PEOPLE OF ACTION
Home of Cowabunga
Gloriana Bednarski, nun (and sister-in-law), missions in the back-of-the-back hills of Honduras helping the women and children in a poor rural community. (The men are mostly gone, picking bananas usually, but seldom send any money home). At the mission women learn to use and raise medicinal herbs and plants and can also learn to read. Most of the women have never had the opportunity to go to school. Public schools there require the students to pay for their own books and materials and wear proper clothing and shoes, items not affordable by their families. Teaching females is not considered very important anyway. Sister’s mission has been recognized for their teaching accomplishments and their students, adults and children, can receive a certificate from the government similar to a grade school diploma. When they can, the sister’s provide money for some kids to further their education. We are very proud and honored to have Sister Gloriana Bednarski become an honorary member of our club!!
Sister Gloriana Bednarski
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
"Honorary" is one of the four types of membership a person may have in a Rotary club. This type of membership is the highest distinction a Rotary club can confer and is exercised only in exceptional cases to recognize an individual for unusual service and contributions to Rotary and society. An honorary member is elected for one year only, and continuing membership must be renewed annually.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL Code of Policies
5.010. Honorary Membership
Clubs should guard the election to honorary membership as exclusively a distinction for meritoriousservice in the furtherance of Rotary ideals and for permanent support of Rotary’s cause. Honorary membership is the highest distinction that a club may bestow and should be conferred only in exceptional cases, but may not be conferred upon an active member by the members of one’s own club. (November 2004 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 59)Source: May-July 1952 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 27;. Amended by November 2004 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 58; November 2004 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 59. Affirmed by Jan. 1963 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 92
FAMOUS HONORARY ROTARIANS
Many distinguished heads of state, explorers, authors, musicians, astronauts and other public personalities have been honorary members of Rotary clubs, including King Gustaf of Sweden, King George VI of England, King Badouin of Belgium, King Hassan III of Morocco, Sir Winston Churchill, humanitarian Albert Schweitzer, Charles Lindbergh, composer Jean Sibelius, explorer Sir Edmund Hillary, Thor Heyerdahl, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, Bob Hope, Dr. Albert Sabin, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and many of the presidents of the United States. Truly, those selected for honorary membership are those who have done much to further the ideals of Rotary.
PLACENTIA ROTARY CLUBS FIRST HONORARY MEMBER
On April 18th 2007, The Clubs first Honorary Member was proposed to the Club and like the formal ceremonial vote by the Board of Directors on May 24th 2007 was unanimously approved and accepted.