Rotary Service Award 2015
Before we make this year’s Service Award, I would like to say a few words about Rotary and service.
Rotary has a motto:   It is very simple: SERVICE ABOVE SELF. Today there are 1.2 million Rotarians, in 35,000 clubs in 200 countries working in many different ways to make those three words a reality.   
There are the big impact programs like Polio Eradication, Clean Water for the World and thousands of local projects like outfitting a remote clinic in Columbia or providing emergency food to flooded village in China, sponsoring the construction of an elementary school in Australia, or running a summer camp for Middle School Children in Jaffrey, NH! You do know about Quest, yes?
 
 The idea is to put aside our own needs and contribute to something that is a bit bigger in its impact; something that will make a positive difference in the lives of others.  
We do a lot of that sort of work around here! Here are a few examples of volunteer groups in our two towns,   Santa’s House, Santa’s Workshop, both Woman’s Clubs, the Food Pantries, Team Jaffrey, Got Lunch, Meals on Wheels, Red Cross and CVTC drivers, our Chambers of Commerce, MCH hospital volunteers, Monadnock at Home, Build It Forward, Rindge Athletic Mens, P.O.O.R, our Police and Fire Assoc. and of course, every one of our Churches are fully involved helping our neighbors.
This room is full of people in the True Service Business!
 
Now it is simple fact that, community service will not earn one lasting fame or fortune! And it is also no guarantee that you will even be thanked for your efforts.                                                                         That is not what such work is all about and we know that going in.   Service to others has its own rewards. 
That is all well and good, but our Club feels that once a year, someone who labors in field of community service should be publicly thanked and honored. 
We do this through Our Rotary Service Award. It is a $1000.00 contribution to the Rotary International Foundation which we make in the recipient’s name to thank them, on behalf of us all, for their selfless and often unrecognized good work in our community.
This $1000.00 contribution is used by Rotary, primarily, for its Polio Eradication and Clean Water projects worldwide.  It is made in the recipient’s name and they are recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.  Paul Harris founded Rotary in 1905.                                                          
The previous winners of the Rotary Service Award are: John Peard, Bob VanDyke, Susan Leach, Jack Belletete and David Kemp.  And they are still at it!
This year, we have another such person whose contributions are exemplary!  Previously, when I have made this award, I have tried to make the identification of the person a surprise by identifying the person through some examples of their service-before I revealed their name.
This year, we are going to do something different. We are going to have some audience participation! You will have the difficult and complex task of guessing who the recipient is and announcing it to all!
 We are going to play the game Jeopardy! The category is SUPER SERVICE!
I am going to make 7 statements that describe an attribute or activity done by this person. You all will answer in the form of a question.
 Now here is the hard part.  You are NOT to answer until the end! After these 7 statements, and only
after, then I would like you all say, in the form of a question, who you think it is!  
 
If you mess up, the deal is off, no prize, no glory, the recipient bursts into tears and we all go home! Are we ready?
  1. This person has served the needs of the Monadnock region with his own business since 1972. Signs of him are everywhere!
  2. This person has served as the founder and first Chair of two of our most important community service organizations. And is on more committees than you can imagine!
  3. This person has steadfastly attended to the needs of our veterans and sees that they are publicly honored twice a year.
  4. For 15 years this person, with amazing patience, respect and humor, has managed, coaxed, controlled, and coddled a large number of slightly crazed people at the same time and in one place!
  5. This person delivered the invocation in Wash. DC and told the President when to rise and to be seated!
  6. This person has been honored by three other prominent community institutions for his outstanding leadership.
  7. This person lives his faith, and honors his faith through the love and care and respect he gives to all that he does and to all of us.
 
Now, all together and in the form of a question the answer is? WHO IS MARC TIEGER?
 
G. Clay Hollister,  11/06/2015