Preparing today’s generation for tomorrow’s success

Chatham Rotary’s noon meeting on January 29th featured an extremely interesting and informative program presented by Mrs. Jessica Dalton, Principal, Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center for the Pittsylvania County Schools.  Mark Jones, a Chatham Rotarian sponsored the program and introduced Mrs. Dalton who is a Chatham, Virginia resident who has worked in Pittsylvania County Schools the past 12 years as a teacher at Dan River High School, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Chatham High School, and currently as the Principal of the Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center.

Mrs. Dalton’s presentation highlighted the program at Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center that offers career training in eighteen program areas. These are one or two year programs that offer high school and college credit through dual enrollment with Danville Community College where students can receive college credit as a high school student.  Students from throughout the county high schools travel to the Career and Technical Center located in Chatham daily to participate in their program and have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art equipment and explore different career pathways through business partnerships.  Some of the eighteen program areas include Automotive Technology, Cybersecurity Technology Systems, Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement, and Cosmetology, Precision Machine Technology, Nursing and Welding.  Information on the Career and Technical Center and other available programs is available at their website: https://pctc.pcs.k12.va.us/home or by calling the Center at 434-432-9416.  The Center will conduct an Open House on March 7th for interested participants.

Pictured below: Jessica Dalton and Club President, Phil Mauger



 

Chatham Rotary Club also inducted a new member at the noon meeting.  Nicholas Ferraco, Sartamor Plant Manager in Tightsqueeze became our Clubs newest member.  Nick was introduced to Rotary and sponsored by Walter Sullivan.  Membership Chair Joe Rogers conducted the induction.  Welcome Nick Ferraco!


Pictured both images (L-R) Walter Sullivan, Nicholas Ferraco, Joe Rogers 



 

Rise Against Hunger

Rise Against Hunger is an international hunger relief non-profit organization that coordinates the packaging and distribution of food and other life-changing aid to people in developing nations.

Participants of the Rise Against Hunger Event

January 26, 2019 a group of about 50 people from the Chatham Rotary Club, the Danville Rotary Club and the Danville After-Hours Rotary as well as students from Chatham High School, Tunstall High School and Chatham Hall came together to organize this event.  There were also several private citizens that participated in this joint effort to package meals destined for Haiti.

This group of 50 packaged over 10,000 meals for the Haitian people!  And we had a good time doing it, knowing that we were helping fight against the world-wide dilemma of hunger.

Below are some pictures of the event. Funny hairnets and beard-nets can’t hide the smile on the faces of our participants!  

Ready for Success!

Chatham Rotary’s noon meeting on January 15 featured an extremely interesting and informative program presented by Ms. Robin Haymore, who currently serves as Associate Superintendent for Support Services at Pittsylvania County Schools.  Previously, she was a Director of Special Education and is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist.  Robin began her career as a Special Education teacher and has extensive experience in both inclusive and self-contained classroom settings specializing in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.  As an advocate for educational reform, Ms. Haymore has a wealth of experiential knowledge in the areas of Multiple-Tiered Systems of Supports, Data-Informed Decision Making, Academic and Behavioral Intervention.  Dr. Mark Jones, Superintendent of Education for Pittsylvania County and a Chatham Rotarian introduced Ms. Haymore.

Pictured L-R:  Phil Mauger, President, Robin Haymore, Dr. Mark Jones, Rotarian

Ms. Haymore’s discussion covered the new and highly effective educational program initiated for selected elementary students in the county’s school system.  The program, Ready for Success (RFS),based in Chatham at the old National Guard Armory which has been repurposed to house the innovative service delivery model providing brief, intensive therapeutic intervention to elementary students in grades Kindergarten through 5th who are experiencing social, emotional and/or behavioral challenges.  The RFS Program goal is to teach appropriate replacement behaviors and return students to their base-school within a specific period of time.  This presentation addressed the RFS structure, curriculum, progress data, and financial implications.  Success of this innovative program has been demonstrated by the students who have completed the prescribed courses and returned to their schools for continued successful mainstream education.

