At this week's meeting, The Rotary Club of Ellsworth honored outstanding students from Hancock County Technical Center. Our guest speaker was Shawn Moody and it was another great night partnering with HCTC to recognize and encourage excellence in technical education.
Opening Ceremonies: President Gene Pellerano called the meeting to order.
Greeter: Rhonda Parker
Invocation read by Gene Carl Lusby and we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Visiting Rotarians: Dave and Betty Parsons of South Portland
Guests: Grace Robinson and several family members of HCTC Students
Birthdays: Ashley Johnson on 12/16 Happy Birthday!
Door Prizes: Winners were Debbie Ehrlenbach, and families/student of HCTC
50/50: $6 Guest of HCTC Student
2nd Quarter Happy Dollars: This quarter all happy dollars will go towards The Hancock County Sherriff’s Department for Deputy Luke Gross’s Family.
The following Rotarians gave Happy Dollars: Debbie Ehrlenbach, Dave Wells, Bob Thomas, Max Dietshe, Kasey Jordan, Rhonda Parker, Clyde Cushing, Jodie Cushing, Scott Kimball, Carl Lusby, Gene Pellerano and Marian Wells.
Rotary Business:
Our club presented a check to Loaves and Fishes in the amount of $2,400. This is from the Food Drive.
50/50 Raffle for Snow Days: $5 per day. All proceeds go to the THAW Fund.
Upcoming Community Service Events:
Blood Drive: The Blood Drive is the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month. The month of December has been filled! Max Dietshe thanks everyone for their continued help.
Gifting Experience: Jack Frost and Carl Lusby are encouraging donations from Businesses and Club Members for this year’s Gifting Experience. Contact them if you would like to donate. To date we have raised $2,500!
KidsPeace Christmas Presents: Rebecca Greenlaw has info for those who would like to start shopping for Christmas presents for Kids at KidsPeace. We plan to wrap all presents at our Holiday Party on December 14th.
Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry for December: Our club will be helping at the Food Pantry on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the month of December. Jodie Cushing will be sending out a sign-up sheet.
Haven’s Sweet Rotary Fundraiser: Our club is partnering with Haven’s Candies in Scarborough Maine to help raise money for the club. Haven's Candies has generously agreed to donate 20% of all Ellsworth Rotary Club sales back to the Club. All orders placed between now and December 14, 2021 will qualify the club for a 20% donation. An email was sent out with more info.
Rotary Apparel on Sale: Contact Dave Wells to order any Rotary Hats, Shirts and Sweatshirts!
HCTC Honors Night: The following students were awarded:
Diesel -Andrew Trowbridge, Instructor. - Henry O'Neil, GSA Junior
Welding -Joel Pelletier, Instructor. - Griffin Werner, GSA Senior and Tyler Hallett, BHS Senior
Law Enforcement - Scott Baillargeon,Instructor and Eugene Fizell, Instructor - Kasey Jordan, MDIHS Senior
CNA/Health Occupations -Michelle Cote, Instructor. - Maddison Kelley, EHS Senior
Shawn Moody was the guest speaker. Shawn was a small business owner, property tax payer and had a mortgage payment of $67.44 a month before he was old enough to vote. Fast forward to 2001 after learning Social Security may be at risk Shawn Moody responded by establishing an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) in 2003. Today the co-workers at Moody’s collectively own 54% percent of the Company. Having co-workers thinking and performing like owners has produced an average growth rate of 18% per year since 2003. Moody’s has also practiced open book management since the 90’s giving back 10% of their after tax profits to all their co-workers. Today Moody’s has over 240 co-worker owners and 14 locations across Maine. We believe teamwork makes the dreamwork.
In 2014 Shawn became the first person in the State’s history to serve on the Board of Trustees for not only the University System but also the Community College system as well. Through increased collaboration the two systems have signed a milestone agreement finally allowing the universal transfer of credits between the two systems. UMS was one of only two public universities that kept tuition flat 6 out of 7 years. They guided USM out of a 14 million budget shortfall and double digit enrollment drop to restoring 8 million in the budget stabilization fund and gradually increased enrollment.
Gene reminded everyone about Polio Plus and EREY! Please consider making a donation.
Respectfully submitted by Ashley Johnson
