Flags for Heroes - Ipswich registration is now open. 
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary will soon present its annual field of flags, dedicated to honoring local heroes. This year's display will begin on the Ipswich South Green June 10, and run through Independence Day to July 9.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, Rotary placed a few flags on the green as our club honored local veterans. We also installed banners announcing the coming Flags for Heroes event.
Again, our thanks to our hard-working Rotarians, in this case Julie and Brian Nelson, and Jim Tedford.
Register now on our website, www.ipswichrowleyrotary.org, to sponsor a flag honoring your hero. Or visit an Ipswich branch of the Institution for Savings, or BankGloucester in Ipswich.
A similar display is being planned for Rowley in the Fall.
Rotary is grateful to Bob Snow and Bill Freytag for their work on the 9-11 Memorial in Rowley. Bob spent 2 hours on Saturday preparing the garden around the memorial in advance of Memorial Day. This is a regular Rotary supported service project.
Bill Freytag from Country Garden in Rowley once again donated the flowers.
(The photo was taken by Bob Snow.)
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)
Pictured: President Martha Mauser, Stephen Crane, and sponsor Nat Pulsifer; Martha and Doug Brendel. Doug was sponsored by Joan Arsenault. (photos by Bob Snow and John Muldoon)
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is happy to announce that Doug Brendel and Stephen Crane have joined the Rotary family. Doug and Stephen bring with them long track records of community engagement and service.
Doug Brendel is well known in Ipswich and the North Shore. He truly is a renaissance man – novelist, essayist, actor, speaker and humanitarian. His amusing and highly readable “The Outsidah” column about life in a small New England town is a popular weekly feature in the Ipswich Local News. He is an accomplished actor with numerous theater credits to his name. A former clergyman, Doug and his wife Kristina created a non-profit called NewThing.net in 2002 to provide health and support services in Belarus. They also actively support the Trustees of Reservations.
Stephen Crane came to Ipswich in September when he was hired as our new Town Manager. He brings with him 22 years of municipal job experience, including 14 as a municipal manager. His portfolio includes having served for six years as Town Manager in Longmeadow where he succeeded Robin Crosbie, herself a former Ipswich Town Manager and Rotarian. Stephen tells us that, as a town executive, he really enjoys community involvement and is helped by his sense of humor. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, reading, and the arts.
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is thrilled to welcome Doug and Stephen to the Rotary family. We know that their energy, skills, creativity, and compassion and will fit very well with our core missions of service and environmental sustainability. Please join these new Rotarians and help us improve lives in our communities. Together we will achieve more than we can alone.
In the photo: John and Diane Herth, Cindy Quinn and Jim Tedford hard at work on Earth DayIn honor of Earth Day this past weekend, Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians planted 15 trees at two Ipswich Housing Authority properties, on County Road and at Caroline Avenue. This effort began last year, when Rotarians noted the lack of natural shade while installing air conditioners. Rotary then contacted Corliss Brothers Nursery who generously donated the trees planted this year. We also are grateful to the Ipswich Department of Public Works, who transported and installed the trees. On Saturday, and again Monday, Rotarians returned to add water bags, known as gaiters, and mulch, and to water the trees.
The donated trees are native species and part of our Centennial giving project, recognizing the club’s 100 years of service to the community. Additional trees were donated by the Ipswich Shade Tree and Beautification Committee.
The planting is part of a major renovation of the Southern Heights area by the Housing Authority that will enhance the appearance of their grounds and improve the quality of life for residents living there. Going forward, the Housing Authority intends to encourage resident volunteers to water and help care for the trees. This project truly is a collaborative effort.
Chris Davis, Chair of Rotary’s Community Service Committee, coordinated the project for Rotary. The other Rotarians who volunteered were Sr Leonore Coan, John and Diane Herth, Cindy Quinn, and Jim Tedford.
