The Program:  President Sally gave her farewell remarks highlighting the 36 meetings in our club's year of participating in Rotary International's flexible and innovative pilot program, which has ended since RI is asking all clubs to find ways to be more flexible and innovative. In her remarks she outlined the 15 service projects, that were among 75 optional activities and celebrated the 121 club members who attended at least one optional club activity.  Our club is responsible for bring 10 new or returning members to our club, which is believed to be among the greatest number in District 7600. 

 

Norfolk Rotary Charities donated $40,000 during her administration to local non-profits. It also partnered with the Rotary Club of Portsmouth to win a $10,000 Rotary District grant for the Elizabeth River Project's environmental education programs.  The club contributed $26,426 to The Rotary Foundation and $19,280 to the Norfolk Rotary Endowment. President Sally announced that 100 year archives of The Norfolk Rotary Club were donated to 1he Slover Library to be displayed prominently in its history collection.

 

During the past year our club lowered the price of membership by 33% by having fewer luncheons, re-chartered the Interact Club at Norfolk Collegiate, and supported the Rotaract Club of Old Dominion University.  President Sally then thanked husband Ron for his patience, contribution, and support of her presidency as well as past President Sigur Whitaker, incoming President Bryce Burton, the board members, committee chairs and many others who helped make 2015-16 a great Rotary year. Sally is most proud that our club is changing with the times and her goal for the year was to challenge the mundane and bring the club into the 21^st century with new ideas, new goals and new achievements that will pay off in 2016-17 and beyond.

 

For outstanding contributions to the club Sally instituted The Rotary Star Award. The initial recipients to The Rotary Star Award are Jim Kitz, a member for less than five years, for his community service chairmanship and Will King, a member of more than five years, for his support of Interact and Rotaract and our flexible club options. President Sally concluded her remarks with a heartfelt thank you and gratitude for allowing her to guide the club over the past 12 months.

 

Past President and future district Governor John Padgett installed Bryce Burton as president and the club officers and directors.  Past President Sally presented Bryce with the president's pin that dates back at least to the 1950s. Bryce then presented past President Sally with a beautiful blue glass orb with Rotary emblem on a pedestal base and a book of memories from her Rotary year.  President Bryce then announced plans for the coming year with remarks thanking Sally and other past presidents for their input. Among the plans for the coming year are a fall beer festival at the Virginia Zoo in partnership with the Sunrise Rotary Club, a new program committee and a challenge to all club members to see what they can do to make our club even better in the coming year. 

 

 

President Sally announced there would be no fines but like any Rotary meeting, that was just a suggestion as numerous fines for happy occasions were volunteered from the floor. Songster Chip Vogan led us in songs of the season and apropos to our new installed officers. Joe New led the invocation. Ann Baldwin gave our visitation report and Tim Lawrence had Rotarians introduce guests.

 

There was a membership ballot for Karen Gershman, who is employed at CHKD and would be a returning member.  Past President J.D. Scott was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow +3 and George Compo as a PHF +4 for their generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation.

 

Lisa Chandler announced that the Suds & Buds party raised almost $20,000 this year.  The money was disbursed to Lynne Berg of PrimePlus Senior Center, Michael Desplaines of Norfolk Botanical Garden, and President Sally on behalf of Norfolk Rotary Charities.  Each non-profit received a check in the amount of $6,450.