District Governor Elect to Speak

The guest speaker at Newport Rotary on Monday, January 9, 2017 will be R.B. Richey from the Wilmington Rotary Club, also the 2017-18 District Governor for Southeastern North Carolina.

He will speak on Rotary's youth programs.

Visitors are welcome.   

It's Nice to be in the Top 6% of Rotary Clubs in the World

Doug Wolfe, Assistant Governor for Carteret County Rotary clubs, presents Newport Rotary President Maher Saikali with special 2015-16 club banners from The Rotary Foundation. For the second year in a row, Newport Rotary is recognized as being in the top 13% of clubs worldwide as a 100% Foundation Giving Club, and in the top 6% of clubs worldwide as a Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member Club, in which all active members personally contribute $100 or more to the Annual Fund during the Rotary year. Newport Rotary was the only club of southeastern North Carolina's 49 clubs to be recognized with both awards for Foundation support. The Rotary Foundation is best known for its leadership in the worldwide fight to "End Polio Now", and has recently been recognized as a top charity (100 Rating) by The Charity Navigator rating service.

Town Announces Winterfest 2016

The Town of Newport is having Winterfest 2016 on December 17, 2016. Click here for more. information.

Rotary Foundation Named World's Outstanding Foundation for 2016

The Association of Fundraising Professionals has recognized The Rotary Foundation with its annual Award for Outstanding Foundation.

The award honors organizations that show philanthropic commitment and leadership through financial support, innovation, encouragement of others, and involvement in public affairs. Some of the boldest names in American giving — Kellogg, Komen, and MacArthur, among others —are past honorees. Read more... 

Newport Rotary - What We Are Doing Now!

There are a lot of good reasons to be proud of your association with Newport Rotary. This month:  

• We put on a fantastic Newport Halloween Hootenanny, which was even more successful than last year's event. This is out primary fundraiser for the year. Visit the Hootenanny website.  
• We got good press in the community for doing the Hootenanny. See the article in the Carteret County News Times linked from our "Thank you" article on the Hootenanny website. You will see an article soon on the District website.   
• Our grant from The Rotary Foundation was funded supporting the local Food Pantry. We bought a range and hood for the pantry and now are planning a Dinner celebration. This may be moved into January or February. 
• We are active in District Rotary affairs- Newport Rotary has a reputation as a small group to very committed Rotarians doing big things! 
• Newport Rotarians are taking a lead in Hurricane Matthew Disaster Relief in Eastern North Carolina. See the website at http://www.matthewreliefnc.org/.      
• We are slowly building membership momentum. We need more committed Newport volunteers to help us! 

I am proud to be associated with such a fine group of committed community leaders!    

Bevin Wall 

Hootenanny a Great Success

Newport Rotary coordinated on the of the biggest and best Halloween Hootenanny's yet in Newport on October 31.

Click here for the Hootenanny website for more, including the photos and the Hoot-na-movie.... 

Conference Cruise Program

Newport Rotarian Bevin Wall updated the club on the District Conference Cruise from Port Canaveral Florida to Nassau, Bahamas during the club program on November 14, 2016. Rtn. Bevin and his wife, Pam, also a club member, attended the Conference in early November. While the bus ride was not as relaxing as anticipated, the Cruise was a great Rotary event with lots of fellowship and sharing aboard the 4,000 person Carnival Valor. Pam conducted a membership breakout session, while Bevin facilitated a History of Rotary course to Rotary "die-hards" on the free afternoon at sea. A good time was had by all.  

Newport Rotary Awarded Grant

Club Foundation Chair Pam Wall (3rd from right) Displays Winning Grant
for Project assisting Matthew 25 Food Pantry in Newport

Service Projects Around Newport

For the Newport Rotary September 26, 2016 Meeting we will be maintaining a couple of existing projects, specifically our Pedestrian Benches & Downtown Garden Corners around town. We will meet at 5:30 pm at the Rotary building for these 2 projects. We definitely want to get to the benches today. Extra time will be spent sprucing up the downtown garden corners. Bring gloves, buckets, mildew cleaner, soap, scrubbers and rags for benches. Bring your favorite yard tool for the gardening. Maximum 1 hour project! Thanks, See everybody there. Click here for prior bench & gardening project article.  

Sept 12 - Judicial Candidate to Speak

Josh Willey 

Josh Willey, New Bern lawyer and judicial candidate will be the guest speaker Mon. Sept 12, 2016 5:30pm. Please be in attendance.

