Highlands NC Rotary - Rotary Newsbriefs

Rotary's motto going back to the 1950's has been, "Service Above Self." Meals on Wheels, known in Macon County as Home Delivered Meals, provides a midday meal to people, who can't prepare a nutritious meal for themselves, generally due to health or age related medical issues.
Home Delivered Meals began in the Highlands area in September 1998 when Rotarian and then Mayor Buck Trott petitioned the Macon County Department on Aging to establish a program in Highlands. At the first organizational meeting Trott found a number of fellow Rotarians and eager volunteers to drive and deliver the meals. Home Delivered Meals had begun and quickly became known as "Meals."
In the decade that followed, Meals has seen over half of its meals delivered by Rotarians and spouses of Rotarians. Volunteers and Rotarians have become good friends and work as a group as they trade, swap and cover meal delivery days in this five-day a week program.
The Peggy Crosby Center initially handled the necessary paperwork that is now prepared by the Highlands Civic Center or Rec Park. After meals are picked-up from the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and delivered, the documents are returned to the Rec Park.
Meals volunteers from Rotary have included Tony and Isabel Chambers, Pat Moore, Rick Siegel, Luther Turner, Buck Trott and David Rohrer. Rotarian spouses Caroline Cook and Mary Berry have been long time volunteers. Deliveries have been augmented by Rotarians Dave Jellison and Selwyn Chalker who work at the Rec Park and occasionally have filled-in during their lunch hour when the weather was extremely inclement or a last minute problem arose.
Two unique volunteers are Caroline Cook and George Henry who started delivering when Meals began and have continued weekly to this day.
Volunteers say the hot midday meal is only part of what Meals is about. They may be the only person their client sees and talks with. Volunteers also check and look to see that their client is okay. This is always a point of concern for the volunteers. Beginning with a smile and a warm meal clients and volunteers often become good friends.
The Rotary Club of Highlands has seen many of its members and spouses of members participate in Meals to the extent that Rotary gives meeting attendance credit to Rotarians when they deliver.
What are volunteers most proud of? "We've never missed a day."

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Rotary Report

Relay for Life - 2007

By Jodie Cook

Relay for Life is a celebration for survivors, a memorial for those lost and a rally for the community to fight cancer. It is a fun event about a serious and deadly subject that is one of the most successful non-profit organization fund raising events in the US.

Highlands Rotarian and former Mayor Buck Trott introduced Curt Crowhurst from the American Cancer Society. Mayor Trott has been with Relay since its beginning in the Highlands-Cashiers area and is actively involved today.

The communities of Glenville, Scaly Mountain, Cashiers and Highlands form the Mountaintop Relay for Life. For the last six years Mountaintop Relay has been the number one per capita donor in the US, raising a total of $1.254 million for the American Cancer Society through Relay. The goal this year is $220,000.

Highlands Rotarian Rick Siegel has been the Team Captain for Highlands for these six years helping to fulfill the vision of Mayor Trott to bring the Glenville, Scaly, Cashiers and Highlands communities together in this common goal. Nationwide there will be over 4300 Relay for Life events.

Relay for Life began 20 years ago to recognize and celebrate those who have survived cancer, now some 10 million people. Deaths from cancer have declined the past two years in a row, which is a phenomenal statistic going on in this country, Crowhurst said. This success is due to testing, early detection, better life styles, education, and medical advances in treating cancer - people are more empowered to fight cancer.

With monies donated, the American Cancer Society has been on the cutting edge of research in the fight against cancer. ACS issues grants and funding to research centers, clinical trials, colleges and universities as well as to specific researchers to develop detections methods, treatment medicines and methods as and prevention techniques.

Last year the South Atlantic Division of ACS, which is Virginia down to Georgia, spent over $41 million to eliminate cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research education, advocacy and service.

ACS efforts and monies go beyond research and address the needs of cancer patients and their families throughout their cancer journey. All programs are available free of charge through ACS's Cancer Resource Network (800-ACS-2345). Crowhurst pointed out that this resource, available 24/7, is of substantial assistance to people in western North Carolina where access to physical facilities is distance-challenged. Information can also be found at the ACS website, www.cancer.org., which is a highly interactive site.

Crowhurst asked those in the Rotary audience who had survived cancer to stand - it is amazing how many people have battled cancer. Five years cancer free is a milestone date and Rotary had an impressive group who exceeded that milestone. It is the people who have battled and are battling cancer that Relay celebrates.

Relay for Life is a community gathering focusing on cancer survivorship where everyone can participate in the fight against cancer. This year it will be held in Highlands on August 17th. Relay's Recruiting Chairman for Relay Mountaintop is Matt Eberz who can be contacted at mgeberz@verizon.net.

Highlands Rotary Grant to HCCMF

The Rotary Club of Highlands awarded a $1000 grant to Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music Festival to co-sponsor a chamber music concert for the Highlands School this fall. HCCMH Board Member Caroline Cook said that Artistic Director Will Ransom would present the Vega Quartet, which has performed at the Performing Arts Center for a number of years, at the concert.
In behalf of Highlands Rotary, President Brian McCellan said Rotary welcomed this opportunity to participate in bringing a world-class chamber music group to the Highlands School as an avenue to promote and expand the arts at the Highlands School.

