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Community Corner

Enfield Rotary Club Names Linda Bridge, Lori Gates and Jennifer Smith as 2014 Paul Harris Fellowship Recipients

The Enfield Rotary Club has named Linda Bridge, Lori Gates and  Jennifer Smith as this year’s Paul Harris Fellowship recipients. The award is named for Paul Harris, founder of Rotary International and honors those who serve the community.

Linda Bridge was associated with the Enfield Food Shelf from 2002 to 2012 as a volunteer, then President and Executive Director. Linda was a hands-on leader who did everything from stocking shelves, serving clients, creating awareness and raising numerous donations during difficult times.

Lori Gates from Enfield Hooah! is a tireless supporter of service men and women from Enfield and surrounding towns who are serving, or have served, in our nation’s armed forces. From sending care packages to welcoming our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen home, to helping families through new or repeat deployments. In addition, Lori has dedicated her life to assisting military members and their families. 

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Jennifer Smith, a member of the Enfield Rotary club since 2008, launched the inaugural Cinco K Mayo Road Race. Her involvement was critical to the success of the first and successive events. Jen’s dedication to the Enfield Rotary Club was evident from her willingness to serve as Secretary, put her name into the succession plan for President, as well as establishing the 4-Way Test Essay Scholarship program. In addition, Jen volunteered at virtually all of the Club’s functions and events and shared her talent for improving events, generating larger attendance numbers and engaging members in volunteer roles.

An additional Paul Harris Fellowship, through an individual donation, is being awarded to Shannon Grant. Shannon Grant is President of EFEE, Enfield Foundation for Excellence in Education, and the driving force behind Enfield’s recent Invention Convention, which returned to Enfield for the first time in over a decade.

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A donation in the amount of $1,000 is made by the local club or an individual to the Rotary Foundation in the name of each Paul Harris Fellow. These funds help support the Foundation’s educational and humanitarian programs around the world.

Family and friends of this year’s recipients are invited and encouraged to attend the Foundation and Awards Dinner banquet on Friday, May 16, at the Holiday Inn in Enfield. A social hour begins at 6 p.m.; dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The cost is $30 per person. 

For ticket information, please contact Ed Palomba at 860-741-4395 or any Enfield Rotarian.  

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