Newport Rotary Celebrates the Christmas Season

Newport Rotary held its annual Christmas celebration at the home of Maher & Mary Saikali on December 3, 2018. See photos here.

We wish all our friends a joyous and happy holiday season! 

Newport Rotary in Top Tier of Foundation Support

2017-18 Newport Rotary President Anita Moreau
accepts Foundation support award from PDG R.B. Richie 

Newport Rotary continues its top-tier support of our Rotary Foundation, and was recognized for last year's accomplishments at the District 7730 Awards Banquet on Saturday night. The maximum-capacity event, attended by Newport Rotarians Anita Moreau, Rick Moreau and Bevin Wall, was held on November 3, 2018 in the ballroom of the Mad Boar Restaurant in Wallace NC. Past RI Director Ken Morgan assisted with award presentations. 

Last year's club president, Anita Moreau, accepted club awards and recognition banners from Past Governor R.B. Richey in the following categories:

• 100% Giving Club (13 clubs out of 52 clubs in district)  
• 100% EREY Club (9 clubs out of 52 clubs in district) 
• 100% Sustaining Member Club (5 clubs out of 52 clubs in district)  

Newport Rotary is a Top-5 Per Capita Giving Club for last year, and is perpetually in the "Top-5". All three attending Newport Rotians were also acknowledged for their support of the Foundation as Major Donors, Benefactors, and for their support of Polio Eradication Efforts. Our Rotary Foundation is "doing good in the world" in many ways, and at least 1/2 of what is given comes back to our district for projects. Newport Rotary has two of those projects now, one at the Autism Center and one at Croatan Ridge Care Home, both in Newport!

Over 4,300 attend Hootenanny

Newport Rotary's signature event of the year, The Newport Halloween Hootenanny, saw record attendance of 4,300 children and adults this year on a beautiful fall-feeling Halloween evening. Congratulations to Newport Rotary and their Hootenanny partners in the community, who have been making this event happen for almost 40 years! See more information, including photos at the Hootenanny website. 

Hospice Focus of November 5 Meeting

Charlie Miller of Newport Hospice will be the program for Newport Rotary on November 5, 2018.  Also, some Hootenanny after-action items will be addressed. Please invite a guest to attend guest! 

Despite Florence, the Hootenanny is ON!

Read about it on the Newport Halloween Hootenanny website. 

Hurricane Florence Flooding Severe in Newport

Flooding at the Newport Babe Ruth Field,
Newport NC on Mill Creek Road,
during Hurricane Florence

We pray for all those effected by the wind, rain & flooding of Hurricane Florence.

The Town of Newport and surrounding areas have been very hard hit. Newport Rotarians are taking care of their family, friends and neighbors during this calamity.

We thank all those who are putting "Service Above Self" during this time of great need in our community. 

September 10 Program: Helping Children in Paraguay

Rev Kit & Pauline Tisdale

The Rev. Kit Teasdale will be the speaker at Newport Rotary on September 10, 2018. Kit, and his wife, Pauline, are Newport residents after years of serving abroad as missionaries, most significantly, in Paraguay. They are the founders and principals of International Cross Cultural Ministries (ICCM), a non-profit ministry dedicated to sustainable development projects all over the world. In the past few years they have done projects related to bee keeping, water wells and leadership education in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In the US they are active in refugee assistance. Food & drink will be served. Please being a guest for this enlightening and informative program! 

First Day of School Cleanup Project

Newport Rotary President Rick Moreau leads the way! 

Newport Rotarians gathered together to “be the inspiration” to the Town of Newport. Friday, August 24, was our annual "spruce up the elementary school" project – turnout was great – the weather was hot – but the schoolyard is now ready for the first day of school. 

 Grass was cut, trimmed and edged – hanging baskets and pots of glorious flowers graced the front doors – and the retaining wall in front of the school on the main road got a fresh coat of paint – so bright it gleamed. Rotarians Rick Moreau, Mayer Saikali and Larry Howard cut, trimmed and edged…Pam Wall, Michelle Garcia, Tammy Blizzard, Steve Blizzard, Matt and Lindsay Shortway and Anita Moreau made up the painting brigade. Rachel Bell brought out the cold water…and Bevin Wall did a fly by of encouragement. 

Afterwards we cleaned up, adjourned to Shortway Brewery for cold drinks – and shared nachos and sandwiches from the deli down the block. We worked our fingers to the bone, but it’s what we do to make Newport shine.

Rotary Treasurer Maher Saikali in action

Newport Rotarians Michelle Garcia and Tammy Blizzard
do their best Tom Sawyer imitation ! 
(note the Rotary bench in the background)

August 6 Program - Water Quality Issues We Should Know About

Newport Rotary will feature Water Quality Expert Stacy Goff as our program during our regular meeting on August 6, 2018.

Stacy has been in the Water and Wastewater utility field since 2006, first beginning his career as a Utility Equipment Operator for the Town of Newport. After a brief time I was offered the position of Treatment Operator where he quickly found his passion in Public Utility work. Stacy has been with Utilities, Inc, which is the parent company of Carolina Water Service of NC since 2009. He spent 2 years with a sister company in Louisiana. 

