INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Foundation Celebration Held for First Time in Rowan County!
Submitted by Cindy Fink
The 2025 Rotary District 7680 Foundation Celebration kicked off with a special reception for major donors. Forty-nine major donors and guests shared time and light appetizers with Larry Lunsford, the Rotary International President Nominee for 2027-2028. District Governor Donna Moffett welcomed everyone and thanked them for their continuing support of the Rotary Foundation. Also in attendance was Rotary International Director Patrick Eakes.
The music of Julie Jones welcomed Rotarians and guests for the Gathering Reception, held in the Barrel Hall. Banners from the four institutions of higher learning in Salisbury flanked the reception area. Debb Corbett, District Contact for the Taipei Convention, provided convention brochures alongside Tom Smith, who provided printed materials for Polio Plus.
Upon arrival, Rotarians added to the donation baskets for the Blessing Boxes in Rowan County. Rotarians contributed over 510 pounds of food and hygiene items. Carol Schmitz Corken from the Rowan Rotary Club served on the Foundation Committee and managed the service project, including the collection and distribution of items. Miriam Basso of the Rowan Rotary Club and other Rotarians assisted her.
A buffet dinner provided by Karen Beavers, Caterer, and adult beverages provided by Traci Williams from the Salisbury Rotary Club and ably assisted by bartenders, including Stephanie Potter from the Salisbury Club, satisfied Rotarians and guests as they prepared for remarks from several speakers. Stephen Hubbard from the Salisbury Rotary Club led the 175 attendees in the national anthem. Dr. Vergel Lattimore, President of Hood Seminary and a member of the Salisbury Club, provided the Rotary Moment, and Rocky Cabagnot, President of the Salisbury Club, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Immediate previous District Governor Kevin Kendrick introduced District Governor Donna Moffett, who kicked off the celebration. Kam Chandan announced the results of Foundation Giving for the 2024-2025 year and recognized the top three clubs in dollars and per capita giving. Kam also highlighted four Rotary Clubs and their District Grant projects from the 2024-2025 year.
Additional speakers included Tom Smith, District Chair for Polio Plus, Bob Wilson, District Chair for Global Grants, Mark Markanda, District Chair for Major Foundation Gifts, and Patricia Shafer, Rotary Peace Fellow and Executive Director of NewGen Peacebuilders.
Donna Moffet returned to the stage to introduce our keynote speaker, Larry Lunsford, Rotary International President Nominee for 2027-2028. Larry offered a brief look at Rotary from the perspectives of a President Nominee, a Rotary Foundation Trustee, and a participant as a Global Scholar post-graduation. He said, “I don’t know that I can ever pay Rotary back for the experiences I had as a Global Scholar. Rotary changed my life.”
Rotarian David Keith presented Larry Lunsford with a recognition from District 7680, sharing that the district contributed a gift of $500 to the Rotary Foundation in his name. David also presented Larry with a small gift of Cheerwine items to remind him of his trip to Salisbury.
Cindy Fink, Chair of the Foundation Committee, thanked sponsors for their contributions and the six members of the committee, including Traci Williams, Christiana Rary, Alexandra Fisher, and Bill Lee of the Salisbury Rotary Club, Carol Schmitz Corken of the Rowan Rotary Club, and Diane Folk of the China Grove Rotary Club. In addition, she thanked Donna Moffett, Kam Chandan, Wally Olson, Jerry Coughter, and Sharon Heinrich. Cindy also announced that the individual at each table who had a packet of flower preservative in their program could take home the lovely arrangement of blue hydrangeas and yellow roses at the center of their table.
Donna Moffett thanked everyone for participating and reminded Rotarians of the January Mid-Year Assembly and the Asheville District Conference, scheduled for late May. Diane Folk, President of the China Grove Rotary Club, led the Four-Way Test, and Anne Nivens, President of the Mooresville – Lake Norman Club, led Rotarians and guests in ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
RIPN Larry said the event capped off a wonderful day of fun and fellowship with Rotarians from our District.
