Rotary recognizes members with annual awards

The annual Houlton Rotary Club Dinner took place on Monday, June 22, at the Shiretown Inn and Suites.
The evening began with a social time from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Jane Torres opened the meeting with the ring of the bell and everyone said the pledge of allegiance, followed by the four way test and a prayer by Dana Delano.
After dinner, the meeting resumed with the Rotary Song and Happy Dollars. Delano introduced the Rotary exchange students, Hannah Jacobs and Keegan Fitzpatrick. Jacobs was hosting her guest from Italy with a trip to Boston. Fitzpatrick was present and gave the Rotary $100 collected in the Houlton High School to aid the children in the Dominican Republic in need of food.
Delano also honored Kara Wright, Darrell Malone’s daughter who was in the audience for her efforts in establishing the exchange student program. Andy Mooers present the perfect attendance awards to Matt Nightingale, Deb Clark, Mike Clark, Amy Hocking, Nancy Ketch (8 years in a row) and Paul Callnan. Amy Hocking gave her final message speech based on “things she forgot.”
Hocking had gifts for all of her Board Members. Leigh Cummings installed the new officers and board
members. Hocking is stepping down as president after her one-year term. Jane Torres was elected president for the next year. Matthew Nightingale was chosen as the new vice president and Julie Delano was picked as the Sargent of Arms.
The board will be comprised of Torres, Hocking, Nightingale, Delano, Paul Callnan, Deb Clark, Becky Day, Gerald Karnes, Matthew Tribou, Diane Hines, Linda Faucher, Malcolm Randolph, and Nancy West.
Torres presented her message as the new president and presented the Past President’s Pin to Hocking, who received a standing ovation. Hocking presented the Special Award for the “Spirit of Rotary” to Nancy Ketch for all that she does as a Rotarian and for all of her work in all areas and events of Rotary. Ketch was responsible for the pages of Rotary Auction items and the tabulation that goes into the pages. She also works on the Bingo committee and helps out wherever help is needed. Ketch is a third generation Rotarian and also received a standing ovation for her spirit of Rotary award.
Marguerite Lawler introduced the Annual Paul Harris Fellow Awards and announced each presenter. Dana Delano announced the first ever Community “Service Above Self” Award. He defined what it is to be a community, the importance of giving to community in terms of relevance, and what a group or an individual does to show a steadfast commitment to contributing to the well-being of their community through public service.
He announced the recipient, Lauren Peabody Fitzpatrick for her concept of the Houlton Alumni Association that she parented and managed as president for seven years before passing on the reins to Ketch who is in her 11th year as president. Fitzpatrick set in motion a “truly active and giving service organization”, Dana explained.
The goals Lauren had were to keep the alumni connected and have them contribute to their alma mater. The Association has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and presented over five hundred thousand dollars in scholarships and contributed over one hundred and seventy five thousand dollars to various projects at Houlton High School such as the Community Arts Center, the gymnasium, science labs, chairs, lockers, guest speakers, hockey, lights and more. An Endowment Fund has been established and there is a semi-annual newsletter, website and Facebook page. A current project is digitalizing all year books since the year 1900. Every five years a multi-class reunion is organized. Dana presented the award to Lauren, Nancy and the Association. They received a standing ovation. Next Marguerite introduced the next award presenter, Chris Anderson. Chris presented the Paul Harris Fellow Award for a non Rotarian. He described the qualifications of the recipient and the honor it was to present to a person who embodies the ideals of Paul Harris such as ethics in business, service above self, service beyond any direct self gain, a person who gives to his work, church, serves on various boards of directors, and serves the community at large. He announced Chris Fitzpatrick, son of Donald and Dorothy, husband of Lauren and father to Kelsey and James as the recipient. Chris received a standing ovation and he took the microphone and thanked his wife and family for all of their support.
And last but not least, Nancy Ketch had the honor of presenting the Paul Harris Fellow Award to a Rotarian. She described the person at length, stumping the audience until she announced his occupation and qualifications. Darrell Malone was chosen for this award for all of his years of service in his career and in the law enforcement associations in the State of Maine. Darrell’s career spanned a total of thirty seven years.
He began as a patrolman and advanced to detective, then Sargent, and ultimately served as the the Chief of Police in Houlton. Darrell attended school for criminal justice, attended the FBI Academy, worked on the 911 committee, DARE program, and is still a member of the Association of Police Chiefs. He worked on drug investigations prior to the MDEA being formed. He rose to be the president of the Association of Police Chief and spearheaded the Law Enforcement Memorial in Augusta, Maine. For over twenty years he has been the chairman of the Law Enforcement Memorial committee. Darrell was celebrating forty-one years of marriage to his wife June on June 22nd, so this was their anniversary dinner! Darrell and June raised two children Darrell, Junior and Kara.
They enjoy four grandchildren. Darrell has been president of Rotary, served on the Chamber Board, is a Deacon of his church and a past Master of the Masonic Lodge. Darrell lives in Ludlow and currently works at Dunn’s Funeral Home. Darrell received a standing ovation for his Paul Harris Fellow Award.