Five Honored with Paul Harris Fellow Awards by Plattsburgh Rotary Clubs

Amber Bach-Gorman, Carmen Carpentier, Dr. Robert Golden, Clarence Joseph Soper, and representatives of the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce Garry Douglas, Gene Chauvin and John VanNatten.

Paul Harris Fellows

Five community members were recently honored by the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh and the Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club for their service to the community.  Named Paul Harris Fellows, were Amber Bach-Gorman, Carmen Carpentier, Dr. Robert Golden, Clarence Joseph Soper, and the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce.

Two Named Paul Harris Fellows by Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary

Amber Bach-Gorman, who until recently worked as a local psychologist, joined the Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club in 2004.  During her time in Plattsburgh, she worked for Catholic Charities, SUNY Plattsburgh, as well as the Mental Health Unit at CVPH. 

A native of North Dakota, Bach-Gorman became president in July of 2007 and was the youngest president in the history of the Sunrise Rotary Club.  She is also the youngest Paul Harris Fellow ever nominated by the club. 

During her time with the Sunrise Rotary Club, she was a very active member, taking particular interest in the various local literacy programs.  Additionally, she was a prime member of the Mayor’s Cup Committee, managing the race day activities from the sign up desk to the shuttle service to the race crews. She recently returned to North Dakota due to career and family commitments.

For the first time in the history of Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow was awarded to an organization rather than an individual. The Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce was named a Paul Harris Fellow for the impact the Chamber has on the lives of North Country residents.

The Chamber was recognized for among many things: attracting new businesses to the area, such as Bombardier or Laurentian, its lobbying efforts in both Albany and Washington, which have paid massive dividends for the region; and focusing attention on the importance of the U.S.-Canada border crossing at Champlain to our region and the nation’s economy.

Carpentier, Soper, Golden Chosen Paul Harris Fellows by Plattsburgh Rotary Club 

Carmen Carpentier has been a member of the Plattsburgh Rotary Club since 1997.  The executive director of Lake Forest Senior Living Community, Inc. in Plattsburgh has been actively involved in all facets of the Club including the Board of Directors, Centennial Park Committee, Youth Exchange and Holiday Programs.  Carpentier can always be found participating at Club fundraisers including the annual Rotary Fishing Classic, the RoDucky Derby and Rotary Radio Day. 

An active participant in the community as well with SUNY Plattsburgh international students and several cancer events, Carpentier currently serves as chair of the Rotary Club’s Gifts Committee and has helped for many years to plan the Paul Harris Fellows dinner.

Clarence Joseph (C.J.) Soper has been a member of the Plattsburgh Rotary Club since 1992.  Long remembered as an impressive fundraiser for the club, C.J. has always been extremely active in Rotary Radio Day (one of the top sellers for many years), RoDucky Derby and the annual Rotary Fishing Classic. He also served for several years on the Board of Directors.

Dr. Robert Golden was named a Paul Harris Fellow by another Rotary club he was a member of while employed at another college prior to coming to SUNY Plattsburgh in 2002. The Rotary Club of Plattsburgh recognized him for his service to the local Rotary club and community.

Golden, who recently left his position after six years as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Plattsburgh to assume a less active role as an adjunct instructor at SUNY Plattsburgh’s Branch Campus at Adirondack Community College in Queensbury, served the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh with a distinguished style, incredible effort and solid passion. 

In addition to participating in fundraisers, he was honored for establishing a Rotaract chapter at SUNY Plattsburgh and chairing the Program Committee that was responsible for outstanding lunch presentations during the Rotary club’s most recent history.  

The Paul Harris Fellow program was created to fund many Rotary Foundation programs, and Rotary clubs must collectively contribute $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation for the privilege of recognizing a person. 

Formed in 1926, the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh has a current membership of more than 100 active members.  The Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club, which was chartered in 1987, has grown to its present membership of over 50 men and women. 

Both Rotary clubs raise funds for various community and global causes and are united in the ideas of Rotary as set forth by the founder, Paul Harris. The Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary meets every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. at the Elks Lodge, on Cumberland Avenue in Plattsburgh while the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh meets weekly on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. also at the Elks Lodge.

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