# 4 Northside Norfolk (7600)

Northside Norfolk, could be one of the smallest club in numbers but they have the biggest buffet hands down! What a selection, but what was better than the food was the company of the club members. The conversation at our table was quite enjoyable, thank you for making me a part of your club for even a day. Joe Galecki thank you for the write up in your bulletin and the update on the 60 Minutes story of the Gates foundation.
This club has grown from 18 to 24 over the past year and a new member Nancy Joslin was inducted today, welcome back Nancy! Their club brochure is great and I can see why they are attracting new members with all the services they participate in.

Another interesting ride home, going through the Hampton Roads tunnel an aircraft carrier (#77) crossed over the tunnel. I find it exciting to know I was driving under an aircraft carrier.
Meal cost $11.

# 3 Great Bridge (Chesapeake) (7600)

Small in numbers big in heart! I'm amazed at how welcoming everyone has been so far. Breakfast at Great Bridge in Chesapeake, VA on a golf course, which makes for a nice backdrop for a meeting. Jim Arnold was kind enough to set up the logistics of my visit and President Sommers graciously gave me ample time to discuss my mission. This visit set me up for another opportunity to take part in a fundraiser. Great Bridge is jointly holding a Wine Festival with The Rotary Club of Chesapeake. (Information below)
The speaker Jeannie Martin spoke about the Tidewater Youth Services Foundation; this group is making a difference one youth at a time.

The meal cost was $12 and the club members added an amazing $63 for a total of $75. I thank each of you and End Polio pins will be forth coming. I wasn't expecting clubs to add to my meal donation, so when clubs offer up Happy Dollars and matching donations it is really touching.

10/30/2010 – Chesapeake Virginia Wine Festival
If you are not able to fit that vineyard tour in this year, don’t fret! Premier wines from around the world will be available for tasting at the First Annual Chesapeake Virginia Wine Festival on Saturday October 30, 2010 from Noon – 6pm at the Chesapeake City Park on Greenbrier Parkway. This event, sponsored by Chesapeake Rotary, will benefit the Sidney M. Oman Cancer Center of Chesapeake Regional Hospital and the Community Charities of the Chesapeake Rotary Club.
Fabulous wines from around the world and produced by Virginia Wineries will be available for tasting as well as foods from the regions finest restaurants. Entertainment will be provided by Lewis McGehee.
For those looking to educate themselves on how to identify the finer qualities of wines or to increase their breadth of knowledge of wines, several wine seminars will be offered during the festival.

# 2 Franklin (7600)

Lunch with the Franklin Club, special thanks to all the members, I think each member came up to thank me and introduce themselves, I felt very welcome here. Frances, plays beautiful music and this group can sing! For the record my club does not sing, and it could be for good reason, I know I can’t hold a tune. I updated Franklin on the Polio Plus Challenge and where RI stood, briefly reviewed my previous NID experience and gave information on the upcoming NID. I loved all the questions around Polio. And while Franklin was not the first club, they are still part of the first day of the challenge and I thank you for your support!

By the way Brian, lunch was great the barbecue was really good, not quite sure what the desert was, but it was tasty. AG, Bill Billings, thank you for matching the meal cost! President Stuart, thank you for referring me to Brian.

Donation: meal $6 and matching meal from AG $6 for a total of $12.

As I go I will try to incorporate fun facts and interesting tidbits. At the end of the 200 Days I will tabulate meals, miles traveled and a variety of transportation mode. I will try to give a top 10 list for clubs over all, food, meeting location, club spirit and giving.

Driving home from Franklin was interesting first we had to reroute as the recent rains flooded the roads. Once redirected, it was a treat to drive past cotton fields in bloom waiting to be harvested. I also had the opportunity to take a ferry in route crossing the James River.

# 1 North Suffolk Club

#1
What a way to kick off the Challenge, the North Suffolk Club was super energetic and really excited to be the first official club of this venture. President Coppa was very generous with time and funds, not only did they donate all the Happy Dollars to Polio Plus they also matched the meal cost! The breakfast was very good, extra points for having diet coke; but the spectacular view really scores them high points. It was nice to see some members from the Churchland club, a club that I spoke to during the summer. North Suffolk has set the bar high for club rankings. While I was not the featured Speaker, I was given the opportunity to tell the club what the 200 Clubs 200 Days Challenge was and how it would work. The Speaker gave an eye-opening discussion on Modeling Simulation

I also presented the Club with a certificate of appreciation for their dedication for the eradication of Polio. Each club will receive a certificate which is numbered. I haven't decided which club should be #200, maybe my own club, Evanston, or my District Conference.

Donation: Meal $8, Happy Dollars and club match meal $28 for total of $36.00 I very good way to start the Challenge.

Get Ready to Start

Tomorrow is the Official Start of the 200 Clubs 200 Days Challenge. I will be at the North Suffolk Club (VA) for breakfast and speak at the Franklin Club (VA) at lunchtime. I am very excited to get underway.

Today I also received my first donation outside of Rotary, my friend & friend of Rotary, Beth Spillman, gave me a $10 donation. Along with funds collected I plan to add fun facts on the journey. So until tomorrow, In Rotary Service.

First Unofficial Club: McLean, VA

Well, today was my first "unofficial" Rotary Club, McLean, VA. What a wonderful welcome, not only was I impressed by the number of service projects this club is involved in, the number of visiting Rotarians and guests was amazing, our club rarely has visitors. I had met several members at prior Rotary events and it was lovely to see them again. If I was not going to the Rotary UN Day I would go to the Monte Carlo night, it sounds like it will be a fabulous fundraiser.

Vance Zavela, our District Polio Plus Chair is a member of McLean, so it was especially nice to kick off the 200 Clubs 200 Days Challenge with him.

Thanks to Debbie Jackson for inviting me to speak today on my initiative and the upcoming Polio NID in India, scheduled for February. The meal was very good, it definitely sets the bar for other clubs.
I received my first donation from the club, with the winner of the 50/50 donating their prize to the cause ($14), my apologies for not getting the name, please except my appreciation. All donations and meal values will be tracked and the total given to the Foundation for the Polio Plus Challenge at the end of my quest.

Getting ready to start the race, this evening I spoke to the West Point Kiwanis Club on my trip to India for the 2010 NID and the Polio Plus Challenge. Tomorrow I will speak to the McLean Rotary Club, while this is not my official start, I should start early as the holiday season most clubs will not be meeting, cutting out a good two weeks.

Anyway, My official start day is October 1st, I will have breakfast with the North Suffolk club and speak at the Franklin lunch meeting.

The 2011 India NID trip is taking shape, Nancy does a great job organizing this trip and it will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.

the link for information is:
(copy & paste into your browser address)
http://groups.google.com/group/district-7730-nid-to-india/web/2011-trip-schedule