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The Rough Notes Company presents 2007 Community Service Award By Bob Bloss This year, The Rough Notes Company’s Community Service Awards program took on a decidedly new look. For the first time since it was established to honor independent insurance agents for their extraordinary examples of volunteerism and humanitarianism, the annual award ceremony’s spotlight focused on not one but two very special winners: Markham F. Rollins III and Mark V. Williamson. “After carefully reviewing all the nominations,” said Robert N. Kretzmer, executive director of The Rough Notes Community Service Award at the annual recognition festivities in Indianapolis, “our board of judges deemed it impossible to rank the good works of Mr. Rollins and Mr. Williamson as one over the other. As a result, our decision became an easy one. This year both men—for their incredible acts of generosity—clearly deserve to be cited as winners of the prestigious 2007 Rough Notes Company Community Service Award.” In addition to the two $5,000 checks issued by Rough Notes to the winners’ designated charities, each honoree received the unique sculpted eagle trophy that’s emblematic of his philanthropic works. Mark Rollins’ major charity of interest is Bridges To Community, headquartered in Ossining, New York. Mark Williamson is closely associated with the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI). Markham F. Rollins III, Rough Notes readers might already be familiar with Mark Rollins’ tireless efforts on behalf of Bridges To Community and its ongoing project to construct housing for poverty-stricken families in the country of Nicaragua. Just a short time after receiving word of his Community Service Award, Rollins packed for his 12th trip to Nicaragua. His efforts there go far beyond lending a helping hand and a strong back. Over the past five years his leadership in recruiting volunteers to travel to Central America, and in directly leading several trips himself, have been instrumental in raising in excess of $500,000 to build cinderblock houses for people in need. Several men and women of the insurance industry volunteer to join him in Nicaragua. Rollins, now a member of the Bridges To Community board, explains how he initially became acquainted with this organization. “My son Jonathan was active in our church youth group, which had gone to rural West Virginia several times to assist with housing improvements there. Then in 2002 the church organized a Nicaragua excursion with Bridges. Jonathan invited me to go along. I did, and became fascinated with the program. I’ve gone down there 11 times already. Another of my sons, Christopher, will be my co-leader on this April trip.” Bridges To Community plans 45 Nicaragua visits this year. Approximately 900 North American citizens will participate. Each trip usually totals eight days and seven nights. One trip to Nepal is also scheduled. College, high school, and religious groups were the primary participants in Bridges’ early years in Nicaragua. Then three years ago Mark Rollins began to encourage business leaders to participate. “I challenged them to raise the $3,500 required to build each house we construct in the small Nicaraguan villages near Masaya, Nicaragua, where Hurricane Mitch virtually leveled the area,” recalls Rollins. “In 2000, soon after the devastation, Bridges To Community initiated its project to end poverty housing there. Happily, we’re now able to build about 125 houses per year. “I happen to be a member of the The Sitkins 100 Group,” Rollins continues. “So in 2004 I asked Roger Sitkins for an opportunity to make a recruiting and fundraising presentation to his group. He gladly agreed, and the following January our first Sitkins trip took place. Roger and Patrick Sitkins have worked directly with us in Nicaragua.” (Note: Feature stories in Rough Notes issues of April 2005 and May 2006 fully detail a typical Bridges work week in Masaya.) In addition to organizing a Nicaragua trip for insurance industry colleagues each year, Rollins annually leads another group from his local business community. “My goal is to bring as many people as I know to experience this joy of what it means to give back,” Rollins says after meeting local residents of Masaya who desperately need safe shelter. “It’s an incredible feeling to get love and a smile of gratitude from someone with nothing else to offer you.” Rollins shares the following observation attributed to Henri Nouwen, a Dutch-born theologian, psychologist, and spiritual writer. Rollins proudly confirms that it coincides directly with his own philosophy of charitable volunteerism. “Joy is hidden in compassion. The word compassion literally means ‘to suffer with.’ It seems quite unlikely that suffering with another person would bring joy. Yet being with a person in pain, offering simple presence to someone in despair, sharing with a friend times of confusion and uncertainty ... such experiences can bring us deep joy. Not happiness. Not excitement. Not great satisfaction. But the quiet joy of being there for someone else and living in deep solidarity with our brothers and sisters in this human family. Often this is a solidarity in weakness, in brokenness, in woundedness, but it leads us to the center of joy, which is sharing our humanity with others.” “That writing,” summarizes Rollins, “perfectly encompasses what happens to us on our Bridges To Community trips to Nicaragua. An overwhelming feeling of joy!” As one might surmise, learning of Bridges and its mission was not a sudden philanthropic epiphany for Mark Rollins. His community service includes official leadership positions with the Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe, whose annual golf outing has raised more than $1 million over 15 years. He’s on the boards of Bedford Presbyterian Church, Westchester County Artificial Kidney Center, World Trade Council, Visiting Nurse Services, Information Technology Cluster, and Westchester Venture Group, Inc. An Eagle Scout himself, Mark is a past board member of the Bronxville Scout Committee. His enthusiasm for service was immediately recognized when he connected with Bridges To Community in 2002. Don Hammond, this nonprofit community development organization’s executive director, heartily supports Rollins for the Rough Notes award. “Among our many volunteers, with their hard work and dedication, few come close to keeping true to the passions and convictions that fuel Mark Rollins. Twenty-five percent of our annual income is traced directly to his tireless efforts in fundraising. In his role of trip leader, fundraiser, and member of our board of directors and current chair of the Development Fund Committee, Mark has helped put Bridges To