Goderich couple honoured with prestigious Rotary Pinnacle Service Award

Ross Field and Rosanne Barnett receiving the Rotary Pinnacle Service Award, the highest distinction the district can bestow for service to a specific program.

At the recent Rotary District 6330 Conference, longtime Goderich residents and Rotarians Ross Field and Rosanne Barnett were presented with the Rotary Pinnacle Service Award, the highest distinction the district can bestow for service to a specific program.

The couple was honoured for their remarkable, decades-long dedication to Rotary’s Youth Exchange (RYE) program—a cause that has become both a personal passion and a family legacy.

The Rotary Pinnacle Service Award is not given lightly. It recognizes extraordinary, sustained commitment—typically over ten years—that transforms a program through innovation, leadership, and deep personal investment.

The award celebrates service that exemplifies Rotary’s values and stands out as truly exceptional, even among the most committed members.

In Ross and Rosanne’s case, “exceptional” may be an understatement. Since 1999, when Rosanne first volunteered to host the Goderich club’s inbound exchange student, the couple has gone on to host more than 40 students from over 15 countries.

They've supported hundreds—if not thousands—of students across district, national, and international levels. Together, they’ve built a living archive of their contributions in what they affectionately call “The Spreadsheet,” a detailed record of the many young lives they’ve helped shape.

Rows of names on that spreadsheet represent real stories: students who still call Rosanne “Ma” on video chats, send wedding invitations from abroad, or show up in family photos from camping trips and Christmas mornings. The impact of their involvement extends beyond hosting.

As Youth Exchange Officers, District Chairs, Outbound Coordinators, Crisis Counselors, and conference presenters, Ross and Rosanne have helped shape the program at every level. In fact, Rosanne’s work as a district Crisis Counselor was so impactful, it became a model for other districts across North America.

Both have also served as presidents of the Rotary Club of Goderich and have been consistent voices at North American Youth Exchange Network (NAYEN) conferences, where they've shared their experience and helped other clubs improve their programs.

“They’ve spent the last 26 years playing the long game,” noted a fellow Rotarian during the award presentation.

“They’ve influenced young people to be ambassadors for peace, to lead with empathy, and to embody Rotary’s motto: ‘Service Above Self.’”

Now, their children and grandchildren continue to believe in the transformative power of Youth Exchange. What began as a volunteer hosting gig has grown into a multigenerational commitment to creating peace through understanding and connection.

For Ross and Rosanne, the recognition is deeply meaningful—but the real reward, they say, has always been watching young people grow, change, and flourish through exchange.

Their story is a reminder that peace begins with people—and that sometimes, those people are your neighbours.