Non-Profits Experience Eventful Year By Mike Shands From floods to fundraisers, 2004 was a busy year for non-profit organizations in the High Country. Here’s a look back at some of the year’s highlights. January The Boone Service League presented $1,000 each to Watauga Crisis Assistance Network (WeCAN), Watauga County Department of Social Services Foster Care Program, Boone Cooperative Preschool, the Hunger Coalition, the Watauga Humane Society, Watauga Medical Center’s (WMC) Birthing Center Education Office and Watauga County Habitat for Humanity through its 2003 Fall Grant program. Several activities and events highlighted the High Country’s annual I Have a Dream Week celebration. They included the fifth annual MLK Challenge and the sixth annual Unity Festival at the Boone United Methodist Church. Angela Miller became W.A.M.Y. executive director, replacing Dr. James Jordan, who retired after six years as the non-profit organization’s leader. February Ricky Corley led the charge for local athletes during the 2004 Special Olympics Southeast Region Alpine Skiing Competition, which was hosted by the French Swiss Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain. Corley earned a Gold Medal by finishing first in the black (highest) division. Three other Watauga County athletes – Clint Miller, Stacey Critcher and Rusty Writer, also participated in the event. The Watauga County Public Library hosted A Taste of the Nations, a multicultural festival celebrating the food, music, dance and culture of a variety of countries from around the world. At least 170 people participated in the sixth annual Polar Plunge at Appalachian State University’s Duck Pond Feb. 19. They helped raise at least $7,500 for Watauga County Special Olympics programs and athletes. March About 28 members of the Watauga High School choral department journeyed to New York City to participate in the National Youth Choir’s performance at Carnegie Hall. High Country residents discovered the value of volunteerism during Volunteer Fest at the Boone Mall. Watauga County Relay for Life kicked off its 2004 fundraising campaign with the 2004 Kickoff Celebration at Greenway Baptist Church. April About 200 people attended the High Country Chefs and Cooks Association’s (HCCCA) 2004 Salute to High Country Chefs at the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center. They helped the HCCCA raise almost $6,000 for various causes. The Watauga Humane Society’s Bare Bones Boutique Thrift Store held its grand opening celebration. The store is located near the intersection of Old Highway 421 South and Don Hayes Road. The North Carolina Public Library Director’s Association presented an Outstanding Program Award to the Watauga County Public Library’s adult services program for its adult summer and winter reading programs. About 125 children participated in the Watauga Education Foundation’s sixth annual Shooting Stars Performance in Appalachian State University’s Farthing Auditorium. The Watauga County Project on Aging expressed its appreciation to more than 300 High Country residents during its Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center. Outback Steakhouse of Blowing Rock honored dozens of area Guardian ad Litem participants with a volunteer luncheon. Volunteers from the 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th judicial districts attended the luncheon. Watauga Youth Network staff members honored and celebrated the contributions of hundreds of volunteers with a volunteer appreciation dinner at the Boone United Methodist Church. The Blue Ridge Community Theater performed “Annie” at Appalachian State University’s Farthing Auditorium. May Hundreds of High Country residents enjoyed the 12th annual Taste of the High Country at the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center. All proceeds raised by the event benefited Watauga County Habitat for Humanity. Hundreds of High Country residents braved rainy conditions to participate in the March of Dimes 15th Annual WalkAmerica fundraiser in Boone. The local March of Dimes Chapter raised more than $36,000 with the event. The Boone Service League held its 21st Annual Larry Headley Memorial Bike Rodeo in the Lowe’s Hardware parking lot. Stephen Schmal, a Parkway Elementary School sixth-grade math and science teacher, was named the Watauga County Schools Teacher of the Year. As part of the teacher of the year festivities Dr. Barry Ellis presented the fourth annual $5,000 Excellence in Teaching Award to Watauga County Teachers of the Year for each of the county’s nine schools. They included Schmal, Amy Murphy, Stephanie Weeks, Larry Jones, Candice Trexler, Kathy Butler, Yvonne Lovvorn, Sharon Breitenstein and Steve Ahn. Participants submitted 40 entries in the second annual Trash To Treasure Art Competition and Sale at the Boone Mall. Sponsored by The Stop the Litter! campaign. The Adult Services Coalition of Watauga County named Ronnie Hicks as its Volunteer of the Year for more than three decades of service to High Country seniors. June W.A.M.Y. Community Action, Inc., celebrated