Installation of New Officers

President Jim spoke of the past year's challenges and successes. Jim thanked the club members, officers, and his very supportive wife, Claire, who he dubbed an honorary Rotarian for all of her volunteerism conducted this year. Jim thanked Lisa Barnes for an amazing job, and she will be very missed.

Jim invited Michael Desplaines to the podium to be sworn in as the 2021 Rotary Club of Norfolk President. As a departing gift, Michael gave 12 scooters (one for every month Jim served) to the Hutton YMCA in Jim's name.

Laurie Harrison was sworn in as President-Elect. The club's new officers and directors were instilled. Officers include Vice President Jeff Wells, Secretary/Treasurer Barbra Lipskis, Immediate Past President James Kitz and Directors John Cameron, Dave Duncan, Michelle Nettles, Chris Bugg, Brian McGuire, Diane Wallach, and Parliamentarian Tom Ambler. Each officer and director received pins from Michael and Lorna.

Michael, as the new club president, continued to run the meeting. He gave each officer and director personal gifts he bought from the Norfolk Botanical Garden. He talked about the theme for this year as FELLOWSHIP. We have been on Zoom too long, so he wants the club to get back together. Michael gave his history with Rotary from a young man in the Rotary Program GSE. He spoke about his experiences in visiting an orphanage, Blood Bank, speaking to a group of ten thousand at an Interfaith event, and about bathing a baby elephant. This experience brought him into his love of service.

The Meeting:

Jim rang the bell to begin the meeting at 12:37 pm. Jim led "The Four-Way Test," followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Sigur Whittaker lead us in music - God Bless America, and O'Canada (for Michael). Sharon Lederberg gave the invocation.

Visitation report: Joe Massey is feeling under the weather, please send your prayers.

Lorna gave the introduction of guest: Jim's wife Claire, Laurie Harrison had several guests including her brother-in-law Tom and colleague Rob, Dianna Starkey introduced Zachary Christopher - a student intern from California.

We sang happy birthday to the July Birthdays:

Burnette, Bill July 05

Desplaines, Michael July 08

Dunbar, Dalton July 08

Padgett, John July 08

Wells, Jeff July 14

Beckner, Linwood D. July 15

Mason, Ben July 16

Jonak, Bill July 25

Wallach, Diane July 30

July Wedding Anniversaries

34 years, Laurie &Mark Harrison July 13, 1985

39 years Julie & Bob Keesling July 31, 1980

41 years, Pamela & Ace Tubbs July 1, 1978

73 years, Bill & Mary Louis Lehew July 28, 1946

July Rotary Anniversaries

Lauren Kiger 1 year July 7, 2020

Ann Sullivan8 years July 16, 2013

Angela Kerns 11 years July 27, 2010

Lisa Chandler 16 years July 28, 2005

Adam Foleck 16 years July 26, 2005

James O’Brien 27 years July 1, 1994

Carlisle Wroton 29 years July 1, 1992

Robert Heely 44 years July 1, 1977

School of the week: Granby High School

Meet Michael Desplaines

Michael Desplaines, the 2021-22 Rotary Club of Norfolk president, first saw Rotary's impact while working for a YMCA in Massachusetts. A Rotary club funded an exchange program he led that brought together children from Ireland and Northern Ireland. Michael later was a Rotary beneficiary when selected for a Rotary group study exchange program that sent him to India for a month in 2000.

Michael, president and CEO of Norfolk Botanical Garden, became a Rotarian after moving to Hampton Roads in 2014 to head the 175-acre garden. The reason it took so long for him to join: All clubs in his previous cities were breakfast clubs, and Michael is not a morning person. When Rotarian Bill Eisenbeiss encouraged Michael to visit the Rotary Club of Norfolk -- a lunch club -- he eagerly joined in 2014 and immediately got involved.

Michael is an enthusiastic Rotarian who has served on his club's board of directors and as its secretary/treasurer, vice president of programs and president of Norfolk Rotary Charities. He also was president of the Rotary District 7600 Alumni Group and was selected Alumni of the Year by the district in 2019.

Michael grew up in Pawtucket, R.I. speaking only French until kindergarten thanks to his parents French Canadian roots. As a child, Michael wanted to be an archeologist like Indiana Jones. In high school he volunteered at a wildlife refuge before getting a job on an organic herb farm where he learned about plants and also "how to speak to the public and give tours" -- skills Michael uses daily. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island with a horticulture degree in the midst of a recession, Michael took the only job he could find -- licensing stock brokers for an insurance firm. Michael says this job taught him "about the business world, how to dress for work and that he hated desk jobs."

A newspaper ad led Michael to the Y, where he started an environmental program for youth from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and founded a teen center. He worked for a public school before becoming executive director of the McLaughlin Garden and Homestead in Maine and then founding director of the Castle in the Clouds museum and garden in New Hampshire. After a total of 12 years heading these two New England organizations, Michael came to Hampton Roads seven years ago to lead Norfolk Botanical Garden where he is passionate about protecting the environment for future generations.

Michael lives in Virginia Beach with his husband, Jason Robertson, a real estate agent. In 2016, Michael earned a master's degree from Plymouth State University in natural resource development -- horticulture. In his free time, Michael likes to travel, swim, lift weights and garden.

As a believer in service above self, Michael looks forward to leading the Rotary Club in a post-pandemic environment. He plans to emphasize fellowship and to reinvigorate the club's committees.

The Four-Way Test

Of the things we think, say, and do:

1) Is it the TRUTH?

2) Is it FAIR to all concerned?

3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?