Rockland Rotary had a celebratory evening at their Centennial banquet at the Samoset Resort on October 23rd.  Emily Dillon, Master of Ceremony, did a superb job of introducing guest speakers and keeping the evening flowing on schedule.  Rockland Rotary's president, Mike Flanagan, gave brief remarks about Rockland Rotary and welcomed dignitaries and guests.  Ken Gricus, who has been a Rotarian for 52 years, gave an inspiring invocation. A pre-recorded video highlighted Rockland Rotary's All-Inclusive Playground Project that was gifted to the City of Rockland upon completion for the community to use and enjoy.  Susan Ware Page, who spearheaded all the fundraising and ordering of the playground equipment, explained the process of this monumental project and community build.  Kermit Voncannon spoke about the history and some of the logistics of the project. Ferolyn Curtis shared some heartwarming, emotional aspects of the community build that encompassed over 160 dedicated volunteers from local businesses and community members. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Nirav Shah, was introduce by Eric Hebert, who added a note of humor to his introduction.  Dr. Shah is the principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a job he has held since January 2023 after being Maine's CDC director.  Shah joked that when people ask him what keeps him up at night, he tells them, "I sleep like a baby, which is to say, I get up every two hours, kicking and screaming and crying. There is a lot going on in the world. Whether it's the next pandemic threat, climate change, ticks finding their way here, or whether it's polio in another part of the world. The challenges facing public health are innumerable." he said.

"We at the CDC have our hands full. But the truth of the matter is that none of those things is the biggest challenge. Our biggest challenge at the CDC is not Ebola, or polio or climate change or hurricanes, or PFAs, or heart disease. Our biggest challenge is trust," Dr. Shah said.  "The real thing that keeps me up at night is not a scary virus or the next hurricane or flood, it's those frayed bonds of trust," the deputy CDC director said. "When the real next threat arrives, if the advice of the CDC is ignored and assistance is turned away, that means lives are lost and communities are destroyed.  That is where Rotary comes in. Rotary is an example of people from different groups coming together for face-to-face meetings over a long time to work for a common community goal." After Dr. Shah’s powerful message, Past District Governor, Doug Curtis, Jr. closed the evening by sharing information about past hands-on projects and community service that Rockland Rotary has engaged in to help others globally and locally.  Doug left us with this query, "What will the next 100 years bring for Rockland Rotary?”

Top collage:  Rockland Rotarians, Emily Dillion, President Mike Flanagan, Eric Hebert, and guest speaker, Dr. Nirav Shah

Bottom collage: Ken Gricus, District Governor Dino Marzaro and his wife, Karen, and PDG Doug Curtis, Jr.

View professional pictures of the banquet in Photo Album, on right side of our webpage.

Past District Governor Doug Curtis, Jr. presents a check for $17,600.00 procured from overwhelming participation in WindowDresser Projects.  Approximately 78 Rotarians participated at 6 different sites in Maine.  Jessica Williams, WindowDresser's Executive Director, accepted the check. Doug's District Governor's Project focused on protecting and preserving the environment. The Governor's Project is an annual project chosen by the District Governor to support a cause that they are passionate about.  Doug selected WindowDressers because it is "a volunteer-driven non-profit organization dedicated to helping Northern New England residents reduce heating costs, fossil fuel consumption, and CO-2 emissions by lowering the amount of heat loss through windows." 

 

Photo: Rockland Rotary President, Mike Flanagan, Waynes Sawyer, wife, Meg Sawyer, and Rockland Rotarian, Jeff Boutaugh

 

Wayne Sawyer, honored as Rockland Rotary’s 2024 Community Person of the Year

 

President Mike Flanagan presented Reverend Wayne Sawyer with Rockland Rotary’s 2024 Community Person of the Year award, while Rotarian Jeff Boutaugh highlighted Sawyer’s unwavering community service.   This award singles out one non-rotary individual who has contributed significantly to the betterment of the community and goes above and beyond Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self.”    

 

Sawyer grew up in Bar Harbor and attended college and seminary in Massachusetts, where he met his wife, Meg.  They married in 1983.  In 1984 he accepted the pastorate of Thomaston Baptist Church.  He served as their pastor for almost 40 years, retiring in December.

 

In addition to church activities, Sawyer has been involved in the Mid-coast Community Band, Thomaston and St. George Fire Departments, Rockland District Nursing Association, Jackson Memorial Library, St. George Select Board, and Special Olympics.  At one time he performed in a play at Watts Hall.  Sawyer has also served as a chaplain for the Thomaston Police Department and Penobscot Bay Medical Center.  During Covid-19, Sawyer opened his church doors to assist people in the community in meeting their basic needs. 

 

Sawyer embodies the true Rotary spirit of selflessness, compassion, and service that has touched many lives in our community.   His spirit of service is an inspiration to others.

The Rockland Rotary Club, in partnership with The Bass Federation of Maine, held its 14th Annual Fishing Tournament at Damariscotta Lake, Sunday, April 29th. Thanks to all the generous support from sponsors, boaters, and participants, this was another successful fundraising event that helps provide Benefaction Grants to community non-profit organizations. 

Rockland Rotary participated in the annual Community Expo at the Samoset Resort to network with local businesses, organizations, and community members. Rockland Rotarians had the opportunity to promote Rotary’s humanitarian work. 

They also had the opportunity to share the exciting progress being made with our Centennial All-Inclusive Playground project that will be located at the MacDougal Park in the very near future!

Sincere thanks go out to the following Rockland Rotarians who helped make this fun day such a great success: Gene Reil, Lexi Zable, Kristin Brown, Kermit Voncannon, Mike Flanagan, Butch & Carol Worcester, Adreth Rackliff, and Ferolyn Curtis.

Photo: Carol Worcester, Kermit Voncannon, & (bottom) Gene Reil