James Pierce Foundation Leadership Award:

Past Governor Randy Lickey looked on, smiling, as Charles Moncure of the Innsbrook Rotary made his way to the podium to accept an award.  The event was the District 7600 Foundation Awards Banquet on November 12, 2015, and the award being bestowed upon Charles was the first annual James Pierce Rotary Foundation Leadership Award.  Charles had not even known that it existed, that he had been nominated, or that he would be the first recipient.  He had been prevailed upon to attend the awards banquet to help his club celebrate being one of the top three giving clubs in District 7600 in the 2014-15 Rotary year.

The Pierce Foundation Leadership Award was created in honor of Past District Governor and Past District Rotary Foundation Chair James “Jim” Pierce, the beloved district leader who passed away on December 5, 2014.  The purpose of the award is to annually recognize a Club Foundation Chair who excels in leading his or her club into increased engagement with The Rotary Foundation.  By every measure Charles had exceeded all expectations in terms of member giving, club giving, participation in grants, both district and global, and had shared his skills when he subsequently served as an Area Foundation Advocate.

When asked as to what he ascribed such achievement he politely, but resolutely, credited his club members.  All he did, according to Charles, was point out the cost effective management of The Rotary Foundation meaning that money given to the Foundation is used in largest measure to do good works.  Knowing that donations made to the Foundation actually went for the causes to which Rotary and the Foundation were committed went a long way in helping the Innsbrook Rotarians understand how valuable their contributions really were.  After that, according to Charles, he just helped the members find their charitable passions.

And why was PDG Randy, now a proud North Carolina Rotarian, smiling?  Randy was Charles’ Rotary sponsor and was interviewed subsequent to the presentation of the award.  In PDG Randy’s words … “I was extremely pleased to be present to see Charles receive the inaugural District 7600 Pierce Foundation Leadership Award.  I cannot imagine anyone more befitting of this award.  Charles shares the great passion that PDG Jim Pierce did for our Rotary Foundation.  Charles’ leadership within Rotary and the Innsbrook Club is not limited to our Foundation, but there is no question that his leadership and enthusiasm have been a driving force in building tremendous support for our Foundation within the Innsbrook Club, as well as in other surrounding Clubs with which he worked as a Foundation Advocate. Charles sets a great standard for all future recipients of this outstanding award.”

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As the District 7600 Rotary Foundation Chair, 2013-2016, I am thankful for the Rotary service of PDG Jim Pierce, PDG Randy Lickey, Charles Moncure, and the almost 3000 district Rotarians who support The Rotary Foundation in ‘doing good in the world.’

Happy Thanksgiving

Jim Probsdorfer

Header photo courtesy of Bill Billings.  From left Anne Matthews, Charels Moncure, Jim “Probs” Probsdorfer, and District Governor Gary Chenault.