For Career Day, our club partners each year with Norfolk Public Schools. The program pairs high school seniors with Rotarians who spend a day introducing students to professionals in careers they are considering. Bob Heely, who has worked with Career Day since its inception in the 1980s, emceed the March 14 program and read what he calls “Heely Highlights” from student essays. 

Norfolk public school representatives thanked the club for broadening students’ horizons, noting that Career Day is an example of how combining efforts of families, schools and the community can lift kids.

After meeting with their assigned Rotarians and observing professions, students wrote essays. In his highlights, Bob noted the wide range of experiences the students had with Rotarians, from spending time with artistic producers to lawyers and professionals in medicine real estate, and engineering.

In their essays, students expressed excitement and awe as they explained how the Rotary experience showed them career possibilities. As a result of Career Day, students can picture themselves working in specific fields and have made contacts that can help them excel. 

Students expressed thanks that professionals took the time to show them around and talk about their desired professions. 

Rotarian Michelle Nettles judged the essays, and four winners each received $100 gift certificates. They also read their essays at the meeting. Those winners were:

• Fiona John (Maury High), who spent time at Virginia Zoo with Greg Bockheim
• Noelle Searing (Maury High), who visited EVMS with Laurie Harrison
• Trent Wagers (Granby High), who toured maritime industry locations with Bob Heely
• Puneeth Bheesetty (Granby High), who explored Old Dominion University engineering labs with Bob Ash

The Meeting

President Laurie Harrison called the meeting to order, and Eleanor Schoonover led us in song accompanied by Pam Tubbs. Marilyn Gowen gave the invocation. Donald Dohmann introduced guests, excluding students and their teachers attending Career Day.

Visiting Rotarians:

• James Grant from Charleston, S.C.
• Ralph Peter from Germany

 Other Visitors:

• Chip Vogan introduced Abby Van Vorhees, an EVMS dermatology professor, and John Cameron’s widow
• Bob Archer introduced his wife and guest, Linda Archer, who recently retired from EVMS

Club Business

• Michael Desplaines gave a pitch for Suds and Buds, encouraging Rotarians to encourage their companies to purchase sponsorships.
• Tony Bennett was inducted as a new member. He was introduced by Bill Davis and has Jim Tucker as his sponsor. 
• The club voted today on three new members.

Fines and Happy Bucks

• Chris Bugg was happy Duke won the ACC championship in basketball.
• Sally Hartman is happy she rode the train to Philadelphia for the Philadelphia Flower Show.
• Tom Koller gave money for not having a lapel pin and announced the next Rotary golf tournament would be September 13 at Cypress Point Country Club and that he will chair it again.
• Eleanor Schoonover enjoyed “La Traviata” at Virginia Opera.
• Linwood and Frances Beckner are happy for a trip to Florida where they visited with Rotarians Kay Kemper, Susan Donn, and Walt Sobczyk.
• Ralph Peters recently completed running 200.3 miles for Operation Iraqi Freedom and encouraged Rotarians to sponsor him at 50 cents a mile (to go to charity) for running the Shamrock Marathon this week. (Please note on your payment if you’re giving money for Ralph’s cause)
• Lisa Chandler was happy to be at the meeting.