May 9, 2008

It seemed like a big crowd today, but that was probably the 25 members of the AHS jazz band, who not only took up 3 tables, but a lot of floor space for instruments. Doesn’t it seem that young people take up more space generally than older people? Has anyone ever done a study about that?

And we had other guests, too. Shell Kellam was the guest of Jaci Betts (Shell is a caterer, d/b/a “Sav-the-flavor,” I’m told). Pamela Vuncannon was visiting with Henry Trollinger. From the Randolph Club we had a full contingent: Tom Barton, Rob Wilkins, Maggie Stevens and Harold Brubaker. Alan Pugh introduced our regular AHS guests Jessica Gage and Clara Lennon (who were mysteriously attracted to Philip Shore, as you see in their photo. Do you think it’s because they both work at Chick-Fil-A?). Jessica is the daughter of Millie and John Gage, spent last summer in Spain, played four years on the AHS tennis team, and will be attending UNCW this fall. Clara is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Yates Lennon. Last year she went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, and her hobbies are cooking, ballet, and playing the piano. She plans to attend Meredith next fall, study nutrition, and own her own restaurant some day.

President HR reminded us of Farm-City Day on May 13th, where we’ll be able to participate in the annual “Farm-City Pig Pickin’” sponsored by the Randolph Livestock and Poultry Improvement Association.  It is Tuesday May 13th at 6PM at Allen’s Dairy Farm on Osborn Mill Road.  DIRECTIONS:  Take NC 42 south about 6 miles and turn right on Olc NC Hwy 13.  Go about one mile and turn left on Kemp Mill Road.  Go about half a mile and turn right on Osborne Mill Road.  Farm is about  a mile on the right.  Watch for signs and bring your lawn chair.  Here’s a map.

Also, TOMORROW is the first outdoor festival on Sunset and Church streets, from 9AM to 6PM. Foster Hughes and the Asheboro Parks and Rec department are sponsoring, so check out their website at www.asheboroparksandrecreation.com .

The Club will meet OFFSITE on May 23rd for a picnic at the Rotary Shell in Bi-Centennial Park. Afterwards we’ll walk over to the “A Statue” beside City Hall (which we helped purchase, with the Randolph Club) for a dedication ceremony.

Tar Wheel History, July 20, 1955: A story about Cherokee Bill, and his hanging, where the punch line was “I came here to be hung, not to make a speech.” Several people asked me if this were true, an Indian hanged in Randolph County. All I can say with certainty is that I assume it’s meant to be a joke, and therefore isn’t really history. The clue is that Red writes that he fears that the story “will not be verified by Dr. Jess Pritchard.” Dr. Pritchard was considered to be one of my predecessors as Randoph County historian in the 1930s and 40s (it’s an inherited title, you see).

Phil Homiller rose to introduce the Asheboro High School Jazz Band, a crew 25 strong who meets at 7:30 each morning (“Zero Period”) to play for 45 minutes. Here’s the roster (first names only- it’s a miracle I could write THAT fast-) On Sax, Kirby, Julia, Matthew, Caleb, Cody and David; Trumpet: Tyler, Taylor and Alex; Clarinet: Kirstin, Corbin, Billy; Trombone: Will, Reuben, Chris (and coming after his AP exam, Nash Dunn); On Piano, Catherine; tuba, A.J.; Guitar, Jesus; Bassoon, Emily; Piccolo, Sarah Elizabeth; Drums: Steve, and last and late but still good enough to solo at a moment’s notice, Richard Trotter.

The crew played (1) “If I Only Had A Brain,” dedicated to the space cadet Miss Teen South Carolina; (2) Harlem Nocturne; (3) Groove Merchant; and (4) some Afro-Cuban Latin Funk, with roots in 70s rock and roll.
Maestro Homiller reminded us that jazz is improvisational, but it’s the solo instruments who improvise. The rest is entirely notated. And he pumped for attendance at their concert “2 weeks from yesterday”, where the band director at UNCA will make a guest solo appearance. Phil says there will be concerts every Tuesday and Thursday night for the next two weeks. That’s part of the run-up to graduation, which one of the band reminded us is in “22 days!”

By the way, the trombonist, Reuben, that Phil introduced as “my son”– that’s because he lives with Phil and Kathy, and in pretty much every way has been raised by Phil. The result: Reuben is president of the student body at AHS, and will be attending NC Central next fall to study in their jazz band program with Branford Marsalis.

Phil said in closing that the musician’s way to damn with faint praise is the compliment “Well, at least your horn is shiny!” I think we all agree they exceeded that in every way.

May 2, 2008

[Thanks to former Zen Master Editor Phil Shore for this haiku report of Friday's meeting. Sorry we don't have pictures of the scholarship winners, but it looks like you either get instant gratification from Philip or pictures, bells and whistles from me, but after a longer wait. Nifty Illustrated Tar Wheels about the GSE team visit and the high school musical are coming up, really, I promise. -Mac]

It was a day of young people and scholarship.

