According to club President Bill West, “Since 1988 The Rotary Club of Fort Collins has been honoring community leaders who have made significant contributions to our community.  Recipients may or may not be Rotarians, yet have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the lives of others, by giving of themselves.”

 

Past Service Above Self award winners come from diverse backgrounds and include CSU luminaries William E. Morgan and Charles L. Terrell, Fort Collins Symphony founder Wilfred Schwartz, former Mayor Doug Hutchinson, Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Mary Carraher, community activist Sister Mary Alice Murphy, and Business leaders Gene Markley, and Bob Everett. 

 

Stryker was also presented with a “Paul Harris Fellowship” by Rotarian Martin Limbird during the ceremony.  Paul Harris formed the Rotary International service organization in 1905 in Chicago.  Today Rotary has more than 1.2 million members in 200 countries, and in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has led the fight to eradicate polio worldwide. 

 

Also recognized during the ceremony were John Trone for his “Spirit of Rotary” service, Susan Stewart as “the Quiet Rotarian”, Dr. Robert Meroney, with the “Max Getts 4 Way Test” award, Jim Epstein for his exemplary “5 Avenues of Service”, and Judy Boggs, Susie Ewing and Sue Wagner as “Rotarian of the Year”.  Also recognized for Lifetime Achievements were Dr. Johnny Matsushima and Dr. Landis Boyd, and for Meritorious Service, Dr. John Pratt. 

 

Pat Stryker is the granddaughter of Homer Stryker, an orthopedic surgeon who invented and patented medical devices and subsequently founded the global company now named the Stryker Corporation. Pat inherited her concern for others from her grandfather Stryker, from her maternal grandparents who were educational missionaries in China, and from her mother, who committed herself to service.

 

Pat grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, now lives in Fort Collins and is the owner of Bohemian Companies, a group of firms that include venture capital activities, real estate development, restaurants, and a winery in Sonoma County, California.

In 1995, Pat founded a private family foundation, later renamed Bohemian Foundation, with a primary focus on youth and public awareness issues. The Foundation’s four program areas include Community Programs, Music Programs, Civic Programs, and Global Programs.

 

Among the many Bohemian Foundation’s many local initiatives are the “Pharos Fund”, “Give 10”, “Bohemian Nights at New West Fest”, “Little Kids Rock”, the “Thursday Night Live” summer concert series, and the “Pianos About Town” program. 

 

Since 2001, the Foundation’s Pharos Fund has awarded more than $14 million in grants to a variety of local nonprofits including Project Self-Sufficiency, Childsafe Colorado, Crossroads Safehouse, Food Bank for Larimer County, The Family Center/La Familia, the Little Shop of Physics, the Fort Collins Museum of Science and Discovery, and various Poudre Schools and CSU programs. 

 

In accepting the award, Stryker mentioned that both her father and her grandfather were Rotarians, and went on to highlight the “Give 10” program.  “Ten years ago, the Bohemian Foundation created an initiative to inspire community-wide charitable giving through “Give 10”. The Give 10 Emerging Leaders program, encourages donors step up their giving to Larimer County nonprofits over a three year period, then receive a $10,000 matching gift from Bohemian Foundation to the non-profit of their choice. Currently, more than 350 local households partner with Give 10 and are —or are on their way to—giving $10,000 to Larimer County nonprofits each year,” according to Stryker.   

 

Many Rotarians serve as “Beer Border Patrol” at Fort Collins New West Fest.  The Bohemian Foundation’s first Music Program, Bohemian Nights at New West Fest, is a free, three-day community music festival showcasing new, emerging and established Colorado musicians. The music festival is Bohemian Foundation’s gift to the community. Last year Bohemian Nights at New West Fest featured more than 70 Colorado bands and three national headliners performing across six music stages.

 

A more recent Bohemian Foundation Music Program is their partnership with “Little Kids Rock”, the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of free music instruction and instruments to public schools. With support from Bohemian Foundation, Little Kids Rock has become part of music programs offered by 56 teachers at 26 schools in Poudre School District. More than 1,500 instruments have been distributed to Poudre School District music programs as a result of the partnership.

 

All Bohemian Foundation program areas are dedicated to involving fellow citizens in the care and improvement of community.  As often noted, Pat uses her wealth to have a positive influence on Fort Collins and on the quality of life for Coloradoans. 

 

In recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the enhancement of the Colorado community, Pat was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Northern Colorado in 2007, and in 2011, Pat was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Colorado State University. 

 

Pat’s approach to the culture, and operations of Bohemian Companies and Foundation serve as an inspiration to her children, staff, the community and all Rotarians.

 

Other Rotary awards given include the following. 

