News and Updates

Winslow shares opportunities of Making Pitt Fit Community Garden

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Opportunities and support for Making Pitt Fit Community Garden of Pitt County were shared by Katie Winslow with the Greenville Morning Rotary Club on Thursday at the twice-a-month regular meeting.

Club members and prospective new members followed up on Saturday with participation in the monthly community workday. The garden was prepped for the spring and summer seasons, with significant attention to the welcome garden and blackberry beds.

Winslow, history and plant biology major while at N.C. State University, shared with Rotarians how the garden works; programs ongoing including working with kindergartners across County Home Road at Wintergreen Elementary; and the conjunction of a seed library at the Leroy James Farmers Market of Pitt County.

Bryant shares his story of ‘Polio, Me, and Rotary’

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Jim Bryant, former president of the club, shared his story of “Polio, Me, and Rotary” with Greenville Morning Rotary on Thursday at the twice-a-month regular meeting.

Bryant, a Rotarian with the city’s original club meeting on Monday nights, shared his experience with polio from his early days in Fountain, to high school days in Kinston and into a career that touched Washington and Greenville. His audience was rapt, their conversations afterward inspired by his message.

Rotary’s eradication effort of polio began with a project in the Philippines in September 1979 and continues today with only two countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan – still having cases.

From more than 50,000 cases then, and an outbreak of 58 million cases in the United States in 1952, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention says there are 99 confirmed cases in those two countries as of 2024 and efforts the last few decades have prevented more than 20 million cases.

Poliomyelitis mainly affects children under age 5, the World Health Organization says, through a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It can cause total paralysis within hours through the nervous system. Anyone unvaccinated can contract the disease; Rotarians worldwide raise money in part to help with vaccinations.

Bryant said he was 6 months old when he contracted the virus. It impacted his right leg, and he’s had operations on his ankle, hip and knee, with most surgeries at Duke University Hospital. He was in a full body cast at age 2.

Bryant calls Dr. Jonas Salk, inventor of one of the first polio vaccines, and Dr. Albert Sabin, inventor of the first oral vaccine for polio, “game changers.” He also said he was “blessed to only have one leg involved.”

For Bryant, he’s worn a full leg brace most of his life and has different shoe sizes. He said he’s still trying improved braces.

And he’s grateful for the long career he’s enjoyed as a pharmacist.

His presentation concludes with a slide saying, “Polio anywhere is still a threat to children everywhere.”

Anyone can discover “Service Above Self” – the Rotary motto – by joining the Greenville Morning Rotary Club. The club supports polio eradication worldwide as well as projects in Pitt County that benefit a variety of nonprofit charitable organizations and public education.

Meetings are the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7 a.m. at Egg Yolk, 610-A Red Banks Road in Greenville. Those interested in experiencing “the magic of Rotary” and considering joining can contact club President Chris Young at [email protected].

Caption:
Jim Bryant shares his personal story of polio with the Greenville Morning Rotary Club.

Four attend Rotary district conference

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Four members of Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 on Friday and Saturday attended the 31st annual Rotary International District 7720 Conference in New Bern.

District Governor Gene Foster presided and welcomed Patrick Eakes, a director and past president of Crescent Rotary Club in Greensboro; Ron Pierce, a district governor and presenter on membership; Nancy Barbee, a past district governor and presenter on PolioPlus; and Sonya LaBosco, a district governor from Florida and presenter on human trafficking.

Discussions and presentations were made Friday and Saturday, with an awards banquet and celebration climaxing the weekend on Saturday night at the Riverfront Convention Center.

Greenville Morning Rotary donates to Pitt County DSS

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Pitt County Department of Social Services Director Sharon Rochelle accepted a donation on behalf of her agency from the Greenville Morning Rotary Club at Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Board of Social Services.

Rotarians in Club No. 24258 utilized District 7720 grant money to help with a project in the visitation room. Items purchased with the $707.38 donation were numerous for young children, including a new Lego table.

Club President Chris Young made the presentation to Rochelle alongside board Chairman Darone Dancy and Rotarian Nancy Ray. Dancy is also a Rotarian in the city’s evening club.

