The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award
Each year, the Trustees recognize up to 50 Rotarians worldwide for their outstanding efforts on behalf of The Rotary Foundation with the Distinguished Service Award. For a Rotarian to be eligible for this prestigious award, the following criteria must be met:
- The Distinguished Service Award shall only be given for exceptional active service to The Rotary Foundation. (Thus, one who has only contributed financially, however notably, to the Foundation would not be eligible.)
- Those receiving the Distinguished Service Award shall have received the Citation for Meritorious Service at least four complete Rotary years (1 July through 30 June) before being nominated for the Distinguished Service Award. For the purpose of counting years, a citation received at any time during the year shall be assumed to have been awarded on 30 June of that Rotary year, and the nominee would be eligible to be nominated by 15 November after four additional years have been completed. For example:
A Citation for Meritorious Service received on any date during the 1996-97 Rotary year shall be assumed awarded on 30 June 1997.
30 June 1998 = 1 year completed
30 June 1999 = 2 years completed
30 June 2000 = 3 years completed
30 June 2001 = 4 years completed
The candidate is eligible for nomination on 15 November 2001.
- Nominations must include detailed information concerning nominees’ specific Foundation activities and responsibilities since they received the Citation for Meritorious Service.
- Nominations must be endorsed by the nominator and at least one other Rotarian. Either the nomination or the endorsement must be from outside the nominee's district. Current and incoming trustees are not eligible to nominate or endorse candidates for this award.
- To receive a Distinguished Service Award, the recipient's service must be broad and cover an extended period of time, including at least three of the following activities, with a substantial level of activity in the past four years:
a. Serving on a district Rotary Foundation committee or subcommittee for at least five years
b. Providing significant leadership at district or multidistrict Foundation training events (such as district assemblies or the presidents-elect training seminar)
c. Presenting Foundation programs at district or regional events (such as district conferences, Foundation seminars, or Rotary institutes)
d. Presenting Foundation programs at more than 20 club meetings within a two-year period
e. Serving as a scholar counselor or Group Study Exchange (GSE) host at least three times
f. Organizing and carrying out successful fundraising efforts at the district or multidistrict level
g. Providing significant leadership in district or multidistrict scholar and GSE team orientation
h. Serving as the designated project contact person for a successful Health, Hunger and Humanity or Matching Grant project for which a final report has been received
i. Providing substantial leadership in PolioPlus projects and activities
j. Serving as an international volunteer and receiving a Rotary Foundation Volunteer Service Grant
k. Maintaining contact with Foundation alumni and involving them in district activities
l. Participating in other special projects or activities that support the Foundation's programs and activities (must be clearly defined and described in detail by the nominator)
- If a person has received a Distinguished Service Award, he or she is not eligible to receive the same award again.
- Current and incoming trustees of The Rotary Foundation, current and incoming directors of RI, and current and incoming district governors are not eligible to receive this award.
- Nominations must be endorsed by the current governor of the nominee's district.
Step-by-step nomination procedures
A. Instructions for preparation of nomination form
Nominations are verified for eligibility at RI headquarters. Each one is individually evaluated according to the Trustees' criteria. Rotary Foundation staff members look at each nomination to determine whether enough information is included before forwarding it to the Trustees.
A new application closely follows the Trustee-approved criteria for the Distinguished Service Award. Nominations must include detailed information concerning the nominee's specific Foundation activities and responsibilities, with substantial activity in the last four years and since the nominee received the Citation for Meritorious Service. (The new form expands as you type.)
B. Acknowledgment notice for nominator
The Rotary Foundation will acknowledge receiving your nomination after it has been verified and processed, which takes about four weeks. The acknowledgment will state either that the nomination will be forwarded to the Trustees, that the Trustees need more information and specifically what is needed, or that the nomination will not be forwarded because of eligibility issues.
C. Presentation materials
If the nomination is approved by the Trustees, the nominator will receive a letter addressed to the recipient from the Trustee chair, instructions for the presentation (this award is designed to be presented at special events such as district conferences or Rotary institutes), a recognition plaque, and a suggested speech. Recipients also are recognized in The Rotarian magazine each year. Plaques for the Distinguished Service Award are all available at the same time – about eight weeks after the Trustees' January or February meeting.
If the nomination is not approved by the Trustees, you will be notified by mail.
Selection process
Nominations are verified for eligibility at RI headquarters. Each one is individually evaluated according to the Trustees' criteria.
All Distinguished Service Award nominations will be considered at the same time on a competitive basis at the Trustees' meeting in January or February. Up to 50 Distinguished Service Awards are approved by the Trustees each year, and results will not be available until after the Trustees' meeting.
Deadline: 15 November
More information
If you have questions about this award, contact Rotary Foundation staff at 847-866-3303.
Download the nomination form (Word)
Send all nominations to:
Planning and Administration Division
The Rotary Foundation
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201 USA
fax: 847-491-9364