The Brunswick Rotary Club was pleased to recognize community volunteer and advocate, David Knight, by naming him as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow at the Club’s weekly meeting on Monday, May 3. Mr. Knight has been a stalwart advocate and supporter of the Brunswick community for many years and in several different ways.
 
He has been active with the Brunswick Downtown Association since 2007, serving as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for multiple years, and now serves as an Honorary Member. He was recognized as the association’s annual “Volunteer of the Year” in 2019.
 
Mr. Knight has served on the Development Committee of People Plus since 2004. He educated board members on the importance of fundraising and its role in the organization's long-term sustainability. He has remained active in ensuring the financial viability of the organization and the critical services it provides our community.
 
In recent years he has served as a member of the Nathaniel Davis Fund Committee for the Town of Brunswick. The Nathaniel Davis Fund derives its income from a bequest made to the town by Samuel Gross Davis in memory of his father, Nathaniel Davis. Nathaniel Davis was born in 1791, “a substantial and useful citizen, the proprietor of a stationery store on Mason Street from 1825 until he died in 1866.” The income from this bequest is used annually for the “pleasure of its inhabitants as the government of Brunswick of that year shall decide.” Members of the Davis Fund Committee are responsible for recommending projects to the Town Council and meets with representatives of each organization requesting funds.  
 
And last, but certainly not least, Mr. Knight served on the Organizing Committee for the Brunswick Veteran’s Plaza from 2018 through 2020. Once again, he was instrumental in helping yet another local committee reach its fundraising goal, in this case approximately a half-million dollars, that led to the construction and dedication of a beautiful Veterans Plaza located at the northern tip of Brunswick's beloved Downtown Mall. The plaza recognizes and pays tribute to all who have served our military over the course of our country's history. 
 
David Knight is an outstanding example of Rotary’s motto of “Service before Self” and the Brunswick Rotary Club is pleased to present him with the Paul Harris Fellow award in recognition of his significant contribution to our community. 
 
In addition to Mr. Knight, nine other Paul Harris Fellow awards were presented at the Club’s regular weekly meeting on May 3. Other recipients included Steve Baldwin*, Larry Bernstein, Lennie Burke, Allison Chapman, Curt Dale Clark, Don Kniseley*, Dick Morrell*, Dee Perry, and Jerry Reese. (“*” donates second-time recipients.)
 
About the Paul Harris Recognition Award 
 
Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. After setting up his law practice in Chicago, Harris gathered several business associates to discuss the idea of forming an organization for local professionals. He envisioned a place where professionals of diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships, and Rotary was formed in 1905. At the 1917 convention, outgoing Rotary President Arch Klumph proposed setting up an endowment “to do good in the world.” That one idea, and an initial contribution of $26.50, set in motion a powerful force that has transformed millions of lives around the globe, The Rotary Foundation.