Joy Eckstine, executive director of Boulder's Carriage House, received the Norris Hermsmeyer "Spark Plug" Award at the Boulder Flatirons Rotary tenth annual Charter Night event in January.

The award was presented for her work in bringing Carriage House to the forefront and expanding programming at the daytime shelter for the homeless, located just north of downtown Boulder's Pearl Street Mall. She was awarded $1,000 to further her work with the homeless.

Eckstine is a licensed clinical social worker and certified level III addiction counselor. She was most recently responsible for supervisory and administrative tasks in the Denver Health Outpatient Behavioral Health Services and has worked extensively with dually diagnosed clients (substance abuse and mental illness) in the criminal justice system.

The Norris Hermsmeyer "Spark Plug" Award recognizes Rotarian or Non-Rotarian individuals whose life or work demonstrates, in some exemplary and worthy manner, the Rotary Ideal of Service, in the promotion of a new project or initiative that promotes understanding, goodwill and peace. The award was established in 1997 to honor Norris Hermsmeyer, now District Governor for District 5450, specifically for "sparking" the charter of the Boulder Flatirons Club.

Besides Hermsmeyer, some of the past recipients include: Jean Wood who works with the Lost Boys (and Girls) of the Sudan in this area, Jack Walker of the Colorado Music Festival Association, Pam Gilbert, who has established a school in the mountains of Ecuador, and TJ Cole, founder of Justice High School and Cole Junior College.

Boulder Flatirons Rotary Club meets each Wednesday at 7:15 a.m. in the Sky Lounge at Frasier Meadows. Call 303-530-7362 for more information.