Photo of the Week

I was out of town for a few weeks for the 2024 Panama Canal Society Reunion in Orlando and as usual, lots of work it was. I want to share a special moment that I had at the reunion, and that moment was receiving the highest award of the Panama Canal Society, The Distinguished Service Award. Carl Orvis, my successor and the newly elected President presented the plaque and certificate to me along with my soul mate Margaret. I was also given a Presidential farewell gift of a gold medallion to hang on my necklace of the seal of the Panama Canal Society. The charm was a gift from the Society, Margaret McLaughlin, Betty LeDoux and Carl Orvis. What a real honor for sure. Thank you!!

The citation on the certificate reads:

"Bill began serving on the Executive Board of the Panama Canal Society in 1999. He holds the title of Past President serving from 2002-2004 and has held just about every position on the Executive Board. He has served as the Annual Reunion Coordinator/Planner for the past twenty years. As a retired Special Events Planner, Bill brought the reunion into modern times by replacing antiquated operating procedures with many new improvements. Bill was appointed Historian for the Panama Canal Society in 2006 and was appointed liaison with the Panama Canal Museum, which he still serves as. Once again, Bill served as President for the 2020-2022 terms, leading the organization through the Pandemic without any penalties incurred for not having a contracted reunion. Yet again, he ran for President for the 2022-2024 terms because there was no other applicant at that time. Serving the Panama Canal Society and its members has been his labor of love for the organization all these years and he will continue as long as he can. Bill's motto is "Facing Future Challenges Together; Zonians Strong and United."
Bill's dedication to the organization is clearly visible through all his years of service and he is certainly deserving of this Distinguished Service award.