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.

RCC Educational Foundation

Tonight's Rotary program presented by Sarah Pope executive director of RCC Educational Foundation Inc.  After ten years at Menokin Foundation, Sarah asked herself what can I give back to the community? RCC provides high quality,  affordable education for students in NN and MP area. RCC is a small college, knows its students, helps difficult situations. RCC serves 12 counties (size of Delaware) with 5,000 students. Two years and transfer to 40 state and private colleges within Virginia. RCC #1 nursing program in state and RCC EFI awards $600,000 in scholarships to students.

Check out our New Club Brochure

Hot off the press….

http://www.tappahannockrotary.org/pdflib/trc-brochure.pdf

Letter from Slovenia

Tappahannock Rotary Fund Raising

This video shows the fund raising events the Tappahannock Rotary Club Foundation conducts and it lists the organization it supports. It also promotes its 50/50 Raffle to raise funds to help fund the eradication of Polio worldwide. The Tappahannock Rotary Club Foundation raises funds for distribution to local community non-profit charitable organizations and to international worthwhie charitable causes through its international affiliate, Rotary Foundation. Click here to run video: https://youtu.be/NXKiK0r6-JE

Tappahannock Rotary Fund Raising

This video shows the fund raising events the Tappahannock Rotary Club Foundation conducts and it lists the organization it supports. It also promotes its 50/50 Raffle to raise funds to help fund the eradication of Polio worldwide. The Tappahannock Rotary Club Foundation raises funds for distribution to local community non-profit charitable organizations and to international worthwhie charitable causes through its international affiliate, Rotary Foundation.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NXKiK0r6-JE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hurricane Harvey Assistance

Here is how our Tappahannock Rotary Club's $500 contribution last week to the Shelter Box Hurricane Harvey Fund is being used in Texas.

Lobsters for Literacy: September 18

Please stand TALL with the Tappahannock Elementary School and the Tappahannock Rotary Club in helping children learn to love reading.

On Monday, 18 September, we will be hosting the first annual Lobsters for Literacy dinner at Roma's in Tappahannock. 

Tickets are $50 each and only 100 will be sold. 

Your dinner will consist of TWO Maine lobsters, butter, baked potato, salad, and rolls.  For those with shell fish allergies, prime rib will be served.  

Money raised will be used to purchase personal dictionaries for all 3^rd grade students and add more books to the school library.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Tappahannock Elementary School @ 443-5301 or Rotarian Tommy Neuman @ 333-3729.

Tappahannock Club cleans up the Awards

President Joe Wolfinger proudly displays the Club awards. The Tappahannock Club was recognized for its Youth Service, Club Service, Exceptional International Service, Exceptional Community Service and for Public Image marked with excellence and distinction. It was another good year for the Tappahannock Club.
 

Tappahannock Rotary Receives Top Awards

Norman with his award certificate recognizing his outstanding leadership as an Assistant Governor of Rotary District 7610 (which includes area from Charlottesville to Northern Virginia to Middlesex County). The Tappahannock Club was recognized for its Youth Service, Club Service, Exceptional International Service, Exceptional Community Service and for Public Image marked with excellence and distinction.

2017 Big Croaker Tournament

The Fourteenth Annual Tappahannock Rotary Andrew Reavis Memorial Croaker Fishing Tournament was a success with a fleet of 96 boats.

From left to right  Nina Robertson - writing the prize winning checks for the Tappahannock Rotary Club, Jim Wawner - weighmaster and originator of the Big Croaker concept fourteen years ago, Jeff Robinson, winner of the $1,500 first prize for a 1.30 lb croaker caught near the Downing Bridge and partner Bo Acors on the winning boat, and Jay Brimmer - Croaker Tournament chair.

 

The Big Croaker 2017 Tournament

Tappahannock Rotary crew that made this tournament a success - left to right - Carl Strock - President elect; Nina Robertson writing the prize checks; Jim Wawner - weigh master and initiator of the tournament fourteen years ago; Jay Brimmer - Tournament chairman at the conclusion of a most satisfactory tournament!

Program Thursday May 18th

 The guest speaker is Catherine Read, past-President of Rotary Club of Centreville-Chantilly, and a thought leader in building Rotary for the 21st Century. Title of Presentation: "Keeping Rotary Relevant - Inviting People In"

• Messaging the value of Rotary to different generations [gender, age, diversity]
• Getting the most of out of Rotary programs that benefit the community [Rotary Youth Exchange, Scholarship Programs, District Grants]
• Focusing on speakers of interest to a wide range of people in the community [Hosting a meeting expressly to invite the public]
• Thinking about the future of the club in coming years [Leadership development, incorporating new ideas, finding future members]

 

ECHO Rotary Presentation

Barb Jump, President of ECHO - Essex County Homeless Organization - receives the Rotary trophy glass from President Joe Wolfinger as a thank you for her heartfelt presentation on the needs of the Essex County homeless population. Currently located 20 miles away in Loretto, Upper Essex, the ECHO board favors a move of the homeless facilities to Tappahannock where the need is most acute and the volunteer assistance is much more plentiful. Certainly the homeless population is centered in Tappahannock as there are warm places for them to go during the day. Barb and the ECHO board are seeking to acquire vacant property or repurpose a facility locally and are spearheading a campaign to set up the "Gregory House" for the homeless named after the late Dr John Gregory whose service to the community was in the spirit of the Rotary Club motto service before self. Barb and the ECHO board seeks to fund raise and inspire the over 100 churches and civic organizations in Essex and Richmond county to coordinate with county government and participate in the creation of this local ECHO facility.