Soon to be past President, Sigur, called our installation day meeting to order and Malaria fighter, Israeli visitor, Eleanor Schoonover led us in two appropriate songs of the day #86 “For It Was Rotary,” and #9 old standard “Battle Hymn of the Republic” accompanied by maestro Frank Whitman, followed by Sigur leading us in the pledge of allegiance; most appropriate for the meeting prior to the 4th of July. A thoughtful and inspirational invocation was delivered by Capt. Pam Tubbs. School of the week, P. B. Young Elementary School. Rotary Cougar, Jean Owens delivered the binnacle list including Sue Wells and Ted Baker (who attended the meeting with Afib) and Bob Latimer going into the hospital for a procedure. John Searing announced that there were no visiting Rotarians; however, Rotarians with guests were Dean Thomasson had as his guest Bobby Beck, soon to be President; Sally Hartman had as her guest her husband Ron. Adrien Latta, had as his guest Christian Pearson from Columbia, S. C., and Jennifer Palestrant had as her guest her mate, Dr. Chris Palestrant.
President Sigur announced the Rotary Day Baseball Game to benefit PolioPlus this July 20st with sign-ups by July 10th. President Sigur announced that the Norfolk Rotary Club is participating the flexible and innovative club project, Pilot Program, and announced numerous activities in which Rotary club members can participate. Regular Rotary club membership meetings will be held in Scope for the first three Tuesdays of each month with the remaining Tuesday(s) participate in an outside activity. Should questions arise or if someone needs further assistance or explanation, please do not hesitate to call or write Sally Hartman. As far as attendance is concerned, making one of these activities the final meeting(s) of the month will count. A new and exciting program will be a make-up bank where you can attend one or more of these activities and bank them for the future.
The Tiel Exchange Students will be arriving from the Netherlands to Dulles International Airport on July 11th and will be with us for three weeks. Volunteers are welcome.
President Sigur gave in her farewell address kudos, acknowledgements, thank yous, and gratitude for the past year, she also announced that there is over half a million dollars in the Norfolk Rotary Charities Endowment fund with $25,000 in grants has been distributed to various charities. The Norfolk Rotary Club is proud to be among elite clubs for EREY, raising $26,900 to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund. Due to the efforts of Miss Suds & Buds, Lisa Chandler, the Norfolk Rotary Club had the first annual fundraiser at the Botanical Gardens which raised $15,000 which was distributed to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia.
Special kudos to Jane Dembert, Club Administrator, for all the work she does. Harry McCoy, a senior member of our club, was called to the podium to install our new President, Sally Hartman, he explained how Sigur, “Rotary author in residence” had, with her bright smile and shining eyes, asked him for a favor while he was in church – accepting without knowing what the favor might be it turned out that he was to install the officers and board members. Invoking points of the four-way test Harry installed President Sally to the office of president followed by Bill Jonak, the longest tenured member of the Norfolk Rotary Club to install the remaining officers and directors. Again, invoking the four-way test Bill installed our new officers and board.
President - Sally Hartman
President Elect - Bryce Burton and Norfolk Rotary Charities - President
Vice President - Gary Boswick
Secretary/Treasurer Dean Thomasson
Sgt. at Arms - Jennifer Palestrant
Fellowship - Ted Baker
Fundraising Dr. Steve Jones
Public Relations - Lois Kercher (Florence Nightingale)
Vocational Service Barbara Lipskis
Community Service - Colin McKinnon
International Service - Ann Sullivan
Immediate Past Pres - Sigur Whitaker
President Sally then called Bob Latimer to the podium to present past President Sigur a retiring President’s gift, a beautiful hand-made counter clock which chimed to acknowledge it works at 1:15 p.m. The club then rose to a rousing standing ovation to past President Sigur in tribute to her guiding the club for the past year.
President Sally addressed the club for a brief state of the club siting several examples of projects, accomplishments, and plans of our club. Col. Bill McInnis approached the podium with the weekly raffle. A crumpled ticket, the trademark of Lindwood Beckner, was pulled from the pot as the weekly winner; however, Linwood drew the 8 of diamonds to leave the big pot for another day. As the curtain was closing on today’s meeting, a reminder was given to the assembled throng about the upcoming Rotary PolioPlus Fundraiser at the Tides Baseball Game on Monday, July 20, 2015 (sign up now to attend; $12 ticket and $2 of that goes to Polio Plus.) The meeting was then adjourned as recorded by your faithful and truthful scribe, Barry Kesser.
