Posted: 7/2/03

FL Rotary Club honors four

Special recognition was handed out by the Forest Lake Rotary Club on Thursday, June 26 to three well-known Forest Lake area community activists.

A life membership in the Rotary International and the clubís distinguished service award were presented to Gene Hallberg, a charter member of the Forest Lake Rotary Club.

Paul Harris Fellow awards were given to Cliff Buchan, news editor of the Forest Lake Times, to Laurie Drolson, supervisor of direct services for the Youth Service Bureau and to Susan Novak (not present), teacher and school board member in ISD 831.

The honors were bestowed at the annual banquet of the Forest Lake Rotary Club at the North Oaks Country Club, White Bear Lake.

The Paul Harris award is one of the top awards to be given in Rotary circles. Grants of $1,000 now go into the Rotary books in the names of Buchan, Drolson and Novak.

Repeat Paul Harris awards were given to club members Claire Lillis, Doug Goerss and Lloyd Knudson. Lillis received his six Harris fellowship, Goerss his third and Knudson his second.

Rotary perfect attendance awards were given to Karen Alm (10 years), Lloyd Knudson (6 years) and Cindy Mattson (6 years).

The presidential gavel was turned over to Rich Ottomeyer from Rob Collins. Ottomeyer traced the beginning of the Rotary to May 4, 1984 and said four charter members remain: Hallberg, Goerss, Alan Bakke and Ottomeyer.

He said the clubís Summerfest party which has raised more than $200,000 for the community was the brainchild of Hallberg and has been led by him over the years.

Most of the fund-raisers have been hosted at Hallbergís residence.

The local Rotary club has also been instrumental in helping eradicate polio, has routinely hosted exchange students and is developing a fishing pier at Shields Lake.

Incoming president Ottomeyer said he looked forward to the future while embracing the past.

A ticket sale blitz for this yearís summer party is now in place and will be underway throughout July, Ottomeyer said last week.

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