December 28, 2007

Since I was away on business yesterday, I couldn’t take pictures for the Tar Wheel.  So, lacking any other current photos, Your Editor is taking this opportunity to recycle one of his foreign exchange student Roman Bogdanov,  who is back in Russia, where as of today he tells me the temperature is 15 degrees below zero.   His school got out today for the New Year’s recess.  (Here’s his school photo- taken outside, in the park across the street from his school.  He’s wearing his school uniform).  New Year is the most important holiday in Russia– a combination of Christmas, New Year’s and our Thanksgiving.  Their Christmas isn’t until January 6- what we call Epiphany.  Happy New Year, Russian Friends!

Today’s Guest Scribe is non other than Past President Philip Shore,  who has penned many a Tar Wheel Back in the Day:

 

President H.R. called the meeting of not many Rotarians to order after Joy Menius fired Pachelbel’s Canon to glorious effect. Most people were probably still holiday-ing. Please note, though, that we will meet next Friday, January 4. Rotary Information Committee has the program which Chairwoman Elizabeth Mitchell said may be summarized as “Fabulousness” although she did not say what the program was to be. The program for January 11, 2008 will be presented by Dr. Larry Simpson who will give us another update about events in the Middle East.

No student guests today. Two “real” guests as Past President Clayton was wont to refer to non-Rotarian visitors: Gene Cox guest of Elizabeth Cox and Trent Thomas, son of Wayne Thomas.

When asked to say a word about the Rotary Foundation Bill Batten responded loudly, “SEX!” He was using the age old attention getter to call notice to the fact that he had a fistful of CHECKS in his hand. And he wants more. One more week, Rotarians, to make the annual contribution to the foundation or your contribution will have to count in the following year.

Gale Thomas, Chairman of the Food Committee, began the program with a health test. He asked those who had reasonably assured expectations of being able to stand up at their chairs and touch their toes without bending their knees to do so. Many did, although with a grunt and a groan. He asked for a show of hands of those who regularly take a pain medication, from aspirin on up. Many raised their hands. Gale went on to say that, among Americans, one of the healthiest segments of the population is the Amish, because by avoiding work saving equipment, they naturally do more.

All this to lead up to our speaker, Alison Edwards. Alison is a dedicated walker and was invited to present to us the benefits of walking as exercise. It was direct and simple and very entertaining. Alison was originally from Kinston but has lived in Asheboro for twenty-five years. She says that walking boosts her spirits, makes life better, and allows her to eat chocolate.

Alison is a part-time teacher at Northeast Randolph Middle School who walks 6-8 miles each day. Beyond the physical effects walking has improved her mental abilities and supported her emotionally. Her how to become a walker checklist follows:

Walk with a partner who will hold you to the discipline.

Plan when the walking fits best in the day. (For Alison it is in the early morning.)

Keep track of the time and distance walked.

Wear the correct footwear.

Walk in a place that makes you feel secure. (She said that after a bad experience with a dog in her neighborhood, she didn’t feel like walking there any longer.)

Challenge yourself with a goal.

Alison recommends beginning with by walking 20-30 minutes daily and when that is well-established, moving up to the 3-4 mile level. She stated that outdoor walking sites popular in Asheboro are the SAMS track and Oak Lawn Cemetery. Indoor walkers can walk measured distances at Randolph Mall. Alison mentioned that she was excited about Asheboro Parks and Recreation plans for walking tracks in the future.

Members asked Alison several questions about various walking matters. President H.R. brought the meeting to a closed by saying, “I’ve been told to take a walk many times.” And because H.R. follows the Four Way Test, we are sure this is true.

December 14, 2007

Our last program before Christmas was Mostly Music. Bob Walker started us off with an invocation; Tom White prompted the Pledge and the 4WT, and then Delores Crutchfield and the Asheboro High School choral music students sang (for their lunch) the Star Spangled Banner.

Guest Richard Hughes was visiting with Foster Hughes; Maggie Stevens and Harry Lane joined us from the Randolph Club. Charlene “Sherry” Holt was a guest of the Club, and was introduced by Jim Rich. She is the first winner of our new RCC scholarship, started by President Ed Clayton. Sherry is married and has four children, yet maintains a 4.0 GPA, and is a full time student.

