Events

Marcy Furse is Manager of Volunteer Engagement at Lazarus Houses Ministries. 

She was born and raised in Michigan, and attended college there. She then resided in California as well as Australia before settling on the East Coast.

Marcy was introduced to Lazarus House nearly 20 years ago when she served on a volunteer team that served breakfast at the Soup Kitchen. Passionate about the organization's mission since that time, she joined the staff full-time in 2016, putting to use her professional experience in public relations and event management. 

Marcy feels privileged to live out her faith each day, serving God, by coming alongside the vulnerable and needy. She sees first-hand the positive power of service in an individual's life and delights in connecting hearts and hands of service to immediate Guests' needs. 

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Each and every volunteer plays an important part in fulfilling the Lazarus House Mission. We meet our Guests where they are and serve them with enduring dignity and respect.

Through an engaging array of in person and remote opportunities, we make it simple to volunteer and positively impact the lives of our Guests, sometimes people you may never even meet.

https://lazarushouse.org/get-involved/

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship and the Power of Networks 

Christine Cloonan received a 2008-2009 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, supported by the Andover Rotary Club, to go to Buenos Aires, Argentina where she was hosted by the Club of Nueva Pompeya.  The scholarship supported her studies for a Master of Finance at la Universidad Torcuato di Tella. The degree enabled her to start a career in corporate finance. As a result of her experiences in Argentina, she became active in corporate philanthropy and women’s leadership. She established a partnership between American Tower, a Fortune 500 company, and Junior Achievement Americas, one of the world’s largest youth serving NGOs, and served as the President of the Boston Chapter of the Ellevate Network, a Global Community of women committed to fostering and promoting gender equality in the workplace. The Boston Chamber of Commerce selected her as a Future Leader in 2017 and she currently serves as Co-Chair of Kids in Tech, an after-school tech club in Lowell and Boston.  She’s a graduate of Phillips Academy, Bowdoin College and holds a Master of Spanish from Middlebury College.

So what is a CVB? Join us as we welcome Nancy Gardella, Executive Director, North of Boston Convention & Visitor's Bureau. 

As Executive Director of the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nancy oversees a membership based, not-for-profit destination marketing organization that supports economic development by promoting the 34 communities of Essex County as a premier, year-round destination, attracting travelers from around the world to our part of the world to enjoy all our region offers for vacationers, group tours, small meetings, incentives, sports, events, weddings and more. 

Nancy's work in the non-profit sector includes economic and business development, marketing, community organizing and program development.   She serves as the co-chair of the Massachusetts Regional Tourism Councils, is a business mentor with SCORE, and passionate about supporting small businesses in our region.

Ralph Bledsoe, Science Teacher and Public Servant

Bledsoe, originally from Los Angeles, attended Northfield Mount Hermon and the University of Southern California. He now teaches physics and chemistry at Andover High School, AHS, that is in the top 5.4% of U.S. Public High Schools. At AHS, he works with international teachers yearly from the Fulbright/TEA program at U. Mass. Lowell, showing them the U.S. education system in Andover. He is also Chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee for the Andover Education Association, teacher union.

Bledsoe is Clerk for Andover Baptist Church and Vice-Chair of the Council on Aging Board for The Robb Center Andover Elder Services. He won a Massachusetts State House Award, Black Excellence on the Hill, for delivering King’s I Have a Dream speech to the four corners of Massachusetts and now is on the North Andover Celebrates African American History Month Taskforce.

Joan Arsenault joined the Rotary Club of Ipswich-Rowley in 2006.  She was on the Board of Directors for 5 years and served as Club President in 2010-2011.  Joan currently is on the membership committee for Ipswich-Rowley Rotary and will be Foundation Chair next year. 

Joan was District Governor 2019-2020 and is currently the District’s Rotary Foundation Chair.  Joan is a Regional Vice Chair for Northeast Rotary Leadership Institute, a RLI facilitator and Co-President of Corks & Caps Wine Fellowship, a local chapter of Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship (RWAF).  She also serves on the BOD of RWAF.  Joan and her husband are Major Donors, Bequest Society members, multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Paul Harris Society members and charter members of D7930 PolioPLUS Society. 

Joan currently resides in Ipswich with her husband Bob. She is the Owner and CEO of MassTex Imaging, LLC, a Mobile Medical Practice specializing in Swallowing Disorders.  Joan has a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and has practiced in her field for over 40 years.  She was an elected official on the Ipswich School Committee, serving for 12 years, 7 of those as Chair.   Joan served on the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, a nationally elected position for six years, ending in 2021 and remains on the Application Committee for Board Certification.