Home Page Stories
Flags for Heroes 26 - Honor Your Hero Today
Again this year, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary will fill the Ipswich South Green and line the Rowley Town Common with full size American flags to honor our heroes.  
 
These eye-catching displays will run from May 22 to July 6 spanning Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Independence Day.    
 
Register Online and pay by credit card or check. Click HERE to register.  Each flag sponsorship is $35, and the proceeds help Rotary provide local scholarships and fund community service projects. 
 
Or Register Manually by picking up a sponsor form at one of our convenient drop-off locations in Ipswich.  Simply fill in the form, attached HERE, and bring it with your payment to a drop-off site:  
 
BankGloucester, 143 High Street, Ipswich
Institution for Savings, 2 Depot Square, Ipswich
 
Rotary Thanks Ipswich for its Support
Posted on May 13, 2026
The Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club’s “Ipswich Ale Half Marathon” on April 25 was a success! 
 
We were excited to host more than 500 runners from twenty-seven states! 
 
Club Co-Presidents George Gray and Doug Shealy want to express the club’s deep appreciation to our essential partners, sponsors, and supporters without whose help this event is not possible. 
 
More than a road race that showcases bucolic Ipswich to hundreds of runners and spectators from across the country, the ‘Ipswich Ale Half Marathon’ is our club’s largest annual fundraiser.  A team of volunteers works throughout the year organizing the event, and proceeds support local high school scholarships, the Ipswich YMCA camp in Rowley, and numerous other worthy local causes.  Since the first half marathon in 2016, our race has raised almost $250,000 for deserving local charities!
 
Read more...
Climate Change Conference to Feature Andrea Lacroix - May 23
Posted by Bob Wicks on May 13, 2026
On Saturday, May 23, join Ipswich-Rowley Rotarian and climate expert Andrea Lacroix who will be a featured speaker during an online Climate Change and Social Justice Conference.  The interactive session will be aired on Zoom. 
 
Four expert speakers from different continents will discuss social conflicts and local group experiences resulting from natural disasters caused by climate change.  In this educational and open-to-public event, attendees will learn about practical ways to respond to and prepare for climate change.  Speakers from North America, India, and Turkey will share their expertise in local climate related challenges and solutions.

Refer to the accompanying flier for more information and to register.
Rotary Announces 2026 Community Support Awards
Posted by Bob Wicks on Apr 23, 2026
On April 16, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary presented the Third Annual ‘Community Support Awards’.  Eleven organizations received a total of $7,500 in recognition of their service in making our communities just a bit better.  These awards reflect the mission and standards of Rotary and were presented by chair Kathy Frederick.
 
The YMCA of the North Shore, for its youth development programs, particularly summer camp for 5-10 children in financial need.  Accepting was Chris Bevilacqua. 
 
Ipswich Education Foundation, for various initiatives that deepen hands on learning, environmental stewardship, and student engagement in the Middle and High School levels.  Accepting were Amy Borgman and Ingrid Miles. 
 
Ipswich Junior Sailing, to provide half scholarships to two families in need, whose child will learn practical water safety, teamwork and leadership skills.  Accepting was Sarah Gallagher.
Read more...
It's Growing Season - 4 New Members Join Ipswich-Rowley Rotary
Posted by Bob Wicks on Apr 15, 2026
Spring is Busting Out with New Members at Ipswich-Rowley Rotary
 
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is delighted to welcome David Fields, Eric Gedstad, Kevin Moriarty, and Virginia Stevens to the Rotary family.
 
David Fields lives in Rowley and is employed by the state of Massachusetts in the field of land use entitlements, where he actively seeks new opportunities in housing development and investment.  David also sits on the Rowley Planning Board.  He also is actively involved as a volunteer at his child’s school and is teaching his daughter amateur radio and rocketry.  David is sponsored by Deb Mahoney.
 
Eric Gedstad lives in Ipswich and is the Executive Director of the Ipswich Local News, a community based, non-profit newspaper serving Ipswich, Rowley and surrounding communities.  He also is an active member of Ascension Memorial Church where he sings in the choir and serves as Junior Warden and on the Stewardship, Scholarship, and Buildings & Grounds committees.  In his free time, Eric enjoys tennis, cycling, hiking, running and occasionally pickleball.  Eric is sponsored by Rev Brad Clark.   
 
Kevin Moriarty lives in Rowley where he owns and operates a local brewery.  His areas of special interest are community outreach and technology.  Kevin is a member of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and is actively involved in organizing community events and fundraising for local charities.  In his spare time, he enjoys cooking and photography.  Kevin is sponsored by Diane Herth.   
 