At left, Diane Herth, Chris Davis, Cindy Quinn, and Jim TedfordOn the right, Sr Leonore Coan, Diane Herth, and Jim Tedford, at Caroline Avenue
From left: Interact Vice President Annika Johnson, President Courtney Stevens, and The Open Door’s Director of Operations and an Ipswich-Rowley Rotarian Jen Perry. (photo by Bob Snow)
Several leaders of the Ipswich High School Interact Club were on hand last Thursday morning, at the regular meeting of the sponsoring Ipswich-Rowley Rotary club, to update the Rotarians on their 2022-23 projects. During the meeting, Interact presented a check to 'The Open Door' food pantry, which serves the Cape Ann region from their locations in Gloucester and Ipswich.
The club also informed us of their progress in providing micro-loans to small business operators in developing countries in Africa and South America. We learned that the micro loan project is administered through Kiva, a non-profit organization that “allows people to lend money to low-income entrepreneurs and students in 80 countries. Kiva’s mission is to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive.” These loans are slowly paid back over time, enabling the club to help more people.
Interact is a service oriented club sponsored jointly by the Ipswich Public Schools and Ipswich-Rowley Rotary. The club is advised by Rotarian Keith Harris. Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of ‘Service Above Self’. The money that supports their initiatives was raised through fundraising events such as the Jingle Bell Walk.
From Left: President Lisa Shanko, Chase Delano and her sponsor Chris Doktor
(Photo by John Muldoon)
Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is happy to announce that Chase Delano has joined the Rotary family.
A recent addition to the local scene, Chase already is making a significant impact on Ipswich and the wider community. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development, and currently serves as Executive Director of the Ipswich Partnership to which she brings broad experience in marketing, strategic partnerships, community building, and organizational development.
Chase is very engaged in the community as a member of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, the Essex County Beekeepers Association, the Ipswich Garden Club, and MAC Tennis (USTA league). She also volunteers at the Three Sisters Garden Project.
The Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club is thrilled to welcome Chase. We know that her energy, skills, and passion for public service will fit very well with our core missions of service and environmental sustainability. Please join her in helping us improve lives in our communities. Together we achieve more than we can alone.
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.
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.
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. 
President Ray Morley will be remembered for his service, compassion, and generosity. As the members of the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club mourn the passing of our beloved sitting President, we do so with the memory of what he represented both in Rotary and to the community. Generous to a fault, Ray didn’t know how to say no; he freely helped anyone, in any way he could. He epitomized the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’. As a former Selectman, service organization leader, local entrepreneur and Chef, Ray was well positioned to help his community. For many years before becoming our 99th club President in July, he was a reliable and indispensable supporter of club hosted events, preparing most of the food we served and often donating the facilities of his Inn. Following the disastrous Mother’s Day Flood of 2006, the club honored Ray with its ‘Person of the Year’ award to recognize his tireless efforts and extreme generosity in supporting displaced families and heroic relief workers.
Many members fondly remember the hours spent in Chef Ray’s ‘summer kitchen’ annex at the Ipswich Inn, chopping, peeling, and preparing the large quantities of high quality food we served. 
Occasionally, Ray would include seafood he caught himself aboard his beloved cruiser based in Gloucester harbor, or some of his locally famous chili and 'chowdah'. Helping in the kitchen was hard work, but in Ray's kitchen it also was fun. One member recalls how Ray always made her feel welcome, and how he treated everyone with kindness and compassion. Another member thinks of him as a man of action, who inspired others to action.
Occasionally, Ray would include seafood he caught himself aboard his beloved cruiser based in Gloucester harbor, or some of his locally famous chili and 'chowdah'. Helping in the kitchen was hard work, but in Ray's kitchen it also was fun. One member recalls how Ray always made her feel welcome, and how he treated everyone with kindness and compassion. Another member thinks of him as a man of action, who inspired others to action.We always will be grateful to Ray for his infectious good humor, genuine kindness, and most of all for his friendship. His passing has left a hole in our hearts that will be hard to fill.
In the photo above, Ray is seen overseeing food preparation by Rotarians for the 'Ipswich Dinner Bell'.
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.
.png)
Rowley, MA 01969
United States of America