The Rotary Club of Newton has awarded David Sellers, Executive Director of the John M. Barry Boys and Girls Club of Newton, with its Paul Harris Community Service Award – Rotary’s highest honor, recognizing outstanding contributions to the community. Sellers received the award Tuesday night at the club’s Installation and Award Ceremony at the Scandinavian Living Center. The event also marked the club’s 100th anniversary and installation of Liz Tavares as President.
Sellers has been the Executive Director at the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club for the past 13 years and through his work has played a key role in helping to address key issues affecting young people. He serves on the nonprofit committee of the Charles River Chamber of Commerce and the board of Newton Rotary.
Sellers, in his brief remarks accepting the award credited having “the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of giants” –citing Tom Keery, Dick Hardaway, Paul Kerrissey, and Tony Bibbo. “When you’re around such positivity, such great leaders, you can’t help but have it rub off,” he said. He also acknowledged Jack Fucci and Susan Paley as people getting things done today, and he advised the audience to “find your niche, see what has to be done, and make it happen.”
Outgoing Rotary President Andy Willinger said of Sellers in nominating him: “His dedication to all the kids of our community is a model of caring and providing. We saw this so clearly during the depth of the pandemic, when he turned his club into a safe haven for kids to get their remote education, and a distribution center for families in need of food. This continued with his central role in Nourishing Newton. I’m proud that Dave is an active member of our Rotary Club, and it would be our honor to bestow this recognition on him.”
Last year, the Paul Harris Award was presented to Greg Reibman, president of the Charles River Regional Chamber, for his work on the Nourishing Newton project.
In celebration of the club’s 100th anniversary, Tom Keery, a long-time Rotary member, ran through a presentation of the history of the club, which came into being in 1923 with the roster of local businessmen below. Only one representative from each profession was allowed in the early years of the club. The list below shows the unusual representative professions of the era in 1923 Newton.
The group cheered when this history arrived at the inclusion of women 35 years ago in 1987 after a Supreme Court case by a local rotary club that had included woman forced a change in the international organization’s policy.
Liz Tavares, an attorney and realtor with Jay Nuss Realty Group, was installed by past President Sue Peghiny as Rotary Club President for 2023-2024. In looking to the future Tavares said “as president my goal is to continue to build on the great work that our club has already accomplished. I want to encourage the members to bring their unique talents and skills to the table so that we can work together to serve the folks in need and make meaningful change in the community.”
Event slideshow:
Ed. Note: Jack Prior is a Director of the Rotary Club of Newton.
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