History of the ROTARY CLUB of KERNERSVILLE

Chartered November 24, 1987
Founded with the commitment to carryout the “Objectives of Rotary”

Presidents:

 

87-88 Jerry Wells
88-89  Jerry Wells
89-90 Jim Wheless
90-91 Arnold King
91-92  Ron Greene
92-93  Bill Giles
93-94 Larry Cain
94-95 Bruce Hill
95-96  Jim Bland
96-97  John Ford
97-98 Darrell Walker
98-99 Mike Jacobs
99-00  Jeff Taylor
00-01  Kevin Bugg
01-02 Roy Collette
02-03 Jim Wilhelm
03-04  Dona Neal
04-05  Duane Long
05-06 Van Sherrill
06-07 Barbara Fulp
07-08  Brian Stewart
08-09 Mike Shaw
09-10 Jason Grubbs
10-11 Chris Oakman
11-12 Pam Ray
12-13 Overton Harper
13-14 Tony Smits
14-15 Brooks Mayson
15-16 Jim Fradenburg
16-17 J.G. Wolfe IV
17-18 Arnold King
18-19 Dona Neal
19-20 Jeff Jordan
20-21 Neal S. Parnell
21-22 Tony Beddick
22-23 Mark Peck
23-24 Joey Herman
24-25 Donna Rodgers
25-26
26-27

1987-88 (President: Jerry Wells)
September 17, 1987 – 1st organizational meeting at Paul Ciener Ford
-Sponsor Club: Rotary Club of the Triad
-President: Don Nichols Extension Chairman: Everett Padgett
November 5 – First lunch meeting at Western Steer (Speaker: Everett Padgett)
November 24 – Charter Date (22 members)
February 29, 1988 – Charter Night Dinner at Oak Ridge Military Academy
-Speaker: Nido Qubein
May 21 – First Community Service Project (Child Safety Day)

1988-89 (Presidents: Jerry Wells and Jim Wheless)
July 4 – First Fundraising project (Pancake Breakfast – Net: $2,129)
September – Began tradition of recognizing two (2) Students of the Month and one (1) Teacher of the Month from both East Forsyth and Glenn High Schools
September 20 – Ladies’ Night at High Point Elks Club
December 4 – Second fund-raiser (Pancake Supper – Net: $2,965)
January – Jerry Wells resigned – Jim Wheless became president
May 25 – 1st Annual Scholastic Banquet
May – Awarded four (4) scholarships of $250 each

1989-90 (Presidents: Jim Wheless and Arnold King)
August – Community Service Project (Literacy Week Campaign in conjunction with Forsyth Tech)
October – Hurricane Hugo Relief Effort – collected two (2) trailers of goods that were distributed by the Rotary Club in Florence, South Carolina
November – Jim Wheless moved – Arnold King became president
December – Pancake Supper netted $3,595 (began concept of corporate sponsors)
December – Began annual Christmas Gift Program for Area Rest Homes
January 3 – “Polio Plus” Fund-raiser at Countryside Lanes
January – Established Business Partnership with Cash Elementary School
May – Awarded four (4) scholarships of $500 each
May – “Rescued” Kernersville 4th of July Parade and agreed to assume responsibility for the annual parade

1990-91 (President: Arnold King)
August – Replaced playground equipment at Cash Elementary
September – Recognized in “Rotary News Basket” for Cash School partnership
December – Pancake Supper netted $7,070
April – Brought circus to Cash Elementary
April – First Career Fair (attended by 1,100 job seekers)
May – Awarded four (4) scholarships of $1,000 each

1991-92 (President: Ron Greene)
Pancake Fund-raisers (July and December) set a new record with $12,303 in profits
June – Club represented at Rotary International Convention in Orlando, Florida, by Bill Giles, Ron Greene, Dennis Whicker and Arnold King displaying our Cash School project (1 of only 25 projects on display from entire Rotary world of 25,000 clubs)
June – Recipient of first-ever “District 7690 Significant Achievement Award” for our Cash School project

1992-93 (President: Bill Giles)
Pancake fund-raisers netted $13,463
Formed Interact Club at East Forsyth
Received “Blue Chip Award” from the Northwest N.C. Development Association
Received Presidential Citation from Rotary International

1993-94 (President: Larry Cain)
Pancake fund-raisers netted $15,810
Recognized as the Top Club in District 7690 for Per Capita Giving to the Rotary Foundation
Received Presidential Citation from Rotary International
Received the “District 7690 Chip Wood Award” for public relations
Received the “District 7690 Significant Achievement Award” for Career Fair project

1994-95 (President: Bruce Hill)
Sponsored Tara Wall, Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar to Australia
Formed Interact Club at Glenn High School (first club in District with two Interact clubs)
Received another Presidential Citation


1995-96 (President: Jim Bland)
Pancake fund-raisers netted $17,343
Sponsored our second Ambassadorial Scholar – Angela Godwin studied in France
Achieved 100% Paul Harris Fellow Sustaining Member status
One of Top Three clubs in District in per capita giving to Rotary Foundation
Received Presidential Citation from Rotary International
Gave tremendous club support to District Governor Arnold King

