Rod Palaniuk, 2015 Winner of the Joe McDonald Special Award of Merit! Congratulations!

Rod Palaniuk is the current President of the Regina Optimist Baseball Association. He has served the baseball community in this capacity for over the last dozen years. Rod has been involved in Regina Minor Baseball for over 25 years serving first as a coach and then as a member of the Board of Directors of Regina Optimist Baseball. While a board memberer Rod served as the Director of Optimist Baseball, Midget Division and was a long time Director of the Optimist Baseball Canada Day Tournament.

Under Rod's leadership, Regina Optimist Baseball has hosted many major Saskatchewan Baseball and Baseball Championships, and National Championships in the Midget U21 age catagories, including the National Midget Chamionship in 2011 and the Natinal U21 Championship for 2015 and scheduled 2016.

As president of Optimist Baseball one of Rod's priorities has been the upgrading of the facilities at Regina's Optimist Park; under his direction, the Park has been dramatically improved with new and innovative fencing, new inground dugouts and new seating. These changes have significantly improved the baseball experience for all who use or visit the Park.

Rod's contribution to Regina's sporting community also included many years as a hockey coach and director and chariman of Regina Minor Hockey.

Mr. Palaniuk has been a loyal and vocal supporter of Saskatchewan Baseball Association over his years on the Optimist Park Board. His leadership and many, many hours of volunteering has contributed greatly to the growth and enjoyment of the sport of baseball by parents, fans, officials and participants.

Given Rod's years of service to baseball in Saskatchewan, I am proud to submit his name for consideration for the Joe McDonald Special Award of Merit. I believe recognition of Rod's contributions to Baseball would be well served by this award.

Respectfully Submitted,

Norm Loehr

Sask Baseball Award Winners 2015 > Click Here