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Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group who share your drive to give back.

Chelsea Rotary 2020-2021 Kick Off

The Rotary Club of Chelsea kicked off the 2020-2021 season with an outdoor gathering at the Chelsea District Library Reading Garden. The initial meeting for the fiscal new year beginning July 1 is reserved to honor the outgoing President; Mary Lee Penny, Executive Vice President and Commercial Lending Officer at Chelsea State Bank. It was a challenging year for Mary Lee as head of Commercial Lending during the COVID-19 crisis and the government loan assistance program known as PPP. Chelsea State Bank completed over 200 loans to their customers for a total of $40 million under Mary Lee's direction.

Several club Past Presidents; Gary Zenz, Kari Neuman, Susan Brown, Lorna Tackwell and Tammy Mason were present to award the plaque and gavel to Mary Lee and to "pass the Mallet" to incoming co-Presidents Richard Dice and Robert Swistock. Social distancing and masks were used appropriately and "Greeter" Stephanie Moran enforced the rules when necessary. Ugly Dog Distillery provided an excellent summer beverage and Smokehouse 52 provided pulled pork and coleslaw. Both have been excellent sponsors to

Chelsea Rotary and thanks to Lorna Tackwell and Jordan Beecham for coordinating those efforts.

Pledge For A Rotarian

It's been hard on fundraising for 501c3's this year due to Covid. Rotarian, Cindy Burdette, is thinking outside the box and challenging us to Pledge per hour for her running in the 2020 Round Robin race hosted by Running Fit on the farm, ROBIN HILLS to benefit The Chelsea Rotary Club in Chelsea MI. She will be running (along with some of her running buddies from the Grass Lake Road Runners Group) for 6 hours. We will be offering online pledging for 3 options. $5 per hour for Six Hours, $10 per hour for Six Hours and $20 per hour for Six Hours. To pledge your support just click the link below

Pledge Your Support!!!

Ugly Dog Distilleries Talks COVID-19 Challenges And Opportunities

On Tuesday Ugly Dog Distilleries in Downtown Chelsea, MI opened it's doors for us to have our first in-person Rotary meeting of the fall season. Our feature speaker was the manger of Ugly Dog Distilleries Rob Mida. Rob shared with us some of the challenges they faced during COVID-19 and what they did to overcome them.

One big decision that helped them was switching over from making craft spirits to craft hand sanitizer. Within 3 days they were able to start producing this vital product making it available for the local community. They also donated over 500 bottles of hands sanitizer to the Chelsea Library and other local companies that were in need.

Rob also mentioned that the approval of "To Go Cocktails" from the state was a huge boost for Ugly Dog. Known for their craft liquor and craft cocktails this was a game changer. Selling out in just 3 days (July 1st - 3rd) of all their craft cocktails, Ugly Dog knew they had found a new niche. It worked so well that they will be coming out with a whole new lineup for the fall!!!

Rob noted through community support, transition to craft hand sanitizer, and craft to go cocktails Ugly Dog didn't have to lay anyone off. Rob actually brought some people on to help with the demand that was coming from the local business and community.

We want to thank Rob Mida and Ugly Dog Distilleries for opening their doors to us and being a shining example of a business in our community that puts service above self.

Ugly Dog Distillery Kicks Off Fall Season

To kick off the fall season we arranged an in person meeting at the Ugly Dog distillery on Main st in Chelsea, MI on Tuesday September 15, 2020. Our speaker will be Rob Mida, General Manager of the distillery. Check back soon for pictures and all the exciting news from Ugly Dog!!!

Rotary Club of Chelsea Teams Up With Motown Soup

In the Chinese language it takes two characters to represent crisis: one of them is opportunity. One of the myriad of crises that Covid 19 has caused is the loss of tradition fundraising sources for nonprofit organizations. Normally last weekend Chelsea Rotary members would have been staffing our concession trailer at the Chelsea Fair. 2020: no Fair – no concession revenue.

With that in mind we have found an opportunity within that crisis.

The Rotary Club of Chelsea is proud to announce a new partnership with Motown Soup (motownsoupcom). Motown Soups is a southeast Michigan based nonprofit operating on a 100% volunteer basis since 2004. To date they have donated $1.2 million to over 80 different charitable organizations throughout the state. Like Rotary, Motown Soup puts 100% of profits back into the community.

They feature an outstanding selection of prepackaged food items including over 20 varieties of soups, 9 different dips and rubs, and baked goods, plus personalized gift baskets for all occasions with new items offered on a regular basis. All prepared and packaged in a State Licensed kitchen.

As a kickoff a Soup Tasting Event was held at Robin Hills Farm on Saturday August 29. The response was outstanding.

All of this AVAILABLE NOW available through any Chelsea Rotary member and delivered directly by USPS.

Check out our rotarychelsea.org and you will find soup offerings from $5, dip mixes and rubs from $4, and baked goods mixes from $6. Personalized gift boxes start at $29. AND…every dollar goes to help somebody! Be sure specify Chelsea Rotary Club when placing orders.

For any questions or to place orders contact any Rotarian or call or text Dick Dice at (734) 274-1568 or visit rotarychelsea.org.