Guest orator Dr. Tommy Neuman at Memorial Day

Club President represents Rotary at Memorial Day Observance

Memorial Day Commemorated

Thanks to all the Rotary Club members who made this special Memorial Day ceremony possible, especially Tommy Neuman for his outstanding and heartfelt speech, Bill Croxton for sound system and cannon relocation, Joe Johnston for cannon positioning, Ron Geiger for video, Ned Garber arranging coffee, David Broad for photos, C Norman Wood (memorial day committee), Tom Madren, Luther Derby, Doc Frank, John Frazier, Bud Smith (on platform with Tommy Neuman), Sonny Terry, Gary Youngling,  John Lewis, Reese Peck, Pete Trible, Fleet Dillard for just being there!

Harry Lee Revealed!

In recognition for his outstanding contributions to Rotary, Joe Johnston receives his Paul Harris Fellowship award. The certificate reveals that Joe is actually Harry Lee incognito ! Congratulations Harry!

Carla Stearns joins Tappahannock Rotary!

Welcome Carla! Our latest member is initiated by Bill Croxton and John Gregory with President John Lewis observing. Carla is the minister at the Tappahannock Memorial United Methodist Church.... and helps Joanna Ruffa, Patricia Mullins and Louise Velletri swell the Rotary ladies contingent !

Keith Balderson guest speaker

Keith described the operation of the Essex County Virginia cooperative extension agency, agricultural expertise and 4H support. Soil testing, disease identification, educational programs.

Croaker Winners Allen Wade and Team

Happy Croaker Tournament Participants!

Croaker Tournament

Big Croaker check in at Roma's...... Melanie Reavis, Gary Youngling and Bill Reavis (Tournament Chair) welcome boat captains and hand out the tournament package and t-shirts. With a small craft advisory in place, a decision will be made early Saturday morning before 6 am whether to go ahead or defer the start pending another weather review at 9 am. Check Big Croaker on FaceBook or listen to WRAR.

Speaker: Major General Daniel E. Long, Jr.

Thursday, May 9, 2013 - Roma's Restaurant - Adjutant General of Virginia, Daniel "Chip" Long, Jr. presented the Tappahannock Rotary Club program about the Virginia National Guard. Club President John Lewis served under Major General Long in Kosovo and it was a great honor for John to have his mentor accept his offer to speak to the members. From left, Lieutenant Colonel John W. Lewis - Club President, Major General Daniel E. Long, Jr. - Adjutant of Virginia, Command Sergeant Major Dennis A Green - State Senior Enlisted Leader, and USAF General C. Norman Wood - Club President-Elect.

Major General Daniel E. Long Jr. assumed the duties of Adjutant General of Virginia on July 14, 2010. As the Adjutant General of Virginia, General Long is responsible for the combat readiness of units, and the administration and training of more than 8,200 Virginia Army and Air National Guard personnel.

General Long's previous assignments include Commander, Joint Task Force Civil Support (JTF-CS), Fort Monroe, Virginia. The unit responds to catastrophic Chemical, Biological and Nuclear attacks in the Northern Command area of responsibility. Principal Assistant to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, responsible for formulating, and coordinating plans and support to the southwest border security mission. He also served as the senior military officer assigned to the Joint Iraq/Afghanistan Study Group and commanded Task Force Care/Katrina in Louisiana. He was the Deputy Director then Director of the Project and Contracting Office in Iraq from September 2004 to September 2005 and managed an $18.4 billion dollar reconstruction program. He also commanded the 29th Infantry Division (Light) from
August 2002 to August 2004.

Special Recognition for Special Agent Wolfinger

On May 9, Joe Wolfinger, chair of the International Committee, received the Service Above Self Award for his outstanding job in organizing and planning the Group Study Exchange with the four Rotarians from Western Australia (see previous news article). The Rotary GSE team visited Virginia for a month and spent a good many days in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula under Joe's wings and benefited from his many high level law enforcement connections thanks to being an Assistant Director of the FBI in charge of the FBI Academy at Quantico, VA. Award presented by John Lewis, Club President. Incidentally check out Joe's new book he co-authored with another FBI man Chris Kerr at www.ricobook.com

Bill Reavis seventh PHF

Congratulations to Bill Reavis, Tappahannock Rotary Club Treasurer and Big Croaker Tournament Chair for his seventh Paul Harris Foundation pin.... seven contributions of $1,000 to the Foundation.... outstanding support for the club and for the Rotary Foundation. Pin presented by John Lewis, Club President 2012-13.