FARMINGTON — At the District 7790 meeting held June 21-23 in Waterville, Douglas Ibarguen of Farmington was named Rotarian of the Year.

The Franklin Journal spoke with Ibarguen on Tuesday, July 9, to learn more about his involvement with Rotary. Ibarguen joined Sept. 18, 1975, will have been a member 49 years in September. He was president of the Farmington club in 1998/1999 and has been secretary off and on for about 40 years.

According to the website, District 7790 includes most of Maine and part of northeastern Canada. At the district level, Ibarguen served as governor in 2007/2008, was chair of the Foundation Committee from 2012-2016 and was a representative to the Council on Legislation in 2015/2016. “The foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary, there is a special committee for that,” he said. He is currently secretary.

Ibarguen has taken several volunteer groups to Safe Passage in Guatemala City, Guatemala. “Safe Passage was begun by a young girl from Maine,” he said. “It has deep roots for me. My father was raised there, some family still lives there.”

About eight teams have gone to Safe Passage, the last in 2017, Ibarguen noted. It was his district project when he was governor.

One group was led by the University of Maine at Farmington Rotary Club, Ibarguen said. “Farmington Rotary Club is very much involved with youth,” he noted. “Most likely it is the only club in the world that has a Rotary-based club at every level of education. We were fortunate to be able to create clubs, we had to make up names for them as they didn’t exist. It is a big feather in our club. Al Feather was very involved with that.”

“Farmington Rotary holds a yard sale every June to bolster our scholarship fund, because we give $1,500 scholarships to graduating seniors from Mt. Blue and Mt. Abram,” Ibarguen said. “A special one that is named for a member, Alan Nemlich who came actually to us and was a member for two years before he unfortunately died. But his wife, Magda she’s still in the area part of the year. He was a past district governor already from another, totally different district, and just really fell in love with the club. And his wife is still helping to maintain a scholarship in his game every year. So that’s been really big for us to be able to do an extra scholarship.”

This past year,  the Nemlich scholarship and two others were given to students from Mt. Blue, two Mt. Abram students also received funding, Ibarguen stated.

“If you remember the rodeo, that was such a successful event, that’s what started our ability to get scholarships,” he noted. “We tucked the money away and let it gain interest. We were just overwhelmed with the response from that rodeo.”

Farmington Rotary holds many other annual fundraisers, one of which is the sale of Cabot Cheese, Ibarguen shared. “One year we gave $8,000 to the Ecuheat program, we have supported Honor Flight. That cheese sale has just been ridiculously popular. Every year, we never order enough.”

Rotary has brought back the Price Is Right after a hiatus during COVID and the Festival of Trees is one of the biggest fundraisers, Ibarguen said. It is a good community event, he noted.

“What I like best about Rotary is simply being able to be of service to those who need our assistance,” Ibarguen stressed. “You get so much back by giving. It just comes back to you in different ways, but it’s just very satisfying and enjoyable to help others. And that’s why Rotary exists.”

For Ibarguen, the most challenging thing in Rotary, like churches and other organizations is being able to sustain themselves, attract newer and younger members. “We’ve done a very good job at our own club,” he said. “In the last five months we’ve brought in at least seven new members which you have to do in order to maintain your numbers. It’s not an easy one, not an easy one at all.”

Farmington Rotary meets every Thursday morning at 7 a.m., ordinarily at UMF’s North Dining Hall. It has had to bounce around a bit this summer due to some issues, has also met at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall. The breakfast at UMF costs $15, some members don’t eat, Ibarguen stated.

A $50 fee is required to join Rotary, semi-annual dues are $100. Those interested in becoming a Rotary member can go to the club’s website, https://farmingtonrotary.us/ and send an email to any of the officers listed on the right hand side. They can also visit Rotary International, rotary.org and put in a request to be referred to a Rotary Club in their area. Ibarguen may also be reached at 207-592-6423.

Ibarguen wishes more people realized how important Rotary has been throughout the world in the eradication of polio. “That has been the real hallmark of Rotary,” he said. “We’re 99% of the way there. You hear stories on the news about organizations that are affecting that, but they hardly ever mention Rotary and Rotary International has been right in the forefront of that battle to eradicate polio from the face of the earth.”

Rotary has a close association with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it has helped with the campaign to eradicate polio, Ibarguen said. It will probably stay connected with the foundation afterwards, he stated. “Whether it’s trying to totally fight malnutrition throughout the world, making sure Rotary is well known, or in our district especially, doing projects to make sure that people have adequate and healthy drinking water, there are so many needs out there that are important, and Rotary is addressing most of them in one way or another. People just don’t realize the good that Rotary has done over the years.”

Ibarguen is a member of St Joe’s, does a lot with the church, but isn’t involved with other organizations. “Rotary is what I do when you get right down to it,” he stated. “Between family and Rotary, there is no time left. When I do get involved I am going to do it well or I am not going to do it at all.”