[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”2/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_block_grid type=”two-up”][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 1″]BRANSON, MO – The Rotary clubs of District 6080 in Missouri gathered in Branson Oct. 21-23 for their district conference. Held at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, the conference was a joint meeting with District 6110, which encompasses the corners of four states, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.
District 6080 Governor David Bixler of Springfield and District 6110 Governor Don den Daas of Tulsa presided over the conference, which attracted nearly 400 Rotarians.
In addition to numerous awards presentations, Rotarians heard from four guest speakers: Alina Lehnert of Springfield, an expert in leadership and strengths development; Larry Lunsford of Kansas City, former Rotary International director; Tom Krause of Boonville, motivational speaker; and David C. Forward of Medford N.J., author and founder of International Children’s Aid Foundation.
Special guest was Chris Lewis of Los Angeles, president of the American Wheelchair Mission and son of Jerry Lewis of the MDA Telethon, who spoke about working with Rotarians to place wheelchairs in third-world countries.
During the District 6080 business meeting, Steve Dulle, immediate past district governor, presented awards to Rotarians and Rotary clubs in his district for service during his year.
Dr. Trish Blair of Columbia received both the District Rotarian of the Year Award and the Rotary Alumni Global Services Award for Zone 31. Blair is the founder of A Call to Serve (ACTS) International, which creates and nurtures “partnerships for peace” with the country of Georgia, a former Soviet republic. Most recently she led the effort to “Breathe Life into Georgian Babies,” training doctors and nurses in lifesaving techniques.
Jerry Franklin of Warrensburg was the recipient of the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award, which is the Foundation’s highest service recognition. It is granted to a maximum of 50 Rotarians who have demonstrated exemplary service to the Foundation. It recognizes Rotarians who have continued their exceptional service to the Rotary Foundation after receiving the Citation for Meritorious Service.
A longtime Rotary leader and past district governor, Franklin currently spearheads a project to provide specialized playground equipment for Wonderland Camp in the Ozarks, a camp that serves persons of all ages with disabilities.
Melvin Platt of Columbia received the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, which is presented to Rotary members who have been actively involved in service activities related to the Rotary Foundation. Among his many accomplishments, he served as a member or chair of the district scholarship committee for 23 years, interviewing 171 applicants and sponsoring 35 Ambassadorial and Global Scholars, two Rotary Peace Fellows and three Sterling Scholars. The value of the grants totals more than $1 million.
Past District Governor Joe Beltz presented the District Service Award to Tom Smith of West Plains Sunrise Rotary for the work he did to revitalize his club.[/cs_block_grid_item][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 2″]The Rotary Club of Springfield Sunrise received the Significant Achievement Award, which recognizes a club whose project has addressed a significant problem or need in their community. The club has a partnership with the Ashley House, a program which provides residential treatment for abused and neglected teenage girls with the goal of building relationships with them and being a positive influence in their lives.
Several clubs were recognized with the Presidential Citation at various levels. Achieving gold level were Springfield Sunrise, Springfield Southeast and Columbia Metro. At the silver level were Springfield Metro, Jefferson City West, Columbia Sunrise Southwest, Springfield North and Bolivar. Bronze level recipients were Jefferson City Evening, Rolla Breakfast and Pulaski County. Rotaract clubs in Springfield, Jefferson City and Columbia also received Presidential Citations.
Earning the Governor’s Citation were Springfield Sunrise, Springfield Metro, Jefferson City West, Rolla Breakfast. Thayer-Mammoth Springs, Springfield, Branson Hollister, Boonville, Columbia South, Mountain View, Laurie Sunrise Beach, Warrensburg Early Bird, Willow Springs and Centralia.
Membership awards were earned by Table Rock Lake, Springfield Southeast, Rolla Breakfast, Thayer-Mammoth Springs and Boonville.
District Service Awards for work to achieve Foundation goals were presented to Susan Hart, Columbia Metro; Rowland Geddie, Springfield Sunrise; Michael Brady, Springfield Metro; Raymond Plue, Columbia South; Sherry and Larry Biron, Laurie Sunrise Beach; Jim Libey, Jefferson City Evening; Jon Smith, Mountain View; David Handly, Warrensburg Early Bird; Jim Stock, Columbia Metro; Bill Keeney, Belton-Raymore; Paul Reinert, Springfield; David Compere, Springfield Southeast; Donn Ladd, Columbia Sunrise Southwest; Warren Prost, Jefferson City West; Glen Cameron, Branson Daybreakers; Seth Bryant, Thayer-Mammoth Springs; Terris Cates, Rolla Breakfast; Wade Robson, Branson-Hollister; Mel Davis, Springfield North; and David Nanneman, Willow Springs.
Major donors achieving new levels of Foundation giving were recognized. They were Glen Cameron of Branson and Melvin Platt of Columbia, level one; Steve and Diane Dulle of Columbia, level two; Duane and Pat Sterling of Warrensburg, level three; and Raymond Plue of Columbia, level four.
Six Rotarians received awards for service to the district in 2015-16: Raymond Plue of Columbia, Mary Ann Beahon of Fulton, Dick Mazanec of Rolla; Don Alberti of Jefferson City, Bob Smith of Columbia and Joe Beltz of Mountain View.
For more information, contact:
Mary Ann Beahon, Public Image Chair
Rotary District 6080
[email protected]
(573) 220-1947[/cs_block_grid_item][/cs_block_grid][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://eadn-wc03-8154507.nxedge.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/award-for-Trish-Blair4-1.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”popover” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”Bob Smith accepts awards from Steve Dulle on behalf of Trish Blair, who was too ill to attend.”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://eadn-wc03-8154507.nxedge.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Distinguished-Service-Award-Jerry-Franklin2-1.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”popover” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”Duane Sterling, Larry Lunsford and Steve Dulle congratulate Jerry Franklin (second from right), the recipient of the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award, the Foundation’s highest service recognition.”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://eadn-wc03-8154507.nxedge.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Mary-and-Melvin-Platt2-1.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”popover” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”Mary Platt gets emotional when her husband, Melvin, receives the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service.”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://eadn-wc03-8154507.nxedge.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Tom-Smith-1.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”popover” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”Past District Governor Joe Beltz presents the District Service Award to Tom Smith of West Plains Sunrise Rotary for the work he did to revitalize his club.”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://eadn-wc03-8154507.nxedge.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Springfield-Sunrise-Will-Cologna-1.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”popover” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”Steve Dulle announces the Rotary Club of Springfield Sunrise as the recipient of the Significant Achievement Award, which recognizes a club whose project has addressed a significant problem or need in their community. Accepting the award is Will Cologna, while Raymond Plue looks on.”][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px 0px 45px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][ess_grid alias=”district-conference-gallery-2016″][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]