JCI Vernon president Laurie-Ann Rayner Sarachie calls member Dan Proulx a giver.
So she was happy to see Proulx be on the receiving end of a national award.
Proulx, an Investors Group consultant, was named most outstanding new member at the recent JCI national convention held in Cranbrook.
“Dan sees a need and seeks to help,” said Rayner Sarachie in her award submission package. “He works on so many different projects, helping out wherever he can with many different fundraisers.”
Proulx joined JCI Vernon in May and, at his very first meeting, he volunteered to co-chair the beverage ticket sales at the annual Funtastic Music Festival. That task alone required organizing volunteer shifts over four 16-hour days with up to eight people per shift.
He assisted with new members night and played a strong roll in obtaining sponsorship to help promote JCI Vernon and its events.
Proulx raises money for a number of causes, including the Kindale Developmental Association and the Alzheimer Society. In 2013, Proulx and his wife, Vicki, are planning to go to Zimbabwe with another JCI Vernon member – Angela Yablonski – to support the Zimbabwe Project which takes suitcases full of supplies to needy people.
“Winning the award is absolutely amazing,” said Proulx. “The JCI slogan is ‘Be Better’ and I simply believed I could be better. But it’s hard to make positive changes without good people supporting you and I’m fortunate to be surrounded by good people.”