Special Advisor Area 60/NJ 9: Julia Phelps

Julia joined the Rotary Club of Amesbury, MA in 1997 and served as president of the club in 2001-02, the club’s Foundation Chair (2016 – 2021), and Membership Chair (2021 – present).  She was active in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program and hosted several Ambassadorial Scholars.  After serving as president, she trained incoming presidents at NE Presidents-elect Training Seminar (PETS).  Julia served as a host counselor for a Youth Exchange.
 
She has served in several positions at the district level.  She worked on RYLA, served as Inbound Chair for Ambassadorial Scholars and was District Governor of District 7930 in 2007-2008.  She was the District’s Annual Giving Chair and the Chair for NE PETS.  Julia became District 7930’s Foundation Chair in July 2009 and led the district through the Future Vision Pilot.  She shared Future Vision insights at the New Orleans, Louisiana and Lisbon, Portugal International Conventions.
 
Julia has served as a Presidents Representative and the Rotary Foundation Alumni Chair (RFAC) for Zone 32.  Julia prepared governors-elect on the Foundation’s new grant model at the International Assembly in 2012 and 2013.  She served as International Director from 2014 – 2016 and in 2016 - 2017 was a member of the Operations Review Committee. Julia served as a member of RI’s Membership Committee from 2017 – 2019.  
 
In 2017, Julia was appointed as a Trustee of our Rotary Foundation where she served on the Foundation’s Stewardship Committee (Chair in 2019 – 2020) and the Executive Committee (2018 – 2020).  For two years, she’s served as the Trustee Liaison to the Leadership Development and Training Committee.  Always a supporter of Polio eradication efforts, Julia participated in an NID in January 2017 in Delhi, India. She was the Moderator for the training of regional leaders in 2022. Currently, she’s the Chair for the Basic Education and Literacy Major Gift Initiative Committee.
 
Julia is an active member of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Rotary Action Group.  She serves on the Operation Team of WASH, the WASH Rotary Action Group Foundation, and has chaired the World Water Summit from 2017 - present.  In January 2019, Julia participated in handing over toilet blocks and handwashing stations to a school of 1200 students in Nashik, India.  The Rotary Club of Amesbury, MA financially supported this project along with other clubs in the USA, Australia, and India.
 
Julia is the recipient of the Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award.  She and her husband, Steve McKenzie, who’s also a Rotarian are major donors and charter members of the bequest society.  She is a Paul Harris Society member.  Julia led the Million Dollar Journey for the Rotary Foundation in District 7930 where they raised over $1.8 million dollars. 
 
She’s retired from the Massachusetts Department of Education where she served as the Associate Commissioner for Curriculum and Instruction.  Steve McKenzie, her husband, and Julia live in Greenland, New Hampshire, USA.  Steve and Julia have two children, Melissa and Stephen.  They are the grandparents to Peyton, Zeth, River, Finn and Nate.  All their family members are Paul Harris Fellows.