Our AHS student guests were Saba Warraich and Alex Mabe. Saba is the daughter of Saida Begum and Muhammad Afzal; she has four brothers and is involved with the Key Club, the International Club, the National Honor Society, and Future Business Leaders of America. She plans to study Pharmacy at a four-year university. Alex is the son of David and Cindy Mabe, and many of us have seen him grow up from a tiny handful. He’s now president of the Latin Club, plays bass guitar, practices the Japanese marital art of Aikido, and enjoys muscle cars at car shows. He plans to attend UNC-G or ASU, get an MBA, and start his own business.

President HR presented our AVS hostess Jessica with a present from the club, and reminded us that there is NO MEETING next week (12-21). There WILL be a meeting Friday 12-28! He called our attention to the flyers on each table for the District Conference, April 24, 2008, at the “Chateau Elan Resort and Winery” in Braselton, Georgia. (Register early and get the special conference room rate). HR read from the Tar Wheel of December 5, 1951, where future club president Tommy Redding, then the small son of Henry Redding, immediately saw that the upside of losing a couple of fingers would be “no more piano lessons!”

Our musical program was provided by the Park Street Vocal Ensemble, under the direction of Delores Crutchfield. I regret I can’t tell you who they all were, but they regaled us with such a capella numbers as “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “The Haitian Noel” (sung in French or Creole). They finished up with “Christmas Is…” with Delores on the piano.

Have a Merry Christmas!

December 7, 2007

It’s certainly That Time Of Year, but some of us evidently didn’t get the Wear Red Memo this morning. Sporting red sweaters were Sam Cranford, Jamie Stitt, April Thornton, Phil Koonce, Jute Ramsey, Foster Hughes, Vee Knott, Kathy Homiller, Elizabeth Cox, and Maxton McDowell. Wearing red ties were Rodney Mason and President HR Gallimore. Mike Lee had AVS break out the red table napkins. Past President Prithi even proudly exhibited his red turban. Your Scribe at least was decked out in a seasonal, if unconventional, green.

A grizzled grey Alan Pugh introduced us to AHS student guests Kristina Voong and Ryan Hodgin. Kristina is a member of the band and color guard and intends to attend Campbell or UNC-CH to pursue a career in pharmacy. Ryan is a member of JROTC and Boy Scouts and likes rugby, camping and ‘longboarding,’ whatever that is. He plans to pursue a civil engineering degree at NCSU. Our only other guest was Harry Lane of the Randolph Club.

Phil Shore reminded the club of the Christmas Parade tonight at 7PM, and next Friday night: Christmas on Sunset.

President HR shared the Tar Wheel from February 18, 1948, where Bobby Donnell revealed that his Sunday School teacher’s most memorable moment was the time his chair tipped over and he busted his head on the windowsill. Who know how we make the most meaningful impact?

Today was Awards Day, mainly for “perfect” attendance, and what better way to start than to acknowledge the beginning of Carl Phillips’ 62nd year as a Rotarian? Maxton McDowell and the Attendance Committee were on hand to hand out certificates. Those with 10 years or more of perfect attendance include: Candi Rudzinski (10); HR Gallimore (12); Prithi Hanspal (12); Mary Joan Pugh (13); Jaci Betts (18); Talmadge Baker (24); Don Allred (25); Jim Finison (26); John Menius (29); Tom White (33); Wilbur Hancock (35); Ralph Kilpatrick (38); and John O.H. Toledano (40).

Candi Rudzinski and Lynn White shared their thoughts about membership. Candi was sponsored for membership by Peggy Morrison, and Lynn by Joe Bossong. Who have you sponsored for membership lately?

The Club has 22 people with 100% attendance, and 387 years of perfect attendance. That said, our percentage of weekly attendance is rather low compared to other clubs in the district. Up until about 12 years ago, it was pretty difficult to make up a missed meeting- it had to be done within a week, and had to be done at an official meeting of another club (not online, which is now a possibility). Many of us remember making up at a meeting of the Liberty, Randleman (now defunct) or Troy clubs.

REMEMBER: No meeting on December 21st, but we WILL meet on December 28th.

November 30, 2007

Joy was in honkey-tonkin’ piano mode today, which gave a lively and festive atmosphere to our proceedings.

