The Rotary Club of Niagara Falls

and

The Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise

Present the

Paul Harris Fellowship Award Night

March 26, 2009

Delphi Hall, Niagara Falls

Could there be a more prestigious evening that the Rotary Clubs of Niagara Falls celebrate. To honour members of our community with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award for their volunteer efforts that exemplify the Rotary motto “Service Above Self” is by far the most coveted event of the year.

The Delphi Hall was elegantly prepared to great our distinguished recipients, their family and guest, and Rotarians with their family and guests. We were graced with the honour of having District Governor Ralph Montesanto with his wife Barbara and Assistant District Governor Franco Olivieri with his wife Elizabeth.

The evening was arranged by President Elects Donna Dalgleish of the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls and Harry Walker of the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise. The committee was rounded out with the aid of Denise Mateyk

and Elisabeth Biers.

Rob Dalgleish, Donna’s son, piped in those seated at the head table and also the Paul Harris Award recipients. After the opening ceremonies and invocation by George Dalby, a scrumptious meal followed. The keynote speaker was District Governor Ralph Montesanto who gave a most compelling presentation about India. The importance of Polio eradication was certainly a very strong message.

Next came the presentations of the Paul Harris Fellowship Awards. Sherman Zavitz with his voice of silk introduced the recipients one by one. A power point array of photographs projected in the background. For anyone who missed the evening, the following excerpts from the program will provide you with a background of each of these amazing people.

Paul Harris Fellowship Award Recipient

Laura (Lamb) WegelinBorn and raised in Niagara Falls, Laura has consistently involved herself in the community. Over the years she has participated in several Church activities and is a forth generation member of her family to sing in the Church Choir.

Jack Dow was her employer since 1989 and she found herself involved in many Rotary projects. None was more interesting that the Rotary TV Auction. She collected items, catalogued items and charted items. Her husband

Mike, even helped transport items to the warehouse. When Jack passed away she continued the tradition without a second thought. Laura is a valuable member of the Rotary TV Auction team.

Paul Harris Fellowship Award Recipient

Susan M. Bernier

Susan was searching for a way to give back to Wellspring Niagara for the support they had given her during her first experience with Ovarian Cancer. Although Wellspring did not exist in Niagara 1999 when she was first diagnosed, Susan was the first to walk through their doors the day they did.

While on a trip to Texas in 2007, Susan noticed necklaces that inspired her to make them herself, sell them and donate the proceeds to Wellspring Niagara.

As she shared her story with others the fund raisers to sell these necklaces grew and so did the donations. Even when the cancer returned for a second time, she was not daunted. By the end of 2007 she had donated $12,000 to Wellspring Niagara and she had 20 “Happy Hookers” making her necklaces.

By the time the satellite office of Wellspring Niagara opened in June 2008, the donations reached $35,000 and she had 78 “Happy Hookers”. By November 2008 the total had climbed to $90,000 with 110 volunteers fighting cancer. Her goal - $100,000 by year end.

These Necklaces of Hope and Susan Bernier are an inspiration to anyone to continue the fight of this terrible disease.

Dr. Robin WilliamsOne of the neatest things about Dr. Robin Williams is how real she is.

She will tell you she “used to be a real doctor”, don’t believe a word –she is as real as they come. She has an uncanny ability to relate to people. She talks to a child with the same respect, interest and attunement to the conversation as she would with a high profile regional decision maker, a provincial

advisor, Premier or Prime Minister.

Robin is well know for her volunteer roles in assisting the United Way, Women’s Place of Niagara and Child Advocacy. She has been our Medical Officer of Health since 1995 working to make Niagara a safe and healthy place to live. She has connected more dots and finagled more “passes” through Niagara with whoever she thinks can move the Early Child Development Agenda forward. “Things lead to things” she says… and no one has been more effective in this Region connecting opportunities on behalf of kids wherever and whenever she thinks shaping of the agenda or impacts to policy can happen, and not for her own purposes, often on her own personal time, and around her dinner table. Dr. Williams is always guided by what is best and right for kids, popular or not.At a recent tour through our local Niagara Falls Early Years Centre for an “important” bureaucrat, who was held up by the weather, Dr. Williams “made” breakfast, lunch, and several other meals with a little girl playing in one of the dramatic centres in the OEYC. When the guest arrived Dr. Williams could barely tear herself away, and the best part was despite Dr. Williams graciously excusing herself the little girl followed her, teapot in hand—wanting her play companion to remain.

This little girl knew, without a doubt that her play pal (Dr. Williams) is the real deal.

Paul Harris Fellowship Award Recipient

Paul Harris Fellowship Award Recipient

Dr. Kevin Foster

Not only have the people of Niagara Falls had the benefit of receiving health care from Dr. Kevin Foster, but people in need of medical assistance in other lands have also gained from his vast knowledge of medicine.

