Colorado Springs Rotary - Joe Henjum Award

Do you know of an unsung hero, one of those quiet, unselfish people who just does something that they think needs doing? We often see or know of such acts but often we don’t really think about them. You know, things like:

Volunteering to aid those who are unable to leave their homes due to illness or physical infirmity by providing food and other necessities to them, such as medicines and other essentials. In doing this, on a regular basis over a number of years, this person demonstrates acts of kindness for which he or she receives little compensation other than grateful thanks from the persons served.
Volunteering at a non-profit agency for many years, therby helping bridge the gap between services that the agency can fund and those that it would not otherwise be able to offer.
Helping children with their work in school or after school and being a friend to them. Helping them read or with their homework or giving them encouragement to continue when they may feel underappreciated or unhappy with their lives.
Working with animals in shelters orhelping prepare and dispense meals in a rescue mission.

There are many such selfless individuals in our community who have never been publicly acknowledged for their good works, and the Colorado Springs Rotary Club wants to recognize one such individual annually who exemplifies Joe’s other-centered “Service Above Self” spirit, one who typifies his generous beneficial motivation. $1,000 will be given to a charity of the selected nominee's choosing. In addition the nominee will be recognized at a special "Paul Harris" ceremony at a regular Friday club luncheon. Because The Colorado Springs Rotary Club’s Joe Henjum Recognition Award committee is aware that there are likely to be many deserving nominees, repeat submissions are encouraged for succeeding years.

Will you help?
Submit a nominee (using the available Online Nomination Form) and if you can’t do so, e-mail the link to the Online Nomination Form to someone who might. We hope this appeal will spread to the widest Colorado Springs audience so we can discover unheralded and inspiring acts of service.

Who Is Joe Henjum?
Service Above Self: A Profile of Joe Henjum

Joe Henjum’s life of service began early. As a young man in South Florida, he developed skills as a leader and mentor of others through Boy’s State, Rotary's “Wheel Club”, Student Council, ODK Honor Society, Iron Arrow Honor Society, and music fraternity. As an Air Force officer, he frequently took younger men into his mentorship; particularly cadets at the USAF Academy, many of whom credit Joe with helping make their successes possible.

After his own Air Force career, Joe committed himself to serving his community and the individuals in it. Joe’s service reflected the broad scope of his compassion. He worked as a front-line volunteer with homeless families through the Interfaith Hospitality Network. He served state government as a member of the Colorado Commission on Aging. He was a founding member and President of the Colorado Mobility Coalition and the Colorado Springs Citizens Transportation Advisory Board. He partnered with other retired military to involve state and national politicians in the project to establish a National Veterans Cemetery in southern Colorado. He served as member and President of The Military Officers Association. He co-founded and served as President of the Senior Resource Council, and The Home Front Cares. He hosted a local public television series, “Senior LIVE!” and volunteered at Steele Elementary School. And of course, Joe Henjum was an enthusiastic member and Past President of the Downtown Rotary Club, whose strongest value of “Service Above Self” aligns perfectly with Joe’s character and life of service.

All these things are admirable, and he received recognition for some of them, but Joe didn’t do any of it for titles or plaques. He did what he believed was important; it needed to be done. He considered himself just “a mighty lucky guy.” Joe had a particular affinity for those who were least likely to receive awards and honors. He noticed and cared about everyone he ran across: the waitress, the receptionist, the homeless veteran, the barber, the custodian. Joe made everyone he met recognize the value of their service, and thereby encouraging us to leave the world a better place than we found it.He made us all better by believing in us and encouraging and mentoring all of us to be our best and to serve others. In a very real sense, he created the spirit of this award by demonstrating the power and beauty of “service above self”, and by recognizing and encouraging the “unsung heroes” who surround us every day.

What Is Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation?
Rotary International is the world's first service club organization and its object is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise. Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” exemplifies how Joe Henjum lived his life
.
The Paul Harris Fellow, named for the founder of Rotary, signifies a $1,000 contribution to The Rotary Foundation. The mission of the Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. This mission is accomplished through the energies of more than 1.2 million Rotarians in 33,755 Rotary Clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.

The Joe Henjum “Service Above Self” Recognition Award committee.