What is a Paul Harris Fellow?
 
First, who is Paul Harris? Paul Percy Harris  was a Chicago, attorney best known for founding Rotary International in 1905, a service organization that currently has well over 1.1 million members worldwide. As I said earlier, we’ve been around Belleville for 95 years, quite an impressive history of service above self!
In 1957 the Paul Harris Fellows program was established to show appreciation for, and encourage substantial contributions to what was then the Rotary Foundation, in support of Ambassadorial Scholarships. In 1979 at the Rotary International Assembly the RI President James Bomar challenged each Rotary club to make one non-Rotarian a Paul Harris Fellow. It took a while for that to catch on with our club, but we have been doing it here as an annual event since 2008.
When $US1000 is contributed to The Rotary Foundation, a request can be made for an individual to be recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow; that person can be a Rotarian or a member of the community who is not a Rotarian. In our case, our club makes substantial contributions to the Rotary Foundation and so we have the opportunity to honour both Rotarians and non-Rotarians with Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Tonight’s focus is on 3 non-Rotarians from our community. They will be joining ranks with some notable individuals as Paul Harris Fellows:
 
Mother Teresa, in 1980, then entertainer Pearl Bailey; named by Rotary Clubs in Cape Cod, Massachusetts;…sorry Andy, you’re not the first entertainer to make the list!
Many other notable figures have been named as Paul Harris Fellows, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and Jonas Salk.  
 
So to tonight's recipients, you are standing with some very notable and distinguished company but in the spirit of Rotary and our 4 way test, I have to admit the truth: we are not the only Rotary Club to have caught hold of this…it has become a widely practiced way of honouring community leaders and now there are about 1 million Paul Harris Fellows in the world!!
 
 
 
Past President John Cairns introduced Andy Forgie as this evening's first Paul Harris Award recipient.  Andy has made many, many contributions to the community.  One would be fundraising.  Andy has been involved with many events that have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.  He has helped raise over $100,000 for women's shelters across Ontario, locally, being Three Oaks Shelter.  He has co-organized three "Rock for Relief" concerts held at the Empire Theatre which helped raise funds for the Red Cross, Canada supporting relief for large natural disasters around the world.  He brings joy to seniors in nursing homes through musical therapy and is known as "Mr. Socks and Underwear" to children everywhere, bringing joy and smiles to their faces.  He is an Ambassador for Belleville when he performs around the world with the band "All You Need Is Love".  Andy is a recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Award, the YMCA Peace Award and Citizen of the Year for Belleville and is an active member of many Board and Committees.  Andy has used his talents to encourage and cheer others and help those in need.  His wife Barb, his son Ben, parents Gord and Jenny and brother Gordie were present to cheer him on.
 
 
 
Peter Smith introduced Peter Knudsen as the second Paul Harris Award recipient.  Peter Smith identified Peter Knudsen as someone in the community who donates anonymously many times over.  If asked why he gives so much his response would be "I can and should"!  The children and youth in our community are his number one priority and Peter's kindness is second to none.  He sits on the Belleville General Hospital Foundation, the Highland Shores Children's Aid, Quinte Children's Foundation and was the 2011 Guardian Angel Recipient, United Way of Quinte, Big Brothers and Sisters.  What this doesn't show is the amount of work Peter does behind the scenes, wanting no recognition or thanks.  He is a true philanthropist and definitely follows the Rotary Four Way Test.  Well done and well deserved.  Peter's daughter was pleased to see her dad receive his Paul Harris Community Award.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Connie Reid introduced last, but certainly not least, Mark Philbin as a Paul Harris Award recipient. Mark is co-host on the 95.5 morning show and part of this position includes attending community events, however, Mark goes above and beyond this commitment.  He continually volunteers his time and skills to support non-profit organizations in our community.  He has helped raise millions of dollars for  people living in poverty, those with mental health and other social issues.  Mark's community volunteer involvement is far reaching, from being a Board Member, a fundraiser, emceeing, to running 20 km.  He continually gives back to his community.  He is a current Board Member of the Belleville General Hospital Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and has been campaign chair for the United Way of Quinte.  He can dance and emcee, proof is placing 1st in Dancing With the Stars.  Mark brings fun and commitment to everything he does.  Mark's wife Cathy was very pleased to see Mark be recognized as a Paul Harris Community Fellow.
 
When a person is recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow, they are presented with a Certificate signed by the Rotary International President and the Chairman of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation, and a lapel pin and medallion. Len Kennedy was very pleased to welcome District Governor Brian Thompson to tonight's ceremony, representing District 7070.