Halloween Hootenanny Website Online

As further promotion for the Newport community Halloween Hootenanny, a new website has been established. Click here to go to the Hootenanny website.

In the Community: Hospital CEO Details Growth

Hospital Pres. Richard Brvenik

New Carteret General Hospital President Richard A. Brvenik was the featured speaker at Newport Rotary on Monday night, detailing numerous areas of need, necessary growth, and cost issues affecting medical care in our community. He was the guest of Newport Rotarian and Town Mayor Derryl Garner.

Mr. Brvenik stressed the hospital's mission to maintain quality as its highest goal. He stated that Carteret County presents a unique set of conditions for health care, including a disproportionately large senior population, but maintains an "11th healthiest" ranking out of the hundred North Carolina counties in a recent statewide study. He recognized that consumers have many health care options, but that Carteret General Hospital compares favorable with their competitors, and encouraged comparative research at http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.  

Many improvements have been deferred over the years, and a significant investment in the hospital's infrastructure is needed to keep pace with the rapidly changing environment of health care, which includes projected mandates from The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).

Artist Rendering of Proposed Carteret General Hospital Expansion

Discussed in more detail was the $53 million dollar proposed project that would build a new multidisciplinary, community based Cancer Center, affiliated with the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center; expand the Cardiac and Radiology clinics to include cardiac catheterization, build 68 new private rooms, a more visible front entrance, and Maternity ward improvements; invest in technology including expending the use of orthopedic robotics; create a Wound Care Center;  and, invest in significant information technology systems upgrades.

Mr. Brvenik responded to questions from Rotarians on the specifics of the project, including costs, timing, and the effect of new legislation, as well as the hospital's position on Taylor Extended Care Facility in Sea Level, which has recently been discussed in the local news. He was accompanied by Newport town resident John Davis, also a member of the hospital's Board of Directors.

2013 Group Study Exchange Team to England & Wales

Newport Rotarian and past District Governor Bevin Wall presented the program on October 1, 2012 on the topic of the 2013 Group Study Exchange Team to England and Wales. Wall was selected team leader in September to lead the team, that travels in February and March of 2013 to District 1100 including the major English city of Bristol, England.

Wall described the process for selection of team leader, alternate, and then for the composition of the Non-Rotarian Team members, nominated by Rotary clubs from across the district. 4 team members have been selected for this team, plus the Team Leader and alternate. The alternate team leader is Gene McClennon from the South Brunswick Islands Rotary club.

The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours, and three to four hours per day of free time with host families. 

Service Meeting Planned for October 8

Rotary Club President Steve Blizzard announces that the September 8th meeting will be a service meeting.  We will meet at the Friends of the Library book shop (old H&H Electric building) across from Newport Town Hall. Club members will be sorting through the Halloween Hootenanny games and assessing any repairs that need to be made prior to the event on October 31.  There will not be a meal this week. 

This marks the 2nd year that the Newport Rotary Club has coordinated the Newport Halloween Hootenanny.