Up Close with a Skink

Posted 
on Feb 25, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Most everyone took a moment to silence his or her cell phones.
 
  1. Lynne Berg and Frank Whitman led all in singing #86 Rotary's A Grand Old Name and #9 Battle Hymn of the Republic
     
  2. Lynne Berg followed the Pledge of Allegiance with the Invocation.
     
  3. Campostella Elementary was the "school of the week."
     
  4. Bill Gough gave the Visitation Report. 

  • Hill Strode's wife had a stroke.

  • Jack McGee is stable at Harbor's Edge.
     
  • Jean Owens introduced guests:
    • Mark Johnson brought Shawn Avery.
    • Ben Miles brought Lori Cummings and Rebbecca Tapping.
    • L. H. Puckett's brought his daughter Meg Puckett
       
                  Visiting Rotarians included:
    • Buddy Early of Princess Anne Club.
       
  • Matthew Shriver acknowledged his duty as scribe of the day.
     
  • Announcements:
  • "Suds and Buds" - Lisa Chandler.Lisa Chandler gave update on March 20th Suds and Buds Fundraiser.
    -11 sponsors and 5 food vendors so far.  Please make recommendations to Lisa or Lynne Berg.
    -Only 8 tickets sold.  Please purchase your tickets and pass on invitations via your Facebook page
  • Thirsty Thursday is at Chow restaurant on Colley Ave. at 5:30 P.M.
  • Sigur Whitaker spoke on envisioning our club in the future and on decline of Rotary membership in United States.Norfolk Club has lost 10% since 2003.The entire club will look at making changes with a facilitator at next week's Rotary meeting, followed by consensus the following week on how to become more flexible.See email to follow to all members.
  • Jim O'Brien helped Sigur give out Rotary Foundation’s Paul Harris Fellowship pins to:
    -David Brant                                 -Sharon Laderberg
    -Lorna Cochrane              NIA     -Bruce Wilcox             NIA
    -Lois Kercher                               -Bob Lockery              NIA
    -Harry Taylor (PHF+3) Not In Attendance.
     
  • Congratulations and Fines:
    • Mike Goldsmith for VA Pilot thumbs up on response to excessive force incident.
    • Lynwood Beckner celebrated birth of his granddaughter Riley Elizabeth Weinberg
    • John Searing gave for lady Monarchs.
    • Mark Johnson gave for his recent SunTrust performance award (gold).
    • Joe Massey gave accolades to Ed Lily's success on radio for Lake Taylor skilled nursing and rehab. care.
    • Sally Hartman gave for career day mentioned on WHRO show.
    • Marty Raiss gave for her trip to Florida.
    • Ed Lily gave for the success of Lake Taylor turning a profit and providing great service to the community.
    • Greg Bockheim thanked John Searing for being a 4th grade basketball team coach.
       
      9.) Vice President Bryce Burton was in charge of program.  Rotarian of the day was Ben Miles.  Ben joined our club in 2011 and is currently serving on our board of directors.  He is a branch manager with Monarch Bank.  
       
      10.)  Ben Miles introduced Greg Bockheim, Executive Director of Virginia Zoo since 2006.  Greg spoke on "What's New at the Zoo."
       
  • Greg emphasized Virginia Zoo being accredited by the national group AZA and serving the three missions of:Education, Conservation, and Recreation.
  • Zoo is a great asset to the City and adds to the diversity of the community.For example; the Zoo is partnering with Sentara Hospital to stay on the cutting edge of medical technology.
  • The 53 acre Zoo has a mile of undisturbed shore line and is helping with oyster restoration in the Lafayette River.
  • Approximately 100,000 rides per year are given on the new campus train and the campus entry features artwork.
  • Summer movies are given in evenings, and orchestras during the day.
  • New Animal Wellness Campus building, designed by Matthew Shriver (Shriver and Holland Associates), is complete and should open this summer with education programs being incorporated into landscape.Exterior cable stayed canopy and BMP garden with carnivorous plants are planned.
  • Reptile Exhibit Bldg. is about to be renovated and to open in summer of 2016.
  • Insites Landscape Architects is helping with a new Zoo "farm" to showcase farm animals in different color buildings, including unique goats and pigs.
  • Australia Exhibit will have a new visitor path to meet the emus.
  • Greg reviewed the latest activities for various animals:
     -A new porcupine is being raised by hand.
     -New bear cats are arriving from Singapore Zoo next month.
     -A new pair of orangutans have arrived.
     -Pandas are breeding and helping make the panda exhibit one of the best in the nation.
     -New feral wallabies are now doing well in their new exhibit.  Gene pool management is on going with other zoos.
  • Greg introduced some animals to the club including a skink, ball python, and a Belgian rabbit.
  • April 19th may be the Rotary social at the Virginia Zoo.Keep it on your calendar.
     
          11.)  Presentation of Book - Made to Campostella Elementary School in honor of Greg.
     
    12.)  Meeting concluded with table 18 being only table with 100% attendance.
    • Daily Pot is $15
    • Big Pot is $229
    • Raffle - Lynwood Beckner drew 5 of hearts.
  • Next week’s program:Club Assembly:Carolyn McPherson - Envisioning Our Club in the Future "Workshop".
     
     
    Ring Bell/Adjourn