Please visit our Kukulu link for a lot more pictures! https://app.kululu.com/upload/x7rcqj
Peace Poles in District 7680 and a Call to Action!
Do you know what a Peace Pole is? Here’s a bit of history on peace poles as developed by Laurel Morris of the Gastonia Rotary Club:
“The Peace Pole Project was started in Japan by Masahisa Goi, who dedicated his life to spreading the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” Mr. Goi was greatly saddened by the destruction caused by World War II and the atomic bombs that fell on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. His desire to assist in the creation of world peace was answered in 1955 when the phrase came to him during a moment of inspiration and deep prayer. Soon after, Peace Poles inscribed with the message began to appear in locations across Japan. After the United Nations International Year of Peace in 1986, supporters around the world began to place peace poles in communities across the United States and the world. Peace Poles are now the most recognized international peace symbol and monument worldwide.”
Today, there are roughly 200,000 Peace Poles around the world. Rotary has adopted the philosophy of peace poles and encouraged clubs to place them as a way for clubs to show our support for peace globally. The hope is that the poles, typically containing the message of peace prevailing on Earth in multiple languages, is to offer opportunities for individuals to reflect on that message or to foster and engage in community conversations.
Rotary’s partnership with this enduring symbol of peace is important for several reasons:
- Visibility & Symbolism: Rotary’s involvement helps raise the visibility of Peace Poles in public spaces, reinforcing the message of peace in communities.
- Local to Global Impact: While Peace Poles are a global initiative, Rotary’s local clubs make them tangible in neighborhoods, schools, parks — bridging global aspirations with local action.
- Sustainability: By planting Peace Poles, Rotary clubs create enduring symbols of peace. These can be revisited annually (many hold rededication events), which helps keep the peace message alive in the community.
- Complementary to Other Peace Work: Peace Poles complement Rotary’s other peace-focused efforts — such as Rotary Peace Fellowships, youth/Rotaract peace programs, and conflict resolution initiatives.
So, how many Peace Poles are there in District 7680 that have been erected by Rotary Clubs? Here’s the list as we know it now, but we’re fairly sure it does not capture all of the Peace Poles we have in our District:
- Weddington Town Hall (Weddington, Union County)
- Sponsor/Club: Rotary District 7680 / Waxhaw-Weddington Rotary (district Peace Committee project).
- Location: Weddington Town Hall (on permanent display).
- Monroe, Union County
- Sponsor/Club: Rotary Club of Monroe (Day of Service / Interact partnership).
- Location: Wolfe Park rock-garden area, Monroe
- Mountain Island Charter School — Interact Club Peace Pole (school social posts)
- Sponsor/Club: Interact Club (Rotary-connected youth program); social posts show students unveiling a Peace Pole.
- Location / county ambiguity: School serves the greater Charlotte area but is commonly listed in Mount Holly / Lake Norman area (Gaston County), so the pole may not be inside Mecklenburg County.
- Anson County Courthouse
- Sponsor/Club: Wadesboro Rotary Club
- Anson County Courthouse
- Iredell County
- Sponsor/Club: Top of the Lake/Mooresville
- Location: Lowe’s YMCA
- Iredell County
- Sponsor/Club: Top of the Lake/Mooresville
- Location: Liberty Park
- Gaston County
- Sponsor/Club: All six Gaston County clubs including Belmont, Mount Holly, Cherryville, Gastonia Evening, Gastonia East and principally, Gastonia Rotary.
- Location: Rotary Centennial Pavillion, Gastonia
Our District Peace Committee wants to identify every single Peace Pole we have in our District that’s been sponsored by a Rotary/Rotaract/Interact Club. So, here’s the ask for all clubs…
Please let us know if you have a Peace Pole in your area or one that your club has been responsible for placing! Please let us know by emailing us at: NewsletterD7680@gmail.com
Announcing District 7680 Governor: 2028-29
We are excited to announce that the District 7680 Nominating Committee has selected Cindy Brown Fink of the Rotary Club of Salisbury as the Governor-nominee for the Rotary Year 2028-2029.
