Outer Banks CommonGood

More than 350 guests joined The Outer Banks Hospital Development Council’s Flights of Fancy to Antarctica last month where TowneBank of Currituck was once again a major sponsor of the event.  “We are honored to support our local, nonprofit hospital’s major fundraising event, whose net proceeds remain right here to benefit our community,” said Taylor Sugg, Regional President of TowneBank of Currituck.  The event raised more than $100,000 in net proceeds.  “We are grateful to our generous sponsors and silent auction donors who again made this event a sold-out success,” said Gail Hodges, chairman of the gala and Senior Vice President at Gateway Bank.

Taylor Sugg, Regional President, TowneBank of Currituck, is pictured below handing a check to gala chairman, Gail Hodges, Senior Vice President at Gateway Bank.

The League of Women Voters publishes an annual Citizen Guide which contains information about  Voting and Elected Officials, Government, Education, Social Services and more.

You can find the Guide online: 

f you need advice, support, help with your business plan, marketing, financial recordkeeping, incorporation, name protection, commercial lease review, loans, etc…..SCORE Business Counselors will be at the Outer Banks Chamber office 11 am – 2 pm, Tuesday. Stop by the Chamber office on Colington Road or call in your questions to (252)441-8144.

Tom O’Brien – Chairman:

OBX resident since 2002, property owner since 1999, visitor since 1962. Work experience includes sales, marketing, business planning, cost management, public relations, and administration, for both large and small companies. Volunteer leadership positions at church, homeowners’ association, SCORE.

Jack Overman – Vice Chairman:

USN Aviator (ret); Asst.Plant Mgr., PeterBilt Motors (Truck Mfg); Plant Manager, Alofs Automotive Parts Manufacturing. Executive/General management; QC; field service & warranty; materials & manufacturing management; purchasing; nventory control: process control.

Marv Register – Secretary:

Engineering background. Experience in production and engineering management, product design and development, system maintenance, field sales.

Cindy Daniels – Treasurer:

Skills include financial record keeping, income/expense analysis, and non-profit management.

Georgi Risko:

Experience includes project and program management, strategic planning, US and International marketing, new business start-ups. Involved in marine boat sales, starter at premium OBX golf course. Involved at Kitty Hawk Methodist Church, MOA.

Angie Brady-Daniels:

Vice President of Public Relations, Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce 1987 to present. Marketing, publications, web design, event management, fundraising.

Bill Wheeler:

Twenty five years experience as real estate broker and business owner on Outer Banks. Past president of OBX Assoc of Realtors, Albemarle Area Development Association; past vice chair of Dare County Planning Board.

Bob Logan:

CPA, Small business owner Nags Head (5 yrs) Commercial Landlord – Nags Head; Payroll Manager, Budget Officer, A/R Supervisor for large (30,000 empl) company, Ret. Naval Aviator (22yrs).

Howard B. Miller:

Elliott Co., Div. of United Technolgies (Ret.) Manager
Financial Planning and Accounting, long range planning, budgeting, accounting, inventory, and cost control, financial analysis, and acquisitions.

Bill Ruffin:

Retired plant manager, Weyerhaeuser. Expertise includes material management, plant management and manufacturing operations, inventory systems, start-ups, budgeting, problem solving. Resides on Roanoke Island, volunteers at Mt. Olivet Methodist Church and R.I. Food Pantry.

Lyle Cady:

Associate professor of business administration for Averett
University. Instructs courses in finance, marketing, international business and strategic management. 30 years experience in marketing of high technology products. Former CEO of scientific equipment manufacturer

Gerry Balonis:

Skills include accounting and auditing; licensed CPA in NC and VA. Retired Government employee with 18 years in US Navy Audit Service and 13 years with US Treasury Department. Experience in taxes and not-for-profit organizations.

Al Feickert:

Employee Relations and HR responsibilities with General Electric (15 years). Sales and sales development with National Federation of Independent Businesses (23 years). Experience in sales development, territorial sales and marketing.

Bobby Gentry:

An Outer Banks resident since 1998. Experienced working with small business owners and entrepreneurs as a Registered Financial Consultant and Investment Counselor. Member of First Flight Rotary, Outer Banks Presbyterian Church.

Ron Eckerle:

Forty-one year career as social worker and social work administration. Executive Director experience includes administration, budgetary planning, personnel and volunteer management.

George Bugyi:

Penn State University Professor – Exercise Physiology and Coaching, Executive Secretary. Experience includes Advertising, Retail sales, Education, Budgeting, Sales.

Bob Edwards:

Background in Manufacturing and Construction management with Fortune 100 companies. Also have startup and management experience with small companies. International experience in work in Latin American and with Japanese companies.

Tim McKeithan:

Experience includes employee management, recruitment, financial management, management systems, procurement, buying, logistics, and medical practice management. Outer Banks resident.

Rich Allen:

Extensive management at multiple levels in the pharmaceutical industry. Experience includes plant and operations engineering. Lives in Currituck County; enjoys golf.

Mark Dingman:

Resident of Hatteras Island. Formerly VP and General Manager of electrical utility. Small business aerobic studio owner for over5 years. Licensed pilot, golfer.

