The Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship awards presentation was held recently at The Plex in Port Elgin

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Marcel Legault Rotary President

The Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship awards presentation was held recently at The Plex in Port Elgin.

The awards are named for Paul Harris, who founded Rotary with three business associates in Chicago in 1905.

The Fellowship was established in his honor in 1957 to express appreciation for a contribution of $1000 US to the humanitarian and educational programs of the Rotary Foundation.

The programs were set out to include an array of projects that save and invigorate the lives of people around the world and enhance international friendship and understanding. Foundation programs provide educational opportunities, food, potable water, health care, immunizations, and shelter for millions of people. These activities are funded, implemented and managed by Rotarians and Rotary clubs around the globe.

Rotarians also designate a Paul Harris Fellow to recognize those whose lives demonstrate a shared purpose with the objectives and Mission of The Rotary Foundation to build world understanding and Peace. "In Port Elgin," says Port Elgin Rotary President, Marcel Legault, "we assign the selection process to a Paul Harris selection committee. The committee recommends candidates to the board based on an individual’s demonstrated commitment to “Service above self”."

This year's Paul Harris selection committee, after much consideration, chose five deserving candidates - Gary Brown, Ron Brown, Erin Zorzi, Peter Harrison and Bill Welsh.

Gary Brown

Brown,born in Toronto and raised in Oakville, comes from a family of five. After raising two sons, Glenn and Don, he and wife, Carol, moved to Southampton in 1993. Together they created a small business that filled a need in the community.

Brown then created a venue where he and many others could share one of his passions and also raise money for a very worthy cause. He can be found every Thursday night during the summer at the base of High Street under the flag in Southampton. There, he is known as Mister Cruiser where he hosts Cruisers' night, manning the mike and working the crowd.

Together, with many volunteers and the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation. he has helped raise over $155,000 for the hospital. He has also been a valued Chamber of Commerce member and has served as President of the Saugeen Shores Chamber for the past two years. He has chaired the Pumpkinfest car show for 14 years and volunteers many hours in serving the community.

 (L) Brian Wakelin, Marcel Legault & Ann Iles

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 Ron Brown, Marcel Legault & Ann Iles, Asst.

Ron Brown

Born in Newfoundland in 1946, Brown moved to Ontario where he began working for the Bank of Nova Scotia in 1964.

He left the bank in 1973 and went into the retail business working for Woolco until 1975 when he started his municipal career. From 1975 to 1987, he was Clerk-Treasurer in the town of Paisley and, during that time, he obtained his A.M.C.T. and C.M.C. (International Clerk)
designations. He was also one of the first 12 in the province to obtain a C.M.O. certification - the highest designation in municipal administration.

In 1987, he took over as the Administrator of Wiarton while they were under provincial supervision. Within three years, Wiarton became financially stable.

In 1993, he became the C.A.O. of Southampton and, in 1999, became the first C.A.O. of Saugeen Shores. He remained the C.A.O. of Saugeen Shores until his retirement in September of this year, 2009.

Brown was a member of the Kinsmen Club while in Paisley, has been an active member of the Southampton Rotary Club since 1999 and has also been a member of the Treasury Advisory, Municipal Finance, and Legislative committees as well as a member of the Board of Directors for AMCTO.

Brown was married to his late wife Noreen for 38 years and has three children and four foster children.

 (L) Erin Zorzi, Marcel Legaul & Asst. District Governor, Ann Iles

Erin Zorzi

Zorzi is currently the branch manager of Meridian Credit Union and has been employed by Hepcoe / Meridian for over 30 years having joined while in university working during the summers. She is proud to say that she has been employed in every position in the branch.

Under her leadership, the branch was recognized in 2007 for outstanding revenue growth and total relationship growth significantly above plan. She was also recognized as 'A Women of Distinction' last year, an award given to women who have demonstrated a high level of achievement in both their business careers and contributions to their communities.

Zorzi currently serves on many Boards holding a variety of positions, including Past President of the Rotary Club of Port Elgin, Port Elgin Club YEC, Rotary Club area Membership Chair, Past President of the Elgin Place West board, director on the Chamber of Commerce and director on the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Board. In her eight years with the Port Elgin Rotary Club Erin has served the club in many ways as a Director, Chair of Winterama, and President. She has also served the community, taking lead roles in Toastmasters, the Library Restoration and expansion and the Canadian Cancer Society.

Erin Zorzi and her husband, Paul, have celebrated over 30 years of marriage and have two children Michelle and Mark who are both married.

(L) Ann Iles, Marcel Legault, Larry & Judy Lawless

Bill Welsh

Born and raised in Port Elgin, Welsh has operated a business for 20 years employing more than a dozen people.

He has served 14 years as a volunteer firefighter in Saugeen Township and Päisley, 12 years as a minor hockey coach in Port Elgin and Paisley and six years on the Paisley Rec Committee for Saugeen Township.

Welsh has worked and served at many Rotary fund-raisers over the years and has recently taken over the Vendor Coordinator position for the Port Elgin Rotary Home Show.
As a Rotarian, one of his highlights was the 'Wells of Life' trip to Peru as a team leader .

Welsh and his wife, Darlene, have been married for 25 years and have two children, Jillian an actor and student at the University of Toronto and Keith who is studying Civil Engineering at Fanshawe College.

Peter Harrison

Harrison has been a supporter of the community in a variety of ways everywhere he has lived. He has contributed to children’s activities and needs, and has participated in Scouting as a leader and group committee chair; and in minor sports as an instructor, coach, convenor and umpire for hockey, baseball and soccer. His family has supported the World Vision program, sponsoring three children in the third world for many years.

He was also on the founding Organizing Committee of the annual Children’s Water Festival of Grey-Bruce, as well as an event volunteer, and helped to establish the initial event program and displays.

In Rotary, Harrison has represented Port Elgin Rotary on the Rotary Winterama committee as well as being Treasurer, raising funds for charities serving children.

Within several church communities, Harrison has served as a visiting elder, board, and committee member, with a special emphasis on community service. He has volunteered at a refugee resettlement house and is currently on a committee to develop ties with a church community in Cali, Columbia and has also participated in community fundraising for health related charities.

Since joining Rotary, Harrison has actively supported all club fund-raising and community events and hosted a GSE visitor from India, helped entertain the GSE group from Brazil, and spent time with exchange student Florian and with his family on their visit. He has been a club representative on the Elgin Place West Non-profit Housing board and currently sits on the board of the Friends of MacGregor Point Provincial Park. For the last few years, Harrison has been Club Secretary and sometime contributor to the Foghorn newsletter.

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Monday, November 02, 2009