- By Kelly Buck
- Around Town
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The Rotary Club of Ithaca announced Tuesday that long-time member Mary F. Berens has been named Rotarian of the Year for 2014-15. The award is given every June in honor of an active club member who exemplifies the Rotary motto of 'Service Above Self.'Mary was chosen for the honor by outgoing Rotary President Brett Bossard, who said, "The Rotarian of the Year Award (this year, also known as Plate Spinner of the Year) goes to Mary Berens for her tireless work organizing our Centennial Gala event with aplomb and managing all the many moving parts. Without her scores of volunteer hours and masterful event management skills, the event simply wouldn't have happened. Mary has been a member of the club for twenty-six years, so this recognition of her perpetual service above self was long overdue."
Berens joined the Ithaca Rotary Club in 1989. She has served on the club's board of directors, the community grants committee, and as a sponsor to Rotary Foundation fellows. She has also hosted Group Study Exchange visitors from around the world and participated in countless Rotary Club activities, including Share the Warmth, chicken barbecues, Youth Exchange Student hospitality, and Pancake Day—all while juggling a travel-intensive career in alumni affairs and development at Cornell University.
"The history, traditions and impact of Rotary International are amazing," said Berens. "Knowing that our Ithaca Rotary Club has been part of these traditions for over 100 years is a source of great pride and inspiration. Having the opportunity to work on the Club's centennial banquet and celebration was a special opportunity to share our story, 'One Hundred Years of Service Above Self,' with a wider audience. It was a great deal of fun. I'm honored to be named Rotarian of the Year by an organization for which I have the utmost respect."
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