Historic Rotary Meeting

Just stumbled across my Rotary attendance make-up certificate for a very special evening in Moscow on August 20th, 1991. We met for the social hour and suddenly the entire Russian Rotary membership of some 25 men excused themselves in mass  "we have some very important business to attend to...." and left us (about 8) foreigners to our meal! That evening was in fact the fateful night in the coup d'etat between Yeltsin in the Russian White House against the traditional communist regime headed by Gorbachev and effectively the day that turned Russia to Perestroika.

Rotary Past-President Bill Reavis weds this weekend to Melanie Kyte Throckmorton

Rotary Announces Citizens of the Year

Tappahannock Rotary Club presents Mr Joe Ware and Mrs Helen Ware of Dunsville, VA our Vocational Award of "Citizen of the Year". John Lewis presented the Rotary Award and Monte Gladding the Mayor of Tappahannock also presented them with a key to the town for all the greatness they have done and continue to do for our great town and county. We could all wish there were more selfless people like the Wares in the world. CONGRATS to them both.

Meanwhile at the bar...

Rotary barmen par excellence... Bob Jump and Gary Youngling mix drinks for the thirsty crowd.... to view the photo album of guests and Rotary click here

Annual Pig Roast Feeds Hundreds!

Tom Saville and Sonny Terry take first shift on the serving line doling out large portions of Roasted Pork Loin, BarBeQue, Beans and Cole Slaw along with the usual chocolate cake dessert and large helpings of good humor and community friendship..... to view the full album of guests enjoying their evening and Rotary members hard at work click here

Steve Cook, new District 5610 Governor visits TRC

Steve Cook, the new District 5610 Governor for 2012-13 from Springfield, VA, assisted by Kylie Bransford, Assistant District Governor based in Kilmarnock, met with John Lewis, Tappahannock Club President, and John Gregory, President-elect and the rest of the board today at Roma's for an introduction annual meeting where each board member in turn presented their annual goals for the club.

Rotary Mission to Jamaica

John Frazier and Tommy Neuman visited Kingston, Jamaica to spearhead a mission to help improve the literacy rate at Stony Hill school in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The plan is to install two interactive whiteboards in classrooms of these schools - thereby helping to increase literacy from 40% to 80% in the 6th grade students using the program.  The Jamaica Rotary Club of St. Andrews is helping facilitate the introduction and development of this significant program to help the school children in their vicinity.  Click here to view John Frazier's and Tommy Neuman's Powerpoint presentation. [Caution - large files that may that a few moments to load]

Rotary - Can you Pass the 40 Year Test?

John Gregory was presented with a recognition plaque this evening at our regular club meeting at Roma's Ristorante in Tappahannock..... the plaque reads "CLUB SERVICE ABOVE SELF AWARD, Presented to DR. JOHN GREGORY For 40 years of Outstanding and Dedicated Leadership. ROTARY CLUB OF TAPPAHANNOCK 2012" Congratulations John! Significantly, the plaque was presented by Dr. Tommy Neuman. himself a 40 year veteran of Rotary, however unlike John who served his 40 years with the Tappahannock Club, Tommy's service began in 1971 as a member of the Orangevale Club in Orangevale California, then went on to Foothill-Highlands Club in Sacramento California - (only a few miles between the two!), then in 1987-88 The Rotary Club of Thamesdown in Swindon, England, and finally in December of 2000 to the Tappahannock Rotary Club. Congratulations both of you long timers!

Banner exchange with Banff Club

Bill Croxton visiting Alberta, Canada this week, August 30th, 2012 and presented the new (I think this is the first exchange using our new banner design) Tappahannock Rotary Club banner to Banff Rotary Club President David Stratton....

Cruise raffle is launched at the Farmers' Market

Great News Rotarians

 

With little advanced notice John Gregory, David Broad, and Bill Croxton got us a place to set up at the Farmer's Market today complete with tent, table, and chairs.  Of course we had a few hundred Caribbean Cruise tickets, some sellers, and one very good 'work the crowd salesman' to complete the deal.

