Flags for Heroes 2022 - Honor Your Hero

Thanksgiving Football Rally 2021

Community Service - Ipswich

Community Service- Rowley

International Friendship Exchange

Jingle Bell Walk - Ipswich Interact

Ipswich Ale Half Marathon for Rotary

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Passes the Gavel

Posted by Bob Wicks on Jun 27, 2022

During the annual ‘Passing the Gavel’ Installation Dinner at the Hellenic Center on Thursday evening, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary installed its new President and Board of Directors for 2022-23. In addition, several members were honored by the club for their exceptional service during the past year, as the club continued to overcome pandemic challenges.

Receiving the gavel this year was President Ray Morley, who officially takes the reins on July 1. Joining him on the new Board of Directors as club Officers are Ann Witzig, President-Elect; Ted Garside, Treasurer; Mary Foote-Hill, Secretary, Dr. Doug Shealy, Vice President - The Rotary Foundation; and seven Directors. The Directors include Paula Bishop, Chris Davis, Diane Herth, Julie Nelson, Lisa Shanko, and Jay Stanbury. Immediate Past President Clint Dalton also will serve one year as a Director. A sixth Officer position, Vice President – Administration, remains temporarily open.

Stepping down from the Board are Directors Bob Arsenault, Martha Mauser, and Cushing Titcomb. President Clint Dalton thanked each of them for their service and awarded them a special memento to mark the occasion. President Clint also recognized several members for their exceptional support and ‘service above self’ during the past year. Teamwork and fellowship are the fuel that make our service efforts successful.

A slide show of this event is being prepared and will appear shortly on our website.

We invite you to join our new club leaders as we continue to improve lives in our communities and the world. We will achieve more together than we can alone. Contact information is available on our website home page.

In the images below, Past District Governor Joan Arsenault installs President Ray Morley;

Joan then installs the Board of Directors present.

In the images above, President Ray Morley delivers his opening address;

and out-going President Clint Dalton makes his closing remarks.

Susanne Pedersen Joins Ipswich-Rowley Rotary

Posted by Bob Wicks on Jun 26, 2022

Susanne Pedersen is welcomed by President Clint Dalton, right, and her sponsor Bill Nelson.

At its regular meeting on June 16, Susanne Pedersen was inducted by President Clint Dalton, assisted by her Rotary sponsor, Bill Nelson. Susanne joins 75 area professionals and community leaders who are dedicated to changing lives through community and international service.

Susanne lives in Ipswich, where she is employed as Engagement Activities Assistant at The Residence at Riverbend senior care facility. She is well qualified for this position, holding a BA in Gerontology and currently studying for a Masters Degree in the Management of Aging Services.

Susanne’s community service activities also fall right in line with those of Rotary. They include volunteering as a driver for the Ipswich Council on Aging and for Meal on Wheels. She also is a ski race coach for the Special Olympics. Susanne describes her objective as ‘improving situations for older adults’. Spoken like a true Rotarian.

Her hobbies include skiing, hiking, cycling, and travel.

The Rotary Club is thrilled to welcome Susanne, and we know that her skills and passions will fit very well with our core missions of service and environmental sustainability. Join Susanne and help us improve lives in our communities. Together we will achieve more than we can alone.

'Flags for Heroes' Comes to Rowley

Posted by Bob Wicks on Jun 22, 2022

On June 18, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club volunteers planted ‘Flags for Heroes’ on the Rowley Common. These full size flags on 10 foot poles are dedicated to the exceptional men and women of Rowley who are remembered as personal heroes by friends and family for contributions to their lives, the community, or the world.

The flags will be displayed along Route 1A in Rowley until July 9.

Sponsorships are still available online, or by visiting the Institution for Savings and Bank Gloucester branch offices in Ipswich. With a donation of $50, you can honor a veteran, teacher, medical professional, mentor, or any person who has made a difference in your life.

Proceeds from the event will be used by our volunteer-run organization to fund scholarships and service projects in the two towns.

Rowley Rotarian Dr Doug Shealy installs a flag.

Rowley Rotarian and Select Board Chair Bob Snow dedicates the field of flags.

Rotary Welcomes Andrea Lacroix

Posted by Bob Wicks on Jun 05, 2022

Andrea is inducted by President Clint Dalton and her sponsor Nat Pulsifer

At its regular club meeting on Thursday, Ipswich-Rowley Rotary inducted Andrea Lacroix as our newest member. Andrea joins 75 area professionals and community leaders who are dedicated to changing lives through community and international service.

