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March 2025
Volume 25 Issue 3
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Economic uncertainty means the Fed should be cautious, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin said Feb. 25, 2025, in Richmond. Photo by Katherine Schulte/Virginia Business | |
Fed should be cautious amid uncertainty, Barkin says
Richmond Fed chief says it makes sense to stay "modestly restrictive"
Although inflation is coming down, the Federal Reserve Bank should exercise caution amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin said Tuesday while addressing a Rotary Club of Richmond meeting.
The economy is in a good place, Barkin said, citing the 2.5% growth in the nation’s gross domestic product last year (according to the U.S. Commerce Department) and the unemployment rate, which was 4% in January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Additionally, estimates for the Fed’s preferred inflation measure indicate inflation is falling. Nevertheless, Barkin said, “it makes sense to stay modestly restrictive until we are more confident inflation is returning to our 2% target. I recognize the fight against inflation has been long, but it is critical that we remain steadfast.”
Click HERE to read article in full.
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Rotary Honors Mac Bates
The Rotary Club of Richmond recognized long time member Mac Bates, who passed away March 15, 2024. Mac embodied the Rotary International Theme of his tenure, Real Happiness is Helping Others, throughout his nearly 50 years of service and similar record of perfect attendance. He was a diligent, well-respected Club Treasurer for many years. He was driven by details, meticulous in maintaining the books and adhering to the rules of Rotary and The 4-Way Test.
Read the full resolution presented to his family HERE.
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Bring a friend and your business cards and join us for Rotary Means Business Wednesday, March 19 8am-9am at Ukrops Market Hall, 7250 Patterson Ave, Richmond, VA 23229, sponsored by the Fatherhood Foundation of Virginia.
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Rotary Grant Procedures and Criteria | |
Click HERE to review the Rotary of Richmond Grant Procedures and Criteria. The Rotary Club of Richmond seeks to support local non-profit organizations in our community who are making a difference in the critical needs of the citizens of the City of Richmond, VA, and surrounding areas. | |
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GOLF Tournament
Join The Rotary Club of Richmond April 21, 2025, at the Richmond Country Club at the intersection of 288 and Patterson Avenues. This beautiful course will be perfect for a day of networking and supporting the activities and grants of The Rotary Club of Richmond.
Click HERE to sign up to volunteer, especially to collect prizes! .
Click HERE and look for the Golf Tournament Button in the top right corner. Here you can register a team, become a sponsor at several levels, pay for mulligans and the dinner after the tournament. If you prefer to pay with a check or cash, contact Derek Rush via email for a form to complete and turn in with a check. Finally, contact Paul Nardo regarding the Booze Barrow!
End Polio Now Baseball Game at the Diamond
Batter up! May 1, 2025, is the End Polio Now Baseball Game at the Diamond. The Flying Squirrels play Somerset at 6:35 pm. This is a family friendly fundraiser to end Polio. $2 from each ticket goes to End Polio Now. Travis Bjorklund will be heading this up, stay tuned to order your tickets!
Crab Festival
Craving a beautiful fall day, The Crab Festival is set for September 13, 2025 at the fabulous ChildSavers on lookout point, same place as last year. The Rotary Club of Richmond will have the Wybros play (William Cabell's dad's band). More information to come this spring!
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Tibeb Abate is the second from the left.
Peace Fellow classmates at Duke University 2024-2025 orientation.
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Tibeb Abate Asfaw’s Journey at Duke University: Advancing
Peace Building Efforts
by Mike Little and
Tibeb Abate Asfaw
Tibeb Abate Asfaw is a recent recipient of the Rotary Peace Center Fellow. She is sponsored by Rotary District 7600 and endorsed by the Rotary Club of Richmond for the 2024-25 academic years at the Duke University/University of North Carolina University, Chapel Hill campuses. This joint university program offers a unique curriculum that provides field-based learning activities that examine peace and conflict theory through various frameworks. Peace fellows are funded annually by the Rotary International Foundation.
The following is an update from Tibeb to Mike Little, District 7600 Foundation Peace Fellow Chair:
It has been seven months since I arrived in the United States and joined the Rotary Peace Fellow program at Duke University having successfully completed the fall semester of studies there. One particularly inspiring course I took was on Peace and Conflict Resolution. This experience prompted me to begin to develop a framework with faculty for my summer research and internship. That framework will integrate peace building activities into humanitarian efforts in countries such as Africa.
I am deeply grateful for the support provided by the Duke/UNC Rotary Peace Center to its students. The Center has offered invaluable guidance through training on leadership, systems thinking, and Rotary Cornerstones, while also creating platforms for students to connect with prominent experts from various organizations, including the World Bank, UN, and international NGOs. These resources have been instrumental in helping fellow students gain a clearer understanding and solid foundation in these critical areas, while also opening doors to internship opportunities and career advancement within these organizations. Special heartfelt appreciation goes to Susan Carroll (Managing Director of the Duke/UNC Rotary Peace Center), Thomas Laster (Program Coordinator), and Dr. Michael Little and Rotary District 7600 leaders for their ongoing support, guidance, and encouragement.
