Congratulations to Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) for winning Rotary International's Service Above Self award. This prestigious award is for Rotarians and Rotaractors who demonstrate their commitment to helping others by volunteering their time and talents and is the highest RI award for a volunteer.
RI Director 2021-2023 Vicki Puliz, RI President Representative John Smarge, and District 5150 Governor Gary Chow presented the RI Service Above Self Award to Anita Stangl on April 29, 2023.
Only a District Governor can nominate a candidate for this award. Our current District 5150 Governor Gary Chow nominated Anita to recognize her dedication to Rotary and her work to save children and communities impacted by "cleft lip and palate by providing free comprehensive treatment, while training and equipping local teams to sustainably provide quality, long-term care."
Anita joined our Club - the Rotary Club of San Francisco - in 1987 when women were first allowed to join Rotary. She was Chair of Camp Enterprise (now called RYLA) and has chaired the San Francisco Rotary Foundation and the Club's Emergency Services Day. For District 5150, she has served as an Assistant Governor and on the Membership Task Force. Anita has served on numerous committees in our Club and became our President in 2006-2007. 36 years since she joined, she remains dedicated to Rotary and its mission.
Anita is also an excellent host and cook. Many of us have been fortunate to be invited to her home for a home-cooked, gourmet dinner. See this story.
The Service Above Self award is an internationally competitive award with a maximum of 150 recipients selected worldwide each year. The current RI rules also require that there can only be one recipient per District per year. Anita joins the following Rotarians from our Club who earned this award previously:
- Kay Clarke (member of our Club from 1988 to 2018) received the Service Above Self award in 1992-1993.
- Dr. Angelo Capozzi (member of our Club from 1971 to 2013) received the Service Above Self award in 1995-1996.
- Dr. Scharleen Colant (member of our Club from 1999 to 2008) received the Service Above Self award in 2005-2006.
- Heidi Kuhn (member of our Club since 2006) received the Service Above Self award in 2005-2006.
- PDG Peter Lagarias (member of our Club since 1983) received the Service Above Self award in 2014-2015.
The Rotary Club of San Francisco and the entire District 5150 are very proud of Anita. What a grand way to finish this Rotary year!
Carlos Valdes, District Governor-Elect Laine Hendricks, David Dye, Dora Dye, Past District Governor Eric Schmautz, Stephanie Schmautz, Molly Schmautz, District Governor Gary Chow, Anita Stangl, President Christopher Wiseman, Margaret Miley, Maureen O'Shea, Mary Liu, Frank Yoke, Ann Daugherty, and Katie Schmautz celebrated Anita Stangl's RI Service Above Self Award and our Club's Excellence Awards from District 5150 at the 2023 District Conference on April 29, 2023.