A successful celebration of community service

Published 9:51 am Friday, May 8, 2015

On behalf of the Poulsbo-North Kitsap Rotary Club, I would like to thank all of those that made our May 2 “Building Community Celebration honoring Bill Austin & Ardis Morrow” a wonderful success:

— Marc Abshire and Kathi Foresee, from co-sponsor Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce.

— Poulsbo Rotarians and their friends and family who helped with ideas and committee work leading up to the event, logistics, set up, tear down and the manning  of our Rotary booth.

— Craig Gresham, Bill Austin and his helper for the main street banner.

— Our food vendors and Crimson Cove for the last-minute loan of their canopies.

— “Soul Siren,” who gave us many hours of great music.

— Mary Nader and the North Kitsap Herald for the wonderful article on Ardis and Bill in the April 24 issue, and for helping us get the word out about the Youth Service Project Challenge Grants.

— Home Depot for providing tiles to paint in our Children’s Clinic.

— Caring Clowns International and Miss Viking Fest Court for entertaining our kids with balloons and face painting.

— Our speakers, Marc Abshire, County Commissioner Rob Gelder, state Rep. Sherry Appleton, Dan Weedin (on behalf of U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer), Councilman Ed Stern and Mayor Becky Erickson.

— And, of course, Ardis Morrow for her “story.”

We loved it when the winners of the three Rotary Youth Service Project Challenge grants told us about their projects.

Most of all, we all loved the grand entrance Bill and Ardis made, arriving in Bill’s Rolls Royce. One could feel the love and gratitude of those gathered to give them well wishes and deserved thanks for their combined 170 years of community service.

Ann Pyles
Chairwoman,
Building Community Celebration
Poulsbo