President Sigur called our “St. Patrick’s Day” meeting to order and Bob Heely led us in songs, including “Sing Rotarians, and “America the Beautiful”, followed by a thoughtful “Irish” prayer offered by Eleanor Schoonover. Jean Owens gave the visitation report, including an update on Hil Strode’s wife, Lois. She also informed us that Major Stephen Long’s brother had recently died, and asked that we keep all of these folks in our prayers. Alan Nelson introduced Rotarians with guests as follows:
Visitors
Will King-Jenna McKay
Mal Branch-Bill Hennessey
Alan Nelson-Steve Shultz
Alan Nelson-Dyteya Lewis
James Clary-Greg Groodtendorst
Matthew Shriver-Bob Boyd, Jr.
Ray Norton/John Padgett-Walter J. Sobczyk, Jr.
Announcements
Lisa Chandler reported on “SUDS and BUDS”’ scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2015 at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It promises to be a wonderful, fun and hopefully profitable evening for our club along with the benefited charities, including the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and the Foodbank.
President Sigur again encouraged us to vote affirmatively for the “Innovative and Flexible Club Pilot Program” offered by Rotary International. Sally Hartman echoed that sentiment adding her endorsement as President-Elect to the program.
Joined by Past President Susan Donn, President Sigur announced that the club was being recognized as one of three (3) volunteer organizations for our efforts and successes in 2014 by Volunteer Hampton Roads at an event at Regents University on April 15, 2015.
Sally Hartman reported on the grants awarded by Norfolk Rotary Charities this year to 18 organizations and totaling $25,250.00. The recipients for 2015 and the programs are set forth on the club web page. Check it out!
President Sigur recognized Adam Foleck for his extensive efforts on the club’s “Rotary Smiles” project and indicated that in his honor, an anonymous donor had contributed to the Norfolk Rotary Endowment to make Adam a “Charles Woodard Fellow.” She also reported that the same anonymous donor had made a contribution to the Endowment in the honor of our Executive Secretary, Jane Dembert, also making her a Charles Woodard Fellow, to recognize her outstanding service to the club.
Happy Bucks
President Sigur dispensed her gentle hand of justice levying some fines or “Happy Bucks” offered up by the following Rotarians:
Lisa Chandler-Recent letter to editor.
Mike Goldsmith-Thanks for all the Rotary and Community Support.
Sharon Laderberg-For a safe and wonderful trip to Thailand.
Chick Robison-To Thank Wayne Shank for keeping the airport open through the snow.
George Compo-Recent company publicity.
Mal Branch-A proud Wisconsin Badger.
Lois Kercher-A proud Monarch fan.
Apologies to those others who escaped my ear and/or pen!
The Program
Chip Vogan was our Rotarian of the Day. As a past president with 35 years of perfect attendance, Chip’s membership and support of Rotary spans decades and serves as a great example for all Rotarians. Chip’s friendship with our speaker goes back even further to their childhood, and as neighbors in Riverview.
Chip’s introduction of Mayor Paul Fraim had two parts: First: His “Official Short Version” including Fraim’s 29 years on Council and 20 years as Mayor. The “Unofficial Intro” was the “Top 10 List of Things You Might Not Know About Paul Fraim.” You had to be there!
Mayor Fraim’s extensive knowledge, experience and dedication to our City was evident as he began rattling off the City’s numerous achievements and significant projects recently completed and/or in process of construction. These accomplishments include the following:
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Slover Library-138,000 square feet, and $63 million investment in a state of the art library, in large part ($40 million) given by the Batten family. It’s a beautiful building combining the old historic building with the new addition seamlessly and with technology second to none. Moreover, there is a $8.1 million endowment to assure proper operating funds to maintain its excellence.
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Norfolk Courthouse-another beautiful and technologically advanced facility representing a City investment of $123 million funded over 9 budgets. At 315,000 square feet, it’s the largest building ever built by our City. Phase II will soon start and will house the Juvenile and Domestic District Courts and Law Library. The old courthouse will be torn down and replaced in part by a beautiful plaza.
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Half Moon Cruise and Nauticus-continue to thrive. More than 23,000 people visited the “Dickens Christmas Towne” at Nauticus. We also got great news that Carnival Splendor would be sailing from Norfolk this spring and fall. Approximately 19 ships will call at the Cruise terminal this year.
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Simon Premium Outlets-is going to happen, the only question being which of two road options will be built. Unfortunately, this road question presents another example (in the reporter’s view) of a city’s parochial interest vs. the regional good.
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Port of Virginia-Remains a critical part of our economy and has a bright future. Roads and the Patriot Crossing need to be addressed.
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School Construction-Norfolk is building four schools which will open in 2017, with a 5th one planned. This $106 million commitment represents the most ambitious school construction program in our City’s history. It also reflects the City’s commitment to the schools, the students and our future. Mayor Fraim described Campostella, which will be a K-8 Stem School, as a “School of Choice” and one of the most technologically advanced schools in the nation, with an estimated City investment of $32 million.
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Tide/Traffic, Etc.-Mayor Fraim also commented on the ongoing efforts to address traffic congestion and the much needed “Patriots Crossing” and extensions of the Tide.
With all this on his mind, no wonder he has a fender bender or two!
In response to Colin McKinnon’s question as to what Fraim saw as the City’s toughest challenges, the Mayor candidly and thoughtfully responded that it was addressing the problems arising from a large part of the City’s population living near or below the poverty line, which in turn gives rise to related social service financial requirements and also impacts our schools and other City services. The Mayor and the City are focused on this enduring problem as reflected by the establishment and efforts of the Mayor’s Commission on Poverty Reduction, which issued its detailed report and recommendations last summer.
We are truly fortunate to have such an outstanding individual invest nearly thirty years of his life serving our City. The cited accomplishments reflect his dedication.
One last thing to report-Wild Bill Jonak tried, without success, to impersonate a leprechaun, perhaps next year.
