Local citizens honored at Long Neck Sunrise Rotary holiday dinner
In recognition of their outstanding community service, three Sussex County citizens were awarded honorary Paul Harris Fellows at the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club's annual holiday dinner, held Dec. 13 at the Ocean Grill II in Long Neck.
Honorees were Sen. Bryan Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown; Connie Jones, Sussex County Planning and Zoning observer; and Beth McGinn, chair, Home of the Brave. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition is a program of Rotary International's foundation, acknowledging individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. In keeping with the long tradition of supporting the foundation by honoring others, the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club used its foundation credits, along with a donation by Steve Grossman, an original founding member of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club and currently member of the Rehoboth Beach Sunrise Rotary Club, to award these three outstanding Sussex County citizens.
Grossman said, "Brian Pettyjohn, in his work as a state senator, and all his previous community efforts, has always displayed the belief of the motto of Rotary – Service Above Self – and in his daily life lives by the four-way test we recite at our weekly meetings. I am honored to be here to honor [him]." In addition to his political service, Pettyjohn serves with the Greater Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and The Chad Spicer Foundation. He has recently joined the American Heart Association Circle of Red for Men and Women, and will co-chair the inaugural First Responders Ball which will raise funds to place a CPR training kit in every high school.
Long Neck Sunrise President-elect Paulette Rappa said, "If anyone ever championed the democratic process, it would be Connie. Her work in the community to promote the core of our American values is passionate, committed and enduring." In addition to her work with Planning and Zoning, Jones has served on the League of Women Voters, the Land Use Committee and as chair of the voter registration committee.
"You know wherever there is a cause, Beth will be a champion of that cause," said Rappa. In addition to serving as chair for Home of the Brave, McGinn has been an American Legion Auxiliary member for 16 years, serving on the outreach community committee. She has recently been appointed to the Delaware Manufacturing Housing Authority.
There are now more than 1 million Paul Harris Fellows including such notable figures as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and Jonas Salk.