The first order of business was to introduce the student guests. We welcomed Dorothy Wollaber and Kirstyn Harmon from Asheboro High School as well as Jake Routh from Randleman High School. Dorothy’s interests are singing, school musicals (notably Children of Eden which is being performed this weekend), playing tuba and dancing. She plans to attend Appalachian State University to major in secondary English, minoring in opera vocal performance. Kirstyn has similar talents and interests. She participates in the Honors Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Jazz Ensemble, the Park Street Players and the Art Club. She is off to UNC-Greensboro to study business then transfer to a culinary arts school. Jake Routh plays football, basketball, runs track and is a member of the debate team. He will attend Guilford College on a football scholarship this fall.

Our “real” guests as our unmentionable immediate past president used to term them were Jennifer Smith, guidance counselor at Asheboro High School, Rachel Hayes, guest of Elizabeth Cox, and Randolph Rotarian Jim Campbell.

Before letting Rebecca Redding leave the rostrum, President H.R. read a Red Underwood passage from 1962 about Frank Redding III being the only third generation in the club. Frank III was Rebecca’s father and much applause resulted because she is continuing the line.

District Assembly takes place next Friday on the campus of Guilford Technical Community College. Upcoming officers are encouraged to attend.

President H.R. turned the program over to Past President Jim Rich, Chair of the scholarship committee. Jim began by reminding us that a portion of our dues goes to the Educational Foundation. This year the club is distributing $7600 in scholarships to seniors at Asheboro, Randleman, and Southwestern Randolph High Schools and one scholarship to a second year, full-time student at Randolph Community College. The RCC scholarship pays for two semesters tuition.

By presenting these scholarships Asheboro Rotary emphasizes the importance of further education. The first RCC scholarship was presented in August of 2007 to Charleen (“Sherry”) Holt. The criteria were: (a) Student must be a second year associate degree candidate; (b) Student must have a GPA of 3.0; (c) Student must be enrolled in 12 hours of credit courses; and (d) Financial need must be evident.

Sherry spoke to us of her thanks to Asheboro Rotary and the experiences she has had because of the scholarship. She is preparing to receive her Associate Degree in accounting and business administration this May. She has become a member of a professional organization, Phi Theta Kappa. She works on several community projects including those which involve working to a cleaner environment, volunteering to supplement the food banks at CUOC and the Salvation Army, and working with the compensatory education program at RCC, a program we have supported in the past.

The high school scholarships were awarded on the bases of a. academic achievement b. citizenship and community participation and c. demonstrable financial need.

Bethany Underdonk, guidance counselor (with Jennifer Smith) at AHS spoke of the accomplishments in academics, athletics and community participation. She was especially proud of Zoo School.

AHS recipients were Meleah Faucette who will attend UNC-Chapel Hill as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow this fall to pursue a Spanish major with a minor in dance and Samantha Lovin who will also attend UNC-Chapel Hill to major in Political Science with an eye to law school.

RHS guidance counselor Jill Hayes spoke with pride about her school and its students. RHS received a beautification grant which supported the creation of a nature trail between Randleman High and Randleman Middle School. She introduced the RHS award recipients Ashley Evans and Patricia Pirelli both of whom will be attending UNC-Charlotte.

SWRHS guidance counselor Teresa Burton remarked about Southwestern’s being chosen as one of Newsweek Magazine’s top schools in the nation. She introduced Elton (Dale) Cranford, who will go to North Carolina State University in engineering; and Caroline Sheffield who will also go to State but major in Agricultural Education.

Each of the scholarship recipients spoke to the club briefly and expressed their thanks in a most mannerly way.

President H.R. gave the gong a mighty whack and we were adjourned.

March 28, 2008

George Fleetwood and Phil Shore got the ball (and the world) rolling for us. Rebecca Redding introduced our guests: Victor Dau, with Owen George; Nikki Wingate with Elizabeth Mitchell; Esteban Delgado, of Peru, with PDG Bob Newton; and Ann Grey, with husband Sandy Grey (wearing identical red Davidson shirts, to support the home team in the NCAAs). From other clubs we welcomed PDG Bob Newton, with the Greensboro club; and Maggie Stevens, with the Randolph Club.

President HR expressed the club’s sympathy to Randolph and Asheboro Rotarians Ben Morgan, Ed Bunch, and Bob Wilhoit, three lawyer amigos, who have all lost their mothers over the past month.

Tar Wheel History: January 24, 1945, regarding the lemon drought in the aftermath of a musician who performed for the club and found a dollar bill in a lemon.

Richard Garkalns introduced our program, his wife Susan Garkalns. Richard says he met Susan in 1953, and they’ve been together mostly ever since. Susan has both a BS in Clothing and Textiles and an MBA from UNCG; she is a “Family and Consumer Science Agent” for the NC Cooperative Extension agency here. She arrives to speak to us on “Communication Etiquette.” No sooner does she stand than does Richard get a cell phone call, which we all decide is a setup to illustrate the point of her talk. “Etiquette,” a/k/a Common Courtesy or Good Manners, seemed to die off as a topic of actual education long about the 1970s, but is making a recent comeback. Emily Post’s Etiquette is now in its 17th edition, and has been completely revised by Emily’s Great-Grandson’s wife Peggy Post.

