Rotary Service - Senior Lunch

Ipswich Ale half Marathon for Rotary

Ipswich Dinner Bell

Rowley Bandstand Renovation

Ipswich Interact - Jingle Bell Walk

International Friendship Exchange

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Food Drive Exceeds Expectations

Posted by Chris Davis on Jan 31, 2023

Rotarians Chris Bevilacqua, John Witzig, and Bob Arsenault load John’s truck after their meeting on January 26.

During its annual January Food Drive, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary collected 1,368 pounds of much needed food items for The Open Door's Ipswich Community Food Pantry. This total is 300 pounds, or about 30%, above what the club collected in 2022.

Pressure on food pantries increased significantly during the pandemic, and that demand was accelerated even further by above average food price inflation during the past year. "We are happy to partner with The Open Door to help our neighbors in need," said Chris Davis, Service Projects chair for Ipswich-Rowley Rotary.

The Rotary Club is grateful to our members, and to everyone, who donated so generously. We also thank our community partner organizations for providing drop off locations which are so vital to the collection process. This year’s collection partners were The Institution for Savings, Bank Gloucester, Brookline Bank, MAC Fitness, and the Ipswich Family YMCA.

A Message from President Lisa

Posted by Lisa Shanko on Jan 27, 2023

Dear Members and Friends,

It is with mixed emotions that I step again into the role of club President. Our club was deeply saddened in the Fall by the unexpected passing of our beloved President Ray Morley. We have dedicated this year in his memory. At the same time, I am thrilled to be the first President to serve during our club’s centennial year. We have lots to celebrate, and our members are busily at work planning the details. More to come on this shortly.

For Ipswich-Rowley Rotary, our 2022-23 year started with a very international flavor. After a two year pause, we were excited to host members from our sister Club in Ipswich, UK for a week of fun and service. We also welcomed our new Rotary Youth Exchange student from Finland and our Rotary Global Scholar from Belgium. Last Summer, we awarded numerous scholastic, camp, and non-profit scholarships to assist local families. In December, our sponsored High School Interact service club held another outstanding Jingle Bell Walk, now a town tradition of which they are proud, and from which they develop real-time leadership skills.

As we enter 2023, we will continue our tradition of service while pursuing new opportunities. For example, in December, and again this month, we have made significant contributions of food and resources to our non-profit partner, ‘The Open Door’ food pantry.

During the past year, our growing membership and service area was formally expanded to include the town of Rowley. We are proud of our new name, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary, and we’re excited about the future. All of us plan to work hard and do our best to hold true to our Rotary mission of providing service to others, promoting integrity, and advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace. But what makes our club truly amazing is the respect and admiration we have for each other … we truly are a family.

This year, as we celebrate who we are and our 100 years of community service, our members are energized and planning for the future. Their enthusiasm inspires me and the other members of our 2022-23 leadership team, Cushing Titcomb and Martha Mauser.

Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians are your neighbors, friends and business associates. I invite you to join our Rotary family and help make our communities a bit better. Together we will achieve more than we can alone.

Lisa Shanko

President, January-March 2023

Rotary Diary - December 2022

Posted by Bob Wicks on Jan 15, 2023

Rotarians in Action - some Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians who recently gave back to our communities and the world.

DECEMBER 2022

Some of the Rotary volunteers who were on hand to support Ipswich High School Interact at the 2022 Jingle Bell Walk: Cindy Quinn, Laurie Cameron, Christina Harris, and Christina Manikas

Rotary appreciates our terrific service team at the Village Pancake House: President Cushing Titcomb, owner and Rotarian Cathy Sutherby, and servers Anne Marie and Jane

Interact Vice President Annika Johnson visited our club to update us on the success of the Jingle Bell Walk. Sitting with her is our Youth Exchange Student from Finland, Rasmus Kopone.

