J. Leo Ouellette, a 42-year member of Haverhill Rotary and the former owner of Richey Drug, became the club's newest Paul Harris fellow after Rotarians made a surprise visit to his home to bestow the award.

Ouellette and his wife, Betty, live in Bradford.

The Harris award is named after the founder of Rotary, and is given to someone who epitomizes the organization's motto, "Service above self."

Ouellette is a former chairman of the board of directors of Haverhill Bank. Among the contingent that brought the award on July 24 to Ouellette's home was Haverhill Bank President Thomas Faulkner.

Ouellette was also the pharmacist at his Emerson Avenue pharmacy.

His colleagues say he is more than deserving of being named a Paul Harris fellow. Whenever anything needed to be done or anyone was in need of help, Ouellette was always there, said Rotarian Bernie Clohisy. Ouellette delivered meals to ailing club members, helping to clean up First Landing Park, and perfoming any number of volunteer services for the community, he said.

Only Paul Harris fellows may nominate and select others to join their ranks. It is the highest honor given in Rotary.

Club meetings and events

Department of Massachusetts Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars: Annual Fall Conference is Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m. at Sheraton Milford Hotel, 11 Beaver St., Milford. Joint officers reception is Saturday, Aug. 2, at noon at V.F.W. Post 2017, 84 Eastern Ave., Dedham. Dress is semi-formal. For more information on any event, call Donna Shaw at 978-373-4328.

Amvets Ladies Auxiliary Post 147: At the Tuesday, Aug. 12, meeting, President Betty Burnell displayed the trophies and certificates the Auxiliary received at the annual convention. Annual Tag Days will be on Aug. 29 and 30 at the Market Basket Central Plaza, Westgate Plaza, Riversedge Plaza and Haverhill Post Offices. Proceeds will help the Auxiliary with projects including bingo parties and coffee hours at the Bedford Veterans Unit and the Manchester VA Hospital. The Auxiliary is looking for new members. Those who are interested are invited to the monthly meeting. For information, call Alice at 978-374-6294 or Helen Johnson at 978-374-7074.

Homebased Businesswomen's Network will meet Thursday, Aug. 14, at 11:30 a.m. at the Village Green Restaurant, Route 1 North (Newbury Street), Danvers. Participants will learn from business adviser Ellen Kaplan how "solopreneurs" can build their own business without feeling lonely. The program will look at six strategies for developing a solid yet fun company while staying independent. For more information, contact Judie Vankooiman at 617-846-4791 or jvank100@comcast.net or Kate Victory at 978-777-8840 or kate@bluepencilconsulting.com.

The Haverhill Marine Corps League, William Glynn Detachment, has been reactivated. Meetings are in the basement of City Hall the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Participants should enter on the side opposite the Elks Lodge. For more information, call Richard Broadnax at 978-372-9441 or Gerard Boucher at 978-521-3982.

The Haverhill Cultural Council invites all Haverhill arts organizations to submit upcoming events to the council's Web site: www.ci.haverhill.ma.us, under "Human Services Department." To submit events or for information, call 978-374-4500, ext. 31; or e-mail culturalcouncil@cityofhaverhill.com.

The Merrimack Valley Camera Club meets every Wednesday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Trinitarian Church, North Andover. Visitors and new members are welcome. Formats include film and digital photography for beginners and experts. For information, visit www.mvcameraclub.org.

Barbershop singing group has guest night Mondays from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at All Saints Church. For information, call Dick at 978-372-8231.

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Friendly Persuasion Toastmasters meets every second and fourth Monday of the month at the Haverhill Public Library, 7 to 9 p.m. Meetings are free to the public. Toastmasters helps participants develop better speaking and presentation skills. For information, call 978-749-7078.

Haverhill's Adopt-A-Park program is looking for members to join its committee, which works to increase public and civic improvements and beautification through park adoptions. For information, call 978-374-2356.

Business Network International Haverhill chapter has a free networking breakfast every Friday at 7 a.m. at the Haverhill Best Western. For information, call Dianne McDermott at 978-394-5166.

Lorraine Post VFW 29 Building Association meeting is at 10 a.m. and Post meeting is at 10:30 a.m. on the last Sunday of the month.

Greater Haverhill Guild for the Blind weekly meetings take place Saturdays at various locations. Any person who is blind or partially blind is welcome to attend, including singles and couples. For more information or for the location of upcoming meetings, call Marge Brewer at 978-373-5903.

Exchange Club of Haverhill meets every Thursday at noon at Olivia's, 142 Essex St., Haverhill. The group is an all-volunteer service club dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Its nationally recognized programs include Junior Police, Fire Prevention, Trees for Tots, Read Across America, Youth of the Year, ACE Award and the Book of Golden Deeds. For information, visit www.haverhillexchangeclub.com.

Haverhill Kiwanis Club, part of Kiwanis International, has the motto of "Serving the Children of the World." Haverhill Kiwanis Club members support Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Unit of the Tufts/Floating Hospital/New England Medical Center and six New England satellites; recognize high school graduates with more than $5,000 in scholarships and awards; hold an annual dinner honoring the top 5 percent of Haverhill graduates from seven schools; and sponsor community meals, Rebuilding Together, Gazette Santa Fund, Salvation Army bell ringing, camperships to eight youth organizations, two high school key clubs, a middle school club and a builders club. The Haverhill club meets at Haverhill Country Club Tuesdays at noon. For information, call 978-374-7178, visit www.haverkiwanis.org or e-mail kiwanian@comcast.net.

Pentucket Kiwanis Club was chartered in 1973 by Haverhill Kiwanis Club in order to expand Kiwanis membership to a group that would meet in the evenings rather than at lunchtime. The club is open to all men and women who desire to serve their communities on a local, national and international level. Internationally, Kiwanis is involved in eradicating iodine deficiencies through its IDD program. Nationally, Kiwanis has established the Pediatric Trauma Center as part of Tufts New England Medical Center. Locally, the Pentucket Club purchases and serves meals twice a year at the Citizens Center, services an Adopt-A-Park, enters the top fund-raising team in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life at Northern Essex Community College and runs the only sanctioned Soap Box Derby in Massachusetts, among many other events. For information, call club President Ron Mailloux at 978-372-7255.

Haverhill Rotary Club meets every Thursday at 12:15 p.m. at Evenfall Restaurant, 8 Knipe Road. Haverhill Rotary is a volunteer service club made up of business and professional leaders dedicated to serving the community through its motto: "Service Above Self." Rotary International is best known for its commitment to polio eradication worldwide. Locally, Rotarians participate in various community service projects, as well as distribute money each year to local charities and nonprofit organizations. For information, visit www.haverhillrotary.com.

The Trustees of Tattersall Farm and the Haverhill Rotary Club are seeking vendors, artists, craftsmen, agricultural demonstrators and environmentalists/conservationists to participate in Tattersall Farm Day on Sunday, Sept. 14, from noon to 5 p.m. The farm is at 542 N. Broadway, Haverhill.