Rotary President Brian McCellan (r) presents a check for $325 to Buck Trott for Highlands' Boy Scout Troop #207. Former Mayor Trott is Chairman of 207 Troop Committee and an active promoter of Scouting. Troop 207 meets weekly at the Highlands Community Center. The Highlands Rotary Club has sponsored Troop 207 since its founding.

The Highlands School Rotary Students of the Month

The Rotary Club of Highlands awards the Rotary Student of the Month to a student from elementary, middle and high schools chosen by teachers from The Highlands School. The students so chosen are recognized for achievements in school spirit, academics, athletics and school participation.
Ethan Crisp represents elementary school where he is a Wolf Scout; plays soccer and tee ball and also works very hard in Great Beginnings.
Cody Houser represents middle school and is in eighth grade where he is recognized as a hard worker who is involved in athletics and is anxious to learn.
Krystal Cutshaw is in high school and excels in photography and the creative areas of multimedia and graphic design in her computer courses.
Congratulations from The Rotary Club of Highlands.

photo and text by Jodie Cook.

Highlands Rotary Recognized for Foundation Support

Last year's Highlands Rotary Club President, LaDonna Keener receives one of two awards given Rotary earned during her tenure. Dennis Sanders, on behalf of the Rotary International Foundation, presents a plaque to her in recognition of Highland Rotary being the largest donor to the Foundation in western North Carolina last year. Highlands Rotary also received an award for 100% membership participation in supporting the Foundation.

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L - R Past President LaDonna Keener and President Brian McClellan present a check to Jennifer McKee for the Make - A - Wish Foundation from the Rotary Club of Highlands.
"We at Make-A-Wish would like to thank Highlands Rotary for supporting our local efforts. As a fellow Rotarian, I believe that all of us who join Rotary do so because we believe in the message of Service above Self -- and being a member of Rotary magnifies our ability to make a difference in the world. Likewise, supporting the efforts of Make-A-Wish in Cashiers makes a huge difference, but right here in our own back yards."
"Last year, we granted wishes for a child in Cashiers, one in Sylva, and one in Cherokee with funds from our festival. This year, we have 'wish kids' in Franklin, Glenville, and Cherokee, as well as the rest of Western NC. It's nice to know that this money is going directly toward making dreams come true for these kids." Jennifer McKee.

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ShelterBoxes

By Jodie Cook

The world, this year in particular, has encountered a number of devastating natural disasters – hurricanes in the US, the tsunami in Asia, a hurricane in Haiti, numerous sites in Africa and Eastern Europe. In the US, Rotary Clubs throughout the country have sent donations, goods, food and many more items to those affected by hurricane Katrina.

A grassroots Rotary International project that began in the United Kingdom several years ago is ShelterBoxes. This project spread to the United States and operates under the name ShelterBoxUSA and is managed by the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch (near Sarasota, FL) where Rotary became the administrator for the program in the US in 2003.

Thousands upon thousands of Shelter Boxes have been shipped throughout the world: from Uganda to Mississippi and Louisiana. The standard ShelterBox weighs 110 lbs. and has approximate dimensions 33" x 24" x 24". They are sealed, banded for transit and security and are made up of: A 49 gallon box (The ShelterBox) also used as water tank, food store, cot, table, etc.: a three-compartment, ten-person, domed-tent; ten envelope-type sleeping bags; one pack of 180 water purification tablets, one 5 gallon flat-pack water container and plastic water carriers; two sets of basic cooking/eating utensils (pots, pans, plates, cups, etc); a trenching shovel; three flashlights/batteries and spare batteries; rope, 164 ft.; ten PVC Ponchos/ ten HD plastic bags; misc. tools (hatchet, jack-knife, screwdriver, hammer, etc. and , lastly, a multi-fueled cook stove.

Depending upon the destination of the ShelterBox some minor changes are made, for example, ShelterBoxes destined for Uganda have mosquito netting and sleeping mats instead of sleeping bags. Many ShelterBoxes sent to Katrina victims did not have sleeping bags but blankets instead as cots were readily available from the Red Cross and others.

Shelter Boxes are purchased with donations, fundraising etc. The cost of a Shelter Box is $950 which, in part, reflects the quality and durability of the merchandise contained. Shipment is usually by military aircraft and often in 20 or 40-foot containers. Distribution at the qualified disaster area is by Rotary Clubs, The Salvation Army, The Red Crescent, The Red Cross or a recognized emergency relief organization.

This worldwide Rotary program has affected hundreds of thousands of people by providing shelter and a number of necessities for short term or, in some cases, longer-term relief. This is a quick-ship item and has an immediate impact at the disaster scene.

More information, including donor information, can be obtained at www.shelterboxusa.orgor calling Beth Palmer (Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch) 941-358-7676.

written by Jodie Cook/for the Rotary Club of Highlands