Today was a solemn, but joyous celebration of the life of one of our recently departed members. President Yvonne helmed the meeting and opened with a rendition of the Pledge of Allegiance. Past-President, greeter and birthday girl, Nancy Notis, led us in the Four-Way Test. Yvonne’s friend, Sharon Morton, guided everyone through Amazing Grace. Sarah Treacy gave the invocation, a remembrance of Marie Brownell.
Guests and visiting Rotarians were introduced. Leonard presented O’sean from Ireland. O’sean is here for 12 days to instruct American students about Ireland. He and Leonard dropped a carload of U.S. students at the airport, where they will travel to Ireland and learn about life there. Five-year-old Kennedy also joined us. And, of course, Sharon Morton, who works at the Community Campus as a singing teacher.
Midge says tickets for the upcoming May 7 Comedy Club event at the Seacoast Rep. are available on our Rotary website. Three pros and Ken will be performing. Gary Nadeau’s company is matching the ticket sales. Only about 150 tickets are available so don’t delay!
James Petersen told the club that his clothing drive continues. In his words, so far it has been a disaster. He tried to channel Marie and Basil (poinsettias) to urge members to bring articles of clothing for the drive. James is donating a leather jacket. Yvonne wants to buy it. James said she could and intimated he would keep the proceeds. And, though it was his birthday Tuesday, there is no credit for that. Basically, James being James just couldn’t let go of the mike.
With Marie’s passing, Nicole says that she and Katie will run this year’s golf tournament. Sponsors, players, and silent auction donors are needed.
Today we welcome a new member, Tatjiana Shone. Midge, her sponsor, revealed that Tatjiana always smiles, never says no, and is participating in the Rotoplast mission. Tatjiana has two children, one in college and one in high school. And she is Midge’s neighbor. Welcome Tatjiana!
Marie Brownell was a big proponent of the Rotary Foundation. This made Yvonne curious, so she looked it up and here is what she found. Its mission is to advance understanding, goodwill, and peace by promoting and improving health, providing quality education, and bettering the environment. It also strives to alleviate poverty.
Nancy Notis was recognized as a member of the Polio Plus Society for her generous donation to the program established to eradicate polio.
Frank Ferricano received his Paul Harris plus-5 pin.
Congratulations to all the award recipients!
Aileen spoke about Marie. She was kind and generous, Aileen said. The one word that comes to Aileen’s mind when she thinks of Marie is joy. She loved her life’s work to help people with health insurance issues. Marie was always pleasant and drove a lady-bug VW Beetle with eyelashes over the headlights. The car matched her personality.
Marie was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow by then-president Nancy Notis. She continued to give to the Rotary foundation, often on a weekly basis. Last year, Marie reached out to Aileen about two of our younger members who she believed were worthy of Paul Harris Fellowships.
Today, Aileen announced that Marie is being awarded, posthumously, as a Rotary Foundation Level 2 major donor. She surpassed $25,000 dollars in donations. A crystal pin was given to Marie’s husband, Rick, in recognition of her life-long donations to the Rotary Foundation.
Next, Rick said a few words about Marie. He told us how she genuinely loved her involvement with Rotary. With respect to her life outside of Rotary, she has four children and 11 grandchildren. She was a Cub Master with the Cub Scouts. She was always fundraising. She also raised money for the Boy Scouts.
And, of course, she sold Christmas trees but beyond just doing shifts. Deathly allergic to pine needles, she would transport Christmas wreaths in her car with windows open.
She was a serial entrepreneur, selling dips and bagel spreads. She put on countless home shows. She raised dachshunds, winning many ribbons at dog shows including one national award. Her boys always helped with all these projects.
She started out in the insurance business at the age of 19 in Troy, New York. Given a phone and a phone book she went to work. And the rest is history, as she later founded Brownell Insurance with Rick.
Lastly, Rick mentioned she was a Navy brat, attending 11 different high schools. Out of necessity, she learned how to make friends easily and communicate.
Yvonne had Marie’s Rotary badge framed and gave it to the family. In a bit of irony, it was actually Marie’s birthday so Yvonne decided to dedicate the remainder of the meeting to remembrances of Marie.
Nancy told us about her relationship with Marie. The two talked about their mutual birthdays, sharing good times together, and celebrating the date over lunch. Nancy will never forget her and her kindness. It was during Nancy’s presidency that we celebrated the Club’s 90th anniversary at a gala held at the Jarvis Center. It was Nancy that awarded Marie her Paul Harris Fellowship.
Nancy last spoke to Marie in this very room just before she left for Florida. Marie saw Nancy across the room and came over to her. She reminded Nancy about her Paul Haris Fellowship and said how it changed her life. And Nancy’s life was changed by that comment.
During Ben’s presidency in 2017—who can forget that presidency—Cindy Shanely was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship that was given by Marie. So, Marie paid it forward. Nancy finished by wishing Marie a happy birthday.
Joannie told us about working with Marie on the Stephen Arkell Scholarship for Exeter students in Exeter. They both were scholarship committee members together for about 12 years, only interrupted by Joannie’s presidency.
As Joannie told it, Marie would drive her VW bug to Exeter High, pick up applications and bring them back to her office. She would make six copies and deliver sets to each of the committee members as well as one for Stephen Arkell’s wife.
For those who do not remember, Stephen Arkell was the police officer killed in the line of duty. Marie was amazing in how much effort she put into the committee without anyone really knowing. Because humility was another one of her traits. And with that, Joannie passed the mic to Nicole.
With emotions welling, Nicole mentioned how there were a few women who really stand out to her. Cleo is one. Joannie is two. Marie is three. Marie convinced Nicole to join the Stephen Arkell Committee as well as the Golf Committee, year after year. It is because of Marie that Nicole is volunteering to co-chair the Golf Committee. Marie was a role model of service that Nicole emulates.
John Lyons told us about the maxims by which he lives his life. One is that a grateful attitude is a grid through which you can perceive life. He is grateful to have met Marie and bets we are all grateful as well. You can talk about all she did, but it is how she made everyone feel that was special.
As a sponsor of the golf tournament, John recalled how Marie would come to his office to get his banner. No matter how much they had going on, everyone would come out to greet her. She brought such joy that people could not help but stop to greet her. So, John advised us to remember the joy she brought to all and keep that in mind going forward.
Dave Underhill followed, mentioning how John was the club president when Marie joined. Marie and Dave were Rotary rookies together. Dave remembers Marie taking on the most thankless, tedious jobs, like tree scheduling. She became a Day Captain, driving from Derry to take her shift and dropping the proceeds off at Dave’s home each time. She was always can-do.
Dave said she almost invented Rotary Direct. Marie asked Dave how she could progress with the Paul Harris award. He explained how you go up with each $1000 donation. She opined she could give a little every week and did just that. Through this, she and Rick became major Level 2 donors. She led by example, was humble, and had a wonderful dry sense of humor.
James Petersen mentioned how he appreciated Marie’s persistence and consistency. It is hard to bring people together to do big projects. Marie was always able to get it done.
Finally, Club Photographer Don Chick told us about his golf tournament interactions with Marie over the years.
“You’re taking the photos, right?” she’d ask-- every time she saw him.
One year, she was his driver. They came upon a sign that said, “no golf carts beyond this point.” She didn’t think it applied to her. Well, the carts are geographically limited. If you pass the sign, the power is cut to the cart. They had to get back on the designated course at a crawl.
Don had shared some amusing photos. One shows Marie’s reaction to pine needles. In closing, he mentioned how Marie was a beautiful lady and how glad he is to have known her, if only for a brief time.
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Greenland, NH 03840
United States of America