its 40th anniversary with gatherings at each of its offices in the four counties it serves. Thousands of High Country residents attended the 2004 Watauga County Relay for Life at Valle Crucis Community Park to help raise funds to battle cancer, marking the event’s 10th anniversary. Dr. H. Nolo Martinez was the keynote speaker at the Third Annual Unity Breakfast in the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center. He spoke to hundreds of attendees about the topic of, “North Carolina Hispanics: From Guest Workers to Citizens.” Norman Cheek hosted a party Boone’s National Guard Armory for almost 100 family members of the National Guard 1451st Transportation Company from Watauga County. Check later held a weekend fundraiser for the family members in late July and early August. July Etta Baker, known as the Queen of the Piedmont Blues, headlined the second annual Thrill on the Hill at Junaluska Park. The non-profit Junaluska Heritage Foundation sponsored the all-day family festival. Six members of the Appalachian Trailblazers Watauga County 4-H Club participated in the state presentation competition at the North Carolina 4-H Congress at North Carolina State University. One of them, Majorie Hubert, earned a Gold Medal for her presentation. Others competing at the state level included Jesse Chasteen, Jordan Drake, Justin Drake, Kathryn Hubert and Melissa Lonas. To qualify for the state event the 4-H participants had to place first at their district competition held in Madison County. August High Country United Way leaders kicked off their 2004-2005 fundraising campaign by announcing a $300,000 goal. Two High Country non-profit organizations raised more than a total of $27,000 in one weekend by holding large-scale rummage sales. The Watauga Humane Society raised about $22,000 with its 22nd annual rummage while ASU’s Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) program collected $5,634 with its Big Sale. Several High Country non-profit and volunteer organizations turned downtown Boone into a celebration of volunteerism and community activism by holding the Mountain Communities Action Fair. Hundreds of High Country residents celebrated the Watauga River while learning about ways to protect it by attending Riverfest 2004, which was presented by the Watauga River Conservation Partners at Valle Crucis Community Park. September Dee Dundon stepped down after serving for 15 years as president of the Watauga Humane Society. Dundon has served the humane society in some capacity since 1970. The Watauga County Chapter of the American Red Cross sheltered and fed hundreds of Watauga and Avery County residents while offering a wide variety of other forms of assistance during and after flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane’s Frances and Ivan. Dozens of High Country volunteers, elected officials and business community members gathered to celebrate the Stop the Litter! organization’s second anniversary breakfast. Watauga County 4-H participant Abby Brown earned first place, best of show and judges choice awards for a variety of her entries at the Mountain State Fair held near Asheville. October Watauga County Relay For Life leaders announced that the 2004 Relay effort had raised more than $318,230, the largest amount ever raised in its 10-year history. That was good enough for second place in the nation for Watauga’s population group, ending a three-year run at No. 1. Hundreds of High Country residents attended the Alcohol/Drug Council’s 2004 Red Ribbon Celebration Kickoff Breakfast in the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center. Hundreds of High Country leaders, business representatives and residents attended the 30th anniversary celebration for Watauga Opportunities Inc. Brenda Taylor, a 400 meter hurdles finalist at the summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, spoke about her Olympic experiences and signed autographs at the Watauga County Public Library. Blue Ridge Equestrian 4-H Club members earned several ribbons at the North Carolina State Fair youth horse show. November The Playhouse, Boone’s indoor and outdoor creative play center for children, celebrated its second anniversary. Watauga Education Foundation leaders announced they had raised more than $627,000 with the Our Children, Our Future fundraising campaign. The WEF also awarded grants to 17 teachers. Chad Slagle, a Social Worker III with the county’s department of social services child protective services unit, earned the Watauga County Commissioners Award of Excellence for his work with the Watauga County Drug Endangered Child (DEC) Team. John Blake, who served as a branch manager for the Durham Public Library for about 27 years, became Watauga County librarian. December The 1451st Family Readiness Group held a Christmas party for family members of soldiers from the 1451st National Guard Transportation Unit who were serving on active duty. High Country United Way leaders announced they had raised $294,300, or about 98 percent of their 2004-2005 fundraising goal of $300,000.