Phil Hamlin:

operated restaurant for four years. Resides on Ocracoke Island; enjoys sailing

The OuterBanksHospitalis pleased to partner with DareCountyfor the 24^th Annual Outer Banks Senior Games to be held April 16^th to 28^th. The annual event attracts more than 200 participants who compete in a variety of activities from basketball to bowling to swimming and dance.  The two week long event kicks off on April 20^th with an opening ceremony at The Baum Center, complete with the “lighting of the torch.”

On opening day, The Outer Banks Hospital will host a health fair at theBaumCenter, 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. which will include free health screenings such as Glucose, Blood Pressure and Cholesterol.  TheOuterBanksHospitalhas opportunities available for area organizations who are interested in participating as a vendor for the Health Fair. If your organization is interested, please contact Amy Montgomery, Community Outreach Director at The Outer Banks Hospital at 252-449-4516. The opening ceremonies will take place after the Health Fair.  A delicious lunch, compliments of The Outer Banks Hospital, will be served immediately following the opening ceremonies.

There is something to interest everyone. Medals are awarded for arts and crafts such as needlework, woodworking, photography and poetry. Many local businesses welcome different events, with NagsHeadBowlingCenterhosting bowling events and the Outer Banks YMCA hosting the swimming events. All seniors who are at least 55 or older by December 31, 2012 are encouraged to participate. The deadline for Registration is March 9^th, 2012.  Registrations forms may be picked up at The Baum Center or print one online at: http://www.darenc.com/depts/OldAdlts/SrGames.pdf.  If you are interested in competing or volunteering for The Outer Banks Senior Games, Brandi can be reached at the Baum Center in Kill Devil Hills at 475-5635 or brandiwh@darenc.com.

Pictured Below: Ronnie Sloan, FACHE, President of The Outer Banks Hospital catches up with David C. Grana and Brandi Rheubottom, Director of Dare County Older Adult Services at The Baum Center. Rheubottom has coordinated The Outer Banks Senior Games for 13 years. Rheubottom also volunteers at The State Games and serves on the State Board of the NC Senior Games, Inc

The Outer Banks Senior Games recognize the accomplishments of our older adults and also encourages them to stay active.  There are age and gender brackets for the over 20 athletic competitions with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals awarded to the winners. Some events do require participants to supply their own equipment. Approximately 50-80 go on to compete at the State Senior Games finals in Raleigheach year in the fall.  Last year, Harry Schiffman and Jim Ebert advanced to compete in the National Senior Games in Houston.  Schiffman came away with 1^st Place in the 50-Yard Butterfly and Ebert took 4^th Place in the Triathlon in their age groups.

Pictured Below: Ronnie Sloan, FACHE, President of The Outer Banks Hospital catches up with David C. Grana and Brandi Rheubottom, Director of Dare County Older Adult Services at The Baum Center.  Rheubottom has coordinated The Outer Banks Senior Games for 13 years. Rheubottom also volunteers at The State Games and serves on the State Board of the NC Senior Games, Inc

The Virginian-Pilot presented a $1,000 grant to Food for Thought, recently.  The Virginian-Pilot seeks to help strengthen communities by providing grants of varying sizes to nonprofit organizations for projects aimed primarily at human services in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, eastern North Carolina and the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

 “We welcome this generosity and thank The Virginian-Pilot for understanding the tremendous community need and the effectiveness of our all volunteer program,” said Loismary Hoehne, president of Food for Thought, designed to provide healthy meals to build strong.  “All of the funds will go to purchase food for the healthy non-perishable breakfasts and lunches provided to more than 590 pre-school, elementary and some secondary youth each weekend.”

“At the same time, the program has grown by about 11 percent since the end of the last school year and is still growing, with a pilot program to feed youth in two middle schools beginning just this semester and an educational component has been added, and with the economic downturn, funds are still needed from churches, community organizations, businesses and individuals. Take the Food for Thought challenge!

This unique non-profit community outreach is run by all volunteers. Members in area churches, civic groups and other organizations participate in many ways, including packing, donating food free or at a reduced cost, and contributing in-kind services such as graphics and printing.  Plus, much needed support is provided by Dare County.

How can you help?  That’s easy.  Learn about the program.  Have someone make a presentation to your group.  Volunteer.  An individual or community group can help receive, pack and distribute food.  Provide in-kind services as well as make a donation to feed a child – $250 for adopting a child each weekend for the school year, to $4,500 to endow a child each year forever at the current annual rate.

A business can provide individual entrees and other foods that are always needed; consider in-kind services such as printing; as well as make a donation to feed the children.

Food for Thought is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that provides healthy non-perishable breakfasts and lunches for more than 590 pre-school, elementary, and secondary students who meet specific criteria in Dare County on weekends during the school year.  The non-profit was one of five in Dare County that received the prestigious North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 2009.  Plus, The Dare County Alternative School nominated Food for Thought as its Business Community Partner of the Year 2010-2011 and the non-profit was presented the Dare Education Foundation’s 2011 Excellence In Education Award. For more information about contributing or participating, call Loismary Hoehne, 252-480-0036. Send checks to: Food for Thought, Inc, P.O. Box 1167, Kitty Hawk, NC  27949.