February 2016

THE VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL
6 www.TheValleyBusinessJournal.com
February 2016
Community
Rotary Honors Three in Murrieta with Vocational
Service Awards
A City of Murrieta police officer,
fire department deputy and Murrieta
Valley Unified School District teacher
were honored during the Rotary Club
of Murrieta Vocational Service Awards
luncheon on Monday, January 25th.
The three individuals – Police Officer
Jennifer Metoyer of the Murrieta
Police Department, Deputy Fire Chief
Pat Jennings of the Murrieta Fire Department,
and Teacher Markela “Kelly”
Parsons from Vista Murrieta High
School – were nominated by their respective
agencies for their distinguished
vocational and community service. The
awards luncheon was held at the Salvation
Army Center- Murrieta and was
attended by Murrieta elected officials
as well as community business leaders.
“The Rotary Club of Murrieta is
honored to recognize these upstanding
citizens who through their work are
making real differences in our community,”
Al Vollbrecht, president of Rotary
Club of Murrieta, said. “We asked the
organizations to nominate individuals
who exemplify the standards of Rotary,
including ‘Service Above Self’ and the
Four Way Test which stresses integrity
and fairness while building good will
and better friendships.”
Officer Metoyer has been in police
work for 15 years and with the Murrieta
Police Department for 11 years.
She currently works as a motorcycle
police officer and traffic investigator;
in addition, she volunteers as one of
the Department’s two social media
administrators. She initiates posts on
the Department’s Facebook page and
responds to comments and messages
from the community on a daily basis. In
addition, she often volunteers to conduct
educational school visits, teaching about
law enforcement and the role of a motorcycle
traffic officer, in particular. At
Shivela Middle School, she organized a
juvenile helmet safety event.
The Fire Department’s Jennings
spent 30 years in Fire Service, 28 of
which were at the Murrieta First Department.
He was instrumental in transitioning
the department from all volunteer
to fully career in 1989, and during his
years, he served at every rank: firefighter,
engineer, captain, training officer, battalion
chief, deputy chief and interim fire
chief. Pat brought direction and stability
to department after the Fire Chief was
seriously injured. He developed positive
relationships with the Fire Fighters
Union, City Manager’s Office and City
Hall and laid the groundwork for transition
to new department leadership
The Murrieta Valley Unified School
District’s honoree – Markela “Kelly”
Parsons -- teaches English and Peer
Leadership at Vista Murrieta High
School. She is the Link Crew Advisor
for the high school, annually deploying
some 100 upperclassmen who welcome
and mentor incoming freshmen to help
them make the most of their high school
years. Link Crew provides service to the
school community daily but their giving
does not end at the school’s gates. They
participate in community events including
food and blood drives. Mrs. Parsons
has been teaching for 11 years.
The Rotary Club of Murrieta was
chartered on April 28, 1992. The club
is involved in many international and
community projects, in cooperation
with Rotary International, which has as
its theme “Service Above Self.” Club
meetings are held Mondays (excepting
holidays) at noon at Richie’s Diner in
Murrieta.
For more information, please see www.
MurrietaRotary.org, or visit Facebook.
com/murrietarotary
connect: Facebook.com/murrietarotary
Jennifer Metoyer, from the Murrieta Police Department; and Pat Jennings,
Deputy Chief of the Murrieta Fire Department (retired).
(Photo credit: Jann Gentry)