ROTARIAN KEITH DOUGLASS DESERVES HALL OF FAME NOD

Every year, Rotary Clubs throughout our District 6990 have the opportunity to nominate a deserving member to be a candidate for the district hall of fame. Our club has been lucky to have had Keith Douglass as a member for the past 32 years. Keith’s life has been guided by Rotary’s principles, and his record of service is unmatched in our club. Here is what I wrote to help the district see just how much Keith deserves this nomination:

Keith Douglass has not only been a Rotarian for 37 years, he has exemplified what it means to be a Rotarian both in his club and district, as well as in his personal and business life. For reasons that we’ll present, it is the heartfelt recommendation from the Rotary Club of Marathon that Keith Douglass be inducted into the District 6990 hall of fame.

Keith’s Rotary journey began 37 years ago in the Rotary Club of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Two years after joining there, Keith transferred his membership to the Rotary Club of Elmira, New York, where he remained a member for three years.

When Keith moved to the Florida Keys, he transferred his membership to the Rotary Club of Marathon, where he has been a faithful member for the past 32 years. Keith has held several positions on our club’s board of directors, and served as our club’s president during the Rotary Year of 1994-95.

Keith has always believed in Rotary’s outreach on both the district and international levels; as such, he has ensured our club stays current on all things district. Keith served on the District 6990 grants committee, and twice on the District 6990 nominating committee. Keith also became assistant district governor for Group 2 in District 6990 from 1998-99. To this day, Keith serves as our foundation chair, and his weekly Rotary Minute keeps the club informed of Rotary’s good works in both the district and internationally. And it was Keith Douglass who spearheaded our district’s Ukraine relief effort along with past district governor Roy Gonas.

Keith’s business career has echoed his service in Rotary. Keith served 30 years as an executive with the Boy Scouts of America; half of that time was at Florida Sea Base in Islamorada. (It’s no accident that our district’s Rotary youth leadership academy is held at Sea Base every year!) He and his wife, Diane, have owned and operated Douglass Marine Surveying since 1994. And his commitment to public service saw him elected to the Monroe County Commission, where he served from 1994-98, including a term as county mayor.

In addition to holding all these positions in our club and district, Keith is a tireless volunteer for our club’s projects and events. He serves as our de facto chaplain, and his inspirational message each week gives us hope, and solace when needed. And there is no one more committed to living his life by the Four Way Test than Keith Douglass.

For these reasons (and more), the Rotary Club of Marathon is proud to recommend the induction of Keith Douglass into the District 6990 hall of fame.

I hope you’ll get a chance to come out to the Original Marathon Seafood Festival early on Saturday — I have the privilege of performing with another of my favorite local singer-songwriters, Adrienne Z. We kick off the festival’s entertainment lineup at 11 a.m., and we have a really awesome batch of talent on our stage this year! Find out more in the Weekly’s Seafood Festival program, or just come out and hang with us all day and night! And eat some great local seafood while you’re there!

— Catch John each Monday at Boondocks, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Key Colony Inn, Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing, and Saturday with Adrienne Z at 11 a.m. at the Original Marathon Seafood Festival. Find his music anywhere you download or stream your music. www.johnbartus. com