Waynesville Rotary

New Board Members Inducted

Newly nominated and approved Board members (l – r) Heath Talley, David Adams, and Ben Coulter were sworn into their respective offices at the Friday, July 12th meeting of Waynesville Rotary. Talley and Adams were confirmed by voice vote at the meeting as they had not previously been voted upon by the membership. Coulter, who was previously approved by the membership in FY 24-24 was unable to attend the Night of Celebration and Officer Induction ceremonies under President Rick Croskery and incoming President Bronwen Talley-Coffey.
Talley accepted the position as Public Image Chair, Adams joins the succession to the Presidency by becoming the President Nominee/Secretary and Coulter is the Recording Secretary. All three are voting members of the Board of Directors.
They join President Bronwen Talley-Coffey, President-elect Shelley White, and Executive Secretary/Treasurer Cecil Yount, who were installed at the Night of Celebration by outgoing District Governor Sean.

Maurer Update Smokies Life Jane Maurer, Business Outreach Specialist for Smokies Life, returned to Waynesville Rotary with an update on the activities and changes with Smokies Life. Formerly known as Great Smoky Mountains Association, the organiza...

Waynesville Rotary MANNA FoodBank Spring Semester Stats!

During the Jan - May ‘24 time period there were 20 delivery days that encompassed 8 schools. 6,850 Bags of food for 6,850 kid/ weekends were delivered at a cost of $34,150.00. This is approximately $5 per bag. 2,880 miles ( same distance from USA east to west coast) were driven by Rotary volunteers. 17,125 lb. of food was distributed by 160 Rotary volunteer man-hours.

KANPKO RECEIVES A TONY!
Rotarian Tom Knapko was presented with the 2024 Tony Award by the 2023 Tony award winner Ed LaFountaine. The Tony is awarded to a Rotarian, who has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to Service Above Self as reflected in the life of former Waynesville Rotarian Tony Caudle. Following a brief presentation of the history of the Tony, PP Ed detailed Knapko’s dedication to serving the community, specifically through the annual Christmas Baskets project in which Haywood County Rotary clubs provide meals to local families each year at Christmas.

FULTZ HONORED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

Past District Governor Larry Gardner, Waynesville Rotary Chair of Rotary International Foundation efforts, presented fellow Rotarian Drake Fultz (l) with a Paul Harris Fellow in honor of his community wide efforts that personify Service Above Self. Fultz, local entrepreneur and restaurant owner, has made significant contributions through hiring practices and support for flood victims. He has been honored by HVO as the Employer of the Year for his hiring processes supporting the differently-abled members of our community. Also shown in the image (l-r) are incoming Assistant District Governor Pat, outgoing District Governor Sean, and outgoing Assistant District Governor O’Neal.

Waynesville Rotary Spring Raffle Completed

The Waynesville Rotary Club Spring Raffle was a roaring success raising funds for the club's community service activities in the coming year. President-elect Bronwen Talley-Coffey and Laurel Ridge employee Jessica are shown drawing the winning tickets. The pen drawing by local artist Teresa Pennington of a sunset (Bearly Sunset) was won by Gale Roberson. The spalted maple turned bowl by local wood turner Mike McKinney was won by Kathy Yount. In her absence, the bowl was received by Rotarian Ceci l Yount.

Rotarians Honored with Paul Harris Fellow Awards

President Rick Croskery and Rotary International chair Larry Gardner honored three Waynesville Rotarians at the Friday, June 7th meeting of the club. Chip Killian (l), Tom Knapko (r), and Bronwen Talley-Coffey were each presented with their multiple Paul Harris Fellow pins. The Paul Harris Fellow award recognizes Service Above Self via financial support of the Rotary International mission.

MINA AND BELL ADDRESS VENOUS DISEASE Dr. Alfred Mina MD is a general surgeon, and a member of the Haywood Regional Medical Center staff in the Surgical Department.

