Pinehurst Rotary

The Pinehurst Rotary Club, through the generosity of its members and the Pinehurst Rotary Charitable Foundation, has, to date, donated more than $8,000 to the Rotary effort for Tsunami Relief. The funds will be used to provide “ShelterBoxes” that are designed to provide shelter, cooking utensils, water purification equipment and other essentials to support a family for up to three months. The cost of a ShelterBox is $900.

The “Shelter Box” was the brain child of Tom Henderson of the Helston-Lizard Rotary Club in the United Kingdom. In March 2002, Henderson approached the newly formed Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch, Fla., to become the primary Rotary administrator for the program in the United States, to be known as Shelter Box USA. Since that time two other affiliates were formed in Australia and Japan. In the years since, Shelter Boxes have been distributed in response to disasters in such places as Haiti, Darfur, India, Dominican Republic and Gaza.

In response to the Tsunami, more than 1,159 Shelter Boxes have been shipped by agencies such as the UN, USAF, and other non governmental agencies (NGO). Distribution, where possible, was made by local Rotarians. Where there is no viable Rotarian organization, distribution is handled free of charge by other NGOs.

Post-Polio Support

The Post-Polio Support Group will meet on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. at Mac’s Anytime Breakfast on U.S. 1 in Aberdeen.

Dr. Otto Rogers, a Sandhills Emergency Room physician for FirstHealth of the Carolinas, will speak on the topic of pain control.

“Plan to have lunch after the meeting,” said a spokesman. “You will be able to order from the menu.”

For more information, call 910-715-5266.

Republican Women

The monthly meeting of the Sandhills Republican Women's Club will be held Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m., in Room 111 in Stone Hall at Sandhills Community College.

For more information call President Judy Borden at (910) 783-6276. A recent Knight of Columbus social evening at Sacred Heart Church featured a video, talk and display on the Elderhostel program. Sponsored by a non-profit organization in Boston, Elderhostel arranges learning vacations for seniors age 55 and over.

Week-long sessions take place mainly at universities — locally, nationwide, and even overseas around the globe. One fee provides lodging, meals, non-credit, non-testing courses, local tours of the area, and any evening entertainment. Courses are given in almost any subject imaginable: Outdoors, golf, music, literature, crafts, and others too numerous to mention.

Following a video, Grand Knight Wendel Leeman reviewed some of his adventures in Elderhostel and had on display albums from some 15 Elderhostels.

After a period of visiting and questions, refreshments were served.

Alfred Moore DAR

The Alfred Moore Chapter, NSDAR, of Southern Pines, held its luncheon meeting at the Country Club of North Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Dr. Susan Purser, superintendent of Moore County schools, was the chapter’s guest speaker. She was introduced by Mary Louise Mathis, first vice regent. Purser welcomed the opportunity to present her goals for the future of the Moore County schools and to meet with residents of Moore County.

Longleaf Garden

The Longleaf Garden Club met on Jan. 20 at the Visitors Center at Sandhills College. The hostess was Kathy Miller.

After the business meeting and refreshments, the speaker, Dee Johnson, was introduced. She spoke on “How to Add Interest to Your Garden.” Her talk was illustrated with slides.

Dee Johnson has been in the area for 26 years and is the coordinator of landscape gardening at Sandhills College.