Posted July 30, 2002
IN GEAR
July 26 Meeting—A medley of favorite popular songs (With A Little Bit Of Luck, Thanks For the Memories, Come Saturday Morning, Que Sera Sera) flowed from the fingers of Rose Patterson into the keyboard of the piano and out to the ears of we, the people, as we dined on rosemary chicken, lasagne, chopped broccoli, peach cobbler picnic style with our tables in long rows. Lots of people came today including 33 guests(!).
Because we were seated in long rows of tables, President Mac Whatley welcomed us to the Rotary Boarding House. After the Pledge of Allegiance (no arrests were made), Jaci Betts offered a very apt invocation that came from the pocket of a chaplain killed at the World Trace Center which ended with a request to God to help us keep out of His way as He goes about His work.
Sergeant At Arms Ed Clayton introduced visitors and visiting Rotarians. Today we had Christina Rausch from the United Way of Greensboro, Mitzi Lanier of the Legal Aid of Greensboro, both guests of Jerry Hill. Kathy Homiller brought Linda Carter of First National Bank. A great round of applause went up for Lawrence Sours, former Asheboro Rotarian, currently in the Farmville, VA, club. He was the guest of Mac Pugh. Vicky Gallimore and Tom Pugh, both Randolph Rotarians, also attended. It says on the visitor’s sheet that Tom was the guest of Mac. But Tom says he loaned Mac the $$$ to take him and Lawrence to lunch. You boys sort this out later. It was regretted that Lawrence did not sing “Danny Boy”.
Garner Sizemore has suffered a relapse. This is very disappointing news after his recent partial recovery. Please send Garner a card at his home address: 757 Viewmont Drive, Asheboro, NC, 27205….President Mac is catching up on birthdays: Ken Oakes, last week, and Larry Peraldo this week….Announcements: City of Asheboro is officially opening the new Lake Lucas Park, Friday, August 2, beginning at 11 a.m. Hot dogs will be served, but come on to Rotary. Look forward to the Annual Football Preview program coming August 16. October 9—mark this down—our third annual joint Rotary Golf Tournament. Needed: sponsors and workers. To participate, contact Rebecca Williams. Proceeds will go to the efforts to Polio Eradication.
This week in North Carolina History>>>July 22, 196?. Elvis Presley played three nights at the Asheville Civic Center. Elvis went on a buying binge—jewelry and 14 Cadillacs. He also shot out his motel TV.>>July 23, 1959. Football coach Jim Tatum died. With his passing, prospect Jesse Jackson chose not to become Carolina’s first black football player. July 26, 1925.>>Charley Poole and the New York City Ramblers recorded the Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down Blues. In an era when 5,000 copies sold were a megahit, Charley and the boys sold 100,000 of this tune. Despite this success and a career of recording seventy records, or “sides” as they were called, a troubled life and bad habits did Charley in at age 39. Do you think next week something happy can happen in NC history?
It is Copperheads Day at Asheboro Rotary! That’s who all our guests are—courtesy of Jaci Betts. President Mac turned the program over to our own Pat Brown who began by saying that it seemed like “just yesterday” he was presenting a program to the Asheboro Rotary Club about a pipedream of having a baseball team in Asheboro. This is the Copperheads’ fourth season.
Pat reminded us that there are four more home games He also thanked everyone who has helped to make the Copperheads successful. Sponsors, season ticket holders, host families and people who offered moral support. He introduced volunteers who have especially helpful. Jeremy Powers, Mary Moorefield, Jacob Underwood, Chris Claussen, Kelly Hurst, Meredith Morton, Forrest Williams, David Camp, Adam Pohl, Chris Garcia, and Larry Wayne York, who started as a player, but when an injury sidelined him, he became a member of the office staff.
Dennis Garcia and David Renfro, as representatives of the Asheboro Courier-Tribune were singled out for the great coverage they have provided (Dennis, as writer; David as publisher). Pat asked Linda Spaulding, head of the Randolph County Tourism Development Authority, to stand. She was formerly his girlfriend but is now is fiancé. Part of her work is to get more out-of-towners to the games.
Next the players stood to be introduced individually. First, Coach Guy Robertson from Maryland and Assistant Coach Matt Mahoney of North Dakota. Catchers Eric Pittman of Kernersville and Trent Goree of Waco, TX. 1B Brian De Villers, SS D. J. Dailey of Shrewsbury, PA, 3B Chris England Danville, VA, OF James Lowe of Asheboro, OF Holt Montgomery of Tupelo, MS, OF Brian York of Midland, NC, Pitchers Bill Bray of Norfolk, VA, Mike Fratoe of Springfield, VA, Matt Garner of Reidsville, NC, Bryan Jones of Dallas, TX, Chris Nall of Asheboro and Brandon Russell of Winston-Salem.
President of the Coastal Plain League, Pete Bock was introduced by Pat. Pete said he knew he might have to give a little talk when Pat invited him to lunch adding, “Wear a tie.” Pete was very complimentary to Pat and the Copperheads. The CPL started with six teams and now has 12, with a 13th coming probably next year. He said, in collegiate summer baseball, the more notice you attract, the more teams join in. Pat returned to the podium and talked about how fine the local facilities are. McCrary Ball Park, originally built for the McCrary Eagles, has developed into a great place to play and to watch baseball.
Pat thanked Allen Oliver for his role in getting the Copperheads to Asheboro and for maintaining the ball field so well. Pat concluded by saying that as each year goes by, the Copperheads get better players and more scouts. The collegiate Copperheads is run like a minor league team with promotions, wooden bats, and music—the way baseball should be played.
Written by: Philip Shore
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Rotary Club of Asheboro, N. C., Inc.
Post Office Box 1033 Asheboro, NC 27204-1033
July 23, 2002
Dear Rotarian:
The Board of Directors has approved the following prospects for membership:
Jim Foster
Employment: Wachovia Bank
Classification: Banking—Additional Active
Sponsor: H. R. Gallimore
Denny Jennings
Employment: Asheboro City Schools
Classification: Public School Administration
Sponsor: Diane Frost
Unless written objection is received by the secretary within seven days, these prospects shall be considered elected to membership.
Sincerely,
Mac Whatley, President
Mike Freeland, Secretary