Honorary Emeritus Membership Awards
Posted by Kam Breitenbach
on Nov 12, 2015
Pictured from left to right: President-Elect Kam Breitenbach, Gene Felgenhauer, Dean Weaver and Rotarian Dave Selden.
Today, November 12, 2015 the Rotary Club of Parker is awarding its first Honorary Emeritus Membership Status.
The emeritus title originates from the Latin emereri (meaning: earn one's discharge by service). In bestowing this title, we acknowledge and respect the two parts of the concept:
1) honor for service
2) continuation of belonging
The inspiration for this status is reflected in this inaugural class – each member has been both visionary in his leadership and dedicated in his service. In granting this new status, we confirm that, although they may not be with us on a regular basis, their exemplary service merits their always being an esteemed part of our organization.
Induction Charge for an Honorary Member
Bill Gripman, Gene Felgenhauer and Dean Weaver you have been chosen for Honorary Emeritus Membership of the Rotary Club of Parker because our members believe your commitment to this club over the years warrants this recognition.
Bill Gripman along with his wife Nancy (who has been an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Parker for many years) have been phenomenal contributors to society in Parker for a very long time; including starting, in their garage, the Parker Task Force.
Bill was chair of the international committee and helped start the trade school in Cambodia and traveled two times to Cambodia to check on the school. Of course, Nancy was there every minute.
He participated in handing out school supplies and uniforms to Cambodian school children. Bill, along with Nancy, were an integral part of our International Programs, significantly Open World. They were gracious hosts and for a number of years, opening their home to the whole club for incoming reception for people from Russia-the Soviet Union.
They have had the unique capability to make people from other nations feel comfortable in the United States. Bill is a Paul Harris Fellow and was sponsored by Doc Martin when joining the Rotary Club of Parker.
Gene Felgenhauer. Was a highly devoted and dedicated Rotarian.
In 1967,Gene was President of the Highland Park Rotary Club in California.
1988 Charter Member Glendale, CA Sunrise Breakfast Club. During this period he served as an Assistant Governor at least two separated years.
1994 Gene joined the Rotary Club of Parker after moving here from California.
He was our Sgt. At Arms from 1995-1999.
He was involved in numerous Community Service Activities over the years including work at Praying Hands Ranch, Paul Harris Fellow X 3, 2014 stopped attending as can no longer drive in the dark and had perfect attendance for 42 years
Dean Weaver was a member of the Rotary Club of Parker from ages 75-85 when age and health forced him to leave the club. Dean struggled with hearing loss and found it just too difficult to hear at meetings.
Dean is an extraordinary human being. He brought his wife Ann to a meeting to announce with him, in front of the whole club, that they believed our club a great force for good in our community and with that belief determined that the Rotary Club of Parker Foundation should be the recipient of a contribution on their deaths. (Ann who has a very dry wit said: Remember you don't get it til we’re dead!) Dean was a regular attender at our meetings and often gave our inspiration but he was not active in community or international service.
Rotarian Mike Oldham made proposals on behalf of all three of these gentlemen, to the Rotary Club of Parker’s Board of Directors who acted on the proposals with a unanimous decision in favor of honoring them with the Rotary Club of Parker’s Honorary Emeritus Membership Award.
Gentlemen, the community will know and judge Rotary by your actions and ideals. You will become an ambassador for Rotary and you will carry these ideals and the principles of Rotary service to those who know you or with those with whom you are associated.
Honorary Emeritus Membership in Rotary is a privilege, which carries with it many obligations, and we believe that you will recognize these and welcome them as opportunities for service. I now present you with a certificate by which you're fellow Rotarians and the public at large will recognize you as an Honorary Emeritus Rotarian.
We trust that you take the opportunity to enjoy the fellowship of Rotary, and assist your community in service through Rotary. We most heartily offer you the right hand of Rotary Fellowship, welcome back.
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