Bryah Gifford and Silvio Rugani were both awarded a Paul Harris Fellow
recognition. This recognition is The Rotary Foundation's Way of expressing its
appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational
programs. It is named for our founder, Paul Harris, A Chicago lawyer who started
Rotary International in 1905. Rotarians often designate a Paul Harris Fellow as
a tribute to a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the
objectives of The Rotary Foundation.
Bryah Gifford was also awarded Rotarian Of The Year from the Shenendehowa Rotary
Club. Bryah was instrumental in the club’s literacy effort, the Dictionary
Project, through which every third grader in the Shenendehowa District is
provided a dictionary. He was the driving force behind the Chicken & Biscuit
Dinner to raise funds for Hannah’s Hope Foundation and he and Silvio Rugani led
the organization of the Harvest Festival and Car Show to raise funds for youth
programs here in our community and the world-wide eradication of polio.
Ellen Schaefer was named District 7190 Rotarian of the Year. Ellen is the
District’s Group Study Exchange coordinator. She tirelessly organized the month
long visit by a team of professionals from Taiwan, China. District 7190 covers 9
counties in eastern New York from Middleburgh to Northern Lake George and from
Southern Rensselear County to Canajoharie.
Anne M. Cargile was awarded the Service Above Self Award from Rotary
International Board of Directors. This award recognizes those Rotarians who
truly embody Rotary's Principal motto, service above self. Anne, a former
District Governor, was recognized for her contributions she has made through
Rotary over the years and her extraordinary example of how each Rotarian can
make a difference. Among her contributions are work with the Rotary Foundation,
a national polio immunization day in Nigeria, several projects in an
impoverished village in Zimbawa, the Pure Waters project in Central America and
a number of projects in our local community. There is only 150 awards given all
over the world. There are 1.5 million Rotarians world wide.
“We are extremely proud that members of the
Shenendehowa Rotary
Club have received such major recognition from our District and from Rotary
International,” said Shenendehowa Rotary President Bruce VanDenburg. “These
Rotarian’s past and continuing accomplishments are in the true spirit of
Rotary.”
Shenendehowa Rotary
is celebrating over fifty years as a service organization changing and saving
lives through our professions, in our community, and throughout the world.
Shenendehowa Rotary meets every Thursday morning at 7:15 AM for breakfast at
Coburg
Village near the intersection of Grooms and Vischer Ferry Roads in Clifton
Park.
Published 9/25/2009