After careful consideration and interviews with candidates proposed by clubs within our district, the committee has chosen Cindy to serve as the District Governor for the 2028-2029 Rotary year. This nomination comes after a thorough evaluation of her leadership experience, Rotary involvement, and commitment to our district’s values and mission.
Provided there is no challenge to this nomination from a Rotary club within the district by November 28, Cindy will officially become the Governor-nominee-designate. She will then assume the role of Governor-nominee on July 1st, two years prior to her term as District Governor.
We encourage you to reach out and congratulate Cindy on this prestigious nomination! You can contact her via email at Cindy Fink. Let’s show her our support as she prepares to lead District 7680 into a bright future of service above self.
Please join us in congratulating Cindy on this well-deserved honor!
Polio National Immunization Day (NID) Coming Up!
Submitted by DGN Sharon Heinrich
PDG Nancy Barbee recently advised us of an opportunity to participate in a National Immunization Day for Polio Eradication! These are life-changing moments for anyone who has had the opportunity to participate and Nancy knows firsthand! Here are the details as known now:
Feb 2-11, 2026
Cost $3395 per person
Add $1690 if you want a single room!
That includes transportation and hotels and some meals in India.
Does not include flight to India and visa.
We go to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Kolkata.
$500 non refundable deposit to hold your spot!
More information will be made available when received!
Becoming an RLI-trained Facilitator
Submitted by Linda Sussman, Mid-Atlantic RLI, Reporter
Pat Sheikh is an agricultural trade and development expert. Her expertise spans more than three decades, including extensive government experience at the U.S Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), where she served in several key senior level positions. After retiring from the government, she continued to work in international agriculture and business development. Even before joining Rotary in the US, her work in Afghanistan with the non-profit organization, Roots of Peace, led to meetings with Rotary clubs in Kabul to develop a program that supported farmers and was also linked to increased polio vaccinations among their children.
Pat was recently installed as President of the Rotary Club of Capitol Hill.
Why did she decide to join and to subsequently serve in leadership roles in Rotary?
“Despite barriers, I was fortunate to reach high levels of government, and I felt that I needed to give back…When COVID hit, it dawned on me that we were facing things that we never expected. I asked myself, ‘Can I apply my skills from working abroad to working on domestic issues?’
RLI has been especially helpful as Pat began to take on leadership roles within Rotary. She has been particularly impressed by the facilitators, noting that “RLI has excellent facilitators – whether on zoom or in-person.”
This past July, Pat drove to North Carolina to join the ranks of Rotary facilitators. She participated in the facilitator training at the RLI Summer Session. This is, by far, not her first crack at facilitation. At one point in her career, Pat had 300 people working for her. She has developed and conducted numerous international workshops.
A broad range of experience is represented at these RLI sessions. Pat found that coming together, in-person, for this training was a welcome change to her virtual participation in previous RLI trainings.
“…I think it is very helpful to do RLI in person because people share stories with you or approaches that you may not be aware of… Even during breaks, people talk together, which rarely happens during zoom-trainings…I found interacting with others in person provided an opportunity to share approaches on how to solve issues in Rotary and in life”
Was there a part of the training that seemed most helpful in preparing for her new role as Club president?
“The training in North Carolina reinforced for me that we all have different ways of learning and the need to work with people according to their mode of learning…the RLI facilitator was excellent in terms of describing how people absorb information and that they might do it very differently.
…The thing that stuck most in my mind is that we have to be patient. People have all kinds of issues they are dealing with at work, in their families, and others. We need to be more understanding, and we just need to be patient with each other.
Information about the Mid-Atlantic RLI and upcoming training dates are available here.
NOV 2025 MIKE’S MEMBERSHIP MINUTE
Submitted by Mike Walker, DMC
REACH OUT TO SOMEONE YOU HAVEN’T SEEN RECENTLY!
The holiday season is just around the corner. It’s the perfect time to be part of your club’s ‘care team’ by reaching out to someone in your club you haven’t seen in a while. A quick call, email or text can go a long way to making them still feel connected to the club. Let them know you’re thinking of them and hope to see them soon. This is a great way to stay engaged!
