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Club #69

Serving the Richmond Community

Since 1913

The Tabasco

February, 2026 Volume 26 Issue 2

Join The Rotary Club of Richmond in Making a Difference

Grant Applications Open February 15 - March 31, 2026

The Rotary Club of Richmond (RCR) seeks to support local non-profit organizations in our community who are making a difference in the critical needs of citizens in the city of Richmond, VA and surrounding areas. 

We encourage local non-profit organizations to apply for grants February 15 - March 31, 2026.

The Rotary Club of Richmond Project-Grants Committee and its recommendation will be made to the Rotary Club of Richmond Board of Directors during the RCR April Board meeting. 

FAQs:

How will Rotarians participate and how will the RCR be recognized: RCR seeks to fund organizations where our club members can actively participate by volunteering with the organization or where the club is recognized by the grantee on social media and/or the Annual Report distributed by the non-profit.

Organizations are invited to apply every year and will be evaluated using the criteria set forth herein. 

The RCR will expect a report from the grantee at the end of the one-year funding period. This will include data from the organization as to how the funds were spent and their performance. Please include a story showing the impact of your work. If no report is produced, the grantee will not be considered for another year of funding. A site visit may be requested. 

Full Grant Procedures and Criteria

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.

Rotarians braved the ice and cold for Rotary Means Business

hosted by Trace Richburg and the Virginia Model General Assembly.

February 3

Jamie O. Bosket, President & CEO, Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

“Marking the Celebration of America's 250^th at VMHC"

Jamie Bosket is the President and CEO of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC), a position he has held since 2017. Under his leadership, the institution was renamed the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

A New York native, he has dedicated his career to the museum sector, previously serving as Vice President for Guest Experience at George Washington's Mount Vernon. He has served on various boards, including the Virginia Association of Museums and the Alexandria Historical Society, and was appointed to the Governor of Virginia's American Revolution 250th Commission VA250.

Jamie holds a master’s degree in museum studies from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in history from SUNY Geneseo. Jamie and wife Emily have a daughter, Abigail and live in Richmond.

February 10

Rick Edwards, Chief of the Richmond Police Department

"The Chief's Report: Current Challenges and Future Outlook"

Chief Rick Edwards joined the Richmond (VA) Police Department in 1999. He held positions as a Patrol Officer, ATF Task Force Officer, Aggravated Assault / Sex Crimes Detective, and Homicide Detective. In 2012, he was promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant. In 2013, he was assigned as a Detective Sergeant in the Homicide Unit. In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. In 2020, he became Captain in command of the 1st Precinct. In 2021, he was assigned as the Acting Major overseeing Patrol Services – Area 1. October 2022, he was appointed Acting Chief of Police for the City of Richmond and formally sworn in as Richmond’s 21st Chief of Police on July 24, 2023.   

Chief Edwards has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Richmond. He played basketball at UR and played professionally in Europe. He is a graduate of the 79th session of the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), the 51st session of Virginia Chief of Police’s (VACP), Professional Executive Leadership School (PELS) at the University of Richmond, and the 47th session of the FBI’s National Executive Institute (NEI). 

February 17

Rotary Club of Richmond Presidents' Day Celebration

President’s Day meeting to celebrate and honor the current members of The Rotary Club of Richmond who have served as the president of our club or any Rotary Club.

February 24

Dr. Edward L. Ayers, Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities and President Emeritus Univ of Richmond

 "A New Way to Teach American History!"

Ayers was born in Asheville, North Carolina, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies from the University of Tennessee in 1974, summa cum laude, and a doctorate in American studies from Yale University in 1980.

He taught at the University of Virginia from 1980 to 2007, where he became the Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences from 2001 through 2007.

He was elected president of the University of Richmond in 2007. During his term, the university increased students of color from 11 percent to 28 percent, doubled the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants, covered the full cost of attendance for all Virginia students with family income below $60,000, and created the Richmond Guarantee, a paid summer fellowship for all undergraduate students.

Ayers completed his term as president in 2015, when he was named the Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities. In 2015, Ayers founded New American History, an initiative to enable engaged and innovative learning in history at all grade levels. It is based at the University of Richmond and funded through philanthropic support.

He is married to Abby Ayers and they have two grown children, Nathaniel and Hannah. They have homes in Richmond and Charlottesville.