End Polio Now Booth at Fall Festival

 

Newport Rotarians spread the word about Polio Eradication at the Camp Albemarle Fall Festival on October 30, 2021. Rotarians staffing the booth include Tammy Blizzard (pictured), Steve Blizzard, Anita Moreau, Richard Moreau. 

Newport Rotary Donates to Polio Eradication, Staffs Booths

Each Newport Rotarian donated the sum of $50 toward the Rotary Foundation Polio Eradication Campaign as a gift of appreciation to District Governor Ellen Deaton, who visited the club on Monday October 4, 2021 for her annual address. 

World Polio Day is October 24. 

Newport Rotary plans to have booths featuring polio eradication at the Camp Albemarle Fall Festival on October 30 and at the Newport Halloween Hootenanny on October 31.  

Newport Rotary Receives Grant Approval for Community-wide Little Free Libraries Project

Newport Rotary has received a Rotary Foundation District Grant to fund its project to put a minimum of 12 new Little Free Libraries into the Newport community and surrounding areas of need. 

More information will follow as the project develops. 

Thanks to Rotarian Anita Moreau for her leadership on this needed project that betters our community. 

Latest Hootenanny News

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Click here for News on Sponsor Canvassing in the community  

Newport Rotarians Conduct School Clean-up

Newport Rotarians organized and conducted their annual "School Cleanup" at Newport Elementary School on Monday, August 16, 2021. Over 80% of the club membership showed up in the heat of an August afternoon to spruce up the front of the school's landscaping and adding a splash of color with some new flower pots, just before the school's pre-school year open house on Wednesday, June 18, 2021. The effort follows a recent school cleanup event over the prior weekend and other efforts by parents, PTA members at the school and the school maintenance staff. Rotarians showed up in their "work gear" carrying rakes, shovels, brooms and toting various carts and baskets. Club President Julia Saikali organized the event. After the service project concluded, the club members adjourned to Shortway Brewery for refreshments and fellowship!  

Julia Saikali installed as Rotary Club President

Pres. Julia Saikali and proud father, PP Maher Saikali
at the Installation on June 21, 2021

Rotarian Julia Saikali was installed as the 72nd President of Newport Rotary on June 21, 2021 at an event held at Shortway Brewery in Newport. President Saikali, an attorney in Morehead City, succeeds Brewmaster Matt Shortway in the top club leadership role. 

Ms. Saikali was welcomed by her father, Club Treasurer and Past President Maher Saikali, and was joined by her mother and sister at the event. She was installed by Past District Governor Bevin Wall of the the club and officially obtains office on July 1, 2021.

NRC Installs Little Free Library at Camp Albemarle - April 2021

 

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Rick & Anita Moreau Recognized for Rotary Foundation Support

Newport Rotarians Rick & Anita Moreau have each been recognized by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International with a Paul Harris Fellow + 4 Recognition. The recognition was made in a presentation of pins by Club President Matt Shortway during the May 3, 2021 Meeting of the Newport Rotary Club.

The Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. It does so through grants, scholarships, vocational training teams and other programs. The Foundation is often referred to as "the engine that powers Rotary" because of the important advantage it gives Rotary clubs in directing and multiplying its service impact.     

The Moreaus lead Foundation support by their example. They are each members of The Paul Harris Society which recognizes Rotary members who elect to contribute $1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, or approved global grants. Each are past-Presidents of the club and serve as Rotary Leadership Institute Faculty. Article by Bevin Wall 

Little Free Libraries - Inspiration & First Library Recounted

A few months ago – Newport Rotary invited Morehead City Noon member Tom Hussman to speak at a Monday night meeting and tell the members about Camp Albemarle. Located on Bogue Sound in Newport NC, Camp Albemarle offers residential and day summer camp sessions and adventure camps on the Crystal Coast.

