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Important Notice Regarding Annual Yard Sale

~ Thank you ~

Bethel Rotary Yard Sale thanks

The Bethel Citizen: Posted August 22, 2025

To the Editor:

The 2025 Bethel Rotary Yard Sale was a great success, and the club very much appreciates the community support and participation. Thanks to your individual donations of items and purchases of them, the funds raised will go back into the community to support many projects and activities, a large portion of them for the youth of the area.

This year’s sale was made possible by the work and contributions of many. The huge task of moving items from storage to the sale site was accomplished with the help of volunteers from Bethel Lodge #30 (the Masons). Donations of sale items from businesses Western Maine Supply and Brooks Bros., and assistance or donations of food for our workers from Crossroads Diner, Rusty Lantern, and DiCocoa’s were greatly appreciated.

We also thank the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce for use of their building; Bethel Kitchen Designs (Charlie Reiss) for the loan of a box truck; the Hastings Farm and Zeoli family for storage; and the Bahre family for parking space. Our club members, many of their spouses, and other friends of Rotary put in long hours on the sale, and all deserve a “well done.”

Particular leadership shoutouts to Scott Parker for choreographing the massive undertaking and Mac McConathy for also helping lead that effort.

We look forward to doing it all again in 2026. Hope to see you then!

Alison Aloisio

(Public Image Chair)
Bethel Rotary Club

NEW ROTARY YEAR 2025-2026

Francesco Arezzo of Italy selected to be 2025-26 Rotary International President

Francesco Arezzo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has been selected by the Board of Directors to become Rotary International’s president for 2025-26. Arezzo will become president on 1 July.

The Board conducted a special session following the unexpected resignation of RI President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo on 8 June. Guided by the RI code and policies, the Board selected the new president-elect from a pool of candidates who were considered by the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in August 2023.

The 2025-26 presidential message, announced at the 2025 Rotary International Assembly in February, will remain Unite for Good, which calls on Rotary members to be a force for unity in a world increasingly divided by politics, geography, and ideology. Through service projects, Rotary brings together people of every background — across races, religions, and professions — in a shared mission to do good in their communities.

Attention Rotarians and Guests

Starting Tues, January 27, 2025, meetings will be held at The Bethel Inn Resort in the Terrace Area of Millbrook Tavern.

We thank Brenda and Carl Blond of the Gracenote Inn for all their hospitality and extend best wishes on their next adventures!

Rotary Clubs hold Clothing Jamboree

SUN JOURNAL 7/9/2024 SUBMITTED PHOTO Two Maine Rotary Clubs came together recently for a Clothing Jamboree organized by the Rotary Club of Bethel in partnership with Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services (MEIRS). The Bethel Rotarians traveled to Lewiston with more than 200 large bags filled with clean clothing, shoes, bedding, and other essentials to distribute to local families. Members of the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club joined in to help out. From left are Ed Plourde, L-A Rotary; Peter Fetchko, Bethel Rotary; and Larry Delhagen, the new president of the L-A Rotary Club.

Bethel Rotary Celebrates 50 Years

Our History

By Robert Laux

Reprinted from the Club's 50th Charter Anniversary Program

Rotary Clubs are formed when a group of like-minded citizens unite in “common values” with a desire to address their community needs. All members of Rotary International pledge to live and work by the “Rotary Four Way Test of the Things We Think, Say or Do:”

Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build good will and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

In September of 1974, sponsored by The Rotary Club of Rumford, 21 local business professionals, formed The Bethel Rotary Club. Our first President was Romeo Baker while John Head and Roland Glines were Vice-Presidents. Other officers rounding out the charter included Basil Kinney as Secretary and Ray Moran as Treasurer. Members in Rotary were selected by profession so as not to have too many lawyers, bankers or accountants but rather representing the diversity each community entails. Our Club originally met for lunch at The Bethel Inn.