Rotarians Debbie Ehrlenbach, Marian Wells and Jack Frost volunteered at the Blood Drive yesterday at the Ellsworth Elks Lodge. Club members are seen volunteering every month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from Noon - 6pm.
This week at Rotary, Lori Googins was inducted as our newest member and our guest speaker was Kathy Young, Executive Director of the Woodlawn Museum, Gardens, and Park.
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Invocation was read by Cindy Shoppe and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
Visiting Rotarians: Dave and Better Parsons of Portland
Guests: Grace Robinson, John Shoppe, Kathy Young, Charles Alexander, Lori Googins
Club Anniversaries: Heidi Omlor 6 years, Alison King 12 Years, Rhonda Parker 2 Years and Tony Bouchad 15 Years
Door Prizes: The lucky winners were Laura Pellerano, Marian Wells and Gene Pellerano.
50/50: $10 to Bendetta Pellerano
4th Quarter Happy Dollars: This quarter all happy dollars will go towards Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
The following individuals gave Happy Dollars: Benedetta Pellerano, Carl Lusby, Jack Frost, Grace Robinson, Clyde Cushing, Marian Wells, Scott Kimball, Debbie Ehrlenbach, Lincoln Ehrlenbach, JoAnn Brown and Gene Pellerano.
Rotary Business:
New Member Induction: Lori Googins is our newest member, welcome Lori!
Membership Dues: Club members voted in favor of raising the annual dues for Fiscal/Rotary year 2022-2023 to $300 for an individual, $350 for family and $450 for corporate membership. Bills will go out Jun 1, 2022 and dues will be Due June 30, 2022. If you want to split the dues into two payments the second payment will be due by December 31,2022.
Greeters: Please sign up to be a greeter at our weekly meetings. The help is needed.
Paul Harris Recognition Night: This event is Tuesday, June 7th at Chippers Restaurant. Our club will be awarded 7 Paul Harris Awards.Space is limited, please sign up now with Dave Wells or Carl Lusby. $22 per person, please pre-pay. Below is the menu.
Rotary Board Meeting: The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 14th at 4:30pm at China Hill.
Upcoming Service Projects:
Indian Point Trail Clean-up: June 4th at 9:00am
Ellsworth Uptown Market: July 9th and 10th - Our club will have a table to sell crafts, antiques and yard sale items. Please donate and help! This event is held at the TJ Maxx Parking Lot in Ellsworth. Items we don’t sell we will donate to Goodwill.
Bar Harbor Rotary Club: The club has asked for help for their annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast starting at 530am to 10:30 am. They can also use help for their lunch immediately following.
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: Please let Jodie Cushing and Marian Wells know if you do any community service or makeups throughout the week.
Guest Speaker: Kathy Young, Executive Director of the Woodlawn Museum, Gardens, and Park was our guest speaker this week.
She spoke about the many current projects being done at Woodlawn and future projects being planned as part of the Campaign for Woodlawn. The Community Barn will be built in 2022, the grounds and trails will be enhanced, and community programming with an emphasis on historical and environmental education will be expanded. The Woodlawn Museum intends to develop the outreach opportunities to schools throughout Hancock County as well as year round historical and environmental education programs such as events, exhibits, workshops, fairs, and gatherings of all kinds for all to enjoy.
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Invocation was read by Marian Wells and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
Guests: Grace Robinson, Lesile Beyer and family
Birthdays: Clyde Cushing, Jim Vickers and Debbie Ehrlenbach
4th Quarter Happy Dollars: This quarter all happy dollars will go towards Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
The following individuals gave Happy Dollars: Grace Robinson, Clyde Cushing, Dom Efter, Jack Frost, Laura Pellerano, Fred Beyer, Tracy Shaffer, Debbie Ehrlenbach, Lincoln Ehrlenbach, Dave Wells, Benedetta Pellerano.
Rotary Business:
District Conference:Gene Pellerano attended the District Conference via Zoom on May 14th.
Greeters: Please sign up to be a greeter at our weekly meetings. The help is needed.
Paul Harris Recognition Night: This event is Tuesday, June 7th at Chippers Restaurant. Our club will be awarding 8 Paul Harris Awards. More details will be shared soon!
Rotary Board Meeting:The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 14th at 4:30pm at China Hill.
May 24th Meeting:We will be inducting a new member into the club and will be voting to raise the annual dues. Please attend in person or on zoom to vote.
Foundation:35 club members contributed $10,545 to the annual fund, bringing the member per capita to $199. The club has raised $2,043 for polio. We had 18 club members contribute $3,200 to the Ukraine Disaster Relief Fund. The Rotary Foundation has added the Ukraine funds to our annual fund column. Thank you to everyone who has donated!