Andrea is well known in our area. She is a realtor with Churchill Properties who serves on the committees of both the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and North Shore Realtors.

Andrea considers herself an environmentalist and hopes to support club initiatives that focus on sustainability. She donates her time and talent to numerous conservation initiatives, including the Ipswich Waste Reduction Committee and the Open Space Committee. She also has organized town-wide cleanups in Ipswich.

In addition, she has a passion for the arts, currently serving on the Board of the Ipswich Open Doors House Tour Committee, and as past member of the Orchestra on the Hill Committee. She also is involved with the Ipswich Citizens for the Arts. Her hobbies include golf, and she is working hard to improve her game.

The Rotary Club is thrilled to welcome Andrea, and we know that her skills and passions will fit very well with our core missions of service and environmental sustainability. Join Andrea and help us improve lives in our communities. Together we will achieve more than we can alone.

Rotary Serves - Senior Lunch 2022

Posted by Bob Wicks on May 30, 2022

In what turned out to be a very busy week for Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians, the club hosted its annual lunch for senior citizens on May 26. This popular annual gathering could not be held the past two years due to the pandemic.

Co-sponsored by the Ipswich Council on Aging, the event featured entertainment and a delicious lunch prepared by Rotarian and Chef Ray Morley. Also assisting and cheerfully greeting the senior citizens were students from the Ipswich High School Interact Club, a youth services group sponsored by Rotary.

A great time was had by all, as can be seen in the accompanying photos. We also are grateful to fellow Rotarian, the Rev. Brad Clark, and Ascension Church for making their beautiful hall available.

Interact Club members, from left, top row, Hazel Hoog, Emily Hannibal, Claire Buletza, Annika Johnson, Courtney Stevens, Ella Stein, Brooke Soininen. Bottom row, Estelle Gromko, Lexi Wright, Edwin Quimby

All photos by John Muldoon

Rotarians Install Air Conditioners for Senior Citizens

Posted by Chris Davis on May 30, 2022

On Saturday, May 21, members and friends of the Ipswich–Rowley Rotary Club teamed with the Ipswich Senior Center to install 15 air conditioners in the homes and apartments of Ipswich seniors in advance of the hot weekend weather.

Participating Rotarians included Jim Tedford, Jay Stanbury, Doug Shealy, John Witzig and son Matthew, John Herth, and Chris Davis.

Holes for poles to be followed by Flags for Heroes

Posted by John Muldoon on May 23, 2022

Peter Pinciaro drives a stake into the ground to make way for a flag holder. The group prepared South Village Green for 200 American flags this year.

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary members got a workout on Friday when they hit the South Green in Ipswich to place holders for 200 American flags.

The flags, which are on 10-foot poles, will be installed shortly as part of the Flags for Heroes project. Rotary placed 100 on the green last year but enlarged the Ipswich display this year — and expanded to Rowley, where 100 flags will be placed on the town common.

People can sponsor a flag for $50 to honor a personal hero. “The hero may be a veteran, teacher, medical professional, mentor, or any person you would like to honor for their contribution to your life, the community, or the world,” organizers said.

Sponsorships are still available online, or by visiting the Institution for Savings and Bank Gloucester branch offices in Ipswich.

Display dates are May 27 to June 18 in Ipswich, and June 18 to July 9 in Rowley.

Proceeds from the volunteer-run organization will be used to fund scholarships and service projects in the two towns.

Doug Shealy (left) and Nat Pulsifer prepare

another place.

Story and photo by John Muldoon, reprinted from

the Ipswich Local News

Many Winners at Ipswich Ale Half Marathon

Posted by Bob Wicks on Apr 27, 2022

The Ipswich Ale Half Marathon for Ipswich-Rowley Rotary returned this year and once again attracted hundreds of runners to the spectacular 13.1 mile course in Ipswich. The race starts and ends at Castle Hill, and proceeds along the bucolic by-ways of Ipswich to benefit the Rotary club’s scholarship program and other service projects in Ipswich and Rowley.

As in the past, most of the competitors came from the Boston and North Shore area. But, several runners travelled from other New England states, Alaska, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC.

