ST. ALBANS — The Rotary Club of St. Albans celebrated the changing of the guard this past month.
Leon Berthiaume, club president for the last three years, steps aside today, July 1, making way for Joe Halko to assume presidential responsibilities. He will take the lead for the next two years.
Rotarian Stacey Cauller also stepped up as president-elect. Other board members for the coming year include Erin Creley, Andy Crossman, Liz Gamache, Valdemar Garibay, Carrie Johnson and Carl Rosenquist. Karyn Rocheleau is past president.
“I am grateful for the support, encouragement and trust you have shown me throughout these past three years,” Berthiaume wrote in a message to club members. “No president accomplishes anything alone. I have been fortunate to serve alongside an extraordinary group of Rotarians who continually step forward to lead and serve.”
The Rotary Club of St. Albans is part of Rotary International, a global service organization. With more than 50 members, the St. Albans club serves all of Franklin County by volunteering, donating and hosting community events.
As president, Berthiaume helped increase awareness of the club across the county and spearheaded a number of new initiatives and projects.
“The exciting piece has really been getting to know members of our Rotary club and creating even more partnerships and collaboration within the different facets of the Franklin County community,” he said.
Berthiaume will move up the Rotary ladder this year to serve as District Governor Elect for the region of clubs which includes Vermont, New Hampshire and southern Quebec.
Reflecting on accomplishments
Berthiaume’s first introduction to Rotary was about eight years ago, when he was asked to visit a meeting and speak about his work at St. Albans Cooperative Creamery. He joined the club as a member soon after that.
“There probably wasn’t a club in high school that I wasn’t involved in,” he said. “I’ve always had that energy and excitement to be part of something which will be impactful.”
During his tenure, Bethiaume brought back a number of Rotary initiatives which had been on hiatus, like the Rotarian of the Year Award and the District Speech Contest for local students. The club also started awarding scholarships to high school seniors and launched the Rotary Champ Challenge to raise funds for Northwestern Medical Center.
Bethiaume said he is proud to have led the club’s celebration of its 100th anniversary in 2024. The club completed 100 random acts of kindness and hosted a special dinner for past and present members to mark the milestone.
In addition, the club established the St. Albans Rotary Club Charity Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm which funds projects both at home and abroad.
The Rotary Home & Recreation Expo also saw its highest attendance years ever. The club’s largest annual fundraiser is now drawing in over 5,000 attendees and more than 120 exhibitors. Rob Coburn is the expo’s general manager, and Halko, the event’s chairman, will continue to wear that hat while assuming responsibilities of club president.
In 2025, Rotary Club of St. Albans won the District 7850 Club Award for its outstanding achievement in service, membership growth, community engagement and commitment to Rotary’s mission and values.
“It’s going to be difficult stepping back, but at the same time, one of the things that I really believe in is continuous learning and challenging yourself,” Berthiaume said. “That’s why I accepted the district governor’s leadership track to continue to grow, and hopefully those experiences will benefit our Rotary Club in the long-term.”
Turning to the next chapter
Halko joined Rotary in 2016, when he was communications director for Northwestern Counseling and Support Services. Back then, he realized almost immediately the gaps Rotary was filling in the community through its donations to other nonprofits and organizations.
“Sometimes somebody comes to us and they request $750, for example, but to them that $750 for a specific project or initiative is crucial,” Halko said. ““There is no greater thing to do than to serve a community.”
For 2026, the Rotary International theme is “Create Lasting Impact,” and Halko said he plans to adopt that message at the local level. No matter where you live in Franklin County — from St. Albans to Richford and beyond — Halko wants you to see the impact of Rotary in your community.
That also includes taking stock of the club and what might need to change in order to stay relevant and keep its more than 50 members engaged. Volunteering is often hard work, so it has to also be fun, Halko said.
“If you are passionate about something, there’s a good chance it fits into Rotary’s mission, and we can help you make it happen,” he said of recruiting new club members.
In the coming year, the Rotary Club of St. Albans will also be helping the current District 7850 Governor with her goal of increasing the monarch butterfly population. Club members will plant milkweed at Collins Perley Sports Complex this August to help attract the insect, which has been on the decline since the mid-1990s.