Virginia's First Lady, Pamela Northam, with President Pam Tubbs
Our Program:
President Pam introduced our speaker, Virginia’s First Lady, Mrs. Pamela Northam, who is an educator and activist. She is interested in water restoration and Chesapeake Bay. She taught high school biology and has worked in rehab hospitals. She thanked the club for 100 year of service and her connection with the Rotary’s mission of eradicating polio since her mom was a polio victim.
The governor established a cabinet for children to ensure children entering kindergarten have the proper tools. She chaired the cabinet and led a school tour around the state where the group thanked teachers and listened to the teachers.
She also discussed the brain: we best learn language at 18 months old and our success is determined by the time we complete 3rd grade. 90% of our brains are developed by Kindergarten but only 60% of children enter school ready for the education system…while 60% of the under 5 years old are disadvantaged and lack the resources to be successful.
It’s easy to learn a language at an earlier age. The problem is of 100 children in Virginia, 14 are poor and 26 are just above the poverty line, and of those 40 children only 10 will benefit from government programs. Other factors are 67% of all parents are in the workforce and 15% of all children are classified disabled. The governance structure is complicated and complex. But it needs to be user friendly. Workforce development starts with early childhood education, because that is tomorrow’s workforce. In the early years we invest the least in our children when most of the learning takes place. But in the later years of development we invest the most, but learn the least. By 2021, we need to ensure affordable access to early education, school readiness definition must be agreed to, and we must have accountability with standards unified.
“There is no greatness without goodness” according to the Walgreens CEO, adding early education is good for the bottomline. Health care insurance for children must a part of Medicaid expansion. Centers for early education should be co-located with centers of higher education (such as ODU and the children’s learning center).
The Meeting
President Pam Tubbs called the meeting to order. Sigur Whitaker and President Pam lead the singing of the Rotary Song followed by The Grand Old Flag.
Innovation:
President Pam called on Jim Sell to provide the invocation for the meeting.
Visitation Report:
Ted Baker is recovering from a stroke and heart condition but expects to be the next meeting. Joe Massey is scheduled for vertebrae surgery and then recovery at Harbor’s Edge. Bill Lehew is in hip surgery recovery mode.
Guests:
Will King introduced the visiting Rotarians and Guests…we had a bunch.
- Ryan Small was a visiting Rotarian from Houston Skyline Club.
- Sigur Whitaker introduced Bob Kuhlo (Retired Navy and prospective Member).
- Lynwood Beckner introduced Evans Poston from the Norfolk Dept of Revenue.
- Steve Schultz introduced Bryan Ramirez, an ODU Rotoractor.
- Rachel Bellis introduced Daphna Nachmonovitech, who has been at PETA from 21 years.
- Bill Eisenbeiss introduced Bill Rachels, a retired Norfolk attorney.
- Chip Vogan introduced Erica Small from Sysco.
- Kelly Stefanko introduced Jay Jones, a law school grad.
- Ned Alderman introduced Dr Maxine Thomas, from ODU of the Quinns Chapel in Louisville, KY.
- Pres Pam introduced Tara Bell and Bob Haynes. David Cavy also attended who is the Chief of staff for Mrs Northam.
Jim Kitz announced that Rotary has donated $1.2B to Polio eradication. But Polio is still active in Africa, Nigeria, and Pakistan. It was also found in Brazil before the Olympics.
Happy Bucks & Fines:
- Sally Hartman attended the Public Relations Society in Austin and was also able to see her sister and nephew, and then checked out Goat Yoga…thanks for the Facebook pictures.
- Chick Robison returned from 2 great weeks in Spain.
- Joe New went down to South Carolina and while driving through North Carolina was astonished by the destruction with 3/4ths of the roofs covered in a blue tarps. Joe also visited European cites especially mentioned was Venice, Italy.
- Sharon Laderberg ran in the Run for the Cure and lived to talk about it.
- Sigur Whitaker announced a performance of Brahms’ German Requiem at Christ and Luke’s Episcopal Church on November 4th at 6:00 p.m.
- Marty Raiss is traveling to Israel in early November.
- Lisa Chandler announced the Club Christmas Party at the Mambo Room on December 13. The event is open to members and a guest, but you must register in advance.
- Barb Lipskis had tickets to the forum which she donated as a prize for the daily raffle.