Rotary Club of LaFayette awards banquet
The Rotary Club of LaFayette held its 2017 awards banquet on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at the LaFayette Housing Authority’s Community Room.
The annual banquet honors members for their dedication and commitment to the Rotary Club and the community at large.
This year the Non Rotarian award named The LaFayette Rotary Club Vocational Service Award was given to LaFayette City Manager David Hamilton. The Vocational Service Award recognizes a non-Rotarian in the community who excels in his or her occupation and embodies the values and principles that exemplify the spirit of Rotary especially service above self and a commitment to high ethical standards.
Hamilton grew up on a farm outside of LaFayette, graduated from LaFayette High School and earned a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech. Hamilton worked at GE and Rexnord Industries and when asked to leave his corporate career to serve his hometown of LaFayette he answered the call.
“We are proud to acknowledge the dedication and work of our new city manager,” Rotary President Ty Willeford said.
The club honored two of its members with prestigious awards. The W.Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational Excellence was awarded to Ruth Bass. This award recognizes a Rotarian who has made outstanding achievements in his/ her vocation, in the community, and in academics.
Bass,executive director of the LaFayette Housing Authority, has devoted more than 30 years to assuring that lowincoming housing is available to residents. She has expanded housing to 300 apartments and increased client services through new construction and reconfiguration. In addition, Bass is an active church member, library volunteers, and a founding member of the local chapter of a national service sorority.
The club also awarded the Robert S. Stubbs 11 Guardian of Ethics Award to Rotary member, Carter Brown. This award is given to a Rotarian who has made outstanding contributions to foster the development of ethics, has made significant contributions in his or her vocation, and who has by his or her actions, writing, policies, and pronouncements strengthened and fostered the development of ethics practices. Brown is serving in his 9th year as Clerk of Superior Court of Walker County. He also manages the trial juries for the Superior and State Courts and the Grand Jury selection process for Superior Court. Brown says he believes the ethics is defined by a set of standards to be met and a promise to be kept.
Bass and Brown will now compete in their categories at the District Level.