District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us. This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey. Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group. For the month of June the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Charlie Von Rueden, Rotary Club of Camarillo. In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Charlie will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
Charlie Von Rueden joined the Rotary Club of Camarillo in 2003 and was soon serving on the Board of Directors. In various positions he was able to make changes that would become beneficial as the club continued to grow, including accounting and bookkeeping procedures. Throughout the next seven years he received many awards including a Paul Harris Fellow, a Paul Harris for Rotarian of the Year and the Club President’s Award. By 2010 Charlie felt it was time to step off the board and allow some fresh changes to the Board of Directors. But the incoming President felt otherwise and created a new position of Vice President, which would be a position that would act as a source to help in the transition for the new President. Charlie was so successful that other President’s kept him in that role to create continuity for the club and its processes. Finally, in 2016, Charlie accepted the position of President and implemented new changes that resulted in the largest number of new members joining the club and the creation of Corporate and Family memberships. He also learned more about Rotary Foundation and how club members were unaware of their saved-up points. This resulted in 12 Paul Harris Awards given to deserving Rotarians family or friends. Charlie was not done serving and DG Savi Bhim knew that when she asked him to be her Assistant Governor. Charlie saw the challenges that came with that AG position and as a Past Club President, genuinely appreciated the professional yet kind nature that lives within Rotary and all the presidents. He was able to take advantage of the tools that the District provided to assist other clubs with speakers for the avenues of service and always kept his monthly Presidents meeting interesting and lively. The friendships that developed in just one year was the greatest reward for Charlie. Achieving the Rotarian of Action is a sincere honor for a man who truly exemplifies “Service Above Self” for more than 17 years.