Presentation to Alan Dawkins (centre) by Jean Jacobsen, Club President (right), and Lloyd Higgs, Club Foundation Director
Image Credit: Penticton Okanagan Rotary Club
November 04, 2016 - 8:00 AM
The Penticton Okanagan Rotary Club presented Alan Dawkins with a Paul Harris Award at its breakfast meeting on Tuesday, November 1.
This is the second of such awards being presented to honour "unsung citizens" of Penticton who selflessly volunteer their time and effort to causes that are so crucial to the social fabric of the city. These awards aim to spotlight recipients by providing the public recognition that they deserve but may not otherwise receive.
The award is named after the founder of the Rotary movement, Paul Harris, and has often been used by Rotary Clubs around the world to recognize people who exemplify the Rotary motto of "Service above Self". Recipients are known as "Paul Harris Fellows", and include such people as Jonas Salk of polio-research fame.
Alan Dawkins has devoted most of his life to helping others, particularly in fostering youth development through the Boy Scout movement. Born in London, England, he encountered the Scouting program as a Wolf Cub. Later, after emigrating to Calgary at the age of 15, he became a Cub leader in Calgary, then in Red Deer, and spent 6 years as a volunteer fire-fighter and Lions Club member in Olds.
On arriving in the Okanagan, he became a Cub leader in Penticton in 1975. He rose through the volunteer ranks, becoming an Assistant District Commissioner for Cubs in the South Okanagan, and finally, in 1980, he became Assistant Regional Commissioner for Rovers, the oldest section of Scouting for young men and women. Following that, he took on the management and fund-raising for Scouting properties in the South Okanagan, such as Camp Boyle near Summerland, two cabins at Apex, and Camp Secrest near Oliver.
All in all, 45 years of dedication to youth.
He and his wife Lorna once co-owned the South Beach Gardens campground, and are strong supporters of the Ikeda Sister City Society, making three trips to Japan. Alan has put hundreds of hours of volunteer time into the development and maintenance of the Japanese Garden, and continues to do so. In addition, he has been a volunteer at the Soup Kitchen, and last but not least, for 15 years he volunteered as stage manager for the Community Concerts organization.
All who have encountered Alan know that he has a huge heart and and a disposition that brings a smile to every situation.
The Paul Harris Award (pin and certificate) was presented by Jean Jacobsen, President of the Penticton Okanagan Rotary Club, who congratulated Alan for his years of service.
She also noted that nominations from the public for future "Unsung Citizen" awards are welcome. Hopefully, an award will be made every three months or so.
Nominators should submit a written justification, no longer than two pages, either to Penticton Okanagan Rotary Club, Box 1084, Penticton, BC V2A 6J9, or by e-mail to: jean@pentictonrotary.com, and include their name and contact information (and if possible the name and contact information for a second nominator).
News from © iNFOnews, 2016