Before coming to Niagara Falls, Dr. Foster and his future wife, Dr. Robin Williams, were both volunteering their medical expertise in Jamaica. Throughout his career he has demonstrated a strong commitment to youth, serving on the Board of Family and Children’s Agency, coaching soccer and being a hockey Dad. Dr. Foster has served on many medical committees including holding a number of positions over the years within the Ontario Medical Association, medical staff association, GNGH Hospital committee. He has been an active fund raiser for many years, particularly with the United Way. Many of his volunteer hours were also dedicated to Heart Niagara. Presently he is on the board for the Adult Family Literacy Services of Niagara.

Dr. Foster has been a friend of Rotary for several years and has contributed to many of the fund raising events. Locally you may have seen him hauling garbage at the annual Ribfest and lifting kids to see the euclid at Touch a Truck Literacy event. On an International scale, he accompanied 3 Niagara Falls Sunrise members to assist on a mission in Guatemala. During that visit, he volunteered to run a medical clinic for the poor people of Mexico.

Paul Harris Fellowship Award Recipient

Carman G. DixGiving back to the community comes as second nature to Carman Dix. Among his many Professional and Community Activities is Chair of the Niagara Falls Library Board. He has been an active member of the board since 1981 and has served with distinction as the Board’s Chairman since 1984.

Carman Dix has stressed the provision of strong and varied collections of books, audio visual and electronic materials for children and adults to reflect the library’s Mission Statement which is “to be an informational, educational, cultural and recreational resource valued by the Niagara Falls community as a vital asset enhancing the quality of life.”

As Chairman of Finance, Carman Dix has presented the board’s annual budgets to City Council and has dealt with the financial constraints in order to provide a wide range of library services to the residents of Niagara Falls. He spearheaded the capital projects for both Stamford Centre and Chippawa Branches and significantly expanded the Victoria Avenue Branch.

Additionally he has participated in the long-range planning for a new neighbourhood branch library that is now located in the MacBain Community Centre.

Other awards Carman Dix has been honoured with over the years are the City of Niagara Falls Individual Volunteer Recognition Award (1996), the City of Niagara Falls Good Citizen Award (1993) and the Ontario Volunteer Service Award( 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2008). These are only to list a few. Carman Dix has truly demonstrated over and over that he is an impressive leader in our community.

Linda BoothThe Niagara Region has been home for Linda Booth for most of her life. Her career began in the financial industry, later branching into her own successful business. She earned several awards, including Business Woman of the Year. Now as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in Chippawa she is able to combine her talents.

Linda has never forgotten to give back to the community. Over the years she and her sales team earned thousands of dollars for Ronald McDonald House, The Children’s Wish Foundation an the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Linda has been a Rotarian for the past 5 years and is currently the Past President of the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise. During her Presidential year the club hosted the International Golf Fellowship of Rotary and Linda was on board to assist. The event was a great success with more than 200 Rotarians from around the world attending. Enough funds were raised to give the largest Canadian donation ever to Shelter Boxes.

Also during her Presidency, the board increased their commitment to GNGH to $37500 over the next 5 years. As President and now Past President, she undertook the oversight of updating and rewriting the Club Constitution and By-Laws, which has now been completed. Last year’s Ribfest was the club’s most successful yet, and every year since it began 5 years ago, Linda has spent the entire weekend volunteering where ever needed.

Paul Harris Fellowship Award Recipient

The Head Table to the right and below, your hosts Donna Dalgleish and Harry Walker

District Governor Ralph Montesanto gave a presentation about India and Polio

Sherman Zavitz - our emcee with the voice of silk.

Thank You to all of our Corporate Sponsors

Jim Arnold - Investors Group

Bruce Henning Durward Jones Barkwell &

Company LLP

Lillian EskildsenLilly ‘n’ Lace

John BeyerLinda Booth

Edward Jones

John Beam Avro Aerospace

Drs. Ron & June Mergl Niagara Falls

Animal Medical Centre

Robb McLeod Stargas Propane

Dr. Brian and Donna DalgleishMorrison Street Walk-In Clinic

Bert Schertzing Sun Life Financial

Ernie MorganMorse & Son Funeral Home

Michelle ZappitelliZap Hospitality

Management Ltd.

MEADOWS PHARMACYLTD.

PHARMASSIST

3493 PORTAGE RD, NIAGARA FALLS 905 354-3023/358-3913 (STAMFORD GREEN SHOPPING CENTRE)

Paul Bright- Tim Horton’s

Dennis Georgieff - Meadows Pharmacy

From left to right, they are Carman Dix, Laura Wegelin, Linda Booth, Dr. Robin

Williams, Dr. Kevin Foster. Please note that Susan Bernier also received the award, but

was unable to attend the event.

The evening ended as elegantly as it began. We would be remiss if we did not thank the 13 sponsors that made this event possible. Each one is included below in order to receive the honour that they too deserve for supporting such an important event for our Rotary Clubs and the Community.