Community on the nonprofit map.” Hammond continues, “All of our trip participants have one thing in common: belief in the power of humanity; belief that through shared work and the defending of human rights to nourishment, shelter, health care, and employment, they can work actively toward mutual wholeness and a healthier global community. For our Bridges To Community volunteers, Mark has made the world a little clearer.” That is strong testimony to the positive effect generated by Mark Rollins’ deep dedication to serving others. Mark Williamson, Study Mark Williamson’s resume—it might take you awhile—and you’ll surely wonder how this owner of a major independent insurance agency has found time to sleep in the more than three decades since he founded his successful Little Rock, Arkansas, business. Beyond the obvious time and energy requirements of growing his company, he’s served in numerous capacities on insurance industry councils and boards. Williamson has handled key roles with the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas (IIAAR) for more than 20 years and in 2000 received the Allan Kennedy Award, the highest honor bestowed on an agent by the IIAAR. Yet, with all the honors earned for his business accomplishments, Mark Williamson seems proudest of his participation in philanthropic ventures that have helped produce dramatic, positive results in Arkansas—especially in the medical field. In recognition of his untiring work on behalf of the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI), Mark was nominated for this year’s Rough Notes Company Community Service Award. He has been a member of the CARTI Foundation board since 1989, serving as its chairman in the early 1990s. CARTI is a network of seven radiation therapy centers located throughout Arkansas. Founded in 1976, it has treated more than 66,000 cancer patients by caring for them and their families physically, emotionally, and financially. CARTI patients are not turned away if unable to pay for their treatment. In 2002 the institute provided $3.3 million in uncompensated care to patients without insurance or other means of payment. Kathi Jones, president of the Institute’s major fundraising arm, the CARTI Foundation, enthusiastically supports Williamson for Rough Notes’ 2007 Community Service salute. “Mark’s commitment to CARTI and our patients has been unwavering. For example, he leads our Builders Campaign for high-dollar donors who contributed $310,000 over the past five years. For our CARTI Kids Classic that benefits pediatric cancer patients, he personally raised nearly $240,000 in event sponsorships. Personal contributions from Mark,and donations from the Mark V. Williamson Company toward our Annual Fund, have been substantial. He has also made a personal planned gift to CARTI. And he is instrumental in getting other Arkansas insurance men and women to volunteer their time and talents on CARTI’s behalf.” Jones continues, “For all his years of service, Mark remains fresh and excited about everything he does for CARTI. His enthusiasm motivates and helps mentor our other volunteers. He sets the bar high for them, and for our staff, too. I wish I could clone him! I’m delighted that Mark’s own industry has recognized him with this Rough Notes Community Service honor.” A long-time friend and admirer of Mark Williamson agrees. Tad Krug of Ramsey, Krug, Farrell & Lensing in Little Rock, who officially nominated Mark for the Rough Notes recognition, was an Honorable Mention recipient himself in 2002. “I have known and competed against Mark for the 42 years I’ve been in our profession,” he says. “I can honestly say that in my career I have never known anyone who competes harder, but with more integrity. He will either do it right or walk away. I don’t know of any better example than Mark V. Williamson for what this Community Service award represents. This award reflects who independent agents really are. Agencies derive a significant portion of their revenues from the communities in which they live and do business. “You develop relationships with clients,” Krug continues. “And because you do, you learn what they’re interested in. That’s why agents like Mark get involved with raising money for organizations that reach their hearts. Mark truly derives great joy from working with the groups he cares about.” Krug pointed to Williamson’s achievements with the IIAAR and his fundraising success with the association’s political action division. Krug also cited Williamson’s other philanthropic interests, including the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Association. James C. East, chairman of Little Rock’s Pulaski Bank, is another of Williamson’s friends and business associates. In 1998 East was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Surgery was successful. He and Williamson discussed the various facets of the disease, and a year later, Mark and East were among a group of five men who were instrumental in establishing the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation. All except Williamson were prostate cancer survivors. But soon after the foundation began functioning, Mark Williamson received the same diagnosis as the other men. “I didn’t appreciate the effect and the emotional toll prostate cancer took on Jim East and the others until I went through it myself,” admits Williamson. In short order he studied the options available to him for making an informed decision and chose a surgical procedure. Three days after surgery he left the hospital, free of cancer. “I kidded the others that they didn’t tell me the disease was contagious!” Ironically, the 2000 surgery was conducted in the same month that the Prostate Cancer Foundation officially opened for business—in the very office building that houses the Mark V. Williamson & Company insurance agency. Six weeks later Williamson was snow skiing with his surgeon, Dr. Graham Greene, and their friend, Jim East. Fast forward seven years. Today, as you would suppose, he approaches the ski slopes and his favorite philanthropic interests with his typical dedicated enthusiasm and purpose. For Mark V. Williamson, it’s still full steam ahead. The Rough Notes Company extends hearty congratulations to Mark Rollins and Mark Williamson for their continuing significant contributions of time and service to others. Theirs are examples of the kinds of philanthropy generated by so many other independent insurance agents and agencies in the United States and Canada. The Rough Notes Company invites readers to nominate associates for future annual Community Service Award consideration. Full details and 2008 nomination forms will be published in Rough Notes issues toward the end of 2007. *
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