Fifteen members of the Rotary Club of Elkins received the honor of becoming Paul Harris Fellows in 2009.
Recipients of the prestigious award were announced at the club's annual Christmas dinner Dec. 7. Dinner and the awarding ceremonies were conducted at the Randolph County Community Arts Center. Receiving the award were Margaret Burns, Gary L. Chase, Joann Fussell, T. Richard Harvey, John L. Henning, Cyrus Kerr Kump, James L. Schoonover, Patricia Schoonover, Amy B. Schumacher, Patricia J. Schumann, Donna Jean Siebert, L. Wayne Sheets, Judith B. Smith, Roy F. Stalnaker and Randall Underwood. Selections were made in August but were kept in confidence so they could be announced at the special Christmas dinner.
Jeffrey Welshonce was honored for having achieved the Paul Harris Fellow + 1 level.
The citation, signed by Rotary International President D.K. Lee reads, ". . . is hereby named a Paul Harris Fellow in appreciation for tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world."
Since January 1974, when George McLaughlin achieved the distinction of becoming the club's first Paul Harris Fellow, 84 other Elkins Rotarians have achieved that goal.
When presenting the awards, former Rotary District 7530 Gov. Ron LaNeve said, "For this club to have 15 members in one year attain the status of a Paul Harris Fellow speaks volumes for the efforts of our club and its members."
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition is given in appreciation to anyone who contributes, outright or cumulatively, in whose name is contributed, a gift of $1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, PolioPlus Partners or the Humanitarian Grants program. The recognition consists of a certificate, pin and medallion.
The Paul Harris Fellow + 1 is attained by having donated $2,000 or more to the Rotary Foundation.
In other Rotary news, Rotarian Bob Morris, president of the Bridgeport club, presented the Golden Gavel to Elkins Rotary President John L. Henning at the Dec. 14 luncheon.
The tradition of sharing the golden gavel was the brainchild of Past District Gov. Charles P. Wilhelm of Kingwood (1958-1959) and was initiated by Past District Gov. George Eubanks of New Martinsville (1972-1973).
The spirit and intent of the golden gavel is to foster and forge club and individual Rotarian relationships. The delivering club is entrusted to present the "program of the day." The receiving club in turn promotes the spirit of the gavel as it delivers and presents its program to the next club. The Elkins club will present the gavel to the Weston club on Dec. 30.
Former District 7530 Gov. Jim Welshonce, who passed away in 2008, made the gavel.
Geoff Marshall, construction project manager, presented Morris' program, an update on the construction on the new United Hospital Center near Clarksburg.
According to Marshall, construction crews had to move more than 2 million cubic yards of rock and dirt in preparation for the new hospital.
The hospital will have 292 beds, all of which are in private rooms, and cost more than $300 million. The anticipated completion is Oct. 3, 2010.
The new hospital will contain in excess of 700,000 square feet and will be more than 700 feet in length.
It will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and features its own power system as a back-up to the commercial power supply.
Marshall also said that a group of doctors is constructing a medical arts building at the site with additional construction to take place in the future.
The new hospital is located at exit 124 off I-89.
