Laurie Harrison

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Norfolk – a vibrant group of community leaders who enjoy being part of southeastern Virginia’s oldest and largest service club.

Our nearly 120 members come from throughout Hampton Roads and share a passion for community service and fellowship. We value always learning something new, having fun, and working together to make our community and world better. If I can help connect you to Rotary International and our club please contact our membership chair, Lauren Kiger.

Leaders Making a Difference at Home & Abroad

We meet In Person

Tuesdays at 12:00 PM

Norfolk Yacht Club

7001 Hampton Blvd.
Ballroom
Norfolk, VA 23510
United States of America

Phone:

(757) 622-7971

Email:

rotaryclubofnorfolk@gmail.com

We meet at The Norfolk Yacht Club, 7001 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, the first three Tuesdays of each month beginning at noon. Our meeting is from 12:30-1:30pm. See Calendar for details.

District Site

Venue Map

Bringing Holiday Cheer

Rotary Club of Norfolk members, family and friends shared the spirit of Rotary at the November 19 holiday parade in downtown Norfolk. Thanks go to the ever-enthusiastic Jeff Wells for spearheading our club's Rotary float and marching brigade that lit up the night. It was a spectacular parade made even better by having Rotarians participate.

Remembering Jim Sell (1942-2022)

The Reverend James William Henry Sell died peacefully in his sleep on the eve of his 80^th birthday.

He grew up in West Virginia and did his undergraduate work in history at West Virginia University. After his first year of law school, he heard the call of the church. He received his Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary.

After serving churches in West Virginia and New Jersey, he was called as Rector of Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in 1990. At the time, Christ & St. Luke’s was struggling. He served Christ & St. Luke’s for 15 years and when he left, it was thriving. Jim was known for his love of children, his outreach not only to the parish but also to the wider Hampton Roads Community and his thoughtful sermons. He enjoyed writing (even wrote a book later published by hand), reading, golf, and traveling.

He first joined Rotary in West Virginia. He was a member of our Rotary Club on two occasions and is remembered for his thoughtful invocations. He was a Paul Harris Fellow.

His memorial service will be at Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 560 W. Olney Rd., Norfolk at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. A reception will follow.

Remembering Mal Branch (1945-2022)

Mal Branch grew up in Chicago, Illinois and always wanted to follow in his father's steps as a Naval aviator. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, he pursued his dream. After nineteen years of service on the West Coast, his Navy career took a twist when he was accepted into the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program where he learned to operate a nuclear power plant. He joined the U.S.S. George Washington, which was then under construction, as the executive commander. After a stint on the U.S. flagship U.S.S. Whitney, Mal returned to the U.S.S George Washington as its commanding officer. After an illustrious U. S. Navy career, Mal had several interesting jobs including as the Executive Director of Virginia Ship Repair.

Mal was active in the community serving as the chairman of Norfolk International Airport and served on several boards including the American Red Cross and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. He joined our Rotary Club in 2002 and was a PHF + 8. He loved to sing “Sing Rotarians” which is to the tune of “On Wisconsin!”

Mal and his wife, Nancy, loved to travel and he fulfilled his dream of visiting all seven continents when they went to Antarctica.

Mal’s funeral will be at Christ & St. Luke’s Church on Saturday, November 5 at 2 p.m.

Golfing for a Good Cause

Enthusiastic newer member Tom Koller and his golf team produced a fun day for dozens of Rotarian golfers, their guests and non-golfing members, family and friends who enjoyed the post-tournament social and auction. The day at Cypress Point Golf Club in Virginia Beach raised money to help Rotary International eradicate polio. A lot of purple pinkies were painted in the process as members a guests donated for polio vaccines to be used in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Stage Company Service Project

When new Rotarian Jeff Ryder's organization needed help he knew the right team to call -- his fellow Rotary Club of Norfolk members. Jeff, new managing director of the Virginia Stage Company, took one look at the theater's piled up prop warehouse full of random things and knew it needed organizing. Thanks to more than a dozen Rotarians and family members at an after-work service project, theater props are in their proper places -- chairs with chairs, suitcases with suitcases, etc. Overgrown weeds out front are banished. And, Rotarians had a great time working together to help an area nonprofit and even trying on a quirky costume.

Brittany Samulski, Prof of Physical Therapy ODU

Dec 06, 2022

Prevention and Treatment of Falls

Past Pres, Michael DesPlaines

Dec 13, 2022

Annual Meeting and Election of Officers

Stephanie Walters

Dec 20, 2022

YellowHab Charter School

View entire list...

Help the Salvation Army prep holiday gifts
Former Sears building in Military Circle Mall

Dec 10, 2022
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Thank you for considering a sponsorship of Suds & Buds. The profits from this year's Suds & Buds will be split between PrimePlus Senior Centers, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and Norfolk Rotary Charities, the charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Norfolk which reinvests in our community. Click here for information about being a sponsor.

Did you miss the last meeting? You can see it on our YouTube channel.

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