Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Annual Belk Lecture
Elizabeth Hudson,
Editor-in-Chief, Our State Magazine
At our last meeting, we welcomed Wayne County librarians for National Library Week and our annual Belk Lecture. Our speaker was Elizabeth Hudson, Editor-in-Chief of Our State magazine. Ms. Hudson provided a great insight into the history of the publication, how she began her career there, and an overview of the staff's methods for selecting stories and series.
We were very honored to host both Ms. Hudson and our librarians and appreciate our club's participation in the Belk Lecture.
For more information about Our State, visit their website.
Past Speakers (2018-2019)
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Maj. Ben "Hassle" Hoffman,
Director, Wings Over Wayne Air Show
This week, we were joined by Major Ben "Hassle"
Hoffman, this year's director of the Wings Over Wayne
Air Show. Major Hoffman gave us an outline of what to
expect at this year's show which will be held on Saturday
and Sunday, April 27th and 28th at Seymour Johnson
Air Force Base.
This week, we will be joined by Major Ben "Hassle" Hoffman, Director of the 2019 Wings Over Wayne Air Show.
This year’s Air Show is set for April 27th and 28th and is proud to bring back the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, who are sure to give another breathtaking performance! The Thunderbirds are stationed in Nevada at the Nellis Air Force Base and are the third-oldest formal flying aerobatic team in the world. Spectators are in store for a big show that includes a myriad of air performances, exciting ground demonstrations and realistic enactments that are sure to amaze spectators both young and old. With over 230,000 people attending this record-breaking show in 2017, the event has grown to become the largest free air show in North Carolina and has also become part of the community’s legacy. The Wings Over Wayne Air Show was awarded “2017 Event of The Year” by the N.C. Association of Festivals & Events, by demonstrating growth, the betterment of a community and region, and being a poignant reminder of how incredible our service men and women are who sacrifice so much to protect us. The Wings Over Wayne Air Show takes place at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro NC, which has been there since 1947.
For more information, visit the air show's website.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Dr. Sandy Maddox,
President, University of Mount Olive
Dr. Sandy Maddox has 40 years of experience in agriculture in North Carolina. She currently serves as the Director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center at the University of Mount Olive (UMO). The Agribusiness program at UMO has seen tremendous growth since Dr. Maddox arrived and continues to work to help students reach their potential. Agribusiness students account for nearly 20% of the total student body and one of the program's goals is to keep those students in the area once they graduate.
Prior to arriving at UMO, she was employed by both NC State University and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. She worked in the Soil Science Department at NC State in research; was a Horticultural Agent and County Extension Director for Cooperative Extension in Pender County: served as the Superintendent of the Horticultural Crops Research Station in Sampson County; and lastly served as the Director of the Division of Research Stations with NCDA prior to retiring from state service.
For more information about UMO, visit their website.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Mark Pope,
President, Wayne County Development Alliance
At our meeting on March 19th, Mark Pope, President of the Wayne County Development Alliance, gave us an update on WCDA's efforts to cultivate existing industry as well as attract new industry to Wayne County. Pope is a Lenoir County native and East Carolina University graduate, Pope has served as the economic director in his home county since 2005. He previously served as the president of the North Carolina Economic Directors Association. Prior to 2005, Pope spent more than 20 years in the banking industry. He became President of WCDA in September 2018.
For more information about WCDA and their work to expand our economic climate, visit their website.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Craig Honeycutt,
County Manager, Wayne County
At our last meeting, one of our newest members joined us to give us an update on everything that is happening with Wayne County. Wayne County manager Craig Honeycutt shared with us updates on several ongoing projects as well as a few new projects. Wayne County is in a good position — geographically, financially, economically — and we look forward to continued success. We are thankful for Craig's service and are glad he is a member of our club!
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Lisa Reedy,
Leadership Wayne County
At our last meeting, we were joined by members of Leadership Wayne County which is a program that is designed to create a corps of leaders dedicated to the betterment of the community through service.
This year’s class choose a project that to be implemented at 3HC’s Kitty Askins Hospice Center. Kitty Askins is a community based, nonprofit agency rooted in the heart of NC, offering compassionate care to patients during their greatest time of need. Over 83% of the patients and families served at Kitty Askins Hospice Center are residents of Wayne County or Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and serves an average of 40 veteran hospice patients. Every veteran that is cared for at Kitty Askins is honored with a pinning ceremony that is open to their family and friends. The class project will focus on creating a beautiful and serene Veteran’s Garden at Kitty Askins Hospice Center. The garden would serve a dual purpose of honoring the many veterans in the care of Kitty Askins, as well as offering other patients, their family, friends, and staff a place of respite.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Paul Abell,
District 7720 CART Chair
Paul Abell was our guess last week. Paul is our district's CART chair and he shared with us some information about the purpose of the CART fund.