The smallest gesture can be of huge value to someone, especially if they’re feeling stressed, alone, or have a medical issue. So, don’t delay! You may be amazed by the conversation you’ll have.
OUR DISTRICT MEMBERSHIP TEAM –
Reach out to any of us to brainstorm ideas for your club’s growth, even if you are not a club leader. Every club member has a lot to add. We’re all in DACdb.
Mike Walker, Charlotte-South – District Membership Chair – all things membership
Dianne Little, Taylorsville – District Attraction Chair – all things Discover Rotary, the easiest way to grow.
Marty McInerney, Matthews – District Attraction Team – using your community Chamber to grow.
John Yermack, Monroe – District Engagement Chair – acts of caring to engage and retain members – onboarding, member care, service engagement, relationship development, and more.
Paula Smith, Waxhaw-Weddington, District Innovative Club Advocate – grow with a companion club, more membership types, alternate meeting times, a different age group, and more. Brainstorm with Paula!
Reach out to any of us, and especially someone in your club.
Excellence in Public Image Coordination
Submitted by Mark Daniels, PI/PR Chair
For the 2025-2026 Rotary Year, we encourage ALL District 7680 clubs to participate in Rotary Zone 33/34 EPIC award. The activities for Oct+Nov+Dec are now open and active prompting you 3 “tasks” to further public image activities for Rotary and your club. Below are those tasks, with the full set for 2025-26 at EPIC Award Monthly Tasks.
To date, 10 of our 52 clubs have completed the Jul+Aug+Sep tasks. We strongly encourage all clubs to actively participate. Of course, the objective is not the reward itself, but rather a roadmap to a sustainable public image strategy for your club. We encourage all clubs to tell your stories and be active on social media. Contact District 7680 Public Image Chair, Mark Daniels (Dannyhood1985@gmail.com) with any questions.
Community Service Project at the Foundation Celebration!
Submitted by Foundation Celebration Chair Cindy Fink
Thanks to everyone who participated in our Community Service Project.
We filled 14 Blessing Boxes in Rowan County.
The photos above are a list of the items, the contributions stacked up in the living room of our Foundation committee Member, Carol Corken, who organized this project. We distributed 475 pounds of food and 35 pounds of hygiene items, totaling over 510 pounds of blessings to those in need. Additionally, there is a photo from the Community Care Clinic and Meals on Wheels, showing them receiving their contributions. Both of these organizations have “Blessing Boxes” outside of their offices.
Well-done, District 7680!
Polio Update October 31, 2025
Submitted by Tom Smith, District Polio Chair
As we marked World Polio Day in October 2025, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) launched the ‘Finish the Job’ campaign. This campaign introduces a comprehensive 2026 Action Plan aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and maintaining the momentum toward a polio-free world.
In addition, health leaders from the Eastern Mediterranean Region reaffirmed their commitment to polio eradication. Furthermore, the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation is set to host a global pledging event in Abu Dhabi on December 8, 2025, reinforcing worldwide support and commitment to ending polio.
These efforts showcase the ongoing global dedication and collaborative spirit that continues to drive us toward a polio-free future.
POLIO IN NUMBERS
Wild Poliovirus October 28 2025 (2024)*
Global Total: 39 (64) Pakistan 30 Afghanistan 9
Circulating Variant (Vaccine Derived) Poliovirus in 2025 (2024)*
Global Total: 169 (194)
*Data as of 28 October 2025. Numbers in brackets represent data at this time in 2024.
I want to thank all who attended the Polio Fundraiser for World Polio Day at our home. We had well over 50 people and raised more than $5000.Most of those donations were not processed by Rotary prior to this month end giving report but will show up next month.
I had a wonderful evening visiting the North Wilkesboro Rotary club where they made a presentation to Charter member Joe McMillan for his years of service to the club and as a tribute to his late wife Rebecca (a Polio survivor). They raised $5,580 for the Polio Plus Fund. The donation didn’t make it for this report, but it is shown in the November report. Small clubs can raise big money; can your club do the same.
I want to thank the clubs who are leading the way in Polio Plus support this year.
