Fort Atkinson Rotary Club recognizes Nelson, Heaney

By Ryan Whisner rwhisner@dailyunion.com

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A man who never seeks the limelight, but embodies the Rotary’s ideal of “Service above Self” was
honored by the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club on Monday.
James Nelson was recognized with the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club’s Allan S. Haukom Service Above Self Award on Monday during  Fort Atkinson Rotary Club awards luncheon in the Rotary Pavilion at Rock River Park. Recognized as the senior vice president and chief financial officer of Fort HealthCare, Nelson was honored for his ongoing contributions to numerous Rotary Club projects fundraisers. Pictured above left, Nelson, accepts congratulations from club president Carla Haubenschild.

Jim Nelson, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Fort HealthCare, was presented the
Allan S. Haukom Service Above Self Award during the club’s noon picnic at the Rock River Park Rotary
Pavilion. The award is named after the late Allan S. Haukom, a 53-year Rotarian who died at age 92 in 2007. It is bestowed occasionally to honor a person who has exemplified the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self,” and who has been a model of inspiration, enrichment, and motivation for others in the club and in the entire community.  “Service above self ... three words, simple in concept but not always simple to follow through on,” 2017-18 Rotary Club President Carla Haubenschild said. “Life is busy, kids are busy, work is busy. To share your time, money and talents with others is truly a gift.” Having served the past year as president, Haubenschild said, she has come to truly value the motto and the people who live by it. “In Rotary, like any volunteer organization, your leadership skills are only as strong as the volunteers you serve with,” Haubenschild said. “For that reason, the Al Haukom Service Above Self Award is a special award, recognizing a special person and I am honored to present it.”  She said Nelson lives by the Rotary motto and always raises his hand to help. “Jim shows up,” Haubenschild said. “He shows up to meetings, shows up to projects, shows up to fundraisers.” Continuing, she noted that Nelson has shared the values of “Service Above Self” with his children, helping them learn the significance of making a difference through giving their time and helping others. Haubenschild noted that in addition to being the Fort Atkinson High School Interact Club liaison, Nelson manages the Fort Atkinson Rotary Foundation recognition points and Paul Harris Fellow awards and is an active leader in Boy Scouts of America. Illustrating Nelson’s role in the community, Haubenschild went on to cite a statement from Fort Atkinson High School teacher and Interact Club advisor Lori Warren.

