UHS Police Chief Explains How They Help

Randall W. Walston, Chief of Police for University Health Systems, came to the Windsor Rotary to talk about their organization, how it is organized, why it was set up, and how they can help the people of Windsor. They are providing police services at the UHS Hospital in Windsor, along with all the other UHS Hospitals.




Mr. Walston said it was important to understand that they are not just a security force. With the critical needs of hospitals, including the exposure they have with their invetory of drugs that are in great demand by gangs, the UHS Police Force has been granted actual police powers by state law. The presentation was very helpful and very informative.





In appreciation for the talk, Holland Caton (shown on right) presented Mr, Walston with the cobalt blue coffe mug that is traditional at the Windsor Rotary.

Race Matters Less In Politics Of South

by Adam Nossiter - February 21st, 2008 - The New York Times

[A] few weeks ago, voters in a county that is more than 96 percent white chose a genial black man, James Fields, to represent them in the [Alabama] State House of Representatives. It is a historic first . . .

The New York Times works hard in this article to imply that no matter what is happening, the legacy of the South is more important than the promise of the future. I guess that really is the question though, "Have we learned anything from our history?" There is a famous quote that those who will not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

J.C. Watts represented Oklahoma, a state that is 89% white, and it was dismissed as meaningless. An anomoly that did not mean anything here in the South. "It will never happen here (meaning the South)." Now it is happening all over the South. Not everywhere yet. But it will. Or will it?

Bertie County has great promise. The beauty of our area can be used to attract people who want weekend homes for golf and water sports, retirees who will bring the economic boon of "outside" money, eco-tourism and our relaxed lifestyle. None of this will happen if we don't fix our schools and learn to work together. Part of working together includes accepting that growth must happen. If it doesn't, we will continue to ship our children to the cities and poverty will remain our legacy.

This is a good article to read as long as you remember the political bias of the newspaper that published it. It has some good lessons for our own future. If we can learn from them.

Bertie County Schools Press Release - Dressed For Success

“You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure”

(WINDSOR) The reality of how you dress is how you’re judged was very evident today at Bertie High School. Students in the Foundations of Technology, Principals of Business and Personal Finance and Business and Personal Law, took part in an experiment called “Dressed for Success.” Teacher Doug Cummings encouraged the students to dress in suits, ties and professional attire to focus on the importance of communicating maturity, professionalism and self-esteem. Student comments ranged from, “I feel like a professional, I feel more mature, to I feel people take me more seriously.”



Which One Would You Hire? Dr. Chip Zullinger, left, Superintendent of Bertie County Schools, gets instruction from Dequan Williams, a student at Bertie High School


Bertie County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Chip Zullinger, and Assistant Superintendent Thomas Ruffin, visited the classroom dressed down in outfits more likely to be worn by the students themselves. The students were surprised by the visit, but more surprised with the two professional’s attire. It brought home the fact that one is judged by the way one looks regardless of the educational, social or political stature of the individual.

Dropout Rate, Suspensions On Rise In N.C.

by T. Keung Hui - February 8th, 2008 - News & Observer

RALEIGH - North Carolina high school students are dropping out in increasing numbers despite more efforts to keep them in school, prompting frustrated education leaders to call for raising the minimum dropout age from 16 to 18.

What a solution. Schools are failing our children and they are not getting an education, so . . . let's lock them into school for a couple more years and say that fixed the problem. Maybe they will suck up some education through osmosis or something. Certainly let's not get to the root of the problem. We have trained these kids to not want an education. We have convinced them staying in school is worthless. And our solution is to lock them into these useless institutions for 2 more years so they can be even more disinterested when they turn 18 and drop out anyway.

Does anyone else think this is more than useless? What about fixing the school system so it once again educates our children? We used to provide the best education in the world. Obviously we know how. Then again that was before our schools were politicized by the liberal elite and charged with promoting diversity and tolerance. Excuse me, that is diversity and tolerance for everyone but Christians, patriots and those who believe in free enterprise.

Robert Murphrey Presents Main Street Program To Windsor Rotary

Yesterday at the Windsor Rotary, Robert Murphrey (shown below) of the State of North Carolina Department of Commerce, explained more about the state's Small Town Program which is a part of the larger Main Street Program.