District Giving to Polio Plus as of October 31
Top Total Giving Clubs
- Mecklenburg County South $12,850
- Cabarrus County $4,131
- Charlotte South $3,503
- Taylorsville $3,407
- Dilworth South End $3,248
These five clubs gave $27,139 of the District total giving.
Total District Giving as of October 31, 2025 $40,449
District Goal $100,000
We are on track to make our goal if we maintain the momentum we now enjoy.
Please encourage every member to make a $40 donation for 40 years of the Polio Plus Fund ($40 for 40) and Rotary’s efforts toward eradicating polio. With your support, we can.
Helping Prevent Chronic Kidney Disease in India – the Power of Collaboration
Submitted by Foundation Chair Kam Chandan
The Rotary Club of Coimbatore Elite in District 3206, recently shared pictures of a dialysis center which will address considerable community needs in that area. Nearly 10% of people in India suffer from chronic kidney disease and this Center will help many of them engage in improved lives and livelihoods. The Rotary Club of Lake Norman/Huntersville served as the international partner in this Global Grant.
Four-Star Rating for 17 Consecutive Years
The Rotary Foundation is proud to announce that we have recently received a four-star rating — the highest level possible — for the 17th consecutive year from Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator in the United States.
We owe this success to the unwavering support and dedication of individuals like you. Thank you for being a crucial part of what makes our Foundation a powerful force for meaningful change and lasting impact through service.
Charity Navigator determines its ratings by examining how nonprofits use their funds, how sustainable their programs are, and how well they adhere to industry standards of transparency and accountability. You can learn more about how Rotary does that in our most recent annual report.
Your support of The Rotary Foundation inspires others and directly makes a difference with initiatives around the world, as well as projects based in your local community.
We’re deeply grateful for donors like you, who are dedicated to Doing Good in the World.
Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia
Reprinted from Rotary International
The most recent data shows that Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia, the 2021 Programs of Scale awardee, has spurred sustained improvement in health outcomes for people in 10 districts in Zambia. Program organizers continue to promote the community health worker model to reduce severe malaria cases and deaths. Rotary members in Zambia traveled to all 10 district health offices in 2025, one year after the program funding ended in 2024, to gather the data.
Review the Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia Annual Impact Report to learn more about the effects of this program, feel proud of the tremendous work being done by Rotary members, and get inspired to take action on fighting disease or other issues that matter to you.
Promoting this program’s success helps ensure that Rotary’s most transformative work is seen, shared, and supported by members and nonmembers alike. Contact us with any questions or for more information. Click here for the Annual Impact Report.
Remembering and Honoring John Barringer
Submitted by Kevin Kendrick
On the day after the Foundation Celebration, we had the distinct honor of remembering one of own Rotarians in the person of the inimitable John Barringer. John was not only a great Rotarian, but he was also a great human being. And maybe that’s why being a great Rotarian was so easy for him. He always led with his heart and consistently saw the good in us.
When Jenny and I were looking for a club, John was the first to greet us and promptly spent the next ten minutes talking to us, simply trying to know who we were. His sincerity shone through in his time with us and he would go on to be our sponsors in the Charlotte Dilworth Rotary Club.
John was a polio survivor and was passionate about its eradication. He loved volunteering and participated in several trips to Peru to support medical/dental initiatives in Peru and other Latin American countries.
John was passionate about Germany as well and loved the country and its culture. His wife, Gloria Barringer, shared with us today that his mother had been born in Germany.
As a former Lutheran minister, history buff and reader of every kind of book, John knew the value of education and their value in fomenting peace. He was particularly bothered by the incursion of Russia into Ukraine and the consequences it has held for the people of Ukraine.
So, when we considered how our club could best honor John and all the things he loved, a Peace Pole seemed like a perfect project. And today, we gathered at Latta Park in Dilworth in hallowed space at one end of the park where our club maintains a memorial/peace garden. The space is a beautiful area, perfect for reflecting on whatever one chooses, and we are so grateful for the partnership we enjoy with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation which maintains the grounds.
