The Salisbury Lions Club held its 66th annual Man/Woman and Lion of the Year program recently at the Holiday Inn.
Lion Bob Loeblein, 1978 Man of the Year, presented the 2008 award to Carl Repsher in the place of Rose Post, 2007 Woman of the Year, who was unable to attend.
Repsher was born and raised in New Jersey and graduated from Newark College of Engineering. He joined Celanese Corporation as a young chemical engineer. A year later he married his high school sweetheart, Mary. They moved many times with the company until he was transferred to Salisbury as plant manager of Celanese, which became Kosa. After retiring from Kosa, he became plant manager of CDX Corporation for two years and retired again.
During his years in Salisbury, Repsher has been a volunteer and leader in many organizations including the United Way, Rowan Helping Ministries, Salisbury-Rowan Human Relations Council, Chamber of Commerce, American Leadership Forum, Salisbury Rotary Club, First Presbyterian Church, Overton School volunteers and the local businessmen group study of national, state and local issues that may impact our community. He has won many awards, including the Governors award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, the Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year and The Arc Rowan Professional of the Year.
In the summer of 2003, the Board of Directors of Rowan Vocational Opportunities was faced with finding a new leader. Repsher agreed to be interim president and ended up staying five years. He accomplished many things, including building a better staff, recruiting a stronger, more involved board of directors, reorganizing the floor plan for better use of space, improving technology for record-keeping and accounting, improving relations with companies that provide work for RVO and funding sources, planning a new building addition and most of all maintaining a strong relationship with the clients.
The Repshers have a daughter, Mandi, son-in-law David, and two granddaughters, Breanna and Natalie.
Unfortunately, the 2008 Lion of the Year was out of town, so the award was presented at a later Lions meeting by Lion George Ohm, 1994 Lion of the Year, to Lion Charles C. “Chuck” Buckley. Buckley retired from Food Lion and joined the club in 2005. He is currently serving as a vice president and as chairman to the Camp Dogwood fund-raising committee. He has served as a director and on several committees. He fully participates on all club projects and had attended many zone and district meetings.
RHM volunteers
Rowan Helping Ministries annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet was held on March 17 at First United Methodist Church fellowship hall. First United Methodist Church hosted and served the banquet, which 290 volunteers and donors attended. The guests were entertained before dinner by members of the Salisbury Youth Orchestra.
The volunteer presentation this year was a video titled “A Day at Rowan Helping Ministries” produced by technology support of Salisbury High School and Bill Lee. The video was produced to show the volunteers and donors what occurs in a typical day at RHM. The video followed the interviewing process of clients coming for financial, clothing and food assistance. The goal was for guests viewing the video to experience a true sense of a day from beginning to end.
Each year, RHM recognizes individuals or groups at the volunteer banquet. Four volunteers this year were recognized:
– Betty Holleman, a volunteer in the Crisis Assistance Network, interviewing clients, has given more than 1,000 volunteer hours in the past year to Rowan Helping Ministries.
– Ernest Casey has been a volunteer for the last five years in the food pantry and as a 2nd helping driver twice a week, picking up food donated by local grocery stores, Holiday Inn, Olive Garden, Longhorn, Crispy Kreme Doughnuts and Pizza Hut.
– Garrett White of West Rowan High School and Wes Dumford of Mooresville High School. Garrett challenged Wes to see which student body could raise the most money for local charities. Their friendly challenge led to almost $10,000 raised for two food ministries. Rowan Helping Ministries-West in Mount Ulla and the local Mooresville soup kitchen were the two recipients.
Bancroft baptism
Holden Chase Bancroft, 2- month-old son of Bryan and Emily Bancroft, will be baptized today at Mount Zion United Church of Christ in China Grove. The Rev. William Campbell will officiate at the 11 a.m. service.
Holden will wear the family christening gown, initially worn by his great-grandfather, Harry P. Corriher Sr. His grandfather, Harry P. Corriher II, wore the gown as well as Holden’s mother, aunt, and uncle. Also wearing the gown were Holden’s brothers, Ethan and Luke, and his sister, Savanna.
Special guests in attendance will be maternal grandparents Harry and Jane Corriher of China Grove, paternal grandparents, Scott and Shelia Bancroft of Greensboro, and paternal great-grandmother, Sylvia Burroughs of Greensboro.
After the service, a luncheon will be held at the Bancroft home.
Symphony Guild
The Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Guild held its annual membership tea March 19 at the home of Lynn Mills. Kathy Dunn presented a check to the symphony as part of the guild’s yearly pledge.
David Hagy was introduced and gave a presentation regarding the music to be heard at the March 21 concert.
It was reported that plans for The Festival of Spring Gardens tour are coming along well.
Susan Trivette invited the members to a concert by the After School Strings students. There are three schools and 60 students involved.
Red Hats
Chapeaux Rouge Divas had lunch and a planning meeting at the Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant in Lexington on March 10. Queen mothers are Gisele Marquis and Geraldine Terry.
The Classy Red Hat Society had lunch at Salisbury’s Olive Garden recently. The hostess was Queen Mother Sara Owen. She gave out Red Hat book marks and door prizes. Birthday celebrants for March were Martha Hopkins and Sara Owen.