Buyers of limited-edition prints and other supporters of Greenfield Rotary Club were honored at the club’s annual appreciation dinner Nov. 1 at the Washington Country Club.
President Andrew Surritt III welcomed members and guests to the annual event, which featured a meal of prime rib or chicken. He expressed gratitude for the excellent community support shown by the print buyers and introduced a number of special guests including District Governor Bill Shula; auctioneers Gary Binegar, Matt Binegar and Rod Halterman, who donate their services each year during the Rotary auction; the Greenfield Antique Car Club; the Antique Tractor Club; 2018 Greene Countrie Towne Festival Queen Katie Graham; and Bonnie Baldridge, who heads up the Greenfield Women’s Queen Association.
Also recognized were the buyers of limited edition prints that have been a mainstay of the Greene Countrie Towne Festival for the past 26 years, helping to raise money for the Rotary Club that is then put back into the Greenfield community. This year the buyers included Greenfield Research, Sitterle Insurance, Southern Hills Community Bank, Adena Greenfield Medical Center, Dr. Richard Mizer and Cristy Hill, Murray-Fettro Funeral Home and Corner Healthmart Pharmacy, Wooden It Be Nice, LTD, Merchants National Bank and Peter Quance, Community Savings Bank, and Weller’s Plumbing & Heating. Representatives of those companies or individuals were on hand to enjoy the dinner and fellowship.
It was noted that the artists who created the limited edition prints through the years have been Dan Crusie and Tammy Wells.
A highlight of the evening was the announcement of a new Paul Harris Fellow. Ron Coffey introduced current Rotary President Andrew Surritt III as the 2018 Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his many activities on behalf of the local club and the community. Surritt is now in his second year as president of the club and has been involved as chairman of the Greene Countrie Towne Festival and many other activities and projects of the club. In honor of Surritt, the Greenfield Rotary Club donated $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation to be used to provide clean drinking water and other essential services in underdeveloped countries. It appears that the club has now sponsored 47 Paul Harris Fellows since it made George M. Waddell the club’s first recipient in 1985.
The Paul Harris Fellowship is named after the founder of Rotary, who with three other businessmen founded the first Rotary Club in Chicago in 1905. The Greenfield Rotary Club was born in 1922 and is just four years away from celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Two more awards were presented during the evening. President Andrew Surritt explained that Service Above Self Awards would be given to people who exemplify the motto of Rotary by giving to others and serving rather than seeking to be served.
Surritt presented a Service Above Self Award to Ms. Loretta Flora, a member of the McClain High School faculty who has played an important role in the school’s arts program as director of musicals, the MHS Show Choir and Concert Choir.
Bob Bergstrom also received a Service Above Self Award from Ron Coffey, who recognized Bergstrom for his dedicated work as a teacher, track and field coach, and member of Greenfield Village Council.
Barb Barton played the role of sergeant at arms during the evening, fining various Rotarians for all sorts of “violations” and solving a kidnapping plot in which the Rotary Duck was held hostage. After receiving a mysterious text demanding payment for the safe return of the duck, which is traditionally given out to a member of “ducks a meeting,” Barton collected ransom money and the duck’s location in the upstairs area of the Washington Country Club was revealed. The duck was promptly returned to Wes Surritt, who was the last official keeper of the duck.
Shula also shared some remarks about Rotary and congratulated the Greenfield club on its many activities.
The evening concluded with a drawing for table arrangements.
The club thanks Angela Shepherd and Jackie Gardner for coordinating details for the festive dinner and program.
Ron Coffey is a member of the Greenfield Rotary Club.