Also - Halloween Hootenanny sponsorship materials will be passed out.

About our speaker: Joshua W. Willey, Jr. received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, where he graduated Cum Laude. He also received his Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University as well. He was admitted to the NC Bar in 1978 and admitted to practice in the US District Court in 1982, the US Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit and the US Supreme Court in 2001. He currently practices law at Mills and Willey. He is a member of the Craven County Bar Association, NC Bar Association and the NC Advocates for Justice. He is married to Denise Gaskins Willey and has one child, Catherine. He is a member of First Presbyterian Church and has served on New Bern Historical Society, New Bern Preservation Foundation and the Tryon Palace Foundation.

Newport Rotary Recognized as 100% Sustaining Club

Newport Rotary was recognized as a 2015-16 100% Sustaining Member Club by The Rotary Foundation at the District Rotary Foundation Luncheon in Wilmington, NC on August 27, 2016. To achieve this recognition, all active Rotarians in the club must personally contribute a minimum of $100 each to The Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation during the Rotary year. Only 1,428 clubs in Rotary of 35,000 clubs worldwide, or 4% of clubs attain this status. The Annual Fund supports scholarships, grants, and humanitarian projects around the world. 

Congratulations Newport Rotary and Thank You Newport Rotarians for your commitment to make the world a better place.  

Grant Received for Food Pantry Range, Hood & Celebration

Newport Rotary received funding for its 2016-17 District Grant from The Rotary Foundation. A $1,000 check was presented to Club Rotary Foundation Chair Pam Wall at the District Rotary Foundation Luncheon in Wilmington, NC on August 27, 2016. The Grant will provide funds to purchase a Cooking Range, install a Hood Top at the Matthew 25 Fund Food Pantry in the St. James Thrift Shop Building in Newport. The total $2,000 project will also fund a celebration dinner for identified needy families identified by the Food Pantry during the Thanksgiving season.

Newport Rotary's Pam Wall, (4th from right), holds up the Grant check
for a project to aid local food challenged families in Newport.
(Click photo to enlarge)

Pruning For Pupils

Featured photos from Newport Rotary's project at Newport Elementary School on August 26, 2016. Good job Rotarians!

Rotarians Pam Wall, Pres. Maher Saikali, Larry Howard, Joe Garner,
& Winston Reese. Photo credit: Bevin Wall. 

Shrub & Rose Bush Pruning awaits students for first day. 

The front entrance of the school is ready for teachers & students. 

"First Day of School" Service Project Set

Newport Rotary will do their annual service project benefiting Newport Elementary School on Friday, August 26, 2016 at 5:30pm. (Rain date Sunday 5:30). The goal of the project is to make the school look neat and tidy for the opening day the school the following week. Efforts this year will concentrate on trimming, flower planting and/or placement of baskets, and mowing, as needed. All hands are needed. The duration of the project is 2 hours. Needed are manual and electric trimmers, extension cords, wheel barrows & rakes for limb removal. The Wall's will bring their lawn mower. The school system mulched this summer, so no mulching! Newport Rotary will not meet Monday, August 22, 2016 as the service project Friday is a substituted meeting.  

August 8, 2016 Program: District Governor John Scibal

Is it DG John or Steve Jobs? You decide!

Newport Rotary is please to have as our guest speaker for our August 8, 2016 program, District Governor John Scibal of the Morehead City- Noon Rotary Club. DG John is a familiar face in our club and will bring Rotary International President John Germ's annual message to the club, as well as news of other district happenings. Bring a guest!    

Our District Conference Ad Shows We are Busy!

Thanks You's from Josh the Otter Project

In May 2016, Newport Rotary participated in the Josh the Otter program as part of an area-wide Rotary Foundation sponsored youth and water-safety in the local schools. See related article. Here are some "thank-you's"!

Photos: Newport Rotarians Attend Governor Installation

Outgoing Governor Dave Baggett from Fayetteville
cajoles with incoming Governor John Scibal of Morehead City
on June 16, 2016 at the Train Depot in Morehead.  

Newport Past District Governor Derryl Garner and Jane enjoy
the festivities. 

Newport Rotarians Pam Wall and PDG Bevin Wall
are in attendance, supporting new Governor John. 

