ROBERTSDALE, Alabama -- The Robertsdale Rotary Club handed out awards and named officers for 2013-14 at its annual meeting held Thursday, June 20 in the multipurpose building at Alfa Insurance in Robertsdale.

About 40 club members and guests attended the event. Doug Byrd was named Rotarian of the Year for 2012-13.

“We went through a time where we needed to restructure the way we were handing our fundraising,” said 2012-13 Rotary Club President Linda Buck. “He really stepped up and helped when we needed to get going in the right direction.”

Rotarian of the Year is voted on by the members of the club. Three Paul Harris Fellow awards for 2012-13, also voted on by members of the club, were announced at Thursday’s meeting.

They are Bryan Chandler, Carl Davis and Dennis Young.

According to rotary.org, the Paul Harris Fellow is named after the club’s founder and is given to “individuals who meet high professional and personal standards set for by Paul Harris.”

A $1,000 donation is given by the Robertsdale Rotary Club in the name of each individual. Paul Harris Fellow awards are also given to individuals who have contributed more than $1,000 to the Annual Program Fund, the Polio Plus Fund or the Humanitarian Grants Program of the Rotary Foundation.

A Paul Harris Fellow receives a special certificate and a gold pin. At the discretion of the Fellow’s club, the Fellow may also receive a gold medallion on a blue-and-gold ribbon.

Paul Harris recognition is not limited to Rotarians and the Robertsdale Rotary Club will also award two additional Paul Harris Fellow awards this year to members of the community who are not members of the Rotary Club. Those awards will be announced at a later date.

The Rotary Club also handed out service awards, awards for perfect attendance and recognized  2012 and 2013 directors for both the board and the Rotary Foundation Board.

Nine Rotary Club members received recognition for perfect attendance in 2012. They are Doug Byrd, Bryan Chandler, Dr. Keith Cooper, Margaret Cooper, Carl Davis, Sylvia Mattingly, Chad Thomas, Dennis Young and Linda Buck.

Foundation Board members for 2012-13, who have also agreed to serve in 2013-14, are Doug Byrd, Charles Murphy, Sylvia Mattingly, Leanne Murray and directors Ruthie Campbell, Shawn McClay and Darin Neushwander.

Buck will serve on the Board for 2013-14 as past president. Dennis Young, who served as vice president for 2012-13, will serve as president for 2013-14. Chad Thomas served as treasurer for 2012-13, will serve as vice president. Bryan Chandler served as secretary for 2012-13 and will serve as treasurer in 2013-14. Jeff Plato will serve as secretary for 2013-14.

Board members for 2012-13 who will serve again in 2013-14 are Margaret Cooper and Jessica Doughan, along with new Board member Howard Harper. Ruthie Campbell, who served as past president of the Board in 2012-13, will be moving off the Board for 2013-14.

The Robertsdale Rotary Club is a member of Rotary International which boasts 34,000 clubs worldwide and operates by the credo of “Service above self,” and under the motto of the 4-way test, “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? And Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

Each year the Rotary Club sponsors its largest fundraiser, the annual PCA Championship Rodeo in March at the Baldwin County Coliseum Fairgrounds Arena. 2013 marked the 14th annual event in Robertsdale.

The Robertsdale Rotary Club, through the Robertsdale Rotary Foundation, also sponsors the annual Lulu’s Hot Trot for ARC held in June at Lulu’s Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores. The 5K run, race walk and 1-mile fun run benefits the Association for Retarded Citizens of Baldwin County.

Last year the Club donated funds to youth baseball, basketball and t-ball leagues;  school lunch program and several other school projects; high school football team; youth outreach programs; hospice programs; Central Baldwin Education Foundation; the Pride Scholarship and Huey Mack Scholarship for two local students; and donated funds to the local Veteran’s Home.

Locally the club meets at noon every Tuesday at Mama Lou’s Restaurant on Pine Street in Robertsdale.