The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award Presentation to Narayan Muraka, prepared by PDG Bruce Baumberger

1. The Rotary Foundation
Distinguished Service Award

2. The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service AwardThe Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award
• PG17190001 - $560,000 – WASH in Schools (WinS) competitive challenge grant-
one of four awarded in 2017-18
• GG1525739 - $175,000 – Mechanical Cow
• GG1411300 - $194,000 – WASH, health clinics, mechanical cow, micro-credit, etc.
• GG1225643 - $154,000 – WASH in seven elementary schools
• GG1225333 - $58,000 – Mechanical cow and vocational training
• MG 72358 - $10,000 – Water filters
Projects Performed in Sumpango Municipality, Guatemala
Mayor of Sumpango – “Dear Narayan, we sincerely appreciate your
contribution essential for the success of these projects. Your dedication
is well known, travelling from the USA twice or three times a year to
visit our town and have an active participation and follow up. You are a
true friend and partner in the community. Thank you very much for
that support. The Rotary projects touched the lives of our people in
many ways, especially the lives of our children in the communities.”

3. The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service AwardThe Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award
• Member of TRF’s Cadre program since 2017-18. Evaluated two global grants.
Attended Cadre training at Toronto and Hamburg conventions. Interfaced with
other Cadre members during feedback sessions about the review of global
grants.
• Member of WASRAG – Attended WASRAG Water Summits during last several
years
• WASRAG Ambassador since 2017-18. Engaged to assist Rotarians in their grant
preparation and WASH matters.
• Board Member - RAG for Microfinance and Community Development since 2018-
2019 – Made presentation on Microfinance at a special breakout session during
the Hamburg convention (June 2019).
• Helping Rotarians with grant preparation. More recently advising/counselling
Rotarian in New Hampshire, USA for the preparation of Phase I grant application
for Programs of Scale.
• Attended over 15 Rotary International conventions since joining Rotary in 1999-
20.
• Wrote several educational and training articles about TRF and global grants.
Special Projects or Activities in Support of The Rotary Foundation

4. The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service AwardThe Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award
PDG Robert Brickman –1981-1982 – RID 1997-1999,
RIVP 1998-99
It is a great pleasure for me to add my congratulations to
you upon your receipt of The Rotary Foundation’s
highest award. Receiving this award puts you in a small
but elite group among the 1.2 million Rotarians around
the world. Your many years of service and devotion to
the Foundation’s mission to Do Good in the World make
you a very deserving recipient of this commendation.
It’s Rotarians like you that make me proud to say my
Rotary roots date back to when we lived in the Home
District. District 6440 has always stood out as one of the
world’s leaders in support of the Foundation – both
financially and with good hard work. With people like
you, this reputation remains in place. Thanks for all you
have done and for your continued service.
PDG Dick Beals – 1992-1993
Congratulation on receiving the Rotary Foundation
Distinguished Service Award. You richly deserve this
recognition for all of your dedicated service to the
Foundation. Thank you. Warm regards.
PDG Tony Tolbert – 1998-1999 and 2003-2004
Congratulations on your award! I am so happy for you. You
are truly a great Rotarian who continues to help the world.
Your latest accomplishment is terrific! When you look back
over your many years as a Rotarian one sees nothing but
great achievements. Enjoy the moment!
PDG Gordon Schrubbe – 2000-2001
Congratulations! You have long earned this award.
We are soooooo proud of you!
PDG Terry Mueller – 2002-2003
Congratulations on receiving TRF Distinguished Service
Award. You truly deserve the recognition. It has
been the privilege of The Rotary Club of Crystal Lake
Dawnbreakers to be able to partner with you and
your club on the many Global Grants that you have written
and executed. Many lives have been made
better because of your dedication and leadership. You are
knowledgeable, passionate and thorough and
it shows in your many accomplishments. Thanks for all you
do for Rotary.

5. The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service AwardThe Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award
Elke Friedman (wife of PDG Robert Friedman – 2002-
2003)
Through all these years I’ve known Narayan as a very
kind, patient, knowledgeable and very dedicated
Rotarian. He is also such a modest person – which is rare
these days. We are so very blessed he is a big
part of our District 6440.
Nancy Redmon (wife of PDG Don Redmon 2004-2005)
Congratulations! You are most deserving of the
Distinguished Service Award. Having known you for
many years, I have seen first-hand the good work you
have done both locally and Internationally. You
are truly an amazing Rotarian.
PDG Tadashi Enami – 2005-2006
Congratulations Narayan from deep in my heart.
PDG David Waring – 2006-2007
Your energy, time and perseverance have and will
impact millions of people. Your legacy is large and
continues to grow. You are a great ambassador to
Rotary, District 6440 and our Club.
PDG Mike Ericksen – 2007-2008
We in Rotary District 6440 are blessed with many
assets. One of our secret weapons is Narayan
Murarka. He does not know the meaning of “It cannot be
done”. When the new future vision program was in pilot,
we were no longer able to do projects with our friends in
Guatemala. Narayan found a way. Just like the Apollo 13
mission, for Narayan “failure is not an option”.
Congratulations Narayan, this award is so well deserved!
PDG Pamela Kerr – 2008-2009
Narayan – CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for all that
you continue to do for Rotary and the needy around the
world.
PDG Bill Ferreira – 2009-2010
A Rotarian committed to the ideals of Rotary and the Rotary
Foundation.
A champion of the microcredit program that has changed
women’s lives where needed the most.

