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FOUR LOCAL CITIZENS RECEIVE VOCATIONAL SERVICE AWARDS FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF TEMECULA FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
Pictured: David Neault, Jami McNees, Kim Kelliher, Trisha Sheas, Bernard Truax, Walt Allen, Bud Kane, Mike Noon, Kevin Vernon. Photo Credit: Todd Montgomery.
Vocational service is one of Rotary’s “Avenues of Service” and encourages members to serve others through their professions and to practice high ethical standards. Each October Rotary Club members nominate distinguished members of the community that exemplify service above self through their careers upholding high ethical standards. In previous years the club has honored only one or two recipients but according to program chairman Kevin Vernon “it has become clear that even in the toughest of times there are many business people in the Temecula Valley who give of their time in extraordinary ways”. In addition to being recognized and thanked by Rotary each recipient received a check for $100.
Temecula real estate developer Bernard Truax was nominated by Walt Allen for his volunteer work as Chairman of the Board of Riverside Recovery Resources a non-profit organization dedicated to discovering and recovering souls lost to alcoholism and drug addiction. The Minor Consent program is an outreach to troubled kids aged 12 to 18; Bernie believes that if he can reach these young people early he can save them from a life of crime and misery. His proudest accomplishment is that 80% of the participants tested clean and returned to finish school successfully after their 24 week program.
Trisha Shea is an elementary teacher in the Temecula Valley Unified School District nominated by Kim Kelliher and Vickie Walker. She is dedicated to nurturing the creative and emotional development of her students. Because of her own difficult childhood she easily spots abuse and neglect in her students and uses her insight to get them the help and resources they need. Working with local foster care organizations she works to educate the community and raise funds for foster children. She is dedicated to encouraging foster children to “pursue their passions”.
David Neault nominated Jami McNees for her long list of volunteer work and accomplishments; she serves as a Board Member of Our Nicholas Foundation, Ambassador of the Temecula Children’s Museum, and works on events benefiting Rancho Damacitas. She serves as a cabinet member of the Women’s Peer Connection and previously as a board member of the Boys and Girls Club. Jami also founded Genuine Girl Inc, a non-profit organization to build confidence, courage and authenticity in teen girls and most recently founded Wisdom of Women benefitting Oak Grove Center for Arts and Education.
Mike Noon nominated Bud Kane who is a teacher from Temecula Valley High School who has been there since the school opened in 1985. He was instrumental in establishing a successful high school football program in our area at a time when there were only two public high schools. His record over his tenure is 174-84-1 and includes two CIF titles in 1990 and 1991. Recently retired as football coach, Bud has touch thousands of young lives in this valley during his lengthy service to our children.
Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.
The Rotary Club of Temecula was founded in 1975 and currently has over 100 local business owners and professionals that are committed to Service Above Self. To learn more about the many local, regional and international projects the Rotary Club of Temecula is involved in please review our website.
