Local Rotarian celebrates 40 years

BY PAM STEVENS | EDITOR Loren Hole is a modest, generous guy. A guy with many admirers and a guy whose fellow Rotarians can’t find enough words to express how important he is to their club.

“He has been the brains and the money handler for the club since its inception,” Kathy Craven said.

Loren started his career in Rotary in the Everett Rotary Club in March of 1967. The Lake Stevens Rotary Club was formed in 1991 and Loren became a member a year later.

The Rotary motto is “Service above Self” which helps to define why Rotary is such an important part of Loren’s life.

“When we have the opportunity to serve other people, that is a big plus in our lives,” Loren said. “I just admire everything that Rotary does in service to the community. In addition to that, there are International things that Rotary Club does and those appeal to me.”

In the mid 80’s, Rotary International decided to become a partner in eradicating polio from the world. They are very close to accomplishing that goal.

“To help accomplish this we donate to the Paul Harris Foundation — the person who established Rotary in 1906 in Chicago. When he passed away Rotary established a foundation in his name,” Loren said.

When a Rotarian has donated $1,000 to the foundation they become a Paul Harris Fellow. Loren has donated money in bits and pieces over the years totaling more than $3,000.

“It’s painless when you donate like that,” he said.

Locally, the Rotary Club gives scholarships to graduating seniors from Granite Falls and Lake Stevens. This year they were able to give eight scholarships to deserving seniors.

Loren has had the opportunity to visit over 75 other Rotary Clubs across the country including several in California, New Hampshire, Alaska, Pennsylvania and even some in Florida.

Just last week, Loren started the Lake Stevens Rotary Foundation and is the first to donate money to the fund. Profits will be used for activities that will promote the community.

“I will give $1,000 every year on my birthday for as long as I exist, Loren said. “Hopefully the foundation will grow to the point of significance and those profits will be used for community service.”

His wife Lorna was made an honorary Rotarian several years ago. Loren says that she has probably served Rotary in more ways than he has.
He and Lorna just celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on August 20 and the Rotary Club was there to share in this incredible accomplishment along with his 40th anniversary in Rotary.

“They roasted me a little bit,” Loren said. “John Morrison has a fantastic sense of humor so he had Vern Foster modify pictures taken over the years. That was pretty good.”

Next to the spirit of service that Rotary has, the friendships he has made come in a close second.

“The friends that you make in Rotary help you along the way,” he said.
Others in Rotary feel the same about their relationship with Loren.
“He is an incredible man,” Craven said.

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