L to R: Barry Fujishin (Rotarian of the Year), Brian Baughman (2017-18 Club President), and Chuck McHugh (Outstanding Service Award).
During the final meeting of Rotary’s 2017-18 Rotary year, members were recognized for their efforts and their eccentricities, with awards from “Rotarian of the Year” (Barry Fujishin) to “Your Wife Attended More Than You Did” (Greg Evans) to “Let Me Tell You a Story” (Marisela Pesina) to “Mozart” (Jeff Hunsicker) for his faithful excellent rendition of “My Country Tis of Thee” on the piano, and many more! It was a blast with President Brian Baughman at the helm this past year. Every meeting began with current events including news of “the good, the bad and the ugly!”
Barry Fujishin was awarded the “Rotarian of the Year” award. He epitomized Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” not only for club events, but also for his generous heart in his own community of Homedale. Barry was our Program Chairman, making sure all members secured their programs for our 50 meetings this past year and helping find meetings when things fell through. He volunteered for all events, from distributing dictionaries and 2nd grade books to our 1,400 students in each the third and second grade in 18 area elementary schools to helping in our rodeo booth, at our fishing derby and being our scholarship chairman and many and any other events and projects of our club. In Homedale, he and his wife Martha make breakfast every Saturday in the summer for kids in their community. He is a stellar dedicated man and we thank him for the role model he is for our members.
Chuck McHugh, who has been a past “Rotarian of the Year” was awarded an “Outstanding Service Award.” Chuck organizes our Dictionary project, organizing purchases, school schedules for delivery to those 18 elementary schools receiving them, and organizes volunteers to help distribute them to those 1,400 students who received them. He also volunteers for every project the club is involved in. He sets up and takes down for our meetings and is the chairman for out Vocational Scholarship. Chuck is also the head of our Caldwell Rotary Foundation, which is currently organizing our “Freedom Brew Fest” to be held on September 8th down at our new Indian Creek Plaza, an event that will benefit the Caldwell Veterans Hall and other club community projects.
These are just two of many Caldwell Rotarians who do so many things to give back to the community that has supported them and we are proud of all of them.