Josh Strickler appeared as the guest of James Gouty; Little Miss Nikki was the guest of godmother Elizabeth Mitchell at the Scribe Table; Carla Hughes was ostensibly the guest of husband Foster, but mysteriously seated at their table was Foster’s boss John Ogburn, member of the Wednesday club but here today as guest of Jaci Betts (of which, more later). Ed Bunch made up from the Randolph Club. Our student guests from AHS were Loren Moles and Emily Koch. Loren, daughter of Carla and Kenny, is on the school and YMCA swim team, a member of the Mock Trial team and President of the National Honor Society. She plans to attend UNC or NCSU and become an orthodontist. Emily is the daughter of Kris and Ken Koch; she rides horses A LOT and plans to attend St. Andrews college in Laurinburg where she will major in equine business.

President HR recognized the bronzed and rested Leo Derrick, back from a birthday trip to the eastern Carribean. In honor of his recent 80th natal anniversary, we all sang Happy Birthday.

November may be Foundation Month, but we can donate to the Rotary Foundation all year long, and the End of the year is an especially good time for tax deductions. That’s why we can expect to see Bill Batten at the Back Table for the next few weeks, where he’ll be collecting money for the Foundation. Bring your checkbooks!

Speaking of the Foundation, a photo of Owen George and his GSE team in Taiwan was featured prominently in the most recent GSE alumni newsletter.

Update: a recent column by Chris Fitzsimons, one of the speakers at our “Lunch and Learn” meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, mentioned the meeting and the speakers with approval.

Jaci Betts rose at HR’s request to explain her brooch, the Paul Harris pin with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and oak leaf clusters. It starts out as a little blue button, and the more one gives, the bigger and more elaborate it gets. Bill Batten and Wilbert Hancock have similar boutonnieres, and you can too. Major Donors give $10,000 and up; the Bequest Society is for gives of $10,000 from your estate (Bob Bunker was one of those). Today Jaci was pleased to honor Foster Hughes with a Paul Harris Fellowship (there’s no telling how many of those Jaci has distributed; even Your Scribe was an honored recipient of her largesse). So Carla Hughes and John Ogburn were actually in on all this, and were present to see Foster get pinned and photographed.

The Tar Wheel read by HR dated back to January 8, 1959, when Red Underwood passed along a joke about a Rotary Member who owned a coal yard. The punch line involved the Four Way Test and the term “Additional Active Member,” which you young whipper-snappers probably never heard before. Back In The Day, there was an actual limit (2) on how many Rotary members could be from the same profession. Once a member had been a member for some time (I think 10 years), he could become a “Senior Member,” and a third “Additional Active Member” could be added in that category. It was all very complicated, and lead to job title hair-splitting and Jesuitical decision-making from the Membership Committee. Just Remember: We don’t do that any more. Bring all your friends.

State Representative Harold Brubaker was our speaker, as he was about 90 days ago, when he spoke to us about his trip to Taiwan. This time he was pinch-hitting for HR to report on his recent weeks in Rome and Berlin. Harold is the chairman of the NC General Assembly’s “International Committee,” and chairman of ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Committee. This time,they went on an “Atlantic Exchange,” where Harold spoke to the Italian parliament and spoke to people you don’t find in the local Republican party, like The Baronness Billingham, a Life Peer in the British House of Lords and a regular on Sky News. (Her quote on the British Parliament: “We fight like dogs, but after the election we get together like cats.”

Harold spoke with many European politicians and was amazed at some of the comparisons to American practice. For instance, the cost of campaigning for a seat in the Italian Chamber of Deputies (their Senate) is 300,000 Euros (about $450,000). In America, the cost of a senate campaign is $10 Million. In Europe candidates run as a party slate, and the seats are apportioned according to the percentage of the vote won by the party. An Italian Deputy is paid 14,000 Euros per month (about $30,000) and they must pay for any staff support out of their salary.

Harold hung out with Archbishop John Patrick Foley of Philadelphia, who is now Cardinal Foley; in Berlin with an Irish politician named Deith O’Ceallaigh (O’Kelly), and toured around Checkpoint Charlie (it looked like an old telephone booth) and the site of the Berlin Wall, now transformed into a modern shopping district.

Harold’s number one lesson: People are people no matter where you go.

Sad News: This week two of our long-time members passed away, Fred Kearns and Dr. Ken Gobel.

Fred’s obituary is here.

Ken Gobel’s is here.

We will miss them!