PENNEY FARMS – Russ Miller was awarded the D. Brent Williams Spirit of Rotary Award during Monday’s Green Cove Springs Rotary Club meeting, one of the highest honors for members in Northeast Florida.

Miller was singled out in District 6970, which was comprised of 64 clubs, four satellite clubs, 17 Rotaract clubs, and 44 Interact clubs serving 31 communities in Northeast Florida in 12 counties with more than 3,200 members.

To be considered, a member must serve in two of the organization’s five Avenues of Service – Club, Vocational, Community, International and Youth. According to former District Governor Jeanette Loftus, Miller championed all five categories.

“You all know Russ, and there is not one area of service that Russ has not touched,” she said. “He is like the best salesman of all time. He has started 13 new Rotary clubs, bringing in hundreds of members into the Rotary family. Actually, he was a facilitator for the Rotary Leadership Institute.”

Miller also helped build pickleball courts, operate a fundraising tournament and build a fish farm to stimulate the local economy in Palatka; he and his wife, Susan, have hosted Rotary Exchange students. He’s also started a foundation to build a foster home community in Clay County and he’s one of the volunteers who build accessible hand-powered trikes for those who can’t walk.