Tag Archives: Community Service Awards

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Dedication

I wanted to Dedicate my Mr. Community Service Award 2015 to my friends who died of AIDS. It is because of them that I am who I am. It is because of them that I have given so much. It was through their death that I learned about life and how to live.I couldn’t save them but I knew I could be of service to others. Much of who I am is because of what I learned from them and how bravely they faced death. Although I never got HIV, I was terrible affected by it. I have learned to co exist with a virus that is NOT inside me but still lives WITH me and has taken so much FROM me. I often make a concerted effort to not look back or think about them too much because it takes me out of the present and makes me very sad and upset. With World AIDS Day coming up on December 1st, this Award came at the appropriate time of the year for me. The greatest honor I have ever been given and privileged to, are the times when guys will come up to me (and its happened 5 or 6 times) and have told me, “you saved my life Daddy.” That is by far the GREATEST award anyone could ever give me. Telling me I, in some way, had a part in saving their life! I say it again, there is NOTHING better on this earth!

In September 2014 I was awarded Associate of the Year for the First Coast Leather Society at their Anniversary weekend (which I attended). in 2011 AND 2013 I was Awarded Associate of the Year for the Trident knights. Being the recipient of an award is quite a different experience than winning a leather title. You don’t get adoring fans and groupies wanting to sexually service you and you don’t get to travel to represent anything. Being given awards are years of the recipient working within their community and years in the making. Leather titles you can walk in off the street, look good in leather and VOILA, you’re a title holder. You automatically get a voice whether you earned that voice or not! You work your ass off for Awards and you earn them over MANY years. After a year your title ends. With an Award your work NEVER stops. You feel a GREATER sense of responsibility because you were given the award in recognition of DECADES of service and you feel compelled to do even more AFTER you have been recognized. I am more than honored to be given these recognitions. Getting a standing ovation truly does put everything into perspective for me. I felt my friends looking down at me smiling. I often say I will never retire and I never will. Too much left to do! I again want to thank everyone who had a part in giving me this honor and I will bring honor to the award you have given me long after the year is over!

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FINALLY IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME!!

Well this past weekend I got the surprise of a lifetime. I attended the First Florida puppy contest. That always coincides with my anniversary to Rene since we met at the International contest held at the Flamingo Hotel 3 years ago and we go back every year to celebrate.

AS always we attend the contest. This year held indoors due to heavy rains! The contest was half over when the announcer took to the stage and spoke of the MR. and MS. Community Service Awards for 2015. The first ever given in Florida. They began with the Ms and clap clap clap. Then the guy begins to read a biography. For the first few sentences I didn’t pay much mind to it but he kept going and it sounded like me. I looked over at the judges who were nodding their heads and smiling and looked back at Rene who smiled. IT WAS ME they were talking about!! Well when he finished reading from his phone, the crowd got up and gave me a standing ovation; something I have NEVER experienced before. I was numb that walking up to the stage I felt like I was having a out of body experience. They kept clapping and standing. I was a bit stunned. I only recall the announcer saying to me that he aspires to be like who I am!!

I never expected any recognition for anything. Service is its own reward and the best compliments I have ever gotten is when a guy would come up to me and say, “you saved my life.” NOTHING is better than that. NOTHING. I am however loving the medallion and I will wear it proudly. It provokes me forward to accomplish more. The front of the medallion is a torch somewhat like what the Statue of Liberty is holding. Its nice to think that I am that light and that I make a difference in others lives. For that I am privileged, honored an2015 Community Service Awardd grateful.