A belief in service and giving back are deeply held beliefs for Wenda Boyer and Susan Burnett, this year’s Emmaus Rotary Club International Women’s Day honorees.

Both women were honored for their work, both at home and abroad, March 7, at Superior Restaurant, State Road and Main Street, Emmaus.

Boyer was presented with the community award and a check of $500 which she donated to Equi-librium, an organization she has been involved with since 2015.

Equi-librium focuses on healing through working with horses.

Shortly after receiving the award, she spoke to The Press, about the significance of receiving this award on International Women’s Day.

“It is such an honor,” she explained, saying the work with Equi-librium is about helping others.

Boyer has also been involved through the years with organizations such as the American Red Cross and Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, an organization addressing grief.

Last summer, Boyer was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

“When I was sick with cancer, and the treatments … the treatments really were the hardest part, my whole goal when it was done was that I wanted to educate other people about getting tested, getting on top of it.”

She emphasized the importance of early detection and the idea of “paying forward.”

“It’s important to pay forward. I was the one always doing for others. It was very interesting to have people doing things for me, but it is all the more reason why I want to help others,” she said.

Burnett was the second honoree. She has been a member of the Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Club for almost 20 years.

She was celebrated for her work abroad, helping with a clean water project in Nicaragua, visited Guatemala with Rotaplast and did work in Kenya, which she spoke to The Press about.

She has fond memories of Kenya. She explained how when a young girl touched her skin because she had never seen someone with that color skin, it was very moving for her.

“That was THE moment.” She continued, “I felt like I was in National Geographic.”

Reflecting on the recognition of her work by fellow Rotary members, Burnett said, “It’s incredibly humbling.”

“There’s no I in Rotary,” Burnett explained, citing every project she has been involved with had a great team behind it.