After months of searching, the Amesbury Carriage Museum has a new executive director to the organization.
Holly Babin was recently named the nonprofit’s new leader after the departure of Kelly Daniell last fall.
Babin said she is glad to join the organization.

“I’m honored to be named executive director. It’s an amazing organization and incredible community,” she said.
Juliann Clark, president of the museum’s board of directors, said Babin was highly recommended and is the right person for the job.
“Holly comes from a very strong communications and development background. She is a go-getter,” Clark said. “She is comfortable meeting new people, getting involved in the community.

“And, the biggest thing for us is she has a lot of new and fresh ideas as far as fundraising,” Clark added. “And that is something that we were searching for, is someone who is comfortable fundraising, comfortable asking for money, comfortable meeting new people and sometimes hearing, ‘No’.”
Tom Pendergast, the museum’s treasurer, praised Babin and said she has an “engaging personality.”
“We’re very excited to have Holly on board. She is an excellent individual. She has a great resume and experience, and I think she’s going to bring us great success in the future,” he said.

An accomplished communicator and business strategist, Holly Babin provides organizations with award-winning communication and engagement strategies, copy and outreach. She has worked as a senior executive in government and the private sector, in health, defense and publishing. She enjoys polishing great ideas, moving initiatives forward, and working with strong teams.

Currently I work for the Community College System of New Hampshire coordinating their Allied Health training programs.  I work part time at Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, NH. I enjoy this part time role, and that I am able to once again devote time to be a Rotarian

Doug Brendel (a member of Ipswich/Rowley Rotary) gave us a very lively and enthusiastic presentation (his 145^th) about “New Thing”, a non profit organization in Belarus (a former Soviet republic, which is landlocked and shares boarders with Russia, Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine), which Doug and Kristina Brendel founded. Belarus is a nation devastated by Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, the Chernobyl – and is still suffering in many ways.

In spite of complicated politics, myriad restrictions, and nagging poverty, the U.S. Charity New Thing meets serious needs among the 9 million people of Belarus. The all-Belarusian “Response of the Heart” team inside the country brings in tons of donated food, clothing, medical equipment, diapers, furniture, the list goes on. It’s all shared face to face, heart to heart:

• In shelters for abused and abandoned children

• Orphanages and centers for disabled children

• Among the homeless (through the New Thing soup kitchen)

• In hospitals and clinics

• Juvenile detention centers

• Homes for the mentally ill

• and more

New Thing in the U.S. is all-volunteer. Every penny raised through donations goes into Belarus. So, the entire operation happens for some $8,000 a month. Doug will email free photo reports of New Thing’s work in Belarus. His email is: email@newthing.net.

Our mission is to bridge the gap in access to alternative therapies, often excluded from traditional health insurance, by offering holistic, drug-free, and non-invasive solutions for those seeking enhanced well-being. At the heart of our efforts is Neurofeedback—an FDA-approved, evidence-based brain training method proven to help regulate learning, behavior, and stress-related symptoms. Through dedicated communication, education, mentorship, and advocacy, we strive to raise awareness about its profound benefits. Our vision is to make this transformative therapy accessible and affordable by providing financial support, empowering children, veterans, first responders, and adults facing high-stress environments to take control of their mental health and recovery journey. In order to provide financial support to those can benefit from Neurofeedback treatment, but may not otherwise be able to afford it, Michelle formed The Benefit of Balance, Inc. as a non profit corporation organized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code - Tax ID #: 87-4712697 

   Brad Ford Scholarship  - Soleil Bennett

   Forrest "Ned" Brown Scholarship - Kylie Desmond 

   Owen Justin Scholarship -  Jocelyn Daigle

   Boomerang Scholarship - Julia Parsons

   Donald E. Lawliss Scholarship  - Kalan Noseworthy

The Rotary committee that selected the scholarship recipients were:

   Donna Collins

   Bill Cushing

   Althea Volper