The Program

 

Jack Kavanaugh introduced Chuck McPhillips (Executive Vice President, Kaufman & Canoles), Mel Price (Principal, Work Program Architects) and John Garrett (Assistant Vice President, Towne Bank) and gave a reminder that the Elizabeth River Trail (ERT) is not new to Rotary, our club donated benches and two cannons that are along the trail.  The trifecta introduced spoke on “The Innovation Corridor & The Elizabeth River Trail”.

 

As President of the Greater Norfolk Corporation (GNC), a group of Norfolk business and political leaders marshalling the resources of the private sector in support of the City’s ongoing renaissance, Chuck McPhillips recognizes the ERT has our waterfront and our concentrated assets.  He called it a civic asset and jewel for both visitors and residents.  He believes that efforts to make it world class and one of the best urban trails in the United States will give Norfolk, and the region as a whole, a completive economic advantage.   He invited Rotarians to “unlock your imagination and let it soar with what’s in our grasp”. 

 

Just a week ago, the Virginian Pilot announced the launch of a nonprofit, the Friends of the Elizabeth Trail Foundation” that aims to raise serious corporate and philanthropic donations. Mel Price and John Garrett, two leaders of this effort, talked about three main areas of focus 1) master planning, 2) fundraising, and 3) marketing and branding. 

 

Price pointed out that the City Council passed an ordinance in May creating a Norfolk Tech Trail to provide tax incentives for technology businesses to locate in an area around the ERT.  

 

Price said that they have looked at other cities of similar sized that did great things with their trails.  She pointed out that those trails connect people to the water, have public art and protected bike lanes, and connect economic generators and neighborhoods.  These are all things that they are incorporating into their plans for the ERT.  She noted those cities with great trails are enjoying economic pluses such as increased property value, increased tax base, and iconic photo opportunities.

 

Step one for the foundation is to improve the trail’s existing route, including making it longer (from Norfolk State University to the naval base).  They want to reignite community interest and develop partnerships and collaborations with city leaders and community leaders and volunteers.  Watch for the new group’s website to be launched in three to four weeks.

 

  

The Meeting:

 

President, Bryce Burton commenced the meeting. 

 

Chip Vogan accompanied by Pam Tubbs on piano, led us in song with “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “America the Beautiful” in honor of election day. 

 

Ned Alderman gave the invocation.

 

James Blair Middle School is the school of the week.

 

Bryce Barton gave the visitation report. He jokingly referred to Bill Gresham’s neck brace (due to a pinched nerve) being the only thing he was aware of.   Will King reported that he saw Harry Gustin in rehab at Harbor’s Edge.

 

Introductions of Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Chick Robinson welcomed Dick Gresham (brother of Bill Gresham who said he had nothing to do with his brother’s neck problems!).

 

Edna Kolovani introduced a contingent of 5 Danish students and their coordinator who are doing an exchange at TCC (this is the other half of the group that she brought as her guest the previous week). She did a similar exchange at previous college she worked at in Pennsylvania more than a dozen years ago and started this one when she came to TCC.

 

Announcements and Club Busines

Last week the slate of officers for the 2017-18 Rotary Year was announced.  You can find the list in last week’s Rotations and bios for the slate on the club website.

 

Two new Rotarians were inducted.  Sally Hartman introduced Ashley Molinaro (who found and selected our club through her own website research) and Chick Robinson introduced Bill Lehew  (a prior OB GYN who delivered many members children).

 

Kelly Stefanko announced that Rotary Day, a food drive competition between local Rotary clubs, was hugely successful for our club.  She thanked the generosity of our members who donated at last week’s meeting and volunteered at the event on Saturday.  She announced we had nearly $1,000 in cash donations and $400 in checks, in addition to an untold number of bagged groceries, which Dean Thomasson estimated was two to three times more than he remembered in the previous year.

 

Marty Raiss announced the Club outings scheduled in the next few weeks (these serve as make ups and at least one a month is encouraged to cover the lack of a meeting in the 4^th week of each month):

o    November 29^th at 11:30 AM,  Victorian Holiday Tea at Hunter House (hosted by Pam Tubbs and her daughter, guests are allowed – need to RSVP)

o    Early December Sigur and Win Lewis will lead us on an organ demonstration and tour of Christ and St. Luke’s Church.

 

Special mention was made of the REACH reading program which requires training to be held at Hampton Roads Community Foundation at 4:30 PM on November 16^th. Participants must have their background checked. Contact Jim Kitz at 477-9193 for more information.

 

The Christmas Party will be December 20^th.

 

Makeups need to be given to Jane by November 14^th.

 

Bryce announced that after much discussion, the board, following the feedback from the member survey, unanimously voted to revert to providing the traditional hot meals at each meeting.  He noted that meal dues will go up by $1.00 per meal starting in January. 

 

Happy Bucks and Fines:

 

·         Joey Rothgery paid to celebrate that Walt Sobczyk was the election official at her polling place and to honor all poll workers

·         Jack Kavanaugh paid in honor of his 50^th wedding anniversary

·         Sally Hartman paid upon her return from Cuba last night, a trip she took with the Chrysler Museum.  Also to honor of John Garret, a former HRCF scholarship recipient she’s known for a long time who is one of today’s speakers. 

·         John Chittick paid to honor Fedor, his Ukrainan intern, who was thrilled to be working for Walt today as a poll worker.

·         Bob Heely – related his new position, bow tie in the paper Sunday morning and November issue of Coastal VA contributed to an article on the booming philanthropy with seniors. 

·         Will King – check for 50^th anniversary

·         Ben Mason paid because Joe Massey said he was seen in a SunTrust sponsored event

·         Gary Bowick paid in honor of the three Hampden-Sydney grads sitting at the speakers’ table.

·         Ned Alderman gave in honor of John Chittick going to work with islanders in January.

·         Somebody paid to celebrate the end of this election campaign. 

·         Mal Branch paid in honor of his dad and the end of the Chicago Cubs drought

·         Steven Jones (CPA) paid in honor of a new marker at the Cedar Grove cemetery.

 

The meeting concluded with President Bryce announcing table #9 as a 100%.  Pam Tubbs won $13 in the daily but had no luck with the $727 big pot. 

 

President Bryce adjourned the meeting at 1:28

 

Next Week’s Program:

November 15th: Rotarian John Lynn brings us up to date on the Rotary Foundation and reminds us why it is such a privilege to support such a great organization.