JANUARY, 2023

Kathy Frederick, center, is recognized as a charter member of the Polio Plus Society. Polio Plus is a Rotary International initiative to eradicate Polio world wide, with active support from the World Health Organization, the Gates Foundation, our District, and club. Seen with Kathy is Ipswich Rotarian and District Foundation Chair Joan Arsenault, and Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Vice President-Foundation Dr. Doug Shealy.

New Member Joins Ipswich-Rowley Rotary

Posted by Bob Wicks on Jan 08, 2023

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is happy to announce that John Herth of Rowley has joined our club, joining his wife Diane who sits on our Board of Directors. Before moving to Rowley in 2020, John was a member of the Cohasset Rotary Club.

While a member of the Cohasset club, John’s primary focus was in heading up the course setup and breakdown for the ‘Cohasset Road Race by the Sea’, an annual fundraising event that attracted over 1000 runners. In Ipswich, he regularly delivers free meals to struggling families as part of our club’s quarterly ‘Ipswich Dinner Bell’ service.

John has been and continues to be an active church leader. For several years while in Cohasset, he cooked meals monthly for a church project that prepares and freezes food for distribution to those in need on the South Shore. He also has served as a Trustee for his condo associations in both Cohasset and Rowley.

A registered architect, John worked in food service design and construction for Panera Bread and Dunkin Brands for over 28 years. More recently, he started his own consulting firm and presently advises Subway restaurants. In his free time, John stays fit by actively pursuing his passions for golf, home renovation, boat restoration, cycling, Pickleball, running, and walking.

The Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club is thrilled to welcome John; we know that his skills and passions will fit very well with our core missions of service and environmental sustainability. Please join John and Diane and help us improve lives in our communities. Together we will achieve more than we can alone.

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Elects New Leaders

Posted by Mary Foote-Hill on Dec 30, 2022

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary announces its leadership team for 2023-24, elected by the members during our Annual Meeting in December. The new Board of Directors will be led by President-Elect Ann Witzig, and will serve for one year starting on July 1, 2023.

President
Ann Witzig

President Elect
Tom Murphy

Vice President
Open - TBD

Vice President - Rotary Foundation
Joan Arsenault

Secretary
Mary Foote-Hill

Treasurer
Ted Garside

Directors:
Paula Bishop
Chris Davis

Kathy Frederick
Diane Herth
Susanne Pedersen
Dr. Doug Shealy

Immediate Past Presidents & Directors:

Martha Mauser

Lisa Shanko

Cushing Titcomb

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary, celebrating 100 years of service to our communities.

Rotary Holds Annual Food Drive for The Open Door

Posted by Chris Davis on Dec 27, 2022

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary will be holding its annual food drive to benefit the Ipswich Community Food Pantry, a program of The Open Door during the month of January. This drive will help provide nutritious meals to our neighbors in need in the new year.

Needed food items include canned tuna and chicken, hearty soups and stews, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta and pasta sauce, cereal, rice, peanut butter, 100% juice and juice boxes, healthy snacks, cake, muffin and pancake mix. No glass containers, please.

Food can be dropped off at any of six locations:

Institution for Savings, Depot Square

Institution for Savings, County Road

Brookline Bank, Market Street

Bank Gloucester, High Street

MAC Fitness, Route 1, Rowley

Ipswich YMCA, County Road

Rotary is grateful to these partner organizations for their support, and appreciates this opportunity to provide service to our communities.

Open Door President and CEO Julie LaFontaine commented that “Winter is here and food drives like this one help stock our shelves with staples people rely on. We’re so thankful that the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club has coordinated this opportunity for the community to donate”. She added that “Food prices are at a 40-year high, and every donation helps put food on the table for local people”.

Food can be donated at the establishments listed above from January 2 through 27.

Rotary Remembers – Bill Nelson and Paul Tardiff

Posted by Bob Wicks on Dec 11, 2022

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary mourns the loss of two friends and long-time Rotarians who departed us in 2022, Bill Nelson and Paul Tardiff.

