Patricia Fiske, pictured left with 2012-13 Rotary District 5450 Governor, Mike Klingbiel.“What Rotary does for me is it gives me an opportunity to have an idea and make it happen in the world. Others are making things happen and I help them…it becomes this wonderful chain of service that I couldn’t possibly do on my own.”

By Amy Shanahan; photo courtesy of Patricia Fiske

The month of May was a month that Castle Pines Village resident Patricia Fiske will never forget. It was a month in which Fiske was honored and recognized for the passions and accomplishments that have fueled her life. Only days apart, Fiske was the recipient of the prestigious Service Above Self award from Rotary International (RI), and she was inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame at the company for which she worked for 18 years.

Fiske has been a part of RI since August 1989 when she joined the Denver Mile High Club. Fiske co-founded the Rotary Club of Castle Pines two years ago, and currently serves as the official advisor of the club, and chair of the Foundation, which oversees the income and expenditures of the club.

Through the years, Fiske has been involved in a variety of aspects of RI, and she is passionate about the work that the organization does on a global scale. “Rotary has done some incredible work in the world,” remarked Fiske. “The most famous thing we are doing in the world is eradicating polio. This started 30 years ago, and it was announced at the district conference that they believe polio will be eradicated throughout the world by 2018. That is just an incredible accomplishment!”

RI is present in 200 countries and territories throughout the world, and of the 1.2 million members, only 150 Rotarians receive the Service Above Self award each year. The Service Above Self award was created in 1991 to recognize Rotarians who embody the motto, “Peace through service”, and the recipients are those who have truly made service a way of life.

Fiske was genuinely surprised and honored to receive this award. Fiske received a letter from RI President Sakuji Tanaka informing her of the honor, and she was officially recognized at the district conference in Vail in late April.

Only days later, Fiske was informed by Worldwide Partners, Inc. (WPI) that she was named into their inaugural Hall of Fame. Worldwide Partners is the largest global network of independently-owned advertising agencies, for which Fiske served as president and CEO for 18 years until 2004. Fiske is overjoyed by the recognition she has received. “With these two things happening at the same time I feel like the sun has been shining on me!”

Fiske has spent her life and career serving others throughout the United States and internationally. These two honors speak to the generosity and kindness of her spirit. The Rotary Club of Castle Pines is currently accepting new members, and anyone interested should contact Patricia Fiske by e-mail at patriciafiske@comcast.net.