Waynesville Rotarians Attend District Assembly

Waynesville Rotary Club had six members in attendance for the District Training Assembly on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Mars Hill University, in Mars Hill, North Carolina. Each member received specialized training in their chosen field in order to better serve during their 2024-25 term.

Larry Gardner, Rotary Foundation Chair, Jeremy Pressley, Club Foundation Co-Chair, and William Fulghum, serving on various committees, attended the Club Foundation session led by District Rotary Foundation Chair, Ken Shull.

Steve McNeil, Youth Chair, attended the Youth Services session led by District Youth Services Chair, Mike Stevenson.

Heath Talley, Public Image Chair, attended the Public Image session led by District Public Image Chair, Julie West.

Bronwen Talley-Coffey, incoming President, attended the membership session led by District Membership Chair, Tammy Mosteller.

Waynesville Rotary

SHARE PROJECT! Share Project co-founders Lisa Falbo (l) and Michele Rogers (r) shared with Waynesville Rotarians their journey through shared grief that has led to Project Share, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting famili...

PERKINS BROTHERS BUILDERS Eric Perkins, Contractor, builder, and YouTuber, gave an informative and fun presentation on his work with his brother in the company Perkins Brothers Builders. Perkins noted that he and his brother had worked for many y...

SMATHERS RETURNS WITH UPDATE Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers returned to Waynesville Rotary for what has become his annual visit and update on all things Canton and Haywood County. He specifically addressed the town of Canton and the effects of the closur...

FRIENDS OF THE WNC NATURE CENTER Waynesville Rotarians were entertained and educated about the WNC Nature Center by Ms. Cindy Smith (l) and her colleague at the Friday, February 22ndmeeting of the club. The Center Ambassador Ginger, a red rat snake aka ...

Burton Addresses Crisis in Foster Care Whitney Burton, Regional Family Recruiter – WNC for Lutheran Services of the Carolinas, spoke with Waynesville Rotarians about the crises in providing shelter for children aging out of the foster care system. She indicat...

ROTARIANS HONORED FOR SERVICES!

Waynesville Rotarians Ed Brown, William Fulghum, Steve McNeil, Larry Gardner, and Bronwen Talley-Coffey were honored at the Friday, February 9th meeting of Waynesville Rotary. McNeil and Brown were recognized for becoming repeat Paul Harris Fellows as were Fulghum and Talley-Coffey. Additionally, Fulghum and Talley-Coffey were inducted into the Paul Harris Society and the Polio Plus Society. Gardner was recognized for his efforts to stop Polio with his induction into the Polio Plus Society. Paul Harris Fellows, Paul Harris Society, and the Polio Plus Society are all Rotary International programs serving the global community. Assisting in the inductions and recognitions were Past District Governor Bill Biddle and District Governor-elect Connie Molland.

Waynesville Rotary

Herndon Discusses WNC Community Foundation Laura Herndon, Vice-President for Development of the WNC Community Foundation, addressed Waynesville Rotarians at the Friday, February 9th meeting at Laurel Ridge Country Club. Herndon shared the philosophy and guiding p...

Rotary District 7670 Officers Welcomed to Waynesville Rotary

Waynesville Rotarians were pleased to welcome several District 7670 Rotarians to our Friday, February 9th meeting. Rotary Foundation Coordinator Larry Gardner invited the guests to assist in honoring our own Paul Harris Fellows. Seated with Gardner (l – r) are Joanne Biddle, Past DG Bill Biddle, Gardner, DG-elect Connie Molland, and ADG Rich Molland.

Waynesville Rotary

Gaddis Discusses HVO Fellow Rotarian Bill Cole (l) introduced Haywood Vocational Opportunities President Audrey Gaddis as the speaker for the Friday, February 2nd meeting of Waynesville Rotary. Gaddis, shown in the image between Cole and Way...

