Club Business
President Brooke Carpenter opened the meeting at 12:13.
IPP/ADG Dick O’Donnell gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Visiting Rotarians: Dr. Jose Caro formerly with the Beaufort Ole Towne, Morehead City Lookout and Carmel, IN Rotary Clubs. Native of Madrid, Spain and former head of Nephrology Department at ECU Brody School of Medicine. Dr. Caro has applied to join our club!
Guests: Laura Ferrara from Burlington Christian Academy plans to join the club as a new corporate member. Kevin Szostak visited as the new Economic Development Project Director of the Alamance Chamber, which is a corporate member.
Birthdays: Phil Smith and Bill Sargeson. Anniversaries: Brad and Mel Moser; Michael and Kimberly James. Rotary Anniversary: PP David Moore for 40 years as a member of Alamance Rotary Club.
As District 7690 Paul Harris Society Chair, PDG Rick Moore congratulated PE Marta Moos as a new Paul Harris Society member and presented Marta with her Paul Harris Fellow pin along with a Paul Harris Society Chevron.
PDG Randy Boone spoke about Educational Journeys to foreign countries through the “Go Global” commission. Will be sending 5 additional district educators to Australia in June for 14 days. Club member Freebird McKinney is assisting with this effort. Program had been delayed for 2 years. Participants have been selected from the poorest counties in District 7690.
Club Secretary Carolyn Rhode is ordering name tags for new members. She can order replacement or modified name tags too. Let her know if you need a nametag. Carolyn also is looking for support for Haw River Elementary teacher’s appreciation week. School does not have a Parent-Teachers group which would normally provide support for the teachers.
Program: Residential Treatment Services of Alamance
David Moore introduced Carolyn Carter from the Residential Treatment Center of the Alamance. Carolyn is the clinical director for the center. The center is a non-profit and looks for funding from the county and the city along with other donors. RTSA provides long term residential support for substance abusers. It has 4 facilities, 2 group homes, and also provides transitional house for clients. Most remain clean for 60 days but can stay for up to 2 years. RTSA raises funds through a thrift store (Trollinger Treasures a resale boutique). The Hall Avenue Facility is a home for two types of services, a crisis detox unit for a time limited alternative to hospitalization and a halfway house program for men to prepare them for independent living.
The pandemic has brought about an increase in severity of addiction with high use of fentanyl. Abusers do not know they are using fentanyl. Seeing individuals overdose as many as 13 times a year. While alcohol remains the drug of choice, crystal meth along with fentanyl are common. It takes individuals a long time to recover physically and mentally. 5 to 7 days for detox isn’t enough.
“We want to provide hope to the uninsured and addicted. It’s a privilege and honor to see people regain some hope.”
Carolyn introduced Todd Perry who came to RTSA as a resident and now is a staff member. Todd shared his life journey. From a typical middle-class family. Was diagnosed with ADD and prescribed Ritalin when 5 years old. After an 18 year long dark road of cycles of addiction with moments of clarity, a man whose son was at RTSA helped him get in. He called for 5 weeks in order to get in. He didn’t like who he was, and was terrified which led him to be a handful to be around because he didn’t know how to live a normal life. He went to 12 step meetings where he let other people show him the way. HIs first 6 to 8 months were rough, he hated how he felt. But he found Jesus, found his way back. Earned a degree at ACC and has transferred to UNCG studying social work. Todd is now Certified as a peer support coordinator. He never could have imagined he is where he is today. Todd now plans to attend graduate school at UNCG and lives with gratitude, an action word.
Conclusion
President Carpenter closed the meeting with the 4-Way test at 1:10.