We are all proud to know Norm and the following is a brief description of the award and past president Sue Jones's remarks at the presentation.
Since 1986, the Axel W. Carlson Award has been a tribute to the unsung heroes of our community. These individuals have made significant contributions through their efforts while neither receiving nor expecting reward or recognition. Recipients receive a small plaque acknowledging their commitment, in addition to a check for $1,000 as a way of saying thanks for their good deeds. A $500 check is also awarded to the charity of the recipient's choice.

 The award's namesake was a quiet, unassuming Swedish immigrant to Jamestown who, upon his death, established a number of funds at the Community Foundation.

Sue's remarks.

For those of you who are not familiar with Rotary International, it is the world’s largest service club with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 clubs.

 Norm is one of those members. He first joined the Falconer club many years ago, but his work schedule as a construction manager made it difficult for him to maintain the attendance standards that both Norm and Rotary strive for. So he resigned.  But he missed the fellowship and fun of Rotary and when he retired, he joined the Jamestown Club.

 For the past 11 years, Norm has worked tirelessly (BEHIND THE SCENES if you will permit me) to not only foster the ideals of Rotary, but also assist in the Club’s important fundraising by hand crafting beautiful bird houses (mansions) that are really works of art, to be auctioned at the annual fundraiser.

But more importantly, Norm has led the Club Service Committee for several years. This committee is extremely important…again BEHIND THE SCENES…as he leads the committee to set up our meeting room every Monday – hanging banners, readying the flags and the microphones, distributing and collecting member badges, greeting members and guests and selling 50/50 tickets, which raise approximately $3,000 annually for the Club. He is preparing our meeting room at least one hour before meetings and remains to tidy things up at the meeting’s conclusion. Last year he joined the Rotary Club Board of Directors, to assist his club even more.

 Most people don’t even realize the effort that makes our meetings come off in an organized manner week after week…but they would if Norm weren’t there, though not to worry, when he takes an occasional Monday off he always arranges for coverage.

 The credo of Rotary is Service above Self.

 Silently…this delightful man makes life easier for his Rotary Club every Monday…just as I know he does for every person on the stage of this theatre when he is preparing this building for THEIR performances and OUR enjoyment.

 NORM, on behalf of all of your fellow Rotarians, we salute you – our man behind the scenes!