Submitted Photo Jim Wakeman (left), Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club Foundation chair, proudly presents Janese Berkhouse (right) with her first Paul Harris Fellow award pin and certificate during this Rotary Club’s Feb. 19 meeting at The Parkview in Westfield. Berkhouse, who is the Immediate Past President of the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club, received this special honor for her contributions to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

Janese Berkhouse, Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville, was given special recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow during the Feb. 19 meeting of this Rotary Club at The Parkview in Westfield. Berkhouse’s first Paul Harris Fellow pin and award certificate were presented to her by Jim Wakeman, Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club Foundation Chair.

Paul Harris (PH) Fellow recognition is The Rotary Foundation’s way of expressing its appreciation for substantial contributions to its humanitarian and educational programs. It is named for Paul Harris, Rotary’s founder and a Chicago lawyer, who started Rotary with three business associates in 1905. There are various levels of PH Fellow recognition.

Upon receiving her first PH award, Berkhouse stated, “Paul Harris was quoted to having said ‘I believe we can change the world one life at a time.’ By supporting The Rotary Foundation, we have the ability to turn this philosophy into a reality, both in our local and global communities. Rotarians accomplish this through our financial support, as well as in service to our community.”

Berkhouse, who joined Rotary in 1995, is a former member of the Rotary Club of Jamestown. She became a member of the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club in 2016. In addition to serving as club president in 2017-2018 and being a current board member, Berkhouse was instrumental in helping this Rotary club raise significant funds for polio eradication efforts through its PolioPlus Challenge. She served for several years as co-chair of this club’s annual Chicken BBQ & Auction, a major fundraiser.

An active volunteer in the community, Berkhouse is the Chautauqua County Historical Society – McClurg Museum Treasurer, the Westfield Barcelona Chamber of Commerce Secretary and a volunteer for the Patterson Library and other organizations.

Wakeman noted about Berkhouse, “Jan generously donates a great deal of time, energy and funds in support of the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club. Her PH Fellow recognition that we celebrate tonight demonstrates that she is also generous in helping The Rotary Foundation fulfill its motto of ‘Doing Good in the World.'”

Each gift of $1,000 US to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International helps this foundation carry out an array of beneficial programs throughout the world. Its funds are used to address six areas of focus: peace and conflict prevention/resolution; disease prevention and treatment; water and sanitation; maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development.

In addition to PH Fellow awards, other forms of recognition available to individual Rotarians by The Rotary Foundation include the Paul Harris Society, Major Donor, Arch Klumph Society, Benefactor and Bequest Society. Rotary Paul Harris Fellows are recognized throughout the world for their devotion to the ideal of goodwill, peace and understanding.

The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville proudly honors Janese Berkhouse as its newest PH Fellow. If you see Janese Berkhouse, please congratulate her for her commitment to Rotary, service to others, and her newest honor of being a PH Fellow award recipient.