Rotarian Receives Paul Harris Fellowship Award
Submitted by Peter Nicolas
The Florham Park Rotary Club surprised past president Simone Campbell by recognizing her with a Paul Harris Fellow Award at their Friday, January 12 meeting.
A Paul Harris Fellowship Award is the highest honor that Rotary can bestow on an individual. Named after the founder of Rotary in 1905 the award is available to Rotarians and non-Rotarians who demonstrate the high professional and personal standards exemplified by Paul Harris. It is awarded by The Rotary Foundation in recognition of substantial and exemplary community service in support of Rotary ideals.
“She’s always putting everyone before herself. It just embodies everything that the Rotary is. It’s about giving. It’s a service organization, and any time there’s something that needs to be done, she’s willing to sacrifice her time and everything else to make sure that we get it done. And there’s no one more deserving than her.” said current President, Damion Bernard.
Simone served as President of the Florham Park Rotary from July 2022 to June 2023. Initially she was in the Rotaract club in Jamaica before coming to the US in 2005 and starting employment with PwC in Florham Park. Asked why she has stayed in Rotary for so long, Campbell said, “I have bought into the important mission of Rotary. It’s a stabilizing force for me. I get joy from doing Rotary activities.”
After the COVID pandemic, the Club held two successful scholarship fundraising events – the Halloween Dog Parade & Costume Contests and the Taste of Florham Park in May 2023. Both successful events helped lead to 4 scholarships being awarded in 2023. Those went to Florham Park students with a history of community volunteerism and who attended local high schools as Seniors. Four scholarships were the most scholarships ever awarded in one year by the club. This contributed to a smooth transition of leadership to current president, Damion Bernard, who continues with several successes.
About Rotary
Rotary International is a nonpolitical and nonsectarian organization open to all people, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, or political preference.
40,000+ clubs in 200 countries worldwide dedicated to humanitarian services, high ethical standards, and goodwill and peace around the world. This global network of 1.4 million people who volunteer their skills and resources to solve issues and address community needs. Ending polio: Rotary members have played a key role in bringing the world to the brink of polio eradication. These efforts have ended polio in all but 2 countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
One such Rotary club is in Florham Park. To learn more and consider joining, guests are welcome to attend a weekly Rotary breakfast meeting at the Florham Park Diner at 182 Ridgedale Ave. Meetings are 7:47 to 8:50 a.m. every Friday.
For additional information about the Florham Park Rotary visit the new website atFlorhamParkRotary.org, check Florham Park Community TV (Channels 21 for Cablevision and 35 for Verizon), or write or call Membership Chair George Gregor at ggregor@florhamparkrotary.org or (917) 848-0982.
