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Donna Thomas receives 2022 Paul Harris Fellow award
After two previous postponements due to inclement weather, this year's annual Paul Harris Fellow night was rescheduled for Thursday's usual noon meeting time of the Nevada Rotary Club.
During the lunch, it was announced that the 2022 Paul Harris Fellow award recipient is Donna Thomas. Each year, the Nevada Rotary Club chooses a member to honor for their time they have volunteered towards the organization, as well as for the good work they do within the community.
The award — named for the founder of Rotary International Paul Percy Harris — can be awarded one of two ways. First, it can be awarded to individuals who have contributed $1,000 or more to the Annual Program Fund, the Polio Plus Fund, or the Humanitarian Grants Program of the Rotary Foundation.
The second way to be named a Paul Harris Fellow is when individual Rotary clubs award the honor to an individual who "meets the high professional and personal standards exemplified by Paul Harris."
Thomas now has the distinction of being a Paul Harris Fellow by both of these avenues, having formerly been awarded the honor by her monetary contributions.
Thomas joined the Nevada Rotary Club in June of 1988. When she joined, she was the first woman member in the local club.
"Apparently there were three male members of Rotary that dropped out or quit attending when I came in," she stated. "It was funny because two of the three just dropped out for about three or four months and then they came back. They were used to seeing me because Barth Hinkle used to take me to Rotary at least once a month to hear a program."
"This award is very personal to me and I have always been jealous of those who have gotten it from the club," Thomas continued. "Mine came direct from Rotary International. You can get all kinds of recognition from out of town, but the ones that come from in town are the ones that count the most."
Bestowing the honor upon Thomas with a medal, pin, and certificate was last year's Paul Harris Fellow award recipient, Kendall Vickers.
Vickers noted many accomplishments and examples of Thomas' service over the years which included, but isn't limited to, having been a member of Nevada Industrial Development Council; Missouri Community Betterment Board; Nevada R-5 Board of Education (served for 12 years); Missouri Economic Development Council Board (served as President); Chamber of Commerce (Executives of Missouri Board and President); and first woman member of Nevada Rotary, among many other involvements in various organizations.
Some of Thomas' previous honors include Outstanding Young Woman of Nevada; Outstanding Young Civic Leader; Citizen of the Year; 10 Most Influential Women of Southeast Missouri; Missouri Community Betterment Ambassador; Missouri State High School Activities Association Extraordinary Service Award; DECA Honorary Lifetime Award; Chamber Pacesetter Award; and Thompson/Evans Award from the Missouri Bar (for service spanning 1990-2021).
Thomas was pleasantly surprised by family guests at the celebration, which included her daughters Kim Severance and Kristin Thomas, and grandaughter Riley Severance.
"She is someone who is always looking out for the best interest of Nevada," noted Vickers. "She exemplifies everything that Rotary stands for. I can't think of a person more deserving to receive this award than Donna. It's an award that she probably should have received a long time ago."
