The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute above and beyond to Rotary and their community.
Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.
Many other notable figures have been named Paul Harris Fellows, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk.
The number of Paul Harris Fellows reached the 1 million mark in 2006.
Read more about the background to The Paul Harris Fellow
THE PAUL HARRIS FELLOW – BACKGROUND
The Paul Harris Fellow is named for the founder of Rotary. He and three business associates had the first meeting in Chicago in 1905. Thirty years later, this Club was pleased to welcome Paul and his wife, Jean.
The Paul Harris Fellows was established in his honour in 1957 to express appreciation for the contribution to the humanitarian and educational programmes of The Rotary Foundation.
These programmes include an array of projects that save and invigorate the lives of people around the world and enhance international friendship and understanding.
Foundation programmes provide educational opportunities, food, potable water, health care, immunisations and shelter for millions of persons. These activities are funded, implemented and managed by Rotarians and Rotary Clubs around the globe.
Rotarians designate a Paul Harris Fellow to recognise a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives and mission of The Rotary Foundation to build world understanding and peace.
Thus it can be made to a Rotarian or a non-Rotarian. Our Club has from time to time recognised people from the wider community who clearly share the values we espouse, for example, Shirley Sowry and recently Rachel Osborne from Kapiti Youth Support.
The Rotary Club of Kapiti makes a donation to The Rotary Foundation in the name of the person selected to receive a Paul Harris Fellow. Thus, this is a recognition made on behalf of all members of the Club, to which all have given, and is not lightly made.
Each year, the Rotary Club of Kapiti recognises a small number of people who demonstrate those qualities. We thank them for demonstrating in their life and vocation a commitment to helping persons in need here and around the world.
There are three emblems of a Paul Harris Fellow: the certificate, a lapel pin and medallion.
The Certificate states that a person is named a Paul Harris Fellow “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations between the peoples of the world.”
It is expected that Paul Harris Fellows wear the pin to all Rotary events, as a symbol of appreciation for and support of the programmes of The Rotary Foundation.