Opening Ceremonies: Past President Peter Farragher called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm with opening remarks and the pledge of allegiance.
Peter thanked Nancy Mayo for serving as Sergeant at Arms, Michael Houslen for setting up Zoom, Ashley Johnson for taking notes and everyone for helping set up and take down the meeting.
FYI: Please note that the time of club meetings have changed to start at 5:30 pm beginning January 2026. Club meetings will be 1 hour 5:30 – 6:30 pm. We will try this for the winter months. Please be at the meeting a little before 5:30pm.
Starting April 7th – The weekly meetings will go back to 6:00pm
Birthdays and Anniversaries: Each week birthdays and anniversaries wishes will be sent from the club via email with an electronic greeting card. Be on the lookout for yours!
Rotary Business/Upcoming events/Volunteer Opportunities:
February 3rd Club Meeting: Will be held at HCTC at 5:30pm.
February 17th Club Meeting: Will be held at KidsPeace at 5:30pm.
Save the Date! Chili Cook Off – March 3rd at Marc Rich’s House! Bring favorite chili recipe for everyone to taste. Or just come to taste all the yummy food. Marc will provide corn bread and red/white wine. Location is 22 Pleasant Street in Ellsworth.
Rotary Ladies Night: Once a month at 4:30pm at the Black Moon on Main Street in Ellsworth. An email will be sent out on the date, Please RSVP to JoAnn Rodick.
Join a Rotary Committee: We encourage club members to join a committee within the club. Learn more about Rotary and how you can help!
Rotary Bylaws: The committee is currently reviewing the club bylaws.
Tea Donations for Meadow View Residents: For the second year in a row, we are making donations for the YMCA Valentine care packages that are distributed to residents of Meadowview Apartments on Valentine’s Day. We are collecting boxes of tea (any variety) to donate to the YMCA who are making Valentine care packages for the residents of Meadowview Apartments. We need around 80 boxes of tea to include a box for each resident. If you could bring boxes of tea to our Rotary meeting on Feb. 10th and/or JoAnn Rodick will buy the tea for you if you want to give a cash donation, that would be greatly appreciated!
Door Prizes: Marian Wells, Ray Williams, Debbie Ehrlenbach and Gene Pellerano.
50/50: $6 to Lincoln Ehrlenbach
Happy Dollars– 3rd quarter Happy Dollars will be going towards The Waterville Rotary Club President who was badly hurt on Thanksgiving Day. Several Rotarians shared happy thoughts.
Guest Speaker: We’re pleased to highlight the work of Centro de Prótesis y Terapia Física in the Dominican Republic and to introduce its Executive Director, Graviel Nuel Jacobo.
Graviel zoomed in for our meeting. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Centro, a nonprofit organization that provides free prosthetic limbs, physical therapy, and rehabilitation services to individuals who otherwise would not have access to care. Graviel lost his own leg at a young age and understands firsthand the life-changing impact that mobility and compassionate support can bring.
Guided by his lived experience, Graviel established the Centro to restore independence, dignity, and opportunity for people living with limb loss and physical disabilities. His leadership continues to transform lives and strengthen communities through access to mobility and hope.
Graviel thanked the club for our ongoing support!
Next week at Rotary: February 3rd meeting will wbe held at HCTC at 5:30pm.
Polio Cups: Reminder to donate to Polio! For every $1 donated, 7 children are vaccinated.
Respectfully submitted Ashley Johnson
