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Rotary recognition for trio
Wayne Swiffin14 Jun 2018 - 10:31
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Top Rotary Honour for Mansfield Rugby Club volunteers
Receiving the award is a tremendous honour and something we know is not given away lightly especially to non-Rotarians, and so each of us offer our grateful thanks for such humbling recognition
- Andy Foster, Club chairman
Three members of Mansfield Rugby Club have been honoured by Mansfield Rotary Club, after they were each presented with a Paul Harrris Fellow Award for their work as volunteers promoting sport within the local community.
Club Chairman Andy Foster, together with Club President Byron Edwards and Club Treasurer Mike Copestake were invited to the June meeting to receive their award - but it was a surprise that all three were to be honoured.
Former club member Kelvin Bowman introduced the awards on the night and Mansfield Rotary Madam President Nicky Tomlinson-Murphy presented the awards.
The Paul Harris Fellow is the highest award an individual can receive and is for Service Above Self - only a maximum of 150 are awarded each year by the board of Rotary International.
Andy explained: "We have a long-standing and very strong relationship with Mansfield Rotary Club that spans over well 40 years.
"For example, in return for borrowing the Rotary Club's Santa Sleigh for our children's Christmas parties, club members have always collected funds for the Rotary Club every December in the town centre during the build up to Christmas, so it's worked well for both of us over the years.
"So, when I was contacted by Rotary Secretary Stewart Rickersey to ask if I could arrange for Byron and Mike to attend the meeting as they wanted to thank them both for their hard work for the club over the years by presenting them with the Paul Harris Fellow Award, it came as no surprise to me as they both thoroughly deserve the recognition and I was thrilled for them.
"However, what did come as a surprise to me was the fact that I was to receive the award as well. As I knew they were to be honoured, I told Byron and Mike that we were all there to represent the club and to receive formal thanks from the Rotary Club to celebrate our long-term friendship but none of us knew I was to receive the award as well and so we each fell for it.
"Receiving the award is a tremendous honour and something we know is not given away lightly especially to non-Rotarians, and so each of us offer our grateful thanks for such humbling recognition".
What a superb honour for a trio of people who put so much effort into Mansfield Rugby Club.
Club Chairman Andy Foster, together with Club President Byron Edwards and Club Treasurer Mike Copestake were invited to the June meeting to receive their award - but it was a surprise that all three were to be honoured.
Former club member Kelvin Bowman introduced the awards on the night and Mansfield Rotary Madam President Nicky Tomlinson-Murphy presented the awards.
The Paul Harris Fellow is the highest award an individual can receive and is for Service Above Self - only a maximum of 150 are awarded each year by the board of Rotary International.
Andy explained: "We have a long-standing and very strong relationship with Mansfield Rotary Club that spans over well 40 years.
"For example, in return for borrowing the Rotary Club's Santa Sleigh for our children's Christmas parties, club members have always collected funds for the Rotary Club every December in the town centre during the build up to Christmas, so it's worked well for both of us over the years.
"So, when I was contacted by Rotary Secretary Stewart Rickersey to ask if I could arrange for Byron and Mike to attend the meeting as they wanted to thank them both for their hard work for the club over the years by presenting them with the Paul Harris Fellow Award, it came as no surprise to me as they both thoroughly deserve the recognition and I was thrilled for them.
"However, what did come as a surprise to me was the fact that I was to receive the award as well. As I knew they were to be honoured, I told Byron and Mike that we were all there to represent the club and to receive formal thanks from the Rotary Club to celebrate our long-term friendship but none of us knew I was to receive the award as well and so we each fell for it.
"Receiving the award is a tremendous honour and something we know is not given away lightly especially to non-Rotarians, and so each of us offer our grateful thanks for such humbling recognition".
What a superb honour for a trio of people who put so much effort into Mansfield Rugby Club.
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