HomeCharities & FundraisersLisa Link Honored as Rotary Paul Harris Fellow

Lisa Link Honored as Rotary Paul Harris Fellow

Lisa Link is the last person to draw attention to herself, so last Thursday afternoon at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, the Rotary Club of San Marino did it for her, bestowing upon the longtime resident the group’s highest homage; the Honorary Paul Harris Fellowship award for ‘Service Above Self.’

A longtime volunteer, Mrs. Link is also two-term school board member among a litany of other accomplishments.

While introducing the distinguished recipient, local Rotarian Isaac Hung gave personal testimony. While serving as an auditor for the PTA board, Hung recalled checking the books for an activity under Link’s direction.

“Everything was so well organized and I found out she had a law degree,” Hung said. I wondered, ‘am I supposed to audit her or is she supposed to audit me?’”

With her mother and mother-in-law in attendance, Link began her acceptance speech with a nod to her family.

“I was very fortunate to be raised by parents, Ann and Steve Hinchliffe, who strongly believe in service above self, even if they weren’t Rotarians,” she said. “As many of you know, I have followed in my mother’s footsteps in volunteering in Boy Scouts, PTA, and the school board, and I have big shoes to fill in following my father’s footsteps as he has served on the boards of the Metropolitan YMCA, the Center Theatre Group, and Occidental College, to name a few.”

Link’s mother, Ann Hinchliffe, served two terms on the Palos Verdes Peninsula School Board shortly after the passing of Prop 13 and had to implement budget cuts that affected her own family members. Her daughter inherited a similar courage.

Link also acknowledged two San Marinans June and Merle Banta, family friends and business associates, who attended the luncheon.

“June and Merle Banta have been my second parents and are also well known for their volunteerism in San Marino, whether it was on the Little League field, at the Huntington Library, at Huntington Hospital, or teaching parenting skills to young mothers,” Link said. “Thank you for setting such a great example for me, your children and your grandchildren.”

She then sent some love to her husband, Dave, and sons Andy and Ryan.

“I would not have received this award if I had not had the support of my family,” she said. “Suffice it to say that I will not ever be receiving the Good Housekeeping award or any culinary honors. There may be other reasons for that, but we’ll blame it on volunteerism!” as the house roared with laughter. “But seriously, thank you for always understanding when I said ‘yes,’ and for not complaining when the refrigerator was empty. And thank you to my mother-in-law, Norma Link, for cooking dinner every Monday night during those years that I was working and volunteering so that my family could have a decent meal at least once a week!”

Again, hilarity.

She also thanked her girlfriends, fellow school board members, Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss and the district’s administrators and principals.

“I know it sounds trite,” Link said. “But it is true that our students are the future of our community and our country, and with your leadership and so many excellent teachers and staff, the future continues to look bright here in San Marino.”

She then thanked the club itself.

“San Marino Rotary, thank you again for this special honor,” she said in an emotional final act. “You provide great support for our public schools, whether it’s through the youth leadership programs or the Bill Steele Mini-Grants to our teachers, you contribute so much. And to all of you volunteers in this room, thank you for putting service above self and serving as role models to your children and grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. It makes a difference.”

After Link’s inspirational speech completed, attendees were addressed by Dr. Laura Trombley, eighth president of The Huntington, who welcomed the group back after a two-year absence while the institution was under construction.

A Rotarian herself (Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1998) praised the worldwide organization for its “great, positive, impactful change” before presenting upcoming highlights for the iconic landmark.

“We are working to create more and more ways so when you see all of The Huntington, not just pieces of The Huntington,” Dr. Trombley said.

On the ledger for future implementation are The Huntington Channel, an online television venture; the final stages of the Chinese Garden; collaboration with Caltech, including a sculpture that will project real-time sound from 19 passing satellites and San Marino Day.

“Over 10 percent of San Marino’s population is planning on being here on San Marino Day,” she said. “We want to be seen as your good neighbor.”

San Marino’s Rotarians are leaders in giving in excess of $1 million to the Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of the international organization. The San Marino club has selected and funded recent college graduates for Ambassadorial Fellowships to study abroad, and has supported projects including the remarkable PolioPlus program to eliminate the polio virus from the world, nearing complete success after more than twenty year of effort. In fact, Rotarians worldwide have donated well over $1 billion in the quest. Also attending the event were past Paul Harris Fellow honorees Rosemary Simmons, Judith Carter, Lois Matthews, Winnie Reitnouer, Jeanne & Wray Cornwell, Eugene Dryden, Billie Youngblood-Knolle, Aaron Weiss, Marilyn Peck, Warren Weber and this reporter.

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