PDG Pete Smith Presented with Distinguished Service Award

Peter Smith is a man of many facets. He served Canada in the Air Force. He worked as a marine engineer when the oil rigs were being developed and worked throughout the Third World with CIDA, Petro Canada and American drilling companies. Later he owned and operated the largest independent fuel business in the Maritimes.

Peter has always been an active volunteer in his home community, on whatever continent. He and Sandra have raised an international family and are now proud grandparents.

Peter Smith continues to be one of our Rotary's most ardent supporters. A member of the Rotary Club of Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, District 7820. He is a role model for many of our newer Rotarians.

PDG Pete Smith joined Rotary in 1987. He served as president of the Rotary Club of Kentville, in 1991-1992. He served as District Governor for District 7820 in 2000-2001. Peter has held the many offices in the District but his passion has always been the Rotary Foundation and international service. He has served as district chair for D 7820 for the three years. Peter is a level one Major Donor to the Annual Programs Fund, and a level four benefactor to the Bequest Society of TRF.

He has been honored in 2005-2006 with Rotary International's "Service Above Self Award", and previously was awarded the TRF "Citation for Meritorious Service".

Peter Smith is a man of many facets. His vibrant and forthright presentations on global need have touched the hearts of many fellow Rotarians. His quiet and humble response to the needs of fellow members of his community led to the development of an emergency fuel oil provision to families in need. Peter donated thousands of gallons of home heating fuel, he also donated yearly to the local food banks a prize steer auctioned off at the various agricultural exhibitions and only a very few were ever aware of his generosity.Since joining Rotary, Peter has demonstrated leadership in support of local and global service initiatives. His presentations and working seminars have led District 7820 to a 40% increase in World Community Service Projects. And as district chair of the Rotary Foundation under his leadership donations to both the Rotary Foundation and Polio plus program increased.

Peter volunteered with the Cameroon NID and also participated in an NID to India. He identified a desperate need in local medical facilities in Cameroon. On his return, Peter formed a team of Rotarians who contacted every medical facility in three Canadian provinces. The results were two containers of medical equipment and supplies shipped to Cameroon in August of 2004. In 2005 he returned to Cameroon on an Individual Grant to witness where the humanitarian items were placed, 16 hospitals, two schools and the only sewing machine went to a leper orphanage. Since that time he has sent three more containers to Cameroon and is awaiting the shipping of two more for Nigeria. The total value of equipment to date would be approximately $3,000,000. This work prompted him to form RIMES, Rotary International Medical Equipment Storage and is available for any non profit organization. He also led the way in matching clubs in the district with clubs in Cameroon to work on projects together.

Peter spends at least 6 hours a day working on his passion he travels across the district picking up equipment and delivering it to our storage site. The storage is an arrangement he negotiated with Sobey's food chain in Nova Scotia. On a recent collection he lost part of his finger in an accident while loading beds. Undaunted he ensured that the equipment reached the storage area and after having his finger attended to was back in action in a couple of weeks. When asked about the experience, his response was: "the loss of part of a finger is a small price to pay in comparison to what some of the people receiving this equipment go through".

Peter has been instrumental in the collection and shipping of used school buses from District 7820 to schools in Cameroon. Pete's words on our District 7820 website on November 11^th, 2011 says ………… "District 7820 is sending the last of four school buses to Cameroon, two are now travelling the roads of Limbe picking up the children who would otherwise be walking several kilometres for their education. The third bus is being shipped using a Matching Grant, the last one is in storage waiting on funds. To date a total of 18 District clubs have contributed to this project. You can imagine the pride I have when I visit Cameroon to see our buses full of children display our District, Rotary logo and Canadian flag" . "However, we need to raise approximately $8,000 more for the fourth bus. These are diesel units, in excellent condition and are well maintained by the schools in Cameroon. You can all be proud of the District commitment since 2004 to this African country as mentioned in the November issue of the Rotarian. Donations may be sent to the Rotary Club of Kentville or the Rotary Club of Port Hawkesbury".

Peter's passion for International Service goes far beyond this he has been active in the Group Study Exchange program organizing visits and hosting inbound teams. He and Sandy have been host parents to numerous Youth exchange students. During his years as the District Rotary Foundation chair the district reached new height in giving to the annual programs fund. Peter spent many hours traveling in D.7820 building interest and awareness of the Rotary Foundations good work.

Peter and Sandy have assisted financially a young nursing student in Cameroon that has enabled her to receive Certification as a Registered nurse.

Pete's leadership and energy exemplify the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in Service Above Self.