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Club President Message

Laurie Harrison

member photo

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 100 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.

Club Meeting Information
Leaders Making a Difference at Home & Abroad
Norfolk

We meet In Person
Tuesdays at 12:00 PM
Norfolk Yacht & Country Club
Main Ballroom
7001 Hampton Boulevard
Norfolk, VA 23505
United States of America
Phone:
(757) 622-7971
Email:
rotaryclubofnorfolk@gmail.com
We meet at The Norfolk Yacht & Country Club, 7001 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, on the first three Tuesdays of each month beginning at noon. Our meeting is from 12:30-1:30 pm. See calendar for details.
District Site
Venue Map
 
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In the News

Forging a Resilient Future

Dr. Jessica Whitehead (center) was introduced by Tom Koller and thanked by President Laurie Harrison.
 
This September will mark 20 years since Hurricane Isabel pummeled Hampton Roads flooding homes, downing trees and power lines, and making residents face the realities of living in a volatile coastal area. Dr. Jessica Whitehead, executive director of Old Dominion University's Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience, pointed out at the Rotary Club of Norfolk's March 21, 2023 meeting that Hurricane Isabel was billed as a 100-year storm. But, since 2003, other hurricanes and storms have negatively impacted the region. Residents routinely navigate around nuisance or "sunny day" flooding of area streets such as Llewellyn Avenue in Norfolk.
 
By 2060, Whitehead expects the region to experience flooding several times a month routinely. The reasons include more intense and frequent rainfall and storms and sinking land. Having fast-growing cities like Chesapeake and Virginia Beach remove trees for development and pave over land contributes to the problem. The situation is a problem for residents whose homes flood or are filled with mold, those relying on septic systems that no longer work, recreational areas that become unusable, and mainstays of the economy like the port and military bases unable to function effectively.
 
Whitehead says that while the future looks dire, there are steps that will improve the situation for all area residents. Her center's goal is to use research and engaging with communities, organizations, and business to create a vibrant region with a strong economy and healthy ecosystems. Among its recommendations are elevating roads and adding living shorelines and wetlands. Whitehead praised the City of Norfolk for having one of the first resilience plans in the country which has led to a $2 billion Army Corps of Engineers project that will extend the downtown flood wall, add surge barriers, elevate homes and possibly buy out residents living in flood-prone areas.
 
Whitehead tied her resilience work to Rotary by pointing out Rotary International's commitment to clean water, helping mothers and children, growing local economies, protecting the environment, and responding to disasters.
 
The Meeting
  • We inducted and welcomed new members Tristan Warren and Michael Baglio. Tristan has lived in our region for 26 years and is the chief development officer at The Up Center and is a former member of the Sunrise Rotary Club. Michael moved to Norfolk recently from Texas and is the founder of The ACIEM Foundation, which helps children born with metabolic disorders.
  • Luncheon guests included Hank Thompson and Dr. Abby Van Voorhees (Chip Vogan's guests), Brad Martin and Warren Sachs (Jeff Wells' guests), Mary Haywood (Sigur Whitaker's guest), and Dr. Linda Archer (Dr. Bob Archer's spouse and guest).
  • Sigur honored Past President Jim Kitz with a Paul Harris Fellow +7 pin for his contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Jim told the club he supports the foundation because of all that it stands for and its good works here and around the globe. She also reminded us that April 4 is Giving Tuesday for The Rotary Foundation. In addition to our club matching gifts of $100 or more, the current District Governor Kenny Janes will match donations 2:1. Donations must be made online to qualify for matches that are for those striving for their first PHF or who are at PH +8 level or below.
  • Please do so if you haven't donated $20 for the wine pull at the May 18 Suds & Buds party. This replaces the previous year's requests to donate a bottle of wine. We have a particular wine buyer who will secure wine bottles for the event.
  • Mark your calendars for April 25 at 8 a.m. when we will have a networking coffee at the Virginia Stage Company's Wells Theater. Participants will get a discount coupon for the next stage company show.
  • Sharon Laderberg reported that Cy Grandy recently moved to the memory care unit at Harbor's Edge.
  • With such a full program we delayed Happy Bucks and Fines until our next meeting on April 4.
 
