PAUL BRAY MEMORIAL STUDENT VOLUNTEER AWARD

Kin Brian Steven (right) presents the 2011 Paul Bray Memorial Student Volunteer Award to Emily McCollum. Derek Moore (left) from the Welland Hospital Foundation, receives a $1000.00 cheque from the Kinsmen, on behalf of Emily.

I was truly honored when I learned from Gail, that Paul wanted me to say a few words at today's service, on behalf of the Fonthill Kinsmen. At first, I thought she was mistaken, and might have wanted the other Doug in our Club to speak. Then I realized, that if Paul were here, he wouldn't want anybody speaking for 45 minutes.

Although our hearts are saddened by Paul's Death, it is important that we give thanks and recognize Paul's Life. Some of you may be familiar with that old Jimmy Stewart movie called "It's A Wonderful Life". Paul was a lot like George Bailey. He touched so many lives. He helped so many people. He was an unselfish individual, who gave so much of himself. He truly cared for others. And the world is a better place because of Paul Bray.

Paul was a Life Member of the Fonthill Kinsmen Club, so I want to share some past memories of Paul from a Kinsmen perspective and to reflect on the immensity of his contributions. Paul joined the Welland Kinsmen Club on January 8th 1987 after reading an article in the Welland Tribune. It was an article soliciting membership into Kinsmen because they were struggling with membership. The article highlighted the Kinsmen motto of"Serving The Community's Greatest Need". Paul felt that he wanted to serve his community. So he joined the Welland Kinsmen Club. Despite their best efforts, the Club was forced to fold a few years later. Paul could have said, well that's enough, and just abandon this involvement. But he didn't. He transferred to the Fonthill Kinsmen in 1989. He had outstanding participation in all aspects of Kinsmenship at the Club level and at the District level and as a service minded member of our community.

I think he held just about every Executive position within our Club including President, Past President, Treasurer, Membership Chairman, Registrar, CF Chairman and various other Director positions. He served on the Zone Executive as Treasurer and Membership Chairman. He was honored with the Kinsmen of the Year Award 4 times during his membership. In 1999, The Kinsmen Club of Fonthill & District honored Paul with a Life Membership to the Association of KIN Clubs.

I don't know if you have ever noticed, but all the great people in this world, all the great leaders, are inspirational and motivational. Paul was great at getting us involved. He would motivate us. He would inspire us to get involved in things that he felt were important. Things that make this world a better place.

Shortly after Paul joined the Club, he made a motion for us to sponsor a Foster Child and we have continued with that sponsorship because of his sustained promotion of this service. Paul and Gail have sponsored children for 25 years. He led by example.

Recently we donated a defibrillator to the Pelham Arena. Paul felt there was a need for this equipment in order to save lives. He promoted the idea several years ago and was successful at getting this equipment installed.

Our national service project is in support of CF (Cystic Fibrosis). Paul was a driving force behind fund raising efforts in support of CF. He often organized the CF toll-booth to collect funds from passing motorists in the Fonthill Plaza. He organized selling tickets for several CF Car Draws. He organized our involvement in the Zellers Moonwalk to raise CF funds.

Paul had some favorite projects that he loved to chair. One of them was the Seniors Christmas party and I know he chaired it at least a dozen times. He loved seniors and wanted to bring a little happiness into their lives at Christmas time.

Another favorite was visiting the shut-ins at the Woolcott Wing and Extended Care facility at the Welland hospital. We would deliver poinsettias to them at Christmas time. Paul would just beam in pleasure at just knowing that he delivered a little bit of happiness to those less fortunate individuals. I was reminded of one time when Paul passed over a poinsettia to a young patient and she started crying in happiness. She happened to mention that it was her birthday that day. After handing out a few more poinsettias further down the hall, Paul said, you know, we should go back and sing Happy Birthday to this young woman. So he did.