Etiquette is a code of behavior based on thoughtfulness, says Susan. Manners aren’t for the benefit of the person who has them, but for the people who don’t– so we don’t shoot the bus drivers who cut us off, or brawl in restaurants. Etiquette is the art of taking the unfamiliar and making it familiar, and there are different types for different professions and situations. There is Courtroom Etiquette, for example; and Golf Etiquette. Nowadays, we’re developing things like Email Etiquette, and Cell Phone and Voice Mail Etiquette.

For example, we forget that in email there is actually a real person on the other end. Begin and end your emails formally, like a real letter. Be sure and always add a subject line, and make it subject specific. If there is no subject identified, anyone should treat it like an unwanted virus. Don’t designate your email as urgent or high priority if it isn’t. Use that sparingly. DON’T TYPE IN ALL CAPS. That is rude- like shouting. And remember, email isn’t private- treat it like a public document. Don’t Reply All unless you really want everyone on the mailing list to see what you’ve written.

Voicemail: Briefly! outline the purpose of your call. Request a response if necessary. Provide call back information SLOWLY. Repeat it as a courtesy.

Cell Phone: The people you are WITH should take precedence over the one on the phone. Let voice mail take the call if you’re in meetings- church- ceremonies- dinners- movies- concerts. Set your phone to VIBRATE. Speak in a regular conversational tone, or use text messaging.

Susan ended by quoting Peggy Post: “Rudeness is the Number One issue facing this country.”

In question time, Kathy Homiller pointed out that we should recognize cultural differences in polite behavior: in Asian countries, for example, it is considered disrespectful to look someone in the eye.

President HR ended by asking the injured Jim Culberson if he had any valuable points on Skiing Etiquette to share. Nope!

March 21, 2008

Hey!  We didn’t have a meeting, so there’s nothing to write about!

Except, we did get a Letter to the Editor that I’d like to share.  It’s nice to have some positive feedback!

Elizabeth Mitchell forwarded this to me, from Naomi Kilpatrick  :

Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 7:17 PM
To: Elizabeth Mitchell
Subject: Re: The Tar Wheel

Thanks heaps.  It came through loud and clear and I have just sat here and almost felt I was reading a book, catching up on week after week.  Now we should be able to get it regularly.

It’s been neat–we watched Mimi Moore Cooper grow up (her sister was in our daughter’s Scout troop and we knew Anne well–Bill Batten is in our Sunday School class and comes up with sort of inventive teaching (which he does only occasionally since we are imbued with great teacher–including Dot and Bob Walker) and then today’s program was so neat.  I can still see Lib Cox in the reception room while the children were in the dental chairs and she was always reading–not trash but studying.  She is a star.

Just wanted to say we appreciate getting the weekly poop sheet.

Love,   Nomie

March 14, 2008

The Tar Wheel: March Madness Edition

There he was, Billy Packer, larger than life, present at an Asheboro Rotary meeting! Our speaker? A guest of the club? Not exactly: but we had him on TV, anyway. That’s 21st century technology bringing the ACC tournament to the Rotary meeting; when Chapel Hill plays Florida State starting at noon, we either have Mike Lee’s projection TV going, or half the club would be elsewhere! At least we were able to watch until our speaker needed the TV for his powerpoint show…

Not so many regular guests, probably for the obvious reason; Jim Campbell was visiting from the Wednesday club, and Jerry Haywood from the Sandhills club. Bill Batten brought along his business associates from Mexico, Andres Tostado and Hugo Matamoros. But we had double the usual student guests: Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of Duffy and Donna, is the editor of the Ash-High-Chat, plays for the varsity golf team (would we expect less in that family?), and will be attending Phifer this fall to play gold and study Public Relations and Journalism. Kathryn Lail, daughter of Dean and Kay Lail and grandaughter of Jack, is in the band, plays tennis and piano, and will be attending NC State to study “museum work,” or what they officially call in academic circles “Public History.” Julie Sheffield, guidance counselor at Southwest Randolph, was here to shepherd her students. Selection seems to have been based on (1) size and (2) last name: Elton Dale Cranford is the son of Scott and Kenna Cranford of Seagrove, is VP of the SWR FFA, plays baseball, likes fishing and NASCAR, and attends Trinity Wesleyan Church. He’ll be attending NC State to study engineering. Sam Cranford (no relation, but he has our sympathies for being burdened with the name of our PDG) is the son of Tony and Sheila, plays basketball and golf for the school and attends Oak Grove Methodist Church. He’ll be going to UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall.

