Second Publication: We are pleased to announce that Joyce Heaton, currently of the Rotary Club of Millbrook (NY), has submitted an application to transfer to our club. Millbrook is a small village in the Hudson River Valley, about midway between New York City and the state capital, Albany. Joyce grew up in Poughkeepsie NY, where her family has been for many generations going back to her mother's ancestors who were Dutch farmers in the 1700's. Her father's family were Quakers who were pushed out of NE for their beliefs. Both parents were involved in the community in different ways, setting a great example for their children.
Her husband Steve Ouelette is originally from Lewiston. They met while working at IBM. She left IBM after 13 years to raise her family, Madeleine 28 and Izzy 24. During this time she worked part time for a family business managing water companies in developments where people were not served by a municipality or didn't have the required volume for individual wells. After 17 years, when her youngest went to college, she pursued a lifelong dream of opening a business. She started a small jewelry store with estate jewelry and a consignment sales program, a bench jeweler who performed all types of repairs, and a design consultant to guide the custom work. They also showcased the work of five or six local jewelry artists. She closed the store in February of this year after 5 ½ years in order to move to Maine.
Joyce has been a Rotarian for nearly 20 years. During that time she held various committee and board positions. One project that she chaired was New Year's Eve Millbrook, a "first night" kind of event with several activities and performances taking place in different venues around town. The club Joyce is coming from is similar in size to the Westbrook-Gorham Club.