The Rotary Club of Jefferson recently presented its annual “Professional of the Year” and “Avenues of Service” awards. Sid Jones, president of Home State Bank, was honored as the Professional of the Year. Adam Pederson was recognized as with the Avenues of Service award.
The Professional of the Year award is given annually to an individual who exemplifies the objectives of Rotary via encouragement of high ethical standards in the professional world, and one’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society. Honored for outstanding and dedicated service to her or his profession, the recipient of the Jefferson club’s award is a recognized professional in the area. The awardee is not necessarily a Rotarian.
Active for decades in the economic development of the community and county, Jones has had many bright ideas that have become reality. Moreover, his have been words of encouragement and positivity, seeking out new ways to grow, not only his own business, but the area as well.
Wild Rose Casino and Resort and the regional career academy and new Greene County High School are examples of projects that he encouraged from the start and then worked diligently to make reality.
Jones has led Home State Bank to great heights, figuratively and literally. Home State has received statewide and national honors for innovation and customer service. The bank will soon see a new level of service – a second floor.
Adam Pedersen, an abstractor at Mumma & Pedersen Law Firm, was honored with the Avenues of Service award for his various volunteer activities, within Rotary and to other organizations. The award is given to one Rotarian each year in recognition of an individual’s fulfillment of Rotary’s five avenues of service. Pedersen was chosen because of his service to the club, his vocation, the local community, young people, and the international community.
Pedersen has headed up Rotary’s annual auction for several years, resulting in tens of thousand of dollars being given back to the community. He has worked with Habitat for Humanity, volunteered at the Jefferson public library, and mentored young people in Hong Kong via his church’s mission trips.
Rotary’s community relations chair Susan Laehn stated, “The Rotary Club of Jefferson is proud to honor Sid and Adam. Multiple Rotarians put forward each of their names for these two awards, and in both cases, their dedication to our community made them obvious choices. We are grateful for their years of service in Jefferson and beyond.”
