Club Business
President Brian Dement opened the meeting. Micah Fox prayed and led us in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Ed Woodall introduced his guest, Anna, the exchange student from Brazil our club is helping to sponsor. Next week Susan Watson will provide our speaker. Brian mentioned that the Graham Rotary Club will be having the State Superintendent of Schools as their speaker at their meeting on March 15 at the Graham Civic Center. Brian presented Chief Jeffrey Smythe with a plaque acknowledging his status as a Paul Harris Fellow. Brian reminded the board of their monthly meeting next week. He encouraged members to consider placing the Rotary Foundation in their wills to help RF to reach their goal of $1,000,000 by January, 2019.
Happy Dollar Announcements
- Carolyn Rhode thanked Dan Seiler for purchasing two cases of her remaining Girl Scout cookies.
- Dick O’Donnell fell off the wagon and tasted an Oreo to celebrate National Oreo Day. He paid another dollar to tell us that he and Thomas Phelps are traveling to the CAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in support of Elon.
Club Member Responsible for Our Program: Bonnie Whitaker
Bonnie Whitaker told the club a little about herself before introducing our speaker, Michelle McKay. She is the Branch Manager of the largest branch of Truliant Credit Union, a position she has held since 1991. She has been married to Jerry for some 38 years. They have two children and grandkids. Bonnie is a past president of our club and a Paul Harris Fellow. She is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Stoney Creek Ladies Golf Association.
Program: Conservators Center
Michelle McKay presented our program today. She is the Education Coordinator at the Conservators Center.
The Conservators Center was founded in 1999 in Mebane, NC. After volunteering and working for other wildlife oriented organizations, Douglas Evans and Mindy Stinner founded the Center as an educational non-profit dedicated to providing a specialized home for select carnivore species. In 2001 the Center relocated onto 45 acres of beautiful, forested land in Caswell County, of which only approximately 10 acres is currently developed. Over the next few years, the site grew to house three tigers and about 25 small wild cats and other small carnivores.
In 2004, the Conservators Center assisted the United States Department of Agriculture by accepting the placement of 14 lions and tigers that were part of a larger confiscation of animals living in unacceptable conditions. These animals were coming from a facility that focused on reproduction, and four of the female large cats delivered cubs not long after their arrival. The Center’s population of large cats expanded from three big cats to over 30 individuals in a matter of a few months.
Because of the decision to maintain these animals on site, the business plan of the organization was shifted to include opening the park to the public to provide enough funding to support the expanded population. With that shift, the Center opened its doors to the public in 2007 with its first guided, walking tours.
Today, the Center is home to over 80 animals, and more than 21 species; employs more than a dozen full and part-time individuals; and is a hub of volunteer activity. The park welcomes over 16,000† visitors each year from all over the state and across the country. In addition, the Center participates in collaborative educational efforts with other institutions that expand the educational impact far beyond the park’s borders.
Mission
The Conservators Center’s mission is to reconnect people with wildlife.
Predator management is one of the most difficult conservation challenges facing humanity; we have to decide what kind of world we want to leave for future generations. Humanity must choose to live in a world that has lions, tigers, wolves, and other large carnivores and to make the sacrifices to ensure that world exists.
We believe you are more likely to become invested in these species after meeting them and learning about their inherent value. By introducing visitors to rare, threatened, and endangered species, the Center’s animal residents serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts.
Throughout our 19 year history, the Conservators Center has supported wildlife education and conservation. Our dedication to public wildlife education extends from on-site tours to the multiple educational and institutional partnerships the Center maintains, its participation in statewide educational programming, its advocacy of responsible and deliberate exotic animal husbandry at the state and federal levels of government, and its international support of wildlife facilities across the globe.
When controversy arises, it is part of the mission of the Conservators Center to advocate to and educate the public by providing detailed information in order that people are able to make up their own minds on a given issue. We will always pledge to provide the most accurate and thorough information to the public as possible.
Michelle encouraged us to consider visiting the Center. They host tours and various events for individuals and groups.
Conclusion
Micah Fox’s table again had the winning lottery number, but Micah failed to draw the elusive Ace of Hearts, leaving the pot to grow yet another week. We all stood to recite Rotary’s four way test before Brian adjourned the meeting.