Rotary surprises Waterbury Fire Department with Paul Harris honor
July 31, 2020 | By Tami Bass
Members of the Waterbury Rotary Club surprised the Waterbury Fire Department at its training last Tuesday night to bestow a special honor on the department. Left to right: Marty Johansen, Gwenna Peters, Sue Johansen, Sandy Lewis, Al Lewis, John Malter. Rotary member Tami Bass and Fire Chief Gary Dillon (far right) do an elbow bump rather than a handshake. Courtesy photo.
A group of Rotarians crashed in on a Waterbury Fire Department meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 28, to present a special honor.
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions of $1,000 made in their name to the Rotary Foundation.
Rotary established the recognition in 1957. The mission of the Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
Rotarians have a tradition of supporting the Foundation by honoring others. The Waterbury Fire Department is one of the best examples of “service above self,” a Rotary motto.
They are all volunteers committed to their duty, equipped with knowledge and experience not only to fight fires, but to help within the community. Department members give out candy and glow sticks to children on Halloween and its station has been a shelter for trick-or-treaters on wet and cold Halloween nights.
Tami Bass of the Waterbury Rotary Club does an elbow bump with Waterbury Fire Chief Gary Dillon who along with Battalion Chief Sally Dillon accepted the Paul Harris Rotary honor last week. Courtesy photo.
They help the Rotary Club during the annual Not Quite Independence Day celebration with organizing the parade and participating. They fill swimming pools and clean chimneys. Since COVID-19’s arrival, they have been the life of the drive-by party for birthdays in the community. But please don't call them if the cat is up a tree.
It has always been a pleasure for our club to work with the Waterbury Fire Department. Our Club was delighted to make this $1,000 donation in the department's name.
Fire Chief Gary Dillon accepted the honor and thanked the Rotary members for the recognition of the department’s contributions. “On behalf of our entire department, I thank you for the donation in our name and thank you for all the Rotary does for Waterbury. We greatly appreciate it but would be remiss to not acknowledge that you certainly help make our community a better place to live and work,” Dillon said.
Tami Bass is the past president of the Waterbury Rotary Club.