Photo belongs to the Perry Rotary Club

During National Volunteer Month in April, the Perry Rotary Club expresses gratitude to their members for their commitment to the community.

According to member Dirk Cavanaugh, the Perry Rotary Club is a civic organization that aims to help local communities and ultimately the world become a better place. He says the Rotary Club follows the slogan of “Service Before Self” as a way to emphasize the importance of putting others first. Cavanaugh tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the organization is involved in many things around the community, including his favorite event of sponsoring high school sophomores and juniors to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy. He details that each student usually comes back with a positive experience after volunteering.

“And every one of them just says it was kind of the best thing that ever happened to them, and it was a great experience and they’re still friends with all the people they met while they were there, and that it made them step up.”

Board Secretary Don Ruggle, who’s served with the rotary for 29 years, is truly thankful for his time with the organization.

“It’s been my pleasure to be in rotary because of all the connections you make. We have a program every week which highlights something going on in town, maybe a new business, (and) maybe people doing special work in the community. It’s really been a joy to raise some money and we’re able to help build playgrounds and do all kinds of things in the community. It’s just a very important part of my life.”

Cavanaugh highlights their non-profit organization awards two high school graduating seniors  $3,000 scholarships, engage in a highway clean-up project, participate in the Perry Library’s KidsFest in June, and honor the Civil Servant of the Year, with the latest going to Perry Fire Chief Grason Hill. He states that through the different events, the Perry Rotary Club receives approximately between 600 to 700 hours of volunteer service every year. Cavanaugh is hoping the organization will become more visible as signs are going up around town, as well as developing a social media presence.