Upcoming Service Projects:
Bike Rodeo: May 21st at the Ellsworth Elementary Middle School from 9am – Noon. Our club is a sponsor for this event by donating bike helmets.
Indian Point Trail Clean-up: June 4th at 9:00am
Ellsworth Uptown Market: July 9th and 10th - Our club will have a table to sell crafts, antiques and yard sale items. Please donate and help! This event is held at the TJ Maxx Parking Lot in Ellsworth. Items we don’t sell we will donate to Goodwill.
Bar Harbor Rotary Club: The club has asked for help for their annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast starting at 530am to 10:30 am. They can also use help for their lunch immediately following.
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: Please let Jodie Cushing and Marian Wells know if you do any community service or makeups throughout the week.
This week our club held it’s meeting at Loaves and Fishes’ new Building located at 137 Downeast Highway in Ellsworth. Members received a tour of the planned facility and helped sort food collected by the USPS food drive from last weekend.
The club recognized Joey Ciciotte the Humanitarian Award for his dedication to the People of Ukraine by baking 200 macarons, sugar cookies and rice krispie treats and then sold them and raised $525.00 which he donated to UNICEF to support Ukrainian refugees.
Melanie Dresser, Executive Director of Camp CaPella was our guest speaker this week.
Opening Ceremonies: Rotarian Max Dietshe called the meeting to order.
Invocation was read by Cindy shoppe and the Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Sergeants at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
Guests: Viisting Rotarians Dave & Betty Parsons; Francesca Dresser, daughter of guest speaker.
Birthdays: Doug Kell
Wedding Anniversaries: Dana Reiter
Door Prizes: Francesca Dresser and Ross Baldree
50/50: won by Cindy Shoppe, who turned it back to our quarterly non-profit recipient of Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry
4th Quarter Happy Dollars: Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
The following Rotarians gave Happy dollars: Dave Wells, Cindy Shoppe, Ross Baldree and Dom Efter
Rotary Business:
The Red Cross Blood Drive has enough volunteers through May.
The vote by all members regarding increasing our annual dues will be done at our May 24th meeting at China Hill.
May 17th Meeting: Next week’s meeting will be held at the new Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry located at 137 Downeast Highway in Ellsworth. Members are encouraged to bring snacks and food to share. BYO Beverages, no alcohol
Greeters: Are needed. Please help and sign up at our weekly meetings.
Foundation Update: Lincoln reports we have 35 club members who have contributed $10,545
to the RI Annual fund, bringing the member per capita to $199. The club has raised $2043 for Polio Plus and 18 club members have contributed $3200 to the Ukraine Disaster Relief Fund. The rotary Foundation has added the Ukraine funds to our annual column.
Bike Rodeo: May 21 at EEMS. Our club provides the helmets for the kids, and adults may ride too, if they bring a bike.
Library Open House: May 11, 4-6pm. Help needed.
Indian Point Trail Clean-up: June 4 at 9am. Wear boots and gloves.
Bar harbor Rotary Club: Has asked for help for their annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast starting at 5:30am to 10:30am. They can also use help for their lunch immediately following. They now offer free parking in a lot near the site.
Community Service Hours and Makeups: Please let Jodie and Marian know if you do any community service or makeups during the week.
Blood Drive: Held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. Max appreciates the volunteers who sign up and help.
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry: They are looking for volunteers and need help.
Guest Speaker: Melanie Dresser, Executive Director of Camp CaPella.
Camp Cappella was started in 1960 by the Miller’s Drug Store family of Bangor to serve the disabled and developmentally challenged people and is located on Lake Lucerne in Dedham. Its Mission is to provide quality of life experiences for people with disabilities and their families by providing year-round recreational and educational experiences. In spite of Covid-19, the camp was open last year and is preparing for another grand season this year. Renovations going on include new floors in the lodge, new decking for the dock, a sewer project that includes a new bath house, new bathrooms, and the Alex Hooper Memorial.
Activities at camp include wilderness adventures, hiking, canoeing, campfires, etc.
The camp costs $2600 a week to attend, but much financial assistance is provided through fundraising activities and generous donors. Last year the camp needed $260,000 to run and this year it has climbed to $360,000. Tuition this year is $2,000.
Camp Cappella means the world to those who attend, and some have attended for 42 years!
