F.S. "Matty" Mathewson Rotarian of the Year Award

Nominations for the F.S. "Matty" Mathewson Rotarian of the Year Award

In 1982, District 7510 established this award to recognize and honor those Rotarians in the district who have, over a period of time, best exemplified Rotary’s motto of "Service Above Self" and earning this award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Rotarian by our District.

Without exception, every Rotary Club in our District has the opportunity to nominate a member who is worthy of this honor. A committee appointed by the District Governor will meet and select the Rotarian to receive this distinguished award which will be presented at the District Conference in the spring of each year. The committee will make their decision based upon, but not limited to the following:

1. Rotary Club Offices/Positions/Activities
2. District Offices/Positions/Activities
3. International Offices/Positions/Activities
4. Service to the Community
5. Honors and/or Awards received
6. Other important data that is submitted

• Each nominee must have held Rotary membership for at least ten (10) years, have the approval of their Rotary Club’s Board of Directors and the nomination form must be signed by the Club President.
• Past District Governors, current and nominated District Governors and Honorary members are not eligible for this award. (Please see the enclosed Resolution 96- 1 for more specifics regarding eligibility.)
• Please note that all nominations must be submitted no later than December 31st.

CLICK HERE to download the rules, requirements and form
for nominating someone from your Rotary club.

Rotarian of the Year Award In Recognition of Rotarians who have best exemplified "Service Above Self"

This is the text of the Award Presentation at our 2009 District Conference

Every year Rotary District 7510 selects one Rotarian to receive the highest award we give to one of our own. Named the F.S. "Matty" Mathewson Rotarian of the Year award, the honor is presented to the Rotarian who best exemplifies the motto "Service Above Self," both as a well rounded Rotarian and as someone who transforms lives outside of Rotary.

Past recipients in the audience please rise and will the selection committee members join me to present this year's award. Matty Mathewson, a member of the Rotary Club of Plainfield, was District Governor in 1947-48, and was the award's first recipient in 1982.

Nominees today must be a Rotarian in good standing for a minimum of ten years, but not have served as a district governor. Their club president and secretary must submit a signed application by the December 31st deadline. A committee of past recipients reviews their credentials and selects the person who will receive this honor at the annual district conference. A Paul Harris Fellow recognition also accompanies presentation of the Rotarian of Year award.

This year, our district's highest honor goes to a Rotarian whose Rotary career spans 18 years and two clubs in two districts. During her 14 years with her current club this Rotarian "consistently brings the Rotary to the community and the community to Rotary," according to the club president's nominating statement. "She is heavily involved in all avenues of Rotary service, passionate about what she does, and gives her time and expertise to the club, the district and to several community organizations," the president continues. One club member calls his peer the "First Lady" of Rotary and goes on to say she is the "backbone" of the club. He credits her tackling the "nitty-gritty" details for earning the club a "Significant Achievement Award" for the Care and Share project she initiated. She has performed leading roles facilitating the club's international project in Tucuman, Argentina.

In her home town, she has provided expertise to the Board of Directors of the local YMCA, the Princeton Nursery School and the Princeton Festival. This year's F.S. "Matty" Mathewson Rotarian of the Year recipient is a retired school superintendent. Her hobbies are volunteerism, the theater, music, travel and reading. Please rise and join me in acknowledging as our 2008-2009 Rotarian of the Year, from the Rotary Club of Princeton, Marcia Bossart.