He was greeted with quite an enthusiastic response – which led to Newport Rotary placing its first Little Free Library (LFL) on Camp Albemarle grounds. Seven (Julia Saikali, Mark and Anita Eadie, Steve and Tammy Blizzard and Rick and Anita Moreau) Newport Rotarians met up early Saturday (April 17th) to break ground for the Little Free Library. The Library had already been assembled and painted by Rotarian Rick Moreau. The library is identified by the LFL logo plate and has a plate on one side with a Newport Rotary identification tag – designed by Rotarian Phil Panzarella. The library has been stocked with a variety of books – donated by generous organizations, non-profits and local citizens - people are encouraged to take one…share one. Click here for Event Photos. 

Newport Rotary will place two more Little Free Libraries on April 24…one at St. James Methodist Church in Newport and one at Shortway Brewery (located across the street from Newport Elementary School). Our Rotarians want to get books into the hands of children and adults…giving them a chance to read and replace, borrow and share. Contributed by Anita Moreau

Watch for Little Free Libraries - the latest Newport Rotary community project!

Newport Rotarians met up on a fine spring morning...April 23, 2021…armed with a post hole digger, concrete, a shovel, and two little free libraries (LFL). The first went in front of the Family Life Center at St James Methodist Church in Newport, located in the middle of several neighborhoods. Rotarians Rick Moreau, Matt Shortway (President), and Steve Blizzard prepped the hole. They did the final construction on the LFL…while Tammy Blizzard and Anita Moreau prepared the concrete…under the strict supervision of Rachel Shortway (age 5), daughter of Matt Shortway. 

The same crew then made their way over to Downtown Newport – to install a second LFL on the corner of the Newport History Museum (conveniently located next to the Rotary Bench). Bevin and Pam Wall joined them. This LFL is also located directly across the street from Newport Elementary School – and the Museum site was chosen with that in mind. It took a day for the concrete to harden, making sure that the LFL’s were stable – and both were loaded with books for children and adults alike on early Sunday afternoon. 

Three LFL’s have been installed and stocked, and we are so incredibly grateful to those folks who have agreed to have them on/near their property. The increased sense of “community” is a wonderful thing to see, particularly after the last year, when so many faced isolation. Newport Rotary continues to seek ways to serve the Newport Community and all who live here. Contributed by Rtn. Anita Moreau

January 18 Program - Toastmasters

The January 18 2021 Newport Rotary Meeting will feature a Tostmasters Program. Toastmasters is now a "partner" with Rotary International. Toastmasters provides a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth. Joining is in our meeting will be President Steve Hellersperk DTM, Rick Reece DTM, Bob Pruett DTM, Jennifer Melton and Martha Mossad CC.

Toastmasters began as a series of speaking clubs organized by Ralph C. Smedley during his time working for the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) in Bloomington, Illinois, United States. As director of education at the YMCA, Smedley saw a need for the men in the community to learn how to speak, conduct meetings, plan programs and work on committees, and he wanted to help them. The first unofficial Toastmasters meeting was held on March 24, 1905.

Education is an important part of every Toastmaster’s journey, and it is a critical aspect of all club meetings around the world. Participating in Toastmasters’ education programs allows you to gain the valuable practice needed to develop your public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. The safe and supportive environment clubs provide allows you to learn at your own pace in a curriculum that has helped millions meet their personal and professional goals. Since Toastmasters was founded in 1924, our education programs have been driven by four guiding principles:

• Experiential learning – By giving speeches and fulfilling leadership roles, you practice and improve.
• Peer feedback – Grow and improve your public speaking and communication skills through honest and supportive peer evaluation.
• Mentoring – Experienced mentors encourage, guide, and support you in your goals and help you to achieve more than you thought possible.
• Self-paced program – Develop skills at your own pace and comfort level.

What’s in it for me? Are you prepared for impromptu questions? Is your speaking filled with unnecessary filler words such as ah, um, you know and many others? Do you know if is? The Toastmaster’s experience helps you become a better speaker and leader through a series of organized programs, effective instant evaluations, and practice. Only you can make it happen.