Ways to support Camp Cappella: volunteer, host a fundraiser, use the camp Clynk bags for returnables, use AmazonSmile when shopping there, sponsor a camper, memorial donations,
you just want to help donations. Camp CaPella, PO Box 552, Holden, ME 04429
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Invocation was read by Mary Thomas and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Tony Bouchard
Guests: HCTC Students with their Families and HCTC Staff, Lori Googins
Door Prizes: The lucky winners were Mary Thomas, Lori Googins, Rebecca Greenlaw, Benedetta Pellerano, and HCTC families
50/50: $8 to Hope High
Tonight’s Happy Dollars went towards Skills USA.
The following Rotarians gave Happy Dollars: Hope High, Debbie Ehrlenbach, Ashley Johnson, Clyde Cushing, Jack Frost, Dave Wells, Max Dietshe and Gene Pellerano.
Rotary Business:
Greeters: Please sign up to be a greeter at our weekly meetings. The help is needed.
Upcoming Service Projects:
Boggy Brooke 5k for HCTC: May 15th @9am details on the link
Bike Rodeo: May 21st at the Ellsworth Elementary Middle School. More info to come.
Indian Point Trail Clean-up: June 4th at 9:00am
Bar Harbor Rotary Club: The club has asked for help for their annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast starting at 530am to 10:30 am. They can also use help for their lunch immediately following.
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: Please let Jodie Cushing and Marian Wells know if you do any community service or makeups throughout the week.
HCTC Recognition Night: Our club honored three outstanding students from Hancock County Technical Center (HCTC) in the following programs:
Haris Plasvic, a sophomore from Bucksport High School was introduced by his Automotive Instructor Hunter Havel.
Addison LeClair, a Junior from Mount Desert Island High School was introduced by his Culinary Instructor Bill Baker.
Kjell Vikberg, a Senior from Connections Academy was introduced by is Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Instructor Tara Mason.
Each student received a Certificate, $50 gift card and a Service Above Self Rotary Coin.
Students from the Culinary program made a delicious meal and our guest speaker was Director Amy Boles. It was another great night partnering with HCTC to recognize and encourage excellence in technical education.
Thank you to our host Debbie Ehrlenbach and the vocational committee for organizing this event!
This week at Rotary our guest speaker was Rebecca Palmer, the new Executive Director of Downeast Community Partners. Also, our club has recently donated $500.00 to HCTC SkillsUSA and $500.00 to Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital towards their birthing center.
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Invocation was read by Cindy Shoppe and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
Guests: Rebecca Palmer, Sharon Catus, Phil Bailey
Birthdays: Marc Rich, Julie Bouchard and Jo Cooper. Happy Birthday!
Club Anniversaries: Dana Reiter 15 Years, Debbie Ehrlenbach 6 Years and Gene Pellerano 6 Years. Congratulations!
Door Prizes: The lucky winners were Jodie Cushing, Clyde Cushing, Laura Pellerano, Cindy Shoppe
50/50: $9 Jack Frost
4th Quarter Happy Dollars: This quarter all happy dollars will go towards Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
The following Rotarians gave Happy Dollars: Jack Frost, Jodie Cushing, Dave Wells, Marian Wells, Laura Pellerano, Rebecca Greenlaw, Carol Jordan and Gene Pellerano.
Rotary Business:
Membership Update:Jim Vickers wife-Barb, passed away last week. He is staying with family in Orono. Larry Johnston is back home. Jo Cooper is officially retired. Bill Casale reached out and thanked club members for the card.
Greeters: Please sign up to be a greeter at our weekly meetings. The help is needed.
Foundation Update: Since July 1, we have had 35 club members contribute $10,545 to the annual fund, bringing the member per capita to $199. The club has raised $2043 for polio. We had 18 club members contribute $3200 to the Ukraine Disaster Relief Fund. The Rotary Foundation has added the Ukraine funds to our annual fund column.
Upcoming Service Projects:
Boggy Brooke 5k for HCTC: May 15th @9am details on the link
Bike Rodeo: May 21st at the Ellsworth Elementary Middle School. More info to come.
Indian Point Trail Clean-up: June 4th at 9:00am
Bar Harbor Rotary Club: The club has asked for help for their annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast starting at 530am to 10:30 am. They can also use help for their lunch immediately following.
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: Please let Jodie Cushing and Marian Wells know if you do any community service or makeups throughout the week.
Guest Speaker: Rebecca Palmer, Executive Director of Downeast Community Partners. Downeast Community Partners (DCP) was formed in 2017 with the merging of two of the most venerable organizations in the region, Child and Family Opportunities and the Washington Hancock Community Agency. With a mission to improve the quality of life and reduce the impact of poverty in Downeast communities, DCP is committed to creating and delivering services and programs that treat community members with dignity and compassion and offer them the possibility of achieving their goals and dreams.
