|
A Tribute to Errol Pilgrim |
|
Monday, 01 March 2010 09:33 |
They say a professional’s work is best judged by his peers.
I thought that Errol’s, contribution to our community through the Rotary Club of Central Port of Spain would be best judged, in this tribute, by his Rotarian brothers and sisters.
So I took the liberty of surveying those Club Leaders with whom he shared Club leadership responsibility through the years.
Although I spoke with each of them independently it was as if we all spoke with one voice about the man and about his service to Rotary.
Errol the MAN was a really likable human being; and a true Rotarian.
Think of Errol and recite Rotary’s Four-Way test of the things Rotarians say or do:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
And if you knew the man you would have to conclude that he was a true Rotarian. There was no Rotary task one could ask Errol to perform that he would say no to.
A man of ideas; he was always thinking of how he could bring change to the things with which he was uncomfortable.
He always expressed his opinion on what he thought was right.
Errol willingly gave his heart to the development of young people.
He enjoyed life, shared his early exploits with his Rotarian brothers and sisters. As one Rotarian said:
If you thought you had enjoyed your boy days; when Errol was finished telling you about his, you would have to think again.
He was often driven by his sense of fairness and his feelings for the downtrodden.
Some conversations with Errol were lengthy. This was because he never let go of a discussion until he was satisfied that he had examined all the angles that would substantiate his point of view even though the discussion was usually in the interest of someone else; He was such a gentle soul.
And now a look at his contribution to Rotary service:
Errol did much work with Rotoract, a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30 and;
He did even more work with Interact. Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 14 to 18. This was really his pet project
Errol almost single-handedly got one such club up and running at Woodbrook Secondary School and did whatever was necessary to keep it going.
Perhaps it was his training and experience as an educator that made the young people so comfortable with him and vice versa.
We remember, too, his work with The Beetham All-In-One School and;
His interest in the planning of the Club’s Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) Project.
His unforgettable Rotary service was passionately aimed at youth development
· He demonstrated Rotary’s respect and concern for Youth
· He provided an effective training experience for potential youth leaders.
· He encouraged leadership of Youth by Youth
· He publicly recognized young people who were rendering service to their communities.
For such sterling contribution Errol received Rotary’s highest honour, the Paul Harris Fellow Award.
His partner-in-service, Yvonne says that he was battling his ailment since 2004.
During this battle he fought bravely. He progressed from being almost bedridden to being dependent upon his wheelchair to being up and around with his walker then to his cane and then back to being able to drive his car again. At every stage he looked happy to see his Rotarian friends whenever we met.
He Looked comfortable in his wheelchair at the Club’s the District Governor’s handing over ceremony in July 2009 and, five months later walked in to the Club’s Christmas Brunch in December 2009, hardly seeming to need the cane he was carrying.
Yvonne tells me that he might be thought of as having had his last hurrah on Sunday, February 7th 2010 when he attended a carnival event where he danced behind the music as she sat quietly worrying about protecting her own knees while admiring his courageous and determined spirit.
Errol your performance as a Rotarian has not only maintained but has enhanced the quality of the work that our Club has delivered to the community it serves.
It is now your legacy and the challenge to those you have left behind that the Club must, without you, dedicate itself to maintaining this enhanced quality of service.
May your soul rest in peace |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 27 June 2010 17:47 )
|