1996-97 (President: John Ford)
July 4 – Replaced 4th of July Pancake Breakfast with a 4th of July 5K Race that preceded the 4th of July Parade
Conducted Job Shadow program at East Forsyth for 75 students
Won First Place in District 7690 bulletin contest
Conducted first annual Rotary Youth Leadership Academy in Kernersville
Won another Presidential Citation
Adopted a girls’ orphanage in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic

1997-98 (President: Darrell Walker)
Featured in THE ROTARIAN magazine for our successful pancake fund-raisers
Shipped a container of clothing, beds, paint, ceiling fans, etc., to the orphanage in the Dominican Republic
Sponsored our first Cultural Ambassadorial Scholar (Susan Decker, teacher at Cash Elementary, spent summer in France)
Celebrated club’s 10th Anniversary with a party at the Sawtooth Center
Sponsored circus at Cash and rebuilt sandboxes for the kindergarten students
Won another District bulletin award
Received the Presidential Citation

1998-99 (President: Mike Jacobs)
Switched to a breakfast club
July 21 – Certified as a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club (only the 44th club in the world to achieve this recognition)
#2 club in the District in per capita giving to the Rotary Foundation
Won District Gold Club Award
Received another Presidential Citation

1999-2000 (President: Jeff Taylor)
Continued support of the orphanage in the Dominican Republic (students at Cash Elementary got involved and raised $500 to assist the orphanage)
Conducted Hurricane Floyd fund-raiser
Joined other Rotary clubs in Forsyth County to help build a Habitat for Humanity house
#2 club in the District in per capita giving to the Rotary Foundation
Won both the District Gold Club Award and a Presidential Citation


2000-01 (President: Kevin Bugg)
Christmas party at Tanglewood – complete with hayride through the Festival of Lights
First ever “non-Pancake Supper” (supper canceled due to snow – still netted $10,536)
First Golf Marathon (raised $2,736)
Recognized by District 7690 for both Highest Growth Rate and Most New Members in the District (Received D7690 Arnold Schiffman Award for Membership Growth & Retention)
Began using the Internet for our bulletin
Received both the Gold Club Award and another Presidential Citation


2001-02 (President: Roy Collette)
First ever Halloween Haunted House project
Secured thirteen (13) new Benefactors for Rotary Foundation
Won Governor’s Gold Club Award
2nd Annual Golf Marathon

2002-03 (President: Jim Wilhelm)
Chartered Rotaract Club of Kernersville
Sponsored Rotary Club of Willow Creek
Contributed $5,000 to Polio Eradication Campaign
Donated Centennial Clock to Town of Kernersville in honor of Rotary’s 100th Anniversary
Received Gold Club Award and Presidential Citation
3rd Annual Golf Marathon

2003-04 (President: Dona Neal)
Received Gold Club Award and Presidential Citation
Centennial clock dedicated
4-Way Test Award presented to David Fitzpatrick
4th Annual Golf Marathon
Bob Newton – District Governor
Theme – “Lend a Hand”
16th Annual Pancake Supper
International Project – sponsored Pete Kunkle to go to Mexico and assisted in building of hospital
Family of Rotary Outing – Kernersville Lake
July 4th Parade
5K Race


2004-05 (President: Duane Long)
This was the Centennial Year for Rotary – 1905 – 2005
The Rotary Club of Kernersville presented the Town of Kernersville with a clock to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the founding of Rotary
Our membership increased from 46 to 59
We sponsored the founding of the RotaRunners Club at Southeast Middle School this year
Don Allred of Asheboro was our District Governor for the year
We were honored that one of our members, Lt. Col. J. R. Gorham, went to Iraq to serve our country there. We kept him in our prayers and displayed the 91st Psalm in our meeting room in his honor until his safe return
We completed our commitment to Rotary International of $5,000 to aid in the Polio Eradication Program
We received the Arnold Schiffman Award for membership retention and growth
We received the District Gold Club Award
We received the Rotary International Presidential Citation
Every Kernersville Rotarian was involved in the work of our club
5th Annual Golf Marathon

2005-06 (President: Van Sherrill)
Received Gold Club Award
18TH Annual Pancake Dinner!
July 4th Parade and 5K Race
6th Annual Golf Marathon

2006-07 (President Barbara Fulp)
Received Gold Club Award
19TH Annual Pancake Dinner!
July 4th Parade and 5K Race
7th Annual Golf Marathon

2007-08 (President Brian Stewart)
Received Gold Club Award for 10th straight year!
20TH Annual Pancake Dinner!
July 4th Parade and 5K Race had over 300 participants and raised $7,500
8th Annual Golf Marathon

20th Anniversary of Kernersville Rotary Club on 11/24/2007
Received the Rotary International Presidential Citation
Began the Pedal the Piedmont bicycle event and raised $6,800
Increased membership from 68 to 71 members.

