The Club celebrated Transition Night. Thank you Debbie Ehrlenbach for all you have done in your year as President and we welcome Jodie Cushing as our 2024-2025 President! We look forward to another year providing humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Click on the link below to see the photos from the meeting.
Opening Ceremonies: President Debbie Ehrlenbach called the meeting to order.
Invocation was read by: Rob Hemenway and we all said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sergeant at Arms: Mary and Bob Thomas
Zoom – Michael Houslen
Guests- Daniel Antonelli, Andy Roofer, PJ Keenan
Visiting Rotarians: Woody Engebretson of Texas.
Thank you to all who helped set the room up and take it down. We appreciate it!
Club Anniversaries: Jane Langley
Birthdays: Benedetta Pellerano
Wedding Anniversaries – Lincoln and Debbie Ehrlenbach, Gene and Laura Pellerano
ROTARY BUSINESS:
Thank You Letters to the Club: HCTC Thank You letter thanking the club for the breakfast that was held earlier in the month. Bar Harbor Bank and Trust congratulations card for the club receiving the Directors Award from the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner.
Exchange of Flags: Debbie Ehrlenbach and Visiting Rotarian Woody Engebretson of Texas exchanged Rotary Flags.
Member Induction: PJ Keenan was inducted as our newest club member. Congratulations and welcome to the club PJ!
Paul Harris Fellow Recognition: Marc Rich was recognized for his Paul Harris Fellow Award. Congratulations March!
Foundation Monthly Gift Drawing: Jack Frost was the winner of this month’s drawing of a Dunkin Donuts gift card!
DeMeyer Field Auction Items: A few auction items didn’t get bid on at the auction, so Debbie brought them in to Auction off. Rooster Brother Items: $130 bid from Dave Wells. Basketball Tickets to UMaine Girls: $30 bid from Jack Frost. Christmas Tree Skirt: $30 bid from Laurie Fogelman.
Rotary Club Dues: Marian Wells sent out notices of club dues. They are due by June 30th.
Polio Cups: Reminder to donate to Polio! For every $1 donated, 7 children are vaccinated.
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.
RYLA – This September. Looking for candidates to attend ages 18-35. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where you develop your skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.
2024 Rotary Blueberry Pancake Breakfast – Jodie Cushing has started a committee for this year’s pancake breakfast set for August 3rd. Please contact her if you are interested in helping. The breakfast is 7am to 10am at the Downeast Family YMCA.
Door Prizes: The lucky winners were: Woody Engebretson and Saxon Tinto
50/50: $16 to Marc Rich
Happy Dollars: 4th Quarter Happy Dollars will go towards: Local D.A.R.E Program. Taught by highly trained law enforcement officers, D.A.R.E. Education Programs deliver science/evidence-based curricula that teach students good decision-making skills that will help them lead safe and healthy lives and cope with high risk circumstances including drugs, alcohol, violence, bullying, and internet safety.
The following individuals gave Happy Dollars: Marc Rich, Rebecca Greenlaw, Carl Lusby, JoAnn Rodick, Clyde Cushing, Saxon Tinto, Rob Hemenway, Julie Clark, Jodie Cushing, Rhonda Parker, Marian Wells, Dave Wells, Lori Googins, Laurie Fogelman, Jack Frost, Lincoln Ehrlenbach, Mike Marino, Tricia Quirk, Peter Farragher, Nancy Mayo, Woody Engebretson Michael Houslen and Debbie Ehrlenbach.
Transition Ceremony: Debbie Ehrlenbach thanked all club members for a great year! All club members received Chocolates from Haven’s Candies. She thanked the Board of Directors for their service and leadership. Debbie shared a slideshow of photos and all the hard work the club has done this past year. The club received a Gold Citation from the District! Congratulations to all!
We usually present our out-going Rotary president with a gift to thank them for their year of leadership of the club on Transition Night. Debbie has told us that she does not want us to purchase her a gift. Debbie has been an amazing leader and president of our club. She has dedicated countless personal hours to ensuring that our club has had a positive and productive year. A couple weeks ago it was suggested all Rotary Club members to consider making a gift in Debbie’s honor to the Rotary Club of Ellsworth by June 25th. Participation was totally voluntary, and gifts can be of any amount. Tonight $1,200 was made in honor of Debbie. She will choose the non-profit to send the check as a donation.
Debbie then installed Jodie Cushing as President for our 2024-2025 Rotary year. Jodie thanked Debbie for all her hard work and leadership. Jodie introduced and installed the new slate of officers and directors for the year:
Rebecca Greenlaw – President Elect
Tricia Quirk – Secretary
Rhonda Parker – Treasurer
Past President – Debbie Ehrlenbach
Clyde Cushing – Club Service Director
April Hartford and Stephanie Baillargeon – Community Service Directors
Kelly Brown – International Director
Gene and Laura Pellerano – Vocational and Youth Services Directors
JoAnn Rodick – Membership Director
Lincoln Ehrlenbach – Foundation Chair
Cindy Shoppe – Community Support Chair
Ashley Johnson – Publicity and Public Relations Chair
The Rotary International theme for the new year is “Imagine”
Respectfully submitted by Rotarian Ashley Johnson
