1. 1
This time of year, we have a lot of discussions around friends, family and traditions. Thanksgiving has plenty of these discussions that consist of different recipes passed down through the generations, NFL football, gathering together and sharing what we are thankful for…I’ve even seen #friendsgiving posts and tweets start to pop up. Thanksgiving transitions right into Christmas, which also have many tried and true yearly rituals. These rituals include baking cookies, decorating the tree and (fingers crossed) sleigh riding are just a few examples that we look forward to in anticipation.
Our club has a little tradition going, too. Last year, we had a great Christmas party and we broke out some pretty ugly sweaters. How could we not do it again? How could we not give our reigning champion, Forrest Cronise, the opportunity to defend his title wearing the “ugliest sweater”? I am looking forward to sharing some good times with our club, reflecting upon the past year, thankful for each of you and really hoping you bring out your ugliest garb in December. “Ugly Sweater, The Return” is almost upon us.
Special points of interest:
Looking forward
Family Month
Guest Speaker
Know your Rotarian
In this issue:
President’s Piece
1
Guest Speaker:
JD Sutphin
2
Rotary Recognition
3
Family of Rotary
4
Member’s Page
5
Flyers
6
Rotary District
7
Future Events
8
Rotary Club of the Blue Ridge - New Generation
December 2014
Volume 1, Issue 5
ROTARY REFLECTIONS
New Gen Scorecard
Members 44
Avg Attnd 56.00%
(As of October 2014)
President’s Piece
By: Judy Kilgore
Planting the seed, To help the need Being a friend, Prayers and hope to send Not walking away, But trying to stay Not turning away, No matter what day Being there, No matter where Giving hugs, Instead of tugs Not pushing aside, Getting to know the person inside We are all human, Sometimes we just need a hand It can do so much
So take the time, Everyone gets in a bind Let’s all show random acts of kindness, No matter how big or small We’re all in need of Someone to care, We all need someone to be there
We All Need Somebody To Be There
2. 2
Roanoke, VA – Wednesday, November 5, 2014 our guest speaker comes from Roanoke, and has been a part of this community all of his life. This is something that was instilled within him at birth as he came from a tight knit family that always held their community with high regard. Their motto, “Take care of others, and they’ll take care of you. Love others, and they’ll in return show you the same.”
Coming from a family that has this outlook toward not only their own family, but extends out to the community gives you confidence to follow your dreams and accomplish things that some might be hesitant to even think about putting into action.
JD Sutphin was the person that came from that family, and he is now here to deliver a presentation that is completely different from the saying, “we have always done it this way!!” JD is first and foremost a musician that happened to land in Clear Channel Media as a
Vision Stems From Family Values
New Generation
December 2014
Volume 1, Issue 5
Guest Speaker: JD Sutphin
program director, music director and market director for 11 years. He and his family then suffered a major life changing event when his cousin Anthony Hall suddenly died. This event changed everything within JD’s life as he struggled to concentrate on his work.
JD’s cousin’s motto was, “positive thinking equals positive results.” This kept going through JD’s head, and he decided he wanted something different. He wanted to be in a less corporate, restrictive career. He wanted to take what he had learned his whole life from his family, and combine it with his cousin’s life lesson to create, inspire, and work with passion and from the gut within his own community.
He then went to a friend’s event called the Cityworks Xpo event and was inspired yet again by the very first speaker that represented Virginia and US tourism. During his presentation he asked, "Do you want people to visit your town? Ask yourself, when was the last time you visited theirs?" This made him think to “Pay it forward!!”
After the event he then made the biggest leap of faith that many of us are scared
to even think about, and that is to quit your job and follow your dreams, and that is when Big Lick Entertainment was born. According to JD, “Big Lick Entertainment's mission is to create events with a message and meaning. Whether producing a fundraiser, festival or concert, each date is a crafted partnership with the goal of enriching our area culturally and economically with drive, passion and creativity.”
He has taken this mission and made his brand extremely successful as they started with one event with the Big Lick Downtown Countdown December 31, 2013, and since then have SEVEN signature, sold out, relevant and impactful events in southwest Virginia. Those events include Big Lick Burger Fest, Big Lick Oktoberfest, Big Lick Wine and Swine, BOCO BBQ Fest, Rare Beer Festival and more. In 2015 JD and Big Lick Entertainment will host over 16 different signature dates, talk about “Positive thinking equals positive results!!”
Their vision is to “celebrate everything that make hometowns so wonderful, while heralding the people, organizations and businesses that it makes it one close knit family.”
This is something that we as a world should all applaud, and position our own thinking toward this type of vision. Rotary also offers this type of vision, and it is ironic that I am sitting here writing this recap during rotary Family Month. His mission and vision for his company is to have events that support and give back to the community as a family supports and gives to each other. Rotary also does this in the services that we provide not only in our own community, but worldwide. Our servant leaders that are called Rotarians help support those in our community, and we live by the “Four Way Test” which helps confirm our actions and services to help those in need. When you combine these things we are all one big family ready to help and support when called upon.
