Ten Great Citizens Recognized as Paul Harris Fellows
From left to right: Harland Goodwin, John Flynn, Vicki Stewart, John Marshall, Lisa Marshall, Marcia Gagnon, Emily Flinkstrom, Emily Rumble, and Mike Lassel (Club Foundation Chair)
From left to right: James Hamilton, Helen Goransson - Club President, Amy Smucker
Helen Goransson presents PHF award to Chris Chidester
During three separate occasions we recognized 10 outstanding citizens with the Paul Harris Fellow award.
At a morning club meeting we honored Emily Rumble, Harland Goodwin, John Flynn, Lisa Marshall (with husband John and their band Under Cover), Marcia Gagnon, Vicki Stewart, and Emily Flinkstrom.
At a reception hosted by Berwick Academy at their Headmaster's home, we recognized James Hamilton and Amy Smucker.
At our Rotary After Hours social we honored Chris Chidester.
Emily Rumble has been the heart and soul of Rotary District 7780’s RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) program, which is the best in the country. This overnight camping experience has changed the lives of hundreds of high school sophomores who have attended RYLA as well as the staff members who continued to serve after they were inspired by their time at RYLA. Emily has recently retired from being co-director of RYLA but still provides guidance and encourages students to sign up for this life-changing experience. Emily is also a tireless advisor to Marshwood High School’s Interact Club, where hundreds of students have found ways to serve their community and the world and have developed leadership skills in the process. She is also a dedicated and wonderful high school English teacher.
Harland Goodwin has been associated with Spring Hill Lodge in South Berwick where he, along with Rosalie Scharff (sp?) have generously helped so many non-profits with their fundraisers and events. They have hosted many activities, especially the annual Pumpkinman Festival weekend that happens each year during the weekend following Labor Day. We appreciate the way they make their facilities and prepare their food offerings so generously for so many good causes. Harland is also the person who prepares our annual Thanksgiving dinner for senior citizens at the Community Center, where, thanks to him, we have been able to provide hundreds of delicious meals to South Berwick’s senior citizens.
John Flynn and his family and associates are South Berwick visionaries who have made their ambitious ideas a reality. You can thank him and his family for the success of The Links at Outlook, the Outlook Tavern, the Red Barn at Outlook, and the historic Stage House Inn and Dufours restaurant. Not only are we proud of these places in South Berwick, but John has been generous to so many non-profit and community groups by providing them the use of his facilities and always donating gift certificates for so many good causes around town.
Lisa Marshall, who serves the community year-round through her involvement with the Eliot Congregational Church as their church secretary and music director, also is part of Under Cover, a popular band that constantly donates its talents and time for causes in the community. Along with husband John and others, they have helped us raise money for AED’s, substance abuse programs, and have hosted dance parties for so many other good causes in our community. And when she and her husband John and others in the band are playing, the dance floor is always full of happy people shaking their bootie!
Marcia Gagnon is a creative and talented cook and baker and we have had the great good fortune of having her cater our morning meetings for a number of years. She doesn’t just do this for us, but she also caters other non-profits, including the Music Hall in Portsmouth. She has been so kind and considerate of the needs of our club and somehow gets her delicious breakfasts to us each week by 7 a.m. When we lost our breakfast caterer some years ago, she graciously stepped in to provide that service. We know she plans to retire sometime, but we will greatly miss her luscious offerings and sweet personality, as we are sure other organizations will.
Vicki Stewart has been an educator in the Marshwood School system and still works as the public relations guru who shares with the community so much information and good news about the schools in our district. As a Rotarian, she has volunteered on our projects, from serving food at our Geography Quiz Night to helping with electronics recycling and clean-up projects to serving people at our food pantry. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and cares deeply about the students in our schools.
Emily Flinkstrom is a graduate of Marshwood High School who has gone on to do great things for our community. Most recently, as Executive Director of the thrift shop Fair Tide, she has made sure that everything they do there centers around their mission of improving the lives of individuals and families in the Seacoast region. Whether it be securing housing for a family experiencing homelessness, providing financial relief, or maintaining a thrift shop, she is focused on helping people. The major accomplishment of the past year is joining forces with Footprints Food Pantry and other organizations to create Mainspring, a centralized and collaborative model incorporating many area social service partners. Mainspring offers a dignified, efficient and effective model of care that empowers individuals to navigate the pathway out of poverty. The multi-million dollar project that she and others spearheaded is now a reality where they have created a one-stop-shop for helping people.
Chris Chidester retired from teaching and inspiring students at Marshwood schools but never stopped giving back to the community. She has been a consistent volunteer at all our Rotary activities and fundraisers, from dishing out gelato to serving Thanksgiving dinners to senior citizens to helping raise funds through our Bingo fundraisers. She is also a prolific and talented quilter and has donated her quilt creations to numerous fundraisers, including the Life and Hope annual salsa party, their biggest fundraiser. Chris is the epitome of Service Above Self.
James Hamilton has served the Berwick Academy community as its headmaster for many years. Sadly, he is moving on to another institution to grace them with his talents. He has been present and welcoming at our meetings and opened the doors of Berwick Academy to the South Berwick – Eliot Rotary club which has been a great privilege for us. He has also graciously and generously hosted us and the community at numerous events in his home. He has encouraged others at Berwick Academy to support our efforts.
Amy Smucker has been our most loyal supporter at Berwick Academy, attending our meetings for many years and scheduling others from Berwick Academy to come and present on various topics. She is the helping hand and our main point person from BA whenever we have needed one. Although she is moving on to another position in another institution, she has declared that she will carry her respect for Rotary to the next place as well and encourage them to seek out their local Rotary club and support it.
Thanks to all our volunteers, especially the crew from the submarine Washington at the U.S. Navy Yard, who set up, served, socialized and cleaned up after a most successful Thanksgiving dinner for the senior citizens of South Berwick. Over 100 people enjoyed the home-cooked meal funded by us and provided by First Federated Congregational Church and Harland Goodwin, as well as the pies donated by York Hospital. Rotarian Deb DeColfmacker led the effort making sure all was done to perfection. Lots of smiling faces and happy tummies that day!
Seen here with her parents, we congratulate Irene Somers, a 6th grader at Marshwood Middle School for being selected our October Student of the Month.
