Fort Rotary names Foelker Honorary Paul Harris Fellow

By Chris Spangler

A woman who never says no when the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club needs volunteers was honored by the civic organization on Monday.

Kim Foelker was named an Honorary Paul Harris Fellow when the Rotarians gathered for their annual awards picnic at the Rock River Park’s Rotary Pavilion.

In presenting the award, Dwight Heaney, a past-president of the club, noted that the Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and alleviation of poverty. 

A contribution or contributions totaling $1,000 is recognized by awarding a Paul Harris Fellow to the donor. 

“Each year, since 1985, our Rotary Club makes a $1,000 contribution to the Rotary Foundation and designates the Paul Harris Fellow recognition to someone whose service to our club and community exemplify the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self,’” Heaney said.

“This year’s Honorary Paul Harris Fellow recipient, Kim Foelker, has faithfully participated in many aspects of club leadership over the years,” he added.

Heaney noted that Foelker has served on the Rotary Club’s board of directors. 

“Her contributions to the board discussions always aligned with her personal and Rotary values,” Heaney said. “She was mindful about the impact of board decisions on individual members. Kim was also an advocate for recognizing the service contributions of other Rotarians.”

He pointed out that Foelker also served as the first full-time liaison to the Fort Atkinson High School Interact Club. 

“Her passion for Rotary translated into her own daughters’ participation in Interact,” Heaney said. “With that connection, she helped establish an ongoing relationship of shared service between our Rotary Club and the Interactors at Fort High School.” 

Daughter Holland Foelker went on to be a co-founder of a Rotaract Club at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, which actively engaged in service projects with Rotarians in the Philippines, Heaney said.

“That makes Kim an outstanding Rotary mom as well!” Heaney said.

He said that Foelker volunteered to chair the club’s Raffle Committee and, during her tenure, has overseen numerous updates to the event to be more easily managed and take advantage of technology where possible. 

“With the guidance of Kim and her committee, the raffle meets or exceeds expectations for participation and net proceeds, even during the pandemic,” Heaney said.

He added that her Fort Atkinson Real Estate office offers a convenient spot to buy tickets and drop off prizes, and her staff is very helpful if she is away with a client.

Foelker also has volunteered for other club projects, as well.

“Kim Foelker embodies the spirit of service to improve lives in our community and around the world,” Heaney concluded. “It is an honor and pleasure to present Kim Foelker with an Honorary Paul Harris Fellow in recognition for her generous Rotary Service through our Club.”

Also during the program, six members were recognized as Multiple Paul Harris Fellows for contributing another $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation the past year.

They include John McIntyre, Jim Nelson, Ardell Wiederhoeft, Pam Severson, Christine Spangler and Mike Wallace.

Contributing Paul Harris Fellows giving at least $100 to the foundation this past year were Mike Bender, Bob Cheek, Edwin Bos, Carrie Chisholm, Kim Foelker, Jim Fitzpatrick, Dwight Heaney, Pam Severson, Paul Johnsen, John McIntyre, Jim Nelson, Ardell Wiederhoeft, Christine Spangler, Lisa Tuttle Woods and Mike Wallace.

“Individuals in our club have contributed over $164,000 to the Rotary Foundation,” Nelson said, adding that throughout the years, 71 percent members have been donors. “Fifteen of them have been sustaining members, 23 or a little over half of our membership are Paul Harris Fellows.”

Also Monday, Rotarians recognized for years of service were Pam Severson and Taylor Smithyman, both five years; Paul Johnson, 10 years in Fort Atkinson (along with  a total 13 years as a Rotarian in Superior, Kaukauna and Hartford); Carla Haubenschild, 10 years in 2020; and Mike Wallace, 15 years. 

It was mentioned that the top three longest members are Bob Martin, 52 years; Joel Winn, 48 years; and Brad Wilcox, 46 years.

Jim Nelson was applauded for perfect “virtual attendance” at the club’s Zoom meetings due to the coronavirus pandemic the past year, with Bob Cheek in a close second.

Nelson recognized the Fort Atkinson High School Interact Club, Co-President Eli Koehler and adviser Lori Warren, who were in attendance. He noted that Koehler soon will be undergoing basic training for the Wisconsin National Guard.

The Rotarians also thanked Carl Selvick for his service as club president the past year, presenting him with a past-president’s gavel plaque. 

Selvick shared that many people have said to him that it must have been an extremely difficult year serving as club president during a pandemic. 

“But it actually was not a hard year at all,” he said. “It was actually a joy. Not because of anything that I did or any of my leadership capabilities, but, rather, because of all of you.”

He thanked the leadership team: Past-President Paul Johnsen; President-elect Margaret Bare; President-elect nominee Jeff Okazaki; Treasurer James Berndsen; Secretary John McIntyre; Board of directors members Pam Severson, Nettie Toeller, Ardell Wiederhoeft, Bill Camplin and Lisa Tuttle Woods; Rotary Foundation Chair and Youth Protection Officer James Nelson; Exchange Officers Jill Kessenich and Bob Cheek; and Public Relations Officer Christine Spangler.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me the privilege to serve you,” Selvick said. “I went into this year of using this presidency year to come closer to a person who leads with the motto of ‘Service Above Self,’ both in my actions and in my heart. 

“I leave this year really humbled and impressed by what I’ve learned from all of you trough your words and actions,” he added. “I honestly meant what I said: It’s been a joy to have been leading this past year. As tough as this year was for our club and our community and our world, I hope that being a Rotarian this past year has instilled a sense of belonging, compassion and kindness for all of you, because it certainly has for me.”