Like many volunteers, Ted Martindale doesn’t like to have his efforts recognized, but president of Granville’s Coffee was forced into the spotlight by the Quesnel Rotary Club.
Martindale was given a Paul Harris Fellow pin at the club’s first in-person meeting since COVID-19.
“He’s made so many community donations — too many to mention them all,” 2020 Rotary Club President Diane Rogers said. “One that’s near to our heart is the support of autism awareness with a $5 coupon.”
Martindale joins the organizer of that autism awareness campaign, Laura Hender, in becoming a non-Rotarian Paul Harris Fellow. His fundraising work for victims of a fire, donations to the Quesnel Search and Rescue team, and work with the downtown association were also highlighted.
READ MORE: Quesnel Resident awarded Paul Harris Fellowship
Only one non-Rotarian in a year is awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in normal years, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, Quesnel Rotary decided to award five in 2020/2021.
Coral Byrd and AC&D Insurance received awards earlier this year, with two more to be named.
“This is a real prestige award,” Rotary Assistant Governor Sandra Lewis said. “It doesn’t come lightly. We as Rotary want to recognize what you’ve done. There’s so much that Ted does that’s not noticed… He’s always doing something for somebody.”
While Martindale isn’t in Rotary, that didn’t stop members from pitching to him during the presentation.
“You have the heart of a Rotarian, now we just got to get you to join,” Lewis quipped.
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