Jeannan Parker, Wife of Newport Rotarian, Passes

Newport Rotary expresses our condolences and deepest sympathy to Rtn. Amos Parker and the Amos & Jeannan Parker family over the passing of his Rotary Partner Jeannan. She will be missed. A contribution to The Rotary Foundation will be made in her memory by the club. Pres. Maher Saikali and all Newport Rotarians.    

Obituary: 

Jeannan Bryan Parker (Acree)

Date of Death: Monday, July 18th, 2016 

Havelock – Jeannan Acree Bryan Parker, 80, died Monday, July 18, 2016 at her home. She was a member of Cherry Branch Community Church and had worked as a realtor. She was past president of Havelock Realtors Association. Surviving is her husband, Amos Parker; son, Raymond H. Bryan, Jr. and wife Deborah of Goode, VA; daughter, Ruth B. Foster and husband Jerry of Richmond, VA; grandchildren, T. W. Bryan and wife, Shannon, Cameron Bryan, Ashley Bryan and Andrew Foster; three great-grandchildren, Stone, Skylar and Nora; and her very special lifelong friend, Margaret Trader. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Raymond Hugh “Nonnie” Bryan. Funeral will be 11:00 a.m. Friday at Pollock-Best Funeral Home with burial following at Forest Oaks Cemetery in Havelock. The family will receive friends at the funeral home 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Cherry Branch Community Church Building Fund. Online condolences may be directed to www.pollockbest.com Arrangements by Pollock-Best Funerals & Cremations

June 27 Program - How to Attract Young Professionals

Join Newport Rotary on 6/27/2016 as presenter Brian McCoury from Morehead City Noon Rotary, and recent delegate to the 2016 Rotary Southland Young Professionals Summit brings his insights to the changing face of Rotary!   

June 13 Program - "The Big Rock"

One of the areas most significant annual events, The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, gets underway this week in Morehead City. Our program on 6/13/2016 will look at the history, mission and beneficiaries of this major civic enterprise!    

Change in Newport Rotary Meeting Schedule

Newport Rotary will be meeting on a 2nd and 4th Mondays schedule until further notice. This is allowed by recent Council on Legislation action. The next meeting is Monday, June 13, 2016. 

May 9 Meeting Replaced by Service Activity

The May 9, 2016 meeting of Newport Rotary will be replaced by a service project during that week. The club is completing the "Josh the Otter" project at the local elementary schools. Contact Pres. Maher Saikali for more details.  

May 2, 2016 Program - Reflections on the District Conference

Newport Rotary will meet at its regular time & place today. The program is on our recently completed District Conference. Hope to see you there. Bring a guest!   

Putting District Leaders to Work!

Newport Rotary was joined on their April 25 Clean Up Day by District Governor Elect John Scibal of Morehead City. Even though warned about the manual labor, DGE John showed up and worked hard! How about that for getting our money's worth out of our District dues! Thanks to DGE John and all who helped. Our grounds look a lot better!

DGE John Scibal can work that edger! 

DGE John and the "Clean Up Crew" from Newport Rotary! 

April 25- Outdoor Cleanup Day Scheduled

April 25, 2016 -

Outdoor Cleanup day scheduled.

1 Hour Outdoor Cleanup session from 5:30-6:30.

Bring your tools and gloves! 

Damaged Bench Removal Completed

Thanks to Winston Reese for removing the damaged pedestrian bench so that it can be evaluated for repair and replacement. The bench was part of the Rotary Foundation Grant and Newport Rotary projects from several years ago that put up 3 of the benches around town. Here are the photos, shared by Winston Reese.

Josh the Otter Project

Newport Rotary will meet April 18, 2016 to coordinate for Josh the Otter! See the program page here. 

Newport Rotary is scheduled to do 2 presentations about Josh the Otter at Newport Elementary School on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 9:00 am and 9:30 am. Volunteers on our list include Rick Moreau, Anita, Bevin Wall, and Maher Saikali. If anyone else can participate it would be welcomed and appreciated. Please Pres. Maher know by phone or email. 

April 11- Hamburger Social

Newport Rotary will have a Hamburger Social on April 11, courtesy of PP Joe Garner! See you there!

No Meeting April 4

Newport Rotary will not meet April 4, 2016 due to working the Newport Pig Cooking this weekend. (See related article)  Newport Rotary will resume on April 11, 2016 at 5:30pm at the Newport Rotary building.   

