Posted by Joanne Dahlen on Jun 26, 2017
The Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club recently acknowledged individuals for their service to the club and to the community at an annual awards dinner held on June 20, 2017,
 
Sunrise Rotarian Laurie Marvin was named the 2017 Paul Harris Fellow and Gil Duken was honored as the 2017 Community Paul Harris Fellow. The "Community" recognition is awarded every year to one person from outside the club who the committee feels has exemplified the Rotary tradition of "service above self". 
 
 
The Paul Harris Fellow award was created in memory of Paul Harris who established the first Rotary Club in Chicago in 1905, and it is the highest award presented by Rotary International. Its purpose is to acknowledge the outstanding contribution and exceptional service of individuals in and outside of the club. Over the years, many notable figures have been named Paul Harris Fellows from around world, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and Jonas Salk. 
 
Sunrise Rotarian past President and 2015 Paul Harris Fellow Recipient Sue LeBlanc-Durocher told the dinner guests that Laurie Marvin was receiving the Paul Harris Award because of her active participation in the area of fundraising. “Her high energy and enthusiasm is truly remarkable,” said Sue. “A Paul Harris Fellow gives back to the community because it is the right thing to do - to be selfless - not for the awards. Laurie's passion in finding a way to give back, raise funds, and have fun doing it is contagious! We are very fortunate to have Laurie as a member of our club.”
 
Laurie’s mother, sister, husband and daughter were on hand at the award’s ceremony, and her daughter Heather was invited to officially present the Paul Harris pin and medal to her mother. Laurie has been a member of Sunrise Rotary since 2012, and is currently the Community Relations Coordinator at Meadowbrook Healthcare in Plattsburgh.