Submitted Photo Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville President Janese Berkhouse, left, presents Felicia Lawson, a Westfield resident, with The Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow Award. Lawson was given this honor on May 19 at this Rotary Club’s BBQ & Auction in Westfield for her many years of dedicated volunteer service efforts.

Westfield resident Felicia S. Lawson was recently named as the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow Award by the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville for being an individual who demonstrates Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” through volunteerism. Named after Rotary founder Paul Harris, this award recognizes a non-Rotarian in the communities of Brocton, Mayville, Ripley, Sherman and Westfield who represents extraordinary commitment to the ideals of Rotary. Honorees are not current nor former members of Rotary.

Lawson received this prestigious award on May 19 during a special presentation held in conjunction with the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club’s BBQ & Auction event at Eason Hall in Westfield. Members of Lawson’s family, hundreds of community members and many Rotarians were in attendance to offer their congratulations.

Arrangements were made to have Lawson present at this Rotary event without her knowing that she was going to be the award recipient. Upon receiving her certificate, pin and recognition, Lawson stated, “I am so surprised, especially because I don’t feel that I do that much in the community. Others do so much more. I just do what I can. It’s such a great honor. Thank you very much!”

Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville President Janese Berkhouse, who nominated Lawson to receive this distinction as a Paul Harris Fellow, gave an address in which she described some of the highlights of Lawson’s many years of community service. Here is an excerpt from Berkhouse’s address in which she described Lawson.

“This individual willingly gives of her time, treasures and talents. For many years, she has been an active volunteer of the Westfield Volunteer Fire Department. Working with other volunteers and local businesses, she was instrumental in providing refreshments to the fire fighters while they were engaged in putting out fires. During the Westfield VFD’s bingo fundraisers, she organized snacks. If there was an event at the Exempt Hall, she was there to help, event when the group was not a member.

Our Rotary Club was a recipient of her assistance when our organization held its Gold Rush event at the Exempt Hall for many years. We always knew that we would be supported. She is also actively involved with the Westfield Soup Kitchen. Along with another community volunteer, she started and has helped to organize for many years the Christmas Craft Show, which is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Also, she volunteers to drive the Amish. She is a previous member of the Westfield Zonta Club. If there is a need in our community, she would there to help. Along with her husband Ray, she raised and is the proud mother of three children and eight grandchildren. Please join me in honoring this year’s Non-Rotarian Paul Harris Fellow Award Recipient Felicia Lawson.”

The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville proudly congratulates Felicia Lawson on being its 2018 recipient of The Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow Award, a distinction which she has earned for exemplifying Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self.”