President Gary said it is great fun to give away money. And that we did -- $30,000 total to Project Healing Waters Tidewater Chapter, Norfolk Botanical Garden and our own Norfolk Rotary Charities. Pictured above are Bryce Burton, immediate past club president; Steve Jones, Suds & Buds co-chair; Lisa Chandler, past club president and Suds & Buds founding chair; Michael Desplaines, CEO of Norfolk Botanical Garden; Lorna Cochran, Suds & Buds co-chair; Bill Campbell, Project Healing Waters co-founder, and Jim O'Brien, past club president and co-founder of Project Healing Waters.
The Program:
Rotarian of the Day Pam Tubbs introduced speaker Maurice Jones, president of New York-based Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Previously he was secretary of commerce for the Commonwealth of Virginia, deputy chief of staff to Senator Mark Warner, and general manager of the Virginian-Pilot and president of Landmark Communications. Given all that, he noted, “It’s nice to be home,” as he began his remarks.
Noting that “poverty is the American story,” Jones said that LISC helps “the least prepared and least attractive [and] least competitive places” in the country receive investments and development. He added that “the toughest parts of the country are the parts we work in.”
Jones said that LISC was founded in the 1980s to help downtrodden communities become communities of opportunity. “We invest in money in poor communities where folks are under- or unemployed,” he said. He said that philanthropic centers and the federal government have pumped $52 billion into such communities through LISC, and cited 80 funding partners, including the National Football League.
Jones described how LISC improves the infrastructure in such communities by working on housing, jobs, transportation, and safety. He talked about 66 communities where LISC has worked with police to reduce crime. “This is pure trust-building,” he said, noting that crime has been reduced by 40 percent or more in 12 months or less as residents take ownership of their communities. “The bottom line is that we have incredible prosperity across the country,” he said. “The challenge we have is that it is not broadly shared.”
Jones said LISC is present in one Virginia community -- Petersburg. But, he hopes Hampton Roads is “the next place we come,” concluding, “stay tuned; you may see me back again.”
The Meeting:
President Gary Boswick began the meeting by asking every to turn up the volume on their cell-phone ringers as he hopes to raise more money in penalties for charity than Bryce Burton did as president last year. The visitation report said that Gene Justice is home and recuperating well.
Ann Sullivan was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow Plus Four for her generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation.
Dr. Steve Jones announced that plans are under way for next year’s Suds & Buds fundraiser., with a date already chosen and screening for partners starting soon. He announced that Lisa Sands is his co-chair.
In other announcements, President Gary shared the good news that Sharon Laderberg and Jeff Wells are co-chairing club activities for this year.
Visitors included Jason Drane, director of radiology and imaging services at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, the guest of Lois Kercher; Bill Campbell of Project Healing Waters, guest of Lorna Cochrane; Deb Yeng Collins, an associate with the Sullivan Law Group, guest of Ann Sullivan; Socko Pearson of Culligan, guest of Anthony Mia; and David Metzger, dean of the Honors College at Old Dominion University, guest of Bob Ash.
Happy Bucks:
- Attention turned to Rotary Night at Harbor Park the day before, with Michael Desplaines talking about how his parents enjoyed the game, adding that his father thought that one Rotary t-shirt read “End Polo Now.”
- Sally Hartman gave happy bucks in honor of John Padgett, who was inducted as District Governor last Saturday in Williamsburg.
- Dr. Bill Lehew and Gary Boswick both gave happy bucks in honor of our speaker, Maurice Jones -- a fellow Hampden-Sydney College graduate.