Do you remember what it was like when you first went to school or to a new job? A bit of trepidation, certainly some nervousness and probably a few butterflies in your stomach as you embarked on a new journey. Well, that's how I feel as I assume the Presidency. I felt a little less nervous as members and friends congratulated me at the annual meeting and offered their help if I need it. This went a long way in calming me down and go to fill the shoes of those who have gone before me.Speaking of those who have gone before me, many thanks to Richard Koralek for a job well done as he led us through the pandemic year.
The annual dinner came off without a hitch thanks to the efforts of Mary Mortier. There was a spirited live auction. Who knew that horse manure would be so popular?! The auction raised over $1,400. Thanks to all who participated and many thanks to Duke Marston and Phil Carthage, our auctioneers. The auction was so successful and so much fun that Mary Mortier declared that the days of silent auctions were over. There are photos on our Facebook page and the website (Thanks to Phil and Mary Carthage).
Congratulations to Mickey Sirota and Michelle Morrow our new Paul Harris Fellows. Also, congratulations to Beth Sterner, our “Rookie of the Year”.
As we move on into our new Rotary Year, things are returning to normal. Belfast just held it's annual Arts in the Park and the city was highlighted on local television as we return to normal.In a few weeks we will be holding Harbor Fest and I hope that our membership will come out and help as we resume this annual event after the pandemic. There will be an online auction this year to benefit the Waldo County Pet Food Pantry. We are limiting Kids Activities for health reasons, there will be no face painting or Bounce House this year. Boat Building will be under individual tents as there will not be a big tent this year. We will be having a Pancake Breakfast and a Cardboard Boat Race, but no Barbecue Dinner.
Moving beyond Harbor Fest, I hope to put together an Interact Club with our local high schools. Back last fall I initiated contact with the advisors of the National Honor Society at Belfast Area High School, Searsport High School and Mount View High School. This continued until January when, due to a pandemic surge, we agreed to postpone the effort until this coming fall. If anyone is interested in working with young people on Rotary activities,please drop me a line.
We will be continuing our Zoom meetings for the foreseeable future as they've become part of the new normal. By the way, Heather Ross is doing a fantastic job lining up speakers (including me!). I don't know if we'll return to a salad bar and waiters delivering meals like the old days, but, for now, make sure you send in a meal reservation to Jill Goodwin by Sunday night if you plan on attending the Shrine Club meeting.
Yours in friendship and service,
John
Passing of the gavel. Outgoing President Richard Koralek to incoming President John Golden
Rotarian of the Year Award was presented to John Golden by President Richard Koralek
Michell Morrow receives her Paul Harris award from Club Secretary Jill Goodwin
Mickey Sirota receives his Paul Harris award from Club Secretary Jill Goodwin
Club President Richard Koralek presents Beth Sterner with the Rookie of the Year award
Club Secretary Jill Goodwin and Club Treasurer Syrena Gatewood are presented with awards for their service by President Richard Koralek
Paul Harris Fellows at annual dinner
The Belfast Rotary Club’s annual dinner on June 23 celebrated the group’s 96-year history of service to the Belfast community. Nearly 60 people attended in person at the Belfast Shrine Club or remotely by Zoom, recognized Club and member achievements, elected officers and directors, named two Paul Harris Fellows and raised “Community Care” program funds with a live auction.
Outgoing president Richard Koralek told attending members, spouses, family and guests that “This has been an unusual year, but a successful one for Belfast Rotary. We added six members, bringing our total to 70, and received Gold Citation recognition from our Rotary District Governor and congratulations from the Rotary Foundation for our work on the End Polio Now campaign.”
Incoming president John Golden, thanking Koralek for his work on the Club’s behalf, laid out a busy schedule for the coming year. “Belfast Rotary will look into setting up a satellite Club for people who may not be able to attend a weekly lunch meeting, and will be talking with local high schools about our sponsoring an Interact Club for students.” Other newly installed Club officers are president-elect Kristine Wentworth; vice-president Steve Norman; secretary Jill Goodwin; and treasurer Syrena Gatewood. New board member Dianna Fredrikson was elected to replace Duke Marston, who remains an active member and chair of the Harbor Fest committee.
The Club, whose motto is “Service Above Self,” recognized the work of a dozen board members and the heads of the more than 20 committees that carry out service projects year-round, including scholarships, holiday gifts, food pantry support, local special projects and emergency assistance, and global polio eradication. Special recognition went to Jill Goodwin and Syrena Gatewood for devoting hours every week to Club administration, new member Elizabeth (“Beth”) Sterner as the Club’s Rookie of the Year, and John Golden as Rotarian of the Year. Belfast dentist Dr. Michelle Morrow and Mickey Sirota were named Paul Harris Fellows in recognition of their contributions to Belfast Rotary.
A live auction raised more than $1,400 in less than 30 minutes to support the Rotary Club’s “Community Care” urgent need service program. The event, organized by Phil Carthage and led by Carthage and Duke Marston featured everything from home-brewed beer and home-baked bread to horse manure, an original photo of Belfast harbor, and hand-crafted wooden toys, cashmere wearables and pillows. Gift certificates to Stanley Chevrolet-Buick and Satori, Delvino and Darby’s restaurants all were “bid high”.
The Belfast Rotary Club would like to thank Charles Courant for his many years of excellent service as the Club's Assistant Treasurer!
Your newsletter editor would like to feature more member biographies as a way for new members to learn about long time members and vice versa. Please feel free to send your bio by replying to this email or to: sternerrentals@gmail.com. Anyone is welcome to send in a bio. It can be just of few lines or up to 500 words.
Birthdays
Jill Goodwin - July 12
Kristine Wentworth - July 22
Dale Cross - July 26
Art Hayes -July 31
Anniversaries
Robyn Goff - 2 years
Greg Morin - 2 years, 5 years in New York Club
Sylvia Bray - 5 years
Syrena Gatewood - 10 years
Brian Beaulieu - 18 years
Art Hayes - 17 years, 20 years in Connecticut club
Trevor Burton Evans Teresa Crosby Mark Riposta Russell G. Whitcomb
Wilma Moses Jill Goodwin Larry Quinn John Desco Alfred G. Bruce
Charles L. Tyer Lee Woodward Mark A. Biscone Palmer Pearson Andrew Kuby Bruce W. Starrett Darrell O’ Leary John P. Potter M. Page Worth Paul L. Hazard Manley Rogers Bill Abbott Charles Bunnell Ed Varney Larry Fogle Ron Nadeau Bryant Dutch John Hawthorne Patricia Lord Richard Page F. Frederick Romanow Alton Kenney Ken Lindell Charles Brown Paul Luttrell David Crabiel
Scott Hawthorne Larry Theye Forrest Warren Arthur A. Hayes Sara Hayes
Greg Dutch Jim Patterson Reyn Ritchie Fred Whaley Mary Mortier Paul Doody Bob Bray Art House George Jennings Steve Malmberg Frank Morong Su Wood Sylvia Bray Laura Lombard Doug Smith Sharron Walsh Georgia Randall
John Carrick Saxon Moreau Richard Warren Lois Dutch Kelley Hawthorne
Andrea Walker Janet Weaver Syrena Gatewood Ron Kennedy Valery Hansen
Sue diRosario Marjorie Crowley Brian Beaulieu Joe Slocum Duke Marston
John O’Malia Beverly O’Malia David Wight Sherrie Wight Linda Payson
Carl Chadwick Charles Courant Dale Cross Dorothy Havey Stephanie Feist
John Golden Candice Hutchison Jane Strauss Phil Carthage Richard Koralek
