At the Rotary District 7930 Installation on Thursday, June 25th, one of the evening's most meaningful moments was the presentation of the Rotary Award for Excellence in Service to Humanity to Joan DiPietro Gardner.

 

The Rotary Award for Excellence in Service to Humanity recognizes non-Rotarians and non-Rotaractors, including partners and spouses of Rotarians and Rotaractors, who have demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service through Rotary. It celebrates individuals whose quiet dedication, leadership, and commitment to helping others have made a lasting impact on their communities while advancing Rotary's mission of Service Above Self.

 

Joan was nominated by District Governor Pooja Singla and Stoneham Rotary co-president, Sharon Iovanni, in recognition of decades of extraordinary service, much of it behind the scenes.

 

Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians and volunteers removed “Flags for Heroes” from the Ipswich South Green and the Rowley Common today. But the message of this non-partisan tribute to honor and valor, especially during our nation’s 250th Anniversary year, will remain in our hearts and minds every day.

We want to especially thank Paula Bishop who processed all the registrations and beautifully hand crafted the dedication medallions. It was a major and loving effort.

During the Flag Day Dedication on June 14 at South Green, Rotarian Joan Arsenault reminded us that the annual display represents “the best of what we give and who we are”. Larry Jordan, Ipswich VFW Commander, noted that “George Washington inspected soldiers on this green”. Rotary President George Gray added that “the Marquis de Lafayette also visited the green, native American tribes lived here, and cattle grazed on the lawn when it wasn’t in use for military training”.
 

The Gloucester Rotary will publish a 12-month Cape Ann photo calendar for 2027 as a fundraiser. All profits will go to the Gloucester Rotary’s many community and international activities.

The 2027 calendar theme will be The Seasons of Cape Ann. In order to publish a beautiful calendar, the Club is requesting high-quality digital photos that reflect the amazing beauty of Cape Ann throughout the year. As we will be featuring one photo per month, we need images from each season: winter, spring, summer and fall. Photographs from Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester will be accepted.

Full contest rules and requirements are available online at https://gloucesterrotary.org/. All entries must be received by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026.

More information about the Rotary Club of Gloucester is available online at https://gloucesterrotary.org/ and https://facebook.com/RotaryGloucesterMA .

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary club annually awards academic scholarships to a student from each of the two communities we serve. These recipients are exceptional leaders and scholars who have demonstrated a strong commitment to community service.

This year’s recipients are Maggie Carlberg from Ipswich High School, and Danika Prendergast from Triton Regional High School in Rowley.

Maggie will be attending Loyola Marymount University to major in psychology specializing in developmental psychiatry. Her goal is to become a psychiatrist in an inpatient or ER facility

Danika is heading to the University of Alabama to major in criminology and criminal justice. Her goal is to become a police officer.
 

Please share with us and with your local news and social media networks the exciting news of your Club installation celebrations and your new leadership.  Almost as important as the Service we do in the community is getting the word out about Rotary.

 

Pictured here are: (top left) DGE Pooja Singla with Chelsea President Dr. Aaron Jennings, (top right) Chelsea Past President Madelyn Garcia with Aaron; (lower left) DG Pooja giving the oath to Andover incoming Andover President Ann Ormond; and (lower right) IPDG Tom Hankard with Andover's Past President Allen Timm.

 

Remember the importance of telling your Rotary stories!