The Rotary Club of Ankeny is now one month from completing 50 years of service to the Ankeny Community and will be celebrating with a gala on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the FFA Enrichment Center. Here is some history of the Rotary Club of Ankeny's "Rotarian of The Year":
During the Board meeting on September 2, 1980, Ben Norman proposed a plan to recognize one outstanding member of the Club each year as the "Rotarian of the Year". He said this should help to develop a spirit of closeness internally and good public relations externally. In 1981, Milt Anun was recognized as the Club's first recipient of this award. It was felt it was only right to recognize him for all he did to get the Rotary Club of Ankeny chartered and having served as the first President of the Club. He was also made him the Club's first Paul Harris Fellow.
Each year since 1981, the Club has recognized a member as the Rotarian of the Year and in four years, two members have been recognized as co-recipients. A total of 46 Rotarians have been recognized. Twenty-two of these recipients are still members of the Club today. Only one member has been recognized twice, Gerry Bair in 1995 and again in 2005.