We were so grateful too, for District Governor Donna Mater Moffett and District Governor-Elect Jerry Coughter, for joining us in the celebration of John’s commitment to humanity, fellowship and peace.
Belmont Rotary Club celebrates 100th anniversary and looks to the future!
Submitted by Ted Hall
One hundred years ago this month, business and industry leaders in Belmont were working to organize a new Rotary Club.
A few weeks earlier, Belmont attorney Harley B. Gaston and two friends, Arch Lineberger and Henry Jordan, had visited the nearby five-year-old Gastonia Rotary Club, and they returned excited about forming a club in their city.
After weeks of planning and preparation, the Belmont Rotary Club was elected to membership in Rotary International on Dec. 14, 1925, as club number 2182. Nineteen charter members were inducted, and Harley B. Gaston became the club’s first president. The Gastonia Rotary Club sponsored the membership for the neighboring Belmont club.
Under the leadership of President Ken Pahon, the Belmont Rotary Club has been celebrating the centennial all year with banners on the website and bulletin.
The pace increased this fall beginning with publication of a small book titled “Belmont Rotary Club: A Century of Service Above Self 1925-2025.” Club Public Image Chair Ted Hall led the project using histories written for the 50th and 75th anniversaries by the founder’s son, the late Harley B. Gaston, Jr., and writing a summary of the past 25 years.
The 36-page book includes a list of all 100 club presidents, photos of current members, the story of Paul Harris founding Rotary in 1905, information on the Rotary Four Way Test, a graphic on the Objects of Rotary, a photo of the longest-serving members and information on club meetings.
In September, the club hosted a centennial celebration reception to which all members of the local Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce were invited. On display was a large collection of club historical documents and artifacts, including individually framed portrait photos of the club founder and all 19 charter members provided by the Belmont Historical Society.
On October 30, club members, spouses, guests and member prospects gathered for dinner and another 100th-anniversary observance, including a recap of Rotary and club history and sharing of stories and fond memories by some of the club’s longest-serving members, one of whom, Richard S. Cromlish, Jr., has 56 years of service.
At the event, the winner was announced of a club raffle that raised more than $2,900 for scholarships and service projects. Club secretary and membership chair Michelle Petty led the raffle project.
Belmont Rotary Club concludes a year of celebrating its rich history by enthusiastically looking forward to the start of a new century of “Service Above Self.”
Belmont Christmas Parade to honor Belmont Rotary and Dick Cromlish
Submitted by Ted Hall
The grand marshal of the 2025 Belmont Christmas Parade will be Belmont Rotary Club’s longest-serving member, Richard S. (Dick) Cromlish, Jr., who has 56 years of service.
The Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce coordinates the parade for the City of Belmont, and Chamber Operations Manager Ashley Reep attended the November 12 Rotary Club meeting to announce that a Rotarian would be the grand marshall in recognition of the club’s 100th anniversary this year.
Club President Ken Pahon then announced that the club had chosen Dick Cromlish as the grand marshall. There was a standing ovation.
A Belmont native, Cromlish is the owner of School Resources, which has operated for decades from one of three buildings he owns in downtown Belmont. He’s a former member of the Belmont City Council, past president of the Rotary Club, past president of the Chamber of Commerce, longtime board member of the Gaston County Economic Development Department and the Gaston County Tourism Department and a longtime member of Belmont First Presbyterian Church.
The parade is set for Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m.
Belmont Club thanks past AG Laurel Morris
Submitted by Ted Hall
Belmont Rotary Club showed its appreciation to Laurel Morris, past Rotary area assistant governor, at the November 12 meeting. Laurel served two years in the position working closely with all five Gaston County Rotary clubs and the Belmont Abbey College Rotaract Club. The photo on the award shows Laurel between past District Governor Kevin Kendrick and Belmont Rotary President Ken Pahon. Belmont Rotary Secretary Michelle Petty made the presentation.
Supporting the Foundation!
