Changing of the Guard

Pam Tubbs (left) and Lorna Cochrane share a moment after their standing ovations.

The Rotary Club of Norfolk's July 9 luncheon had double celebrations -- honoring outgoing club President Pam Tubbs and welcoming new President Lorna Cochrane during a special hail and farewell ceremony.

Pam highlighted the ways the 2018-19 Rotary theme of Be the Inspiration resonated with her. "Thank you for inspiring me," she said of our club members. Pam thanked the outgoing board, our club's two staff members and her husband for helping make the year a success. Among the accomplishments were:

Revising the club bylaws for the first time in nine years.
Adding 11 new members, which helped offset the loss of members who passed away or moved from the area.
Starting a Rotary 101 program for new members.
Exceeding goals for supporting the Rotary International Foundation and PolioPlus.
Supporting our new satellite club.
Holding four successful fundraisers.
Maintaining a full array of service projects and socials in addition to having speakers at luncheons.

Pam is proud of how our club continued its decades-long support of bringing oysters back to the Lafayette River, helped improve Jaycox Elementary School and tutored its students, supported ForKids Inc. by volunteering at its Good Mojo thrift shop, read to children in the Horizons Hampton Roads program, volunteered with the Salvation Army and worked to enhance Norfolk Botanical Garden. One highlight was spearheading a multi-club Rotary District grant for $25,000 to create Project Nature Play at the Virginia Zoo.

Pam is excited about a service project started on her watch to refurbish the Hunton YMCA kitchen. Rather than give gifts to outgoing board members, she donated

dozens of books for preschoolers to start a Little Readers Library at the Hunton Y.

After a standing ovation for Pam, Lorna honored her predecessor for her leadership. Lorna was then installed by past club President Lisa Chandler and received her own standing ovation. Past District Governor John Padgett installed the new board members and officers: president-elect Jim Kitz, vice president of programs Michael Desplaines, directors Rachel Bellis, Jason Drane, Angela Kerns, Joey Rothery, Mark Shaw and Ed Ware, and parliamentarian Tom Ambler. John wrapped up the ceremony by honoring both Pam and Lorna and reminding everyone that without our 105-year-old Rotary Club, Hampton Roads would be a lot less vibrant.

Lorna then gave highlights of the Rotary International Convention she attended in June in Hamburg, Germany along with 27,000 Rotarians from around the globe. Being at the convention inspired her club goals for the year, which include growing membership and making the club a place where all types of members thrive. She wants to increase club visibility and enhance the satellite, Interact and Rotaract Clubs we sponsor. She looks forward to our club investing its energy into service projects.

Other Business

Guests included Martha Ambler, Stephanie Drane, Daniel St. Cyr and Ace Tubbs -- spouses of officers -- and Cynthia Carter-West, former member.

For the visitation report, Joe New reported that Bob Latimer is continuing to progress. He encourages Rotarians to call Bob and arrange for a visit.

During the meeting we celebrated 11 July birthdays, five wedding anniversaries of members and Rotary anniversaries of members ranging from 1 year to 42 years of membership.