It only took about two hours for Rotarians to fill a dozen bags with random plastic and other discarded items in Lafayette Park in Norfolk. We volunteered as part of the Keep Norfolk Beautiful efforts, which have been on hold because of COVID-19. It was a beautiful morning to be working in a socially distant way under the trees.Leaders Making a Difference at Home & Abroad
It only took about two hours for Rotarians to fill a dozen bags with random plastic and other discarded items in Lafayette Park in Norfolk. We volunteered as part of the Keep Norfolk Beautiful efforts, which have been on hold because of COVID-19. It was a beautiful morning to be working in a socially distant way under the trees.
Rotarians had a productive morning on August 22 as they packed 700 boxes of food for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore to give to families in need in our community. Working on an assembly line, we made boxes and filled them with rice, lentils, cereal canned vegetablkes, apple sauce, tuna and mayonnaise packets.
District 7600 has a goal of raising $3 million for the Rotary Endowment between now and February 28, 2021. If you commit to contributing at least $10,000 to The Rotary Foundation Bequest Society, you will be invited to the Million Dollar Dinner. The dinner has been planned for Friday, March 26, 2021 subject to Covid 19 rescheduling. The headline speaker is going to be Jennifer Jones….yes, the Jennifer Jones who has just become the RI President Nominee for 2022-2023. She will be the first female president of RI.
Now here is the thing about this dinner…you don’t have to donate the money this year. In fact, most people are making a commitment are through their estate. Not only will have the opportunity to join with other Rotarians at the dinner but at the $10,000 level, you will also receive a Bequest Society pin and an exclusive art piece suitable for framing.
Just like the various Paul Harris Fellowship levels, the Bequest Society also has different levels.
We are going to have a Fireside Chat social for those interested in finding out more about the dinner and giving opportunities. If you are interested, please let Sigur Whitaker, our Foundation chair, know of your interest.
Beloved Norfolk Rotarian and Past President (1997-1998) Bob Latimer passed away Saturday, August 15 after a lengthy fight against cancer. He will long be remembered for his friendly smile, his love of his fellow human beings, and his quiet leadership. He was an icon of our club.
He will also be remembered for his Bob's Hot Dog Day. In a visit to a physician many years ago, he was told that he should not eat one of his favorite foods — hot dogs. Negotiating with the physician so he could enjoy a hot dog one day a year began the tradition of Bob’s Hot Dog Day. Held at Doug’s Hot Dogs in Ocean View, Bob’s friends including Rotarians, sailors and neighbors gather to enjoy friendship as well as a hot dog paid on Bob's tab. Bob (right) is pictured above with Past District Governor John Padgett.
A Norfolk native, Bob was in the first four-year class at the Colleges of William & Mary and VPI, Norfolk Division, which is now known as ODU. He was the class vice president and was an enthusiastic supporter of the Monarchs. It wasn't unusual for Bob to celebrate ODU accomplishments in the classroom or in sporting events with a "Go Monarchs!"
After college, Bob began a career in education as a teacher and then an administrator of the adult education programs for the City of Norfolk.
Bob also handcrafted beautiful wooden clocks. He discovered his love of wood and woodworking at a young age. His first project was a rudimentary model airplane he crafted by nailing together two 2 x 4s. From there, it was on to other models and crafting furniture. One day Bob saw an ad in a woodworking magazine for a clock movement. After ordering the mechanism and building a cabinet for it, Bob’s focus became building clocks. He has built over 300 clocks, including ones given to outgoing presidents of our club.
Bob's family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Norfolk Rotary Charities, 414 W. Bute St., Norfolk, VA 23510. You can also donate here: https://bit.ly/2Y5KJTa
Brenda Gibbs, the CEO of the Hunton Y, narrated a new tour of kitchen facilities and “Rotary Readers” library dedicated last March. The new walk-in cooler and freezer allow “Chef Paul” to now buy in bulk for a week instead of daily trips to the grocery store. It has also allowed Hunton Y provide some 400 “grab & go” meals to the community during the pandemic in addition to breakfast and lunch for 200-day care attendees. Also 50 meals a day are prepared for disabled or house-bound seniors that live near-by. Residents line up an hour in advance for “Chef Paul’s” specialties including lasagna, spaghetti and catch of the day.
Pictured above is a child enjoying the new farm bounce house provided by our club.
Norfolk, VA 23510
United States of America