Granton Rotary Club Conducts
33rd Paul Harris Fellows Program

By Todd Schmidt

The Granton Rotary Club reached another milestone, conducting its 33rd Paul Harris Fellows (PHF) awards program Nov. 15 at the Granton Community Center.

Kay Heiting and Orville Garbisch (in memoriam) received PHF recognition awards.  District 6250 Governor Dean McHugh of Holmen assisted Granton Rotary President John Richmond in presenting certificates and lapel pins to Heiting and Sharon Garbisch, Orville’s widow.

Sharon Garbisch receives a Paul Harris Fellow pin from Granton Rotary President John Richmond during the program held Nov. 15 at the Granton Community Center.  She accepted the award in honor of her late husband Orville Garbisch.  (Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press)

Granton President John Richmond presents a Paul Harris Fellow pin to 2016 recipient Kay Heiting during the program held Nov. 15 at the Granton Community Center.  (Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press) 

Ann Wegner led the crowd in renditions of “America” and “Here is to Rotary.”  M&M catering of Neillsville catered a fine dinner.

Richmond introduced the balance of Rotary officers elected for 2016-2017, including president-elect Peter Schreiber, Secretary Chip Chadwick, and Treasurer Ronald Webster.

Group photos were taken of all Granton Rotary PHF recipients and all Granton Rotarians.

Webster presented the official PHF Plaque, which is inscribed with names of all the Granton Rotary Club recipients, including Raymond Hoeft, Durward Schwarze, Francis Steiner, Wedell Hubing, Alvin Hanson, Orville Garbisch, David Lavey, Alfred Drinsinger, Carol Hubing, John Trewyn, Ronald Webster, Jeanette Steiner, Dan Adams, Albert Hasz, Debbie Trewyn, Lois Hasz, Vernon Sternitzky, Marge Garbisch, Carter Wegner, John Richmond, Virginia Richmond, Sandy Hanuszczak, James “Chip” Chadwick, Bonnie Bartz, Marie Casperson, Loretta Dunn, James Hasz, Ann Wegner, Annette Woller, Cheryl Steinbach, Melanie Boeck and Kay Heiting.  Fourteen of the PHF award recipients are current members of the Granton Rotary Club.

Previous winners of the Paul Harris Fellow award present at the
Granton Rotary Club recognition banquet held Nov. 15 at the Granton Community Center gather for a group photo.
(Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press)

Chadwick said the PHF recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus or an approved Rotary grant.

The PHF program was established in 1957 to show appreciation for and to encourage substantial contributions to what was then the Rotary Foundation’s (RF) only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial scholarships.

Early PHF honorees received a certificate of recognition.  In 1969, the RF unveiled the first PHF medallion at the Rotary International Convention in Honolulu, HI.

Today’s PHF recipients can receive a medallion, certificate, and pin.  Chadwick said the number of Paul Harris Fellows reached the 1 million mark in 2006.

It was all hands-on deck as current members of the Granton Rotary Club
join District 6250 Governor Dean McHugh for a group photo
after the Paul Harris Fellow awards banquet held Nov. 15 at the Granton Community Center. 
 (Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press)