The Lifetime Service Award presentation will be covered elsewhere in the Boothbay Register, so I will not laud recipient Sarah Giles at great length here — other than to say that this correspondent cannot think of a better, more deserving person to receive the award than she. I am sure I speak for all her friends — which is to say the entire Region — in extending our collective congratulations to her.

The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club has presented the Lifetime Service Award annually (with a few interruptions) for 58 years, traditionally during the week we celebrate Patriot’s Day. The idea is to honor a local patriot who embodies Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self — someone who has been a Rotarian in spirit their entire life but never stopped to pay club dues, if you will. The selectee is chosen by a committee made up of Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike.

That first recipient was Judge John Brackett back in 1960. It’s interesting to recognize that women have been honored from the beginning – we note names of Grace Carlisle and Violet Smith from the first decade — but lately, women seem to have taken over the list. Harry Pinkham received the award in 2014, since then it has gone to Mary Brewer, Maxine Tourtillotte, Toby LeConte, and, of course, this year to Sarah Giles.

Maybe it’s true that women do the lion’s share of the work.

President Jonathan Tindal pointed out to the many visitors who came to honor Sarah that Rotary is always looking for new members, people who want to get together for fellowship and fun and to give back to our community. Our Rotary building is another resource available for use by community groups, and we often partner with local non-profits to get stuff done.

To that end, the now-annual Kentucky Derby party will be held Saturday, May 5, and once again, we are holding the party in concert with and as a fundraiser for the Community Center. Sign up with Deb Graves to bring appetizers, get set for a silent auction, big hats, and the piped-in sound of the running of the roses.

Vidalia onions are still available at $27 for a 25-pound bag. That may seem like a lot of onions (and it is!), but kept properly they stay good and yummy for a long, long time. See Doug Harley or another favorite Rotarian for details and to place your order.

More immediately, this Thursday our speaker will be the new U.S. head of Safe Passage, Anna Marie Klein Christie. Our club — and the Boothbay community — has supported Safe Passage, the literacy program in Guatemala, since 2005, and we look forward to an update on what’s happening with the children who live on the dump but are willing to work hard for so much more.

Interested in Rotary and what we do? Check us out on Thursday evenings at the Rotary Building, 66 Montgomery Road, Boothbay Harbor. Fellowship is under way by 6 p.m., and dinner is served at 6:30. We’re always looking for new members who love this community and want to give back!