The Belfast Rotary Club’s annual dinner on June 23 celebrated the group’s 96-year history of service to the Belfast Community. Nearly 60 people attended in person at the Belfast Shrine Club or remotely by Zoom, recognized Club and member achievements, named two Paul Harris Fellows and elected officers and directors. The Club also raised “Community Care” program funds with a live auction.

Outgoing president Richard Koralek told the crowd of members, spouses, family and guests that “This has been an unusual and successful year for Belfast Rotary. We added six members, bringing our total to 70, and received Gold Citation recognition from our Rotary District Governor and congratulations from the Rotary Foundation for our work on the ‘End Polio Now’ campaign.”

Incoming president John Golden thanked Koralek for his work on the Club’s behalf and laid out a busy schedule for the coming year.

“Belfast Rotary will look into setting up a satellite Club for people who may not be able to attend a weekly lunch meeting, and will be talking with local high schools about sponsoring an Interact Club for students,” he said.

Other Club officers are president-elect Kristine Wentworth, vice-president Steve Norman, secretary Jill Goodwin and treasurer Syrena Gatewood. New board member Dianna Fredrikson was elected to replace Duke Marston, who remains an active member and chair of the Harbor Fest committee.

The Club, whose motto is “Service Above Self,” recognized the work of a dozen board members and the heads of the more than 20 committees carrying out service projects year-round, including scholarships, holiday gifts, food pantry support, and emergency assistance, and global polio eradication. Special recognition went to Jill Goodwin and Syrena Gatewood for devoting hours every week to Club administration, new member Elizabeth (“Beth”) Sterner as the Club’s Rookie of the Year, and John Golden as Rotarian of the Year. The Club also selected Belfast dentist Dr. Michelle Morrow and Mickey Sirota to join more than two dozen members as Paul Harris Fellows, in recognition of their contributions to Belfast Rotary.

A 30-minute auction raised more than $1,400 to support the Rotary Club’s “Community Care” urgent-need service program. The event, organized by Phil Carthage and led by Carthage and Duke Marston, featured home-brewed beer and home-baked bread, “garden gold” horse manure, an original photo of Belfast harbor, and hand-crafted wooden toys, cashmere wearables and pillows. Gift certificates to Stanley Chevrolet-Buick as well as Satori, Delvino and Darby’s restaurants all were “bid high.”

Belfast Rotary Club, founded in 1925, is one of Maine’s largest and most active clubs. Its members meet in person or by Zoom Wednesdays at noon at the Shrine Club in Belfast. The Club raises funds year-round through activities such as the Belfast Harbor Fest, annual charitable golf tournament event, 5K road races and pancake breakfasts. Its nearly $135,000 in yearly gifts include support for seven food pantries, year-end holiday clothing and toys to 150 children and $80,000 in scholarships for local college-bound high school students.

For more information on membership or to make a tax-deductible donation in support of the Club’s year-round service programs, go to belfastrotary.org.