President Jim called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. The Rotary Club of Norfolk’s annual meeting on December 8 accomplished important club business via Zoom, updated members on key areas, and gathered ideas for weathering these pandemic times. The meeting featured:
- The election of new officers and directors for 2021-22. The proposed slate, which was presented last month, was highlighted by Past President Pam Tubbs and then voted on electronically by the members at the Zoom meeting. (See separate article for details on the incoming officers).
- Recommended bylaws changes presented by Parliamentarian Tom Ambler, which were approved by electronic voting. Bylaws changes are intended to make the club function efficiently in what for now is a virtual world without in-person meetings.
- Finance Committee Chair Gus Stulreyer reviewing both the club and Norfolk Rotary Charities’ finances. The club’s new dues model -- instituted when the pandemic eliminated in-person lunch meetings and pre-paid meals-- is working. The club has maintained its financial commitment to Rotary International and kept its two part-time employees on the payroll. Gus expects the club to end the fiscal year by breaking even or having a slight surplus of funds. He reported that Norfolk Rotary Charities has $140,000 in readily accessible assets, including $50,000 moved recently from the club’s bank account.
- President-elect Michael Desplaines reporting that the grants committee will convene after the holidays and evaluate the grant amount and the best way to put charitable funds into action helping area nonprofits.
- Vice President Laurie Harrison highlighting future speakers and their topics. Among the upcoming programs are updates on COVID-19 and mental health, a TV meteorologist, and a look at area recycling. If you have ideas for future programs, let Laurie know. She is booking speakers for April and beyond.
- President Jim Kitz sharing his pride in how our club has adapted during pandemic times by finding ways to safely serve our community and keep our members connected. Nonprofit partnerships and volunteer work have let Rotarians help the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia & the Eastern Shore, Keep Norfolk Beautiful, The Salvation Army, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and Eastern Virginia Medical School students. Meeting via Zoom has enabled the club to gather online and bring speakers from around the globe, including a Florida comedian, physician in the Philippines, and winemaker in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jim is looking for more ways to make sure all our members remain engaged. One way will be phone calls to make sure people are doing okay during pandemic times.
- Suggestions from members for keeping engaged until we can meet in person include trying conference calls, personally encouraging members to try Zoom, hosting a Zoom cocktail hour, using Zoom breakout rooms, having a few minutes of visiting at the start of each online meeting.
Other Business
Our meeting started with holiday music from Pam Tubbs on piano with Jingle Bell Rock followed by Bob Heely on guitar with Feliz Navidad.
Julie Keesling shared a Caesar Chavez prayer for the invocation.
President Jim Kitz let the club know that Past President Lorna Cochrane’s sister passed away in Canada.
There was one guest, Stan Turbeville, the new vice president of institutional advancement for Tidewater Community College. He was in a North Carolina Rotary Club and is interested in joining our club.
Larchmont Elementary was the school of the week.
Happy Bucks and Fines
- Chris Bugg for an expert column he wrote for Inside Business and also in anticipation of Navy winning the Army-Navy football game.
- Marcia Conston for being on a radio program where she let people know that Tidewater Community College has $3,000 scholarships for displaced workers to learn new skills.
- Barbara Lipskis, Chick Robison and Steve Jones in honor of Marcia and all the ways she and TCC help people.
- Michael Desplaines for announcing the need for a temporary storage site for a large load of 300-year-old oak wood that needs to cure before being used in a new building at Norfolk Botanical Garden.
- Jim Kitz for the upcoming Army-Navy game being played at his alma mater, West Point
- Lois Kercher for the Old Dominion University women’s basketball team beating Virginia Commonwealth University.
The meeting closed with President Jim letting everyone know he can’t wait until we can share a meal and see each other in person.
Adjourned 1:31 p.m.