June Nairator (Jun. 09, 2024)

President's Message

In some ways, this Rotary year is coming to a close. We are coming up on the transition to a
new president (welcome, Jason!). Many projects are reaching the finish line (for instance,
approving a new Strategic Plan). The Annual Dinner—a kind of grand finale—with awards and
recognitions and installation of new officers happens in the evening on June 26.

In other ways, though, we are smack dab in the middle of the Rotary year. I often think of the
Belfast Rotary year as a cycle beginning and ending with the 100 (200?) Club, followed by the
Pancake Breakfast, Keep Belfast Beautiful clean-up, the Scholarship Luncheon, the Golf
Fundraiser, and the super spectacular Harborfest, with Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving and
other holidays and club events sprinkled in for variety.

Time flies. We are an active club and keep very busy. We do a ton of good work in the
community. I am very grateful and honored to have had the privilege of leading our remarkable
club for the past year, which in retrospect was an exceedingly short time. I offer my sincere
thanks to all of our members for everything you do to keep it rolling!

The next Rotary year is a big one. 100 years of Belfast Rotary! Hooray! We are well positioned
to accomplish some amazing projects for the community to commemorate our 100th birthday.

Of course, we will also continue to do the great work that we do every year. I am confident, too,
that we will have a lot of fun in the process. Truly Happy Birthday to all of us… and many
more!

Steve Norman

President 2023-2024

Click Here to go to the Rotary International website and read more about Create Hope in the World

Council peruses pirate park proposal

by Jim Leonard, Republican Journal

Belfast- At the May 21 meeting of the Belfast City Council a pair of law enforcement officers joined forces with Belfast Parks & Recreation Commission Director Pam Salokangas in proposing construction of a new playground in Belfast.

Belfast Police Chief Robert Cormier and Waldo County Sheriff Jason Trundy addressed the council with Salokangas on a proposal through the Belfast Rotary Club, of which both Cormier and Trundy are members.

Cornier said Belfast Rotary will be celebrating 100 years of community service and would like to commemorate the milestone with a "legacy" project.

He told councilors that a committee wanted the project to be "public" and "inclusive," and decided on a pirate-themed playground park. After touring several sites around Belfast, the three selected a familiar location - behind the pool in Belfast City Park - on the site of an existing playground. The existing playground equipment poses safety risks. Salokangas, a certified playground equipment inspector, said, "That equipment is likely on its last cycle." But the site itself will provide "a great space" for the proposed playground.

She added that shifting the current park configuration would provide some additional benefits.

"By sliding the playground toward the water," Salokangas said, "it will save (the existing trees on the current playground) and provide a shady area for people."

Cormier noted the group had decided to use poured materials for the playground surfaces and equipment, making them more durable.

The chief said the legacy project was designed as something that will "enhance the community in a meaningful way and enshrine the commitment of our club members, past and present, to building a better community." Belfast Rotary has been working on - and researching - this project for over a year.

The proposed park location is walking distance to the downtown area, accessible with adequate parking, and inclusive to all groups, he said. The park will have wellness equipment as well. The pirate them encapsulates Belfast's nautical nature.

Belfast Rotary would fund the project from several different sources - including fundraising events and grants - and the anticipated expense will be around $200K, Cormier said. O'Brien & Sons will provide the design and construction. He promised a future report to the council on the project's progress.

Click here to the link to a PowerPoint presentation on the Legacy Project

Belfast Rotary Club

2024 Scholarship Recipients

May 22, 2024

Student/School Award

Ian Cottrell Hope & Jesse Rhodes Scholarship

Waldo County Technical Center $5000

Colby Treat Thomas Lawson Scholarship

Waldo County Technical Center $5000

Morgan Tolliver F. Frederick Romanow Scholarship

Belfast Area High School $5000

Brianna Fairbrother Hawthorne Service Scholarship

Searsport District High School $5000

Josiah Howard Malmberg Service Scholarship

Belfast Area High School $6000

Autumn Fletcher Duane Service Scholarship

Mount View High School $8000

Ezra Holt Leadership Scholarship

Mount View High School $5000

Tanner Carson Leadership Scholarship

Belfast Area High School $5000

Jane Bluhm Manley Rogers Scholarship

Belfast Area High School $5000

Danielle Hicock Pitman Scholarship

Belfast Area High School $6000

Ada Curry Malmberg Leadership Scholarship

Belfast Area High School $7000

Benjamin Richards Duane Leadership Scholarship

Mount View High School $8000

Cassandra Kromer Robert M. Hooper Scholarship

Belfast Area High School $10,000

Eighty thousand dollars was awarded to thirteen students from Belfast Area High School, Mt View High School, Searsport High School and Waldo County Technical School.

Each student was introduced by a Rotarian who gave a brief bio and the accomplishments they have achieved. What an amazing group of students!

Front Row L to R: Brianna Fairbrother, Autumn Fletcher, Cassandra Kromer, Ezra Holt, Ada Curry, Danielle Hicock, Jane Bluhm, Morgan Tolliver

Back Row L to R: Benjamin Richards, Ian Cottrell, Colby Treat, Josiah Howard, Tanner Carson

New Member: Alan Cohen

Alan Cohen was inducted as a new member of our club on Wednesday, May 29th. Alan is the president of Biological Pest Management and his classification is farmer. Alan lives in Winterport. Jason Trundy is his sponsor.

Welcome Alan!

Cole Ellis, 2023 leadership award winner

Our speaker on May 16 was Cole Ellis, a winner of a 2023 Leadership Scholarship award. He spoke of what receiving this award meant to him and how it has shaped his life. He is a student at Thomas College and the owner of a heat pump cleaning business. A very impressive young man!

June Birthdays:

Bob Adler - June 2

Manley Rogers - June 5

Bobby Cormier - June 6

Mickey Sirota - June 8

Tiffany Nemec - June 8

Larry Theye - June 10

Sue Beemer - June 21

Beth Sterner - June 26

June Rotary Anniversaries:

Erin Merrifield - 2 years

Steve Norman - 9 years

Reyn Ritchie - 25 years

Janet Weaver - 27 years

Manley Rogers - 39 years

BELFAST ROTARY PROGRAMS

June 2024

June 12, 2004

Tuesdi Woodworth

Miracle German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Maine

June 19, 2024

Sue Beemer and Greg Morin

Belfast Rotary Club Strategic Plan Reveal

June 26, 2024

Belfast Rotary Annual Dinner; Silent Auction (no lunch meeting)

For more information about any of the speakers listed above, contact Marjorie Crowley.

Welcome To Our Club

Service Above Self

Wednesdays at 12:00 PM

Waldo County Shrine Club

20 Northport Avenue
Belfast, ME 04915
United States of America

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District Site

Venue Map

President

Steve Norman

President Elect

Jason Trundy

Secretary

Jill Goodwin

Treasurer

Beth Sterner

Club Administration

Hadan Kauffman

Vice President

Russell Werkman

Immediate Past President

Kristine Wentworth

Director

Susan Beemer

Director

Donna Kelley

Director

Kim Fleming

Director

Robert Cormier

Director

Michelle Morrow

Director

Bev O'Malia

Belfast Rotary Club

Nairator

JUNE 2024