The Rotary Club of Kernersville, NC

Robert Eggleston

Anne Rudert / Stephanie Phipps

Chief Neal Stockton

Dr. Amy Harper

"Kernersville Living Magazine"

Candidate Forum - Challengers

Candidate Forum - Current Incumbents

District Governor - Dave McCoy

Rocky Carter

Open House

Joe Bellissimo

Greg Beier

Brandon Mitchell

Sister City Dahshi, Taiwan students & host families.

Merrill Shaw

On June 27th, Nathan Tabor spoke to our breakfast meeting about "Leadership". Nathan is owner of TCVMedia and founder of The Conservative Voice. To be a successful leader, one must have vision, be able to delegate / teamwork, be accessible, have the willingness to change, have strong personal integrity, strong work ethics, and lead your own family.

On June 20th, Jesse Beckom , a member of the USA Bobsled Team spoke at our meeting. His enthusiasm regarding his dangerous sport was very apparent. His descriptions of crashes, training, interacting w/ other teams was exciting to all. Jesse received his education from Iowa State and was a star on their football team before he went into bobsledding. Jesse brought along many items relating to bobsledding, including his shoes, helmet, protective vests and the tight suit that they use.

On June 13th, Bob Kober, Publisher of BizLife Magazine, spoke to our club about "Regionalism". Bob compared the Triad's situation to Chattanooga, TN and how they discovered their "river". Economic development would greatly increase if the cities of HP, GB and WS would simply embrace each other's cities and all work together. Long range planning would also prevent the traffic confusion presently found at RTP.

On June 6th, Brian Stewart (Pres. Elect) ran the Club Assembly. Announcements were made regarding the upcoming 4th of July Parade (Scott Miller), 5K Race(Chris Oakman), Awards Night (Judith Elliott), Summerfest (Arnold King), etc. 5K Race - begins @ 8:30 @ Bank of NC.

On May 30th, Mayor Curtis Swisher spoke on the "State of the Community". Curtis explained further about the Heart of the Triad "HOT" planning project and the 7 municipalities involved. Roads, property taxes, sewer lines, economic development, jobs and the environment are all being carefully evaluated, as this project moves forward. Curtis outlined the TOK's $24.1M budget, where the tax rate will remain @ $.55 and still include all of the necessities.

On May 23rd, The Rotary Club of Kernersville presented the First Annual Kernersville Rotary Scholarship to Forsyth Tech student Ashley Cerecke. Ashley is pursuing an Associates Degree in Emergency Medical Services and has maintained a 4.0 GPA at Forsyth Tech. We also inducted 2 new members, Mike and Melissa Lacey .

On April 18th, Beth Hinesley & Jan Frye Hill from the Carolina Donor Services spoke at out breakfast. CDS is the federally designated organ procurement organization serving 6.1 million people in 79 counties of North Carolina. Their mission is to save and improve lives through a commitment to increasing organ and tissue donation. One donor can save up to 8 lives and many more in tissue donation. "In the most difficult time ... Give the gift of life"

On April 4th, David Bradley - from the "Kernersville Pastoral Counseling Center" spoke to our club. The Kernersville Pastoral Counseling Center is one of the 22 faith based counseling centers of North Carolina Baptist Hospital. Adults, couples, families, adolescents and children are all served by the Counseling Center. Two priorities motivate the ministry of the Pastoral Counseling Center in Kernersville. The first is to provide quality, faith based, counseling to families, couples and individuals. The second priority is to furnish clergy, and others, with educational seminars that will personally empower their resources and professionally enhance their effectiveness as leaders.

On March 27th, Thorns Craven from the Reynolda Club and Adrienne Byrd from Greensboro Tannenbaum Historic Park spoke at our breakfast about their recent GSE (Group Study Exchange) trip to Scotland. Their group of 4 non-Rotarians traveled to Scotland to build international relations where they visited 11 various clubs and enjoyed the Scottish hospitality. Team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas. The Group Study Exchange program guide outlines eligibility requirements.

On March 21, Julia Phipps spoke to our club about her recent medical mission to the Philippines. Julia is a RN at Baptist Hospital and she joined a team of 60 medical volunteers of the NC Medical Mission to see 5000 patients during a 5 day period this past January in Dumagueta, Philippines. This team consisted of a surgical, ophthalmology and dental team that performed cataracts, tumor removals, dental extractions, cleft-lip, and various life-altering surgeries for these islanders.