President HR started us out with a moment of silence to honor the passing of our own Don Durham, a member of the club since May, 1960, when he was sponsored by Barron Mills. Don died March 13th, survived by his sons Carey (former president of this club) and Rick (still running the family business, Durham Printing, now in its 61st year in operation. See Don’s Courier-Tribune obituary here: http://www.courier-tribune.com/articles/2008/03/21/obituaries/293obits031408.txt

Richard Garkalns reminded us that the Human Race tomorrow will benefit the Volunteer Center. President HR reminded one and all that there will be NO ROTARY next week, Friday being Good Friday. He went on to read us Tar Wheel History from January 31, 1973, where former president John O.H. Toledano was presiding over an Honest Count of the votes for new officers, and someone stole his pencil.

Owen George (star of the District 7690 TV commercial now popping up at odd times on cable TV), introduced our guest Kevin Redding, executive director of the Piedmont Land Conservancy, based in Greensboro. (Us oldsters remember several years ago when Kevin came to talk, representing the competition: he was formerly in charge of the Asheboro/ Uwharrie office of the Land Trust for Central North Carolina, based in Salisbury. Kevin has a degree in Natural Resource Management, is married to Lori, has a son Boone aged 2 1/2, and a daughter on the way.

PNC does a lot of work in central North Carolina, such as preserving the 1,000-acre Saddle Mountain tract on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Mitchell River, cleanest stream in the Piedmont, both in Surry County. They’ve also been adding land to Hanging Rock State Park, and preserving Emily Allen’s wildflower garden in Winston Salem, where 7200 varieties of flower will be in bloom around April 12th (not coincidentally, the date of their open house, from 2-5PM : call 691-0008 for reservations).

In Randolph County Kevin and PNC have cooperated with the Zoo in the preservation of the Ridge’s Mountain tract (which, BTW, ought to have 2 or 3 times as much property included for real protection, but we’ll take what we can get since there’s no county parks department). Their primary focus in Randolph has been in the northeast corner of the county, where our so-called Agricultural Preservation District is located (so-called because it’s just a label on a map when developers want to situate a subdivision there- editorial comment). Former Olympian Col . Guy Troy was one of the first to convey an easement to PNC which preserves his family farm for agricultural uses. Since then, the Williams Dairy, the Goat Lady Dairy, and other farmers have donated or sold such easements to PNC. It’s part of the “slow-food” movement to protect family farms and promote the growing of local produce and livestock; it’s also, as Kevin points out, a national security issue, at a time when we should be concerned about food contamination in products being shipped from half a world away.

March 7, 2008

LOTS of GUESTS at today’s Asheboro Rotary meeting! Most of them were here as guests of the Club, honoring Lib Cox, who is the prime mover behind today’s program. At Lib’s table were Eugene Cox, Noralene Cox, son Jeff Cox and daughter Julie Stickler. Sara Beth Gallimore was a guest of Papa President H.R. Gallimore; Lauren Ingold attended with April Thornton; and Anthony Pugh (who made such an impact as a panelist during our Lunch and Learn event on the Mental Health Crisis) came with Mazie Fleetwood. Waving the flag of the Randolph Club were Archie Odell, Vickie Gallimore, and Rob Wilkins.

Gloria Cheek, Randleman High guidance counselor, was here to accompany RHS student guests Frank Magnotto and Kelsey Whatley. Frank is president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the Key Club and the Golf team, and will be attending ASU in the fall to study Business. Kelsey competes on the soccer and cross country teams; is academically ranked #1 in the senior class, is Vice President of the student body, and was elected Homecoming Queen. She is also the daughter of my cousin Danny Whatley, so she obviously comes from good stock. She’ll be attending UNC Chapel Hill this fall.

Michael Smith proudly announced that Adam Glass of Asheboro High, who honored us as a student guest earlier this year, this week was offered both the Morehead-Cain scholarship from UNC-CH and the Parke Scholarship from NC State. Both are full rides plus lots of extras, so Adam has quite the choice to make.

Jaci Betts presented the club with a banner from a club she visited on her recent trip to Guatemala- thanks Jaci!

President HR read us a Tar Wheel Classic from November 15, 1944, where the inimitable Editor Red Underwood described Bob Wood as “the Club’s only real honest-to-stogie cigar smoker– President Vance [Welborn] being classed as a Beaver, or cigar-gnawer.”

Our program today featured Kyle McCleod, speech pathologist of Randolph Hospital, speaking about aphasia (was Your Scribe the only one who noted that as an oxymoron?). April Thornton introduced Kyle, who is a proud graduate of both NC State and App State, and came to Asheboro from Moses Cone hospital last July. The Aphasia Support Group he started at the hospital, at the urging of our own Elizabeth Cox, is the only such program in central NC. Kyle strongly praised Lib and daughter Julie for being such staunch advocates for people with aphasia, which is defined as any interruption in the ability to communicate, especially as it shows up in one-third of all stroke victims. A stroke victim with aphasia usually has his or her intellect and thinking abilities intact, but just can’t communicate effectively, as the stroke has damaged the left hemisphere of the brain. One million people in the US have it, and this is the position Lib found herself in after her stroke two years ago.

