Introducing "Coffee with a Rotarian" for Senior Citizens
Posted by Susanne Pedersen on Nov 29, 2023
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is about to launch a new service program of home visits with isolated older adults.  Leading this exciting initiative is club Director and Gerontologist Susanne Pedersen; our Community Services Director Chris Davis, who envisioned the program; Nathan Lemmon who is working on a training video; and President Ann Witzig.       
 
The US Surgeon General, the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Institute of Health (NIH), and Dr. Ruth (our first US Ambassador to Loneliness), have all recently acknowledged epidemic proportions of loneliness and isolation throughout the United States and the world.  Older adults who have difficulties leaving their homes are particularly vulnerable to isolation, loneliness, and associated health issues.
 
In response, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is developing "Coffee with a Rotarian", a program to provide friendly, well-organized, social connections for older adults through casual home visits with coffee and conversation.  Research shows that companionship can provide social connectedness, which is not only enjoyable, but also important for one’s overall health and wellbeing.  
 
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Rotary Delivers Thanksgiving Food Baskets
Posted by Bob Wicks on Nov 22, 2023
A team from Ipswich-Rowley Rotary assembled on November 21 at the Ipswich Community Food Pantry to deliver meal baskets prepared by The Open Door.  Baskets containing all the fixings, including turkey, stuffing, veggies, and apples for pies were delivered to our neighbors.
 
Coordinating our annual service event was Diane Herth.  The volunteers pictured in the photo were Nat Pulsifer, John Herth, Diane Herth, Laurie Cameron, Ann Witzig, John Witzig, Ingrid Miles, Jim Tedford, Julie Nelson, and Stephen Miles.
 
Rotary once again congratulates The Open Door for organizing this extraordinary community service.       
Rotary Welcomes Katherine Platt
Posted by Bob Wicks on Nov 14, 2023
We are happy to announce that Katherine Platt has joined Ipswich-Rowley Rotary. 
 
Katie Platt is the new Officer Manager at Campbell-Porter Funeral Home, formerly known as Whittier-Porter.  Now in her 10th year with Campbell Funeral Home, she has assumed responsibility for the High Street location formerly owned and operated by Bob and Kim Porter.  Katie is thrilled with this opportunity.  ‘I am excited to extend my experiences with different situations and dynamics in new ways with the community’.  
 
In the true spirit of Rotary, Katie has discovered how rewarding it can be to help people during difficult times.  ‘When you can make someone smile, it warms your heart knowing that you were able to make that difference.’  
 
Born and raised in Florida, Katie moved to Hamilton twelve years ago and now lives in Amesbury.  Her son is a sophomore in college, her daughter a senior in high school.  For several years, Katie served as the cheer coach for Beverly youth.  When not at work, she enjoys dancing, reading, and spending time with her children, family, and friends. 
 
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is thrilled to welcome Katie to the Rotary family.  We know that her energy, skills, compassion, and creativity will fit very well with our core missions of community service and environmental sustainability.  Please join people of action like Katie and help us improve lives locally and around the world.  Together we can achieve more than we can alone.   
 
In the photo from left: co-sponsor Nat Pulsifer, President Ann Witzig, Katie Platt, co-sponsor George Gray (photo by Bob Snow)          
Rotarians Cleanup on Route 133
Posted by Bob Wicks on Nov 13, 2023
Last Saturday morning a group of Rotarians descended on our ‘adopted highway’, removing unsightly debris from the roadside along Route 133 between County Road and the Essex town line.  Over the course of about 2 hours, the team collected 8 large bags of trash, helping to maintain the beauty of this picturesque motorway. 
 
As usual, the litter removal squad was organized by President Elect Tom Murphy.  Participating this year, were Rotarians Susanne Pedersen (pictured in the photo), Lee McNelly, Nat Pulsifer, and Doug Shealy.  This project is part of Rotary's larger commitment to protecting the environment.   
Ipswich Interact Leadership Camp
Posted by Bob Wicks on Oct 23, 2023
In the photo, from left, Claire Buletza, Annika Johnson, Charlotte Donahue, and Jenny White.  (Photo by John Muldoon)
 
Recently, four leaders of Ipswich High School Interact took the reins of our weekly Ipswich-Rowley club meeting.  In addition to collecting Happy Bucks, making announcements, and coordinating our weekly celebrations, the officers used PowerPoint to update us on their second annual summer camping retreat at Green Meadow Campground in Glen, NH.  The event is designed to energize and organize the leadership team for the coming year. 
 
Dubbed ‘Leadership in the Woods’, the chaperoned event lets 13 Board members step outside their comfort zones to plan and budget meals and gear, organize fun activities, and share event duties.  Following a fun filled hike on nearby Black Cat Mountain, a guest speaker from RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) introduced a learning and organizing game that uses a color test to help identify personal leadership styes.  The group then separated according to their dominant color: red (fiery) do more, blue (cool) do it right, green (earth) do it fairly, and yellow (sunshine) do it together.  Each group picked 5 or 6 goals from the Interact Presidential Citation list. 
  
At their first club meeting at the High School, the leaders introduced the color wheel and led a planning session to finalize their goals.  The club identified 14 goals but will focus on the top 5 for the year.  The event was well attended with over 100 students present, 1 in 6 students at Ipswich High School.
 
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9-11 Memorial Remembrance Monday in Rowley
Posted by Bob Wicks on Sep 08, 2023
Rotarian Bob Snow beautifully prepared the 911 Memorial last Sunday and again this morning, getting it ready for Monday's memorial service.  Sheri David, Bob's colleague on the Rowley Select Board, and her husband Scott stopped by to help out.  The David's also bought a new American Flag to display on the Rotary Flagpole.  
 
