We had an end of summer crowd Friday which is to say, sparse.  Too bad for that as we had a great meeting and as always great food. President-Elect Stephen gave a report from the Board meeting on August 14.  Family Fun Day, chaired by Felicia Smith was Committee of the Month for June and the ever-faithful Bulletin Committee chaired by Fred Klinck was Committee of the Month for July.  We also celebrated Fred’s birthday 3 months after the fact. The board also approved 2 new members, – Cherene Comack and Steve Brotherton.  Welcome!  The Board accepted with regret the resignation of longtime member Bill Korver.

 

President-Elect-Elect Jay Gothard announced two important dates for the calendar.  The golf tournament will be held on Friday, October 3.  We will not have a regular meeting that day, so everyone is expected to come out and volunteer, play and eat lunch.  Also, February 20, 2026, is the date for our annual Award’s Night.  This year the event will be held at Gates Four Golf and Country Club.

 

With the advent of a new school year several of our committees like Reading is Fun and Terrific Kids kick into action.  Stay tuned for details.

 

Johnny Wilson showed up in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1995 entering the freshman class at Methodist College where he was recruited to play basketball.  To say that Johnny had a non-traditional recruit to the Methodist basketball team would be an understatement.  He was a 23-year-old freshman with a one-year-old child. He was raised by his grandmother on a farm in South Carolina and for much of his childhood he did not enjoy the simple luxury of indoor plumbing.  Over the next four years he would make quite a mark on the court playing on a team that won 20 consecutive games and made it to the elite 8 NCAA playoffs for their division and was recognized by being elected to the Methodist University sports hall of fame.  He graduated from Methodist in 1999 and went to work with a small struggling non-profit known as Fayetteville Urban Ministry.  Over the succeeding 26 years Johnny Wilson has built Fayetteville Urban Ministry into one of the most financially stable and well managed non-profits in this community. But beyond that Fayetteville Urban Ministry has delivered to the least of our brothers and sisters impactful and life-changing programs. Today FUM with a staff of 18 professionals runs a food pantry, a clothing closet, an adult literacy program, Project Nehemiah, rent and utility assistance and the program Johnny started in 1999, Find A Friend.  Johnny cited statistics that this program has had a 90% success rate in keeping young people out of the criminal justice system with 70% of the participants going on to college.  Amazing results from a great non-profit run by an amazing leader!  Thanks for what you do, Johnny Wilson!

 

Couple in Wal-Mart were shopping, and the husband puts a case of beer in the cart for $19.99.  Wife says, “Just what do you think you are doing?  Put that right back.”  A few aisles later wife puts $39.98 worth of make-up in the cart, and the husband says, “And just what is that for?”  “Why, to make me pretty for you” she replies.  Husband sez, “Well hell, a case of beer will do that for half the price!” And then the fight started.....

 

John Holmes 910-988-8040

jholmestarheel@gmail.com