Paul was a great supporter of our Home Show. He promoted the idea of offering free Display space at the show for Non-Profit groups. He would usually organize floor services. And he wouldn't just put in a two-hour shift. He would work the whole weekend. Truly a dedicated effort.

You may know that Paul loved to read. And he always had a soft spot for requests for help that he might have read in the newspaper. It didn't matter if was for time or money. He always wanted to offer his support. And in addition to his own personal support, he would often come to the Club and tell us about a need that he felt we should support.

He would encourage our Club to actively support the fundraising efforts of other non-profit groups. He got us involved in a BBQ for the Heart & Stroke Bike-A-Thon. He got the Club to assist in a Dance for the Niagara Peninsula Children's Centre. He encouraged us to raise funds for the Damion Albanese cause. He organized a BBQ for the Head Injury Association Garage Sale. He got us involved with the United Way Waterball. He acted as the Club Representative for Headway Homes. And there are numerous other activities for which Paul was personally responsible for getting us involved.

Paul was our Club Historian. He took personal ownership for creating a scrapbook each year. He would collect newspaper clippings about Kinsmen. He was the sole creator of our website. I don't believe Paul had any formal training at website design but he took the initiative to learn it himself. He created an excellent website for the Fonthill Kinsmen and kept it up-to-date with photos and key information.

He always wanted to promote Kinsmen, to show our Colors and to publicize the work that Kinsmen do. He would bring his camera to service projects to capture this service work. And he was diligent at getting those pictures to the press. And he would never let anything tarnish our good image. I remember many years ago, we were at the Zellers Moonwalk to raise funds for CF. Our Club provided the BBQ service. It was a hot day and a few of us thought a cold beer was appropriate. Well, after a quick trip to the beer store, a few members cautiously consumed a cold beer from a brown paper bag in order to quench our thirst. Well, at the next Kinsmen meeting, Paul took a strip out of us for this kind of behavior. He was very protective of our image. He knew we did good work. He knew there was a time to relax and a time to work. And he only wanted that good side to show through.

Paul loved to dress up as a Clown. He was in his glory as a Clown. He would often encourage others to do the same. And sometimes the other members would say, well it's too hot to dress up as a clown or it's too cold. But, you could always count on Paul for wanting to be a Clown and bring a little life, a little happiness to the event.

And let's not forget Paul's jokes. He was the best joke teller I have ever heard. Nobody could tell a joke like Paul. He put so much emotion into his joke telling. He always brought a bit of humor to our meetings.

And so, let us not mourn his death, but rather, let us recognize and celebrate his Life. It was indeed a Wonderful Life. Paul put the needs of others ahead of his own. He has been a true steward in this world. He has been the salt of the earth. He has demonstrated outstanding service to his community. He has indeed fulfilled the Kinsmen motto of "Serving the Community's Greatest Need". And the world is a better place because of Paul Bray.

Submitted by: Doug Hardy

The Fonthill & District Kinsmen are currently accepting nominations for the 2012 Paul Bray Memorial Student Volunteer Award. The Bi-Annual award in memory of Welland resident & Fonthill Kinsmen Paul Bray, is in recognition of outstanding volunteerism by secondary students attending a Welland or Pelham Secondary School.

The Kinsmen will present a plaque to award recipient and a $1000 cheque in his/her name to a recognized charity of their choosing. The 2011 award recipient Emily McCollum selected the Welland Hospital Foundation as her charity to receive the donation.

Selection for this award will be based on community volunteerism for the calendar years 2010-2011. Nominations from the general public are encouraged. Nomination information is available by contacting: Kin Kevin at 905-892-2377

Download the Paul Bray Memorial Student Volunteer Award nomination form or prepare your own. Be sure to include the following information:

Name of Student Nominee - Please Print

Name of Student's Secondary School

Name of Person(s) making nomination & Contact number

Reason for Nomination

List Student 2009-2010 Volunteer Activities

Signature Date

All nomination forms must be mailed to Fonthill Kinsmen, Box 906, Fonthill, Ont. L0S 1E0 by April 1, 2012.