Pitt County Department of Social Services Director Sharon Rochelle accepted a donation on behalf of her agency from the Greenville Morning Rotary Club at Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Board of Social Services.

Rotarians in Club No. 24258 utilized District 7720 grant money to help with a project in the visitation room. Items purchased with the $707.38 donation were numerous for young children, including a new Lego table.

Club President Chris Young made the presentation to Rochelle alongside board Chairman Darone Dancy and Rotarian Nancy Ray. Dancy is also a Rotarian in the city’s evening club.

The mission of the Pitt County Department of Social Services “is to enable the achievement of self-support and self-sufficiency.” DSS aims “to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable citizens” but when necessary will intervene to provide protection, its website says.

The department serves many children in foster care.

Pitt County’s estimated population has steadily climbed the last 15 years and has eclipsed 175,000, more than 21% of which are under age 18.

Rotary district grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in the community of the respective clubs and communities abroad. Each district within Rotary International decides which activities to fund.

District grants can be used for humanitarian projects, including service travel and disaster recovery efforts; scholarships for any level, length of time, location or area of study; youth programs, including Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), Roteract and Interact; and vocational training teams that travel abroad.

The Greenville Morning Rotary Club meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7 a.m. at Egg Yolk, 610-A Red Banks Road in Greenville.

The club supports projects in Pitt County and internationally throughout the year. Those interested in joining can contact club President Chris Young at [email protected].

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Caption: Sharon Rochelle (right), director of the Pitt County Department of Social Services, accepts a check from Greenville Morning Rotary President Chris Young (second from right) at Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Social Services. Rotarians Nancy Ray (second from left), from the Morning Club, and Darone Dancy, from the evening club and chairman of the Board of Social Services, also participated in the presentation.

Brueckner shares inspiration, encouragement with GMR

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Jack Brueckner, assistant governor for Rotary District 7720, brought a message of inspiration and guidance to the Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 on Thursday morning.

Brueckner, this spring wrapping up his third year in the role, encouraged interclub activities and recruitment for the clubs; participation in upcoming county, district and regional events; and heaped praise on the group as one of his favorites to visit.

In context, Brueckner said, “We all like Rotary

Cards delivered to Red Oak Assisted Living by Greenville Morning Rotary

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Holiday cards were delivered in December to Red Oak Assisted Living by the Greenville Morning Rotary Club.

Red Oak, on Williams Road in Greenville, provides basic care to residents and assists them in daily activities. Some may be endeavors they have trouble starting on their own.

Rotarians put together messages for 227 cards in the delivery.

Greenville Morning Rotary rings for Salvation Army Red Kettle

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Shoppers came by the dozens all afternoon, and many pitched in the Salvation Army Red Kettle on Friday at Sam’s Club on Winterville Parkway amid the ringing of the bells by Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 of District 7720.

Temperatures never eclipsed 42 degrees, the wind gusted to 14 mph, and the Christmas spirit was rushing in and out with the patrons. Rotarians were overwhelmed by the kindness of so many, and all to help the Salvation Army and others who need a hand up.

More than half the club took a turn ringing.

Christmas stockings for troops assembled

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Christmas stockings for America’s troops were assembled Saturday by the Greenville Morning Rotary Club in conjunction with the project captained by Wilkerson Funeral Home & Crematory.

Winterville Public Library provided a host location for the Rotarians.

Wilkerson partners with North Carolina Support our Troops, a nonprofit based in Ayden billing itself with a “mission to support troops and families with care and comfort items and expressions of appreciation for their service and sacrifices.”

Collaboration increasing in fight to stop human trafficking

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Pam Strickland, founder and CEO of North Carolina Stop Human Trafficking, brought a message of hope and information to the Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 of District 7720 on Thursday.

Strickland, graduate of Farmville Central High and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said the efforts she’s been involved with since 2010 have brought two key pieces of legislation. One of those will be enacted Dec. 1.

As good as that, however, she stressed how collaboration has grown and evolved through various entities that connect to this dark side of humanity. It’s an effort that this calendar year alone has led to more than 2,000 trainings for members of law enforcement, health care providers, school staff and social workers.

