Croxton "Pins" new Rotary Member Carla Stearns

Billy Croxton, sponsored a new member at Rotary this week and he very carefully "Pins" her with her new Rotary Membership pin! Welcome Reverend Carla P. Stearns, pastor from the Tappahannock Memorial United Methodist Church. Well at least now we have an official minister to give the benediction to our weekly meal together.....

Cannon Resolution and Recognition

Joe Johnston proudly holds the resolution from Essex County Board of Supervisors recognizing the outstanding restoration project spearheaded by Essex County Museum with the help of Bill Croxton (left) and master craftsman Randy Silvers (right) who reproduced the gun carriage to replace the old carriage that was beyond repair. This dedication took place at the Memorial Day Observance ceremony organized with the help of many Rotarians including Joe Johnston and Bill Croxton.

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.

Austin Powers & Fembot

Tappahannock Rotary Club President John Lewis and his wife Holly dress up as Austin Powers & Fembot for an evening at the 2013 DISCON District Conference on the Potomac this weekend in Arlington. DISCON brings together three Rotary Districts - 7610, 7620 and 7630.

DISCON Attendees in DC

Attending the District 7610 District Conference in Northern Virginia - DISCON on the Potomac - from left to righ: Bill Croxton, John Lewis (Club President) Holly Lewis, C Norman Wood (President-Elect) and Carole Croxton. Bill Croxton and Norman Wood were also the recent Tappahannock hosts and were able to meet up once again with the Western Australian GSE Team after their whirlwind tour of Rotary clubs in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula of Virginia. Bill entertained his group at the famous Rappahannock Oyster Bar in Washington DC - owned and operated by his sons.

Western Australian policemen & women meet their Essex counterparts

The Western Australian Police Team hosted by the Tappahannock Rotary Club visits Tappahannock-Essex lawmen on their grand   tour of Virginia. From left to right: Constable Aaron Biggs, Rotary GSE Team Leader Sergeant Paul Daly, Essex County Sheriff Stanley Clarke, Sergeant Gerard Murphy, First Class Constable Taryn Werrett, Constable Jeromy Jones, and Tappahannock Police Chief James Ashworth.  The GSE team from the Perth region of Western Australia will spend a month touring Virginia and visiting Rotary Clubs throughout the region and meeting Virginians in all walks of law enforcement, from police officers, attorneys, canine teams, jails and to Federal government agency personnel.

Australian GSE Team Visits Tappahannock

A joint Northern Neck club dinner meeting celebrated the arrival of the Western Australian GSE Team this Monday  April 15th at Roma's Restaurant in Tappahannock. Back row from left to right: First Class Constable Taryn Werrett, Constable Jeromy Jones, Sergeant Gerard Murphy, Team Leader Sergeant Paul Daly, Constable Aaron Biggs, and Tappahannock Rotary Club host C. Norman Wood.  Front row seated: Tappahannock Rotary Club hosts John Gregory, Ron Geiger, Bill Croxton and Joe Wolfinger.

Bill Croxton's GSE Australian Itinerary

The Bunny Hop Rotary Team

These Rotary Club members helped organize and support the 5K run - from left to right: Gary Youngling, Bill Croxton, John Gregory, Harry T Gladding, Joe Johnston (runner), Tommy Neuman, John Frazier, John Lewis (Club President and runner), Em Hughes. Not pictured: C Norman Wood, Ned Garber, Larry McElroy, Doc Frank, Fred Woodard, Vince Donoghue and David Broad.