Ginny Stevens lives in Ipswich where she works in the fields of real estate, bookkeeping and financial services.  She is an active community volunteer, a member of the Ipswich Open Space Committee and a volunteer at Appleton Farm.  Her memberships include the Essex County Trail Association and the Trustees of Reservations.  Ginny is an active equestrian, and an advocate for peace, the environment, animal welfare, and food security.  Ginny is sponsored by Andrea Lacroix. 
 
These professional leaders are committed to helping improve our communities in meaningful ways through collaborative Rotary service, where we achieve more together than we can alone. 
 
Photo caption:
In the photo, our new members are joined by their sponsors and co-Presidents.
From left, Andrea, Rev. Brad, Ginny, Eric, Kevin, David, Deb, Co-Presidents Doug and George
Picking Up the Pitching Out
Posted by Bob Wicks on Apr 15, 2026
Sunday morning, Rotarians gathered to clean up a section of our adopted highway from Gordon’s Greenhouse to Lakeman’s Lane, a 3/4 mile stretch on Route 133. Pitching in to pick up the pitching out were Susanne Pederson, Doug Shealy, and Andrea Lacroix. Seen here are Doug and Susanne.
Rotarians Increase Their Commitment to End Polio
Posted by Bob Wicks on Apr 06, 2026
Our Assistant Governor and District Rotary Foundation chair, Anne Lewis, recently visited our club to recognize several members who recently pledged a minimum of $100 per year to help end polio.  Their generous donations also make them members of the ‘PolioPlus Society’, which was formed in 2012 to encourage sustained, recurring gifts to Rotary’s leading humanitarian project, the eradication of polio. 
 
Congratulations to these Rotarians who are doing what they can to make our world a better place.
 
Anne, purple sweater, is seen here surrounded by our new PolioPlus Society members. 
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Collects Over 1,600 Pounds of Food!
Posted by Ann Witzig on Mar 31, 2026
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is grateful for all the community donations to our February Food Drive.

“Our total donation this year was 1645 pounds of food to benefit the Open Door Ipswich
Community Food Pantry. We exceeded our expectations and increased this year’s donations by several hundred pounds,” according to Chris Davis, Ipswich-Rowley Rotarian and food drive organizer. 
 
Julie LaFontaine, Open Door President and CEO, is again grateful for this continued support from the community, “With the cost-of-living outpacing many budgets, food drives like this one play a critical role in keeping our shelves stocked and our neighbors fed during the winter months. Our hats are off to Ipswich-Rowley Rotary for demonstrating what “service above self” looks like in action."

Chris Davis also notes, “Our Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians volunteer many hours each week delivering food for both The Open Door Food Pantry, Ipswich and the First Parish Newbury Food Pantry, Newbury. These are critical organizations requiring volunteers committed to addressing hunger that is often hidden in plain sight.”

John Witzig, fellow Rotarian, added, “Free hot meals are also provided at the Ipswich Dinner Bell , a weekly gathering at the Ipswich Masonic Hall. Rotarians, along with numerous other groups and churches, support and distribute these meals every week.” Dinner Bell provides 150 meals weekly, half of the guests dine together, and the other half are delivered to homes.  Rotarians help both deliver these meals weekly as well as serve quarterly at the Masonic Hall.

The Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Food Drive is an important service to our community organizations that depend on volunteer contributions of food as well as commitment of time. We are very grateful to the generous contributions from the following local businesses, with the greatest donations from Paula Henrys Fitness. Thank you! 
 
Ipswich Town Hall, the Ipswich Public Library, the Ipswich YMCA, The Institution for Savings, Brookline Bank, Bank Gloucester, and Mark Warner Martial Arts.

Rowley Town Hall, the Rowley Public Library, Three Sweet Peas, Choice Graphics, Fitness 24, and Paula Henry Fitness.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Honored for 100 Years of Service - 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
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary has served our communities for over 100 years.  Seen in the following photos are some of our members who have committed to 'Service Above Self' to make our towns just a bit better.  We achieve more together than we can alone.     
 
 
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
We meet In Person
Thursdays at 7:15 AM
Village Pancake House
26 Main Street
Rowley, MA 01969
United States of America
We meet Thursdays at 7:15 am in the Village Pancake House, 26 Main Street (Route 1A), Rowley. Zoom available, by invitation. Occasional evening events are scheduled in lieu of regular meetings. See our Calendar for details.
District Site
Venue Map
From Our                        Co-Presidents
 
 
Dear Members and Friends,
 
Let’s Be a Happy Place
Service With Gusto
Have Fun
Practice Respect
Meditate – Moments of Silence
Words of Wisdom
Keep Things Simple and On Time
Encourage Questions
Enjoy the Camaraderie
Support our Community
Build Friendships, not Walls
 
George Gray
Doug Shealy
Co-Presidents 2025-26
Calendar
View More...