“Leadership” will be the theme of this year’s Rowan County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting with keynote presenter Jim Mathis. The event will be 6 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Holiday Inn. Presenting sponsor is AT&T with Food Lion serving as an additional sponsor.
The 84th annual get-together includes a reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres after the keynote address. The meeting will kick off with presentation of the Paul E. Fisher Volunteer of the Year Award by Chamber Chairman of the Board Randy Welch (Duke Energy). Skip Wood (Community One Bank), Chamber chairman-elect, will then present the Chamber Champion Small Business of the Year Award.
Mathis is an author, corporate trainer and executive coach. He has been speaking, leading conferences and consulting for more than 28 years. He is president of The Mathis Group based in Atlanta.
The Chamber’s annual meeting is open to the public. Admission is $30 per person and reservations are required. Call the Chamber at 704-633-4221 to RSVP or e-mail info@rowanchamber.com.

Dentist joins Norwood clinic
Dr. Laura Barringer has joined Norwood Dental Clinic.
She spends her free time as a fairy with the Charlotte Renaissance Festival.
“I’ve always had a fascination with fantasy-type things. Then I saw an advertisement to be a fairy and, well, I just couldn’t resist. I get to dress up, put on wings, pointy ears and glitter, then play with little kids every weekend. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had with a job.”
“It’s exciting for us,” said Dr. Mark Lassiter, practicing partner of Norwood Dental Clinic. “We get a wonderful dentist and the tooth fairy all rolled into one.”
Barringer graduated with honors from UNC School of Dentistry and will begin accepting patients Tuesday. She practices all facets of general dentistry including crowns, implant restoration, cosmetic dentistry, extractions, dentures, partials and many other services.
Barringer loves to work with children. “My favorite part of dentistry is getting to know people and developing quality relationships. I grew up in a small town and I guess I’ve always loved the feeling of caring and family associated with them. I’ve been looking to move to a town that still has a Main Street, and Norwood already feels like home.”
Norwood Dental Clinic is located at 311 South Main St. (U.S. 52 North) in Norwood just blocks from Lake Tillery. The Norwood Dental Clinic was founded in 1963.
Go to www.norwooddental clinic.com for more information.

Southern States annual meeting
Southern States Cooperative is reviewing its operations at a series of local annual meetings, including the upcoming meeting for members in Salisbury.
“While Southern States had a record year in 2008, the challenges of ’09 have made it a tough but positive year and one of good news,” said President and CEO Thomas R. Scribner. Sales in fiscal year 2008 exceeded $2 billion for the first time and sales ending June 30 were just under $1.85 billion.
Salisbury’s Southern States is holding its annual membership meeting Nov. 12 at 1710 Jake Alexander Blvd. Membership day activities begin at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 1 p.m.
Board nominees include Shane Snider and Darrin Trexler.
With the theme “Will Your Customers Recommend You?” the cooperative’s management will use the meeting to report on both local and company-wide operations, as well as projected budget results for next year.
“The annual meeting is the best single opportunity to outline our plans for the future to our membership and discuss our progress in meeting our financial goals,” Tim Penninger, manager of Salisbury’s Southern States, said.
Founded in 1923, Southern States now has more than 300,000 farmer-members. As one of the nation’s largest agricultural cooperatives, the Richmond, Va.-based firm provides a wide range of farm inputs, including fertilizer, seed, livestock feed and pet food, animal health supplies and petroleum products, as well as other items for the farm and home.
The cooperative serves its members and non-member customers through some 1,200 retail outlets and had sales just under $2 billion in its fiscal year, which ended June 30.

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