2008-09 (President Mike Shaw)
Received Gold Club Award for 11th straight year!
Received “Triple Crown Award”
21st Annual Pancake Dinner!
July 4th Parade and 5K Race
21st Anniversary of Kernersville Rotary Club on 11/24/2008
2nd Annual Pedal the Piedmont bicycle event
Increased membership from 71 to 77 members.

2009-10 (President Jason Grubbs)
Received Gold Club Award for 12th straight year!
Received Presidential Citation
22nd Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $21,000.
July 4th Parade and 5K Race had over [You’ll have to check with Brian Stewart on this] participants and raised approximately $7,500.00
22nd Anniversary of Kernersville Rotary Club on 11/24/2009
13th Annual RYLA
Sponsored two high school students at Rotary District 7690 Rotary Youth Leadership Camp at Guilford College
Increased membership from 76 to 85 members.
Constructed and dedicated the Rotary Club of Kernersville Downtown Farmers Market
Awarded two scholarships at Forsyth Tech
Awarded two scholarships at East Forsyth High School and two at Glenn High School
Awarded over 10 Paul Harris Fellowships

2010-11 (President Chris Oakman)
Received Gold Club Award for 13th straight year!
23rd Annual Pancake Dinner!
July 4th Parade and 5K Race
23rd Anniversary of Kernersville Rotary Club on 11/24/2010

2011-12 (President Pam Ray)
Received Gold Club Award for 14th straight year!
24th Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $28,000.
July 4th Parade and 5K Race
24th Anniversary of Kernersville Rotary Club on 11/24/2011

 

2012-13 (President Overton Harper)
25th Club Anniversary 11/24/2012
Received Gold Club for the 15th straight year!
Presidential Citation
First Club in District 7690 to repeat as Triple Crown Club
Awarded 6 Members with 25 Years of Service Crystals
25th Annual Pancake Supper
July 4th Parade and 5K Race
Spring Folly Food Booth
Spring Nursing Home Project Adopted
16th Annual RYLA
Sponsored two high school students at the Rotary Youth Leadership Camp at Guilford College
Sponsored First Youth Exchange Program – Kilby Young to Italy
Dedicated Rotary Park at the Rotary Farmer’s Market with statues and plaque installations
Awarded Forsyth Tech Scholarships
Awarded two scholarships both at East Forsyth High School and Glenn High School
Awarded 1 new Major Donor

2013-14 (President Tony Smits)
Rotary Theme- Engage Rotary/Change Lives
Received Gold Club Award – 16th Consecutive Year
Received Triple Crown Award- 2nd Consecutive Year
RYLA Program 17th Consecutive Year
Received District 7690 Award for Highest number of Organ donors
Awarded $8,000 in College Scholarships
26th Annual Pancake Supper- raised $23,901.26
18th Annual July 4th 5K race $11, 160.53
Spring Folly Food Booth- $5,120.77 Net Income (new Club record)

 

2014-15 (President Brooks Mayson)
27th Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $________.
Received Gold Club Award – 17th Consecutive Year
RYLA Program 18th Consecutive Year
July 4th Parade and 5K Race had over ___ participants and raised $____
Increased membership from __ to __ members.

 

2015-16 (President Jim Fradenburg)
28th Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $27,301.
Received Gold Club Award – 18th Consecutive Year
RYLA Program 19th Consecutive Year
July 4th Parade and 5K Race raised $11,937
Increased membership from 75 to 83 members.

2016-17 (President J.G. Wolfe)
29th Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $29,500.
Received Gold Club Award – 19th Consecutive Year
RYLA Program 20th Consecutive Year
July 4th Parade and 5K Race had over 500 participants and raised $11,000
Increased membership from 83 to 85 members.

2017-18 (President Arnold King)
30th Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $______.
RYLA Program 30th Consecutive Year
July 4th Parade and 5K Race had over ____ participants and raised $_____
Increased membership from 85 to __ members.

2018-19 (President Dona Neal)
31st Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $______.
RYLA Program 31st Consecutive Year
July 4th Parade and 5K Race had over ____ participants and raised $_____
Increased membership from 95 to __ members.

2019-20 (President Jeff Jordan)
32nd Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $29,000.
RYLA Program 32nd Consecutive Year
July 4th Parade and 5K Race raised $9357

2020-21 (President Neal S. Parnell)

33rd Annual Pancake Dinner! – Canceled due to COVID
RYLA Program – Canceled due to COVID
5K Race had over ____ participants and raised $_____
Increased membership from __ to __ members.

2020-21 (President Tony Beddick)
34th Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $______.
RYLA Program 33rd Year
July 4th Parade and 5K Race raised $____

2021-22 (President Mark Peck)
35th Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $______.
RYLA Program 34rd Year
July 4th Parade and 5K Race raised $____

2022-23 (President Joey Herman)
36th Annual Pancake Dinner! Raised over $______.
RYLA Program 35rd Year
July 4th Parade and 5K Race raised $____