 

Bob Jump was working the crowd and seeming having a great time as he passed us numerous times with a great smile on his face.   I do not know how many tickets he sold today but the good news is that between John Gregory...who was a masterpiece in motion, John Frazier and me we sold $520 worth of ticket today.

 

We saw several familiar Rotary family faces and Michael Faulkner dropped by to pick up 10 more tickets.

 

Thanks to Vince who opened up his office to get some membership information.  I will expect that Dr. John will induct two new members to our tribe on Thursday.  Well done Ned Garber who is one of the sponsors as well at Tommy N.

 

Thanks to you all of you who have worked so hard to make this wonderful Rotary club such a great and civic minded group.  We make a difference!!!

 

Tommy

Welcome Kylie - District 7610 Assistant Governor

Kylie Bransford from the Kilmarnock club gave the District Governor and the Rotary International message this evening to the Tappahannock Rotary Club.... "Peace through Service". Kylie was helped by Lindsay Gardner, Rotary area public image coordinator, and Skip Ackerley the area membership coordinator. John Lewis presided over his first meeting for 2012-13 and welcomed our guests...

Vince Donoghue Joins Rotary Board

Welcome to the Tappahannock Rotary Club board... Vince Donoghue, club secretary who managed with lightning speed to publish the board meeting minutes in less than 24 hours! Vince is also Essex County Commonwealth Attorney

New Rotary President 2012-13 is sworn in

Thursday, June 21st at Bill Reavis's house on the river.... the annual officers swearing in party, Bill Reavis (left) outgoing president, Bill Croxton (center) reads the proclamation and oath, Bill Lewis (top right) incoming president swears to perform his duties while Gordon Fletcher monitors the changeover (bottom right).

Voted worst Hawaiian tropical shirt of the evening!

Thursday, June 21st at Bill Reavis's house on the river.... as part of the annual officers swearing in party, the final vote for the worst looking Hawaiian shirt of the evening went to Tommy Neuman (right) with Joe Johnston a close runner up! Bill Reavis (top left) outgoing president, Bill Lewis (top center) incoming president and Jim Wawner (right).

Rotary Crab Races at RivahFest

Rotarian John Frazier lines up the young RivahFest crab jockey contestants for the crab race while the contestants practice aiming with their spray bottles to giddy-up the crabs..... all in a good cause!!

Program Speaker Wes Pippenger

Thanks to Brother Jeff Willett who provided us with an excellent program last night featuring local historian and professional genealogist Wes Pippenger. His knowledge and pictures were outstanding.

Our distinguished guests

Our Rotary Club was treated to a trio of distinguished guests last night: Governor Jon Allan (and wife, Mary) District Governor George "Ron" Marion and Assistant Governor Kylie Bransford. Welcome to Tappahannock!

Paul Harris Society Recipients

Congratulations to Paul Harris Fellow recipients Richard Lewis, Bill Croxton and John Lewis along with Governor Jon Allan (top left) Assistant Governor Kylie Bransford and District Governor George "Ron" Marion (bottom left).

Danny Greene Wins Big Prize for Big Croaker!

Big Croaker winner take home a Big Check. From left to right, Bill Reavis (Tournament chair), Wayne Wessel (door prizes and t-shirts), Joanne Ruffa (registration) and winner Danny Greene of Glover, VA, receives the $1,500 check for the first place biggest croaker - a 1 lb-15.2oz croaker caught near the power lines using shrimp.  A total of 94 boats entered this year's tournament named in honor of Andrew Reavis.

Rotary Pre Meeting with Malachy

Tappahannock Rotary Club's regular social hour pre-meeting was rearranged this week to a new location at All About Wine on Prince Street. Rotary Club member Michael Faulkner, Director of Tappahannock Free Clinic, along with store owner Deborah Stevens hosted a very special reception for the winner of the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show "Malachy". Malachy is a four year old Pekingnese and took the coveted Best in Show award shown here with David Fitzpatrick! Welcome to Tappahannock! [photo courtesy of Bill Croxton]