Kyle uses the LPA (“Life Participation Approach”) in treating aphasia. Communication involves talking, listening, reading and writing, so an undiminished strength in one category is used to rebuild the patient’s weaknesses in another. He encourages them to communicate in every mode, drawing, writing, gesturing, facial expressions- anything that conveys a message simply and effectively. Kyle used Ed Clayton to demonstrate communication (this was like demonstrating the proverbial shipment of coal to Newcastle). The worst effect of aphasia is the sense of isolation, which results in depression, and a sense of hopelessness. Victims must remain active to stimulate brain activity and help recover their lost abilities. What’s really needed, he says, is patience- give them the time they need to communicate. What victims really want is to regain their simple functioning, rebuild their lives- remember names of friends, go back to Rotary meetings.

The first aphasia treatment program began at the University of Arizona, and patients there agreed with Lib: “We didn’t really start recovery until we became acquainted with other people with aphasia.” The program at Randolph Hospital is free, because insurance coverage has limits on the amount of time and number of visits patients can spend, so his discussion groups and activities are promoted by volunteers like Lib and Julie. In Q&A, Don Allred related that, after his mother’s stroke, she could no longer talk, but could SING very well. Kyle said that’s because the stroke affected the left side of her brain, and singing is controlled by the right side, the nonlinear artistic side.

The Randolph Hospital Aphasia Puzzle Program meets each second Tuesday of the month, starting at 6PM. For more information, call Kyle at (336) 625-5151, extension 5109.

February 29, 2008

 [Thanks to Scribe Emeritus Phil Shore for jumping in today, while Mac was legally working- working legally?- over in sunny Salisbury. Out topic today is taxes, and the illustrations are courtesy of Google Images.  I personally totally agree with Richard about the need to invest public money in infrastructure.  It's a crime against posterity that Randolph County hasn't done better about this in the past.

However, let me just point out the interesting difficulty of finding PRO-tax increase images on the internet. Out of 50 pages of google images, the ones you see here were the least partisan or most neutral.   Believe it or Not.  Richard: get some county employees to post some positive spin out there. The anti-tax stuff will write itself.

The following illustration had nothing to do with sales tax, but I couldn't resist it:  ]

Joy Menius, at her usual high standard, accompanied the chaotic gnashing of our teeth and the clanking of our flatware against china with the sublime, well-organized sounds of music. Thank you, Joy.

President H.R. welcomed us with a bit of information about leap-Fridays. What are the chances of having five Fridays in the month of February? One in twenty-eight. The last one occurred in 1980 and the next one will visit us for the Rotary meeting in 2036. Mark your calendars now and plan to bring a friend!

The Prez was cranking the meeting out today. He and Vickie Gallimore had a plane to catch.  To Las Vegas. Will the Co-Treasurers please check the Foundation Account?

Our adult guests were all visiting Rotarians, save one. Richard Wells (our speaker), Jim Campbell, Gail Moore, Maggie Stevens and Mrs. V. Gallimore all came from the Randolph Club. Jeannine Thompson, our frequently visiting friend from the Bakersfield, CA, club, joined us today. Teresa Burton, the Southwestern Randolph High School Guidance Counselor, came as escorts to her students.

We hosted four student guests today. Maria Perez and Alyssa Koehler came from SWRHS. Kayla Davis and Kirby Micka came from Asheboro High School.

Maria is president of the Beta Club, the Chief Junior Marshal, and serves on the Student Advisory Board. She is also Hospitality Minister and an interpreter. Her college plans are not definite yet, but they include work in graphic design. Alyssa plays varsity tennis, performs in the marching band, the wind ensemble, and the Asheboro Flute Choir. She is a member of FFA, Science Club, Beta Club, among other clubs. She plans to major in bio-agricultural engineering at NC State University.

Kayla is a member of the National Honor Society and the Girl Scouts (she has completed the Bronze and Silver Awards and is completing the Gold Award). Another of her major interests is dance, which she takes and teaches. She is headed to Guilford College to major in forensic science with a minor in dance. Kirby is an Eagle Scout and a member of the band, the Jazz Band and the Latin Club. He intends to take a degree in pharmacy when he goes to college.

 Next week’s program will be a very interesting one—Concerning Aphasia. April Thornton has arranged this for us.

H.R. handed the podium to Greg Spainhour to introduce our speaker, County Manager Richard Wells. Richard is well known to the Asheboro Rotary Club. He is a past-president of the Randolph Club, the former head librarian of the Randolph County Library System, the former Head Librarian of Randolph Community College, and a man who loves cars. Richard has brought innovation and political savvy to each of his positions.  

After first asking who was packing heat legally or illegally, Richard announced his topic: the county-wide referendum on a quarter-per-cent sales tax increase.    

On May 6 Randolph County voters will voice an opinion about an increase in sales tax from 6.75% to 7% on goods and services. Richard said he knew very well that no one likes to discuss raising taxes in any form.  

