At the December 8th virtual meeting we inducted a new member Ross Baldree and had Cassie Banning the Director of Farm and Gardens for the Land and Garden Preserve. #ellsworthrotary #wearerotary #rotaryinternational #peopleofaction
On Tuesday, December 8th at 6 PM, our club had a virtual meeting over the telephone and internet via Zoom. President Laura Pellerano started the meeting.
Invocation was read by Rhonda Parker.
The Pledge Allegiance was led by Rhonda Parker and Tony and Julie Bouchard took attendance.
All Happy Dollars goes towards KidsPeace for Christmas gifts for the kids this quarter. Dave Wells, Jo Cooper, Tricia Quirk, Linda Fuller, Marian Wells, Dan Frye and Laura Pellerano….
Don’t forget about Polio Plus and EREY! Please consider making a donation.
Rotary Business:
- Membership Update: Ross Baldree was inducted into the club! Congratulations and welcome Ross!
- Happy Dollars and Polio Donations: Treasurer Debbie Ehrlenbach would like all Happy Dollars and Polio Plus donations to be mailed in a.s.a.p. to Rotary Club of Ellsworth, PO Box 741, Ellswoth, ME 04605.
- Community Service Update: HELP NEEDED - December Loaves and Fishes: Several emails have been sent by Jodie Cushing of signing up on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday mornings during the month of December. Please contact her if you can help.
- Club Holiday Party – Dec. 15th via Zoom only: Laura Pellerano and Jo Cooper are currently planning our annual club holiday party. It will be via Zoom this year on Tuesday, December 15th.
- Rotary Blood Drive Update: The next blood drive is Tuesday, December 22th. Scott Kimball will email a sign-up sheet looking for help.
- Rotary Foundation Update: This month’s winner is Jackie Sinclair for a $10 Dunkin Donuts Gift Card! Lincoln spoke about Rotary Peace Fellowships. Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of our peace centers. Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centers program develops the capacity of peace and development professionals or practitioners to become experienced and effective catalysts for peace. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship and field-study expenses. Since the program began in 2002, the Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 1,300 fellows who now work in more than 115 countries. Many serve as leaders in governments, NGOs, the military, education, law enforcement, and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.
- Gifting Experience Update: To date (Dec. 8th) $2,720.000 in contributions have been committed by Club members and community members who have joined in the effort to make a difference. The response to The Gifting Experience fundraising appeal has been greater than we may have expected this year. Below is an outline for the Club’s leadership to consider for how donated funds can be disbursed early in December.
Ellsworth Police Department:
Donate gift cards for the officers to use at their discretion when working with the public.The following stores are recommended to purchase gift cards to be gifted to the Police Department:
- Bud Connection 8 cards at $15
- Morton’s Moo 8 cards at $15
- John Edwards Market 6 cards at $20
- Rooster Brother 6 cards at $20
- Rock & Art Shop 6 cards at $20
- Union River Book & Toy 6 cards at $20
Special Children's Friends/City of Ellsworth: Over the past few years, the City has been committed to raising funds to help families with children being served by Special Children’s Friends.They usually collect significant funds through returnable bottles/cans dropped at the transfer station.They have only raised about 50% of their normal amount this year.There are 80 children in need and the City has committed to assisting with 40 children.
Downeast Community Partners: For many years DCP has organized the Christmas Magic Toy Drive to benefit families across Hancock and Washington Counties.Toys are purchased for those birth – grade 12.DCP is in need of financial contributions.In 2019, a total of 355 children benefited and they expect at least 400 will be served this year.
Families First Community Center: They plan to open the Ellsworth Falls Center this month to families.
Guest Speaker: This week’s guest speaker was Cassie Banning. She is the Director of Farm & Gardens for the Land and Garden Preserve in Seal Harbor, Maine. Since 2013, she has been responsible for thirty acres of natural lands, the historic walled Abby Garden, Playhouse and Eyrie Terrace. This property was the summer estate of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. In addition, she managed the McAlpin Farm and greenhouse complex that has six thousand square feet of indoor growing space and a one-acre fenced outdoor growing space. Promoted to the Director of Farm & Gardens in January of 2019, she now oversees all the Land and Garden Preserve Gardens; Thuya Gardens, Asticou Azalea Garden, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Gardens, along with the McAlpin Farm facility.
Respectfully submitted by Ashley Johnson
