has increased awareness of the many opportunities to participate in International Service and has encouraged others to take part."
In accepting his PHF award Trevor Dagilis said, "All of the things we do, we are doing with other people; it is one of the great joys about all of the service activities that we do."
Dave Short, introduced 2022 PHF Krista LeClaire, whom he said lives by the motto "Growth and comfort do not coexist. He then went on to review her leadership until 2019 as head of Easter Seals in Eastern Ontario and her current CEO position with Kingston Accommodation Partners. But it was the listing of eight other organizations she is involved with that Short described as her "daunting list of accomplishments" while also studying for an MBA that cemented her worthiness to be awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship.
In her acceptance speech Krista praised and thanked her family for their support and said that for her it was the "community" aspect of Rotary that most impressed her.
The final two Paul Harris Fellowships, went to Randy and Basilia Loucks, the owners and proprietors of Smitty's Pancake House on Princess Street. Each year for the past 20 years, they have donated the profit from three days of sales centered on Shrove Tuesday to the Easter Seals campaign, an amount that has now surpassed the $85,000 mark. Introduced by former Club president Lucille Davies, she used a series of photos to illustrate the importance of Easter Seals to the Club and the Loucks.
The Loucks were not present, however, due to the shortage of staff being felt throughout the restaurant business at this time throughout Kingston.
To close the proceeding, Chair and MC, Barry Slater spoke on behalf of the trustees of the Rotary Foundation when he presented the PHF awardees with virtual certificates, lapel pins and medallions, all pieces, in pre-Covid time they would have received in person. The evening ended with a word of thanks to everyone from president Elsabe Falkson.
