Past President Lorna was one of two presidents in District 7600 to receive the President's Award for Tier III. Under her leadership, Norfolk Rotary has thrived despite the challenges of COVID 19. She proactively led the 120 members in the transition to virtual club meetings. We had successful fundraisers before the pandemic hit (GrowlFest and Pints for Polio). The club awarded $40,000 to local charities and club members donated over $12,000 to the Foodbank.
Lorna is most pleased with the Rotary Connects the World Award which recognizes the “The Miracle on Charlotte Street.” Within eyesight of the Club’s meeting facility, the William A Hunton YMCA has struggling amidst city transformation. It has served the African-American community since 1875 but Norfolk Rotary, established in 1914, knew little of the Hunton YMCA. What began as a small grant for the purchase of blankets and cots for pre-schoolers turned into a transformational relationship. While delivering the cots, Norfolk Rotarians witnessed the feeding 160 children (300+ in the summer) daily with a four-burner stove, one oven, no refrigeration, no ice making capacity and no freezer storage. The chef bought groceries once or twice daily, made numerous trips to the 7-11 for ice and had no way to keep food warm. Norfolk Rotarians recruited four other Rotary Clubs as partners and with a District Grant provided the Hunton Y a new kitchen. Upon discovering that there was no reading material for ages 2—8 years, the club renovated, furnished, and stocked a new Rotary Little Readers Library. Each step, the grant award celebration with City Officials, the labor on the library construction, the engagement with City officials, Norfolk Public Library, local school library personnel, the Library of Congress, and the attentive engagement with the Hunton’s board, COO, staff and children, proved to be inspirational, motivational, heart-warming, and truly demonstrated “Service Above Self." Recenly, the club members provided a "farm" bounce house.
Other awards won by Norfolk Rotary include:
- Community Service
- Bulletin
- Club Administration (formerly Club Service)
- Foundation--we contributed 1/3 more than the goal...and was the highest contributor during the Rotary Day of Giving worldwide.
- Vocational Service
- Rotary Citation
Thanks to Lorna for leading us for the past year.
Rotary Clubs are divided into tiers based upon their membership size.