When there's work to be done, he's the man community calls

Posted By NICK GARDINER , Recorder and Times Staff Writer

To local media, Art Hitsman is the voice of the Kinsmen Club of Prescott.

To his Kin brethren, he's an enthusiastic co-worker and a trusted organizer.

To members of the community, he serves, he's a true friend for a good cause and a lot of fun to boot.

"One thing I like about Art is whenever he does these community events he makes them fun," Dan Kelly, a Grade 7 and 8 teacher at St. Mark Catholic School, told The Recorder and Times.

When Kelly, who was teaching Hitsman's oldest daughter Heather at the time, organized an adult volleyball tournament as a fundraiser at the school, he was quick to look up her father to be co-chairman.

Kelly said Hitsman has the reputation as a person who can be counted on to finish what he starts.

"When I started planning to do this, he was the first person I thought of. He never lets you down."

From teaching Heather, 14, and what he knows about her sister, Sierra, 11, who also attends St. Mark, it's clear Hitsman and the girls' mom, Stacy, share the same commitment to raising their children, said Kelly.

"They're great kids," he said.

Hitsman, who is separated from his wife, works at the Canada Post head office in Ottawa.

It's a busy life but the 39-year-old said he manages with the help of a sympathetic manager at work, accommodating Kinsmen colleagues and a shared commitment with Stacy to provide the best for their daughters.

He said the girls have picked up on his habit of providing service to the community.

Heather volunteers at the library and has helped out during the town's Pirate Days' celebration, he said during a recent interview at his home.

Sierra also helps at Pirate Days and is a skater with the Prescott Figure Skating Club where she assists with the younger skaters.

Both are also experienced volunteers with the Spirit of Giving campaign, which is coming to a conclusion today at the high school.

That campaign, operated jointly by the Kinsmen and high school, is particularly close to Hitsman's heart.

He has co-chaired the event for several years with Dave Travis to provide food hampers, a Christmas dinner with the trimmings, and some gifts for Prescott and area families with limited means.

Students and Kinsmen volunteers are wrapping up the hampers for distribution later today, packaged bound for deliver to 283 families in the area.

Hitsman first became involved in the campaign from 1986-88 as a high-school student.

Already active in many sports, he was inspired to join the Spirit of Giving by now-retired teacher Bernie Currier who founded the campaign when it served "30 to 40" families.

"It was the way he spoke about it and his passion for it," explained Hitsman of what got him to roll up his sleeves and get involved back then.

After graduating with a diploma in business and systems analysis from Ottawa's Herzig College in 1991, Hitsman was hired at Canada Post where, not surprisingly, he volunteers with the Santa letter-writing team.

In 1994, he joined the Kinsmen Club of Prescott as a way to reconnect with the community after moving back from Ottawa.

Within a year, Hitsman's meticulous method of keeping documents was put to use as the club secretary.

Similarly, his communications skills were rewarded with the job of being the media contact.

Over the years, he's held a range of positions with the Kinsmen, including club president in 1997 and '98 and deputy governor and director for the Rideau-St. Lawrence Zone.

With a small club of just nine members responsible for a large range of activities that includes a sno-pitch tournament, Yuk-Yuks comedy nights, and the Spirit of Giving campaign, Hitsman's level of activity is not unusual, said the Spirit of Giving co-chairman Dave Travis.

"Everybody is a co-chair," Travis said with a laugh.

"You just go and get it done."

But Hitsman brings other strengths to the club aside from his willingness to work, stressed Travis.

His business expertise and people skills, for example, but also his energy and enthusiasm, said Travis.

"He takes things in stride and he's a comic.

"He puts a whole different light on things. It takes the pressure off."

Moreover, Hitsman has "lots of friends," said Travis.

"He can send an e-mail and all of a sudden five guys show up."

President and club charter member Mike Baril said Hitsman brings important attributes to the Kinsmen.

"Art is a good organizer. He's on top of things."

Baril said Hitsman's sense of worth-ethic is essential.

"When you only have a small group of people everybody has to do their thing.

"We all get out there and do what we have to do."

Hitsman follows that credo in whatever he finds himself involved.

The son of Dorothy and the late Arnold Hitsman, he was raised in Brouseville before moving to Prescott in 1985 where he played minor soccer.

He continues to stay involved as a player-coach with the Prescott Gunners adult soccer club, where he also serves as head clerk and registrar with the organization.

Meanwhile, he also coached two years in Prescott's minor program and assists with their year-end activities.

Minor soccer secretary Leanne Burton said Hitsman's involvement in the year-end celebration can't be underestimated.

"There are 864 kids in the soccer association and Art was there all day helping us set up and feeding all those children and their families.

"He's a great guy, always there to help out."