(l to r) Rotary President Pat Ware, Steve Harrold and Micki Tanner Baird.

The Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties celebrated their 25th birthday in March. In March of 1988, under the leadership of Jim Kent, the club was chartered and has provided tremendous support to the community and the world since their beginning. They held a special meeting to celebrate the day, their success and to honor the late Mr. Kent.

In attendance were Carole Kent and several members of the Kent family, original charter member Dan Jones, past president Brandi Boswell, honorary member Georgia Benjamin Smith, District 6910 Governor Margie Eddy Forbes and the current club members. The group was treated to a wonderful video history of the club that was prepared by member Corey Crouse, a musical performance by the Reynolds Chorus which included a signature song prepared for the special day and a great meal. At the end of the meeting Pat Ware, president of the club, announced the 2012-13 W. Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational Excellence and Robert S. Stubbs II Guardian of Ethics Award nominees.

The W. Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational Excellence honors a person from the club or community who has significant achievements in his or her career, community and academics. It is an individual who applies himself or herself in a manner consistent with Rotary’s Service Above Self motto.

There are 71 rotary clubs in the District 6910 and each club nominates one candidate for the district wide award. This year’s Rotary Club of Greene & Putnam Counties’ W. Lee Arrendale nominee is Micki Tanner Baird. Throughout her career her employers and fellow workers have recognized Micki as an individual who goes above and beyond. She has served in numerous roles within Rotary, including Club President and Assistant Governor, and has always done an excellent job. In terms of community service, she actively supports a number of organizations within the community including Meals on Wheels, Second Harvest Food Distribution, Habitat for Humanity and the Oconee Performing Arts Society. Initially, Micki attended nursing school, but quickly rose through sales in the corporate world and later in real estate. Throughout her career she has received several sales recognition awards and was presented the Reynolds Plantation “Helping Hands Award” in 2011. Micki’s peers and fellow Rotarians see her as a person who “thinks out of the box,” “sows the seeds of love,” “outperforms and manages with prudence,” “has a wealth of expertise and knowledge” and is a “positive face.” The club is proud to present Micki Tanner Baird as their W. Lee Arrendale Vocation Service Nominee.

The Robert S. Stubbs Guardian of Ethics award is similar in that each club in the district will present their nominee. This award was established to encourage and promote the ideals of ethics. The candidates need to have been a Rotarian for at least three years and work to strengthen and foster ethical practices. This year’s Rotary Club of Greene & Putnam Counties’ Guardian of Ethics nominee is Steve Harrold. Steve has been a Rotarian since 1980 initially in Kansas City, then Atlanta, and ultimately at the lake. He has held numerous positions within Rotary at both the local and district level. Steve has garnered respect and appreciation for his exemplary service with the Rotary Foundation where he served as district foundation chair and with the Georgia Rotary Student Program where he served as trustee. He is also treasurer for his church, Lake Oconee Community Church. Rotary has a motto called the 4-Way Test that speaks to how one conducts him or herself. When it comes to decision-making, Steve will always weigh in on those decisions through application of the 4-Way-Test and the ethical standards expected. Those who know Steve would agree that honesty, commitment, practicing what you preach and working towards stated goals are simply a part of his DNA. The club is proud to present Steve Harrold as their Robert S. Stubbs II Guardian of Ethics Nominee.

For more information on the Rotary of Greene and Putnam Counties please visit us at www.GreenePutnamRotary.org or on Facebook.