We recently got the local view of the program from Allen Castelloe. You can see the earlier article on that presentation here. Mr. Murphrey was very informative about the history of the program and how it helps towns like Windsor to guide development into desirable directions. Allen Castelloe moderates our Windsor meetings on the Small Town Main Street program which are held every first Thursday of the month at the community center.

If you have any interest in the program, you should contact Allen Castelloe at (252) 794-2331, or email him at windsor.admin@mchsi.com . . . or contact Robert Murphrey at (919) 218-2934 or email him at murphrey@nccommerce.com

Rethinking Failure, Growth and Intelligence – Let the Games Begin!

by Jackie Gingrich Cushman - February 3, 2008 - Townhall.com

This past weekend, I could hear the peals of laughter from the den. My mother and my two children were playing a game of chance and strategy. There were instances when each of the children became upset, and almost quit. My mother encouraged them to stay in the game. Following her advice, they each won a round. The game soon ended, and while my mother did not win a round, my guess is that she considers teaching them persistence her reward.

An article I recently read, “The Secret to Raising a Smart Kid,” By Dr. Carol Dweck, (Scientific American Mind, December 2007) sheds light on why I might care about winning or losing a game. I have been more concerned with looking smart than with learning – forgetting that learning requires accepting risk and the possibility of failure.

This is a great article for those who care about education. Persistence. The belief in persistence. The stubborn effort to keep trying . . . until you succeed . . . can be taught.

We need to remember the famous quote from Calvin Coolidge:

Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

At a time when educators are so intent on teaching complex theories of tolerance and diversity, they have abandoned teaching the one attitude that leads to success, persistence.

I wonder why?

This is a great article about attitudes towards intelligence and its relationship to persistence. It sheds light on a number of issues related to why our schools are failing.

Arts Council Celebrates Black History Month

The Bertie County Arts Council held its monthly open house last night, and used the occassion to recognize two great local artists. They are Viola Veale of Lewiston Woodville and Erskine Spruill of Plymouth.




As usual the crowd was large and enthusiastic at the open house (shown above). The theme for the month celebrates Black History. Viola Veale (show below with some of her work) uses a personal theme for her work of History Preserved, perfectly in tune with the Arts Council focus.




Erskine Spruill (show below with some of his work) often uses the many rivers in our area as a part of his paintings, frequently including the Roanoke near Plymouth and the Alligator near Columbia.




One of Mr. Spruill's special paintings to me includes the twin towers from 9/11 in New York, a history that will forever touch all Americans.




Visitors at the open house included Reverend Hoyt Cooper (above on left), Windsor Town Manager Allen Castelloe (above on right), and (below starting on left) Representative Ann Mobley , Nancy Adams, Ray Stephens and Chairman Norman Cherry .




The Bertie County Arts Council open houses always feature great food, and this month that included some crab balls and spiced shrimp that were simply delicious.

The paintings of these two great artists, along with many others, will be on display at the Bertie County Arts Council Gallery in the David O. Overton Building at 124 South King Street, Windsor, NC 27983. You can call the Council at (252) 794-9402 or email them at bertiearts@earthlink.net

Edward-Jones Informs Rotary On Investments

Yesterday our own Richard Whitley (shown below) of local Edward Jone's new office in Windsor, updated the Windsor Rotary about investment stragetgies for 2008. There is a lot of concern about the possibility of a recession right now. Keeping that in perspective was the message.




Richard handed out a great graph from Putnam (shown below - click on graph thumbnail to bring up graph full size) that dramatized the key point that free economies always go up over time. Since 1949, recessions (also known as bear markets - shown in red on the graph) have been few and far between. They are a part of the normal cycle of economics and are nothing to be concerned about long term.




Richard gave an excellent talk about investment thinking in 2008, emphasizing this point that taking steps to minimize the downside of a recession does not alter the fact that, long term, intelligent investments always go up.




Mike Flannely (above on right) presented Richard Whitley (above on left) with the traditional cobalt blue mug as a thank your for his talk.

If you have questions about investments you can call Richard at Edward Jones, (252) 794-2194. Their new office will be open in 30 days in downtown Windsor and then you can just drop by here.