By Cary Shuman
Dr. Aaron T. Jennings was installed as president of the Chelsea Rotary Club at the Installation of Officers Dinner at Hilton Garden Inn, East Boston.
Dr. Jennings came to Massachusetts from St. Louis to attend Harvard University. He is currently the chief of staff for the Chelsea Public Schools.
District Governor Elect Pooja Singla conducted the swearing-in ceremony for Jennings, who received a warm ovation from members and guests in attendance, with one guest greeting him zestfully with “Hail To the Chief.”
Prior to delivering his inaugural address, Jennings humbly made a presentation to outgoing Rotary President Madelyn Garcia in recognition of her outstanding service to the club.
“I just want to say that you have left an indelible mark on our club this year,” credited Jennings. “You have left giant steps for me to put both my feet in.”
Jennings opted to be brief in his speech.
He began by thanking “one of the father figures in my life”, Bishop Brian Greene for attending the momentous event.
He also thanked Supt. of Schools Dr. Almi Abeyta for introducing him to Rotary. “I am here because of her,” said Jennings, while also recognizing his colleague in school administration, Malik Howshan.
Jennings said he has practiced the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” his entire life.
“I think many communities in this great nation could really learn from the great work that his happening in Chelsea,” continued Jennings. “United for good is what we do in Chelsea.”
Jennings praised two of the longest-serving Rotary members, D. Bruce Mauch and Allan I. Alpert, and others for “paving the way and ensuring that our club is welcoming and open to all.”
Jenning closed his remarks by stating that his year ahead will be about “youth impact.”
“What can we do as a club to positively impact the lives of students in the City of Chelsea?”
He cited some of the many youth-focused Rotary projects in which members have a positive impact on the lives of Chelsea students before receiving a final sustained ovation as he officially begins his term as leader of the highly regarded 98-year-old organization that continues to do good things in the city.
Paul Harris Fellowship Awards
Past President Todd Taylor presented the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award to Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez.
“We’d like to honor someone who has contributed to our community, and I know this first-hand,” said Taylor, who is the District 1 city councilor.
Maltez called the award “an amazing honor.”
“I’m really humbled because I feel like I just got here,” said Maltez. “When I introduce myself, I still say, ‘I’m the new city manager of Chelsea.’ This room and this community is really one that has taken me in. I spoke at Rotary for Hispanic Heritage Month, and I’ve been to several of the luncheons. What touched me the most was Service Above Self. What we’re always trying to do is make the city a little better, and there are people in this room who have dedicated their entire lives to that.”
Rotarian of the Year Award
Past President Allan I. Alpert presented the Rotarian of the Year Award to Allison Gamble of North Suffolk Community Services.
Alpert said the award was started in 1973 by President Albert Sklar and is given to a Chelsea Rotarian for their service under the Rotary motto, Service Above Self” – for someone who has been “above and beyond” in what they do.
“Allison brought excellent speakers to our meetings, she’s been a hard-working board member, and when Past President Madelyn Garcia would ask for someone to volunteer for a project during a meeting, Allison would say, “I’ll do it.”
Teacher of The Year Awards
Supt. of Schools Dr. Almi Abeyta presented the Rotary Club’s Chelsea Teacher of the Year Awards to Meg Hawthorne, a fourth-grade educator at Hooks Elementary School, Rebecca Hernandez-Zamara, a seventh-grade dual language teacher math teacher at Brown Middle School, and Erin Merry, a special education teacher at Chelsea High School and adviser to the Rotary Interact Club for CHS students.
Perfect Attendance Awards
D. Bruce Mauch, who has had perfect attendance at Rotary Club meetings for a remarkable 41 consecutive years, presented Perfect Attendance Awards to Madelyn Garcia (2 years), Susan Gallant (3 years), Allan I. Alpert (6 years), David Mindlin (8 years), Juan Gallego (10 years), and Joseph Vinard (15 years).
Malik Howhan, who excelled in his role as master of ceremonies, specifically noted D. Bruch Mauch’s four decades of attendance, stating, “Forty-one years of perfect attendance is quite the record -I think you’re the Cal Ripken [of Rotary].”
That’s also quite the compliment. Ripken, the Baltimore Orioles’ Hall of Fame shortstop, played in 2,632 consecutive games (16 years without missing a game).