“Jim Nelson serves as the liaison to the Interact Club at Fort Atkinson High School and he has
established himself as a youth mentor and true leader,” she quoted Warren as stating. “He rallied a
group of students for a service project to the Philippines that made a lasting impact on humanity and
our community.”
Warren added that Nelson demonstrates comprehensive attention to detail while fostering learning
experiences and leadership opportunities for others.
“He is affectionately known as ‘Mr. N’ to the club members,” she said.
In addition, Warren wrote in her statement that if given five minutes to speak, Nelson often will have to be redirected to the club agenda, as he is such a good public speaker.
“Jim exemplifies ‘Service Above Self’ and has shared his talents to enhance the Interact Club,” Warren said. “He is a role model for me and I look forward to collaborating with him again next year.” Concluding her own remarks, Haubenschild thanked Nelson for all he does for the Rotary Club of Fort Atkinson, the community and the world. “You are truly an example of the Rotary ideal ‘Service Above Self,’” she said. Humbled by the recognition and true to character, Nelson politely declined to offer any comment on the honor, quipping that he didn’t have I've minutes to speak. Coincidentally, he was back up at the the honor, quipping that he didn’t have five minutes to speak. Coincidentally, he was back up at the podium to present the next award. That was to Dwight Heaney, who was named the club’s 2018 Honorary Paul Harris Fellow. The highest honor an individual Rotarian can achieve, the Honorary Paul Harris Award is named for a Chicago attorney who founded Rotary International along with four other businessmen in 1905.
A Paul Harris Fellow is an individual who contributes $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation or in whose, name that amount is contributed. The Fort Atkinson club is giving $1,000 to the foundation in Heaney name as someone who exemplifies the Rotary spirit and lives the high standards set by Harris. “Each year since 1985, our Rotary Club honors a fellow Rotarian for his or her outstanding contributions to our local club and dedication to the Rotary ideals by making a $1,000 donation to the Rotary Foundation on their behalf and naming them an ‘Honorary Paul Harris Fellow,’” Nelson said. “It is considered to be one of the highest honors bestowed by our club.” He said Heaney has been Rotarian for 10 years and a member of the Fort Atkinson club since 2013, serving on the board and as president. Heaney also has participated in the Rotary Friendship Exchange, has been active as the Interact Club liaison and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. He added that Heaney now is volunteering his time at the district level to help lead the Rotary district’s
Foundation Committee.
“Dwight Heaney is making a difference as he embraces the spirit of Rotary,” Nelson said. “He has been
committed to the fundamental principles of Rotary and has been willing and able to consistently
devote the time and energy it takes to keep our club vital and to make a difference in our community
and beyond. In recognition of his consistent and signicant contributions to our club, our district and
our international Rotary friends, I am honored to present Dwight Heaney with the 2018 Honorary
Paul Harris Fellow.”
Also on Monday, eight Fort Atkinson Rotarians — Mike Bender, Bill Camplin, Robert Cheek, Jim
Fitzpatrick, Heaney, John McIntyre, Nelson, Lisa Patefield and Ardell Wiederhoeft were recognized as
Multiple Paul Harris Fellows. Each has contributed a minimum $100 annually, for a total of $1,000, to
the Rotary International Foundation for multiple years.
Five Rotarians — Lynn Brown, Haubenschild, Robert Jonas, James Noel and Pam Severson — were
honored as first-time Paul Harris Fellows.
Nelson noted that of the current 45 active members, 32 — or 71 percent — have supported the ideals
of Rotary by making contributions to the Rotary Foundation.
Twenty-two members were recognized as sustaining Paul Harris Fellows, those who have contributed
at least $100 this past year: Mary Behling, Bender, Edwin Bos, Brown, Bill Camplin, Cheek, Carrie
Chisholm, Fitzpatrick, Haubenschild, Heaney, Jonas, McIntyre, Nelson, Chris Nevermann, James Noel,
Patefield, Severson, Christine Spangler, Nettie Toeller, Matt Trebatoski, Lisa Tuttle-Woods and
Wiederhoeft.
“Becoming a Paul Harris Fellow is a journey, not a destination,” Nelson said. “Those who become Paul
Harris Fellows are asked to continue supporting the Rotary Foundation in the pursuit of world peace
and understanding.

“Your contributions to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International are providing life for people in
need, improving living conditions and providing educational opportunities for young people
somewhere in the world, and demonstrate your commitment to our common goals of world
understanding and peace,” Nelson added.
Also during the program, Haubenschild also highlighted the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club’s Interact Club
at Fort Atkinson High School, recognizing club members Holland Foelker and Faith Fletcher with
Rotary citations.
“I can con􀃗dently say that Interact is one of the most involved and active clubs at the high school,” she
said. “It is a club designed to help students develop leadership skills while getting a better
understanding of Rotary’s motto, ‘Service Above Self.’ The students get to connect and network with
leaders in our community and our club to make positive changes around the community and the
world.”
This past year, the club was led by Holland Foelker, daughter of Rotarian Kim Foelker.
Haubenschild said the Interact students held a pancake breakfast to support their trip to the
Philippines, where they assisted in sponsoring a solar project at the Mararison Island school. Also, the
students organized a school supply collection to deliver to students in the Philippines.
“From what I understand, this was no easy task,” she said. “They had to travel with the items through
airports, land and sea, and carry over 400 items up the mountain to the school.”
Also, the Rotary Club president said, the Interact Club sent two sophomores to the Rotary Youth
Leadership Awards, which is an an intensive leadership experience where students learn to build communication and problem-solving skills.
Additionally, the Interact members invite the foreign-exchange students to be a part of the club. As a
way to learn more about the world and different cultures, the foreign-exchange students each present
on their home country.
“Based on all of their activity, the Rotary Club of Fort Atkinson would like to present Holland Foelker
and Faith Fletcher with these Rotary citations, which acknowledges their dedication to ‘Service Above
Self.’ Thank you for your leadership to your club and efforts to make your community and world a
better place. You have really made a difference,” Haubenschild said.

It was noted that Holland Foelker has indicated she intends to join the Rotaract Club, the college
version of Rotary, at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville this fall.
The picnic also served to recognize members who had devoted years of service to the club: Joel Winn,
45 years; Bos and Tuttle-Woods, 10 years each; and James Berndsen, Dan Halvorsen, Heaney and
Jonas, five years each.

Lastly, incoming 2018-19 Rotary President Taylor Smithyman presented Haubenschild with a gavel
plaque in recognition of her year as club president.