Some of the services provided by DCP includes: low income fuel assistances such as the THAW Fund, transportation, financial support, elder services, child/young adult education programs, home repairs and food security.
Other support for families and individuals: Christmas program, Family Futures Downeast and the School supply program.
Our guest speaker was Tom Judge, Executive Director of LifeFlight of Maine.
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Invocation was read by Dave Wells and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
Guests: John Shoppe and Eli Robinson
Club Anniversaries: Carl Lusby 13 Years on April 21st and Jackie Sinclair 3 Years on April 23rd.
Birthdays: Julie Clark on April 19th and Paul Harris 154 Years old on April 19th. Marian gave a brief History of Paul Harris.
Door Prizes: The lucky winners were Ashley Johnson, Tom Judge and Cindy Shoppe
50/50: $8 to Rebecca Greenlaw
4th Quarter Happy Dollars: This quarter all happy dollars will go towards Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
The following Rotarians gave Happy Dollars: Rebecca Greenlaw, Tom Judge, Mary Thomas, Debbie Ehrlenbach, Dave Wells, Cindy Shoppe, Julie Bouchard, Carl Lusby 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:
EHS Honor’s Banque Recap: The evening went well and a photo was in last week's Ellsworth American. Debbie Ehrlenbach received a thank you email that evening from student Elena Springer thanking our club for a wonderful evening.
KidsPeace Thank You Card: Clients and staff enjoyed tickets donated from the club to the Portland Sea Dog Baseball game and had a great time!
April 26th Meeting will be at HCTC: Everyone can arrive at 5:30pm This is our HCTC Honor’s Night to recognize students from Automotive, Culinary and Hospitality, Travel and Tourism. Zoom will not be provided.
The Culinary Program will be preparing a delicious meal for us! The menu will be fresh green salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing, roll and butter, Petite filet mignon with Au Jus, Grilled Chicken Breast Florentine, Stuffed Shells, twice baked potatoes, glazed carrots and strawberry shortcake for dessert!
Greeters: Please sign up to be a greeter at our weekly meetings.
Foundation Update: As of this week, we have raised over 9,000 towards the Annual Fund and $1,900 for Polio Plus. Thank you for your continued support!
Rotarians Respond to Ukrainian Crisis: 11 members have donated to the Ukraine! Donate to Rotary's Disaster Response Fund to support refugees and victims of the Ukraine crisis here: https://lnkd.in/eQTexMPG.
Upcoming Service Projects:
Green Ellsworth: Saturday, April 23rd – Planting 60 Trees at 1:00pm. Meet at Jordan Homestead on the Bayside Road. Sign up with Jodie Cushing.
Green Ellsworth: Friday, April 29th – Planting trees with 2nd Graders. Time to be determined. Sign up with Jodie Cushing.
Card Brook Clean-up: April 23rd (rain date 4/30) 930-1200pm
To register contact Kerri Taylor 669-6615 or email taylor@ellsworthmaine.gov. Meet at On the right side of Hannaford wear boots comfy clothes.
Boggy Brooke 5k for HCTC: May 15th @9am details on the link
Bike Rodeo: May 21st at the Ellsworth Elementary Middle School. More info to come.
Frenchman Bay Trail Clean-up: Proposed for June 3rd. More info to come.
Bar Harbor Rotary Club: The club has asked for help for their annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast starting at 530am to 10:30 am. They can also use help for their lunch immediately following.
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: Please let Jodie Cushing and Marian Wells know if you do any community service or makeups throughout the week.
Guest Speaker: Our guest speaker was Tom Judge, Executive Director of LifeFlight of Maine. LifeFlight of Maine is the state’s only emergency air ambulance service. LifeFlight’s three helicopters, an airplane, and specialty ground vehicles are equipped as fully functioning mobile intensive care units, bringing advanced skills, medical technology, pharmacy, blood, and more—directly to a patient’s side.
Over the past 23 years, LifeFlight has safely cared for 33,000 patients of all ages—from premature infants and critically injured children, to adults and seniors who need specialty care. The calls for help come from all points in Maine—from the mountains to the lakes and coastal islands, from highways, trails, main streets, and, importantly, from hospital to hospital.
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Invocation was read by Ashley Johnson and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
Guests: John Shoppe and Gracie Robinson
Visiting Rotarians: Dave and Betty Parson of Portland
Birthdays: Linda Fuller on April 11th
Club Anniversaries: Larry Johnston joined the club 33 Years ago on April 1st and Jo Cooper joined the club on April 8th 8 years ago.
Door Prizes: The lucky winners were Lincoln Ehrlenbach and Dave Wells.