Why do we need to raise the sales tax? Because school construction and infrastructure improvements (such as extending water and sewer lines to more parts of the county) require funding as simultaneously the County’s bill for Medicaid continues to rise. He reminded us that although the state is providing relief from the Medicaid bill, the state is also taking a larger portion of the sales tax.  Thus, infrastructure needs still suffer.

This method of taxing is fairer than simply socking it to property owners.  We all buy things and pay a sales tax almost without thinking about it.  It would require a 2.5 cents per $100 valuation increase to equal revenues earned by the quarter per cent sales tax increase. In promotion of the referendum, which Richard stressed, must be presented in a neutral fashion, not telling voters how to vote, the County has adopted the slogan, “Everybody benefits, so everybody pays.”  

One advantage of the sales-tax method of gathering revenue is that out-of-county residents help us along everytime they buy something in Randolph County.  The tax is not applied to gasoline, groceries, medicine. The revenues earned will support the construction of our two newest high schools (coming in at around $30 million each) and the $20 million bill for extending the water lines.

Richard left a generous amount of time for questions—of which there were really very few. Within his presentation he covered most of the things people may have had on their minds. There were several comments of support for the referendum and the method of gaining revenue.

  Then H.R. hustled us out of there so he could get to the airport. Tune in next week for what didn’t stay in Vegas.

February 22, 2008

Joy Menius was doing double or triple duty today- providing not only our piano accompaniment, but hopping up to the head table and introducing our program by Tonya Hayes and Allison Dark, with the Children’s Home. Not only that, she brought her mother-in-law Henri Menius as a guest (something which actually got John to the meeting early and sitting beside her on the dias). Daughter Amanda was with Dad Dale Lambert. Jim Campbell, visiting from the Randolph club, was our only Rotarian guest.

Our student guests were both from Asheboro High: Elizabeth Blakely, daughter of Kelly and James Chriscoe, is in the band and on the tennis team, and plans to attend ASU and become a nurse. Joe Boyle, son of Michael and Gayle Boyle, is also on the tennis team, runs cross country, and is in the band. He plans to attend NCSU and study engineering.

Richard Garkalns was at the back table hawking the Human Race sponsored by the Volunteer Center. Register with Richard and win a a 19″ HDTV.

Condolences to James Gouty on the passing of his mother. Break a leg to Phil Shore, starring this week at the Sunset Theater in Harvey.

Carol Matney introduced new member Christy Smith, who lives with her husband Greg on an 80-acre produce farm near Ramseur. She is the daughter of Allen nad Brenda Flow ers, attended UNC-G, and runs Horizon Consulting Services. President HR welcomed her to the club and awarded her our usual bundle of paraphenalia.

Tar Wheels Past: Red wrote on September 23, 1965, about John Bunch’s four boys. Ed was leaving the scene, and Bill’s response to “Who Started the Fight?” was “the nearest one.”

Joy Menius rose to introduce our speaker Tonya Hayes of the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, who lives in Level Cross with her family. Allison Dark, their Director of Development, ran the powerpoint show. Joy noted with emotion that both of the Meius children were adopted through the Children’s Home.

The Children’s Home is 105 years old. It was started by Greensboro businessmen (the same ones who founded the Chamber of Commerce) in order to keep orphans off the streets. Child Abuse and neglect is still a big problem in North Carolina, says Tonya, with children under age 4 the most vulnerable. A child dies every 9 days in North Carolina from abuse and maltreatment. The state has 100,000 children in foster care, with 3,000 of them having been permanently separated from the biological parents. Most of these kids are between the ages of 6 and 16, and most of them wait an average of 3 years for adoption. Of the kids older than 16 who age out of foster care on their 18th birthday, 70% end up homeless, and 76% end up in prison.

Since its founding in 1902 the Children’s Home has placed more than 13,500 children for adoption. In FY 2007 they served more than 6200 families and children, providing more than 40,000 total days of foster care. But even at that level, Children’s Home Society could find homes for just 36% of the children referred for foster care. Between 1940 and 1970, CHS placed an average of 350 kids per year with adoptive parents, but in 2007 they placed just 200 (46%) in adoptive homes. The reason for the decline in placements is that they receive fewer infants– most available children are “older”– more than 5 years old.

CHS spends about $15,000 per adoption in finding and preparing the families and counseling the children. Their annual budget is over $8 million, of which more than 85% goes to client services. They are a United Way agency, too!

[Editorial note: the good-looking couple who flashed past in the CHS video were Eric and Christy Luckenbach of Asheboro, who have adopted their two children through CHS. Your Scribe would point out that CHS (while top quality service) is not the only provider of foster care or adoption coordination in the Piedmont. I am actually now licensed as a foster parent through the Randolph County Department of Social Services, and there are other options even beyond that.]

February 15, 2008

[The Scribe apologizes for the quality of today's pictures, but he forgot the real camera.  This is what a cell phone camera can do...]

Joy welcomed the packed house at Asheboro Rotary today with poundy Broadway hits like Strike Up the Band . Guests decorated nearly every table, along with red balloons and candy hearts, courtesy of Jaci B, and tasty little chocolate bon-bons at each place, courtesy of our speaker. Quite Upscale! Phil Shore caught the theme by using the invocation to seek Divine intervention to make the world a sweeter place.

