Cliff Dochterman
"Real Happiness Is Helping Others"

Cliff Dochterman served as the President of Rotary International during 1992-93. His professional career in higher education administration included 20 years at the University of California in Berkeley and 20 years at the University of the Pacific.

Dr. Dochterman is the recipient of the George Washington Honor Medal of The Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge for his contributions to the American way of life.

Cliff earned the Eagle Scout award in l939 in the Central Ohio Council just before he reached his 14th birthday. He was President of the 49er Council (now the Greater Yosemite Council) from about l975 to l980. His son is also an Eagle Scout. Cliff was Camp Chief for the Western Region at the 1981 National Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia and Assistant Chief at the 1977 Jamboree at Moraine State Park in Pennsylvania. He served on the Executive Board and several committees of the Western Region, BSA.

He has been awarded three of the highest honors of the Boy Scouts of America, the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope (1981) and Distinguished Eagle (1991) awards. Cliff was presented the Silver Wheel award of the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians in 2003.

Cliff also served as president of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation Commission.

For 45 years, Cliff Dochterman has been a leader in Rotary International. He has served on virtually every committee of Rotary, including Chairman of the original 3-H Committee, the New Horizons Committee, the Dreams of the Future committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. He most recently served as the Chairman of Rotary's Centennial Operations Committee, which planned the observances of RI's 100th Anniversary events culminating in 2005.

As the world President of Rotary International, he was honored and decorated by the heads of state of many nations for his personal contributions to goodwill and understanding in the world. Rotary International has presented him with its Distinguished Service Award and the Polio Plus Pioneers Award for his humanitarian work throughout the world and his early leadership in creating the Polio Plus program. He is author of the booklet, "The ABCs of Rotary."

From 1993 to 1999 he was a Trustee of The Rotary Foundation, and served as Chairman of The Rotary Foundation during 1997-98. He was chairman of Rotary 2001 Council on Legislation. As world president of Rotary, he created the theme, "Real Happiness Is Helping Others".

It is with great pride and appreciation that the IFSR awards this recognition to exemplary Rotarians and Scouters in the name of Dr. Clifford L. Dochterman who was presented with Cliff Dochterman Award Number One by IFSR Chairman David A Judge at RI Chicago Convention 2005..

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The Cliff Dochterman Award

The award for Rotarians serving Scouting is available through the IFSR, Executive Secretary.  The Award honors former RI President Cliff Dochterman, a devoted scouter from Moraga, California, USA.

The Cliff Dochterman Award, a bronze medallion hung from a gold and blue ribbon, may be awarded by a local Rotary Club or District Governor to an active Rotarian who has rendered exemplary service to scouting.

Information and a nomination form are available HERE as a PDF document (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader), or from the IFSR-IAR Secretary at P.O. Box 19982, San Diego, CA 92159-0982, USA. 

*NOTE: The current nomination form is dated 2018. Cliff Dochterman Award Nomination Package editions dated before 2015 will no longer be accepted.

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BSA recipients wear Rotary Pin with Community Service Knot

The Boy Scouts of America Relationships Committee has approved the wearing of the BSA Community Service Knot by Dochterman Award recipients who are members of the B.S.A.

Cliff Dochterman Award recipients that need additional knots or a replacement medal may use the order form available HERE as a PDF document.

Boy Scouts of America members wear their Rotary Pin with their Cliff Dochterman award uniform ribbon. 

The BSA Community Service Award ribbon is used to recognize Scouters who are active in other sponsoring organizations.  The one for Rotarians – through the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians - is the Cliff Dochterman award. 

When you receive the Cliff Dochterman Award, you can wear the ribbon on your BSA uniform.  And don’t forget to put onto the ribbon the very small (3/8”) Rotary pin – so Scouts and Scouters will know you are active in Rotary International.  The 3/8” pin is available through our IFSR Executive Secretary Randy Seefeldt at $6 each plus postage.  Contact Randy at ifsr@scoutingrotarians.org if you have any questions.

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