Stacy currently hold a Grade 4 certification in Biological Water Pollution Control Treatment, a Grade 3 certification in Biological Water Pollution Collection Systems, a Class B- Well certification in Drinking Water Treatment, and a Class A- Distribution certification in Drinking Water Distribution. We welcome Stacy to Newport Rotary. 

Meeting Shift. District Governor Visits July 23

DG April Clark

Newport Rotary welcomes District Governor April Clark on Monday July 23, 2018 at 5:30. Newport Rotarians - please make it a priority to attend! Guests are encouraged. There will no meeting on July 16. 

DG April joined the Jacksonville Rotary Club in August, 1999.  Like many Rotarians, she joined for professional and business reasons, expecting networking opportunities.  Instead, with the urging of her friend and Rotary mentor, PDG Vanessa Ervin, she became involved in service work, chairing the Caring for Kids program, where she found the perfect outlet to devote her enthusiasm for service work. 

April’s vocation has primarily been in the sales arena.  She worked for sixteen plus years in the wireless industry for both GTE Mobilenet and US Cellular.  She led sales teams in the retail, corporate and reseller distribution channels.  Pursuing her passion for the outdoors, travel and yoga, she owned and operated an eco-tourism business with a full service yoga/wellness center in Swansboro, North Carolina.  April is committed to her service to Rotary, taking two years from the work force to spend in “active service.”  She is engaged in her community and serves on the following boards: Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission, Swansboro Historical Preservation Commission, North Carolina Coastal Federation and the Carolina Museum of the Marine. 

April served as club president in 2012-13 and immediately following her term, became the Assistant Governor for Area 2.   She is a Paul Harris Society member and a Rotary Leadership Institute graduate.  She has taken part in three National Immunization Days in India to help eradicate polio.  April is a long time resident of Onslow County.  She graduated from Jacksonville High School, has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  Currently enrolled in a Leadership and Volunteer Management Certificate Program at North Carolina State University.

April is a certified yoga instructor and resides in Swansboro with her husband Jeff.  Her daughter, Grace, is a student an UNCW.

Be there a little early on July 23 to meet DG April as we work together to "Be the Inspiration" in 2018-19! Light refreshments will be served. 

Newport Rotary - We Celebrate Our Biggest Grant Project Yet

As the Rotary year draws to a conclusion for 2017-18, Newport Rotary celebrates in biggest Rotary Foundation project yet. On June 1, 2018, Newport Rotarians shared a meal and fellowship with men's and women's shelter staff and beneficiaries at Hope Mission, our county's homeless shelter. We dedicated a new commercial freezer for the soup kitchen and new cots and bedding for the men's shelter. Newport Rotary raised the funds, private donations, and obtained a matching grant from the Rotary Foundation to complete funding. The project impact exceeds $5,500. The project coordinators are Bevin Wall, Pam Wall, Julia Saikali and Rick Moreau.

Newport Rotarians, Hope Mission Staff & Beneficiaries Celebrate...

PDG Bevin Wall dedicates the project with a plaque. 

The McLendons- the driving force behind Hope Mission's ministry.

Rotary Work Day Today

All hands on deck for the Rotary Workday, today, Monday June 4, 2018, noon to 5pm. A text message with details has been sent to all club members. See you there! 

Newport Rotary Welcomes Walmart Neighborhood Market Manager

(l-r) Newport Rotary President Anita Moreau, Wendy Pesch,
PDG Bevin Wall during the induction Monday night

Local Walmart Neighbor Market Store Manager Wendy Pesch was welcomed into Newport Rotary during the May 7, 2018 meeting.

Wendy, last a Rotarian in the Mount Olive Rotary Club, grew up locally, receiving her BA from UNC-Wilmington, and managed a Walmart in Mount Olive before moving back home. She has been an integral part of our service activities, even before joining Newport Rotary, in our partnership with Walmart on our Food Drives for the Matthew 25 Food Pantry. Wendy was inducted into the club by Past District Governor Bevin Wall.

We all welcome Wendy to Newport Rotary!

Newport Summer Recreation Events

The Town of Newport and the Newport Public Library are sponsoring a number of events this summer. Click here for the flyer.  

Presidential Porcine Praise

This is big THANK YOU to everyone who came out and volunteered at the Pig Cooking today - what a great turnout - Newport Rotarians are the best ever. Hope everyone got a taste of the pig - and a hush puppy or two...and had a wonderful time with their fellow Rotarians. Supporting the community of Newport is what we do best. If you brought a friend or family member with you - give them a handshake or hug of thanks also. Pres. Anita

Cleanup with Allstate Project Scheduled

 Newport Rotary has scheduled a "Cleanup with Allstate Project" for Monday, May 7, 2018 between 12:00 Noon and 5:00 pm at the Newport Rotary Building. Local Allstate Agent and Newport Rotary Member Michele Garcia is heading up the project. The project will make needed improvements to the Newport Rotary building and grounds and several prior club project sites around the town. Project Volunteers are invited to an early dinner and reception at the Newport Rotary Building from 5:30-6:30pm.