50/50: $10 to Grace Robinson
4th Quarter Happy Dollars: This quarter all happy dollars will go towards Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.
The following Rotarians gave Happy Dollars: Grace Robinson, Jodie Cushing, Rhonda Parker, Debbie Ehrlenbach, Bob Thomas, Carl Lusby, Scott Kimball, Marian Wells, Dave Wells 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:
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. If you are a host, please contact your student. All dinners need to be pre-paid before April 12th. Please arrive at 5:15pm. Contact Debbie Ehrlenbach for questions.
April 26th Meeting will be at HCTC: This is our HCTC Honor’s Night to recognize students from Automotive, Culinary and Hospitality, Travel and Tourism.
The Culinary Program will be preparing a delicious meal for us! The menu will be fresh green salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing, roll and butter, Petite filet mignon with Au Jus, Grilled Chicken Breast Florentine, Stuffed Shells, twice baked potatoes, glazed carrots and strawberry shortcake for dessert!
Greeters: Please sign up to be a greeter at our weekly meetings.
Rotarians Respond to Ukrainian Crisis: 11 members have donated to the Ukraine! Donate to Rotary's Disaster Response Fund to support refugees and victims of the Ukraine crisis here: https://lnkd.in/eQTexMPG.
Foundation Update: As of this week, we have raised over 9,000 towards the Annual Fund and $1,900 for Polio Plus. Thank you for your continued support!
Upcoming Service Projects:
Card Brook Clean-up: 4/23 (rain date 4/30) 930-1200pm
To register contact Kerri Taylor 669-6615 or email taylor@ellsworthmaine.gov. Meet at On the right side of Hannaford wear boots comfy clothes.
Boggy Brooke 5k for HCTC: 5/15 @9am details on the link
Bike Rodeo: 5/21 at the Ellsworth Elementary Middle School. More info to come
Frenchman Bay Trail Clean-up: Proposed for 6/3. More info to come.
Bar Harbor Rotary Club: The club has asked for help for their annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast starting at 530am to 10:30 am. They can also use help for their lunch immediately following.
Stay tuned for more opportunity’s as we get better weather. We have things in the works with the Green Club and possibly Woodland.
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: Please let Jodie Cushing and Marian Wells know if you do any community service or makeups throughout the week.
Guest Speaker: President Elect Clyde Cushing was our speaker this week. Clyde spoke about his vision for next year and would like to see more Fellowship and Service.
Clyde organized a breakout session where club members got into small groups and were provided questions to answer about how we can change our club for next year that included projects, fundraising and weekly meetings. Members on Zoom also participated.
Everyone turned in their answers with Clyde and he will share with us the information soon.
Reminders: Next week is the Honor’s Banquet. Please arrive at 5:15pm at China Hill.
Tabatha White of Green Ellsworth was our guest speaker this week.
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Invocation was read by Mary Thomas and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
Guests: John Shoppe and Kelly Summers
Club Anniversaries: Larry Johnston joined the club 33 Years ago on April 1st.
Door Prizes: The lucky winners were Bob Thomas and Kelly Summers
50/50: $10 to Laura Pellerano
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: Laure Pellerano, Marian Wells, Debbie Ehrlenbach, Mary Thomas, Scott Kimball, Carl Lusby, Gene Pellerano, Fred Beyer and Dave Wells.
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:
Greeters: Please sign up to be a greeter at our weekly meetings.
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. If you are a host, please contact your student. All dinners need to be pre-paid before April 12th. Contact Debbie Ehrlenbach for questions.
Rotarians Respond to Ukrainian Crisis: Over 10 members have donated to the Ukraine! Donate to Rotary's Disaster Response Fund to support refugees and victims of the Ukraine crisis here: https://lnkd.in/eQTexMPG.
Foundation Update: As of this week, we have raised over 9,000 towards the Annual Fund and $1,900 for Polio Plus. This is the 4th year in a row our club is at the top in the district in per capita Annual Fund giving to the Rotary Foundation. Thank you for your continued support!
Service Projects for the month of May: An email will be sent out with information about the Indian Point Clean-up, EEMS Bike Rodeo, and the Chamber Open House at the Ellsworth Library. Stay tuned!
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: 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 April and May!
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: Tabatha White of Green Ellsworth was our guest speaker this week. In January 2017, the Ellsworth Garden Club launched the Ellsworth green planning process after a popular public forum. The first forum was an instant success. It included city staff, non-profit representatives, and individuals with expertise in a range of areas. At the end of the forum, they all agreed to help “make Ellsworth a model green community.”