6. The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service AwardThe Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award
PDG Bruce Baumberger – 2010-2011
Narayan, congratulations on receiving one of Rotary’s
most significant awards, a wonderful way for us to
recognize you for your awesome work to benefit so
many people impacted by your exceptional Global
Grants, and the Rotarians that you mentored to develop
their Global Grants. You were a Future Vision pioneer
with whom I feel privileged to have partnered with for
many years. You are a role model for the rest of us!
PDG Carlos Früm – 2011-2012
From the moment I met Narayan, I knew that I had met
a person of exceptional intelligence. I don’t
think there is anyone more deserving of this award than
him.
Donna Yesner (wife of PDG Mike Yesner 2012-2013)
Congratulations and best wishes on this well-earned
award.
PDG Sarah Oliver – 2013-2014
Congratulations on receiving the TRF Distinguished Service
Award, a well-deserved recognition indeed!
I think of you as the father, or perhaps the midwife, of
Global Grant activity in District 6440 because
your initial thoughtful teaching and your personal assistance
launched that journey for our clubs. The
lives of so many Guatemalans have been improved by your
dedication to providing clean water, proper
sanitation, and hygiene education; and hundreds of
thousands of them will benefit in the future from
your continuing work. Put a huge smile on your face, and
enjoy this occasion and the accolades
PDG Ellen Young – 2014-2015
You have been an inspiration to me in my Rotary Service.
Your dedication and passion for helping
others is contagious, and your ability to identify how best to
bring needed humanitarian aid to those less
fortunate is a model for all who serve. Thank you, friend,
mentor and true Rotary Humanitarian leader.

7. The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service AwardThe Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award
PDG Rodney Adams – 2015-2016
As you are presented The Rotary Foundation
Distinguished Service Award, I would like to thank you,
for your 20 years of service and dedication to the ideals
of Rotary. You join only six other Rotarians from District
6440 chosen for The Rotary Foundation Distinguished
Service Award since 1977. Well done, Narayan and
well-deserved.
PDG Rick Rivkin – 2016-2017
Congratulations on receiving The Rotary Foundation
Distinguished Service Award that honors individual
Rotarians who have demonstrated exemplary service to
the Foundation. I have had the unique opportunity to
observe your commitment, dedication, and actions to
warrant this recognition. On my most recent visit to
Guatemala last year, I saw first-hand the impact on the
community that your WASH and Mechanical Cow
projects have had, capped by the high esteem in which
you are held by Guatemalan Rotary and civic leaders
and, of course, the smiling faces of the Guatemalans
who have and continue to benefit from your leadership
and “Service Above Self.” May you continue to enjoy
good health and happiness and continue to be an
inspiration to us all.
PDG Don Brewer – 2017-2018
I cannot think of a more deserving man-Rotarian for this
Distinguished Service Award. I have admired you and
coveted your talent from the first day I met you.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! to one of the most inspiring and
favorite individuals in my life.
PDG Julie Clark – 2018-2019
Thank you, Narayan for all of your service and dedication to
those who need you! You are amazing!!! We are all inspired
by you and your contributions.
PDG Suzanne Gibson – 2019-2020
Congratulations, Narayan on achieving Rotary’s highest
honor --the Distinguished Service Award. You have touched
thousands of lives over many years. There are thousands of
people you will never meet who are sitting in the shade of
the tree of kindness you have planted. Thank you for your
Service Above Self.

8. The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service AwardThe Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award
DG Lyle Staab – 2020-2021
The highest praise I can offer anyone is that they truly
MATTER – that their actions make the world a
significantly better place. I’ve developed a deep
appreciation for your passion for, and skill at,
delivering Global Grants improving the lives of those less
fortunate. Your expertise, freely shared, is a
tremendous resource for the District and all Rotarians. I
congratulate you on being named a recipient of The
Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award.
You, sir, MATTER.
DGE – Kevin Stevens – 2021-2022
Bravo and Congratulations on your well-deserved
recognition as a Rotary Foundation Distinguished
Servant. Your example of selflessness and service sets
an excellent standard and provides tremendous
opportunities for District 6440 Rotarians to
understand the power of the Rotary Foundation and
create impact across the globe. Thank you!
DGN Bill Kmiecik – 2023-2024
Congratulations Narayan! If mechanical
cows could dance, they would be dancing
and celebrating you all around the world
just as we are today!