Our treasurer, Charlie Ivey, presented Paul with our contribution of $1,371.60 toward our CART goal.
For more information about CART, click the link below:
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Dr. David Poole,
President, University of Mount Olive
Last Tuesday, Dr. David Poole, the new President of the University of Mount Olive, was our speaker. Dr. Poole assume the duties of office on July 1, 2018 and was inaugurated on October 5, 2018. Dr. Poole has over 36 years of experience in the business and education environment. He spoke to us about the current program offerings at UMO and about the different methods of learning through traditional live classes, online classes, and evening classes. Each provides a unique educational experience.
For more information about UMO, visit their website.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Millie Chalk,
Duke Energy
Millie Chalk was our speaker last week and presented an informational program about a coal ash recycling program that will begin at the H. F. Lee plant in Goldsboro. For more information about this project, click on the Fact Sheet at right.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Jason Trull,
Spirit AeroSystems
Last week, we heard from Jason Trull, Sr. HR Generalist at the company's Kinston, NC advanced composite manufacturing facility.
The Spirit AeroSystems Kinston site features leading edge advanced automated fabrication and assembly of large complex composite aero structures. The site’s statement of work features the all new Airbus A350XWB including the Forward Wing Spar and the Center Fuselage section of the 300 passenger aircraft.
As the first fabrication manager at Spirit’s Kinston facility, Trull was responsible for preparing the new site for manufacturing readiness along with selecting and developing a new workforce. A workforce that has grown from 21 newly hired productions workers in May 2010 to 600+ employees currently.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Adam Capani,
History Told Through Old Coins
At our last meeting, we heard from fellow Rotarian (from Clayton) Adam Capani who presented a program on History Told Through Coins.
Adam shared some interesting information about the history of currency, how it was made 2,000 years ago, and its use during that time. He also shared information about a more recent treasure (only 300 years ago) found off the coast of Florida. We hope to have Adam back to share more of his knowledge of old coins.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Rev. Jim Harry,
Journey to the Holy Land
On January 15th, Rev. Jim Harry joined us to present a program on a recent trip he took to the Middle East.
Rev. Harry shared a PowerPoint presentation with pictures from his last journey to the Holy Land. He called it "Following the Footsteps of Jesus." A group is planning to take another trip in February. If anyone is interested in going on a trip, please contact St. Paul United Methodist Church.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
D.J. Coles,
Program Director, Teen Court
On January 8th, we welcomed D.J. Coles, executive director of The 4 Day Movement. The Four Day Movement, Inc. is a Divine Assignment born June 4, 2013 at 4:07 a.m.
DJ Coles, a military transplant to Goldsboro, NC was assigned to lead a mission focused 501(c) 3 nonprofit in Wayne County, NC. Specific instructions are followed to help those in crisis, underserved, underprivileged, and falling through the cracks of life. This assignment has seen many local clients connected to relevant life sustaining community resources and basic necessities that many are afforded. We will continue to stand in the gap against lack, generational curses, violence, and poverty, 4 Days at a time. We will be a community network and impact agent when and where we are assigned. We are 5 years old and growing with the support of our Community Heroes who support us with their time, talent, and treasures. *Founder and CEO, DJ Coles is married with two children and also is a Civilian contracted Protestant Youth Director for the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Chapel.
Click on the brochure to the right for more information or visit their website.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
BreAnna Vanhook,
Program Director, Teen Court
On Tuesday, December 18th, we welcomed the Goldsboro Kiwanis Club for a joint meeting to celebrate Christmas and were entertained by the Southern Wayne Show Choir. We look forward to this joint meeting each year around Thanksgiving or Christmas. This year, it was delayed due to scheduling conflicts from Hurricane Florence.
Our program was presented by BreAnna Vanhook, Program Director of Teen Court, a juvenile crime prevention council program sponsored by Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County.
Teen Court is an alternative system of justice, which offers first-time juvenile offenders an opportunity to take responsibility for their offenses through community service and other educational opportunities. Teen Court also provides a “hands on” educational experience for student volunteers in our justice system. Teen Court does not determine guilt or innocence; rather, it recommends a constructive sentence for the juvenile defendant that includes restitution, community service hours and educational classes. A juvenile referred to Teen Court appears before a jury of peers and is defended and prosecuted by peers. Evidence from many sources indicates that not only do young people stay out of trouble following a Teen Court appearance, but the program also saves hundreds of thousands of dollars in community expense and allows the juvenile court system to concentrate more time and energy on critical juvenile offenders.