3. 3
Each November during the annual Club Assembly it gives New Gen an opportunity to both recognize current leaders for their time and dedication, as well as to announce new leaders who will succeed them. This year we took an opportunity to honor two outstanding Rotarians for the service during the 2013-2014 Rotary year. Membership Chair, Brittany Sandidge, presented the following awards:
Jessica (Jessie) McPherson was awarded the first annual OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD for her unwavering commitment to the Rotary Club of the Blue Ridge New Generations. Jessie embodies the Rotarian ideal of service above self, achieving both the highest club and service project attendance for the 2013-2014 year.
Daniel Bliley was honored for his two consecutive term years serving as President of New Gen. Daniel was recognized for his dedicated efforts to promote the service and professional ideals of Rotary throughout the Roanoke Valley, and for his exemplary leadership of the Rotary Club of the Blue Ridge New Generations during his term.
Rotary Recognition
New Generation
December 2014
Volume 1, Issue 5
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
John C. Maxwell
4. 4
New Generation
December 2014
Volume 1, Issue 5
American writer Will Durant said “The family is the nucleus of civilization,” and while that statement is pretty much common sense it does bring up an interesting concept. We grow to learn that our family is typically the one thing that stays consistent throughout our lives, whether it is our grandparents, parents, siblings, or even step parents they are the ones that stand by you, lift you up and help support you through both good and tough times. Some would even go further and say that their friends are an extension of their family. This is particularly true especially if you are those who have stayed close to your childhood friends.
December is Rotary Family Month, and in honor of this month we need to think even more outside of the philosophical box and recognize that our community is part of an extended family. The reasoning for this concept is that we tend to spend about the same amount of time if not more with people at work, school events, community events, etc. Now I am not saying that you would invite the majority of these people to holiday family gatherings, but I am saying that in some form or fashion these people have made a connection to you throughout the years, or maybe
It is true a traditional family is defined as a group of individuals living under one roof, but if you continue to look there are many definitions that have expanded from the that term, and the one that makes most sense is a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation.
“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.”
~ Anthony J. D'Angelo
even impacted your life and have built a lifelong friendship. These people if you really sat down and thought about it might even be just as close to you as some of your own members of your own family.
Why does the term Family matter when speaking about Rotary? It matters because it is about community. The community we live in, the worldwide community and the community of Rotarians. If we are to live out the Rotary vision to create a better world, we must start with the family. We need to treat all the members of our Rotary like an extension of our family, because without the support of one another there is no community.
Through networking and service projects, Rotary forms another side of the family equation. Each and every one of us that are members of this great organization feel connected and we all have the similar qualities within each of us whether we are in Roanoke, VA, in Sydney, Australia or any other club in- between. There is a true feeling that all Rotarians are an extended part of your family connected through the same ideals and morals.
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New Generation
December 2014
Volume 1, Issue 5
Forrest Cronise
Education: B.S. Business and Accounting, Emory & Henry College '06
MBA, Virginia Tech '13
Birth Place: Salem, Virginia:
Employer: Precision Steel Mfg. Corp.
What I love about my job: Working for a small company has many benefits. The wide range of responsibility and multiple hats that you wear give you a sense of inclusion not common in the corporate world. Also, being able to witness the materialization of your work is fulfilling.
Favorite Food: Steak. Any cut, as long as it's prepared right and not overcooked.
One fact about yourself:: I won the first annual "New Gen Rotary Ugly Christmas Sweater" contest last year and I'll be looking to repeat! So you better bring your A-game!
Member’s Minute
Greenway Cleanup
Roanoke, VA - Saturday, November 1, 2014 New Gen put a team together to go to our section of the Greenway to help maintain the appearance. It was a pleasant surprise to find that the appearance was not too bad, and was finished in a little bit over an hour. Around the trail it was in pretty good shape, but the closer you went to river the more things you found.
It was noticed that the markers were being torn off from the posts, and most markers were found thrown towards the river. Leah contacted Roanoke City to make sure they were aware of the situation, and the markers are in process of being replaced.
The day in all ended up being a good time of being out on the Greenway with each other, and ended up collecting a few bags of trash. Also it was appreciated by the people of the community that New Gen was out there helping preserve the Greenway.
“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.”
~Lyndon B. Johnson
8. 8
Celebrating 100 Years
of
Rotary District
Conference
The 61st
Conference
at
The Homestead
District Convention 2015
Save the Date
March 13-15, 2015
New Generation
December 2014
Volume 1, Issue 5
Hot Springs, Virginia
540.839.1766
9. 9
We’re on the Web
http://www.rotaryblueridge.org/
400 Salem AVE, 2C
Roanoke, VA 24016
President: Daniel Bliley
E-mail: rotary.newgen7570@gmail.com
Rotary of the Blue Ridge - New Generations
What The Future Holds
Roanoke Area Events
12/04-06: Scrooge
12/05: Dickens of a Christmas starts
12/05: Holiday Pops
12/13: Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis
12/31: Big Lick Downtown Countdown
12/31: New Years Eve Gala
Birthdays
Amanda Bumeier 03-December
Michael Gardner 04-December
Daniel Bliley 08-December
Michael Galliher 08-December
Kate Lewis 31-December
December 2014
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3 Rotary Meeting
4
5
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10
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12
13
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15
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17 Rotary Meeting
18
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Rotary
12/03-Rotary Meeting
Guest Speaker: Community Youth Program
12/05 - Volunteer Appreciation - City Market Building
12/17-Rotary Meeting
December 2014
New Generation
Volume 1, Issue 5