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Did you know:
March is Rotary Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Month, an opportunity to celebrate our commitment to create healthier communities by supplying clean water and sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Take action. Join a Project.
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Register for the 2025 Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center Spring Conference
The Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center's 22nd Annual Spring Conference takes place Saturday, April 5th at the FedEx Global Education Center on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus from 8:30am to 3:00pm.
The theme this year will be Stories of Peace: Centering Community for Collective Transformation.
Class 22 Rotary Peace Fellows will present their research, exploring new ways of thinking about peacebuilding, international development, and conflict transformation in many regions of the world.
For more information and to register in person or by Zoom, please follow the link below:
https://rsvp.duke.edu/event/9ee6f51d-b76e-45a0-aebc-ea25110df851/summary
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Rotary Workforce Partnership with ReWork Richmond, 2024 Review
by Todd Martin
Our workforce partner ReWork has expanded its workforce program for 2024 with 22 new enrollees. These individuals are served by three staff members, 55 volunteers, and a host of partner agencies.
2024 is our club’s third year in the partnership with ReWork, awarding $65,000 annually along with the support of volunteer coaches. Our club has experienced an increase in volunteers, now totaling 10 in various coaching disciplines.
When asked if there was one Rotarian volunteer that could be highlighted for 2024, it was one of the first Rotarians to sign up, Jennifer Cubitt. Jennifer provides financial coaching to two ReWork members. She can build trust and mutual respect with the individuals she coaches, a gift of immense value for the program and the participants. Jennifer goes well beyond the required steps of a financial coach, providing a level of insight and understanding of an individual’s financial situation that staff would not be able to otherwise obtain.
For 2024, Gilbert, a Rotary sponsored member, mastered the key objective for stability in the areas of housing, employment, income, education, childcare, and mobility/transportation in less than three years. After enrolling with ReWork and completing the aptitude assessment, Gilbert's skills and interest pointed to the electrical/building trades career field. Through ReWork's employer partner connections, Gilbert entered an apprenticeship program with a local HVAC company. Within two years, Gilbert passed the written exam and is now finishing up his work-hours’ experience. Gilbert is now thriving, supporting his family and living in a home they purchased this past year. Through ReWork's childcare partners, Gilbert's daughter attends St. James's Children's Center, a fully accredited preschool, and she is thriving in that environment.
Our club will continue the workforce partnership with ReWork into 2025, investing our time, talent and treasure. A reflection of our Rotary motto: Service above Self.
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Project Warm
We have lots of wood ready to be split at the wood lot to prepare when the weather turns really cold weather and we deliver wood to individuals who depend on wood only for their heat source.
Join us Saturday mornings at 9am for splitting and delivery. The woodlot is located at a city-owned maintenance lot behind John Marshall High School off Chamberlayne & North Avenues, 608 Forest Lawn Drive.
Contact Joe Kelleher via email with questions!
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Volunteer Opportunity:
Meals on Wheels
Grab a buddy and/or make a new friend! Meals on Wheels is in need of drivers and runners Thursday mornings. This is a two person volunteer opportunity! Sherry Peterson is heading up this effort. Sign-up sheets are always available at our meetings. Drivers and volunteers are needed for March, April and May! Make new friends and make a difference in our neighbors' lives. Reach out to Sherry directly at sepete@verizon.net.
Please note the new location:
8020 Villa Park Drive
Richmond, VA 23228.
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Volunteer Opportunity:
Rework Richmond
Volunteer opportunities range from resume preparation for employment consideration to financial coaching with participants.
Contact John Purnell via email, purnelljc@comcast.net, or Charles Layman via email, laymanc@comcast.net, and Todd Martin via email, todddmartin@comcast.net,
and let them know how you can help.
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Golf Tournament Committee
Have you signed up to volunteer for the Golf Tournament Committee?
Follow this link to do so: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4DA8A72DA57-54258268-rotary#/
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Volunteer Opportunity:
Project Homes
Build a ramp and join your fellow Rotarians for a morning of fun and community service. Accessibility is critical for safety and quality of life. Paul Shively is heading up this effort. Reach out to Paul directly at pshively@cbcllc.net.
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Volunteer Opportunity:
Blood Drive
Thank you all for supporting the Rotary Club of Richmond Blood Drive January 22nd at Bon Air Christian Church!
The next blood drive is scheduled for March 20 8:30 - 1:30pm. We are in friendly competition with our friends at the Rotary Club of South Richmond. Join us at Willow Oaks and let's make sure we have a great showing!
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Tuesday, March 4, 2025
CLUB ASSEMBLY
The Rotary Club of Richmond will host a Club Assembly featuring classification talks from two new members, Ryan Boyce and Marcus Rand.
Join us to give a warm welcome to and learn more about Ryan, Marcus, and our club activities!
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Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Ben Rothrock - Chief Operating Officer & General Manager, The Flying Squirrels
"What’s in Store for 2025 Flying Squirrels"
A charter member of the Flying Squirrels front office, Ben Rothrock is in his seventh full season as the team's General Manager and his 25th overall in Minor League Baseball.