As he does every year, Bill Freitag from Country Gardens donated the mums.  As you can see, due to the abundance of rain this summer, all the flowers around the monument have flourished.    
 
Sadly, three Rowley residents perished in the tragedy.  They will be remembered on Monday, September 11 during a brief ceremony at the Memorial led by representatives from the Rowley Police, Fire, Select Board, town officials, and Ipswich-Rowley Rotary participating.  The gathering will assemble at 8:30 AM, with the ceremony scheduled to begin at 8:45 - the time that Flight 11 struck Tower 1.
 
The memorial is located at the intersection of Pleasant and Cross Streets in Rowley.  
Ipswich-Rowley Makes Donations to help Seniors and Youth
Posted by Bob Wicks on Aug 07, 2023
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary recently donated $10,000 to assist the summer camp program of the Ipswich Family YMCA.  This donation is made annually in memory of Rotarian Gerry Beauchamp, founding Executive Director of the Ipswich Y.  Receiving the donation on behalf of the Y were Chris Bevilaqua, current Executive Director and a Rotarian, and Andy Ellis, an Honorary Rotarian and the lead race coordinator of our annual Ipswich Ale Half Marathon fundraiser. 
 
Rotarians put in about 650 hours annually on the marathon, but it wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors and supporters.  Speaking at our annual Passing the Gavel installation dinner, Chris thanked the club on behalf of the Y and the kids who enjoy the camp experience in Rowley.         
 
The club also contributed $500 to support ‘The Memory Café’, a place where older adults with dementia meet to socialize and have fun without worrying about what others may think.  Spouses and caregivers are invited to participate during monthly meetings at the Ipswich Council on Aging. 
 
Rotary Director Susanne Pedersen hosts the Memory Café, for which there is no separate funding.  Our donation will assist Susanne in purchasing supplies and essential items, such as a new white board, games, decorations, snacks, and perhaps an outing or two.  Making the presentation was fellow club Director Kathy Frederick.   
 
Rotary – creating lasting change in our communities
Ipswich Interact Looks Back and Looks Forward
Posted by Bob Wicks on Jun 19, 2023
From left: Maggie Carlberg, Jane O’Connell, Frannie Hertz, Alex Marino, Amelia Mooradd, Brooke Soininen, Claire Buletza, Charlotte Donahue, Jenny White, and Annika Johnson
 
On Sunday, June 11, Ipswich High School Interact held a special meeting that was attended by their families and some friends from the sponsoring Ipswich-Rowley Rotary club.  In addition to celebrating their achievements and installing new leaders, the club created this event to strengthen their connections with parents, school administrators, and the Rotary club.  Supported by Rotarians, Interact is driven by the children and enabled by the parents who raise them and shape their values. 
 
Following dinner, Rotary President Martha Mauser shared a bit about Rotary and our annual Youth Exchange program.  The club then presented a year-in-review slide show, beginning with a leadership camping trip in August and running through each club event.  Interact runs a number of events during the year to raise money for charitable organizations.  Their managed and hosted ‘Jingle Bell Walk’ just completed its 10th year in Ipswich and has become an annual town tradition.  This year, the club also raised money to fund Kiva revolving micro loans to small businesses in developing countries.  Many of these loans already have been repaid and reissued as new loans. 
 
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Rotary Welcomes Lisa Melkonian
Posted by Bob Wicks
Pictured: President Martha Mauser, sponsor Joan Arsenault, and Lisa.  (photo by Bob Snow)
 
We are happy to announce that Lisa Melkonian has joined Ipswich-Rowley Rotary. 
 
Lisa is a former special education preschool teacher of 9 years.  Recently, she founded a children's yoga business, where her focus is helping children learn, grow, and thrive.  She also provides support to parents and caregivers, with an emphasis on stress management.  For several years, Lisa has assisted recovering adults through an online sobriety support group known as ‘The Luckiest Club’ (TLC) whose mission is to create a ‘compassionate place to recover from alcohol addiction and thrive in life’. 
 
When not at work helping others, Lisa enjoys art, writing, and nature.
 
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is thrilled to welcome Lisa to the Rotary family.  We know that her energy, skills, creativity, and compassion and will fit very well with our core missions of community service and environmental sustainability.  Please join people of action Rotarians like Lisa and help us improve lives. 
 
Together we will achieve more than we can alone.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Honored for 100 Years of Service
Posted by Bob Wicks on May 15, 2023
At a gala dinner last Saturday evening at the Ipswich Country Club, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary was one of seven area Rotary clubs that were honored with Massachusetts Senate Citations presented by State Senator Bruce Tarr.  Senator Tarr noted the clubs were being recognized for their historic founding by local business leaders in 1923, and for their many years of community service and social support.  As he put it, “700 years of community and international service are represented in this room”.
    
Accepting the citation for Ipswich-Rowley Rotary was club President Martha Mauser, who is seen with Senator Tarr in the accompanying photograph.  (Photo by Ted Costa, Gloucester Rotary)
Celebrating 100 Years
Posted by Bob Wicks on Jul 07, 2022
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is in its 99th year of serving the community.  Follow us to learn more about the exiting plans we have to celebrate our anniversary over the next two years.
 
 
At Cable Hospital 2009, with Ben Collins in the same relative position as in the 1953 photo below.
 
At Cable Hospital 1953.
 
Charter Members at the Olde Manse, 1923.
 
Club Information
Ipswich-Rowley Rowley
We meet In Person
Thursdays at 7:15 AM
Village Pancake House
26 Main Street
Rowley, MA 01969
United States of America
Breakfast on Thursdays at 7:15 am, except the second Thursday, in the Village Pancake House, 26 Main Street (Route 1A), Rowley. Evenings monthly on the second Wednesday at 6 pm in the 1640 Hart House, 51 Linebrook Road, Ipswich, and other locations.
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