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Rotary Club of Blowing Rock Celebrates Outstanding Year, Raises $50,000 for Charities in FY 2013-14

Jim Clabough, left, presents the Rotarian of the Year award to John Marshall, this year's recipient.  John was also inducted as the President of Rotary for the Rotary Year 2014-2015.
Jim Clabough, left, presents the Rotarian of the Year award to John Marshall, this year’s recipient. John was also inducted as the President of Rotary for the Rotary Year 2014-2015.

July 8, 2014. The Rotary Club of Blowing celebrated a great year of leadership and fund raising at the Annual Banquet and Installation of Officers held at Chetola Resort.

Alice Salthouse received the Citizen of the Year award for her dedication to the community, especially in the health field. Ray Pickett, last year’s award recipient presented her with this year’s award.
Alice Salthouse received the Citizen of the Year award for her dedication to the community, especially in the health field. Ray Pickett, last year’s award recipient presented her with this year’s award.

Funds raised for charitable endeavors totaled over $50.000 for the year July 2013 through June 2014.  The First Annual Charity Auction held in August last year and efforts with regard to the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show were the principal fundraisers.  The Club donated $25,000 in support of local charities and another $16,500 was donated to national and international charities.  Jim Clabough, Club President for 2013-2014, summed up the year by stating “our membership has changed and improved lives because we ENGAGED ROTARY.  Organizations benefitting from our donations included Community Care Clinic, Hospitality House, Hunger and Health Coalition, OASIS,  Polio Plus (a campaign to eradicate polio), Shelter Box Disaster Response and the Wheelchair Foundation, just to mention a few.”

John Marshall was installed as the new president for 2014-2015.  In addition, John was named Rotarian of the Year for his work as President-Elect and active participation in most Rotary projects during the past year. In his short tenure he has served as Program Chairman, Webmaster, Newsletter Editor, Vice President and Board member.  John was recently awarded with “Most Outstanding Club Newsletter” at the Western North Carolina District Rotary Conference in Greenville, SC in June.

Alice Salthouse, Club Member and CEO of High Country Community Health, a federally qualified health center serving the High Country, was named Citizen of the Year.  Alice’s former position was Director of Community Outreach for Appalachian Regional Healthcare System.  She led the Club initiative to provide badly needed healthcare support in Haiti and has initiated a future project to bring badly needed school facilities to a remote region of that country.  Alice as taken numerous trips to third world countries to enhance both personal and community health in the regions she has visited.  She has been a member of  the Club since 2003 and has served as President and International Service Chair.

Upcoming events sponsored by the Blowing Rock Club include the Second Annual Charity Auction to be held at the American Legion Hall in Blowing Rock on Saturday, August 23.