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Vice President Barbara Lipskis introduced Jim Kitz, Rotarian of the Day, who introduced our speaker. Jim is a Past President of our rotary club (2020-21) and is Senior Vice President-Wealth Management in the Norfolk office of UBS and graduated from the US. Military Academy in 1985. Jim has been a financial advisor for over 25 years with UBS Financial Services, Inc. Our speaker on January 17, 2023, was Ukrainian Airforce Colonel Hennediy Kovalenko who presented an exciting and informative program on The Russian-Ukrainian War: Recent Development, Strategic Perspectives, and American Assistance. Colonel Kovalenko is on special assignment to NATO Atlantic Command Headquarters in Norfolk and is a Ukrainian General Staff senior officer. Key to Ukraine’s survival has been the Western Policy of assistance to Ukraine including significant military weapons assistance (for which Ukraine is very grateful), economic sanctions against the Russian Federation for their military aggression, technology embargoes of technology that can be used in military weapons, western resilience against Russian use of energy as a political weapon, and other support by the West such as training of Ukrainian soldiers in the advanced weaponry being provided. Many Rotary members were seen to be wearing Ukraine’s national colors of yellow and blue in solidarity with their fight for national survival. The national symbol of Ukraine is a blue shield with a gold trident. Of significance, the design of the trident can be broken into four letters of the Ukrainian alphabet spelling ВОЛЯ which translates as “liberty” or “freedom”. No wonder the Ukrainians are tough fighters! The Meeting Colonel Kovalenko’s wife, Liudmila Hirbatiuk, sang a couple of lovely Ukrainian songs and then performed the Ukrainian national anthem. Bob Heely led us in song with “God Bless America” and wished God Bless Ukraine! Marilyn Gowen gave the invocation. Ben Mason had a good visitation report in that he did not have many situations to relate to. Marcia Conston recognized several members who brought guests interested in hearing our speaker talking about the Russian-Ukraine war: - Bob Ash brought Puneeth Bheesety
- Bob Batcher brought Macha Hunt
- Lorna Cochrane brought her husband, Daniel St-Cyr
- Bill Davis brought Tony Bennett (FYI - not the University of Virginia coach)
- Kim Hammer is soon to be a new member
- Laurie Harrison brought her daughter Margaret Anne Harrison and her husband Mark Harrison
- Sally Hartman brought Michael Knepler
- Steve Jones (the CPA) brought Maryna and Vladimir Zagorodnyuk, both from Ukraine and now living in the United States. Maryna works for Steve’s firm as an Accounting Associate and Vladimir has become a U.S. citizen and is currently serving in our U.S. Navy
- Jim Kitz brought Curtis Hanson and Ben Huger, both also UBS financial advisors with Jim
- Chick Robison brought several guests: Cynthia Carter West, Carrie Dryer, Erie Latimer, and Armistead Williams
- Jeff Ryder brought Richard Groover
- Kelly Stefanko brought Steve Baggarly
- Jeff Wells brought several guests: David Clarke, John Ehehalt, and Andrew Root
Club Business - President Laurie Harris reminded members of the upcoming Winter Social at Harbor’s Edge on Thursday, January 26th from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- There will be a Service opportunity at the Foodbank, Thursday, February 9th (5:30-7:30 p.m.) to pack backpacks with non-perishable food that will be sent home with children on weekends. Dress warm!
- Invoices have been sent out, please pay promptly.
- Grant applications are available on our website, and are due by February 14th.
- Suds and Buds are on Thursday, May 18th from 5:30-8:30 p.m. We need sponsors (see Chris Bugg or Tom Koller for more information)
- Sigur Whitaker presented Paul Harris Fellow (“PHF”) pins to the following members (thank you for your gifts!):
- Chris Bugg (PHF+3 pin)
- Al Carmichael (PHF+6)
- Lorna Cochrane (PHF+3 blue stone pin)
- George Compo (PHF red stone pin)
- LauraBeth DeHority (PHF+1 blue stone pin)
- Susan Donn (PHF+2 blue stone pin)
- Laurie Harrison (PHF+1 pin)
- Stephen M. Jones (PHF+1 blue stone pin)
- Alan Nelson (PHF+5 blue stone pin)
- John Searing (PHF red stone pin & 2 red stone pin, PHF+7 total)
- Mark Shaw (PHF+4 blue stone pin)
- Gus Stuhlreyer (PHF red stone pin)
- Diane Wallach (PHF+2 blue stone pin)
Fines and Happy Bucks - Bob Batcher was feted for being featured in a Senior Advocate magazine story.
- Marilyn Gown celebrated being a new grandmother.
- Sharon Laderberg also celebrated being a new grandmother.
- Bob Ash celebrated 52 years of marriage.
- Sigur Whitaker celebrated safe travels from a nice trip to Guatemala.
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Mark your calendars for the seventh Suds & Buds party with a purpose on Thursday, May 18 starting at 5:30 p.m Presented by Virginia Natural Gas. 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. 
February 17 was a banner day for celebrating generosity. Sigur Whitaker, club foundation chair (in the red sweater), honored Rotary Club of Norfolk members for donating to the Rotary Foundation and highlighted how it does good around the world and here at home. Fourteen generous members were awarded Paul Harris Fellow pins and all are at the plus-one and way-above giving levels. This was the club's largest group of Paul Harris Fellows to be honored at one time.