In April 2017, the Ellsworth Green Plan Steering Committee formed. The Steering Committee was comprised of community members leading subcommittees in ten focus areas. These subcommittees gathered input from hundreds of citizens and numerous experts, hosted two dozen public forums and countless hours of meetings, and conducted substantial field research, small projects, surveys, mapping, inventories, and analysis—all with the aim of completing a comprehensive Green Plan for Ellsworth.
Green Ellsworth released a Green Plan for the City of Ellsworth, Maine early in 2021. It provides a ten-year road map for sustainable development with strategies and recommendations in four primary areas: Water, Land, Food & Farming and Infrastructure.
The plan was developed by volunteers from the input of hundreds of citizens and numerous experts, two dozen public forums, countless hours of meetings, substantial field research, small projects, surveys, mapping, inventories, and analysis—all in aid of moving Ellsworth closer to becoming a model green community.
Our club would like to help plant trees in June with Green Ellsworth.
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Greeter: Mary Thomas
Invocation was read by Mary Thomas and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
Visiting Rotarians: Dave and Betty Parsons of Portland
Guests: John Shoppe
Birthdays: March 22nd Rebecca Sargent, March 23rd Lincoln Ehrlenbach, March 26th Ken Huitt. Happy Birthday! Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Lincoln and he was surprised with a slice of cheesecake!
Door Prizes: The lucky winners were Carl Lusby and Debbie Ehrlenbach
50/50: $7 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, Debbbie Ehrlenbach, Max Dietshe, Rhonda Parker, Benedetta Pellerano, Carl Lusby, Mary Thomas, Bob Thomas, Gene Pellerano and Fred Beyer.
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:
Rotarians Respond to Ukrainian Crisis: More than half of the 2.5 million refugees fleeing Ukraine have arrived in Poland where Rotary members are organizing shelter, transportation, and basic necessities for the incoming refugees.
Rotary Club of Olsztyn is collecting and managing donations for refugees, primarily unaccompanied children, staying at Ostróda Camp. Within a few hours, four cars full of donated items were collected— including food, clothes, bedding, personal hygiene products, as well as some toys.
The Rotary Foundation has received thousands of donations, totaling over $1.1 million. These donations support efforts like that of Rotary Club of Olsztyn as well as provide medical supplies in Ukraine and support refugees who have fled to neighboring countries.
Donate to Rotary's Disaster Response Fund to support refugees and victims of the Ukraine crisis here: https://lnkd.in/eQTexMPG.
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. Contact Debbie Ehrlenbach for questions.
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: Please let Jodie Cushing and Marian Wells know if you do any community service or makeups throughout the week.
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.
Rotary Each One Bring One: For each potential member you bring to a Rotary meeting (whether in person or via zoom) or a Rotary community service project in the month of March, you will be entered to win an amazing prize!
Guest Speaker: Our guest speakers this week were Rotarians Tina Chapman and Suzanne Uhl-Melanson from the District 7790 our club is part of. They both Zoomed in.
There was a great group discussion about ideas and strategies to recruit new members and increase engagement and retention.
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Greeter: Lincoln Ehrlenbach
Invocation was read by Rotarian Mary Thomas and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
Visiting Rotarians: Dave and Betty Parsons of Portland
Guests: Grace Robinson
Birthdays: March 22nd Rebecca Sargent, March 23rd Lincoln Ehrlenbach, March 26th Ken Huitt. Happy Birthday!
Club Anniversaries: Dave Wells on March 23rd, Marian Wells on March 25th. Congratulations!
Door Prizes: The luck winners were Benedetta Pellerano, Laura Pellerano, Pam Cushing and Jodie Cushing.
50/50: $8 to Carl Lusby
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: Carl Lusby, Jack Frost, Clyde Cushing, Ross Baldree, Bob Thomas, Benedetta Pellerano, Debbie Ehrlenbach, and Rebecca Greenlaw.
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 with Certificate and Banner: The District thanked and recognized our club for being number two in the district in per capita Annual Fund giving to the Rotary Foundation in the District for the year 2020-2021. Thank you all for your continued support!
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. An email was sent out asking club members to sign up to help host a student. Please contact Debbie Ehrlenbach.
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: 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 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.
Rotary Each One Bring One: For each potential member you bring to a Rotary meeting (whether in person or via zoom) or a Rotary community service project in the month of March, you will be entered to win an amazing prize!
Guest Speaker: Andy Matthews, Board President of Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry was our guest speaker this week. She gave us an update on the New Building Campaign and are in hopes to move to their new location in the Fall of 2022.
