Helen Baldwin Receives Senior Service Award from Downtown Rotary
At Downtown Rotary’s January 20th meeting, in presenting Helen Baldwin with the Senior Service award, Jerry Thain said the following: Helen Baldwin has devoted her retirement years to community service leadership. She has been particularly active in efforts to preserve and enhance Madison’s artistic organizations. The Madison Savoyards, the group that has been producing Gilbert and Sullivan musicals for over 50 years, has consistently received high marks for the quality of its productions. However, when the organization experienced financial problems that threatened its existence over a decade ago, Helen was recruited by the all volunteer board and became its president. She led the organization to financial as well as artistic success and remained a very active member of the board.
Helen has also been an active supporter and promoter of the Madison Opera and Madison Symphony Orchestra. She has been deeply involved with the Friends of Hoyt Park for decades, helping to insure its continued beauty and pleasure for citizens. Her commitment to service above self has involved Rotary activities for many years – first as the spouse of our long time member, past president and district governor, Gordon Baldwin and then, when Rotary finally admitted women members, as a member of Madison Breakfast Rotary in 1988. She has served two separate terms as president of that club as well playing key roles in their meals-on-wheels and international student exchange programs. Her experience in administering the UW Carbone Cancer grants office during her years of employment were put to good use in her leadership of Madison Breakfast Rotary, Madison Savoyards, Hospice Care Board, and Friends of Hoyt Park. She brings not only energy, enthusiasm and her own financial support to the organizations to which she belongs but also the financial and administrative acumen needed for these organizations to survive and prosper. She is a most worthy recipient of our Senior Service award.