Web posted Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Hobo Jim receives Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary DG Vladimir Donskoy of Russia. Soldotna Club President Barb Elson, and Rotarian Cliff Baker.

Alaskan Balladeer named Rotary Paul Harris Fellow...

It's been quite a year for Alaska's official balladeer Hobo Jim Varsos. After returning from Afghanistan where he entertained American troops in the field, doing numerous local and statewide benefits, releasing a new CD, and donating his Willy boat to the Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association for a raffle fundraiser, Hobo was surprised by a visit from a Russian dignitary recently during one of Hobo's regular shows at BJ's in Soldotna. Vladimir Donskoy, of Vladivostok, is the first Russian to become a Rotary District Governor in the organization's one hundred year history. Donskoy now presides over Rotary International District 5010 which includes clubs in Russia, Alaska, and Yukon Territory Canada.

One of he highest honors a Rotarian can achieve is that of becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. Named in honor of Rotary's founder, the international foundation has raised over $500 million dollars since 1985 to eradicate Polio from planet earth. With cases having decreased 99% since 1985, Rotary hopes to complete their goal during their centennial year. The Polio Plus campaign however, is only one program supported by the RI Foundation. To become a Paul Harris Fellow takes a significant financial contribution to the foundation, as well as a strong commitment to the Rotary slogan, "Service Above Self."

When Hobo Jim returned earlier this summer from entertaining American Troops in Afghanistan, Cliff Baker, past president of the Soldotna Rotary Club, felt that Hobo's contribution to our men and women serving America was such an example of service above self, that a fitting way to recognize his accomplishments would be to honor Alaska's Balladeer by making him a Paul Harris Fellow.

Baker said he wanted the presentation to be out of the ordinary and on Hobo's turf, so a bunch of Soldotna Rotarians got together and flew in the District Governor from Anchorage where he was visiting. Then in the middle of Hobo's show at BJ's, District Governor Donskoy stood up and told the standing room only crowd why he had come to Soldotna, and what a historic event the special presentation represented. "You could tell Hobo was caught of guard. He had been fighting off the flu, and I think he was glad to take an extra break," said Baker. "In Russia, we have heard of Alaska's famous Hobo Jim, as the perfect combination of Bob Dylon and Woodie Guthrie. Tonight we also recognize him as a perfect example of service above self. Of all my travels this year, tonight will be a remarkable memory that my wife and I will never forget. Tonight we have seen the less formal, but the real Alaska, we will take this spirit with us back to Russia" said Donskoy.

For the last 5 years, Hobo has donated his Willy boat to a local organization to be raffled off as a fundraiser. This year the Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association started selling tickets in March, and last month at the drawing in Soldotna, Mike Tilly of Kenai, was the lucky winner of Hobo's Forest service green Willy boat. "Our goal at KPHA with these events is to raise money so we can keep the costs as low as possible for the kids who want to play hockey. Hobo really helped us accomplish that this year," said Todd Duwe, President of the KPHA.

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