Pam Strickland, founder and CEO of North Carolina Stop Human Trafficking, brought a message of hope and information to the Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 of District 7720 on Thursday.

Strickland, graduate of Farmville Central High and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said the efforts she’s been involved with since 2010 have brought two key pieces of legislation. One of those will be enacted Dec. 1.

As good as that, however, she stressed how collaboration has grown and evolved through various entities that connect to this dark side of humanity. It’s an effort that this calendar year alone has led to more than 2,000 trainings for members of law enforcement, health care providers, school staff and social workers.

More than 2,700 were trained in calendar year 2023.

“I assumed the professionals who needed to know knew more than I did,” Strickland said of what she discovered along a journey that has included three enlightening and inspiring trips to Moldova. “What I quickly found out; was they didn’t know anything. They weren’t receiving professional training in their development.”

She also discovered law enforcement and prosecutors were not jumping into action with time, resources that necessitated scarce budget money, and overall effort to merely bag misdemeanor arrests. Passage of the Safe Harbor Law in 2013 protected minors forced into commercial sex from being charged with crimes; they are victims. And coming next month, rather than a Class 1 misdemeanor it is a Class I felony for “any person who solicits another for the purpose of prostitution” and is found guilty.

It's a Class G felony for soliciting a minor, and a Class E for soliciting someone with mental disability, per General Statute 14-205.1(a) in Session Law 2024-26 that originated from House Bill 971.

Strickland said identifying and serving victims remains central to the mission, but prevention work has increased.

“The best way to prevent human trafficking is to prevent the demand,” she told the group.

More information is available at ncsstophumantrafficking.org and its various social media extensions.

The Greenville Morning Rotary Club meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7 a.m. at Egg Yolk, 610-A Red Banks Road in Greenville.

The club supports projects in Pitt County and internationally throughout the year. Those interested in joining can contact club President Chris Young at [email protected].

Caption:

Pam Strickland shares a message from North Carolina Stop Human Trafficking with the Greenville Morning Club on Thursday.

Lunches prepared for Greenville homeless by Rotarians

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Residents at Community Crossroads Center were recipients of bagged lunches prepared by the Greenville Morning Rotary Club on Thursday.

Rotarians prepared sandwiches, sides, chips, desserts and water for the Greenville nonprofit on Manhattan Avenue. Community Crossroads serves the homeless and those at risk of homelessness by providing safe housing and assisting their development of a long-term plan leading to self-sufficiency.

In its 37th year, the center has maximum capacity of just under 100, serves 14,000 bed nights on annual average and benefits from the Pitt County community through donations, volunteers and awareness. Eighty percent of the annual budget is supplied by individuals, businesses and churches.

Alzheimer’s program manager shares message with Greenville Morning Rotary

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Brooke Vallely, coastal program manager for the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, was guest speaker for the Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 of District 7720 on Thursday.

Vallely, graduate of East Carolina University and D.H. Conley High, shared warning signs for Alzheimer’s, community education programs and how the workplace is impacted.

Seven million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, with about 210,000 in North Carolina. Vallely shared information on the risk factors, in particular for women, Blacks and Hispanics.

GMR welcomes district governor

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District 7720 Governor Gene Foster stressed leadership continuity, public relations, and a willingness for adaptability in his address to the Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 on Thursday.

Foster, a Rotarian from New Bern, congratulated the club on its success dating to a charter on Jan. 12, 1987. Included are two past district governors, collaboration with other Rotarians and leadership representation at the district level.

Scholarship winners visit Greenville Morning Rotary

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Babacar Niass and Caleb Spruill, spring recipients of the Greenville Morning Rotary Club Scholarships for 2024, were featured guests and addressed the club on Thursday at the Egg Yolk Cafe.

The East Carolina University students by way of Pitt Community College shared their stories of transition from high school to college, with a hint on what they know now regarding future plans. They also gave a hearty thank-you to the members for their fiscal support.

Two from GMR graduate from Rotary Leadership Institute

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Keisha Gray and Alan Wooten, board members of the Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 in District 7720, graduated Saturday with completion of the third of three parts in the Mid-Atlantic Rotary Leadership Institute.

