Fair Trade and an Entrepreurial Spirit

President Sigur rang the bell promptly at 12:35 and our song leader Lynne Berg led us in renditions of America and Sing a Song of Rotary. 

Prez. then led us in the Pledge and a very lovely invitation was given by Chip “The Barrister” Vogan.

 

School of the week: Camp Allen Elementary School.

 

Bill “Anti-aging” Gough gave the visitation report and noted that Bill Gresham had returned; Jack Magee was not doing very well and Tom Lockery was MIA.

 

Jean Owens introduced our guests: Rotarian Amy Kurtz of Virginia Beach; Dr. Edna Kolovani brought Dr. Lisa Rhine and prospective member, Crystal Waitchly.

 

Butterfly Chandler announced once again that the Suds and Buds Fundraiser is scheduled for March 20th at Norfolk Botanical Garden. (What an appropriate person to lead a fundraiser for a garden- I assume it’s a Monarch!).

 

Butterfly also noted that Jim Kitz with UBS was the first Gold Sponsor to not only sign up but also deliver the check for $1000. The editor seems to remember something about a large check from Scoops “The Shrinking” Powell but evidently it was not in good delivery form. It was also noted that Donna Overstreet has signed up as our first Bronze Sponsor –Yeah Donna.

 

Please remember that the funds raised from Buds and Suds will go to a combination of the Botanical Garden; Food Bank and Norfolk Rotary Charities- all great and worthy causes.

Food vendors and sponsors are still needed – Call Butterfly for details.

 

In other news Dan Peterson was awarded his new membership pin and Ben Mason recognize that the much older – much, much older Lynnwood Beckner was his Tommy or the person that sponsored him for membership. I would note there was some dispute as to the age differential.

 

Under congratulations and fines. Gus (I wear golf shoes every day) Stuhlreyer paid to celebrate the arrival of his granddaughter who just happen to be born in Dubai (from which he and grandma just returned).

 

Pam Tubbs also made a donation in honor of her father in law” Ace “who was a lifetime Rotarian and she read a very heartwarming obituary that was written in his honor. Angus Hines gave a happy buck to celebrate just how good last week's meeting was.

 

Linwood Beckner (underpaid his fine I'm sure) because his son and daughter-in-law will have a two page wedding spread in VOW magazine. And I think he said he was now married to a new grandmother.

 

Jim O'Brien “brother to the famous musician O'Brien – (Tim I think is his name-hey wait a minute do you mean this parents named their sons Tim and Jim? Nah I must have that wrong.)  just returned from England listening to his brother play there  and then also announced that his brother was one of the musicians on the best bluegrass album of the year as nominated by the recent Grammy Awards..

 

Jim Kitz was happy about something. And Sigur donated happy bucks in honor of the late Dean Smith.

 

Adam “this won't hurt a bit” Foleck also gave happy bucks in memory of Dean Smith and also for his star wrestler son who makes up for gold medals with a lot of effort. And also for going to Guatemala for a Rotary sponsored dental clinic- frankly as much free work as Adam does for their benefit of those less fortunate he should be entitled to a free pass on fines for the rest of the year and should be allowed free bragging rights on whatever he chooses- remember he’s the guy the that did all the free work for Rotary Smiles as well!

 

PS: if I forgot anybody or made something up please complain to Wayne Shank and while you are at it ask him about his bird policy.

 

Vice president in charge of programs was none other than Bryce “Anderson” Burton.  “Anderson” turned the reigns over to Jim Clary the Rotarian of the day. Jim then went on to introduce our speaker Lisa Fournier founder of Norfolk Fair Trade Company. The title of her talk was “Fair Trade and an Entrepreneurial Spirit.”

 

Lisa went on to explain the fair-trade companies originally started to help people in the emerging world. This concept has been used in such diverse industries as chocolate and coffee. But the idea basically is to give the farmer a better price so that they can live a better life. (I made it rhyme on purpose- maybe I listen to too much Will Short Sunday mornings)

 

This concept has also spread to the United States in the form of benefit corporations which is a special type of corporation that most of us were unaware of. We have some of them operating right under our noses in Norfolk; Phoenix warriors and Operation Hero Assist; as well as Yvette Williams a local jewelry maker. On a national scale Eagle Exchange, Starfish Company and Tom’s Shoes --Tom’s Shoes has given away over 35 million pairs of shoes to impoverished children. Pretty cool.

 

These new style companies are quite inspirational as they not only provide a profit for the pocket book of the proprietor but they also have in their aim significant public good as well. What a great combination. We should support them when possible. Go seek out Norfolk Fair Trading Company and give it a try – 315 E. City Hall Avenue Norfolk.

 

Lisa was told that we will we will donate the book” I am Abraham Lincoln” in her honor to our school of the week.

 

And Stephen Long from Salvation Army won the daily drawing. Didn't really find out how much it was but he donated it back to the club anyway. (He must get his income from another bucket I guess.)

 

And that's the way it was February 10th 2015 in the basement of Scope;
 

Respectfully submitted by Scoops the Younger.