On Wednesday March 9th, Members of the Rotary Club of Ellsworth donated four bags of new stuffed animals to Northern Light Pediatric Care at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital. The stuffed animals were collected as part of a Mardi Gras Celebration at the March 1st Rotary Club of Ellsworth Meeting.
Members in beads, masks and some in costumes enacted a Mardi Gras parade featuring the stuffed animals. The Rotary Club of Ellsworth felt this Mardi Gras stuffed animal parade was both a fun activity for the club and helped a worthy cause.
Vanessa Hawkins at Northern Light Pediatric Care stated the primary idea is to give the stuffed animals to kids who are there for DHHS intake visits. Kids who are scheduled for an exam with them by DHHS are being put into foster care. In addition, they would like to use them for any child seen in the office that needs to be transferred via ambulance.
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Greeter: Laura Pellerano
Invocation was read by Rotarian Mary Thomas and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Tony and Julie Bouchard
Guests: Grace Robinson and Lori Googins
Club Anniversaries: Ken Huitt 3 Years on March 8th. Congratulations!
Door Prizes: The luck winners were Carl Lusby, Debbie Ehrlenbach and Rebecca Greenlaw.
50/50: Lori Googins
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: Lori Googins, Grace Robinson, Rebecca Greenlaw, Marian Wells, Benedetta Pellerano, Debbie Ehrlenbach 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:
Rotary Each One Bring One: For each potential member you bring to a Rotary meeting (whether in person or via zoom) or a Rotary community service project in the month of March, you will be entered to win an amazing prize!
Rotary Facebook Spotlight: Contact JoAnn Brown to sign up for the Rotary Spotlight on our Social Media pages. You send her a picture of yourself with information on why you join Rotary and it will be posted online.
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. An email was sent out asking club members to sign up to help host a student. Please contact Debbie Ehrlenbach.
Make-Ups and Community Service Hours: 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 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:RotarianLincoln Ehrlenbach shared a presentation of photos and information about the History of our Club. Below is his speech.
The first regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Ellsworth was held February 20, 1950. The club was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bangor. The charter night celebration was held at the Lucerne Inn, April 22, 1950. There were 206 people in attendance, and the admission price for the entire evening was $5, which included dinner and dancing.
June 23, 1951 was the first ladies Night. Grindstone Inn, Winter Harbor was the location, with 20 couples attending. The cost was $2.50 per person and the entertainment was a magic show. Over the years the club held ladies’ night at different location around Hancock County with different entertainment. Other fun activities were fashion shows, variety shows, Lobster Bakes, cookouts, progressive dinners, and snowmobile rides. The club took several field trips over the years to different locations in eastern Maine. The club would host and visit other rotary club over the years.
In 1952 was the beginning of the Father and Son night. Later becoming known as offspring night. (I attended many of these nights with my father and grandfather.)
During the Christmas season the Rotary would erect a large electric Star with white lights and at Easter a large 9 Ft electric Cross with white lights on Bridge Hill.
The club held its first fund-raising auction to benefit a youth center project in April 1952. In 1953 the Rotarians helped install the floor at Ellsworth City Hall and the Rotary Auction began and has grown into an annual event.
During the summer of 1955 the club started the Little League program at Whitney Field. In 1960 the club bought a 10 aces field by Boggy Brook off Rt 1A for $600 and put another $1000 into fixing it for a suitable ball field, later the Little League Field became to be known as the Fred DeMeyer Field, an honor to the man who had done so much to make the field possible. Later in 1974 the DeMeyer Little League Field was transferred to the City of Ellsworth Recreation Committee. (My brother and I played 4 years of Little League on this field.)
Christmas 1959 was the beginning of Rotarians buying gifts for children. These gifts were to be distributed to needy families of the area by the Ellsworth Lions Club.
The first Honors Banquet was held in 1960 at the Hancock House, Colonial Cleaves was the guest speaker. The dinner was for the National Honor Society Students.
On July 20, 1962, the Board of Directors voted to sponsor the Blue Berry Pancake Breakfast. The date of the breakfast was August 18th. The YMCA put on the breakfast and the club backed it financially. The guest of honor was Aunt Jemima. The breakfast has been held in different location throughout Ellsworth over the years. City Hall Lawn, Reny’s Parking Lot, City Hall Parking lot, RF Jordan Parking lot, Knowlton Park, and the Down East Family YMCA Parking Lot.
In 1967 the first rotary scholarship was given out to a local high school student, since then thousands of dollars been given to deserving students annually at the honors banquet.
In 1968 the club sponsored the Bar Harbor Rotary Club and later in 2008 the club sponsor the Ellsworth Rotary Noontime Club.
