PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Rotary Club of Presque Isle will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2023. In preparation of this historic celebration, a group of club members are working on an anniversary booklet to showcase both the club and its impact in the community over the past 100 years.
While a lot of research into Rotary’s own archives has already been underway, the group is hoping that members of the community who have had a connection with Rotary over the years might also take a look and see what they might have to contribute to this history book.
“This has been such a fun and interesting project as we have explored our records,” said Joy Barresi Saucier, chair of the 100th anniversary publications committee.
“We have had the chance to relive events that happened during our own years in Rotary, as well as discover some really interesting things from decades ago. Some of our best material has come from Rotarians who have searched through their own personal records from their years in the club, or in some cases from their parents or grandparents’ time,” she said.
This is what led the group to reach out to the community for help with the project.
“While we have some great information to pull from our archives, it is the personal treasures people have held onto that have really been so impactful,” Barresi Saucier said.
The group is in search of photos, newspaper clippings, or various other keepsakes regarding the Presque Isle Rotary Club and its members over the past 100 years.
“We can either photograph and scan items shared with us and return them, or if someone prefers, we can keep them and add them to our official Rotary archives,” Barresi Saucier said. “Thanks to the generosity of the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library, we will soon have our archives stored, scanned, and available for public viewing through the library.”
Those who have questions about the project or have items to share can contact Joy Barresi Saucier at joy4rotary@gmail.com or 764-3396; or Ginny Joles at vjoles12@roadrunner.com or 762-8461.
