Barbara Fisher was recently awarded the Jimmy Don Kent Rotarian of the Year Award for the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties from 2008-2009 Club President Laura Dent as an acknowledgment of her many contributions to the Club during the recent Rotary Year.

Fisher has been a Rotarian for more than 13 years, having been a member of the Rotary Club of Boulder, Colo. for 10 years and the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties for three years.

Fisher serves as the International Director for the local club and has been very successful “recruiting” many other club members for her international missions with Alliance for Smiles (AFS). During a mission, 80 to 120 under-served children receive surgery for cleft lip and palate anomalies. She has also been instrumental in writing matching grants through Rotary International for these missions.

Fisher has served on a total of nine missions for AFS, either as mission director or assistant mission director. She has even recruited three other Rotarians from the local club for these missions, one of whom is training to be a mission director. The passion that Fisher exudes for the families involved with every mission in which she is involved can be seen pouring out of her heart. In fact, it’s contagious every time she speaks of the children, families, and missions.

Fisher is also involved with the local Putnam County Affiliate of the Habitat for Humanity (HFF), a housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. As a volunteer for HFH, she has assisted in home builds and other volunteer efforts.

Fisher is also very active in her church, All Angels Episcopal Church in Eatonton. She assists her church in their ministry at the Putnam County Christian Outreach as well as the monthly worship singing at the local nursing home.

Fisher is an active speaker at other Rotary Clubs and churches where she presents information about the Alliance for Smiles program and Rotary. Whenever the local club has a sweat equity project, Fisher is always one of the first to sign up and participate.

Rotarian Dent stated that Fisher was most deserving to receive the Rotarian of the Year Award for the club because she truly epitomizes “Service Above Self.” She added, “I am thrilled to be able to recognize Barbara for her many efforts on behalf of the Rotary Club.”

The Rotarian of the Year award is aptly named the Jimmy (Jim) Don Kent Rotarian of the Year Award in honor of the founder of the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties. Jim Kent was a Rotarian for more than 31 years and exemplified Rotary International’s motto of Service Above Self. Jim worked tirelessly to have a Greene County Rotary Club and his efforts came to fruition when the club

received its charter on March 11, 1988.

For more information on the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties, please visit www.GreenePutnamRotary.org