The State of Maine Fireman’s Convention was held in Ellsworth in September 1975. As its part of the affair, the Ellsworth Rotary served 1100 people at the Pancake Breakfast held at the Dr. C. C. Knowlton School.
Phil Eaton was our first Paul Harris Fellow in 1977, since then our club has awarded 118 Paul Harris Fellows, 29 Multi – Paul Harris Fellows, 4 Benefactors, and 3 certificates of appreciation to businesses in the community for a total monetary giving of over 207 thousand dollars.
By 1977 the Ellsworth Rotary Club had contributed more than $30,000 to the Little League Program. During the 1980’s, in addition to its annual auction, blueberry pancake breakfast and honors banquet, the club had a 50/50 raffle and a drawing for flowers every week. The game of choice for many Rotarians was bowling and golf and the annual boat cruise sailed every August.
In November 1981 the first hunter’s breakfast was held at the Knowlton School. The next month the club supported the Red Cross blood drive.
In June 1984, the club held a work bee at the Riverside Park Project. Later that year in September, the State Firemen’s Convention was held in Ellsworth, again the club put on a Blueberry Pancake Breakfast.
In October 1985, planning for JUMP – The Community Playground Project – was under way and by June the project was complete. In later years a new Community playground replaced the old one at Knowlton Park and adult exercise equipment added. Several thousands of dollars have been raised and donated to this project by Rotary. Today you can visit the park, sit on the Ellsworth Rotary Club Granite Bench and watch the young and old enjoy the park.
In 1987, money was raised and given to have the cannon and flagpole in place on Bridge Hill before Memorial Day weekend.
Women were not allowed to join Rotary until 1987. Prior to 1987, the wives played a very important role in supporting their husbands and were called Rotary Anns. They helped at the auction and pancake breakfast.
In 1992 Carolyn “Cookie” Patten was our first women president, since then our club has had many out-standing women presidents over the years.
Happy Dollars were started by the club in December 1993 as a fund raiser and continues today. The first joint auction with YMCA was also held in that year.
In 1994 and 1995, the Kid Care ID and Loaves and Fishes were added to the group’s service projects. During 1995 and 1996, The Ellsworth Rotary Club donated $10,000 to the YMCA during their major campaign. The Pancake Breakfast took their show on the road and served pancakes to the 5th Armored division at the Cole Museum in Bangor.
In 2000 the club celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Union River Lobster Pot and the club received a 50-year certificate from Rotary International.
For the Rotary Centennial Project, the club built a garden and dedicated a granite monument in memory of Rotarian Lee Pittle at the parking lot at Indian Point. Every spring the club participates in a clean-up project at Indian Point.
In 2006 the gifting experience was started, an opportunity for low-income children to receive resources and shop for gifts for their family at Christmas time. That same year the club started the HCTC recognition night. A student from each technical program is recognized for outstanding performance.
Ellsworth Rotary Club applied for a 501(C) 3 and was granted the status in December 2006. This status allows donors to contribute to the Ellsworth Rotary Club Foundation and receive a tax deduction. Since 2006 the Foundation has distributed funds to student scholarships, wheelchair projects and local projects in the community.
In 2010 the club celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Lucerne Inn. All living Past Presidents, and active club members were invited. The evening included awarding two Paul Harris Fellow Awards and the reading of the 60 years of history of the club. Everyone who attended received a 60th anniversary coffee mug.
In 2015 the club started to raise money and apply for Rotary District Grants to purchase wheelchairs and distribute them to third world countries in the Western Hemisphere.
The Ellsworth Club is part of District 7790, this district includes Central Maine and the Province of Quebec, which gives the club an international flavor at district events.
Over the years, several Ellsworth Rotarians have served at the district level. Most notable was Malcolm Noyes served a District Governor 1962-1963 and Lincoln Ehrlenbach served as District Governor 2017-2018.
Over the years we have enjoyed many hours of fellowship and many, many laughs. During these past 72 years we have had many interesting (and some uninteresting speakers). The club has moved from restaurant to restaurant in Ellsworth and finally found a home at China Hill.
The Rotary Club of Ellsworth has given out hundreds of thousands of dollars to area non-profits and student scholarships.
As I was going through the records of the club, I was amazed at all the wonderful things the club has done over the years. The Rotary Club of Ellsworth is making a different in and around our community and the world.
A lot of the Club History that was read this evening is taken from my father, Howard L Ehrlenbach’s original documentation of the first 30 years. Additionally, many thanks to Iris Simon, who followed up to write the 60-year history. Thank you to Ashley Johnson for helping with creating the slideshow which as I mentioned was presented at our 60th anniversary.
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