Jerry Friedrich: Citrus rancher honored with Paul Harris Fellowship
March 13, 2013
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Citrus rancher Jerry Friedrich hasn’t been a member of the Santa Paula Rotary Club for long, but it’s been long enough for him to garner recognition for his Service Above Self.
Friedrich, a Rotarian since 2010, was honored with a Paul Harris Fellowship at the March 4 club meeting held at the historic Glen Tavern Inn. Rotary International Foundation Chair Pamela Lindsay presented the award to Friedrich, who joined the club at the urging of his friend Dudley Davis.
The Rotary Foundation is the source of success for many communities and people around the world by offering matching grants for programs and activities. “The foundation and its donations are not only used around the world, but here also” for programs such as the Rotary/Women Economic Ventures Micro-Loan Program that Lindsay said will benefit Ventura County women.
Friedrich has shown his dedication to service at home - he has been a volunteer for Moonlight at the Ranch among other activities - and abroad through the foundation donation that will benefit the Annual Program Fund, Polio Plus or the Humanitarian Grants Program. Lindsay presented Friedrich with the special Paul Harris Fellow certificate, pin and gold medallion on a blue and gold ribbon, the official Rotary colors.
A Santa Clara High School graduate who operates the citrus ranch located west of the city with his wife Debbie, Friedrich’s hobbies include restoring vintage racecars and hotrods, and playing baseball with his grandson.
There are now about one million men and women from all walks of life who have been recognized with Paul Harris Fellowships for their help in making life better for people they will never meet.
Named for the lawyer who founded Rotary International in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, the Paul Harris Fellowship recognition was established in 1957 to express the Rotary Foundation’s appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, international scholarships. Since then, the Foundation has added a number of educational and humanitarian programs supported by generous contributions from around the world.
By far, the largest numbers of Paul Harris Fellowships are Rotarians devoted to the purposes of The Rotary Foundation. Many more contributions are made in the names of Rotary family members. Rotary districts and clubs also use the recognition as a way of paying their respects to local, national or world leaders who have demonstrated commitment to the goals and purposes of the Foundation.
Additionally, individual Rotary clubs - including Santa Paula - from time to time honor individuals as Paul Harris Fellows. These honorees are individuals who meet high professional and personal standards set forth by Paul Harris. Paul Harris recognition is not limited to Rotarians.
