The Onset Bay Association celebrated another year of community service at its annual meeting on Thursday night.

Around 50 members of the non-profit gathered at Salerno’s for a volunteer recognition night and the election of new officers. The association reported a very successful year in 2015, having raised a total of $70,000, a healthy increase over the $56,000 brought in the previous year.

The all-volunteer grass roots group organizes more than 30 family-oriented events in the village annually, all but one of which are free.

Outgoing association president Eleanor Martin was presented with a plaque by her successor Kat Jones for her five years of leadership and service.

“Eleanor was a force to be reckoned with. She has been doing amazing things,” Jones said.

Martin will stay on as vice president to assist with the transition.

“Like everyone else, my life is crazy-busy,” Jones said. “But I’m ready for this.”

Paul Ciccotelli became treasurer and Christine Caldwell remained as secretary to complete the slate of officers. The year's board of directors included Cheryl Bagangan, Winna Dean, Kathy Judd, Mary Lou Payton, Nancy Powers, Jessica Ellis Wilson, Barbara Smith and newcomer Eric Guillory, proprietor of Cape Cod Collectibles on Cranberry Highway.

Some members have been with the association since its inception. Lenny Gay, who was the association's second president, is still an active member.

“I’ve lived here since 1943 and I remember in the 60s all the Air Force guys walking around town,” he said. “They went away when they downgraded Otis.”

Featured speaker at the event was Mark Rasmussen from the Buzzards Bay Coalition who gave a presentation on the coalition’s plans to expand its presence in Onset. The project includes the acquisition of Wickets Island and Burgess Point and the conversion of the historic bath house on Onset Beach into a Discovery Center. It comes with a price tag of $5.6 million, $4.2 million of which will be raised by the Coalition from private donors, according to Rasmussen.

The association also surprised Rasmussen with the presentation of a check for $3,829.19 towards the renovation of the bath house. That money had been raised during an earlier campaign for the restoration of the historic building and was earmarked solely for that purpose.

The association is already focused on the summer of 2016, with a GoFundMe page already set up to raise $40,000 for the July 4 fireworks and tentative plans to rebuild or replace the Onset gazebo. All contributions are welcome, said Jones.

“We are always looking for new member, volunteers or sponsors," she said.

For more information visit onsetbay.org.