Pamela Tubbs, President Elect 2018-19
The Program Our scheduled speaker was ill, so we took this opportunity to introduce the new board with short presentations from:
- Ben Mason, Director: Ben joined the club in 1996, is a past-president and welcomes the opportunity to serve again. He expressed gratitude to Linwood Beckner for introducing him to the club and their great friendship. After many years at SunTrust Bank, he will be leaving to start his own company at the beginning of the new year.
- Ashley Molinaro, Director: Ashley grew up in Maine and moved to Virginia Beach in 2010. She served as active-duty Navy for six years before joining the Navy reserves where she is currently serving. She is a Ph.D. student at ODU and joined Rotary for the many options it provides for volunteering. She wants to reach out to the community to build a broader membership that is “cool and hip!”
- Steve Schultz, Director: Steve and his family move to Norfolk almost 5 years ago and welcomes the opportunity to serve the community through Rotary. He is active in his teaching role at ODU and is the campus advisor to the Rotaract and Strome Sales Clubs.
- Marty Raiss, Director: Marty moved to Norfolk in 1972 and has been a long-serving member of the club. Rotary leadership runs in her family and she looks forward to giving back to the community through her Rotary service.
- Dalton Dunbar, Director: Dalton joined Rotary through his interest in the elementary school reading program. His company is in the HVAC business and serves on a number of corporate and international boards.
- Mark Johnson Bob Heely (Directors) and Michael Desplaines (Secretary/Treasurer) were not present at the meeting to speak, but will be valued contributors to the board.
These directors will serve with Pam Tubbs, president; Lorna Cochrane, president-elect; Jim Kitz, vice president of programs, and Michael Desplaines, treasurer.
The Meeting: The meeting started with holiday cheer – Eleanor Schoonover and Frank Whitman leading the membership in Jingle Bells and America. Barry Kesser presented the invocation.
VISITORS
Visiting Rotarians: Reini Eugister and Rolf Siegenthaler from Zurich, Switzerland
Visitation Report: Joe New brought us up-to-date with the visitation report:
- Bob Ash is doing well and making good progress in his rehabilitation. He claims to have “sworn off” white-water rafting and ladders!
- Shep Miller is doing well and is still in the hospital for another 4-5 days.
- Walt Grandy is confined to his bed and hoping to feel better soon.
Happy Bucks and Fines:
- Jim Kitz, Jim O’Brien and Gary Boswick all donated to celebrate the great rivalry from the Army / Navy football game last weekend.
- Edna Baehre-Kolovani donated after her op-ed article was published in the Virginian Pilot last weekend.
- Dianna Starkey contributed Happy Bucks for the Virginia Beer Festival
- Sharon Laderberg contributed Happy Bucks in honor of Pam Tubbs
- Dyteya Lewis donated Happy Bucks for her “21st” birthday celebration
Activities and Events (see the club website for details):
- 1/23, Tour of the Icon Building (formerly the Bank of America building)
- 1/30, Preview of the American Watercolors exhibit at the Chrysler Museum
- 2/14, Backstage tour of LanternAsia at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens
Other News
- Pam Tubbs cheerfully updated the club on our grants program for the past year. In 2017 we received 66 applications with requests totaling over $141,500. The board approved $29,919 for awarding to 14 different educational, humanitarian and medical organizations. These funds came from last year’s Suds & Buds profits, plus funds from our Norfolk Rotary Charities Endowment. Thanks to your generous gifts, as well as our successful fund-raising, we anticipate a much larger grant total being available to the 2018 applicants. We need to advertise the availability of grants – a link is on our website and includes a grant application. Please check our website and communicate with area non-profits you know about TODAY!
- Our endowment also helps fund grants with other clubs in District 7600 and beyond. In 2015, we teamed up with the Rotary Club of Portsmouth to win a $10,000 Rotary District grant for the Elizabeth River Project. In 2014, to celebrate our centennial, we put $100,000 in grants in the community. Part of the funding created the Rotary Smiles project in conjunction with Access Partnership.
- Laurie Harrison announced that the Rotary Foundation has approved our joint project with the Virginia Peninsula Rotary Club for a Costa Rican irrigation project. This project will improve the water supply and provide crop irrigation for Heredia, Costa Rica; supporting the community and helping improve farm efficiency and employment.
- Dr. Steve Jones talked about the Suds & Buds sponsorship levels and need for sponsors. Please let the community know about this opportunity and communicate sponsor prospects to the Suds & Buds committee for follow up.