Ramon Hayes earns honor at Rotary Club auction

Anyone can be a part of the La Conner Rotary Club 2023 Harvesting Hope annual auction and dinner at Maple Hall Aug. 26, 5:30 p.m. The theme this year is “Hope Springs Eternal.” Community participation is invited to support literacy and education programs. This is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes will be honored as recipient of the Paul Harris Award to acknowledge his commitment to the community and the strong working relationship with town leaders the club has enjoyed during his tenure. Hayes stood out among nominees for his enacting the Rotary standard of “Service Above Self.”

Hayes is retiring after four terms and 16 years as mayor. He is the longest serving mayor in town history. The club notes “he has demonstrated this in his tireless efforts to improve our town and the lives of its citizens while serving as mayor. We enthusiastically thank him for his service!”

Hayes has served on numerous boards and chaired the Skagit Council of Governments from 2010-2014. As mayor he has assisted in securing almost $2.5 million toward the construction of the La Conner Swinomish Library, the doubling of the intake and revenue of the wastewater treatment plant, funding and implementation of the La Conner boardwalk and installation of lights on the Rainbow Bridge.

Hayes married Heidi in 1993. Their daughter Victoria is a second year microbiology student at the University of Washington. A professional pianist, in La Conner he started a jewelry business, selling it last October after 25 years.

With Heidi, Hayes has travelled extensively throughout the world, including Africa, where they helped to fund the digging of wells in bush communities.

The La Connor Rotary Club honors Hayes with the Paul Harris Fellow recognition, a $1,000 contribution to the national Rotary Foundation in Hayes’ name.

The annual auction and dinner will fill Maple Hall with fellowship, refreshments, food and a variety of silent and live auction items, including getaway travel as close as Fidalgo and Guemes islands and as far as you want to cash in on a week in a Hilton Grand Vacations Luxury Suite Condominium that includes international location options.

People and businesses can sponsor the auction at the levels of platinum, gold and silver.

For tickets, information and to start bidding online: laconnerrotary.org/.