Meet our 2023-24 Club President:  Jenny Baker

You can reach her at jennybrockwellbaker@gmail.com

Executive Board Members:                                                   

President-Elect:    John Lamanna (lamannaj@outlook.com)                     

Secretary:             Paul Frank (pfrank@ptfassociates.com)

Treasurer:             Bob Hall (rdhdds@comcast.net)

Past President:      John Elrick (john.elrick@gmail.com)

Board Members:

                      2021-2024                                          2022-2025                                           2023-2026

              Heather Hovermale                                 Wilson Gilbert                                    Darcus Breneman

                    Dave Miles                                         Darla McCrary                                       Gary Chrisman

                     Jay Smith                                          Chuck Peterson                                         Rick Mabe

                 Dave Sweeney                                        Ridge White                                            John Elrick

District Conference, March 15-17th !

This year’s District Conference is in Blacksburg at The Inn at Virginia Tech.  Activities start on Thursday, the 14th, with Pints For Polio gathering at Eastern Divide Brewing Co. (5-7pm).  Things start ramping up on Friday with pre-conference break-out sessions from 10-11:30 followed by a First Timers Leadership Luncheon.  The General Session #1 & #2 run all afternoon from 1 – 5pm with speakers telling us inspiring stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things here at home and around the world.  The day is brought to a climactic close with a Casino Night and Buffet Dinner.  Saturday begins early with General Sessions #3 & #4 from 8:30 – noon.  You’ll hear speakers emphasize the value of contribution, of living a more purposeful life, and how to regain motivation.  The afternoon is open to many options, from attending break-out sessions on subjects like yoga, dance, how to run a meeting, Scotch tasting, club size dynamics, among others, to working out, taking a nap, going shopping, or reading a book.  However you choose to spend your Saturday afternoon, plan to rejoin your fellow Rotarians in the evening for a Scotch & Plaid Rotary Foundation Celebration dinner (6:30-9pm).  On Sunday, a Memorial Service for those Rotarians we have lost over the past year and our final General Session #5 (8:30-10am) concludes this amazing experience called District Conference.  You don’t want to miss it!  For more information and to register, click here.  Remember, if this is your first time going, our Club will pay your registration and 1 night’s lodging.  What a deal!!

 

What’s Going On

      NEW MEMBER TALK 

Donna Parish gave her New Member Talk at our noon meeting on Feb. 8th.  She thanked her sponsors, including her husband, Steve, and described herself as “a small-town girl from GA.”  It was there that she met a guy and moved to Virginia (yes, it was Steve). Married almost 20 years, Donna loves to travel, and takes care of both her mom and her mother-in-law.  She worked in retail for 20 years before retiring to become a full-time caregiver.  Recently Donna has been to Alaska, Greece, and Cabo, and hopes to do more traveling in the future. Getting involved with Rotary through Steve, Donna is enjoying the camaraderie and charity work.  She hopes to grow in Rotary and appreciates the friendships she has made so far.

Upcoming Meetings

22-Feb –   Rusty Holland, speaking on Concern Hotline

22 Feb –    BOARD MEETING , 6pm, Winchester Country Club,  All members are welcome

29 Feb –    No Noon MeetingAwards Banquet in the evening

7 Mar –     Amelia Stansell, speaking on Rotary Action Group Against Slavery

15 Mar –   District Conference, Virginia Tech

23 Mar –   Family Chili Cook-Off, Isaac Walton League, 6-10 pm.

28 Mar –   “Interactive” Lunch Meeting 

28 Mar –   BOARD MEETING, 6 pm, Winchester Country Club,  All members are welcome

11 Apr –    No Noon MeetingSpring Social in the evening

 

Awards Banquet

OUR AWARDS BANQUET will be held on February 29th at the George Washington Hotel. No noon meeting that day. Dave Kelly told us that vegan and gluten free options will be available AND an open
bar (with 2 bartenders)! Sign up online or at the club. Contact Dave at dfkelly28@gmail.com for more information.

LAST WEEK’S PROGRAM

Scott Trivette, is the Program Manager for Volunteer Services at Valley Health. He was born in the foothills of North Carolina and has a wife, Teresa, and four children. He has served in healthcare as both a chaplain and a patient and took the position with Volunteer Services six months ago. He encouraged club members to become volunteers if they’d like to know more about him.  Scott said he found an instant connection with Rotary based on our mutual dedication to service. He has served as a volunteer firefighter and knows the importance of service. Valley Health needs 400 volunteers daily to help across the board and “we’re halfway there.” He said people in the area are unaware that there is a need. He elaborated on the connections that can be made in the course of volunteering. Some of the duties that volunteers can provide include transportation, a service which hasn’t been available due to lack of resources. Training is available and there are many other opportunities available. The Valley Health website has information on volunteering, including a list of needs and an application to join their ranks. Any amount of time is appreciated but one 4-hour shift per week is preferred.

