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By Meghan B. Minton
A well known local woman, Nancy Kautz, was honored by
the Jefferson Rotary Club for her hard work, dedication and service
to the community with the coveted Paul Harris Fellowship Thursday
evening, June 14.
Billy Smith, Mick Phillips,
Nancy Kautz, Vicky Moody, and fellow Paul Harris Fellowship
recipient Dr. Dean Jones Jr. |
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“Nancy must live
by the Anne Franks quote ‘How wonderful it is that
nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve
the world.’”
~ Vicky Moody
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The Paul Harris Fellowship is usually awarded to a Rotarian who
donates one-thousand dollars towards the educational and humanitarian
programs of the Foundation. However it can be presented to a non-Rotarian,
to someone who displays the characteristics of a Rotarian in both
their work and everyday lives that exemplify the organizations
motto “Service Above Self”.
The Club’s President Elect Vicky Moody has been both friend
and confidant of Kautz and has first hand knowledge of her many
unselfish accomplishments. “Nancy must live by the Anne Franks
quote ‘How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world,” says Moody.
The list of Kautz’s accomplishments, as read by Rotarian
President Mick Phillips, looked like a Christmas Wish List; appearing
as if it would never end. Therefore, there is no surprise that
she is frequently recognized by her peers and the State Office
of Health Education/Healthy Carolinas as a person who can “bring
the community together to address health issues.”
Kautz has been involved creating, opening and funding various
programs throughout the community for people of all ages and cultures.
These programs include the School Based Health Center “Top
Dog Clinic”, the “Mountain Family Care Center”
of Ashe Memorial Hospital, Asthma prevention and training for
schools through “Tools for Schools”, “Yellow Ribbon
Campaign” and “Sunshine Sunday” campaigns that
address suicide prevention and mental health diagnosis, and the
“SAFE Kids” child safety seat program.
For most people these programs alone would be enough to keep anyone
busy for a while, but Kautz doesn’t stop there. She also
coordinates committee work through the Ashe County Health Council.
The ACHC has been instrumental in obtaining grants for the Lansing
Walking Track and the new climbing wall at the middle school,
addressing school health through nutrition program “Five
A Day” and “ACES” a staff wellness program, and
partnering with the Northwest Tobacco Prevention Coalition to
provide tobacco prevention and cessation education and resources
for the community.
Kautz is also concerned and involved with other health issues
such as maternal and child health, domestic abuse, cancer and
programs specific to the Hispanic and Latino populations including
“Comenzando Bien” a prenatal program. Jennifer Bryan,
friend and comrade, feels that Kautz is a “leader in closing
the gap to health disparities providing programs to address the
needs of the Hispanic and Latino populations.”
These accomplishments are just a drop in the bucket, to compile
list all of her accomplishments would take months. . . by then,
Kautz would have more to add, , according to information provided
at the Rotary meeting. Bryan says, “She is consistently looking
for more funding to support the efforts in Ashe County, to truly
stand up to the Ashe County Health Council’s slogan, ‘Joining
Hands for Health, Healing, and Happiness.’” |
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