LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - JULY 11, 2021 The Rotary Club of LeRoy Recognizes Paul Harris Recipients On June 30th, at the Batavia Country Club, the Rotary Club of LeRoy recognized nine people with Rotary’s highest award, the Paul Harris Fellowship. It is believed to be the largest class of Paul Harris awardees for the club since it started in 1940. The club recognized three people from the community. The first fellowship awarded was to Sean Valdes, owner of the D&RDepot Restaurant. Sean has been a quiet, behind the scenes person, who has contributed time, food, and services to many worthwhile organizations. He was initially involved with the former LCCP, as well as youth sports, LeRoy Village Green, Holy Family School, the LeRoy Historical Society, CASA, Gillam Grant and United Memorial Medical Center. Sean has said, “If you live and work in a community, you just do your part.” Next The Club acknowledged the volunteer services of Jamie Biviano and Jenna Hobart. Their Paul Harris Awards were presented by Christine Gephart, coordinator of the LeRoy Rotary Community Kitchen. Christine praised the endless work by these two women. They have been willing to do everything to keep the Community Kitchen going. Especially through the last year and a half while the pandemic interrupted the efforts to get food and meals to people in LeRoy. Their efforts were recognized by a standing ovation from the members of Rotary. The Rotary Club then recognized two of their immediate past presidents. Mary Margaret Ripley and Mary Young were recognized for their perseverance in the midst of the most difficult year and a half that kept the Club from meeting in person. Yet, fundraisers were still held, events still took place and The Rotary Club of LeRoy has become a much stronger and dedicated organization due to the remarkable efforts of these two women. These awards were presented by master of ceremonies, and former Rotary President David Grayson and incoming President, Ben Deragon. The Rotary Club also recognized the ongoing support for the Rotary Foundation of four of its members: Carol Wolfe, Scott McCumiskey, Phil Plossl and Jason Karcher. A Paul Harris Fellowship is awarded for certain levels of support for the Rotary Foundation. Established in 1917, the mission of the foundation is to “advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty.” Many Rotarians support the foundation. The Rotary Club of LeRoy now has 24 members who have the privilege of wearing the small gold Paul Harris pin. This year’s Paul Harris Awards were presented during the club’s 80th installation of officers. It would have been the 81st were it not for the cancellation of last year’s banquet due to the pandemic. LeRoy Rotary is now meeting every Wednesday at the LeRoy Country Club, and will be scheduling two evening meetings a month under the leadership of the new president, Ben Deragon. Jamie Biviano, Jenna Hobart and Christine Gephart David Grayson, Ben Deragon, Mary Margaret Ripley and Mary Young Sean Valdes and his Mother, Ellie