Held in Trent Woods at the Garber Methodist Church with all three parts offered, they were joined by three others from the Greenville Evening Club at RLI.

RLI is a grass roots, multi-district leadership and Rotary development program using facilitation and activity-based learning in a small group setting.

Young succeeds Baldwin leading GMR

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Chris Young, instructor in the paralegal faculty at Pitt Community College, was installed as president for fiscal year 2024-25 of the Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 in District 7720.
Young succeeds Shea Baldwin, president the past two years who led the club through and out of the challenging COVID-19 era. Bill Little, past club president now a part of the Swansboro Rotary Club, gave meaningful words of wisdom as installing officer.
Jack Brueckner, assistant district governor overseeing Area 6, was special guest and provided encouraging words to the group.

Niass, Spruill awarded GMR scholarships

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Babacar Niass and Caleb Spruill have been awarded Greenville Morning Rotary Club Scholarships for 2024.
Each has been a student at Pitt Community College and will continue their higher education at East Carolina University.

Tedi Bear outreach helped by GMR

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Children helped by the Tedi Bear Children’s Advocacy Center in the Brody School of Medicine were gifted teddy bears and Play-Doh by the Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 in District 7720.
Kia Glosson, training specialist and community educator with the outreach program, accepted on behalf of Tedi Bear following a presentation to the club on Thursday. The center is a partnership between the Department of Pediatrics at Brody at East Carolina University and the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.

Graduating Baldwin, three others from GMR at RLI

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Shea Baldwin, president of the Greenville Morning Rotary Club No. 24258 in District 7720, graduated Saturday with completion of the third of three parts in the Mid-Atlantic Rotary Leadership Institute.
Held in the Russell Building on the campus of Pitt Community College with all three parts offered, he was joined by three others from his club at RLI. Keisha Gray and Alan Wooten completed the second part, and President-Elect Chris Young the first part.

Two from GMR at RLI on Outer Banks

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Keisha Gray and Alan Wooten, members of the morning Greenville Rotary Club No. 24258 in District 7720, attended Mid-Atlantic Rotary Leadership Institute in Kill Devil Hills on April 27.
RLI is a grass roots, multi-district leadership and Rotary development program using facilitation and activity-based learning in a small group setting. Gray and Wooten were with other Rotarians from the Manteo, First Flight and Kitty Hawk clubs at the Beachside Bistro in Sea Ranch Resort. They completed Part I of the three-part coursework, which centered on the basics of being a Rotarian.

Extension director for horticulture visits GMR

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How the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Pitt County helps agriculture, food, youth development, and educational programs was explained by Matt Stevens at a recent meeting of the morning Greenville Rotary Club No. 24258 in District 7720.
Stevens, the county’s extension director for horticulture, explained just what the cooperative extension is and means to residents. It takes information developed at the two land grant universities, N.C. State and N.C. A&T, and shares it with the community.

Sickle cell disease information shared with GMR

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Awareness and information about the chronic and painful impact of sickle cell disease was recently shared by Asiya Khaatoon and Mac Bell to the morning Greenville Rotary Club No. 24258 in District 7720.
Khaatoon, sickle cell account manager for the American Red Cross Eastern NC Region out of Greenville, shared personal testimony for how sickle cell has been handled in her family. Bell, account manager for the Donor Recruitment Department in the Eastern NC Region, offered insights on blood donation drives.

Greenville Morning Rotary partners with Saving Graces to help place animals

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The Greenville Morning Rotary Club recently completed a project to support Saving Graces 4 Felines in their mission to find loving homes for as many animals in need as possible in Greenville and the surrounding area.

Dr. Vivian Mott shares insights on the Rotary Foundation

Thursday, February 29, 2024

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The morning Greenville Rotary Club No. 24258 in District 7720 welcomed Dr. Vivian Mott and received a presentation on the Rotary Foundation at its most recent meeting Thursday.

Mott and Mary Vincent shared information on the Foundation and how the impact is delivered in Pitt County and around the world. Mott, retired from East Carolina University, has been a member of Greenville’s noon club since 1994 and in Tennessee was the first female Rotarian in 1987.