We were covered up with guests today, and Rebecca Redding introduced Kim Newsome, with Talmadge Baker; Mimi and Chris Cooper, parents of the speaker, with Linda Cranford; Dr. Christine Giarmo, with Jaci B; Christie Smith with Carol Matney; Darren Allen with partner Alan Pugh; Elizabeth Mason with husband Rodney; Emily Ledwell with Jerry Hill; and Jill Hayes, guidance counselor with Randleman High. Visiting Rotarians were Jim Campbell, from the Randolph Club; former District Governor Henry Brown, from Pinehurst, and Jeannine Thompson, from the Bakersfield, CA. club.

That brought us to our numerous student guests, introduced by Mini Singh. From AHS, we had Kori Chriscoe and Julia Apoian. Kori is the daughter of Keith and Julie Chriscoe (not our Keith, but doubtless distantly related). She’s in the National Honor society and volunteers with Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, and plans to attend UNC-W and become a physician’s assistant in dermatology. Julie is the daughter of Sue and Steve Poe Apoian. She plays saxaphone with the “Zero Period” (i.e., 7:30 AM) jazz band, flute in the marching band and wind ensemble, and plans to major in chemistry and spanish at ASU, then attend Emory for medical school.

Also today we were pleased to have Patricia Fiorelli and Matt Johnson, seniors at Randleman High. Patricia is a varsity cheerleader and the key club secretary. Her father Joe is Kyle Petty’s car chief at Petty Enterprises, and her mother is a Randolph County School dropout prevention counselor. She plans to attend ASU or Chapel Hill and become a physical therapist. Matt Johnson is the grandson of Richard Earl Johnson, past District Governor and former member of this club. He plays football and basketball and plans to attend ASU. But he came prepared for a talent show, as he proceeded to show off his senior project: a guitar that he built himself, over the course of 61 hours of work, under the guidance of his mentor Gerald Hampton. Just to show that it works, Matt played and sang the Kenny Chesney song, “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem.” And he wins this week’s compulsive overacheiver award, hands down!

Past President Prithi temporarily replaced President HR at the podium this week. There was no revived Vegetarian Time, but Prithi did point out that research has shown that passionate love-making was the aerobic equivalent of a four-mile walk. No shoes are required, piped up George Bain, in homage to Matt’s song. And if you can’t walk four miles, come see me professionally, says urologist Dr. Prithi. Hmm.

At last we came to the real program, sponsored by Linda Cranford and the Social Committee. Did You Know, asked Linda, that 300 years ago chocolate was thought to be an aphrodisiac, and was only served as a liquid, and only to men? [Hey, it hasn't even been 300 years, and people are already swallowing Viagra and Levitra like candy!]

Leslie Cooper, daughter of County Health Department Director Mimi Cooper (and grand-daughter of retired AHS typing teacher Anne Moore), is a 2000 graduate of Asheboro High, who majored in nutrition and restaurant management at UNC-G. She received a Grande Plume at the French Culinary Institute, worked in a number of restaurants, and finally returned to Randolph County to start her own business, Love Chocolate (www.eatlovechocolate.com), based in her grandmother’s kitchen outside Ramseur.

Leslie says that she is a custom maker of hand-made chocolate truffles and caramels, and can make about 500 pieces per day. The big chocolate gift times are Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Weddings, so she’s coming off one of her peak periods. She sells at Weaver Street Market in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and exhibits at Bridal Shows, such as one coming up soon at Castle McCulloch, near High Point. She started her own business so she could be a leader in something in the culinary field. Commercial chocolate has a one-year package life because of added vegetable fat; her chocolate only has a one month shelf life because she uses only the most natural ingredients.

She had a power point show about the making of chocolate. Cocoa pods come from South American trees in the “chocolate belt” around the equator; seeds ferment in the sun until “nibs” (the actual raw chocolate) are produced. The nibs are ground to separate out the cocoa butter from the cocoa solids; then “conking” adds sugar and vanilla and emulsifiers to make the smooth creamy chocolate first invented by the Swiss. (Dutch-processed chocolate is much darker; the original beverage chocolate was very bitter, as sugar wasn’t added until Europeans started drinking it).

Leslie brought some of her bon-bons for everyone, and told us how she’d made them. Chocolate is delicate to cook with, and must be tempered like steel to be stronger, harder and more durable. Well-tempered chocolate is shiny, hard, snaps when you break it, and should not melt at body termperature. She melts the raw chocolate at 120 degrees, then cools it to 80, then tempers it to about 90. She pours that into a mold, then shakes and beats and bangs it to get the air bubbles out. The she flips the mold upside down and pours the excess chocolate out, creating the outside shell in the mold. When that cools she call fill it with “ganoche,” a truffle filling. The tempered chocolate will gradually cool and shrink and pop right out of the mold.