The project is a collaboration between Newport Rotary, local Allstate agents, and The Allstate Foundation.  Contact: Michele Garcia for details at michellegarcia@allstate.com.  

Autism Society Director Joins Newport Rotary

Newport Rotary inducted its newest member on Monday, April 2, 2018, Nicole Kristal, Program Director of the Newport Center of The Autism Society of North Carolina.  The Newport Center currently administers Summer Day Camps, Afternoon Programs and Adult Programs. Nicole is a California native who has been with her current position for less than a year. She has her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy and was working in that field before changing her career path with her current position. Her interests are comedy (Improv in New Bern), church involvement, hiking and discipleship. She plans on jumping right in on Newport Rotary's many upcoming service projects! Welcome, Nicole! 

Senior Project Volunteers Needed

See Pres. Anita for more information on this great way to volunteer and positively affect the youth of our community. At West Carteret High School.    

Last Week's Service Project(s) Results

I want to thank everyone who came out on Friday (23) and Saturday (24) to help out with our two service projects - Hope Mission meal and Food drive at Walmart.  I know there were many of you who were not able to get there, but there are more opportunities in store.

We served 110 meals at Hope Mission - what a blessing it was for us to be able to serve so many.  On Saturday we filled the pantry shelves and closed up shop at 1PM - 3590 pounds of food - $87.23 in donations by some incredibly generous Walmart Shoppers.

The Pig cookin' folks are counting on our help on April 7th - 10-12 - to chop pig and help serve/distribute dinners.  Wear your Rotary hat/shirt/jacket and let the folks know that Rotary supports Newport.

We hope to have hot water in the Rotary building soon - it's amazing the steps that have to be taken to switch from gas to electricity - from repairing the wall to running new cable (and probably get a new electrical box in the very near future).  Rick Moreau has taken care of the wall...it's been patched and repainted...and he and Scott White from Morehead City will get the new water heater installed as soon as Scott has an opening (we hope this week). 

The items in the back of the Rotary building have been hauled to the dump in preparation for a spring outdoor cleanup - so get your trimmers, shovels, rakes and cutters ready for a break in the weather. If we all pitch in, we can get the building back in pristine condition in no time.

Don't for get our meeting on April 2nd - bring a friend. Have a blessed Easter. Pres. Anita Moreau. 

Balsam Range - CART Fundraiser Deal

Approved by the club at the March 5 meeting: Newport Rotarians attending the Balsam Range concert March 24, 2018 at 7pm at the Carteret Community Theater, Morehead City will receive 1/2 of their ticket price reimbursed from the club. The concert is a fundraiser for the CART Fund - Coins for Alzheimers Research Trust - a Rotary project funding Alzheimers Research. The concert is sponsored by the Morehead City Rotary Club. Tickets must be purchased in advance. They are going fast. Buy Tickets. More info. 

March 5th Meeting Reminder

Hey everyone - Hope it's the start of a great weekend for everyone - looks to be sunny and fine, just a little windy. This is a reminder of our meeting on Monday, the 5th - 5:30. We have two folks coming to share some important information with us - and a couple of things to discuss and decide as a group - there'll be time to share, spend some "happy dollars" and catch up on our calendar. March is a busy month, so with all that we have to do, this will be the only meeting we have in March - Looking forward to seeing you all there. Pres. Anita. 

February 19 Program: Mid-Year Awards

(l-r) Rtns. Steve Blizzard, Bevin Wall, Pam Wall, Pres. Anita
Moreau, Pres-Elect Rick Moreau and District Gov. Nominee
Doug Wolfe  

It was a grand award evening at the Newport Rotary on Monday, February 19th. AG Doug Wolfe and his wife Jane, and incoming AG Bryan McCoury joined us – Doug stood in for Gov. RB Richey as the award presenter. The awards were all in fun, but the sentiment attached to them was true – Newport Rotary has a great group of Rotarians – committed to the truth and purpose of Rotary. Matt Shortway (not pictured – he had to leave early – the littles have the flu and wife Lindsay had her hands overly full without him) was awarded some fine mass produced libation (just so he didn’t have to make his own at Shortway Brewery) for his continuous “Can-Do – there’s always a “Way” attitude”; Steve Blizzard was awarded the Vice-Presidential mallet for stepping in, without hesitation, when needed; Rick Moreau received his very own “squeaky toy award” for his steadfast loyalty and support as this years PET; Pam Wall was given a gorgeous gift of jewelry (ask to see it the next time you see her) to thank her for all the hard work she puts in each year as our “Halloween Hootenanny Heroine” and Bevin Wall was awarded the coveted Blue Bucket of “Wipe It Out” and non-tech pink rubber erasers for his enormous commitment as our “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” secretary. The membership was made aware (warned) that more awards would be forthcoming in the next couple of months. Capping the evening off, Michelle Matson-Garcia (Agency Owner, President), joined our Newport Rotary family – and we are happy to welcome her in. Although we don’t always have a meal, a new Newport business – Deja Food – catered the event, and several of our members filled in beautifully with some yummy extras. We always have leftovers (there was so much food), so it was generously donated to the Hospice House in Newport. We’ve got a lot going on – come visit us sometime. Pres. Anita Moreau.