Newport Rotary Participates in Newport Pig Cooking

Newport Rotarians made a good showing in support of the Newport Pig Cooking this past weekend, April 1-2, 2016. Led by Rotarian and former long-time Mayor Derryl Garner who led off with the singing of the National Anthem, Newport Rotarians were present throughout the event, especially at our traditional job on Saturday morning of "culling" the BBQ. We spotted one of the Pig Cooking Founders, Rotarian Larry Howard, in the crowd enjoying ribs with Sharon on Friday night. Even thought our assigned time of 8:00 am was a little earlier than usual, Rotarians turned out to "make it happen". Thanks to Rotarians Steve Blizzard, Pam Wall, Pres. Maher Saikali, and Bevin Wall. There will be no Newport Rotary on Monday, April 4, 2016, as this community service project substituted for the meeting.    

News from ABC Project - Bangladesh

The following news was shared with me by PDG Zainul Abedin of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Newport Rotary has done successive Rotary Foundation supported projects in Bangladesh since 2005, including several at this school for blind children. They use our Braille machine & papers for their projects.

13 Blind students whose secondary education was supported by Assistance For Blind Children (ABC) are awarded Shopno Japan scholarship for their higher secondary school education. In picture shown scholarship awardee blind children, ABC President Dr. Salah Uddin, General Secretary K M Zainul Abedin , Past President Habibullah Khan and executive committee members. ABC works for blind children of Bangladesh since 1978. Supports from all of us improve lives of blind children to live with dignity. 

March 28 Meeting at Matthew 25 Food Pantry

Newport Rotary will meet March 28, 2016 at 5:30pm at one of our favorite (and most effective) Newport area charities, the Matthew 25 Food Pantry at 1007 Orange Street, Newport.  We support our Food Pantry with at least two food drives per year! We will be viewing their recent improvement to help them serve the Newport community even better! Guests are invited!  Updated photos 6/2016.

Newport Rotary hears presentation on Food Pantry needs
at the site from Tammy Blizzard, the Pantry Director. 

(l-r) Newport Rotary;s Rick Moreau, Derryl Garner & Steve
Blizzard listen as Director Tammy Blizzard cites need for new  range. 

Newport Rotary to Support Pig Cooking Effort

Newport Rotarians cull BBQ at The Newport Pig Cooking

For as long as there has been a Newport Pig Cooking, Newport Rotary has been involved with it.

Several Newport Rotary members brought the idea back from seeing it done elsewhere in the late 1970s. Since then, Newport Rotarians have been involved in many aspects of the event, from cooking, to administration, to organizational leadership.

For the past number of years, Newport Rotary volunteers have "culled" the BBQ meat after chopping is done, and before saucing occurs. We will be at the table again this year for the 38th Annual event! 

The Pig Cooking has been great for the Newport community, and continues to support many local community needs through its support of the local non-profit community. Thank you to our friends, neighbors and guests who support the Pig Cooking and the Newport community. 

Newport Rotary welcomes HomeFront Freedom

Homefront Freedom Personal Firearms Training will be utilizing the Rotary Building for training classes beginning in March 2016. Most classes are set on Saturdays, with an occasional course date set for Thursday or Friday evenings. We welcome Erik & Lexen Heck, and applaud the valuable service they are providing to our community. See their website here. All calendar dates rented are shown on our website.    

March 28 Meeting - Tour of Food Pantry

The March 28 Meeting will include a tour of the Matthew 25 Food Pantry, one of our Newport Rotary supported projects. We do several food drives a year for the food pantry serving the needy in our community. Food Pantry Dir. Tammy Blizzard will give us the onsite tour. We will meet at the Rotary building as usual at 5:30pm and carpool from there. Guests are welcome. See you there! 

Newport Celebrates 150 Years

It was a weekend of celebration in Newport. See the article from the Carteret County News Times. 

Insights into Strategic Planning

Club member and RLI Faculty Trainer Pam Wall gave the program at Newport Rotary on Monday, January 25, 2016. The topic of the presentation was on a facilitated Strategic Planning Model used by many Rotary clubs. She demonstrated the use of several templates used, and posed "big questions" for the group to consider. The club had an excellent turn out of membership for the meeting.    

January 11 Program on President's Day, Club will not Meet Jan 18.

The program at Newport Rotary on January 11, 2016 will be a reflection on the history of the President's Day holiday, upcoming in February. The club will not meet on Martin Luther King Jr. Day next week. Coffee and other beverages will be served. Guests are welcome.