Chocolate has caffeine in it, and a chemical called theobromide which is poisonous to dogs. It hits them like a mega-dose of caffeine, but a 60-pound dog (she accidently experimented on one of her greyhounds) must eat a whole pound of chocolate to have a heart attack.

White chocolate technically has no cocoa in it; it is made of cocoa butter, sugar, milk powder and vanilla. Cocoa butter is light colored; cocoa powder is dark, and chocolate is normally dark because the powder suspends in the fat. That’s why melted chocolate sometimes looks clear or yellow- because the fat is separating from the cocoa. Dutch-processed chocolate is much darker, and it’s dark chocolate that has the antioxidants that doctors now recommend. Drink red wine and eat chocolate every day, and live to be 100! Leslie says. (And it’s all vegetarian, says Prithi).

February 8, 2008

    This week’s entry was writ by the practiced pen of Scribe Emeritus Philip Shore.  Sorry, but he didn’t draw any pretty pictures….

When Joy Menius dusted the piano your humble scribe thought she was going to launch into ”Kitten On the Keys”.  Instead she provided our chatter with a background of sunny songs including “I Got Rythym” and who could ask for anything more?

            President H.R. called the meeting to order with a stoutly rung gong.  Prior to the Pledge of Allegiance he announced three serious occurrences: that we hold in sympathy the family of Elizabeth Cox in the death of her mother; that Sandy Grey had sustained a fall that required surgical treatment of his arm; and the news that Father Jay Hobbs formerly of the Church of the Good Shepherd and a former Asheboro Rotarian had died just this morning.

            Rebecca Redding introduced our guests.  Christie Smith, guest of Carol Matney, has been circulated and will not be a guest much longer.  Carol made her pay for her meal.  Now that is serious.  Cindy Wilkins, guest of James Gouty, made an announcement about the Randolph Historical Association Valentine’s fundraiser.  Gale Thomas brought Lee Lennon and Henry Trollinger brought Pan Vuncannon. President H.R. had to behave today because Vickie Gallimore was the lone Randolph Rotarian present.

             The Sergeant-at-Arms team asked the scribe to note the receipt of a lovely thank you note from H.R.’s family expressing appreciation for the concern and sympathy expressed at the death of his mother last week.

            Henry Trollinger introduced two Asheboro High School student guests.  Hal Davis wants to be an English teacher.  He is co-editor-in-chief of The Ash Hi Chat and technical editor of Ash Hi Life.  He plans to attend UNC-G to study English education and then to return to Asheboro to teach.

            Lauran Breedlove is the Spanish Club treasurer; she is a Girl Scout and a member of the Key Club.  Her sport is golf.  Lauran plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill to pursue a degree in physical therapy.

            Absentee Linda Cranford sent word for us not to miss next week’s Valentine’s program—she has arranged for Leslie Cooper, a real, live, and local choclatier.  Bring your sweetie!

            Rob Reese introduced our newest Rotarian: Shawn Mabe.  Shawn is the city officer at RBC-Centura.  President H.R. welcomed her into the club with her pin and other Rotary regalia.  Welcome, Shawn!

            Our program had a Rotary Foundation Theme.  Bill Batten let pictures do the talking.  He chose three stories of the great changes brought about by the Polio Plus campaign.  The stories were included in a recent issue of The Rotarian Video Magazine.  All three focused on India. After asking for a show of hands of those who participated in the first Polio Plus fundraising, Bill said that what we were going to watch should be considered to be a big THANK YOU.

            The first story was called The Last Hurdle.  It concerned the ongoing effort to eliminate polio in the state of Uttar Pradesh.  This presentation showed international cooperation of Indian nationals and visiting Rotarians from Georgia, USA, in a week long push to administer doses of polio vaccine to the children of the state.  After one day 17 million children had been treated but that was only half of the target population.  After a week 136 million doses had been given nationally.  It was stated that in some areas 3 doses were needed to prevent the return of polio whereas in other places as many as 17 or 18 were required—this latter was true of the Uttar Pradesh region.

            The second story was called From Crawling To Walking.  It was a case study of a boy named Asif who had had polio.  He was able to walk if he held his left leg with his hand.  Asif was a candidate for a surgical cure.  The surgery was one of 550 such cases sponsored by a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant.  The story showed the problem, the treatment, and the resultant beginning of a new life, much improved, thanks to Rotary.

            The final piece was called Success Stories.  One aspect of Polio Plus that we don’t think of immediately is the care and support needed by those who missed the preventative care and suffered the disease.  Rotary serves these people also with the opportunity for rehabilitation and, then, job training.  This article showed several young adults in physical therapy followed by classroom training in useful, gainful occupations.

            Altogether the three short films gave an impressive overview of the gigantic successes of Polio Plus with a realistic survey of what is left to be done (with the encouragement to get out there and finish it!).

            Bill asked what the original local goal of Polio Plus was—the answer $20,000.  And how much was raised?  $80,000.  Eloquent testimony of organization, effort and generosity of spirit, don’t you think?