Paul Tardiff, on the right, joined Rotary in 1979, and served as club President in 1982-83. Paul was very active during his Rotary years, attending our meetings and events regularly, serving on committees, and contributing generously to the Rotary Foundation, where he was a Major Donor. Friends remember how he always brightened the room with his infectious smile and good humor, and that he was a leader in the club during the 1980’s and 90’s when he served regularly on the club’s Board of Directors. Paul was a multiple Paul Harris Award recipient, which recognizes his service and generosity to the Foundation.

Paul was an avid car collector and restorer, winning many awards as a member of the North Shore Corvette Club. Following graduation from Bishop Fenwick High School, he was inducted into their athletic hall of fame. Paul served in the Naval Reserve and was an avid skier. His beloved wife Beverly, to whom he was married for 54 years, was a frequent participant at club events.

Bill Nelson joined Rotary in 1999, and served as club President in 2003-04. Bill also was an active leader in our club, and in the community. In addition to his regular attendance, multiple tours on the Board of Directors, and numerous committee roles, he organized important club functions such as the annual meeting ballot and ‘Person of the Year’ nominations. He often hosted the Past Presidents Council in his home along the Ipswich River. Always looking for ways to give back to the community, Bill managed the Ipswich Visitor Center for many years. In recognition of his service and generosity to the Rotary Foundation, he was a multiple recipient of the Paul Harris Award.

Bill graduated from the University of New Hampshire, where he was an All American Lacrosse player. He served with the United States Army in Korea and in the Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1986. Bill also was married for 54 wonderful years to his beloved wife Lee, another frequent participant in club activities who sadly predeceased him in 2014.

To Paul, Bill, and their supportive wives Bev and lee, thank you for being in our lives.

Our Jingle Bell Walk Sponsors

Posted by Bob Wicks on Dec 09, 2022

Ipswich High School Interact and the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club express our deep appreciation to the sponsors of the 2022 Jingle Bell Walk.

This wonderful annual event could not be possible without your generous support. We also are grateful to the Ipswich Police and Fire departments for your assistance.

Rotarians Pick Up the Trash

Posted by Bob Wicks on Nov 27, 2022

Twice each year, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary makes our adopted highway just a bit nicer. Undaunted by foul weather last Sunday, our stalwart team of Rotarians headed out early in the morning to tidy up the road from the intersection with Route 1A (County Road) along Route 133 (Essex Road) to the Essex town line. Participating in this biannual event were organizer Tom Murphy, Chris Bevilacqua, Doug Shealy, and Jim Stone.

The Thanksgiving Meals are Ready

Posted by Bob Wicks on Nov 23, 2022

Once again this year, Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians gathered at the local branch of The Open Door Food Pantry in Ipswich to assist in packing and distributing Thanksgiving food baskets for those in need in our communities. Jennifer Perry, Operations Manager and an Ipswich-Rowley Rotarian, expressed her gratitude to the Rotarians and their family members who participated.

Rotarians who pitched in during the Thanksgiving preparations were Mary Foote-Hill, Ingrid Miles and her husband Steve, Heidi VonAsch, John Witzig and his son Matt. On hand directing operations was local Food Pantry Coordinator, and former Rotarian, Rev Glenn Prescott.

The Open Door prepares and distributes holiday baskets twice each year, in November for Thanksgiving, and in December for the winter Holidays. Baskets are distributed free and are packed with good food to help recipients prepare delicious and nutritious holiday meals at home, using their own recipes and contributing to family traditions and memories.

The baskets are distributed from the pantry’s pickup locations at the Gloucester Food Pantry and the Ipswich Community Food Pantry. Contents include such mouth-watering items as turkey, potatoes, apples, carrots, butternut squash, gravy, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, cornbread mix, yams, and green beans.

You too can help make lives better during this time of rising prices and food insecurity. Make a donation on the food pantry website at www.foodpantry.org. Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. We’ll see you in December.

