The Program
Rotarian Stephen Jones reminded us of our Reading Is Fundamental project in which we read to children in Norfolk Public Schools and donated books to the schools. Over five years we fielded reading teams to eighteen (18) elementary schools and provided approximately $45K in books each year. New Rotarians may not be aware of our project, but it bears remembering.
Dr. Jones introduced Dr. Melinda Boone, the first woman superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools. She has had a distinguished career—starting as a Speech and Language Pathologist in Suffolk, rising to coordinator for Special Education, and continuing up through the ranks. She served as the Chief Academic Officer in Norfolk before leaving to become the Superintendent of the Worcester, MA, schools. Dr. Boone has a Master of Arts in Audiology (from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) and a Doctorate in Education (from William and Mary).
Dr. Boone started off by reminding us that "student athletes" are students first, and athletes second. Not only did the Maury boys capture a state title in basketball, but the Lake Taylor girls captured the state title (for the fourth time since 2010).
Last year Dr. Boone spoke about a "redesign" of emphasis in management. She touched on four aspects of this approach: leadership, literacy, rigor and innovation. She proceeded to provide examples of how this works in practice.
- First is leadership—which is not restricted to authority figures. Dr. Boone noted that the bus drivers and cafeteria workers can influence learning and students through their attitudes every day. If adults throughout the school exhibit leadership in a positive direction, the students will be inspired or motivated to excel.
- Second is literacy. Dr. Boone asserted that the old model of desks in rows and people in lines did not fit today’s flexible spaces. So they are reimagining classrooms to promote learning in a variety of learning styles. (While this may sound obscure to older people, it’s certainly the norm in classrooms.)
- Third is rigor. Students and parents are bombarded with information (fake or otherwise) from a variety of sources. Critical thinking skills must be developed to coped with this avalanche of information. We could all learn from gaining this skill.
- Fourth is innovation. Dr. Boone highlighted the DOD activity grants which promote "coding" projects in elementary schools (presumably computer coding). Dr. Boone was so excited about the young children learning how to program that she and her husband bought their granddaughter a Lego robot to foster development of the skill. (Noting the graying hairs in the audience, she suggested that grandparents often buy challenging toys for the grandchildren so that the children have to help them.)
Dr. Boone introduced us to the mixed-income Pre-K schools which are designed to encourage diversity and empathy in the youngest students. She also reminded us that our local NPR station is wholly owned by the schools (and should be supported). She informed us that the Virginia Board of Education has now included student growth as a measure of accreditation.
Dr. Boone was adamant that the Norfolk City Council has supported the schools. The taxpayers have made up for a structural imbalance which plagued school budgets. There have been a number of initiatives to address critical areas, e.g., "hard to staff schools," provisional teachers, promotion of new teachers, etc. She took great care to explain the complexity of the problems and her solutions. She could not have been a more articulate defender of the Norfolk Public Schools. We are blessed to have such a competent person in the role of Superintendent.
The Meeting
Sigur Whitaker led us in singing The Four-Way Test and Let There Be Peace on Earth; President Pam led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test. Joe New, recently returned from Greece with a temporary passport offered a brief invocation.
Our School of the Week is Larchmont Elementary.
Visitation/Introduction of Visitors
Joey Rothgery informed us that Bob Latimer is starting treatment for lung cancer. President Pam updated us on Jane Dembert, our Executive Secretary’s condition. Jane’s family will be moving her into an assisted living facility.
Visitors included Robb Alpaugh and Keith Stava from Mercy Medical Angels, one of the recipients of this year’s Charities donations. Chip Vogan brought Severn Kellam, past president of Pembroke Title. Linwood Beckner’s guest was Tom Hazelton, from the Dixon Hughes CPA firm, where his daughter works.
Club Business
President Pam presented Bill Moore with his Blue Badge (during which Shep Miller’s cell phone went off).
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Thursday, May 2nd is the date for our annual RD7600 Tides Baseball Game that supports End Polio Now. Buy your ticket for $13 (or buy ten and give them away to friends) so you can support this important campaign (we’re "THIS CLOSE!").
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Lisa Chandler recited a clever ditty: "Hey, hey, May Day! Let’s go to a party that day!" (or words to that effect). On Wednesday, May 1st there will be a Social at Charlie’s American Café on Granby St. in Riverview from 5-7pm. To RSVP, go online or contact Lisa Chandler.
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Tami Aloisa reminded Rotarians of the need to get out the word about Suds ‘n Buds. Take flyers to distribute. Email friends and family. Chat up your neighbors. It’s always a great time!
Happy Bucks & Fines
- Michael Desplaines had a letter published in the local newspaper. He was not thrilled to donate $5 to promote it. Perhaps he expected more publicity for the amount?
- Shep Miller (owner of the cell phone that went off earlier) was happy to donate $200 (i.e., a $200 IOU) for a variety of news: he was excited that Granby High School won a state basketball championship; he attended the UVA title game; and he’s off to Normandy and Tiel with his bride.
- Jeff Wells was happy to contribute because his open-heart surgery was successful!
- Marty Raiss contributed last week, but this week we had time for her to share her happy news, that the Iraqi interpreter who had worked with her son during the war had become an American citizen.
- Joe New contributed for his birthday and his joy at his and Barbara's returning (relatively unscathed) from Greece.
- Lois Kercher had bittersweet bucks as she remembered a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral and was saddened by the destruction of the fire.
- David Brandt had happy bucks because his son, a rising senior at University of Mary Washington, has received a summer internship at LifeNet.
- Ann Baldwin reminded us of her grammar book and how to distribute it (free) to venues where it might be of use.
Conclusion
President Pam thanked Dr. Boone and showed her the book to be given to Larchmont Elementary, our school of the week.
Bill McInnis brought in the raffle. Tom Ambler won. President Pam reminded us that we will not be meet on April 23rd or 30th, the last two Tuesdays of April; our next luncheon meeting will be on Tuesday, May 7th.
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Back by popular demand at our May 17 Suds & Buds party will be the charity wine pull. To make it work, we need club members to each donate at a meeting a bottle of wine valued at $20 or more. Or, donate $20 and our wine committee will buy the wine for you. Wine bottles will be bagged and numbered and guests at the party will pay $20 and take home a mystery bag of wine. Proceeds will benefit our Rotary Club, Norfolk Botanical Garden and Lee's Friends. The wine pull sold out quickly at last year's Suds & Buds and netted more than $2,000.