The Middletown Rotary Club held its 2013 Awards Ceremony at the Inn at Middletown on May 22. The Paul Harris Community Service Fellowship Awards, Rotarian of the Year, Morton Briggs Service to Club Award, and Service Above Self Student Scholarship Awards were presented. Additionally, Middletown Rotarians were acknowledged for their years of service to the club. The Paul Harris Fellowship recognition was created in memory of the Rotary Club’s founder as a way to show appreciation for contributions to the Foundation's charitable and educational program. Paul Harris Fellows are advocates of the Foundation's goals of world peace and international understanding. The Paul Harris Fellow is presented to community members and Rotarians who have made a significant contribution and difference in our community. In addition to the recognition, certificate, and special pin, the Club gives $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation in the recipient’s name. The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. This year, three recipients received this honor: Frank Sumpter, Gary Gomola, and The Honorable Joseph Marino. Sumpter, a resident of Middlefield, has served as President and CEO of the Middlesex YMCA for 23 years and will be retiring on May 31. He has been an active leader in the community including past-president of the Middletown Rotary Club in 2004-2005 and served on the board of the Middlesex United Way. This is his second Paul Harris Award. Gomola, a Middletown Rotarian since 1984 and resident of Portland, has been a business owner for over 30 years and is currently a partner at Mahoney Sabol and Co, LLP CPAs. He is an active member of many Middlesex County organizations including the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, Middlesex United Way, and Northern Middlesex YMCA to name a few. Gomola was a Paul Harris Fellow in 1997 and Rotarian of the Year in 1990. Marino, a native of Middletown, has served as Judge of Probate for the District of Middletown since January 1987 serving 74,000 residents in the towns of Durham, Cromwell, Middletown, and Middlefield, and he also maintains his law practice in Portland. Marino has been a Rotarian since 2006, served on the Middletown Rotary Board, and has been an active constituent of the club’s Vocational Service committee. The club also honored Trish Witzky-Lambert of Glastonbury with the Morton Briggs Service to Club Award. This is presented in recognition of a club member who has demonstrated outstanding service to the club. Witzky-Lambert has been a member of Middletown Rotary since 2010 and was recognized as Rotarian of the Year in 2012. She is currently Chairperson of the Middletown Rotary’s Fundraising & Club Service committees, and a member of the Rotary Board. Laura Falt, a resident of Cromwell, was honored as the Rotarian of the Year. Falt has been a member of the club since 2006, a former Paul Harris Fellow recipient in 2010, and is the Public Relations Committee Chairperson. This recognition is given annually to the club member that demonstrated outstanding service in one or more of the five avenues of service. Service Above Self Student Scholarship Awards were presented to graduating seniors Alexandra Femc of Middletown, Valedictorian from Mercy High School; John Harper from Vinyl Technical High School and a resident of East Hampton; Karla Lazo from Middletown High School; Higganum resident Gabriela Narowska from Haddam-Killingworth High School; and Kaylee Powers of Middlefield from Coginchaug Regional High School. In addition to requiring a 3.0 GPA or higher, the scholarship recipients were chosen based on Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self”, rewarding students that showed extraordinary volunteer service. Scholarships are awarded thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Middletown Rotary members throughout the year. Revered for years of service were the Middletown Rotarians: Chip Stone (60 years); Subby Gallo (50 years); Welles Guilmartin (40 years); Joe Bibisi, Ed Brymer, Mario Mazzotta, James Misenti, Kevin Wilhelm and Carlton Winslow (each with 15 years of service); and Ken Vaughan (10 years). For more information on the Middletown Rotary Club or if interested in becoming a member, feel free to visit www.middletownrotary.org or contact Garry Mullaney at (860) 635-6010 x314 or via email at gmullaney@adelbrook.org.
