 Alex Humen came to the United States ten years ago on a student visa. He decided to stay and is currently an instructor in martial arts. His parents and brother live in the central part of Ukraine about three hours from the border with Russia. His in-laws live much closer to the fighting in the east. The fight for Ukraine is over its right to exist. Russia does not see it as a separate country and is trying to destroy the infrastructure. Humen believes the fight for Ukraine is for democracy and freedom. He pointed out that if Russia succeeds, they will continue to take portions of Ukraine piecemeal. Russian President Vladimir Putin is telling the Russian people that the fight is against NATO which wants to destroy Russia. Russia is spending millions of Rubles on propaganda. Ukrainians in America have created a system of couriers to take into Ukraine supplies that are needed. Humen’s mother and mother-in-law recently spent a couple of months in Virginia but returned to Ukraine. In their luggage, they packed a drone and two helmets. The Ukrainians have the resolve to fight for their continued independence but desperately need military supplies. They are appreciative of the support from Europe and the United States. Under the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine has shown the world that it has the desire to defend democracy. Humen acknowledged that Ukraine has had some “old politicians” who perpetuated corruption and that Zelenskyy is trying to root out the old Russian mindset. The Meeting Music was challenging. We sang the State Anthem of Ukraine, thank goodness with English words. Humen spoke the words in Ukrainian. Visitors. - Past District Governor Susie Starnes was visiting from Plainview, Texas, and brought a club banner to exchange. She came with Jennifer Priest.
- Chris Bugg brought Trey Dudley. He is a principal at First Virginia.
- Chick Robison bought Michael Baglio who recently moved here from Texas. His wife is a physician with CHKD and he started a charity for sick children.
- Barb Lipskis brought Allison Erkelens who formerly was a documentary writer including for the Discovery Channel.
The Wine Pull is back! The Wine Pull has been a staple of Suds & Buds for the past several years. This year, it is going to be even easier and better. Norfolk Yacht Club’s wine master has offered to buy wines for us at a discount. Please bring $20 to the next Rotary meeting for the wine pull. No longer do we need to go to a store to buy the wine and carry it to the meeting, only for Chick Robison to cart it and store the bottles at his home. Happy Bucks: - Tom Koller has just returned from NYC to celebrate his daughter’s continued remission from cancer. He also celebrated President Laurie’s 10-year-old grandson’s birthday.
- Barb Lipskis celebrated with her twins their 37th birthday in Williamsburg.
- Jim Tucker had a surprise visit from his daughter and two grandchildren.
- Jay Kossman is excited that he and his wife will soon be leaving on a trip to Portugal and Spain.
- Jeff Wells is renovating a former movie theater that had been turned into a church. It is now being renovated back into a movie theater. He is thankful for the assistance he has gotten from the Salvation Army in disposing of furniture and other goods from the property. He has a ton of choir robes in case anyone needs one (or many).
John Padgett was the Rotarian of the Day and talked about what the club means to him. After saying “ditto” to Past President Lorna Cochrane’s talk last week, John talked about some of our club’s Rotary heroes including: - Walt Grandy was president from 1974-1975. Walt was always there working behind the scenes and ensuring the club stayed on the right path.
- Jack McGee was a retired submariner. Jack was a strong recruiter for Rotary and probably brought more people into the club than any other member.
- At John Padgett’s first Rotary International Convention, Wells Gresham ran into John Capps, a well-known Rotarian from North Carolina. Immediately upon seeing John Padgett’s nametag, John Capps immediately recalled his friendship with Wells.
- Past District Governor Paul Sykes gave John Padgett his District Governor pin when John became a District Governor. Paul Sykes was behind the club’s Ro-Toys project which took broken toys and repaired them for children and was behind the largest financial gift to the club from the Ford Foundation in support of our oyster reef project.
- John talked about the Tiel exchange which is currently being headed by Diane Wallach. The Rotary Club in Tiel and our club have been exchanging students since 1974.
Lastly, John acknowledged it was Walt Grandy who changed his life. When Walt was president, the club gave John a check for $500 which enabled him to go to a Junior Achievement speaking contest at Indiana University in Bloomington. John took third place with his talk. |
Mark your calendars for the seventh Suds & Buds party with a purpose on Thursday, May 18 starting at 5:30 p.m. The Rotary Club of Norfolk will partner with Norfolk Botanical Garden and Children's Hospital of The Kings Daughters to host what past guests have called "the best party ever." Proceeds will benefit all three organizations. 