Arnprior Rotary Club charter member receives the Paul Harris Fellow award at May 30 event
Rev. Leo Hughes (retired) receives the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Arnprior Rotary President David Palmer. The presentation of Rotary’s highest honour to a member was made May 30 at the club’s 25th anniversary dinner. - David Johnston, Arnprior EMC
Topping the list was the only founding member of the club still active today. Leo Hughes, Presbyterian minister in Arnprior for 31 years and devoted member of Rotary, was honoured with the Paul Harris Fellow Award, the highest honour Rotary can bestow on a member.
In reflecting on his time in Rotary and in Arnprior, the Montreal native said there is no better place to be.
“We have a thriving club today thanks to the commitment and dedication of the members,” he said. “Arnprior has always been a warm and friendly community, and it’s still a great place to raise a family.”
Though retired from the pulpit, Mr. Hughes took his opportunity to ‘preach’ the good works of Rotary to the captive audience of fellow Rotarians, spouses and friends.
He spoke of how the club supported the annual Easter Seals campaign with about $10,000 annually, and assisted in the international projects of Rotary in places such as Africa, Guatemala, Bolivia, Haiti and Belize.
Locally, he said the club hosts blood donor clinics every other month, supports the Arnprior and District Hospital with regular donations and is involved in youth initiatives in the community.
In honour of Rotary’s Centennial in 2005, the Arnprior Club erected and presented to the town the “Arnprior” highway sign visible from Highway 417.
“Active in our community since 1986, we are Rotarians working together for the benefit of our community, and in support of the international community service initiatives of Rotary International.
“We are proud to be members of the world’s oldest service club, founded in 1905, and to be associated with its strong record of local and international community service.”
And as much as Mr. Hughes has a distinguished career of service in Rotary, he pointed out two other members of the club who have been instrumental in keeping the momentum going, even when the club dwindled to only four members about a decade ago.
“Gerhard and Jane Peters are the reason this club still exists today,” he said. “Their courage and commitment is the reason we’re all here.”
Today, the club boasts a growing membership of 21 people, with nine women. Both Gerhard and Jane Peters have held various roles in the club, including terms as president, but they admit they most enjoy traveling to international Rotary functions. Adorned with pins from many events, the couple are enthusiastic supporters of Rotary.
In presenting the Paul Harris Fellow award to Mr. Hughes, Rotary President David Palmer expressed his personal appreciation for the support and guidance the senior Rotarian had provided.
In his acceptance comments, Mr. Hughes said the club is able to support Rotary because “we sell tickets by the thousands. We are very good at selling tickets, and calendars and now fruit cakes too.”
President-Elect Sean Watson also praised the leadership of the club’s executive in preparing him for his role as incoming president.
Some of the many projects undertaken by Arnprior Rotary are to support youth.
At Arnprior District High School, the club has supported the Peer Support, Drug Awareness, Peer Mediation and Co-op Education programs. The Club also encourages and funds participation in the Kanata Hi-Tech Adventure, Cornwall Adventure in the Environment and Regional Science Fair for selected high school students.
Through Rotary International Youth Exchange and Short Term Exchange (S.T.E.P.), the club promotes world understanding by sponsoring local high school students to study abroad for a year or summer months, and to receive foreign students into the Arnprior community.
“We have sponsored two local students to study in Japan and Germany while receiving students from Germany and New Zealand,” David Palmer said.
In the 4-Way Test Award program, each year a selected student from each local elementary school receives a Rotary Award based on academic achievement and community participation.
And seniors are not overlooked by the good efforts of Arnprior Rotary. The Club has funded the V.O.N. Foot Care program, the Seniors-At-Home Ride program as well as contributes to the annual Grove Nursing Home Christmas Party.
Community projects include coordinating volunteer help at five Blood Donor Clinics each year, and contributing funds to Arnprior & District Memorial Hospital through the Ottawa Valley Golf Tournament. The club played a leading role in the development of three walking trails as Arnprior’s Millennium Project.
Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community’s business and professional men and women. The world’s Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.
With the motto ‘Service Above Self’, the Arnprior Rotary Club meets Mondays at 7 p.m. at Jim’s Restaurant.