Submitted by Eric Law
Members of the Charlotte Dilworth South End Club and the Queen City Impact Club, collaborated to support the service project conducted at the Foundation Celebration. We collectively donated four boxes of hygiene products for the Blessing Boxes at the Foundation and proceeded to thoroughly enjoy a wonderful Celebration!
DGE Coughter speaks to Charlotte South Park about HanWash
Submitted by President Erika Hudson
Jerry Coughter is District 7680’s District Governor Nominee and will serve as District Governor in Rotary Year 2026-27. As a proud member of the Rotary Club of Charlotte, Jerry has served as a Board Member, Membership Chair, Foundation Chair, and as a member of the Program Committee and the International Service Committee, before serving as President in 2020-21. He is an RLI graduate. At the District level, he was co-chair for the Paul Harris Society in 2015-16, and an Assistant Governor from 2022 through 2025. Jerry is a Major Donor, Benefactor, and Bequest Society member, as well as a member of the Polio Plus Society and the Paul Harris Society. In 2013, Jerry was part of a group of Charlotte area Rotarians to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds and awareness for PolioPlus. Currently, Jerry is a WASH ambassador, advocating for water, sanitation, and hygiene projects. He serves as one of three North American representatives on the International Ambassador Committee of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Rotary Action Group (WASH RAG). He is also a member of HANWASH, the Haitian National Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Initiative, working to bring clean water and sanitation to all 11.5 million citizens of Haiti. Jerry was named Distinguished Rotarian of the Year by his club in 2022-23. Professionally, Jerry is a Program Director at SSTI, a national nonprofit organization working to help states and regions create a better future through science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He previously served as the founding Executive Director of the Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte, Assistant Vice President for Economic Development at George Mason University, and Executive Director of the Virginia Research & Technology Advisory Commission and the Governor’s Biotechnology Commission. Jerry holds a BS in Microbiology from Clemson University. He earned an MS in Microbiology and Immunology from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MBA from Shenandoah University. He performed doctoral work in Innovation Policy at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.
40 Years of Gratitude: A Community Tradition That Keeps Growing
Submitted by Drew Horine, Gatonia East Rotary Club
For 40 years, the Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon has brought together Gastonia’s older adults for a day filled with laughter, music, and heartfelt gratitude. What began as a small gathering has grown into one of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions—thanks to the partnership between Gastonia East Rotary, City of Gastonia Parks & Recreation, New Hope Baptist Church, and American & Efird/Elevate Textiles.
Each November, the Adult Recreation Center on West Franklin Boulevard transforms into a cheerful scene of friendship and thanksgiving. Seniors 50 and older fill the room with smiles as volunteers serve hot plates of turkey and all the fixings, sweet slices of pie, and plenty of sweet tea. The dance floor comes alive with live music from The Good Time Band, proving that joy—and great rhythm—never go out of style.
This year’s luncheon marks the 40th anniversary of the event itself and roughly 25 years of involvement by Gastonia East Rotary. “It’s amazing to think how many people have been touched by this tradition,” said Pam Aycock, Events Chair for Gastonia East Rotary. “For many of our seniors, this isn’t just a meal—it’s a reunion. It’s where old friends reconnect, new ones are made, and the spirit of Thanksgiving truly comes to life.”
While records show Rotary’s involvement began in the early 2000s, some longtime members remember helping out even earlier. The luncheon originally included local insurance agents, church groups, and city staff. Over the years, it’s grown into a well-organized community effort that showcases what Gastonia does best—taking care of one another.
One of the most inspiring parts of the day is seeing generations working side by side. Members of the Mayor’s Youth Council, all high school students, assist in serving food and greeting guests. Gastonia East Rotarians handle the cooking and plating, while volunteers from New Hope Baptist Church supply the tea, and American & Efird/Elevate Textiles contributes delicious pies, helping ensure every plate—and every heart—is full.
Want to Go?
The 40th Annual Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon will be held Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Adult Recreation Center, 519 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC.
- Free to all seniors 50 and older
- Food is first come, first served
- Live music by The Good Time Band
- No registration required
Wilkesboro makes a gift to Polio Plus
The North Wilkesboro Rotary Club Makes a Significant Contribution to Polio!
