Rotary International has six new Paul Harris Fellowship recipients following Southampton Rotary Club’s Wednesday night special presentations to Mary Ellen Harrigan, Neil Reid, Mike Smith, Jim Barbour and Kerry Jarvis and Melitta Smole.
The Fellowship is given to recognize Rotarians who have made a difference to their club and non-Rotarians who have made a difference in their community and the world.
Mary Ellen Harrigan
As owner of Harrigan’s 100 Mile Food Market in Southampton, Mary Ellen Harrigan began her association with the Southampton Rotary in 2002 when she became caterer for the weekly dinner and then, in 2007, became a Rotarian. According to Rotary, she provides nutritious and interesting meals at considerably less cost than it wold otherwise cost the Club. Countless hours are spent in the planning, preparation and clean-up of the meals and she is always the first to arrive and the last to leave.
In addition, Mary Ellen also provides low-cost meals to the Day Away Program and Meals on Wheels for the community. A well-deserving Paul Harris Fellowship recipient.
Neil Reid
Neil Reid has been a Southampton Rotarian for almost 10 years and is a dependable participant at Rotary events from the Audtion to the BBQs and fish fries. He often helps sets up the hall for meetings and also take photos of Rotary events and collected ‘birthday’ auction funds. Neil has taken the lead on several projects including acquiring the defibrillator for the Rotary Hall, arranging for Food Safety Courses and managing the WiFi service at Rotary Hall. He also spearheads the fish fry at Tiny’s Motorcycle Shop. A worthy Paul Harris Fellowship recipient.
Mike Smith
Mike Smith is well-respected throughout the community have served the area for 27 years in various roles included town councilor for six year, deputy-mayor or nine years, Mayor for 12 years and Warden of Bruce County for two terms. He has developed relationships with people in all walks as well as many levels of government and industries. He is recognized as “sfolt-spoken, sincere, a calm listener and effective problem-solver. He has also been involved in many organizations such as Special Olympics and regularly attended the Southampton Rotary Auction evening and Golf Tournament fundraiser. In his career, he was a trainer at Bruce Nuclear site for more than 11 years. For his years of dedicated service to the community and his ‘personification’ of Rotary Four Way Test elements in life and business, Mike is a well-deserving recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship.
Jim Barbour
Jim Barbour has served as Chair of the Saugeen Memorial Foundation for two years and was also a Director and headed up the Gift Committee and will stay on the Board as past-Chair for another year. During his term as Chair, the Gran Fondo Lake Huron cycling fundraiser was introduced, the MRI campaign was launched and is half-way to its goal and the annual Radiothon has grown significantly. Before taking a lead role in the Hospital Foundation, Jim was a Director and President of the Saugeen Shores Probus Club, volunteered delivering meals on Wheels, was on the Southampton United Church Board and was a volunteer Chantry Island tour guide with the Propeller Club. He has worked hard to advance fundraising for the Hospital Foundation to meet its ever-increasing need for funds to maintain, and purchase new, hospital equipment and is very deserving of the Paul Harris Fellowship.
Kerry Jarvis & Melitta Smole
Kerry and Melitta are founders of the Butterfly Gardens of Saugeen Shores and their passion for the Monarch butterfly has been instrumental in mobilizing volunteers and funds to establish a network of butterfly-friendly gardens along the Lake Huron shoreline to alleviate the decline that was being experienced in the Monarch population. Their efforts have been so successful that the Monarch numbers have been increasing and a number of tagged Monarchs through their work have been recovered in the Mexico wintering grounds. They have lead many workshops on butterfly gardening and special attention is being given to raising awareness in young people. Kerry is a naturalist, photographer, author, public speaker, gardener and traveler and his images have won awards. Melitta works tirelessly with Kerry and has created presentations for children through the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. She is a Board member of the Southampton Curling Club, a composer, guitarist and enjoys gardening, birding, kayaking, canoeing, biking skating and almost every other outdoor sport.
(L) President Sylvia Sheard also presented a special surprise Paul Harris Fellowship to long-time Rotarian Henry Weichert and while she received her second Fellowship recognition from Rotarian Jenny Amy for her year as President.
