President Mary Tempest led the celebration of many Tunkhannock Rotary’s members along with 7 community organizations at a Rotary Foundation Recognition Event on Thursday, Oct 21 at the Stonehedge Country Club. 
 
The Tunkhannock Rotarians and their families were joined by Rotary District 7410 officials including current District Governor Mary Ellen Bentler, Past District Governor Karen DeMatteo and Tunkhannock’s District Governor Nominee Samantha Maruzzelli, who is currently District 7410 Membership Committee Chair and the Club’s Rotary Foundation (RF) Chair.  The Club was also honored by the presence of Assistant Regional RF Coordinator for Zone 32 Joanne Ventura, responsible for RF activities for Districts 7410, 7475, 7490, and who was the keynote speaker.
 
In her keynote address, Joanne spoke about the importance of donating to the Rotary Foundation to advance the programs that support both local community and international projects and that are implemented and managed by Rotary Clubs. 
 
She also focused on the success of the Polio Eradication program with which Rotary has been involved since 1979. Polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent worldwide, but it will take many more millions to complete this eradication effort. The RF is in the last 2 years of a 2:1 donation match from the Gates Foundation for polio eradication, so she urged everyone to make their donations while this match campaign is ongoing to triple the value of their contributions.
 
The Paul Harris Fellowship was established in Paul Harris’ honor in 1957 to express appreciation for a contribution of $1,000 to the humanitarian and educational programs of The RF by an individual Rotarian or by an organization to recognize someone else.
 
President Mary Tempest presented various Paul Harris recognitions to 11 Tunkhannock Rotarians, including: Jeannie Brady, Laura Charles, Terri Detrick, Ron Furman, John Hovan, Francine Kanyok, Norm Kelly, Mary Linden, Wade Linden, Samantha Maruzzelli and Elaine Walker.
 
Once an individual’s cumulative donations to the RF exceeds $10,000, that person is honored by the RF as a Major Donor.  Carol Ziomek and Thomas Kukuchka were each recognized as Major Donors – Level 1 and received a personalized crystal recognition piece and a Major Donor lapel pin and pendant/charm.
 
Although a community organization cannot be honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, it can be recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation.  In recognition of their incredible and important services to the local community and/or Rotary, the Club used its cumulative RF donations to recognize community organizations with Certificates of Appreciation. The 7 organizations honored were: Child Hunger Outreach Partners (CHOP), Wyoming County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), H.A.N.D.S. of Wyoming County, Nimble Hill Winery & Brewery, Popstar Drive, Seven Loaves Soup Kitchen and the Tunkhannock Public Library. Representatives for each of these organizations accepted on their behalf.  
 

Pres. Mary Tempest, Zone 32 RF Coordinator Joanne Ventura, DG Mary Ellen Bentler and PDG Karen DeMatteo
 

L to r:  Frank Oliver (Seven Loaves Soup Kitchen),  Alisha Myers and Cathy Franko (H.A.N.D.S.), Ron Furman (accepting for Dave Carichner for the Wyoming County EMA), Nick Montero for Dani Ruhl (CHOP), Ellie Toczko (Nimble Hill), Pres. Mary Tempest and Dellana Diovisalvo (Tunkhannock Public Library). Absent from the photo was Chris Maruzzelli (Popstar Drive).