Club honors 4 with Lend-a-Hand Awards
Four people received Springfield Southeast Rotary Club's Lend-a-Hand Award on June 19. Joe Piatchek, co-chair of the Hands-on Service Committee, presented the awards to Patrick Harrington, Cindy Howell, Rex Johnson and Gary Leonard for their longtime leadership of the preparation and organization of the John Simpson Shrimp Feed, our club's annual assembly.
Here is what their nominators wrote: Each has made significant contributions in making our marquee club event, our annual meeting, the Shrimp Feed, one that our members look forward to attending every year.
Gary Leonard has led the “newbie” volunteer effort for more than 20 years, helping new members make connections with each other through food preparation, setup, serving and cleanup. (Gary was not at the meeting on June 19.)
Cindy Howell (right) has led a small team of members, days in advance of event, in getting the shrimp, toast, and salad ready to go. She has served in this role at least 20 years as well.
Rex Johnson (left) coordinates the purchase of the shrimp with Gary, coordinates its cooking at an offsite location, and the storage of the shrimp in coolers, purchasing supplies, and arranging chicken meals for non-shrimp eaters, and wine for non-beer drinkers.
Patrick Harrington (second from left) has offered his home as the Shrimp Feed location for the past several years. This includes providing the tables and chairs, adequate parking, and his son’s shuttle service assisting our members from their cars to the reception area.
The Shrimp Feed is a unique event that sets our club apart from others. Without the setting of the shrimp feed, bringing a majority of our members together, I doubt we would ever have the participation we currently have in the breakout sessions to discuss important issues the club faces during the year. If the shrimp feed was replaced by a regular club meeting, it would be the least attended club meeting of the year.
While we have several other great volunteers every year for the Shrimp Feed, the contributions of these four would be tough to replace.
[Photo by Dan Emrie]
Here is what their nominators wrote: Each has made significant contributions in making our marquee club event, our annual meeting, the Shrimp Feed, one that our members look forward to attending every year.
Gary Leonard has led the “newbie” volunteer effort for more than 20 years, helping new members make connections with each other through food preparation, setup, serving and cleanup. (Gary was not at the meeting on June 19.)
Cindy Howell (right) has led a small team of members, days in advance of event, in getting the shrimp, toast, and salad ready to go. She has served in this role at least 20 years as well.
Rex Johnson (left) coordinates the purchase of the shrimp with Gary, coordinates its cooking at an offsite location, and the storage of the shrimp in coolers, purchasing supplies, and arranging chicken meals for non-shrimp eaters, and wine for non-beer drinkers.
Patrick Harrington (second from left) has offered his home as the Shrimp Feed location for the past several years. This includes providing the tables and chairs, adequate parking, and his son’s shuttle service assisting our members from their cars to the reception area.
The Shrimp Feed is a unique event that sets our club apart from others. Without the setting of the shrimp feed, bringing a majority of our members together, I doubt we would ever have the participation we currently have in the breakout sessions to discuss important issues the club faces during the year. If the shrimp feed was replaced by a regular club meeting, it would be the least attended club meeting of the year.
While we have several other great volunteers every year for the Shrimp Feed, the contributions of these four would be tough to replace.
[Photo by Dan Emrie]
