Opening Ceremonies:
President-Elect Saxon Tinto called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with opening remarks and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Saxon thanked Nancy Mayo for serving as Sergeant-at-Arms, Michael Houslen for setting up Zoom, and Ashley Johnson for taking notes.
Rotary Business/Upcoming Events/Volunteer Opportunities:
Birthdays and Anniversaries – October 2026
Member Birthdays
- Domenic Efter – October 13
- Patricia Keenan – October 21
Wedding Anniversaries
- Carl and Anne Lusby – 54 years
- Laurie and Ken Fogelman – 40 years
- Jack and Brenda Frost – 34 years
- Kelly and Scott Brown – 33 years
- Arlyn Whitelaw and Domenic Efter – 32 years
Rotary Join Dates
- Iris Simon – 35 years
- Marshall Smith – 28 years
- Rodney Fox – 26 years
- Rachel Bousquet – 8 years
- Kelly Brown – 4 years
- Mary Beth Harmon – 3 years
Rotary Ladies Night: Rotary Ladies Night is held once a month at 4:30 p.m. at Black Moon on Main Street in Ellsworth. An email will be sent with the date. Please RSVP to JoAnn Rodick.
Join a Rotary Committee: Club members are encouraged to join a committee within the club. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Rotary and how you can help.
Polio Walk: The annual Polio Walk will be held on Saturday, October 24, at 10:00 a.m. at Knowlton Park in Ellsworth. The walk will begin at Knowlton Park, head down State Street to Main Street, continue to School Street, and return to Knowlton Park via State Street. The route is approximately 1.3 miles.
Members, prospective members, and Interact students are encouraged to participate in this casual walk. A $20 donation from each walker is encouraged. Following the walk, participants will gather at Fogtown for pizza and pints. Fogtown will donate a percentage of the proceeds to support polio eradication efforts.
YMCA Trunk or Treat: Our club will participate in the YMCA's Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, October 31, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. A sign-up sheet was passed around for members interested in helping decorate and hand out candy.
A large amount of candy will be needed for the many children expected to attend. Members are encouraged to donate a bag or two of candy, if possible. Donations can be brought to Rotary meetings by October 27 or dropped off with Peter at the Chamber of Commerce.
Loaves and Fishes Food Drive: The food drive will be held on Saturday, November 14, at Hannaford in Ellsworth. A sign-up sheet was passed around for members interested in volunteering for a shift.
Kentucky Derby Fundraiser Committee: The event logo has been designed, and the sponsorship package has been completed to assist with securing sponsors. Stanley Subaru will be providing the photo booth. The next committee meeting is scheduled for October 20.
Yellow Tulip Project: The Rotary Board is encouraging members to support the Yellow Tulip Project in memory of our late District Governor, Serge Poulin. The Yellow Tulip Project promotes awareness and education about the importance of mental health among young people.
Members interested in helping purchase yellow tulip bulbs for Ellsworth High School (EHS) and Hancock County Technical Center (HCTC) to plant are encouraged to make a donation. Twenty-five bulbs can be purchased for $30. The Ellsworth Noontime Rotary Club is donating $100 to support the project.
Door Prizes: Dave Wells, Jack Frost, Debbie Ehrlenbach, and Carl Lusby.
50/50: Fred Beyer won $8.
Happy Dollars: Second-quarter Happy Dollars will go toward supporting the Heating Assistance Fund at Avec Community Action. Avec Community Action is a nonprofit serving Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock counties, providing services such as heating assistance, childcare, housing support, and employment assistance.
Polio Cups: Members were reminded to donate to polio eradication efforts. For every $1 donated, seven children can be vaccinated.
Guest Speaker:
Amy Boles, Superintendent of Schools for the Ellsworth School Department, was this week's guest speaker. Amy assumed the role after serving as Assistant Superintendent and Interim Superintendent beginning in 2022.
Amy began her educational career as a high school social studies teacher before moving into leadership as Assistant Principal and Curriculum Coordinator at Ellsworth High School at the age of 26.
In 2009, she was named Director of the Hancock County Technical Center (HCTC), where she served for more than a decade. During her tenure, she launched seven new Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, expanded access for middle school students, strengthened business and postsecondary partnerships, and oversaw regional workforce and literacy initiatives.
Her leadership in career and technical education earned her the SkillsUSA Cornerstone Award in March 2023.
During her presentation, Amy shared information about the Ellsworth School Department's strategic plan, district enrollment numbers, mission, and vision statement.
Respectfully submitted,
Ashley Johnson
