RCOB MAJOR AWARDS CRITERIA

The Club presents four major service awards, and these may be presented annually (or less frequently), as determined by the Club Executive Committee consisting of the Immediate Past President, President, President Elect and Program Vice President.  A $1,000 donation to the Rotry Club of Bellingham Foundation is made in honor of each award presented.  The Awards are:

The Will J. Griswold Club Service Award, named after our Club’s founding president, a highly-respected citizen and attorney who came to Bellingham in 1903. He established a private practice in 1912, and help found our Club in 1917.  He is described as “a citizen of worth and has ever conformed his practice to the highest ethics of the profession”;

The David C. Morse Sr. Community Service Award, named after a Club Member who has served the Club faithfully for over 61 years as of his 91st birthday June 30, 2004, and who set a remarkable standard of community support, both financial and in terms of personal time and effort throughout his lifetime;

The Michael K. Mischaikow International Service Award, named after a Club Member who, as an expatriate of Bulgaria who had been subjected to the rigors of three totalitarian regimes there, and later, as an American citizen and a professor at Western Washington University, worked tirelessly in projects furthering international understanding and peace; and

The Karen W. Morse Vocational Service Award, named after a Member of our Club who became President of Western Washington University in 1994, and who is a leader in her field of chemistry winning several prestigious national and international recognitions,  and has been also selected to lead several higher education professional and trade organizations.

These awards are not based upon popularity or popular vote, they are awards for long-term service; accordingly, the committee is careful not to select a member for an award because of very recent service only.  Normally, because the awards are intended to recognize any exemplary Rotarian, the award should not be made to a current or very recent Club Officer, except when special circumstances (such as age, illness or relocation) dictate overlooking this caution.

Because these awards are unique to the Bellingham Rotary Club, and because they are given for a substantial period of service, they are the highest honors that the Club can give to its Members.

NOMINATIONS 

The Executive Committee shall announce at each of the Club’s meeting in April that written nominations are being accepted for the awards through April 30, however no “ballot” shall be created or distributed.  The Executive Committee may then take nominations submitted by any Member into account as they make the selection of the awardees.