Entrepreneurship In Hampton Roads
Rotarian Chip Finch (l) with Zach Miller
The Program:
Rotarian Chip Finch introduced our speaker, Zack Miller, Managing Director of HATCH.
Zach began his remarks stating that he is an entrepreneur and sometimes considered to be controversial. He felt an appropriate title for his talk might be the “State of the Start-Up Community Address”, which he gave in January to a gathering at the Slover Library.
He shared some data about businesses that had started in Southeastern Virginia and had then stopped. His group strives to collect such data from the various municipal entities in the area – he stated that the City of Chesapeake provides the most accurate and helpful data, updated weekly.
The Kaufman Foundation of Kansas City which ranks geographic areas in terms of new business starts and successes, etc. In 2015, Southeastern VA was ranked #18 but in 2016 dropped to #32. Is this a problem?
Zach doesn’t think so. He pointed out that we are # 1 in the country in attracting millennials; it’s not “what do we need to be doing?” but “what story do we need to be telling?” In other words, we are already attracting the folks of the new generation; we just need to get the word out about what’s going on here.
Zach also pointed out that Southeastern Virginia has 3 main areas of industry – Military, Maritime and Tourism. We need to get the word out about these and entrepreneurs will find their opportunities within these fields.
Paul Harris Fellow Presentations: President Bryce presented Paul Harris Fellow awards to Gene Justice (PHF+2) and Jack Kavanaugh (PHF+1).
He also reminded all that the time is now to make contributions to the Rotary Foundation for EREY.
2016-2017 Year Wrap-Up. President Bryce gave a brief wrap-up of his successful year as our President. Highlights include –
A Rotary District Grant of $22,000 to REACH
36 Lunch meetings on our new 3 per month schedule75 extra activities which were enjoyed by many members.
A meeting which included a visit from the ODU Drum Line
4 teens from our Club hosted by the Rotarians in Tiel, The Netherlands; keeping a tradition that dates back 40+ years.
Formation of a new Finance Committee of the Board, headed by Gus Stuhlreyer
A successful “Suds ‘n Buds” fund raiser with 500 in attendance, raising approx. $30k for charity.
We gave away a total of $78k to charities during the year!
At the end of his remarks, Pres. Bryce was presented a Vase by Pres Elect Gary and received a standing ovation from the Club.
The Meeting:
Music: Bob Heely, accompanied by Frank Whitman, led the singing of “Rotary’s A Grand
Old Name” and the 3rd verse of “America the Beautiful”.
Invocation: Anthony Radd gave a thoughtful invocation.
Guests: Our guests included Past District Governor Bill Pollard; Skip Burton introduced his grandson, Bryce Burton, Jr., son of President Bryce; Jim Allison introduced Cadet Zach Good of the Salvation Army; Gary Boswick introduced Marissa Nihill; Ben (or Bill?) Mason introduced Taylor Youmans and Jack Kavanaugh had Roland Nadeau as his guest.
Happy Bucks:
· Bob (“Scoops”) Powell and wife, Elaine, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Maine (there were some disparaging remarks about their accommodations?)
· Anthony Mia was celebrating his son’s new job in Florida – with alligators?
· Bob Latimer announced his 36th wedding anniversary with Earle Marie;
· Eleanor Schoonover was glad to be back and announced her son’s marriage.
· Skip Burton made a generous contribution in honor of Bryce’s successful year as President, the third generation of Burtons to have so served.
· Diane Wallich announced her 19th wedding anniversary.
Raffle: Sharon Laderberg won $30 and left the “big pot” for another day.