L-R Scott Broda, Aktar Mirza, Dave Alexander, Tommy Gerbasi
Angelo Palamuso, Jerry Barlow, John Harbison, Skip Mazenauer
The Rotary Club of Grand Island Honored 6 legacy members during a special reception at the Library. Rotary District 7090 Gov. David Alexander of the Rotary Club of Welland, Ontario, J. Scott Broda, Area Governor of the Club of Fort Erie and Tommy Gerbasi of Lewiston-NOTL Club joined with club members in recognizing the years of distinction of these Rotarians. These Rotarians exemplify the Rotary motto of "Service Before Self".
During the tenure of these distinguished Rotarians these are some of their accomplishments for Grand Island and the World.
Jerry Barlow: Jerry, who joined the Rotary Club of Grand Island in 1990, has dedicated 34 years to service in various leadership roles and community initiatives. He served as Secretary (2002-2003), Vice President (2003-2004), and President (2004-2005), and was a mentor for the Interact Club and students attending RYLA. Jerry was instrumental in starting the Lawn Mower races and contributed to the 4th of July Parade for several years. He has participated in the semi-annual Highway Cleanups for 30 years and volunteers for Salvation Army Bell Ringing annually. Recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow four times (2001, 2004, 2011, 2016), Jerry received the Rotary Distinguished Service Award in 1997, as well as the Rotarian of the Year honor that same year. He was awarded the Presidential Citation for 2016-2017 and participated in EREY(Every Rotarian Every Year) from 2004 to 2019.
John Harbison: John, who joined the Rotary Club of Grand Island in November 1991, has dedicated 33 years of service to Rotary, with a strong focus on international humanitarian projects. He championed raising $440,000 with Rotary International Grants to fund various initiatives in Bolivia, including school renovations, installing flush toilets, building greenhouses, educating farmers, providing beds for hospitals, supplying fresh water to 10 communities, supporting the Food for the Hungry project, and combating Chagas disease by teaching residents how to stay bug-free. John also raised $880,000 to build a hospital, including a lab and pharmacy, for the residents of Haiti. His leadership roles include serving as President of the Rotary Club of Grand Island (1998-1999), District World Community Service Chair, and as a sponsor of five new members. He has received multiple Paul Harris Fellow awards (1995-96, 2007-08, 2012-13) and participated in EREY for eight years. Additionally, he was named Grand Island Citizen of the Year and served as president and board member of Journeys End, an organization that helps settle refugees, from 1993 to 2016. He also created a grant for GI Interact students to travel to Guatemala and teach Spanish, and welcomed many students and refugees into his home.
Mike Heigel: (recognized in absentia) Mike, a dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Grand Island since 1993, has a total of 37 years of Rotary service, including six years with the Amherst club. Throughout his time in Rotary, he has contributed significantly to community projects such as building a ramp for resident access, supporting the construction of the Town Gazebo, and creating a Picnic Shelter in Veterans Park. Mike served as President of the Grand Island club during two terms, in 1996-1997 and 2017-2018, and was also the Membership Chair in 2017-2018. His dedication to Rotary has been recognized with multiple honors, including three Paul Harris Fellow (2000, 2017, and 2018), a Presidential Citation in 2016-2017, and 10 years of EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) participation. Additionally, Mike sponsored two new members and chaired the entertainment book sale, as well as assisting with the District Conference hospitality.
Skip Mazenhaur: Skip, a member of the Rotary Club of Grand Island since May 1959, has an impressive 65 years of Rotary service. Throughout his tenure, he has held various roles, including serving as Membership Chair in 2012-2013. Skip has received the Paul Harris Fellow three times (1999-2000, 2012-2013, and 2017-2018) and participated in EREY for eight years. He also sponsored one new member and played an active role in Rotary conference hospitality. Skip was instrumental in initiating a grant for the Niagara Falls Aquarium and has generously donated numerous ads for the club in his newspaper, The Dispatch.
Aktar Mirza: Akhtar, a member of the Rotary Club of Grand Island since September 2007, has 17 years of dedicated Rotary service. He served as President in 2012-2013, Vice President in 2011-2012, and Secretary in 2010-2011. Akhtar has been honored with the Paul Harris Fellow in 2012-2013 and participated in EREY for seven years. He also held key leadership positions as Membership Chair and Sergeant at Arms. In recognition of his contributions, Akhtar was named Rotarian of the Year.
Angelo Palamuso: Angelo "Ange", a member of the Rotary Club of Grand Island since November 1991, has 33 years of dedicated service to Rotary. Over the years, he has held several leadership roles, including President in 2006-2007, Secretary in 2004-2005, and Treasurer in both 2012-2013 and 2015-2016. Ange has been recognized with the Rotary Foundation Recognition and the Paul Harris Fellow twice (1998-1999 and 2006-2007), and he participated in EREY for 11 years. He has contributed to various club activities, including assisting with the Rotary District Conference hospitality room, championing the installation of a defibrillator at the Golden Age Center, working at Miracle League concessions, and helping create Lawn Mower Races. In addition, Ange regularly volunteered for the Neighbors Foundation.