
At our Thursday Rotary Club meeting via Zoom on June 25, 2020, Club Rotarians came together for our annual Continuation of Leadership celebration with President Jim Johnston and to ring in the new year with incoming President Debbie Beasley! As has been our tradition, we honored our Rotarians of the Year. Congratulations and Thank YOU Denver Rotarians for your many accomplishments and hard work this past Rotary year!
Virgil Scott ~ ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR 2019-2020

Virgil Scott is this year’s very deserving recipient of the Club 31’s Rotarian of the Year Award! Here is just a sampling of his strong and impressive contributions to Denver Rotary. His participation covers all aspects of Rotary’s five avenues of service…
- Joined Denver Rotary March 15, 2011, with 14 years prior Rotary experience
- Served on the Denver Rotary Club Foundation (DRCF) Board of Trustees 2013-2019
- DRCF President 2016-17
- DRCF Silver Fellow
- DRCF Legacy Society Charter Member 2015
- Chair of the DRCF Legacy Society
- Co-Chair of DRCF 50th Anniversary Campaign
- Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
- Served on TRF Support Committee & Peach Sale Committee
AND, Virgil has accomplished all of this since joining our Club only nine years ago!
According to several of his nominators,
“I have had the distinct pleasure of serving with Virgil since he joined our Club nine years ago. During this time, I have gotten to know him well, have very much enjoyed working together and consider him to be a trusted friend and valued mentor.”
“As a DRCF President, Virgil’s message to our Club and its Foundation was Unity…both working together to have a positive impact on our community and our world.”
“About a year and half after joining our Club, he was asked to serve a six-year term on the DRCF Board of Trustees, bringing 30 years of CEO-level nonprofit foundation leadership experience, as well as an extensive history of volunteer board experience.”
“Was immediately asked to lead the Foundation’s Legacy Gift Committee, attempting what many have tried to do for years but didn’t get it done. This Rotarian did. Forming the DRCF Legacy Society in 2013, he almost single-handedly brought in 29 charter members.”
“Our Foundation has a good story to tell and Virgil did it so well, along with sharing their own inspiring personal life journey and that of our members. He leads by example with his continued generous financial support.”
“While most good Rotarians naturally put service above self, Virgil outdid himself this past year. The sheer amount of pro-bono time he spent connecting with, and clarifying the wishes of our Denver Rotary Club Foundation Legacy Society members would have cost the club tens of thousands of dollars had we not had him doing it for us. And with his usual low-key, quiet and behind-the-scenes demeanor he has bolstered the financial future of DRCF, not solely with the stroke of a check but with endless patience and dedication of time.”
“In various leadership roles, Virgil built an awareness of the Legacy Society. He was responsible for increasing the number of Legacy Society members over 60% during the past four years. He was also an essential part of the DRCF 50th Year Celebration campaign by tirelessly consulting with each Legacy Society member whereby they devoted $330,000 in Legacy Gifts to the Wilkins Family Fund Endowment and increased overall Legacy Gifts to $883,000. His efforts have help to ensure DRCF is sustainable for the next 50 years. Under Virgil’s leadership and his unwavering support of our Foundation continues, his impact far-reaching.”
“Trust and relationships have always been a part of his life. Personal and professional mix and mesh. With unsurpassed dedication and commitment, he brought his years of fundraising expertise, thoughtful leadership skills and vast experience to this important volunteer role.”
“Virgil is a kind, generous, good man, always making the time to send personal hand-written notes to our many members for a variety of reasons…and even Starbucks gift cards to us lucky ones!”
Rotary’s mission is to do good in the world…a group of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Our Club is filled with some pretty special people…we are all honored and privileged to know such a Rotarian. Congratulations Virgil! You make us proud and we are blessed to have you as a member of Denver Rotary!
TROY SZYMANSKI ~ NEW ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR 2019-20

This year Club 31 is pleased to honor Troy Szymanski as our New Rotarian of the Year for 2019-20!
According to several of his nominators,
“Troy is a great guy and quickly became engaged as evidenced by his great attendance.”
“He became very active in the evening happy hour meetings.”
“Very energetic with a can-do attitude!’
“Brought some needed young blood into the Club.”
“His first Club visit was exactly a year ago today at our Continuation of Leadership on the DAC rooftop…blended right in with an enthusiastic interest in learning more about our Club.”
“Rotary runs in his family!”
In just the past year, Troy…
- Became a Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Foundation
- Served as an Inspirational moment presenter
- Participated in the Cherry Creek Clean Up before becoming a member
- Joined the Membership Committee
- Co-leading the Evening Group Happy Hour events
- And get this….will be our new Club Secretary in 2020-21!
After joining Rotary in October of 2019, Troy has already shown a major commitment to our Club and to Rotary’s mission. We are so fortunate to have such a committed and dedicated new Rotarian as a member of Club 31! Congratulations Troy! Thank you for making Club 31 your new Rotary home! We look forward to serving alongside you for many years to come!