Club bestows service award

From left, Rotary Club of Ocala member and Rotary Past District Governor Frank Rasbury, with the club’s 2022 Service Above Self Award honoree Barbara Fitos and club President Manal Fakhoury. Submitted photo.

The Rotary Club of Ocala on June 26 presented its 2022 Service Above Self Award to Barbara Fitos.

“Since 1957, the Rotary Club of Ocala has sought to implement its vocational service obligation to the object of Rotary by recognizing the men and women of the Ocala/Marion County community who have distinguished themselves by a caliber of service that is clearly in step with Rotary’s ‘service above self’ mantra,” noted the press release.

Each year, with few exceptions, the club has identified one, sometimes two persons, “who stand out from their peers sufficiently to be recognized by the bestowal of our Service Above Self Award,” the release stated.

The recipient is acknowledged by his or her name being engraved on the inside of a large silver bowl that serves as a “perpetual trophy” of outstanding personal service. An engraved name plate is displayed on the pedestal upon which the bowl is affixed. The bowl is kept on public display, currently at the Ewers Century Center on the Ocala campus of the College of Central Florida.

“The selection committee cast a wide net in search of suitable candidates, and this year we were fortunate to identify a very highly qualified nominee. The recipient for the year 2022 is Barbara Fitos, a community icon. She is involved in many community organizations and gives of her time and skills continuously. She makes many of our organizations better. Barbara always finds a way to say, “Yes, I will help,’” noted the release.

According to the announcement, in 2022, Fitos chaired the Ollin Women International’s International Women’s Day celebration that honors and recognizes outstanding women in the community as trailblazers, women in the arts, the sciences, education and business. She served on the executive and summit committees for Ollin Women’s inaugural peace summit the same year. Additionally, she is the author of the program scripts, which is extremely time consuming and makes an impact on the overall award presentation.

The release also noted that Fitos assumed the role of president of the Bridges Project, whose mission is to advance the cause of racial justice, equity, and inclusion. In 2022, she served on the website redesign and rebranding project in conjunction with the College of Central Florida and oversaw the creation and editing of the Bridges’ publication, “Our story – The ‘Why’ of Bridges’ Founders and Members.” Through her role with the Bridges Project, she serves as outreach liaison for the Governor’s West Neighborhood Revitalization Council, the Racial Harmony Task Force and the Juneteenth Commission, among others.

“The synergy of her community commitments continues as she assumed the chairmanship of the Public Policy Institute (PPI), which is the voice of the community on pertinent and timely issues. PPI finalized in 2022 its latest study on youth violence for publication in 2023. And, last, but not least, her passion for arts and culture is evidenced by her long-term membership with Ocala’s first arts incubator, the Magnolia Art Xchange, where she has served as treasurer and is incoming president,” the release stated.

Fitos is a former Marion County Commissioner and former executive director of the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County. She enjoyed a successful career as a banking executive.

“As evidenced by her extensive resume, her involvement and engagement with community has only enhanced in her ‘retirement,’” noted the release. “Her commitment and dedication and love of this community she has called home for the past 45 years continues to be evident in all she does in 2022 and beyond. Barbara Fitos is a true example of service above self.”

Longtime Ocala Rotary Club member and Rotary Past District Governor Frank Rasbury, who assists the club in various capacities, said that Monday’s event included the presentation of numerous awards and installations.

“She gave a very eloquent response,” he said of Fitos’ acceptance speech.

On Wednesday, Fitos wrote via email: “I am incredibly humbled and honored to be this year’s recipient. Service above self is the overarching principle of the Rotary philosophy. My own ‘giving back’ is my thank you to this community that I have called home for over four decades, and I am blessed to continue this stewardship role in retirement. And for this recognition of what has been a lifelong commitment, I am beyond grateful.”

To learn more about the Ocala Rotary Club, go to ocalarotaryclub.com