Salvation Army Bell Ringing

A number of other Rotarians and I did 2 hour shifts "ringing the bell" for the Salvation Army at our Tappahannock Walmart yesterday. Once again, it proved to be a meaningful experience and one that helps me appreciate the goodness in so many people.....it was moving to see so many people in our rural, economically struggling county donate to help others.....it also reminded me of how exciting to children at this time of year....

Croaker Art Contest Winner

This "thank you" letter from Amanda Hudgins needs to be shared with everyone in the club and connected to the Big Croaker Tournament. It is obvious that our little Croaker Art Contest was very special to Amanda.

Memorial Day Rotarians

Over fifty veterans lined up receive lapel pins with over half coming from Essex County including some our Rotarians… .Retired Air Force General C Norman Wood was presented his Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin.  Tommy Neuman also a member of USMC Detachment 1062 places the Marine Corps League wreath at the Essex County War Memorial.

Big Croaker T-shirt Art Contest

As part of the Tappahannock Rotary Big Croaker annual tournament, the club seeks participation in the design of the t-shirts that are handed out to each tournament contestant. Beth Rohne (right) is the Youth Services Specialist at the Library and kicked off the contest with a fish printing workshop, A total of 13 school students attended, representing 4 different Essex County schools. Beth took the lead role in this first ever partnership between Tappahannock Rotary and Essex County Library headed by Dana Smook (2nd left). Entries had to pertain to the Rappahannock River and croakers. There were 12 total entries judged by a committee of several Rotarians. Amanda Hudgins (3rd left) won $25 for the age group and an additional $50 for being grand prize winner. Verna Zhuo, a 5th grader at EIS, won in her age group. Check was presented by JoAnne Ruffa (right), Youth Services with Tappahannock Rotary Club.  The Big Croaker art is currently on display in the Essex Public Library.

Rotary Big Croaker Big Fun Raiser!

Tappahannock Rotary Big Croaker Tournament $2,000 check for first prize is presented by (from left to right) Carl Strock - Tappahannock Rotary President, Hong Nguyen, Ba's son Khang Nguyen who won second prize of $200 in the youth division, Ba Nguyen (center), My Ho and Loc Truong  of Springfield VA with his family and (right) Jim Wawner Tournament Weigh-Master. Not pictured Jay Brimmer, Tournament Chair. The biggest croaker this year was 1.05 lbs!

The Amazing Life of Michael Faulkner!

I'm just bowled over with the skill and talent of Michael Faulkner who presented his program about dog show judging and dog breeding. Since the age of nine Michael has been a breeder and graduated to show judging including Westminster and developed his judging skills for many breeds and show categories! And at the same time being director of the Ledwith Lewis Free Clinic! What a stellar series of accomplishments and amazing life! To read more about Michael, visit his impressive dog show page at https://wds2018.com/michael-faulkner-us/ With Michael is Carl Strock, Rotary Club President and Emerson Hughes, Program Chair. 

Richard Lewis Talks Polio

Richard Lewis, chatted with us about Polio and Rotary's campaign to eliminate that awful disease. When Polio Plus was begun in 1985 there were about 1000 cases of polio every DAY in our world. Today, there are just 3 countries where polio is still around...Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Nigeria has been polio free before but refugees from Syria brought the disease back. In the last 3 years there have been less that 10 new cases of polio in our world. How did this project begin? In 1979 Rotary brought out a new division of RI, the 3H Program...grants were available for Health, Hunger, and Humanities. One of the first large 3 H grants was to help eliminate polio in the Phillipines. That 5 year program was successful and so were the ones in Haiti, Morocco, Bolivia, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia. Men who were to serve a RI presidents, Matt Capras and Carlos Conseco spearheaded the elimination of polio campaign which began during Conseco's year as RI president. Dr. Albert Sabin was a special consultant to the committee. By 2005, polio had been reduced by 99%. Amazing. Rotary's original goal was to raise $120 million...Rotary raised $240 million and through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we have added countless dollars more. We now stand on the threshold of adding polio AND small pox at a major disease that is seen no more. What will Rotary do after polio is wiped off the face of our earth? It is anybodys guess.... Great program Dr. Lewis…

Collecting Duck Decoys

Larry Sisson, formerly of Nomini Creek and now an Essex County resident has been a duck decoy collector for over 50 years. Larry has a collection of several hundred valuable decoys and showed the Rotary Club a sampling of a dozen decoys including Madison Mitchell, Paul Gibson, Ward Brothers of Crisfield, Lloyd Tyler, Dodge, Mason and Stephens. Decoys are made from cedar, pine, cork and balsa, or papier-mâché, and then painted. Decoys are now relatively valuable and worth anywhere between $100's to $100,000+. From left to right, Bill Croxton, Assistant Governor, Larry Sisson, and Jim Wawner, program chair. 

Rotary Raises Funds for Local Community Groups

What an amazing evening at Tappahannock Rotary Club's February charity fundraiser "Keys to the Heart - The Return" featuring many of our local musicians. Thanks everyone!

Keys to the Heart - Feb 24th

Tappahannock Rotary Club and Host & Emcee Emerson Hughes welcome you to join them February 24, 2018 at Keys to the Heart the Return; an enchanting evening at the Old Beale Courthouse, featuring local musicians & vocalist, wine tasting, assorted cheeses and chocolate.  Tickets are $40.00 each. Don't miss this special evening - for sponsorship and ticket information call:  Fred Woodard at (804) 443-1313 or Joanne Ruffa at (804) 443-3737.  Among the local artists performing are: Wanda Mussleman, Wesley Pippenger, Kathy Hughes, Rev. David Medlen, Beth Harvey, Angie Pizzeck, Emerson Hughes, and others.  

Dr. Aleš Žnidarič, Rotary Club of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Dr. Aleš Žnidarič, President of the Rotary Club of Ljubljana, Slovenia, was a guest of the Tappahannock Rotary last week.  Dr. Žnidarič, presented a program about the Rotary Clubs in Slovenia.  The Ljubljana Rotary Club was first established in 1931, just four years after the Tappahannock Rotary Club.  In 1941 it ceased to be a functioning club during the difficult years of WWII and the following period in which Slovenia was a part of the Yugoslav Republic.  It was reestablished as an active Rotary Club in 1989 and was the first Rotary Club in the area of former Yugoslavia after the Second World War, and the third in Eastern Europe.  Today there are 49 Rotary Clubs in Slovenia conducting many charitable works in Slovenia and throughout the world.

The visit came about as a result of the Tappahannock Club's custom of beginning its weekly meetings with a toast of a club in another country.  The club to be toasted is selected based on some memorable historical anniversary or event that occurred on the day the toast is offered.   On October 26, 2017, the anniversary of the day in 1991 when the last Yugoslav National Army soldier left Slovenia and the country became truly free, the Tappahannock Club saluted Dr. Žnidarič's club.  An email notifying Dr. Žnidarič of the toast led to correspondence between to the two clubs. 

Dr. Žnidarič holds degrees in structural engineering from the University of Ljubljana.  He has worked for 29 years for ZAG, the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, where he is currently Research councilor and head of the Department for Structures.  He is a board member of International Society of WIM (Weigh-In-Motion), and was in Washington, DC, to attend a meeting of the Transport Research Board.  He was able to extend his visit to attend the regular Thursday evening meeting of the Tappahannock Rotary Club.