F.S. "Matty" Mathewson Rotarian of the Year Award

Nominations for the F.S. "Matty" Mathewson Rotarian of the Year Award

In 1982, District 7510 established this award to recognize and honor those Rotarians in the district who have, over a period of time, best exemplified Rotary’s motto of "Service Above Self" and earning this award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Rotarian by our District.

Without exception, every Rotary Club in our District has the opportunity to nominate a member who is worthy of this honor. A committee appointed by the District Governor will meet and select the Rotarian to receive this distinguished award which will be presented at the District Conference in the spring of each year. The committee will make their decision based upon, but not limited to the following:

1. Rotary Club Offices/Positions/Activities
2. District Offices/Positions/Activities
3. International Offices/Positions/Activities
4. Service to the Community
5. Honors and/or Awards received
6. Other important data that is submitted

• Each nominee must have held Rotary membership for at least ten (10) years, have the approval of their Rotary Club’s Board of Directors and the nomination form must be signed by the Club President.
• Past District Governors, current and nominated District Governors and Honorary members are not eligible for this award. (Please see the enclosed Resolution 96- 1 for more specifics regarding eligibility.)
• Please note that all nominations must be submitted no later than December 31st.

CLICK HERE to download the rules, requirements and form
for nominating someone from your Rotary club.

Rotarian of the Year Award In Recognition of Rotarians who have best exemplified "Service Above Self"

The 2007-2008 Rotarian of the Year Award

Every year Rotary District 7510 selects one Rotarian to receive the highest award we give to one of our own.

Named the F.S. “Matty” Mathewson Rotarian of the Year award, the honor is presented to the Rotarian who best exemplifies the motto “Service Above Self,” both as a well rounded Rotarian and as someone who transforms lives outside of Rotary. Past recipients in the audience please rise and will the selection committee members join me to present this year’s award.

Matty Mathewson, a member of the Rotary Club of Plainfield, was District Governor in 1947-48, and was the award’s first recipient in 1982. Nominees today must be a Rotarian in good standing for a minimum of ten years, but not have served as a district governor. Their club president and secretary must submit a signed application by the December 31st deadline. A committee of past recipients reviews their credentials and selects the person who will receive this honor at the annual district conference. A Paul Harris Fellow recognition also accompanies presentation of the Rotarian of Year award.

This year, our district’s highest honor goes to a Rotarian who is a charter member of his Rotary club member and received his club’s first Paul Harris Fellow recognition. First a member of the Rotary Club of North Hunterdon, he served as president of his new club during its formative years in the 1990s and for a second term in 2004-2005.

Both at the club and at the district level he has concentrated on international activities hosting two group study exchange members in his home as well as traveling four times to a small village in Ecuador where he helped to build a community center, dug ditches for a village wide septic system, upgraded homes from bamboo walls to block construction and established two community vegetable gardens. He is the 2008 project manager planning work goals for the Homes of Hope trip this coming June.

At home, our recipient has coached Little League baseball, served as a YMCA board member and as an American Cancer Association volunteer, leading both events and fundraising efforts. His nomination describes him as “a behind the scenes type of man who rarely accepts credit for the service he provides to his community.”

This year’s F.S. “Matty” Mathewson Rotarian of the Year recipient is employed as a financial analyst. He has two sons Steve and Michael. He is a biathlon champion who enjoys Tai Quan Do, running and kayaking. In line with this passion, he is described as “the heart and soul behind the Sprint in Clinton run.” Please join all of us in acknowledging as our 2007-2008 Rotarian of the Year, from the Rotary Club of Clinton Sunrise, Brian Fischer.