HONOURING JOE EIGNER & WIFE

The Rotary Club of Welland honoured long-time Rotarian Joe Eigner and his wife Helen at a meeting on September 1, 2015.  Joe and Helen are moving west to Edmonton to be closer to their son and daughter.
 
Joe was granted a honourary Membership a year ago for distinguishing himself through meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals.  Joe is a native of Welland, graduated from Welland High & Vocational School and Queen’s University in 1955 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.  He also graduated from SUNY at Buffalo in 1967 with an MBA.
 
Joe has had a varied life in Rotary. He joined the Rotary Club of Camrose, Alberta, on July 1, 1968.  He also spent a year in New Zealand and joined a Rotary Cub while there.  Joe moved to Edmonton, joined the Rotary Club of South Edmonton and served as president.
 
He and his family returned home - where he joined the Rotary Club of Welland in 1986. He was president in 1991-1992 and secretary for over 12 years. He and his wife Helen have attended 4 international conventions, hosted 3 Rotary Exchange Students and several Group Study Exchange delegates.
 
Joe is a Rotary Foundation Benefactor and a Paul Harris Fellow +3.  He has also served twice as Assistant Governor.  He has been involved in many other facets of the Rotary Club of Welland - most notably with the TV Auction for over 24 years.
 
Joe has been a member of four Rotary clubs in two provinces and two countries and has been president of two clubs. Truly a person who puts Service Above Self.  Helen was a long-time member of the St. Catharines Inner Wheel Club.
 
President Peter Papp and Past-President Deborah Zahra presented Joe and Helen with a picture of the Main Street Bridge with its new lighting taken recently by Ties Bogner.
 
Joe and Helen will be missed.