With the world facing incredible challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, disasters driven by climate change, and conflict in many regions, Urchick says Rotary’s leaders can offer a vision and a plan for overcoming these challenges.

“Measures taken by Rotary leadership to survive and end critical challenges often make our organization stronger and more resilient for future events,” Urchick says. “This kind of essential leadership also creates new levels of cooperation, even among rivals, when Rotarians pull together as people of action to serve and solve a crisis.”

Making regionalization a priority is crucial, says Urchick.

“Because Rotary operates in more than 200 countries and regions, it is vital to recognize that the organization has the potential to become more efficient and effective by understanding and reacting to how regional differences affect the way Rotarians work together to address providing service, promoting integrity, and advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace,” Urchick says.

Urchick is partner and chief operating officer of Doctors at Work LLC, a consulting and training company. She holds a doctorate in leadership studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is active on numerous community boards and committees, and has been honored by organizations including Zonta International and the Sons of the American Revolution.

A Rotary member since 1991, Urchick has traveled to Vietnam to help build a primary school and to the Dominican Republic to install water filters. She studies several Slavic languages, has mentored new Rotarians in Ukraine, and coordinated a Rotary Foundation grant project in Poland.

Urchick has served Rotary in many roles, including as a director, Foundation trustee, and chair of the RI Strategic Planning Committee and the Foundation’s Centennial Celebration Committee. She currently serves on the Election Review Committee and the Operations Review Committee. She is a Rotary Foundation Major Donor and a member of the Bequest Society.

To learn more about Urchick, read her interview and vision statement, which outline her goals for Rotary.

Charles W. Hedrick Jr., a resident of Schooner Estates in Auburn, passed away on Oct. 26, 2023, at Marshwood Center in Lewiston. He was 88.

Charlie was born Gerald Thorington in Stamford, Conn. A child of the Depression, he was placed in foster care. He was adopted by Charles and Marion Hedrick of St. Johnsbury, Vt. Charlie graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy, Babson College, class of 1956, and the ABA Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

In 1957, Charlie completed Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. He served for four years in the US Navy on mine swipers, including the USS Rival and USS Bold. He continued his service in the Navy Reserve. In 1972, he was promoted to commander. He retired from the USNR in 1977.

Charlie started his carrier in banking at Shawmut Bank in Boston. He later joined Depositors Trust Company, which merged with Key Bank, from which he retired in 1995. Charlie was a fixture in the Augusta-area banking community and mentored younger bankers. He chaired the March of Dimes Campaign and the United Way of Kennebec Valley. Later he was active in Rotary International.

In 1972, Charlie married his wife, Suzanne. For many years they resided in August. After Charlie’s retirement, they moved to Nobleboro. Charlie was a parishioner of South Parish Congregational Church in Augusta and Second Congregational Church of Newcastle.

Charlie had an amazing mind and memory. During conversations he had a phenomenal ability to drop tidbits about history, geography, sports, and other subjects. He was beloved by family, friends, and acquaintances.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Suzanne; sons, John Power and Charles C. Hedrick; daughter, Anna Power; daughter-in-law, Sarah Hedrick; grandchildren Aaron Liakas, Collin Smith, Paris Smith, Esme Power, Ariel Power, and Owen Power; and great-granddaughter, Aria Liakas. He was predeceased by his birth siblings, James W. Thorington Jr., Lucia Ladd, Kendall S. Thorington, and Syliva Breck.

Charlie’s family thanks the wonderful residents – including Erwin Berg – and staff at Schooner Estates in Auburn and the caring staff at Marshwood Center in Lewiston.

In lieu of flowers, Charlie’s family requests that donations be made to the Rotary Club of Damariscotta-Newcastle, P.O. Box 565, Damariscotta, ME 04543, or the Second Congregational Church of Newcastle UCC, P.O. Box 243, Newcastle, ME 04553.

Joseph William Griffin, age 89, passed away on the morning of July 26, 2023 at his home in Damariscotta. Born in Damariscotta on Jan. 19, 1934, he was the youngest son of Martha (Tucker) and Ralph Griffin.

After attending local schools, he graduated from Hebron Academy and Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. He later attended the University of Maine, enlisted in the U.S. Army, and after his discharge, graduated from Sewanee College in Sewanee, Tenn. In 1965 he graduated from Tufts Dental School and returned to Damariscotta to start a dental practice.

In Damariscotta, he was president of the Rotary Club, a member of the Mid-Coast Dental Society, and the New England Dental Society. In 2002 he received his master’s degree in public health from Harvard University, and was an instructor at the Harvard School of Dentistry. He was also a member of the Boothbay Yacht Club, the Friendship Sloop Society, and the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.

He is survived by his wife, Lissette; his children, Marshall, Matthew, Joshua, and Martha; two grandchildren, Trevor and Maverick; and a cousin, Joanne Bailey Anderson Campbell.

A celebration of Joe’s life will be held from 2-4 p.m., with a sharing of words at 3 p.m., on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the 1812 Farm, in Bristol. He will be laid to rest privately with his parents in the Hillside Cemetery in Damariscotta. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stepping Stones Housing, P.O. Box 21, Damariscotta, ME 04543.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home at 612 Main St., Damariscotta, ME 04543. Condolences, and messages for his family, may be expressed by visiting stronghancock.com.