Club News

Four Selected Quiet Givers

Four Utica Rotarians received Quiet Giver Awards for their contributions to the success of our club and its projects. Nick Ide, Norma Montagnino-Gemza, Jeff Jones and Jim Day were recognized by Quiet Giver committee chair Roger Breslow. This is the sixth consecutive year that our club has presented awards to Rotarians who serve others without great fanfare.  Congratulations to the Quiet Giver Class of 2008-09.

Ann Van Strander Receives Paul Harris Fellow

It is a rare occasion when Utica Rotary awards a Paul Harris Fellow to a non-Rotarian. The Paul Harris Fellow recognizes support of the Rotary Foundation; and for many years Utica Rotary has donated club funds to the Foundation in the name of outstanding members. We view this recognition as a reward for years of selfless service to others through Rotary.

DG Larry Calabrese announced last Friday that Ann Van Strander, wife of PP Mike Van Strander, has been selected to receive a Paul Harris Fellow. A donation of $1000 was made from funds generated by our successful district conference of 2008-09, and Ann was the overwhelming choice to receive this special recognition.

Utica Rotary has partnered with the ARC to throw an annual holiday party for the last 38 years, and Ann has worked side by side with our Special Needs committee for most of them (she started very young!!). Her compassion and enthusiasm are contagious, and she is a great motivator of fellow staff members and Rotary volunteers. Many of the aspects of the party are on "auto pilot" because of Ann's leadership and work on this event over the years.

Congratulations to Ann on this special Utica Rotary honor.