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Rotarians present community awards

Williams named Volunteer of the Year

Ralph Williams was named the Clintonville Rotary Club Community Volunteer of the Year at its annual awards night Monday, Aug. 29.

Williams is a retired teacher and has been involved in many community activities.

He has been a member of the Clintonville Lions Club, serving as president and chairman for the wheelchair project. He has also volunteered for vision screenings at local schools.

A member of UCC Church, Williams has served as a fundraising chairman, helps with the newsletter, is a maintenance volunteer, volunteers for community meal and fundraising efforts at American Legion steak fry for the church.

As a member of the American Legion, Williams is a member of the funeral honor guard and is the recording secretary for all the meetings. He also helps with other events through the Legion.

Williams has served for eight years as a member of Friends of the Library, where he has served as secretary for the board of directors and chairman for the three used book sales per year. He’s also in charge of the on-going bargain book cart.

Volunteering time at locals schools, Williams started the junior great books weekly book discussions at the middle school and still runs the program. He began this in the late 1970s. He is also the moderator for the geography bee.

As a member of the Good Fellows group, he helps distribute gifts, clothing, and food to the needy at Christmas time.

At this year’s Mission of Hope event, Williams conducted vision screenings and helped with set up and take down.

When he was introduced to the club as volunteer of the year, it was said Williams enjoys helping others because he is a retired school teacher and it is his nature to try and improve the lives of others.

He was presented the award by Rotarian Ann Fuge.

After receiving the award, Williams told the group about his efforts within the community and thanked the club for the recognition.

Rotarian of the Year
Marsha Handrich was recognized as Clintonville Rotary Club Rotarian of the Year.

Handrich serves as the treasurer for the rotary club, taking over when the former treasurer moved out of the area. In her first year as treasurer she has completed the revision of the budgeting and bookkeeping system. This effort was started by the departing treasurer and is used by the club to accurately track its finances.

She was presented the award by Rotarian Sue Aschliman.

Klein recognized
Rotarian John Klein and his wife LaVonne were honored for volunteering to serve as host parents for last year’s exchange student, Clara Van Vo from Denmark.

New exchange student
The club also welcomed its newest Rotary exchange student from Thailand, Benyapa “Oom” Gangektu. Oom told the group about herself and her family back in Bangkok. She was joined by members of her Clintonville host family of Matt and Jodi Keller of Clintonville.

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