DG Marlene
Joins Us This Friday
District
Governor Conducts Official Visit to Utica Rotary
Our District Governor,
Marlene Brown was born in the family homestead in
Clinton NY. Her ancestor, Robert Burrows,
emigrated from England to CT in the
1640's. In 1790, they traveled to Oneida County and
built a log cabin - renovated and enlarged in 1794 to
become the family homestead - which has been occupied
continuously by descendants. Her mother and father,
Bob & Betty Burrows, were active in Rotary
with the Oriskany-Whitestown Club. Marlene is the proud
mother of 5 (Bradley, Vanessa, Christina, Melanie,
and Stacy) and grandmother of 5 (Jeremiah,
Josha, Rachel, Trevor, Samuel).
On the professional level,
Marlene is a former Senior English & Psychology teacher,
and Syracuse University Management instructor.
Founder/owner of two
small companies, author of numerous books, articles and
leadership programs, she has traveled extensively as an
internationally recognized speaker and consultant.
Marlene is 1 of 15 in the world to earn the combined
degrees of Certified Professional Speaker & Certified
Management Consultant. In 2001 Marlene was 1 of 20
recipients awarded the 1st Central NY Outstanding Women
in Business Awards. In 2005, Marlene was one of 20
recipients awarded the 1st Mohawk Valley Outstanding
Women in Business Awards. She is currently Executive
Director of the Children's Museum of History, Natural
History, Science and Technology in Utica, NY.
A Rotarian since 1995,
Marlene was sponsored into Utica Rotary Club where she
served on several committees and for 3 years Chaired the
Program
Committee. In 1999, Marlene was presented by then
District Governor Ed Paparella with the Utica Rotary
Club's Paul Harris Fellow for outstanding work in the
Club and the District and was nominated to the Utica
Rotary Club Board of Directors. When business reasons
made Friday meetings difficult, she switched to the New
Hartford Rotary Club.
In the New Hartford Club,
Marlene was 2000-2001 Club Secretary, then 2001-2002
Club President. The New Hartford Rotary Club Board of
Directors
awarded her their Jim Hickey Award for
outstanding Club Rotarian of the year. Some projects the
Club undertook were: Make A Difference Day; Rotary
Readers Program; a sponsor of the District's 1st Gift of
Sight program; and sponsored students to the District's
1st RYLA program.
On the District Rotary
level, in 1999, DG Ed Paparella asked Marlene to design
and maintain our District & Youth Exchange websites,
both of which have won
1st & 2nd places in Best of Rotary Web. DG Ward
Vuillemot appointed Marlene to the newly created
role of Internet Communications Officer. In 2001-2005,
Marlene was presented with D7150's Governor's award for
her services with the District Website and Internet
Communications. DG Don Reese appointed Marlene
Chair of the Rotary Centennial Celebration. In addition
to being a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow and Benefactor,
she has presented at PETS, District Assemblies and
Conferences; is a Rotary Leadership Institute faculty
member; and Charter President of Rotary e-ClubNY1 of
D-7150.
Marlene is webmaster for
Rotary Leadership Institute and Rotary RYLA websites;
Member of Rotarians on the Internet & International
Computer Users Fellowship. At R. I.'s TX Convention,
Marlene was presented awards for Zone 31's Best District
Website & Internet Communications Officer. In 2001,
Marlene was asked by the Intl RYLA Chair to serve on the
committee. In 2002, Marlene was invited to facilitate a
session at R.I.’s Spain Convention. She and Rotarian
husband Earl Lewis designed 1 of 15 Rotary e-Clubs
authorized by R.I. In 2005, Marlene and Earl attended
Rotary’s Centennial Convention.
Marlene states her number
one priority in life is her family, along with her God,
followed closely by her profession and her involvement
with Rotary. In her spare
time, she loves to read, research online, play the
piano, update websites, and - most of all - spend time
with her children and grandchildren.
