PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Rotary Club of Portage will honor Randy Orwig with its 34th Community Service Award at a special meeting Wednesday, August 5 at the Portage Zhang Senior Center.
The group says this prestigious Community Service Award was first granted in 1992 when the Portage Rotary Club sought to identify those individuals who have dedicated their lives to community service and, in doing so, have made Portage a better place to live for all its residents.
Orwig is a lifelong resident of Portage, serving the community for 63 of those years as a member of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). As an Eagle Scout, he has received the Scouting Silver Beaver Award and District Award of Merit and is a James West Fellow for his ongoing support of BSA. His leadership positions have included Scoutmaster (locally and at multiple National Jamborees), 40+ years as member of local Pathfinder District and membership on the SW Michigan Council / Michigan Crossroads Council for 20+ years (Board President from 2000-2002 and two additional years as Kalamazoo Area Market Board Chair for Michigan Crossroads Council).
Orwig is a Western Michigan University graduate and chose to remain close to home to raise his family during a long and successful professional career, first as a Vice President and mortgage department leader for 15 years with Old Kent Bank, and then as a successful Investment Advisor with Ameriprise Financial for 31 years, where he became a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), passing numerous FINRA securities exams and earning multiple professional designations along the way (CRPC, RICP, CLTC).
He frequently volunteered his vocational knowledge and experience, including six years as member of Homebuilders Association of Greater Kalamazoo Board of Directors (four years as Treasurer), another six years on the Portage Community Center Board (three years as Treasurer), and with the City of Portage, on its Utility Rate Committee (2012-2025) and as member of Visioning and Planning Commission (since 2025). During this time, Randy somehow found time to also volunteer with United Way, Red Cross, Salvation Army and American Cancer Society, in addition to 17 years with West Portage Little League as coach, manager, umpire and Safety Director on its governing board (four years).
As a member of the Rotary Club of Portage for 27+ years, he served the Club in multiple terms as President, Board Member and as leader of multiple committees. He has been the Club Liaison with the Portage Northern HS Interact Club for 15 years and with Community High School for over 10 years and is a Paul Harris Fellow for his continued support of Rotary International. As Rotary President, he led the charge to create and place three Peace Poles, one at each Portage High School, as a visual reminder to think, speak and act in the spirit of peace and harmony.
Prior Community Service Award recipients include Patricia Dolan (1992), Robert VanderRoest (1993), Gayl Werme (1994), Donald Overlander (1995), Betty Lee Ongley (1996), Jim Pellowe (1997), N. Lorraine Beebe (1998), Romeo Phillips (1999), Freeman Russell (2000), Nancy Jean (2001), Georgia Vavra (2002), Pete Marsiglia (2003), M. Denise Clegg (2004), Bob Borsos (2005), Judy Acker-Smith (2006), Art Roberts (2007), Ted Vliek, Sr. (2008), Paul Wartner (2009), John Kounelis (2010), Allan Reiff (2011), Shirley Johnson (2012), Norman Braksick (2013), Tom Eddy (2014), Jay Sherwood (2015), Diane Schrock (2016), Stephen Rodia (2017), Nancy Ray (2018), Dick Hewitt (2019), Karen Foster (2021) Christine Berro (2022), Patricia M. Randall (2023), Jose E. Santamaria (2024) and Randy Van Antwerp (2025).
Comments