RID Don Mebus: "The RI Service Above Self Award is given to
individual Rotarians who have rendered exemplary
humanitarian Rotary service that embodies Rotary’s motto of
Service Above Self The award recognizes outstanding efforts
in the promotion of RI objectives in any Avenue of Service
and is Rotary’s highest honor for a Rotarian. Only a maximum
of 150 of these awards may be given each year out of
the thousands of Rotarians who perform outstanding projects,
give of their time and talent to make life better for
others. This award is based on continuous service. Financial
contributions are not relevant in the decision of this
award. However, I might add parenthetically that most of the
recipients are substantive foundation donors.
I am very honored this evening to recognize PDG Bill Ballou
as a recipient of the Service Above Self Award. Bill, please
come forward to accept this emblem of gratitude from Rotary
International for your dedication to service above self
While he is coming forward, I might mention just a few
activities that Bill has participated in.
He served as a GSE team leader to S. Korea and as the GSE
committee chair in his district. He served as the
quartermaster of Rotoplast for two missions in the
Philippines, been a High Country PETS Board member, worked
as a team member with the Children of the Dump project
taking two tours to Nicaragua and served on the Hope and
Relief International Foundation as a Board member for the
Children of the Dump program. He also has been a delegate to
the Council on Legislation as well as many other Rotary
positions and responsibilities.
In addition to his Rotary Activities, he also organized and
promoted a mission venture to an impoverished area of
Venezuela, went to Nigeria on four occasions to to organize
and develop funds for a water well project there, has worked
extensively with Habitat for Humanity in Kearney, Nebraska
as well as a Jimmy Carter Work Project in South Dakota and
Kentucky, participated in fact finding site visits in Haiti
to develop Water for Life program and many other projects
with Church and Community.
He has received other awards for his interest in helping
other people, and he is quoted as saying that he is happiest
when h&s helping those less fortunate, and a fellow Rotarian
Sharon Hoffman said that “He spends more time helping other
people than what he does for himself”
It is no wonder that he has been selected to receive this
prestigious award, and I am very honored on behalf of the RI
Board of Directors and RI President Wilf Wilkinson to
present the Service Above Self Award.
