Marianna Rotary presents Paul Harris Fellowship Awards

By Shelia Mader

President Richard Williams presented four Rotarians with Paul Fellowship awards at last week’s meeting.

Those members earning their first Paul Harris Fellowship are being presented a certificate and a lapel pin. Those receiving their second and third Paul Harris Fellowships will receive a lapel pin with one or two sapphires signifying their second or third Paul Harris award.

The Paul Harris Fellowship is named for the man who founded Rotary with three business associates in Chicago in 1905. The Fellowship was established in his honor in 1957 to express appreciation for contributions to fund the humanitarian and educational programs of the Rotary Foundation. Those programs have saved thousands of lives and improved the living conditions of millions of people around the world. Through these contributions to the Rotary Foundation, polio has almost been eradicated from the globe.

Rotarians receive their first Paul Harris Fellows Award after contributing $1,000 to the Rotary International Foundation. The second award is presented after a member has contributed $2,000 and the third award after contributing $3,000.

Steve Smith who has been a member since November 2019 was presented with his first certificate and lapel pin.

David Melvin who has been a member since January 2014 was presented with his second certificate and lapel pin with the addition of a sapphire.

The two members receiving their Paul Harris Fellow plus two awards are Dr. Henry Knowles, who has been a member since August 2002 and served as president in 2023-2024 and Judge Bill Wright who has been a member since November 1988 and served as president in 2003-2004. Their lapel pins are distinguished from others with the addition of two sapphires to their lapel pins.

Marianna Rotary now has 17 members who have received their third Paul Harris awards.