Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
 
Greeter: Rotarian Lincoln Ehrlenbach
 
Invocation was read by Rotarian Rebecca Greenlaw and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
Sergeant at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
 
Visiting Rotarians: Dave and Betty Parsons of Portland
 
Birthdays: JoAnn Brown on February 16th and Pam Cushing on February 17th.  Happy Birthday!
 
Door Prizes: Winners were Debbie Ehrlenbach, Rebecca Greenlaw, Carl Lusby and Gene Pellerano.
 
50/50: $8 to Lincoln Ehrlenbach
 
3rd Quarter Happy Dollars: This quarter all happy dollars will go towards the Rotary Scholarship Fund for students at Ellsworth High School and Hancock County Technical Center.    
 
The following Rotarians gave Happy Dollars: Lincoln Ehrlenbach, Carl Lusby, Mary Thomas, Dave Wells, Rebecca Greenlaw, Julie Bouchard, Ray Williams and Gene Pellerano.
 
Those who are on Zoom and give Happy Dollars, please send in your donation by mail to the Club at: Rotary Club of Ellsworth, PO Box 741, Ellsworth, ME 04605.
 
 
ROTARY BUSINESS:
 
Thank You Card: Our club received a Thank You card from the Luke Gross Family thanking us for the $1,066 donation from our 2nd quarter happy dollars.
 
Valentine's Day Quiz with JoAnn Brown: Winner of the quiz was Rebecca Greenlaw. Club members enjoyed Valentine’s Day Cookies.
 
Mardi Gras Celebration: Our club will celebrate Mardi Gras at the March 1st club meeting. There will be a trivia, Mardi Gras masks, beads, food and beverages.
 
Stuffed Animals for Pediatric Ward for MCMH Hospital: Please bring in a stuffed animal(s) over the next few meetings. We will then deliver them to the Pediatric Ward at the MCMH in Ellsworth to provide smiles and comfort for children.
 
Annual EHS Honor’s Banquet: The Honor’s Banquet is set for April 12th at China Hill. We will be honoring the top 30 Students from EHS.
 
Stem Cell Donation for Danny Dunn: Passing this along for Linda Fuller, there will be an opportunity to swab to see whether you might be a match for Danny Dunn who needs a stem cell donation. Individuals under 40 are the target group. As the Dunns continue their effort to find a match for Danny and others, they’re holding a couple of in-person donor drives next month. The first is on March 8 at the Elks Lodge in Ellsworth. There will be a blood drive and stem cell donor swabbing event from noon until 6. Then on March 12, they’ll be doing swabbing only from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
 
2022 Rotary Pancake Breakfast: SAVE THE DATE! We will be having the pancake breakfast this year. The event will be on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at the Downeast Family YMCA Parking lot.
 
Reminder to pay your dues: You can send in a check or pay online using PayPal at: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ASTE82C8NAFK8
 
 
Upcoming Community Service Events:
 
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: February will continue the “your own service project month”. Please let Jodie Cushing and Marian Wells know if you do any community service or makeups throughout the week.
 
Blood Drive: The Blood Drive is the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month. Max Dietshe thanks everyone for their continued help. Please sign up for February and March!
 
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry: The pantry is looking for volunteers to help out at the Pantry. Please call them to sign up to help.
 
Guest Speaker: Jessica Valdez, Executive Director, of Community Compass in Blue Hill was our guest speaker. Community Compass is a collaboration of community members, Neighborhood Navigators, and partner organizations working collectively to break the cycle of poverty by engaging the financially struggling, reducing barriers to prosperity, and building opportunity for all citizens of Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Deer Isle, Orland, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Stonington, and Surry.
 
They have strong collaborative partnerships with Downeast Community Partners, Healthy Peninsula, Healthy Acadia, Friends in Action, local elementary schools, and several local churches. They work together to serve those in need.

Respectfully submitted by Rotarian Ashley Johnson
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