Paul Harris Award Speech
by Jim Morita
during the
Evening of Harmony
on
Dr. Camilo Uy and I are honored to
serve you as chairpersons of the Paul Harris Committee.
Just to give you a little history on
the Paul Harris Award, We initiated this annual recognition as a response to Rotary
awareness based on our philosophy of Rotary Four Ways Test.
This award was established as a way of
redirecting our thinking of what was right and continues to be right about
supporting for the wide range of humanitarian and educational programs that
enable Rotarians to bring hope and peace throughout the world.
In selecting this year's recipients,
our Paul Harris Committee reviewed files of candidates nominated at large from
our membership.
As a member of the Paul Harris
committee, I can assure you that the selection process was thorough. Of more
than 15 candidates nominated, we have chosen Helen Reisler and Edward W. T.
Gray, III They were both former president of our club. They represent the very
best of the Paul Harris award recipients for this year.
What are the measures of great
leadership? Someone has defined it this way: "Reason and judgment are the
qualities of a leader". Helen and Ed are eloquently representing that
category;
After my presentations, Dr. Camilo Uy
will present posthumously a special service award to Father Michael Judge, a
chaplain of the New York Fire Department, died in the line of duty of September
11.
Now, I would like to ask Helen, Ed and
Dr. Uy to come up to the podium to join with me for the Paul Harris Awards
presentations:
Before the presentations, I would like
to share with you their remarkable achievements for the humanity:
Helen Reisler will go down in history,
not only as the first woman president of the Rotary Club of New Fork, but as
the President who was unexpectedly faced with the greatest challenge - an
unprecedented terror attack on our own city.
Without a second thought, Helen knew
what she had to do on that fateful day of September 11. She rose to the
occasion, taking the leadership in a most commendable and awesome way.
Her focus became threefold -- inspire
team spirit in our own club members, giving immediate aid to victims and rescue
workers, and coordinating money contributions for the neediest.
At the same time, she insisted that all
activity be communicated, daily, to the world through our own "up to the
minute" website.
Helen, personally, received over 400 e-mails
from Rotarians around the globe, and answered them well into the nights,
encouraging contributions to the "Disaster Relief Fund" which she set
up with our NY Rotary Foundation.
This Fund accumulated over 1.5 million
dollars, and more importantly was distributed in a timely fashion to a variety
of needy people.
Our successful accomplishments with the
leadership of Helen prompted Rotary clubs throughout
She has traveled, on our behalf, to all
over the
NOW, I have the honor to present Helen
Reisler the Paul Harris Award.
Now for Edward Gray,
III.
Ed joined the New York Rotary Club in
1993. Between 1993 and 1999, he has served as Chairman of many committees. He
has served as president of our club for the year 19992000. During that year he
managed our club's financial success, and brought the club budget into balance.
Ed was very active in the humanitarian
causes; most credited support was his humanitarian aid to the
Another remarkable result was under his
leadership he was awarded the Annul District A ward for highest percentage of
Paul Harris fellows in our district.
During his presidency, he also received
the Rotary International Award for outstanding efforts in the Four Avenues of
Service.
For the humanitarian sector, during the
year 2000, he has established a private charitable foundation in conjunction
with a Swiss Family.
Through this foundation and under the
auspices of our club's foundations, he gave grants to Gift of Life for 3 years
to save 3 children's lives.
Ed also gave funds for polio
eradication for which h e received a Rotary International Certificate of
Appreciation from the president of our Rotary
International
Currently, Ed is serving as a trustee
of our club's foundation.
On behalf of our Paul Harris Committee,
I hope you will also regard this award as a symbol of our gratitude to both of
you, your outstanding achievements for the humanitarian principle.
Now, I have the honor to present the
Paul Harris Award to Edward T. Gray Ill.