Robin Haymore speaks at the January 15th Chatham Rotary lunch meeting.

Hargrave receives recognition

Chatham Rotary President Phil Mauger presented a special recognition plaque to Hargrave Military Academy for their continued support of Chatham Rotary Auction project since 2004 through the donation of a Hargrave Military Academy Summer School slot to be auctioned off nation-wide on-line for each year’s auction.  This donation has been one of the largest fund-raising gifts each year of the auction and has enabled Chatham Rotary to provide over $35,000 in funding for community service and improvement.  

Colonel Mike Brown, the current President of Hargrave and a recent new member of Chatham Rotary Club was joined by Dr. Wheeler Baker, Past President of Hargrave and Chatham Rotary in receiving the plaque for recognition of Hargrave’s contributions to Chatham and Rotary.  Other Hargrave Rotary members Nick Morris, Lee Martin, and Walter Sullivan joined Colonel Brown & Wheeler Baker in accepting the plaque and gratitude of the Chatham Rotary Club.

L-R: Phil Mauger, Col. Mike Brown, Dr. Wheeler Baker, Nick Morris, Lee Martin
(not pictured: Chad Lynn, Walter Sullivan)

Robert David kicks off 2019


Robert David, Youth & Gang Violence Prevention Coordinator for the City of Danville

January 8th, the Chatham Rotary Program hosted Robert David, Youth & Gang Violence Prevention Coordinator, for the City of Danville.  Robert is the Author of Stand Up and Breathe: Four Steps to Recovery from Failure.  He is a motivational speaker, former Natural Mr. Universe and four-time Drug Free Powerlifter World Champion, owner of David Management Youth Intervention Services and Sirbigness Mobile Fitness.

The program, sponsored by Chatham Rotarian Rachel del Campo Gatewood, was well received as Robert embraced the struggle of the at-risk youth for over 20 years by providing outreach programs and individual mentoring.  He serves as the liaison between the community, the youth, and the city to develop and manage programs that address the problems of youth violence.  He shared with the Chatham Rotary Club the success of the City’s first Project Imagine.

L-R, Phil Mauger, Robert David, Rachel Gatewood

Chatham Rotary receives recognition

Featured during the January 8th meeting was Rotary Assistant District Governor Area 7, Barry Richmond, who presented certificates to Chatham Rotary for their outstanding support of Rotary International’s Fight Against Polio.  Chatham Rotary ranked second in contributions from over 85 clubs in District 7570 with over $8,000 in contributions.  Chatham Rotary also was recognized by the District for maintaining over 90% of its membership as Rotary International Sustainers.

Pictured L-R:  Foundation Chair, Robert Adams,  DG Area 7 Barry Richmond, Club President Phil Mauger

Rise Against Hunger

Saturday, January 26th
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Community Center at Chatham
115 S Main Street, Chatham

Be one of 50 volunteers who will package 10,000 meals to be distributed to hungry people around the world. We will gather at 9 AM for setup and begin packing meals at 10 AM. We expect to wrap up between 12:30 – 1:00 PM.  After we adjourn, we’ll head to lunch for an optional “dutch treat” lunch.

Volunteers must sign up in advance at a club meeting or by registering online
or by emailing Inez Rodenburg 

What to Expect
Volunteers set up and take down packaging stations and equipment, fill bins with raw ingredients, scoop ingredients into meal bags, weigh and seal the bags, box and stack them on pallets, and load the pallets and equipment onto a truck. Volunteers should wear comfortable shoes and casual clothes.  Rotarians should wear their Rotary shirt.


Rise Against Hunger gets food and life-saving aid to the world’s most vulnerable people, and works to end global hunger in our lifetime. Established in 1998, we have provided over 225 million meals in 73 countries. We are based in Raleigh, N.C., and operate throughout the U.S. and through affiliates in developing countries.


Guests are Welcome
Prospective members will learn about Rotary. Rotarians will receive a makeup. Family and friends are welcome to sign up with Rotarians. Teens age 14 and up are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Inviting a guest is easy! Just use the share links in this email.