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Personal touch important for Scott

Man behind volunteer award feels need to give it more meaning
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Ray Scott reads a brief speech to the Ponoka Kinette Club before providing the group a wonderful dinner as a bit of personal recognition for the volunteer work they do. Photo by Jordie Dwyer

Usually when an award is presented, that’s it.

Not so for Ray Scott, who has made the volunteer award named for his mother a lot more personal for him and the award recipients.

On Sept. 13, Scott made his way up from Calgary to show his appreciation to last year’s Rita Scott Volunteer Award winners — the Ponoka Kinette Club — by providing them with a catered dinner at the Kinsmen Community Centre out of his own pocket.

“This is just to further recognize the people that aren’t looking to draw attention to themselves,” Scott said, who has been doing this since the awards inception in 2002.

“It’s another way to say thanks to a community that was good to my mom and to honour her memory. Of all the accomplishments my mom did, it was the volunteering that she needed no convincing from anyone to feel good about.

“Volunteering behind the scenes is part of her legacy and so, in a way, I want to do this as a living legacy for her.”

As for the Kinettes, the recognition in addition to the award has shown the group of women something.

“It has definitely given the club a new perspective on the value of the work that we do,” said Eliza Groeneveld, club president.

“It’s quite an honour to be put on the same level as Rita now and for the work that we have done.”