Ross named Rotary’s 2017 Paul Harris Fellow

Lawrence tells the Roatary members and guests that he did not understand until that moment just what becoming a Paul Harris Fellow really meant.

“Ross is the real deal,” Greg Hoffman said during Thursday’s recognition of Ross Lawrence as the Nevada Rotary Club’s 2017 Paul Harris Fellow.

“There is no question about it. He’s authentic, he’s genuine, he’s passionate. When he gets involved in something like Rotary or United Way or whatever it is he doesn’t just join. He looks for opportunities to improve it and make a difference and he does and has and anybody who works with him sees that,” Hoffman said.

“When I hired Ross we almost knew he was going to be my successor plan,” he said, adding that Ross is the perfect fit.

Fellow Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow Jeremy Fast congratulates a surprised Ross Lawrence on his selection as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Hoffman said that when he realized he was holding Lawrence back, he had to get out of his road.

“I strongly suggest you watch this young man carefully because his journey is just beginning.

Carol Branham, who chaired the Paul Harris committee for the Nevada Rotary Club, said the presentation of the Paul Harris Fellow is the Rotary Foundation’s way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational purpose.

“It is named for our founder, Paul Harris a Chicago lawyer who formed Rotary International with his associates in 1925,” Branham said.

She said that is because of gifts like the one the Nevada Rotary Club made in Lawrence’s honor that Rotary Foundation is able to carry out “an array of programs that achieve beneficial changes throughout our world, which include improved living conditions, increased food production, better education, wider availability of treatment for the sick and disabled, new channels for the flow of international understanding and brighter hope for peace throughout the world.”

Jennifer Gundy, the 2016 Nevada Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow and past president, said she and Ross Lawrence joined Rotary at the same time and they have become good friends since then.

“Ross and I have been a team for quite a while. I greatly respect Ross, and am proud to be friends with him,” Gundy said.

When she thinks of Ross, Gundy said three words come to mind.

• Ambition — Having a strong desire for success. “Who else would ever think to bring NASA to Nevada Rotary, and think that you could actually accomplish bringing NASA to Nevada Rotary,” she said.

• Passionate — That is an intense enthusiasm. “Ross has so much passion with everything that he does, from his business to the Choices Program he brought to our local middle school students.

• Service driven — As Rotarians, obviously that is what we are about and Ross has always been ready to give of himself to serve others in whatever capacity he is needed, through the fireside chats and the flag program and in everything that we do,” she said.

“I just truly appreciate him as a colleague, as a friend and now as a Paul Harris Fellow. Congratulations,” Gundy said.

Wes Knell, who was representing the Nevada-Vernon County Chamber of Commerce, said he has come to know Lawrence while serving on several boards with him. Currently, they are both on the chamber of commerce and United Way boards of directors.

Knell said the United Way board meets quarterly, but Ross was not content to just go to the meeting.

“He went ahead and did Stuff the Bus for people to donate school items. That’s another example of his not just showing up to meetings, but going above and beyond,” Knell said