06/04/2026
Incoming President Dee Berglund and incoming Secretary Abigayle Eames held a strategic planning session at todays meeting. We broke out into groups to discuss what we feel went well in the past year and what we want more of in the year ahead. They will compile the date and bring it back for discussion at a future meeting.
It is fun to look back at our accomplishments, where we spent our time and money and then to think about our impact locally. One thing is certain, our club is growing in membership and in community.
Gardiner Rotary is excited to announce that in addition to the educational gifts we already give each year to graduating seniors, we will be giving two additional gifts in honor of two of our members, Neal A. Kelley and Jim Murphy.
A Professional Equipment Gift is named in honor of Neal Kelley.
Neal A Kelley. His family tells us that Neal attended Mt. Vernon grade school, Farmington High School. He is a graduate of the Building/Construction program at SMVT in South Portland. Was a proud member of the Maine National Guard for six years.
His first job was mowing lawns, when he was 10 years old. At one time he had 22 lawns, he would mow until it got dark, He mowing jobs in West Farmington â would pull his 18â lawnmower behind his bicycle. People would chuckle and wave.
Started his first insulation business in 1975, Central Maine Insulations (located in Mt Vernon) That business was dissolved, and he began Central Insulations, his current business company.
He purchased property in West Winthrop, which had been the home of Louies Steak House. The steak house burned. That left the property wit the burned remains and a Chalet. Neal rebuilt the property to what is today, Marshview Crossing. The building, along with the Chalet, is a commercial residential rental property. For a time, Neal and his wife Betty had an ice cream shop (Kelbeeâs) which certainly caught peoplesâ eye when passing by, as Neal used insulation material to construct a huge replica of the Incredible Hulk, (holding an ice cream cone) on top of the building.
Neal and Betty also had a small BVQ sauce company named Shepleys â cp-owned with Mike and Cherry Shepard.
Rotary knows that when he was 10 years old, while attending Mt. Vernon elementary school, Neal began his first business, mowing lawns, in West Farmington. At the height of his business, he had 22 lawns and would mow until dark. People chuckled and waved when they spotted him using his bicycle to pull an 18â lawnmower to job sites.
After graduating from Farmington High School, Neal traded in his lawnmower for higher education. He attended the Building/Construction program at SMVT (Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute) in South Portland. After graduation he also became a proud member of the Maine National Guard for six years.
In 1975 Nealâs next business adventure took him to Mt Vernon where he began his first insulation business, Central Maine Insulations. His current business, Central Insulations, followed.
Always restless for a new project, Neal purchased a fire damaged property, Louieâs Steak House, in West Winthrop. He turned the property into a mixed business and residential development known today as Marshview Crossing.
For a time, Neal and his wife Betty also had an ice cream shop, Kelbeeâs. It caught the eye of every passerby because Neal used insulation material to construct a huge replica of the Incredible Hulk holding an ice cream cone on top of the building.
Neal and Betty also had a small BBQ sauce company named Shepleyâs which they co-owned with Mike and Cherry Shepard.
Besides his professional life, Neal is devoted to his family and community. He hasnât missed a Gardiner Rotary meeting in over 30 years.
From an 18â lawnmower and a bicycle to rebuilding damaged buildings to making great ice cream and BBQ sauce, Neal understands the vital role the right instrument plays in success. Gardiner Rotary is pleased to name its Professional Equipment Gift Award in honor of Neal Kelley.
In granting this gift, we wish to support you in your lifeâs endeavors and hope you find the same fidelity to community, creativity, love of family and humor that has filled Nealâs.
This Two-Year Educational Gift is named in honor of Gardiner Rotaryâs 50+ year member, Jim Murphy.
Jim was born in Caribou, Maine. After high school he joined the United States Army where he experienced an enlistment that included serving in Korea.
After completing his service honorably, he entered Husson College on the GI Bill where he majored in Business Administration with a minor in Legal Finance Administration. While attending Husson, he worked at Sears Roebuck in their Credit and Collections Dept. He was also an Assistant Bank Manager for Bangor Savings.
Then he took his business degree and life experiences to the cities of Dexter and Belfast where he worked as city managers.
In 1969 he continued serving in government as Commissioner of Indian Affairs under Governor Ken Curtis. While working for Governor Curtis he assisted in forming new OJT âOn the Job Training" Programs for Certified Nursing Assistant and Automotive Technician Programs. These programs were then developed for the Passamaquoddy Nation and eventually replicated by the State of Maine for High School programs.
In 1986 he formed and incorporated Murphy Appraisal Services which he ran until his retirement. But retirement didnât entirely suit him. Jim was appointed to the Maine Optometry Board by Gov Janet Mills and has served there for the past 4 years.
He married his beloved Anne in 1958. Together they had five children and now have many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is a passionate (51 year) member of Gardiner Rotary Club and Gardiner High School Interact Club. He has great pride for these students at GHS Interact!
Naming Gardiner Rotaryâs Two-Year Educational Gift after Jim reflects his ongoing passion and respect for professional programs. In granting this gift we wish to assist you in your life adventure, hoping it can be as rich and fulfilling as Jimâs.
How much better is this club for having these men as members? We are so proud of them both and excited to celebrate them in this way!
