MARYSVILLE — The Rotary Club of Marysville not only installed its new officers for the year on June 29, but also honored several community members with the Rotary’s highest recognition, the Paul Harris Fellowship Awards.
The awards are named for the founder of Rotary International and are intended to honor those who exemplify the Rotary motto of “service above self.”
Incoming International Foundation Director Terry Brandon and Sergeant-at-Arms Brent Castano received plaques and pins for their first Paul Harris Fellowship Awards for donating $1,000 each to the Rotary Foundation. Steve Ahmann, David Edmonds, incoming President Chris Nation and Dr. Larry Nyland then received pins again for their second Paul Harris Fellowship Awards for donating $2,000 each to the Rotary Foundation.
Incoming Vice President Daryn Bundy presented Bob Banks with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award not only for his work on behalf of cancer patients, through both the American Cancer Society and Providence Regional Cancer Partnership, but also for his work on behalf of the Marysville School District.
“He helped get a levy passed after eight failed attempts,” said Bundy, who also credited Banks with working 25 years on behalf of Career and Technical Education students and 12 years with students of the alternative school, now Marysville Mountain View High School, as well as interviewing students of the month for Rotary and serving on the oversight committee for Marysville Getchell High School and Grove Elementary. “He recognizes students’ abilities and tells them they can do it.”
Katie Edmonds presented an award to her mom, Sheri, for raising Katie and her five older brothers.
“We recognize public acts of service all the time, which are wonderful acts, but what we do in private life is just as important and meaningful,” said Katie Edmonds, who leaves her mom and dad for college in the fall. “The values you instill in your child are passed on to their community. I’ll be lucky if I’m half as good a mom as she’s been.”
Outgoing Past President Larry Trivett presented an award to his Soroptimist wife, Teresa, joking that “she should have been a Rotarian” due to her hard work on behalf of Soroptimist International. He turned serious when he noted her efforts to prevent the exploitation of young women, as well as her deep involvement in her church.
“If you ask her for something, she does it. If she sees a need, she steps right in,” Larry Trivett said of Teresa.
Incoming Past President Gayl Spilman shared similar sentiments about incoming Program Director Lori Butner, when presenting Butner with her award for helping children through the Boys & Girls Clubs and helping put together the Marysville Strawberry Festival.
“You can ask her to do virtually anything,” Spilman said of Butner.
Former Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall gave Marysville Police Cmdr. Robb Lamoureux a ribbing along with his award, teasing Lamoureux about driving a corvette to Marysville schools as part of his previous role as the police department’s first DARE officer.
“He’s a great asset for working with our kids,” Kendall said of Lamoureux, who also coaches little league.
Outgoing Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Leighan presented incoming Pumpkins for Literacy Chair Mitch Depriest with an award for getting kids involved in positive activities, through fly-fishing and Scouting, before Spilman presented Leighan himself with the Marysville Rotarian of the Year Award for his own commitment to Rotary’s fundraising auctions and Pumpkins for Literacy.
“Mike’s commitment was above and beyond even for this group,” Spilman said. “He filled in so many times when no one else could.”
Former Rotary District 5050 Governor Larry Jubie and his wife, Linda, will be receiving an Arch Klump Society Award this fall.
