Opening Ceremonies: President Debbie Ehrlenbach called the meeting to order.
Invocation was read by: Nancy Mayo and we all said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Lincoln Ehrlenbach and Julie Clark
Setting up Zoom: Clyde Cushing
Thank you to all who helped set the room up and take it down. We appreciate it!
Guests: Sheena Whittaker and Nicole Woodman
Visiting Rotarians: Dave & Betty Parsons, Sara Lesko, Sarah Joy
Club Anniversaries: Fred Beyer 7 Years, Mark Remick 21 Years (Correction from last week: Clyde and Pam Cushing 8 years)
Birthdays: Stephanie Baillargeon on January 31st
ROTARY BUSINESS:
Rotary Learning Center: Thank you to Dave Wells, Rebecca Greenlaw, Michael Houlsen, Clyde Cushing, Benedetta Pellerano, Jodie Cushing and Mary Beth Harmon for completing the modules!
Rotary Fellowship Groups: There are many Rotary Fellowship groups to look up and be a part of. For more information, contact Debbie Ehrlenbach.
Awarding of Checks to Non-Profits: The Rotary Club of Ellsworth presented checks to the following businesses:
$1,000.000 to Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital - Money was raised for our annual "Movember for Men's Health". Proceeds will go towards their Urology Department.
$225.00 to The Ellsworth Public Library - Passes to the Maine Discover Museum. (This pass was used 50 times during the year 2023. It's a favorite!)
EHS Interact Club: The Rotary Club of Ellsworth supported the Ellsworth High School Interact Club food drive for the high school Campus Food Pantry.
The Interact Club did a donation drive of non-perishable food/snacks that can be easily accessed and consumed without much preparation.
International Project: The club raised $5,000.00 to go towards our International project of PROTESIS FOR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. The money was raised through Happy Dollars and the Autumn Gold Pancake Breakfast. The need for prosthetics in the Dominican Republic and our support of this project continues. As a club we hope to send a check for $5,000 thru the Rotary Club of Portland 501c3 non-profit organization to Centro De Protesis, of the Dominican Republic to purchase nine leg socket adapters and thus provide the “Gift of Walking” to nine individuals. Thank you to Dave and Marian Wells for leading this!
Sheriff’s Cup: The Ellsworth YMCA asked if we could help at this year’s Sheriff Cup. The event is March 8,9,10. They would be happy with any help we can provide over the three days. Help is needed with people to run the clock and score board, admission tables, and concessions at both EEMS and EHS while the games take place. This is a great opportunity to help support the program. These are the families that will be impacted the most by our Legacy Project, and the families that we will be asking to support the auction by either donating items or coming to the auction.
Rotary Cabin Fever Craft Fair: Save the date! April 6th at EEMS. As of today we have 40 tables reserved! If you would like to join the committee, please let Jodie know. Will need help the day of the event and the day before to help setup.
75th Club Anniversary Celebration: A committee is being formed to plan this event. Please contact Tricia Quirk to help out.
Legacy Project: Save the date! Our Auction is May 17th. Rotarians Debbie Ehrlenbach, Peter Farragher and Becky Sargent are meeting to start organizing for the event. If anyone would like to join the committee to help, please let Debbie know. E.L. Shea is working on the design plans for the Demeyer Field.
Zoom Enhancement Group: Meeting after tonight’s Rotary meeting for a few minutes.
Rotary Leadership Institute – Trainings are available! Two Virtual trainings and one in person in Lewiston. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Rotary. The club pays for the training. Please contact Debbie or Gene for more information to sign up.
Rotary Blood Drives are the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at the Elks Lodge in Ellsworth. Please sign up to help. Shifts are from 11:00am to 2:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
Door Prizes: The lucky winners were: Julie Clark, Pam Cushing and Dave Wells.
50/50: $7 to Pam Cushing
Happy Dollars: 3rd Quarter Happy Dollars will go towards: Downeast Horizons Special Olympics Program.
The following individuals gave Happy Dollars: Pam Cushing, Jodie Cushing, Ashley Johnson, Kent Weisner, Kelly Brown, Nancy Mayo, Marian Wells, Debbie Ehrlenbach, and Gene Pellerano.
Polio Cups: Reminder to donate to Polio! For every $1 donated, 7 children are vaccinated.
Guest Speaker: This week’s guest speakers were Sarah Joy and Dr. Sheena Whittaker both of Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital. They spoke about the updates at the hospital such as the birthing center, Med Surge Unit, Improving the Cardiology and Breast Health facilities.
The hospital is focusing on health and wellbeing of their employees. Finding ways to keep them to stay – providing a rewards program, and trainings. The challenges they are facing is recruitment of staff, long term care and recruitment of providers.
Respectfully submitted by Rotarian Ashley Johnson
