J. Van Rose, Jr. with Lisa Chandler
The Program
Rotarian of the Day Lisa Chandler introduced guest speaker J. Van Rose, Jr., president of Rose and Womble Realty. He started by noting that Dianne Gordonn from the Hampton Roads Club gave him his topic of balancing life with service before self, which he addressed by describing three life-changing topics.
Up first was sacrificing and taking risks to get what you really want. He described his desire to attend the Naval Academy, despite being told by a guidance counselor, “They only take really smart people,” a sentiment reiterated with this addition: “So far, you haven’t shown evidence of that.” Van took the risk of bypassing a full-ride athletic scholarship to William & Mary, much to his father’s chagrin, to enlist in the Navy with hopes of getting a presidential nomination to the Naval Academy, which he received. He said this caused him not to be risk-aversive and led to his being part of 28 LLCs.
Next he talked about the importance of seminars he attended, which helped him as an instructor at the Naval Academy, a position that first intimidated him based on his guidance counselor’s comments. The first seminar he mentioned was presented by Steven Covey, who noted that “People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success, only to find, once they reach the top, that it was leaning against the wrong wall.”
Looking at 10 years of sea duty after serving on multiple Naval staffs, Van thought about his children, Ryan and Julia, and his father, who’d never seen Van play football or run track. Van’s wife told him that he needed to start taking the kids to extracurricular activities, or they’d have to drop out, so Van decided to leave the Navy and join his father in selling real estate -- something he’d sworn he’d never do. “What wall is your ladder leaning against?” Van asked in reflection. “We’ve got to balance our lives out,” he noted.
Once in real estate, Van went to a Zig Ziglar “See You at the Top” motivational seminar, where he heard Ziglar say, “You will get all that you want in life if you help a few other people get what they want.” “How many people can we help along the way?” Van asked. He talked about helping 810 Rose and Womble employees get where they want to go in life.
Van talked about one more seminar: Evelyn Woods’ course in speed reading. He said that he was labeled as “stupid” because of a learning disability that, his parents were told, might have kept him from graduating from high school. He said that being an instructor at the Naval Academy had been his worst nightmare, but, “by the grace of God” -- a sentiment he repeated -- he learned that it wasn’t about him, but about sacrificing and taking risks, about positioning about the ladder of success, and about the people we may help.
After Van spoke. Gary said that the book Follow the Moon Home would be dedicated in his honor.
The Meeting
Sigur Whitaker, Frank Whitman, and Pam Tubbs started us with music before Dabney Baker gave the opening prayer and Granby Elementary School was identified as School of the Week. Fred Walker gave the Visitation Report, noting the Dean Rogis is doing well, that Bob Ash is coming along, and that our bookkeeper, Ann Morgan, is home recuperating.
Alan Nelson handled the introduction of guests, noting that former district governors Bill Pollard and Paul Sykes were present, along with current district governor John Padgett, although he’s not a guest. Visiting Rotarian Dianne Gordon from Hampton was there with guest speaker, J. Van Rose, Jr.
Chuck Spence brought Dr. Kelly W. Stenonwich. Guest Patricia Kimner of the new Stripers at Waterside, opening Nov. 17, brought Jean Rosalia of Chantel Ray Real Estate; Patricia belonged to the Rotary of St. Louis for 16 years. Angela Kerns brought Sarah Taylor, and Chip Vogan brought John Bos of Cybex.
November birthdays were noted by president Gary Boswick, and then Bryce Burton came forward to note that nominations are wrapping up and that board nominations will be accepted through the end of the week.
Pam Tubbs noted that a video had been shown depicting the work of midwives supported by The Rotary Foundation in Haiti. She suggested we see the website for more and pointed us to the Rotary Direct flyers on our tables. Lois Kercher came up, wearing a hat and carrying two baskets, saying that one was for The Rotary Foundation and one was for our club’s Norfolk Rotary Charity endowment. She talked about automatic giving and said that she would say more in the weeks to come, while wearing different hats.
Next Gary recognized Cy Grandy as a Paul Harris Fellow Plus Three, Lisa Chandler as a Paul Harris Fellow Plus Six, and John Padgett as a Paul Harris Fellow Plus Eight, before receiving a new member, Caleb Cooper. Caleb is director and district vice president of the Blocker YMCA. His wife works in health care and they moved here with their two children, ages 7 and 4, from Minneapolis two months ago. Gary also reminded us to pick up free Rotary lunch business cards at the check-in table to help attract new members.
Sharon Landsburg talked about upcoming events including a tour of the Norfolk Courts Complex with Bruce Wilcox Nov. 28, 1-3:30 p.m. She also announced that Dec. 1 is the 25th anniversary of Bob Latimer’s Hot Dog Day with Bob presiding at Doug’s Hot Dogs with free hot dogs for everyone at lunch.
Rachel Bellis announced service opportunities at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m.-noon, and Thursday, Dec. 14, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Christmas Distribution Center. Gary added that there’s a board meeting Nov. 13, 4:30-6 p.m., in Kaufman & Canoles’ board room. He said that dues and meals invoices have been emailed out, and if you did not get an email or need a printed invoice, please sign the list at the check-in table or contact Jane Dembert.
There’s also a lunch at the Virginia Club Nov. 28; contact Ben Mason to RSVP. The agenda also includes: Nov. 19, 12:15-4 p.m., at the Kroc Center, Salvation Army Thanksgiving Community Feast, and Dec. 19, noon-2 p.m., at the Ted Constant Center: Holiday Lunch.
Marty Raiss paid a fine for a trip to Miami and a 25th-anniversary trip to Great Britain, plus her son’s retirement from the Marine Corps and helping to deliver a baby. Lisa Sands noted a buy-one-get-one offer for the Virginia Opera’s Girl of the Golden West, and Bill Lehew gave happy bucks for the birth of his third great-grandchild.