 

The SPIRIT OF ROTARY AWARD recognizes a newer member for exceptional service to the club and fellow Rotarians.  This year’s recipient, John Trone, immediately became active in international projects and provided leadership for website and social media technology.  He traveled to Guatemala in 2014 to support a $42,000 Rotary water and sanitation Global Grant, and has been active in many other areas. 

 

The QUIET ROTARIAN AWARD honors those who diligently provide service to others, without fanfare or desire for credit.  This year’s recipient, Susan Stewart, has been active in Rotary’s International Projects and Grants committee, served as the key author for a Community Development Global in Guatemala, and has been active with the Harvest Farm Group in Wellington and the Fort Collins Rescue Mission.

 

The MAX GETTS 4-WAY TEST AWARD recognizes a Rotarian or non-Rotarian who exemplifies the ethical principles of Rotary’s “4-Way Test” in all they think, say or do - especially in their interactions with youth.  Dr. Robert Meroney, retired professor of Fluid Mechanics and Wind Engineering at CSU has served as Chair of the club’s Scholarship Committee for the past 14 years, screening, interviewing and selecting more than 100 college-bound seniors to receive Rotary scholarships.  He has authored 320 scientific reports and papers and received multiple professional recognitions.

 

Rotary’s FIVE AVENUES OF SERVICE AWARD recognizes exemplary service in 5 key areas; club, community, vocation, youth and international.  This year’s recipient, Jim Epstein has championed the development of Rotary’s STEM program, raising and distributing over $75,000 to STEM Activities in the PSD.  In addition he has served as International Projects and Grants Chair for four years, and has worked  directly with teachers and students in the Poudre School District, coaching Lego Robotics Teams and serving as a Lego Robotics judge.

 

This year the ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR was awarded to three Rotarians - Judy Boggs, Susie Ewing and Sue Wagner - who have consistently “leaned in”, always stepping up to lead nearly all of Rotary’s fellowship and fund raising activities for the past 10 years.  Judy Boggs was club President during 2004 – 2005, Chair of the Fellowship Committee, Rotary Assistant District Governor, Rotary District Polio Chair, member of the District Awards committee, and facilitator at Rotary’s President Elect training program.   She was a Rotary Leadership Institute instructor for 3 years and has chaired the 4-Club BBB Scholarship.  She is the former owner of Paul Wood Florist, and in her ‘retirement’ teaches Floral Design and the Capstone class for Horticulture students at Front Range Community College. She also taught 21 years in CSU’s Horticulture Department.

 

Susie Ewing was club President during the 2006-07 year, has been a selection judge for the BBB-Rotary District Scholarship for the past 5 years, and is currently the RCFC fund raising chair.  She chaired the Rotary Youth Exchange committee her first nine years in Rotary and is currently President of The Group Real Estate Company.

 

Sue Wagner was a RCFC Board Director during 2011-2014, and was the first Chairman of the District BBB-Rotary Scholarship Committee, serving for 3 years.  She was a member of the District Polio Committee for 1 year, and in 2013 led the fund raising and execution of RCFC’s Flood/Disaster Relief effort to help restore the “Reflections for Youth” facility in Loveland.   She is currently Senior Vice President of the Bank of Colorado. 

 

This year the club also recognized two Rotarians for LIFETIME SERVICE.  John Matsushima, retired CSU professor of Animal Science, was born in 1920 near Lafayette, Colorado, to Japanese immigrant parents.  He has been an active Rotarian for 46 years, serving as Chairman of every committee except STEM, and has visited over 130 Rotary clubs worldwide.  He earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota, and has been honored as “Citizen of the West” by the National Western Stock Show.  In 2009 he was awarded a gold Medallion from the Emperor of Japan for his contribution to the Japanese beef industry.   

 

Also receiving the LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD, Dr. Landis Boyd joined Rotary in 1960, being active in Rotarian service for 55 years.  Between 1966 and 1978, Lannie chaired every major committee.  He declined nomination to be club president due to academic responsibilities.  He earned his PhD in Engineering Mechanics and Agricultural Engineering at Iowa State.  He is credited with bringing the Rotary Club into the digital age, and is still active greeting and checking in every member each week. 

 

John Pratt was given a PRESIDENT’S MERITORIOUS SERVICE citation for his long service documenting club meetings and activities.  He earned his PhD in English at Princeton and taught English at the Air Force Academy until retiring in 1974.   After a Fulbright Fellowship in Portugal he came to CSU in 1976 as Chair of the English Department. He has published or edited 18 books, and written numerous essays, articles, and poems.

 

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Stacy Plemmons at 970-229-1395 or email at stacyplemmons@msn.com.