Virginia’s offshore wind energy initiative was the focus of the October 17, 2023 Rotary Club of Norfolk meeting. The featured speaker was Joel Rubin, who founded Rubin Communications in 1991 after a career reporting for WAVY-TV and WVEC-TV.
Rubin’s company has a contract with Dominion Energy to promote our region’s burgeoning offshore wind industry through community engagement and education. He sees offshore wind as a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity for Hampton Roads. As the state regulated utility, Dominion Energy is investing heavily in this project that aims to help address climate change.
The Virginia Clean Economy Act of 2022 provides the structure and financial incentives for offshore wind energy. Currently, two turbines functioning 27 miles off our coast provide enough energy to power 3,000 homes. When complete, 176 turbines will generate power for 660,000 homes. Rubin believes All Hampton Roads municipalities will benefit economically from this project.
The turbines are manufactured in Europe and arrive via ship to be finished at Portsmouth Marine Terminal and a facility in Norfolk’s Lambert’s Point area. The Virginia Maritime Association is working to connect the maritime
industry with the project and expand related education programs.
Rubin envisions Hampton Roads as the Mid-Atlantic hub of the offshore wind industry. Its advantages include having a port, a natural deep navigation channel and no overheard obstructions. As part of his firm’s education and community engagement work for Dominion, Rubin developed the idea of Windsday events and a weekly
newsletter with updates.
Club Business
In her invocation, Marty Raiss acknowledged the challenges of war and that often its root cause relates to poverty, which is an area where Rotary can make a difference.
Ben Mason reported that Past President Jim Kitz’s father died on October 3 and that Marty Raiss’ husband George has recovered enough to walk the neighborhood.
Kelly Stefanko introduced guests and visiting Rotarians: Jeff Anderson from the Churchland Rotary Club representing the All District Reads program, Cecilia Joaquin of All-District Reads, Director of Operations, Barbara Blake from Old Dominion University, Michelle Nichols of TowneBank.
For the All District Reads program, Rotary Club of Norfolk members helped label and distribute 13,500 books to all Norfolk Public Schools elementary students. Volunteers are needed to help hand out books on Monday, October 23, which is launch day for the All Norfolk Reads Program at 32 Norfolk elementary schools. Volunteers must register in advance. Details are available be emailing cecilia.joaquin@alldistrictreads.org.
Barbara Blake, ODU’s executive director of Internships & Co-Ops spoke about ODU’s goal for all students to complete an internship before graduating and efforts needed in the community to reach that goal.
Barbara Lipskis, club president-elect, reported on the District 7600 Conference that she and Vice President David Duncan recently attended. The program included details on the district’s new mental health task force and an effort to provide mental health resilience skills to every club and community.
Sigur Whitaker announced that Barbara Lifland is now a Paul Harris +5 for her contributions to the Rotary Foundation.
Happy Bucks
President Jeff Wells thanked Tom Koller for bringing Barbara Blake, ODU.
Gus Stuhlreyer gave for family birthdays and a two-week trip to New England and Ohio.
Sigur Whitaker gave for networking and connecting a former Rotary Ambassador Scholar with the local alumni organization.
Ben Mason thanked LauraBeth DeHority for helping expand his 40th high school class reunion.
Bob Ash donated for a good trip.
Jim Kitz’s acknowledged his 37th wedding anniversary and thanked the Club for condolences sent on behalf of the loss of his father.
Gary Bonnewell gave because he was glad to be back after extended work and personal travel.
Barbara Lipskis donated on behalf of the Rotary District Conference
Laurie Harrison plugged the return of our raffle. Moving forward, members are encouraged to bring money for raffle tickets. There is a weekly drawing for a tangible prize and at the end of the Rotary year, there will be a 50:50b drawing for a split pot. Today’s raffle prize was four tickets from the Virginia Stage Company, which were won by Jim Tucker.
President Jeff thanked Jeff Ryder of the Virginia Stage Company for donating this week’s prize.
There is a Board meeting on October 25th.
The next general membership meeting is November 7.
Barbara Lipskis provided a report on the District 7600 Conference that she, David Duncan and John Padgett attended.
Attendees were welcomed by District Governor Rudy Garcia. International Past District
Governor Felix Stubbs from Bahamas provided remarks.
The Keynote Speakers included Dr. Geetha Jayaram, District 7620, Psychiatrist from Johns
Hopkins. Mental health task force in our district was the focus and all was about encouraging various activities to provide mental health resilience skills to every club and every community.
Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe, daughter of Rev. Desmond Tutu, spoke about the desks for children of
Ghana initiative.
Breakout sessions focused on Diversity in Rotary. Included were the 4 E’s of membership –
Discovery Rotary; Team Building through a DISC assessment; RAGAS – Rotary Action Group
Against Slavery – Human Trafficking (assess, identify, report); ways to elevate Rotary impact through foundation giving and Global Grants; Rotary reflections from Rotarians in Ghana and Haiti.
Crafting Innovative Acts of Generosity was moderated by John Padgett.
