Paul Harris Fellow

The Rotary Club of St. Thomas chose to give two Paul Harris Fellows this year.  A Paul Harris Fellow can be given by the club in recognition of an individuals' exceptional service. This year's recipients are Juliette C. Kean and Thomas Rathmann.

   Juliette Corneiro Kean has had a distinguished career serving the people of the US and British Virgin Islands for almost 50 years.  She began working at the VI National Bank, now Banco Popular, in 1962.
   Her distinguished service as a mortgage lender led quickly to promotion to Assistant Vice President and then Senior Vice President of the Real Estate Department for the US & British VI operations of Banco Popular.  Mrs. Kean retired from Banco Popular on March 31, 2008.
   Throughout the years Mrs. Kean found time to give back to her community by serving on several boards and organizations; a member of the VI Lottery Commission; President of the St. Thomas Friends of Denmark Society, 1981; member of the Community Foundation of the VI and President of the VI Assistive Technology Foundation.

     Thomas Rathmann joined the Rotary Club of St. Thomas November, 2007.  From the moment he became a member he epitomized what it is to be a Rotarian.  He serves on the RCST Foundation board and is the chairperson of New Generations. Through New Generations he targeted the children needing the most help and how Rotary can accomplish that goal.  He found it was important to start with a child when he is young, eight or nine years old, and began meeting with school officials to determine their needs.
     He began with Sibilly Elementary School.  Due to his efforts there is twice weekly mentoring of students in reading and math.  The sessions are making a difference to the students and the Rotarian volunteers working with them.
     Tom then turned to Bertha C. Boschulte Elementary School, (BCB).  The program is mentoring 40+ children a week in reading comprehension; the principal calls Tom her "Angel".  For the math tutoring he brought together private and public education by arranging for Montessori School Seniors to work with the BCB students each week.
    The programs Mr. Rathmann has put in place will continue for years to come and change the lives of hundreds of St. Thomas children.

     Mrs. Juliette C. Kean and Mr. Thomas Rathmann were selected to receive this recognition because the Rotary Club of St. Thomas believes their lives exemplify the humanitarian and educational objectives of the Rotary Foundation.

   For more information on the Paul Harris Fellow program see this article by Cliff Dochterman RI President, 1992-93:  http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/presidents/1992dochterman/phf.htm.