RAYMOND — Veterinarian Steve Puderbaugh grew up in Iowa. He said he did not have much international exposure there and no close family that had traveled outside of the United States.

He said there was some exposure through his church, as they followed missionaries on maps, but it was not until he became involved with Rotary 22 years ago that his dedication to fostering international goodwill through personal relationships really took hold.

During a recent event in Concord, Puderbaugh was surprised to be honored with the Rotary Foundation's second highest award: The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service.

The award was given in recognition of “devoted efforts for the furthering of better understanding and friendly relations of peoples of the world.”

The award was presented by Rotary International president-elect Sakuji Tanaka.

Puderbaugh is involved with Rotary's international and local efforts. In her presentation speech, outgoing Rotary District 7870 Governor Jan McElroy said Puderbaugh has been the organizing force for numerous club, community and vocational service projects.

In 2007, he led a team of young professionals from New Hampshire and Vermont to Australia for one month during a group study exchange.

He has also spearheaded a matching grant effort by his small club, through a project with six other clubs, to send a container of surplus/refurbished medical equipment and supplies to Nigeria, a model which has been emulated by other clubs in the district.

He is now working on a similar project with a hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. It is a hospital Puderbaugh visited during a trip to Pakistan with his wife and another Rotarian couple this past fall.

Puderbaugh said his international outlook stems from supporting missionary work through his church and being involved with Rotary.

“We've certainly hosted people in our home from all over the world and I think that is just a great way for people of the world to get to know each other through fellowship and hospitality and in that sort of way,” Puderbaugh said.

He said he had always been involved in Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio, including a fundraising in Keene that raised more than $200,000 in one weekend, but wanted to experience the efforts hands-on, which is what led him to Pakistan.

“When you get to know people on a personal basis and have them in your homes, you really get to know the real people,” Puderbaugh said. “We were invited to Pakistan to get to know the heart of the Pakistani people and I think we did.”

He said the award just pushes him to “keep the standards up” and to keep promoting international understanding.

“Certainly, one of the big things for the Rotary Foundation is world peace and understanding. The more we know about each other, the more the understanding part can lead … towards the peace part of it,” Puderbaugh said. “Peace between countries is a difficult goal. Certainly peace between people is a much more reasonable goal.”

gmacalaster@newstote.com