The Rotary Club of St. John has announced the winners of its Paul Harris Fellowship and Community Service awards.
The recipients will receive their awards at an Oct. 17 dinner at Ocean Grill Restaurant in Mongoose Junction. It begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 a person and the public is invited.
"We do this to honor people who work day in and day out, mostly without remuneration, to help St. John," said Rotary member Bill Willigerod, stressing that the awards dinner was not a Rotary fundraiser.
The Paul Harris Fellowship Awards go to Friends of V.I. National Park President Joe Kessler and to Community Integration Team Chairman Helen Simon for her work in helping to stop crime. Kessler and Simon will receive the awards because of their passion and leadership in helping make St. John a better place.
The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is one of the highest honors give by the club, according to a Rotary news release. Recipients are Rotarians and community professionals honored for their outstanding contributions. They exemplify the Rotary ideal of placing "Self Above Service."
The award comes with a donation of $1,000 or more in the recipient’s name to Rotary International’s Annual Program Fund, which supports Rotary’s worldwide programs.
Myrtle Barry and George Cline will receive the Community Service Awards for their outstanding service to St. John.
Barry has shown her leadership as the chairman of the V.I. Unity Day Group’s property-tax committee. She has made efforts to force the government to reevaluate the recent property evaluations on St. John, which critics say will result in much higher taxes and force many St. John residents out of their homes.
Cline has shown his leadership as a St John Rescue dispatcher for the past five years. He is also an active member of the American Red Cross and participates in V.I. Emergency Management Agency efforts. He has worked on inter-island radio communications with various local and federal government agencies. His efforts have resulted in better response times for all agencies during emergencies.
Rotary is a service organization that tries to improve the quality of life within communities. Activities include promoting the welfare of people in the community by providing assistance and support to those in need, improving the community’s environment and showing leadership in citizenship.
Reservations are required for the dinner. Seating is limited to 100 people. Those attending will have their choice of two appetizers, three main courses and two desserts, all from a preset menu. There will be a cash bar.
For tickets, contact Willigerod at 776-0883, Dave Carlson at 779-4419, B.J. Harris at 693-8485, or any Rotary Club member.
