News and Updates
Collaboration increasing in fight to stop human trafficking
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.
Lunches prepared for Greenville homeless by Rotarians
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.