For more information on how to volunteer, contact BreAnna Vanhook at teencourt@waynecss.org or click on the brochure to the left.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Sherwood Williford,
Columnist, Goldsboro News-Argus
On Tuesday, November 27th, we welcomed columnist Sherwood Williford. Mr. Williford spoke with us about the Neuse Islands which is a massive body of land bordering Wayne and Johnston Counties triangled between Grantham, Cox's Mill, Rosewood, and Princeton, and is often referred to as "the lowlands." This area has been largely abandoned but by no means forgotten.
He was born on the Bentonville Battlefield, although it was several years after the war ended, and grew up in a tenant farmer family in the Grantham area. He graduated from Grantham High School and served two years in the Mount Olive National Guard, followed by eight years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. Upon discharge, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. He graduated with a B.S. degree in communications after studies with the University of Georgia and Brigham Young University.
He has published two books: Grantham High School, the 1950s and a book of fictional humor, Hanging out in Corbett Hill. Mr. Williford is currently working on a book detailing the Worley Murders that took place between Grantham and Princeton in 1878.
You can read his weekly columns in the Goldsboro News-Argus or by clicking here.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Philip Gerard,
Author, Contributor to Our State Magazine, Professor at UNC-W
On Tuesday, November 13th, we were honored to welcome author Philip Gerard. Gerard is the author of eight books of nonfiction, four novels, and a collection of short stories, in addition to numerous essays, short stories, radio essays, and documentary television scripts.
Gerard read from his article in the July 2018 issue of Our State magazine titled "The Miracle of Hickory — When polio strikes children in the Piedmont, doctors, nurses, and volunteers rise to the occasion to build an emergency quarantine hospital." The "Miracle of Hickory" refers to an emergency hospital established in Hickory during the summer of 1944 to treat infantile paralysis (polio). The hospital was started in response to a serious epidemic that developed in June and was centered in the Catawba Valley. When the facilities at Charlotte Memorial Hospital and an orthopedic hospital in Gastonia were filled, it became necessary to treat patients at Hickory. The ‘‘miracle’’ was the speed with which the hospital was conceived and put into operation. The decision to open a hospital was made on a Wednesday at noon, and the first patients were admitted on Saturday morning, a mere 54 hours later. The initial building was a stone structure that was already occupied as a summer camp. Army hospital tents were used throughout the summer, and several additional frame structures were built. Much of the construction and other work at the hospital was accomplished by a massive local volunteer effort.
Click the magazine cover to the left to read the article.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Bill Johnson,
Superintendent, Eastern Carolina Veterans Cemetery
On Tuesday, November 6th, we heard from Bill Johnson, the superintendent of the Eastern Carolina Veterans Cemetery on Long Plant Farm Road. Mr. Johnson reviewed some interesting facts about the cemetery as well as the eligibility requirements for veterans to be buried at the cemetery.
Click the links below for more information:
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Rob Bizzell,
Chairman of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission
On Tuesday, October 16th, we welcomed Rob Bizzell, the current Chairman of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission. This is Rob's second term as Chairman. There are a multitude of issues for commercial and recreational fishing in our state. The Division of Marine Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of the state's marine and estuarine resources. The Commission is responsible for establishing agency policies.
As Rob explained, there are issues that need to be addressed which he stated is not as simple as changing a policy and calling it a day. The Commission is mandated to meet at least quarterly and the meetings are open to the public.
For more information about the Division of Marine Fisheries or the Marine Fisheries Commission, click here to visit their website: NC Division of Marine Fisheries.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Tasha Christian Adams,
Principal, Edgewood Community Developmental School
Message from Ms. Adams: The mission of Edgewood Community Developmental School is, “To develop (independence) and positive social interaction so all students can be actively involved in their community. We will accomplish this through a caring, committed, and highly qualified staff, teaching in a safe and nurturing environment.” The child friendly mission statement is, “Our school helps us be the best we can be.” Our students recite our student friendly mission, vision and beliefs statements every morning as well as our school expectations. We truly believe in preparing our students for life in the 21st Century.
We believe in teaching each and every child the way he/she learns best. It’s all about small group instruction. It’s about starting a child academically from where they are and having them achieve their maximum potential and beyond. It’s also important that parents are included in every aspect of his or her child’s education. Their input is valued in creating his/her child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). We recognize that parent involvement is essential in ensuring every student is successful.
We recognize at Edgewood School that every child should be treated as an individual. We believe in educating the “whole child.” Teachers creatively plan lessons using the Common Core and Essential Standards - Extended Content Standards as their foundation in addition to research based strategies to actively engage all children. Staff are committed to providing meaningful experiences to reward and recognize students for their hard work pertaining to their character, academics, and behavior skills in and out of the school environment.
Finally, Edgewood School strives to offer realistic and viable alternatives when our families are faced with decisions concerning their child’s future. Our goal is also to prepare our students for life beyond the educational setting into workshop settings and community based settings and/or job setting.