Bob Harman doesn’t volunteer for the recognition, but recognition is on its way.
After more than 50 years as a board member, president, director, donor and mentor for the Boys & Girls Club Services of Victoria, Harman’s commitment to community is being recognized with the Leadership Victoria Lifetime Achievement award.
“Bob is a great example of (someone) who wanted to get involved and got involved early as sort of a founding member in that organization,” said Leadership Victoria executive director Jack Shore. “(He helped) turn it into one of the biggest, best-run, dynamic non-profits there are.”
The Saanich resident was chosen from a group of eight potential recipients by a panel of members from Leadership Victoria, the United Way, the Victoria Foundation, the University of Victoria and the Rotary Clubs of Greater Victoria, he accepts the award at a ceremony at the Fairmont Empress Hotel Feb. 25.
“I am honoured to get the award, there are many people in this community who are equally deserving. I was feeling a little guilty, there are many, many people who have provided an awful lot of volunteer work,” Harman said of winning the award. “(This) is too much. I wasn’t sure I deserved it.”
Born and raised in Victoria, Harman first joined the BGC board in 1962. Now 78 years old, the retired lawyer is still a director for the non-profit organization, following the advice of his father who told him to focus on what is important and stay with one organization instead of spreading himself too thin. Despite his age and some health problems that have slowed him down a little, he hopes to get right back into the mix as soon as he is able.
“You feel an obligation to do something in your community, I have had a good life.” he said. “I will be a part (of the club) as long as my health allows me to. I don’t intend on leaving and don’t think I will be kicked out.”
The former two-time president of the club adds the LVLA award to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded to him in the fall of 2012 and Shore believes there couldn’t have been a better choice.
“He has been a long-time, significant impact person in terms of the Boys and Girls Club and a real role model for all the non-profit societies in terms of volunteers,” Shore said. “He is unsung because he doesn’t do it because (he) want to be sung about. (He does) it because he believes in it.”
