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Ireland honored by local organizationIreland honored by local organization
Recently nominated for an award from Missouri First Lady Melanie Blunt in honor of outstanding volunteerism, Mary Ireland of Nevada was honored in her local community for her extensive track record as a community advocate and volunteer, when the Nevada Rotary Club named her a Paul Harris Fellow for the second time.
Ireland was surprised but honored, accepting the honor by praising the efforts of others who had worked alongside her for many years.
Ireland's activities, past and present, are too numerous to mention but range from service as mayor of Nevada, to humanitarian mission trips to Mozambique (twice) to scholarship efforts with several local organizations to docent at the Bushwhacker Museum.
The honor is the namesake of the founder of Rotary International, Paul Harris. There are three ways to become a Paul Harris Fellow: one is by making a one-time donation of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation, which funds many service projects taken on by Rotarians worldwide. Another is to be a sustaining Paul Harris Fellow, announcing one's long-term intent to provide cumulative donations equal to $1,000. The third is the method by which Ireland is honored; an individual or club, as in this case, donates the $1,000 in the honoree's name.
The Nevada Rotary Club has 16 Paul Harris Fellows.
Last year's honoree, Dr. Jason Meisenheimer, said that Ireland's service exemplifies the ideals of putting others first and long-term commitment to building a better community.
Marie McCullough, who served on several boards, including the Nevada City Council, with Ireland, related a story illustrating Ireland's commitment to the community.
Several years ago, McCullough said, a business rejected the opportunity to locate in Nevada, saying the education level of the available work force was too low. So Ireland worked hard to help Crowder College locate in Nevada, and the rest, McCullough said, is history.
Ireland also worked tirelessly on behalf of the state hospital and later to bring a behavioral health unit to Nevada.
McCullough said Ireland and she had gone to Jefferson City, meeting with everyone who might possibly be able to impact the allocation of funds; and when each door closed, Ireland would say "We're not leaving here without that money."
"That's why you have a behavioral health unit," McCullough said.
Ireland said she's thrilled to be the recipient of such an honor, but really, she does so for the love of community, and the love of doing the right thing.
"I especially love the things we do for the children," she said.