–presented by James Tye on October 2, 2024
Our Member Recruitment Team continues to encourage all of us to think about individuals in our circle of friends, work colleagues and family members who would make good additions to our Rotary Club.
The committee created an award in 2014 to recognize a member who is excelling at sponsoring new members into our club. The award is named after Rotarian Mitch Javid Award as a way to honor him for holding the club’s record for sponsoring the highest number of new members. We annually recognize the member who has served as the primary sponsor to the most new members for the past 3 years–and who are still in our club.
Mitch Javid was a member our club from 1968 until his death in 2021. Mitch sponsored 56 members and co-sponsored another 10 members. This distinguished and very busy member who was chairman of the UW Department of Neurosurgery said, “I love Rotary. It is very dear to me. I believe in it and so I want to share it with other good people.”
This year’s recipient is long-time member and past president Susan Schmitz who continues to be a champion of our club and promoting membership and has received this award three times previously since 2014.
Susan has been part of our Rotary Club since 1989 and retired in 2018 from Downtown Madison, Inc. She was our club president in 1995-96 and continues to be incredibly active in our club. She has served as our Member Experience Team Leader since 2022. She also serves as our fellowship group coordinator among a number of other continuing committee roles
Susan has served as the primary sponsor to 10 new members since 2021: Dave Bornstein, Chris Campbell, Kyle Geissler, Mark Guthier, Eric Krieghoff, Erin McCombs. Rich Oliver, Paul Rider, Peter Welch and Lindsey Yoder.
Congratulations, Susan, on receiving this year’s Mitch Javid Award!
Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin 