Boys & Girls Home @ Lake Waccamaw - School Items Needed

For those of you who are putting the school supply bags together for the Boys and Girls Home at Lake Waccamaw - here is the list of items that Mason Smith gave us that the boys in the Rotary Cabin can use:

• socks
• pencils
• pens
• tape
• loose notebook paper
• sports/water bottles
• towels
• shower shoes
• scientific calculators
• spiral notebooks
• Wal-Mart Gift Card (for specific teacher required items)

Please take the filled bags ( or boxes or whatever you use) to Shortway Brewery as soon as possible - Rick & Anita Moreau will pick them up there and get them delivered to the Home. Thanks so much for helping out with this project - if you would like to give just a give card, you can do that also, and we will get that delivered to them. Thanks so much for your generosity. Anita Moreau

Hairston Speaks on Domestic Violence

(l-r) Newport Rotary President Steve
Blizzard, Tova Hairston, and Program
Chair, Rtn Michelle Garcia 

Tova Hairston, Executive Director of the Coastal Women's Shelter in New Bern, was the guest speaker at Newport Rotary on Monday. July 22, 2019. Hairston described the wide scope of domestic violence issues and the various ways that her non-profit organization tries to meet the needs of their client, the domestic violence abuse victim. CWS's counselors are all professional, paid staff who are very dedicated to their mission. After answering some questions from Newport Rotarians, she also highlighted the ways that others can help with the mission, including donating funds and volunteering in their thrift store.

Rotarian Michelle Garcia arranged for the program. 

Rotarians Hear About Compassion International

(l-r) Doug Marshall, Rtn. Michelle Garcia, Stella Marshall,
and Newport Rotary President Steve Blizzard   

Newport Rotary's July 8, 2019 program was presented by Doug and Stella Marshall from The Fellowship in Havelock who spoke about Compassion International.

From their website: Compassion International is a Christian child development organization dedicated to releasing children from poverty. Our ministry to children is twofold: We work through local churches to provide child development programs to deliver children from economic, physical, social and spiritual poverty, enabling them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. And we speak out for children in poverty – informing, motivating and equipping others to become advocates for children.

The similarities in the mission of Compassion and Rotary were so beautifully explained by our speakers. They gave a personal glimpse of how they make time with four children, full time jobs, and busy lives to sponsor three children through Compassion International. It was so moving and inspiring. The impact of our $38 a month on a child somewhere in the world is unbelievably impactful. Compassion International is an amazing and world changing Christ based program. We appreciate this opportunity to learn more about this great opportunity for service. Program Sponsor and website contributor: Rotarian Michelle Garcia.  

Blizzard Assumes the Helm as Club President

2019-20 Club Pres. Steve Blizzard

Pres. Steve Blizzard and the 2019-20 Newport Rotary leadership team was installed at special meeting on Monday, June 26, 2019. Matt Shortway was recognized as President-Elect.

The meeting doubled as the club's final service project of 2018-19 under outgoing Pres. Rick Moreau, an improvement project at the Mann Cemetery in Newport. Click here for the article.

Past District Governor Bevin Wall conducted the installation and remarked on the value of the club to the community, including its member's leadership in civic affairs, their innovation in creating and sustaining of many signature town events such as the Newport Pig Cooking Contest and the Newport Halloween Hootenanny, and their present community project oriented schedule of approximately one project per month. Newport Rotary is looked on by others, including other Rotary clubs, as a "club that gets things done". The future is bright if we continue to innovate and do!

Pres. Blizzard joined Rotary in 2009 and was previously club president in 2011-2012. His wife, Tammy is also an active member of the club. Their daughter, Grace, is on a Rotary Youth Exchange this Summer.        

Cemetery Improvement Project Completed

Pres. Rick Moreau leads the project! 

Newport Rotary concluded its 2018-19 Year with a completion and celebration of its cemetery improvement project at the Mann Cemetery in Newport on June 26, 2019, with the event doubling as the installation of officers for 2019-20. Improvements include installed concrete benches, a flagpole, and flower plantings. Newport Rotary coordinated the improvements with the Town. This was the last project in Pres. Rick Moreau's tenure as President. Rotarian Rick Smith was the project coordinator.  Click here for photos of the project.