Rotary Club presents officers, awards at annual meeting

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ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Robertsdale Rotary Club handed out awards and announced officers for the coming year Thursday, June 27 at the club’s annual meeting held at the Silverhill Community Center.

Doug Byrd, president of the Robertsdale Rotary Foundation, was awarded the Rotarian of the Year Award for 2018-19.

“It is such an honor to serve this club and the great people who represent it,” Byrd said.

Paul Harris Fellow Awards went to club members Jamie Hardy, Joshua Mims and Cheryl Russell. Carl Davis was also presented a Paul Harris Fellow Award for making a personal donation to the Rotary International Foundation.

A Paul Harris Fellow Award was also presented to Petty Officer Edward “Theo” Theodoro, Naval Science Instructor for the Robertsdale High School Naval JROTC that volunteers each year for the Rotary Club’s annual rodeo.

Rotarian of the Year is voted on by the members of the club.

According to rotary.org, the Paul Harris Fellow is named after the club’s founder and is given to “individuals who meet high professional and personal standards set for by Paul Harris.”

A $1,000 donation is given by the Robertsdale Rotary Club in the name of each individual. Paul Harris Fellow awards are also given to individuals who have contributed more than $1,000 to the Annual Program Fund, the Polio Plus Fund or the Humanitarian Grants Program of the Rotary Foundation.

A Paul Harris Fellow receives a special certificate and a gold pin. At the discretion of the Fellow’s club, the Fellow may also receive a gold medallion on a blue-and-gold ribbon.

A total of nine Rotary Club members received recognition for perfect attendance in 2018-19. They are Linda Buck, Margaret Cooper, Erin Kinney, Joe Kitchens, Sylvia Mattingly, Jeff Plato, Gail Quezada, Cheryl Russell and John Underwood.

Jeff Plato, president of the club for 2018-19, recognized officers and board members for the past year, including Cheryl Russell, who served as vice president and will serve as president for 2019-20; Jamie Hardy, treasurer; Margaret Cooper, secretary; and board members Joshua Mims, past president; Erin Kenney, Howard Harper, Dennis Young and Linda Buck. Chad Thomas was sergeant-at-arms for 2018-19.

In addition to Russell, David Kitchens will serve as vice-president for 2019-20 and will be the incoming president for 2020-21; Rebecca Mills, secretary; Erin Kinney, treasurer; and Board members, Jeff Plato, past president; Joshua Mims, Linda Buck, Howard Harper, Dennis Young, and Sylvia Mattingly, program chairman.

Founded in 1948, the Robertsdale Rotary Club is a member of Rotary International which boasts more than 1.2 million members in more than 35,000 clubs worldwide and operates by the credo of “Service above self,” and under the motto of the 4-way test, “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? And Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

Locally the club meets at noon every Tuesday at Mama Lou’s Restaurant on Pine Street in Robertsdale.

For the 38th year in 2019 the Rotary Club hosted Doc Cooper’s Hot Trot for ARC, presented by LuLu’s in June; and the Rotary Club Foundation’s PCA Championship Rodeo celebrated its 20th anniversary in April at the Baldwin County Coliseum Fairgrounds Arena.

Through the Robertsdale Rotary Foundation, the club has donated money for local scholarships, schools and charity organizations.

For more information visit robertsdalerotary.com or the Robertsdale Rotary Club page on Facebook.