ALLSBROOK HONORED FOR SERVICE

Patsy Davis, Mountain Projects Director, visited Waynesville Rotary on January 26th to honor Rotarian Bill Allsbrook for his work in expanding the club's annual blanket drive to a wider audience of Haywood County. As a result of Allsbrook's guidance, the blanket drive has seen significant growth in donations as more service clubs and the public can donate by drop-off and/or by purchase on Amazon with deliveries directly to Mountain Projects.

The Waynesville Rotary blanket drive was first initiated in the fall of 2008 under the leadership of then club President Cecil Yount. It has been continued annually by all successive club Presidents. This was the 15th year of the annual project.

Waynesville Rotary

IT IS CHRISTMAS BASKET DELIVERY DAY!

Waynesville Rotarians arrived at Ingles on the Hill early this morning (Friday, 12/22/2023) to begin delivering 586+ Christmas meals across the county. 34 two person teams fan out across the county to help ensure a Merry Christmas for Haywood families. This is the 27th year in a row that the Rotary clubs of Haywood County have provided this community service! Shown in the image are Bronwen Talley-Coffey, Ed LaFountaine, THE Pressley boys, Rick Smith, Wells Greeley, Jeremy Pressley, and Ron Leatherwood.

Waynesville Rotary Supports READ

Living locally, acting globally, Waynesville Rotary donated $1000.00 to the Ecuadoran READ project. Shown below is President Rick Croskery (l) and Immediate Past President Jack Ewing (r) making the donation to Carla Billups representing the READ program, which supports literacy in Ecuador.

BELL RINGING SEASON IS UPON US!

Waynesville Rotary is pleased to once again support the Salvation Army Red Kettle effort by ringing the bells for 82 hours over two weekends. Shown below is Waynesville Rotary Impact club member Nathan Cartwright and his junior ringer and Waynesville Rotarians Ed LaFountaine and Brandon Wilson along with the better looking Wilson of the duo.

HAYWOOD STRONG RECEIVES DONATION

Waynesville Rotary presented to Hylah Birenbaum, HCC Foundation Director, a donation of $8093.12 at the December 1st weekly meeting of the club. The donation is the result of the club's recent Poor Man Supper featuring Darren Nicholson that was held at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. Shown in the image is (l) Birenbaum and (r) Waynesville Rotary President-elect and coordinator of the project, Bronwen Talley-Coffey.

VETERANS DAY AT ORCHARD CHURCH Thirty-two Waynesville Rotarians attended the Veterans Day program and project at Orchard Church on Friday, November 10th. The program consisted of a meal prepared by the church staff, welcoming comments from the ABCCM s...

WAYNESVILLE ROTARIANS IMPROVE DECK AT LOCAL CHURCH!

Waynesville Rotarians Rick Croskery and Rich Downs returned to the deck they built at the Church of God of Prophecy in Canton last year. This year, they painted the deck and put down non-slip footing for the church membership. Rick and Rich - demonstrating Rotary's Service Above Self!

The Museum of Haywood County History Waynesville Rotarians enjoyed the presentation by Jeff Childers regarding the Museum of Haywood County History located in Clyde, NC. Childers shared the history of the home known locally as the Shook House, which was bui...

The Manna Backpack Delivery Crew

Waynesville Rotary supports Haywood County children, who are food insecure on weekends, by delivering Manna Backpacks to schools throughout the county each Friday when school is in session. Shown in this image (l - r) are Rotarians Bill Owen, Bronwen Talley-Coffey, Steve McNeil (back), Vick Dossey, Dean McMahon, and William Fulghum. Rotarians meet the Manna delivery truck in Clyde and then disperse throughout the county dropping off the boxes of food to school guidance counselors, who then assist in getting the food to the children. Without these important food deliveries, many children would go hungry each weekend.

Conaty On Manna Foodbank Chad B. Conaty, Director of Philanthropic Engagement for Manna Foodbank, met with Waynesville Rotarians at the Friday, October 27th meeting of the club. Conaty addressed the overall Manna program and then provided some W...