We congratulate all the winners. There were winners in each category, winners who ran their best times, and winners who completed the challenge of this scenic but challenging road race. But, the big winners on Saturday were the young scholars of Ipswich and Rowley who will receive scholarships, as well as our friends and neighbors in these communities who benefit from Rotary’s on-going service and charitable activities.

Reed Dolan of Ipswich finished first among all runners with a time of 1:11:30 minutes. Reed led a large pack of runners from start to finish. Following the race he told the Ipswich Local News that although this was his first time competing in the event he was familiar with the course. Reed works at the beach gate in the summer, so this was ‘kind of my morning commute’.

The fastest woman this year was Julianna Catania of Brookline with a time of 1:28:24. Sarah Lynam of Ipswich was second among the women, with a time of 1:32:57.

Tom Lynam posted the best time for men ages 30-39 with 1:32:50. Dan Healey of Ipswich was the fastest man over 60, finishing with a time of 1:35:42. Jack MacLaughlin of Anchorage, Alaska travelled the greatest distance and celebrated with a good time of 1:31:20.

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary also must acknowledge our winning team of major sponsors, without whom this wonderful event would not be possible:

Ipswich Ale Brewery	Institution for Savings
Bank Gloucester	Trustees of Reservations
Ipswich Family YMCA	Beverly Hospital

We also are very grateful to the following organizations whose considerable contributions were vital to the success of the event:

Action Ambulance	Baystate Physical Therapy
East End Bagels	Ipswich Police Department
Kayem Foods	Ipswich Department of Public Works
Pomodori Pizza

And, our special thanks go to the many Rotarians and local residents who generously volunteered their time and talent.

Finally, thanks to all the runners who participated. We’ll see you next year!

Flags For Heroes - Honor Your Hero This Year

Posted by Julie Nelson on Apr 23, 2022

Heroes Come in Many Forms - Honor Yours

Posted by Bob Wicks on Apr 22, 2022

Heroes don’t have to wear a cape. Some wear a uniform, or just a smile as they make a difference in your life, our community, or the world. Along with the brave men and women who have served our country and community, a hero is anyone you admire for their courage, outstanding achievements, noble qualities, or who gives back to the community.

Remember and honor your Hero by sponsoring a flag with a contribution that also helps Rotary fund our community-based and international service projects. The flag project was a huge success last year in Ipswich when 100 full-sized U.S. flags graced the South Green for several weeks. This display of patriotism and gratitude is back and bigger than ever.

This year, 200 flags will be on display in Ipswich. And, in celebration of our new identity as the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club, we have added 100 flags on the Rowley Common. Flags will be displayed on the Ipswich South Green from May 27-June 18, and in Rowley from June 18 to July 9. Flag sponsorships will be accepted on a first-come basis until sold out.

Register Online on our website, www.ipswichrotary.org, and pay by credit card or check. Sponsorships are $50 per flag in the location of your choice, and the funds raised will go to the Ipswich Rotary Charitable Trust. Click HERE to register.

NEW - Register Manually by picking up a sponsor form at one of our convenient drop-off locations in Ipswich. Simply fill in the form, also attached HERE, and bring it and your payment to a drop-off site:

BankGloucester, 143 High Street, Ipswich

Institution for Savings, 2 Depot Square, Ipswich

Institution for Savings, 112 County Road, Ipswich

Rotary Collects Food for The Open Door

Posted by Chris Davis on Feb 10, 2022

Donations are picked up at one of the drop-off locations, Brookline Bank on Market Street. Seen in the photo are Rotarians John Witzig and Heidi VonAsch, the bank's branch manager, along with John's son Matt.

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary completed its ’25 Days of Kindness’ food drive for The Open Door food pantry last week.  The Gloucester based food assistance organization serves all of Cape Ann and also owns and operates a pantry in Ipswich.

Once again, our month-long annual drive was a big success.  Over 2,100 food items and household products were collected, totaling over 1,000 pounds of groceries delivered to the Open Door last Thursday.  All of this was made possible through the generosity of Rotarians and local residents.

We are deeply grateful to our local sponsors and supporting organizations that promoted the drive and provided drop-off locations.  These include BankGloucester, Brookline Bank, the Institution for Savings, Ipswich YMCA, Manchester Athletic Club, and the Winthrop Elementary School.  Our special thanks also go out to Rotarian John Witzig and his son Matt for picking up and delivering three large loads of groceries to The Open Door.