Upon joining Richmond in 2010, Ben oversaw the Squirrels Nest Team Store and helped build the Flying Squirrels into one of the top-selling brands in all of Minor League Baseball. In 2011, Ben took over the reins of the Food & Beverage operation while overseeing the Merchandise Department. Then, after serving as Assistant General Manager of Operations for three seasons and guiding the Flying Squirrels through various ballpark renovations and enhancements, he earned the role of General Manager during the 2017 season.
Rothrock became the Flying Squirrels' Vice President in 2020 and the Chief Operating Officer in 2023. His career in baseball began as an intern with the Altoona Curve, where he later worked as the Director of Merchandise. He also previously worked as the Director of Merchandise for the State College Spikes and Myrtle Beach Pelicans prior to joining the staff in RVA.
The Lewistown, Pa., native is a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., where he received a B.S. in Sport Management and a minor in Business Management while playing linebacker on the Flames' football team. He and his wife, Madelyn, have two children, Hadley, and Brodie.
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Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Peter Goodman, MD.
"New Approaches to the Issue of Obesity"
Peter Goodman graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School then from University of Virginia with a B.A. with Distinction Majoring in English. He attended medical school at Medical College of Virginia and followed with an internship at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at MCV and a Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Georgetown University School of Medicine
For many years he was in private practice at Richmond Memorial Hospital, where he served as Chief of Medicine, and subsequently at Bon Secours Memorial Medical Center.
His many medical accolades include the AMA Physician Recognition Award with Commendation, Medical Society of Virginia Physician’s Recognition Award, Fellow of the American College of Physicians, VCU Ken Davis Teaching Award in Family Practice
Peter is a member of the Richmond Academy of Medicine, Medical Society of Virginia, American Medical Association, President of the Richmond Torch Club. Among his hobbies he includes collecting old medicines and instruments as well as growing medicinal plants.
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Tuesday, March 25, 2025
John Newby, J.D., CEO of Virginia Bio
"The Life Sciences Industry. Driving Innovation in Healthcare."
John Newby is the CEO at Virginia Bio, the statewide non-profit trade association for the life science industry. Approximately 300 companies spanning biopharmaceuticals, medical device, med tech, diagnostics, digital health, bioinformatics, agriculture and industrial bio and related fields are based in Virginia, mainly clustered around research universities and medical institutions. VirginiaBio is the sole state affiliate and works closely with key national industry organizations BIO, AdvaMed, MDMA, PhRMA and We Work for Health.
Newby was formerly the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS), where he led an 850-member Agency located across 50 Virginia locations, delivering employment, education, benefits, behavioral health and long-term health care services to Virginia’s Reservists, Guardsmen, transitioning service members and 725,000 veterans.
Prior to leading VDVS, Newby practiced law at international law firms in Richmond and Washington DC, and at a multinational company. Newby previously commanded an Air Force special operations unit supporting the U.S. Army’s 3rd and 7th Special Forces Groups (Airborne) and served in Iraq as an aviator aboard the Boeing B-1B Lancer strategic bomber.
John received his B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy, with Military Distinction and his Doctor of Law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
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Jenny Cubitt, Membership Chair, welcomes new member Matthew Allocca to The Rotary Club of Richmond! | |
THANKS TO OUR PAST SPEAKERS | |
Thanks to Tom Barkin, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, for addressing The Rotary Club of Richmond. | |
Our appreciation to Dr. Ron Havers, President and CEO of the American Civil War Museum, for presenting to The Rotary Club of Richmond. | | |
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THE TABASCO CONTENT DEADLINE
The Tabasco is sent monthly.
The team requests all content by the 15th of month prior.
Email Katie Hellebush at katie@hellebushconsulting.com.
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Whether you are relatively new to the club or a long-serving member, the Rotary Club of Richmond has been serving Richmond for more than a century; do you have your copy of this history? Copies are now available; $20 soft copies; $30 hard copies. | |
Birthdays and Anniversaries | |
Let's wish our fellow Rotarians Happy Birthday and congratulations on their Rotary Anniversary! | |
| Member | Birthday | | Arthur, Tonda L. (TONDA) | 2-Mar | | Patton, John S. (JOHN) | 7-Mar | | Cabell, William Wymond II (WILLIAM) | 16-Mar | | Vining, Gregory Patrick (GREG) | 17-Mar | | Schroeder, William J (WILL) | 25-Mar | | Predd, Bonnie (BONNIE) | 27-Mar | | Immel, Barbara Todd (TODDY) | 29-Mar | | Barth, Mark (MARK) | 30-Mar | | Ford, Jackie Hite (JACKIE) | 30-Mar | | |
| Member | Start Date | Years | | Bynum, James W. (JIM) | 3/1/1993 | 31 | | Immel, Barbara Todd (TODDY) | 3/1/2012 | 12 | | White, John Bryan (JOHN) | 3/15/2018 | 6 | | Lilley, Joseph (JOSEPH ) | 3/27/2024 | 0 | | Stuhlreyer III, Paul (GUS) | 3/27/2024 | 0 | | Jimenez, Karin (KARIN) | 3/30/2018 | 6 | | | | | |
