The Rotary Club of Moorestown was grateful to accept a grant to honor member Will Merriken and his service to the community.
The funds were used to support the following project: rotary bench plaques for Strawbridge Lake in Moorestown, N.J. Strawbridge Lake Park is one of Moorestown’s most unique areas.
This year, our Rotary District Grant project was to purchase five park benches for Strawbridge.
The following former Rotarians were selected by a vote within the membership of our club:
Boyce Adams: Founder and President of M.E.N.D. (Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development) for 35 years and past president of the Moorestown Rotary Club.
George Honeyford: Member of the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown where he served in many capacities over the years. He was past president of the Moorestown Rotary Club and Chairman (President) of United Way.
Harry Koons: past president of the Moorestown Rotary Club, Treasurer of the Historical Society and Moorestown Community House and Moorestown Citizen of the Year in 1992.
Rev. Ralph Shockey: 1950 superintendent of the newly established Lutheran Home who recognized the need for a Lutheran church in Moorestown. On April 16, 1950, the church was formally organized. He served as past president of the Moorestown Rotary Club.
Our club also solicited nominations within the club for our annual Howard Fiala Service Above Self Award. This award is an annual award bestowed upon a club member who has best represented the ideals of Howard Fiala’s commitment to Service Above Self to the club, local and international communities.
Will Merriken was selected as this year’s Howard Fiala awardee. With this public-spirited, selfless act, Will requested that the Byrd-Leitner Family Fund grant money be utilized to commemorate other Rotarians by way of plaques on the new Strawbridge Lake Park benches.
These benches with their commemorative plaques have added a safe (outdoor) gathering spot to Strawbridge Lake visitors and will keep the Rotary name and those of our honorees in a prominent place in the community.