In the photo above: John and Matt Witzig, Mary Foote-Hill, Ingrid and Steve Miles, and Heidi VonAsch

To the right: The Rotarians are joined by The Rev Glenn Prescott.

Rotary Welcomes Christina Manikas

Posted by Bob Wicks on Nov 21, 2022

At its regular meeting on November 17, the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club welcomed our newest member, Christina Manikas. Christina was inducted by co-President Cushing Titcomb and her Rotary sponsor, Christina Harris. Rotary just can’t get enough good Christina’s. Christina joins over 70 area professionals and community leaders who are dedicated to sharing ideas and taking action.

Christina lives in Groveland and is employed as a teacher in the Peabody Public Schools, where she improves the lives of young scholars every day. She also serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors at Opportunity Works, a North Shore non-profit with a large staff of professionals with a broad range of experience working with people with disabilities.

Christina gives back to her community in many ways. She also serves on the Board at her church, chairing the Palm Sunday Luncheon. While living in Biddeford, Maine, she was a member of the Planning Board. In short, she loves being involved and making a difference.

In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading, and being outside – especially with her beloved dogs.

The Rotary Club is thrilled to welcome Christina; we know that her skills and passions will fit very well with our core missions of service and environmental sustainability. Please join Christina and help us improve lives in our communities. Together we will achieve more than we can alone.

Rotary Honors Community Heroes

Posted by Bob Wicks on Nov 15, 2022

In the photo: Wayne Castonguay, co-President Martha Mauser,

State Senator Bruce Tarr, co-President Cushing Titcomb, Tanya Marshall, and Matt Bodwell

Heroes come in all forms, and Ipswich residents are no exception. Last week, Rotary honored three friends and neighbors who have significantly changed lives in the past year. Each Hero received a Paul Harris Award, named for our founder and Rotary’s highest honor. Receiving our appreciation and gratitude this year are Matthew Bodwell, Wayne Castonguay, and Tanya Marshall.

Our local recipients joined a dozen Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians, their partners, and several members of the Ipswich High School Interact Club in Danvers for the presentation. This was part of a District wide Rotary event at Danversport, where each club was able to honor their community Hero(es). This annual event is held in memory of our late, and much beloved former District Governor, Robert C. Wood.

Saving Lives

Former Rotarian and current Ipswich Police Marine Patrol Supervisor Matthew ‘Matt’ Bodwell was recognized for his heroism in saving several lives in Ipswich Bay this past summer. Putting the safety of others ahead of his own, Matt didn’t hesitate when a call came in that 5 people without life jackets were in the choppy bay water, one a 14 month old girl and another a pregnant mother. Matt applied his skill and training to react quickly and effectively to save them all. Without his quick action that day, precious lives could have been lost.

Protecting a Region

Lifelong resident of Ipswich and ardent conservationist Wayne Castonguay is the Executive Director of the Ipswich River Watershed Association. His extensive background as a fisheries biologist prepared him well for his current leadership role. Since so many people and wildlife in our area depend on the Ipswich River watershed, one of the most endangered in the country, Wayne works tirelessly and collaboratively to raise awareness and build coalitions to save this precious resource. In part due to his efforts, communities all along the basin finally came together this year to begin seeking a lasting solution. Rotary is helping, with an Ipswich-Rowley Rotary sponsored District grant that is part of our continuing focus on the Environment.

Defending a Nation

Tanya Marshall grew up in Ukraine, and now lives in Ipswich where she operates her own business. When the Russians invaded her homeland, Tanya leapt into action, sharing her message, tirelessly speaking to many groups throughout the region, and creating signs and banners. She sold homemade soap and yard signs to raise funds, which are distributed to those in need from a dedicated account at TD Bank. Determined to get her message out, Tanya organized local rallies and partnered with leading officials, such as Senator Bruce Tarr and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, to make sure that everyone understood the devastation caused by the war.

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is privileged to know and thank these community heroes. Each of them, in their own way, have made our lives a bit better. ‘Service Above Self’ - it’s the Rotary way.