 

Installing New Members

On March 21, the Rotary Club of Norfolk installed and welcomed two new members -- Tristan Warren and Michael Baglio. Tristan is a long-time Norfolk resident and chief development officer at The Up Center, which improves life for area children and families. Michael recently moved to Norfolk from Texas and is the founder of a nonprofit the ACIEM Foundation, which helps children born with metabolic defects get the treatments they need to thrive.

April 4 Is Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is just around the corner on Tuesday, April 4.  For those working to become a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) or working to get to the next level of giving up to PHF + 7, District 7600 will match your donation to the Annual Share Fund between $100 and $500 with points.  All donations must be online through MyRotary. Donations made by PHF + 8, while appreciated, will not be matched. It is an easy way to earn your first PHF or obtain the next level. 
 
The donations minus expenses given to the Annual Share Fund will come back to the District in three years. The funds are then split between District Grants and International Grants. Our club has received a District Grant on many occasions and helped us to fund projects such as the kitchen at the Hunton YMCA. We hope to be involved in an International Grant. 
 
If you want to contribute and have not yet signed up for MyRotary, please do so no later than Sunday, April 2. Go to Rotary.org, member area. There should be a place to sign up for an account. You will need your membership number which can be found either on the Rotary magazine's mailing label or our club's website (your profile, under "Rotary" tab).
 
Before giving, please remember to sign into MyRotary. Otherwise, The Rotary Foundation will not know that you are a Rotarian and a member of this club. Also, after making a donation, please send Sigur Whitaker a copy of your receipt so that she can match with the points.
 

Everyone Is a Winner

Rotary Career Day is a 40-year tradition with the Rotary Club of Norfolk as Norfolk Public High School seniors explore potential careers with Rotarians. Pictured are many of the Rotary mentors and their students. Four students each won $100 for writing winning essays about their career visits to the Virginia Zoo, Old Dominion University engineering labs, Eastern Virginia Medical School and various maritime companies. But, everyone who participated won the joy of connecting generations with the future.

Welcoming a New Member

New Rotary Club of Norfolk member Tony Bennett (second from right) is welcomed on March 14 by (from left) Bill Davis, President Laurie Harrison and Jim Tucker. Bill is Tony's sponsor and Jim is his mentor. Tony is an executive with Xerox.
Speakers
Ashlynn Baker
Apr 04, 2023
CHKD Milk Bank
Joel Andrus
Apr 11, 2023
Virginia Legislative actions
Jeff Wells
Apr 18, 2023
Presentation of Grant Recipients
Laurie & Jeff
May 02, 2023
club anniversary and local endowment
View entire list...
Suds & Buds
 
The Seventh Annual Suds & Buds Party presented by Virginia Natural Gas, will be at the Norfolk Botanical Garden on Thursday, May 18, 2023. The rose garden will be in full bloom, We will have musical entertainment, and we anticipate a wide variety of food from local restaurants/food trucks, craft beer and wine. Mark your calendars for this fun casual garden party. It will benefit three different charities: Norfolk Botanical Garden, Norfolk Rotary Charities and Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters (CHKD). Norfolk Rotary Charities supports the charitable efforts of the Rotary Club of Norfolk. 
 
 
Interested in sponsoring this fun event? Click here for sponsorship information.
 
Upcoming Events
  • Board of Directors Meeting
    EVMS
    Apr 10, 2023 5:00 PM
  • Rotary Networking Coffee
    Virginia Stage Company-Wells Theater
    Apr 25, 2023
    8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
  • Board of Directors Meeting
    EVMS
    May 08, 2023 5:00 PM
  • Suds & Buds
    Norfolk Botanical Garden
    May 18, 2023
    5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • District 7600 End Polio Now Baseball Game
    Harbor Park
    May 21, 2023 1:05 PM
View Our Last Meeting
Did you miss the last meeting? You can see it on our YouTube channel. 
 
<div>View Our Last Meeting</div>

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Rotary Club of Norfolk
414 Bute Street, Norfolk Virginia 23510
757-622-7971
rotaryclubofnorfolk@gmail.com
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