Two local Rotarians receive top award
Advertiser Staff
Two Hawai'i Rotarians were honored yesterday with "Service Above Self" awards, given to only 150 of the world's 1.2 million Rotarians each year.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
The award winners were: Elsie Choi of East Honolulu, whose many volunteer works included traveling to Thailand where she taught English to rural children and obtained grants to better equip rural clinics, and Bob Deibler of Pearl Harbor who, as a past district governor, reopened the People's Republic of China to Rotary and lead Rotary relief efforts after Hurricane Iniki.
Rotary International president-elect Rick King climbs the stairs at the Ihilani Resort and Spa after the civic group's convention.
Rick King, president-elect of Rotary International, presented the awards yesterday during the Rotary District 5000 Conference, held at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa. King, an attorney from California, takes office in July, leading 1.2 million Rotarians in 163 countries.
Linda Coble, district 5000 governor, said the district includes all 38 Rotary clubs throughout the state, with more than 2,100 members in Hawai'i. Governor-elect Hal Darcey succeeds Coble in July.