Todd Haley, Pastor of Oaklawn Baptist Church, spoke about "Becoming a More Effective Leader". Todd and Charles Freeman are responsible for the Triad Leadership Summit, a leadership luncheon , held every 2nd Thursday of the month. Some of the quotes from today, "Leaders are not born, they make themselves" , "Without leaders, everything falls", The Law of the Lid - "An organization will only achieve the goals that the leader sets" , "Effective leaders combine humility and greatness."

On March 7th, Rence Callahan from the "Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership" spoke at our breakfast meeting. Rence explained the history of the downtown WInston-Salem area and its potential growth from the Steven's Center area, to an arts / entertainment district, to the Greenway, to the Downtown Civic Park, to the Research Park, as well as the Davis Garage development area. This area near WSSU is being developed by our own Bill Cannon and Chris Frantz and will be called Excelsior Street Development.

On Feb. 28, Marvin Davis, Kernersville Town Manager, spoke at our breakfast and combined his classification talk with a brief status of our town. Marvin grew up in Chapel Hill, attended ASU and obtained his master's degree with a concentration in public administration. As the CEO of Kernersville, he described Kernersville as the "Glue that holds Greensboro & Winston-Salem together". To continue to attract quality major businesses, K'ville needs to have the necessary infrastucture before the growth occurs and we need to keep a good balance between "High Tech and High Touch". This refers to the quality of our Downtown area as well as the intangible feeling that we live in a "safe community".

On February 21st, JR Gorham presented his "Pictures from Iraq".

Valentine's Day Contest WINNER! Allan Asbell - On this Valentine's Day 2007 I would like to nominate my wife Debbie Asbell as the most special person in my life. Debbie spent 18 years as an Assisted Living Administrator in Elkin dedicating her life to the well being of the elderly and disabled and making sure they had a good home away from home with good home cooked meals, also with exceptional quality of life. Her theory was the residents all had to give her a hug everyday. She has said it was more for her than them, but that's the kind of person she is, always giving and never expecting anything in return. While serving as administrator she would write Christmas Plays for the residents to perform in and also make the clothing for them to dress as Mary and Joseph and all the others. Her residents would ride in the local Christmas parade and perform the plays at local churches, the residents were so excited and always enjoyed it, she always made it special.

This Valentines Day is extra special since I was recently in the hospital for 10 days and while Debbie has medical issues of her own to deal with she spent all but two nights in my hospital room with me to make sure I was okay through the night. Debbie is my special Valentine because three years ago January third, 2004 she appeared to go into cardiac arrest, during this time she suffered what we now know was an Anoxic Brain injury and was clinically dead for 5 days hooked up to many machines for life support. These past three years have proven to be very trying on both of us, four and a half months in both Forsyth hospitals and twenty-five doctors to deal with and so on. Debbie had always led an active life style in her love of elderly and disabled. She can no longer do the things she loved to do, such as cooking, sewing and singing, but she has never complained or expressed anger toward anyone. Her days are now spent locating words in word search books or reading the most recent Paula Dean Cook book.

We were married on 911, but it has never been an emergency, only good times and memories of what we have shared during the time we have known each other, for this I am thankful for having her and glad that she chose me.
To all of my friends in the Kernersville Rotary Club, I want to thank you also for the support, prayers and friendship you have given to Debbie and I during our times of need.

Happy Valentines Day Debbie
Love,
Allan

On February 7th, Patricia Perkins - Rotary Cultural Ambassador Scholar to India gave us a slide show of her recent trip around the world. Her Rotary trip included many places from the South Pacific, to India, to Nepal, to France. We also inducted 2 new members, Marvin Davis and Kelly Chadwick

On January 31st, Phil Morris (PDG) presented Barbara Fulp and Van Sherrill with banners for 100% Member Participation and 100% Sustaining Paul Harris Fellow Club for this past year. Bill Phipps also showed a video about the upcoming Rotary District Conference at the Homestead, WVa.

On January 17th, Joseph Anderson, from Anderson Weber & Henry, P.C., discussed his book and project "The Light Within". This project supports the Calcutta Children's Permanent Fund, which was an outgrowth of his trip to India in 2004. Joseph Anderson traveled for thirty days through Calcutta and Delhi, a trip which he chronicled in a journal and a travel blog. 100% of his royalties from the sale of this book go to the Calcutta Children's Permanent Fund, a nonprofit organization, which he established upon returning to the US.

On January 10th, Bruce Boyer was honored with the Rotary Club of Kernersville's Four-Way Test Award. The 4 Way Test Award is given annually to a non-Rotarian who has contributed to the Kernersville community. This 24-word test is the guide that Rotarians live by throughout the world. Past award winners include: Solly Coltrane, Joe Dudley, Roger Swisher, Charlie Snow, John Staples, Doc Long, Garry Snow, David Fitzpatrick and Jack Blaylock.