Rotary Foundation Chair Larry Hoof (left) presented Paul Harris recognition at our April 5, noon meeting:
“Whenever we celebrate the recognition of a Paul Harris Fellow, we also reflect on the amazing results created when Rotary Foundation contributions turn into providing water cisterns in Mexico and Africa as well as a Splash Pad and playground equipment in Walla Walla to name just a few of the many remarkable Rotarian projects made possible with Foundation dollars.
Today, ...I could easily overwhelm you with the accomplishments of our newest Paul Harris Fellow. There is a lot to learn about her, but we only have so much time. Perhaps we can ask her to stay after the meeting to fill you in on some of the details I miss.
Having grown up in Sumner, Washington, she gained an appreciation for the good life of a rural community. And she demonstrated early academic achievement in 2000 as Valedictorian at her high school. While attending Washington State University, one of her extra-curricular activities was that of Varsity Cheerleader. She made the President’s Honor roll five times, was the Graduating Senior of the Year in the Department of Foreign Languages, and has been active with the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society since then.
In 2005, she was a World Health Organization Delegate for the annual Mock United Nations conference in New York. While acting as a representative of the country of Pakistan, she caucused and voted accordingly on the topics of Polio eradication and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This was well before she became a Rotarian in 2013.
After graduating college, she worked as a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines for five years, even while seeking her doctorate at the University of Washington.
After moving to Walla Walla, she joined AAUW, the Junior Club and this Rotary club. Perhaps you’ve seen her planting trees, taking attendance or helping out at Aloha. She is also active with the Providence St. Mary Foundation Executive Committee, serving as Secretary. And yet, there is so much more….
You may wonder: How does she find time to also be married to her best friend and be the mother of a two year old while running her own business? Maybe you have had the singular experience of how she lights up the room while you are sitting in her dentist’s chair.
Now is the time to let out a cheer for Patty Martin, a Paul Harris Fellow!”
