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Rotary Marks Decade Of Helping Others

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By CARL ORTH

The Suncoast News

Published: July 3, 2008

TRINITY - TRINITY - Rotary Club of Trinity celebrated its 10th anniversary by welcoming Tim Sherrell as its new president and by naming its Rotarian of the Year and two Paul Harris fellowship winners.

• Rotarian of the Year is Kathryn "Kat" Sille, for her commitment to the club and to all things Rotary. She never says no, said Carol Kinnard, the outgoing president.

• Paul Harris Fellowship Awards went to Joe Cash and Angelo Rossello.

Cash was cited for his commitment to the Boudreau family when he redesigned their bathroom to accommodate Alex Boudreau's wheelchair. He spent his own money on the project.

Rossello earned the award for his numerous years of service on the Rotary Club of Trinity's board of directors.

The Service Above Self Award went to Jo Cooke for her participation in a Habitat for Humanity project.

Two people got Rookie of the Year honors. Doug Bumgarner was saluted for his personal commitment to Polio Plus. Carol Pressman was honored for her participation at RAP River Run.

The club has garnered three major awards in recent months:

• West Pasco Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Service Club of the Year

• District Club of the Year Award for midsize clubs in the four-county region from Crystal River to St. Petersburg

• Presidential Citation Award from Rotary International President Wilfred J. "Wilf" Wilkinson

"We are so full of young and up-and-coming business professionals," said Kinnard. She said she hopes to see the club's ranks grow beyond its 62 members.

The mission of Trinity Rotary focuses on raising money for projects to help area children.

In the past year, the group helped provide a Radio Disney program at three West Pasco elementary schools in conjunction with the Pasco Education Foundation. The club received a matching grant from the Rotary district to make the events happen.

The Trinity group helped provide funding to the Gills Family YMCA for a program to combat childhood obesity. Trinity Rotary was awarded a Blue Cross Blue Shield grant through the district in conjunction with the New Port Richey and Seven Springs clubs.

The first annual Trinity Rotary Fishing Tournament raised thousands of dollars for The Angelus, a home for severely disabled adults.

The group provided baskets and distributed books for the Laundromat Literacy Project, also known as Books in Baskets, at area coin-operated laundries.

Two scholarships went to graduating seniors from the PACE Center for Girls and J.W. Mitchell High School for their spirit of volunteerism, good grades and community involvement.

The group provided stairs for children to get access to Rosie, a therapy horse owned by the Boudreau family.

Members participated closely with the Genesis High School Interact Club to assist the Salvation Army soup kitchen.

Many members also assisted the Youth and Family Alternatives' RAP house through the recent RAP River Run fundraiser.

To raise money for programs, Trinity Rotary conducted Caribe Fest, which brought in about $25,000.

The Trinity group teamed with Seven Springs and Keystone Rotary clubs for a successful art auction.

Members also won first place in the Progressive Air 2008 Chasco Boat Parade in the not-for-profit category for best decorated watercraft.

Trinity Rotary members helped host an exchange group from Turin, Italy.

Beyond their own borders, the Trinity club garnered $4,600 in the Polio Plus Challenge to eradicate the disease.

Trinity Rotary was well-represented at the districtwide Habitat for Humanity Challenge in Clearwater.

The group helped fund a science lab for a school in Nigeria, as well as donated toward a water-filtration system for a Haitian school through Pure Water for the World.

Carl Orth can be reached at (727) 815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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