Two Paul Harris Awards were presented at the North Battleford Rotary Club's president's windup June 28.
Jean Walker, making the designated $1,000 donation to the Paul Harris Fellowship that qualifies members for the award for the fourth time, was honoured.
Honoured for club participation was Ben Christensen. The club made the required donation to the fellowship on his behalf. The club uses the Paul Harris Fellow process to recognize outstanding service to the club and its activities and projects.
Best known as owner of Bill and Don's Men's Wear in North Battleford, Christensen has served a term as president of the Rotary Club, and was described during the presentation as "being proud of Rotary International, national and, of course, our local club."
"With Ben it is always about the people he meets and works with and the motto of 'service above self' is one that is most meaningful to him.
In addition to his long standing prominence on the local business scene, Christensen has served on several boards including local school and regional health authority. He is also actively involved in the Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation as a board member and chairman.
The banquet was also a venue to recognize those who have helped the club grow over the past year. Sponsor pins, presented to members who recruit new members, were awarded to: Remi Bec (new member Ken Anle); Harvey Walker (Kevin Angle); Brian Maunula (Pat Guedo); and Claudette McGuire (Brett Payne and Marcus Miller).
Darlene Kingwell provided a summary of the club's activities over the past year. The club members took part in two fireside sessions and four visits from district representatives and heard 13 speakers and 10 vocational presentations.
Fundraising activities included bingo operation, a trip of the month raffle, golf and hockey drafts and a spudnut booth at the exhibition. Community service revolved around meals on wheels, pedaling the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Big Bike and supporting the Empty Stocking Fund.
"As a club we have proven to be a team when it comes to our fundraising efforts," she said.
"I am pleased we have met our financial goals and contributions to the community, our major one being the CUPlex, and the support in principle to go forward with the development of the rotary memorial Park and the establishment of a Youth Interact Rotary Club."
Club social activities included a golf tournament, pancake breakfast, 90th anniversary celebrations and a Rotary Park cleanup and barbecue.
Christensen presented Kingwell with a past president's pin in recognition of her term of service to the club.
Lee Ulmer accepted the charter as the club's incoming president.
He told club members she will focus on membership, the memorial park and the youth intiative. Ulmer also said the club will work on revitalizing long standing projects to make them more effective and to improve member participation.
