Linda Elliott called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with opening remarks and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Linda 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:
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.
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.
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: This week’s guest speaker was Scott Boucher, a member of the Rotary Club of Old Town. Scott has served as the PolioPlus Chair for the Maine portion of Rotary District 7790 for the past 10 years. Professionally, he owns Barresi Financial, a financial services and employee benefits firm. Scott resides in Bangor with his wife, Dena, and their daughter, Claire.
Scott gave an informative presentation on polio, discussing its history, important facts, and the ongoing efforts to eradicate the disease worldwide. He emphasized the importance of Rotary’s continued commitment to ending polio and encouraged members to join the PolioPlus Society. Scott also distributed membership applications to those interested in supporting this important initiative.
Respectfully submitted by Ashley Johnson