Newest Members

CHRIS KYSER – Chris is a transfer from the RC
of Annapolis. She and husband Giles are new to
the area and live in Lake Frederick. However,
Chris grew up in NoVa and went to George
Mason, so Virginia is her home. An educational
sign language interpreter by profession, Chris
also likes to hike, travel, play pickle ball, and
read. Chris is an eager volunteer and has
already signed up for Kaleidoscope! We have
also been told that we will get a two-for-one
deal with Giles anytime Chris is involved with
Rotary. We have another live one, folks!

KAYCEE CHILDRESS – Kaycee is currently the
President/CEO of United Way here in Winchester. She started her journey in Rotary in the Ashburn Rotary Club (2017-18) before coming to us. Kaycee is the proud mother of 5 ranging in ages from 9–27. She enjoys supporting them in their sports and music activities – a full-time job in itself. Kaycee
wants to help the ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) population. We have Darcus Breneman and Andrea Cosans to thank for bringing Kaycee into our club.

CALLING ALL CHILI LOVERS!

What better way to say good-bye to Winter than to have a good old-fashion Chili Cook-off! On March 23rd at the Isaac Walter League on Rt50 East, we will assemble our best chili chefs from among our members to compete for the title of Rotary Chili Cook-Off Champion. It can’t get any better than that! The whole family is invited to share in the fun. Besides the many choices of chili (including vegetarian), there will be corn bread, mac ‘n cheese, dessert, beer, soda, wine, and water. Despite the fact that this is a fundraiser for our Club, the cost will only be $25 for adults and $10 for children under 12. The winner will be chosen by popular vote. So mark your calendar now to come out and sample the best chili our Club has to offer. For more info or to sign up for the competition, contact either Dan Martin (703-434-1021) or Jean Barch (540-247-8402).

Bagpipes For The Band –

Concert Rescheduled…..Watch for a NEW DATE coming.
100 YEARS AGO in October 1924 our club sponsored a series of concerts by the Royal Scottish Highlander Band as a fundraiser to purchase musical instruments and uniforms for the band at the newly opened John Handley High School. To commemorate the upcoming anniversary of this event, the Handley 100th Anniversary Celebration Committee is proud to present, with support from Winchester Rotary, a joint concert performance by the Winchester Pipe and Drums and the Handley High School Concert Band. The concert will be held in Handley’s Patsy Cline Theater. ADMISSION IS FREE. This event is part of the Alumni Music Series of the Handley100th Celebration. Hopefully a large contingent from our club will be on hand as our club again comes out in force to support our community

Frothy Fridays!

JOIN US on the last Friday of each month!
We meet at Vibrissa (10 N. Kent St.) from 5:30-7:00 PM to celebrate having survived our latest blast of Old Man Winter. Hope to see you there!

Health Tip of the Week

Stepping in for Libba Pendleton, Les Veach told us of the benefits of intermittent fasting, which include weight loss, reduction in blood sugar, and lower blood pressure.  Most people fast for 12 hours, from 7pm until 7am.  This eliminates that evening snacking which we all know isn’t good for us!

Rotary Road Trip!

     President Jenny is looking for someone to organize the next

ROTARY ROAD TRIP!

This time we’ll take Andy Gyurisin up on his offer of a grand tour

of Laurel Ridge Community College and perhaps enjoy dinner

at either Vault & Cellar or Wayside Inn in Middletown?

If you would like to organize this outing (Feb/March time frame),

please email Jenny at

  jennybrockwellbaker@gmail.com

              
                                                    

Our Meetings

We are currently meeting in Hybrid mode. Our meetings are held at Winchester Country Club on Thursdays.  Doors open at Noon, and the program runs from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  If you choose to view our meetings remotely, there is also a Zoom option.  Please contact us for that link.

Who we are

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

  • FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
  • SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
  • THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
  • FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.

The Rotary Club of Winchester, founded in 1921, is comprised of some of Winchester’s most prominent community leaders – men and women with a variety of backgrounds in business, professions, religions, civic and non-profit organizations. Our members take action to make the Winchester community stronger through their service, fellowship, and by setting a good example. Every week, we come together to fulfill our commitment to Rotarian values, such as friendship, fellowship, and service to others.

If this sounds like you, Rotary is the right place for you.

Learn More

A key tenet of Rotary is service.

Our members roll up their sleeves’ to make a difference. Whether it’s collecting for the Salvation Army, handing out dictionaries in our own community, packing food to send to Haiti, the Winchester Rotary Club’s impact can be felt near and far.

If this sounds like you, Rotary is the right place for you.

Learn More