Rotarian of the Day Judge Bruce Wilcox introduced his colleague Judge Joe Massey and gave us some information on Joe’s background. 

 

Joe is a Norfolk native whose father was the Headmaster of his school, Norfolk Academy. Joe went to Duke University for his undergraduate degree and then to the University of Richmond where he obtained his law degree. He clerked for a federal judge and then joined Cooper, Spong and Davis law firm in Portsmouth, where he stayed for 20 years. While there, he served as a member and ultimately chaired the Norfolk Industrial Development Authority. (I was one of his loyal board members).  During Joe’s service he was a leader in the effort to establish MacArthur Mall and to secure the regional Headquarters for USAA, amongst other efforts. Joe has been a 25 year Rotarian – 10 years in Portsmouth and 15 in our club.  

 

Joe, our club's new director of membership, began his talk by letting us know in no uncertain terms that he knew “nothing about” recruiting members and then proceeded to outline a primer on doing just that. 

 

For perspective, he recalled his childhood at his grandmother’s house in Crewe. Properly attired with a buttoned collared shirt and with reserved discussion at Sunday lunch, they would then adjourn and the gathering would become a porch swing affair, conversing with each other and all sidewalk passersby.  But times have changed.  Backyards and high fences, combined with air conditioning drove folks off of the porches and away from their neighbors. Communication changed and PDAs are the common methodology with folks texting to each other instead of talking, even while sitting next to each other. 

 

Gen Xers (skeptical and self-reliant) and Millennials now make up 1/3 of the population. Their needs and wants are different than boomers. They are color blind. They seek and embrace diversity. They want to contribute by helping the Joneses, not keeping up with them. They have an urge to be green. Their loyalty is different and they take new jobs every couple of years. They are technologically connected. They want a better work-life balance. Instant gratification and recognition are expected. Cost is a real factor. Joe explained that if Rotary is going to remain relevant and attractive, it will have to change.  Our club's flexible format is a step in that direction. But more change is likely. For example, as our guest engineer Jory Bunn, who was president of ODU's Rotaract Club, said when he responded to a question: “Informality (in dress) is something that his generation is looking for.”  Opportunities for after work, before dinner, cocktail clubs are on the rise.  Joe encouraged us to embrace these changes!

 

Joe also offered some personal reflection on what Rotary means to him. Eighteen years ago, when he was asked by Judge Clarkson about his interest in serving as a Juvenile and Domestic Relations judge, he did not know what to really expect being that he had only been in that court once. But he took the opportunity to serve as a judge. Today most of his time is spent with helping juveniles and families. Because a judge's job is isolating, it is hard to connect during the day. This is exacerbated by his wife Alice’s illness, which requires 24/7 care. So Rotary has really been a godsend to Joe. It allows him to interact with others, provide assistance to his community and  enjoy the fellowship, which keeps him able to persevere. 

 

Joe urged his club members to take actions to help grow their club's membership. He told us that 82% of Rotarians had never brought in a new member (akin to the 80/20 rule). He said “it’s easy” to expand our club membership:

With that, President Sally thanked Joe for his presentation and especially for agreeing to take on the membership chairman’s role, when Jim Clary had to step down since he is moving. She presented a book in his honor to the James Monroe Elementary School. 
 

President Sally rang the bell at 12:33 p.m. and called on our “Singing Soprano” Sigur Whitaker who lead us in "R-O-T-A-R-Y" and "God Bless America," accompanied by Frank Whitman on piano.

Bob Powell offered a thoughtful invocation.

Announcements and Club Business:

1. February 23 was the 111^th anniversary of Rotary and our club is 102 years old.
2. Scope Security changes and dislocation. Starting March 1 we will have to enter Scope through the doors down the hall by the ticket booths. We will do the initial check-in of members there by the building’s receptionist desk. Scope’s staff can no longer leave the doors we are used to entering unlocked due to security issues. (Anyone could enter them and be in the building or plant a bomb). The only other option is to hire a security guard at $13 an hour for four hours of time. Therefore, we are going with the alternate entry option. We will be able to exit through the normal doors.
3. Blue badge for Dyteya Lewis, chair of our House Committee.
4. Thank you to Will King for getting all the supplies for children in Nicaragua to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards training in Wakefield on Saturday along with an Interact student from Norfolk Collegiate.
5. Thanks to everyone who filed out their expertise guide information. Barbara Lipskis is working on this for the password-protected part of our website.
6. Three Rotary training opportunities are coming up in April – April 2 district grants webinar, April  9 Rotary Leadership Institute training at Virginia Wesleyan College and April 23 Rotary district training assembly in Williamsburg.
7. Lisa Chandler gave a May 13 Suds & Buds update.  We continue to line up food and beer sponsors as well as general sponsors. Information is on the website (www.sudsandbuds.org). Music will be provided by the venerable Lewis McGehee! 
8. Meeting Scheduling - All Months have 3 lunch meetings and 1 makeup event for perfect attendance (months with 5 Tuesdays do not change that) Please pay attention to the March meeting schedule, which is different due to 5 Tuesdays and a March 8 basketball tournament at Scope.  There will be meetings on March 1, 15 and 22.
9. Dues are past due. Please pay them promptly by check, credit card to Jane or online.  3% additional charge for credit card payments cover our costs.
10. Quick update on our innovative & flexible pilot program. Since July 1, 122 of our members have attended at least one optional activity.

• Shep Miller was fined for an article in the VP about Anthony Burfoot.
• President Sally Hartman also paid a fine relating to the Virginian-Pilot story about the house fire of her neighbor, Fred Pittman. In reality we should have paid a tribute to her as she took Fred’s dog to the vet to make sure that he was OK.