Five Honored as Paul Harris Fellows
Portsmouth Rotary Club honored five of its finest by designating them to be Paul Harris Fellows during its ninetieth anniversary Gala Saturday night, March 30.
The club recognized the outstanding contributions to Portsmouth made by City Manager John Bohenko, the club service contributions of Marie Brownell and Linda Browning, and the leadership in recent years of past presidents Tony Delyani and Diane Foley. They were saluted by the membership, and congratulated by family and friends, many of whose attendance was a surprise to the honorees.
The assembled members and dignitaries included District Governor Marty Helman and DG-elect Carolyn Johnson, past Rotary International VP and current foundation trustee Mike McGovern, along with numerous Rotary past district governors, Portsmouth Mayor Eric Spear and former mayor Eileen Foley.
The program began with an annual tradition, the Andrew Jarvis toast, expanded to recognize his wife Grace and his daughter, Rotarian Catherine (Cay) Jarvis who recently passed away after long service to the community and to Rotary. Several members of the Jarvis family were in attendance.
The audience was treated by Bob Field to a presentation that covered the ninety-year span of the club's history, as well as to an original poem by Fred Pettigrew. Past-presidential humor from Tony Delyani and Butch Ricci, an elaborate historical slideshow and dancing to music by the Good Mem'ries Big Band rounded out the evening.
Portsmouth Rotary, now in its 91st year, began with a meeting of twenty-five men at the Rockingham Hotel. Today the club boasts a membership of over 175 active and honorary members, approximately one-third of whom are women. The Rotary goal of "Service above Self" is mirrored around the globe in 34,000 clubs with a total of over two million members.
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