Newport Rotary Promotes Post-Helene Blood Drives

Photo credit: American Red Cross

Newport Rotary is promoting giving blood at our local blood drives during the upcoming month. Several recent Hurricanes have reduced available blood supply and the need is urgent. Please consider giving blood and encouraging others to do so. 

The local schedule can be accessed at this link or on the American Red Cross webpage. Please confirm all dates and times with the Red Cross local contact.    

Some local dates and sites (as of date of posting): 

• October 8, 2024, St James, Newport 
• October 10, 2024, Crystal Coast Wellness Studios, Morehead City
• October 11, 2024, Havelock Moose Family Center, Havelock
• October 11, 2024, Emerald Isle Community Center, Emerald Isle
• October 17, 2024, Glad Tidings Church, Morehead City
• October 21, 2024, First Methodist Church, Morehead City

Newport Rotary Donates to WNC Disaster

Hurricane Helene damage, Sept 2024
photo credit: NPR

Newport Rotary members personally donated $750 to Western NC Hurricane Helene Relief effort during its October 7, 2024 meeting, an amount that was matched by the club for a total $1,500 donation. Hurricane Helene has caused widespread devastation in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, leaving countless families in need of urgent assistance. The funds are being sent to the Rotary District 7730 Foundation to support direct funding of Rotarian led projects and supplies in Western NC (Rotary District 7670). Thanks to Steve & Tammy Blizzard, Richard & Anita Moreau and Bevin & Pam Wall for their generous donations.

Newport Rotary Labor Day Party

Newport Rotary will have a Labor Day Party in lieu of its regular meeting on Monday, September 2, 2024 at 5:30pm. This is a thank-you for the hard work put in by Newport Rotary members over this very busy spring and summer. Rotary members Bevin & Pam Wall will be hosting at their home at 1661 Highway 24, Newport. 

Bring spouse, SO, family or guest. Dress is beach/ Rotary casual, so bring your hard soled shoes if you want to go in the water. Any kids must be supervised in the water by adults and have age appropriate flotation gear. Weather permitting there will be water sports, sunning, hot-tubbing, sailing, etc. Bring your summer game of choice for the lawn.    

Food and basic drink will be provided. BYOB for your special beverage. Prepare to have fun. 

A word on the location. This is a direct turn off of Hwy 24 onto a private unnamed drive on the "sound side" between Buena Vista Drive and Florida Park Drive. The green mail box will be marked with balloons. Bear left near the end of the drive.  

20 Volunteers Support School Cleanup

 

NES First Day of School Volunteers

Newport Rotary's annual "First Day of School Cleanup" at Newport Elementary School took place on Saturday, August 17, 2024 with 20 Rotarians, friends of Rotary, school teachers and staff attending. 

In about 2 hours the school grounds were put in a friendly, welcoming condition for first time and attending students during the first week of school. Grass was mowed, trimmed and blown, shrubberies pruned, hanging plants hung and in about 2 hours of intense activity scheduled for the cooler morning hours. 

NES Principal Laura Parish and Rotary Club President Dennis Barber thanked all of those in attendance. It really means a lot to the school, staff and visitors to know that the community supports the school. It also gives a great impression to visitors that Newport is a welcoming and engaged place to be! Thanks to all those who made it out and donated equipment, including Rotarians Pres. Dennis Barber, Maher Saikali, Julia Capps, Tristan Thomas, Matt Shortway & Bevin Wall. 

Year 3 - Clara's Closet stocked by Newport Rotary & Wall Family

Newport Rotary & guests stock
Clara's Closet for the new school year

Click here for photos from our fun morning stocking Clara's Closet with needed teacher supply items at Newport Elementary School. School starts next week so the teachers are in "get ready" mode and this will really help them out. 

Gold stars to special helpers NES Principal Laura Parish, Newport Rotary President (and Newport Mayor) Dennis Barber and Rotary Assistant Governor Barbara Johnson! Also counting, sorting, arranging and displaying were Newport Rotary Members Rachel Bell, Anita Eadie, and Tristan Thomas. Newport Rotary's Bevin Wall & Pam Wall represented the Wall Family who started the project three years ago. 

Click here for the backstory on Clara's Closet. 

District Governor CJ Crooks to Visit Club

2024-25 Rotary District Governor CJ Crooks from the Rotary Club of Jacksonville NC will speak at Newport Rotary during the club's regular meeting on August 5, 2024 at 5:30pm. 

Light refreshments will be served. 

A meeting of the Club's Board of Directors will follow. 

Newport Rotary and Rotarians Recognized by District

District 7730 Clubs and Rotarians were recognized at the District Awards & Installation event on Saturday June 30, 2024 at the Waterline Brewery, Wilmington. District Governor (2023-24) Allen Quigley and District Governor (2024-25) CJ Crooks presided at the event. Newport Rotarians President Rachel Bell, President-Elect Dennis Barber, and Rotarians Rick Moreau, Anita Moreau, PDG Bevin Wall and family guests attended.

Newport Rotary was recognized as a District Governor Award Club for establishing, meeting and reporting a broad array of service oriented goals during the 2023-24 Rotary Year. Only 29 of 50 clubs were so recognized.  

Rotarians Rick & Anita Moreau were recognized with special District Individual Awards for Education Excellence for their roles in District Training and the Rotary Leadership Institute. 

Newport Rotarians were also recognized for their present or upcoming involvement in District Leadership as follows. PDG Bevin Wall as District Secretary & District Audit Chair; Pam Wall as District Trainer, and Rick Moreau as RLI Chair. 

In a District with 50 clubs, Newport Rotary remains heavily involved in leadership at all levels of Rotary. Thank you Newport Rotary! 

Click here for some event photos.