January 15, 2015 – Meeting Roundup – David Heatwole
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David Heatwole is an 11th generation artisan working from his home in Martinsburg, WV. In addition to being a producer of fine art Heatwole is also an advocate for the arts and believes that the arts have untapped potential for changing the world. He has been called a visionary for his unorthodox view for how art can transform people and their communities if applied in a particular manner. David is currently campaigning to be the 1st U.S. Arts Ambassador with the dream of establishing state arts ambassadors in every U.S. state or region.
David Heatwole and his wife Dawn moved to Martinsburg 12 years ago. During this time they have been recognized by U.S. Congressional Committee in 2009 as “Angels in Adoption” for providing a safe home for 4 of West Virginia’s “at risk” children and for providing foster-care to many others. They have also worked in the Berkeley County Public School System in a variety of capacities. Dawn as a teacher and David as a volunteer and lecturer with a grant from Berkeley Arts Council. David also volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for CASA. The couple have made headlines in local and national news publications for their various passions and efforts involving children and the arts.
David put a large part of his artistic vision on hold while raising his young family and only in the past couple years has begun to relaunch his vision for the arts. With that said, Heatwole has put together a vision plan that includes a Local (Berkeley County), State (WV), National, and International vision. He is visiting the Rotary Club to share this vision and to ask for support for his vision that can help with economic development and overall life in the region. Visit www.ThisArtistsDream.com for more information.
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Top Ten 2014 News Stories
Paul Long, city editor at The Journal, gave us the top ten news stories for 2014.
Number 10 was the accident on I-81 involving 45 people with two deaths.
Next was the new Hospice building constructed off old Route 9.
Number 8 was the school system expansion due to 453 more students.
Number 7 was the heroin epidemic in the Eastern Panhandle.
Next was home rule coming to Martinsburg.
At number 5 was the ruling by the Federal 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that allowed same sex marriage in West Virginia.
Number 4 was the Affordable Care Act in which 1100 people in Berkeley County enrolled.
Coming in at number 3 was the shooting death of Wayne Arnold Jones in 2013 and the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by his family in 2014.
The smoking ban in all public buildings in Berkeley county was the next to top story.
And number one was Saira Blair’s election as the youngest member to the House of Delegates along with the Republicans taking over the legislature.
Cogwheels
Answer to last week’s question:
An individual who contributes, or on whose behalf is contributed, $1,000 or more is recognized, upon request, as a “Paul Harris Fellow.”
This week’s question:
What is a Paul Harris Sustaining Member?
Our student guests from Martinsburg High School were Kristi Warner (Rich McCune’s step-daughter) and Maurice Webb. Clara Opdebeeck, our exchange student from Belgium, was also with us again this week.
Amy Castle, Director of Marketing and Admissions at Heartland of Martinsburg, was a guest of President Chris. Jonathon Bodwell brought Eric Brown, an Army veteran and security consultant.
We knew that the Taste of the Panhandle would be a success when it was announced that it had been sold out. The committee hopes to approach last year’s record fundraiser, but that won’t be known until the results of the silent auction and regular auction are announced.
Tim Harrison, who was proposed by Pete Mulford, became our newest member last week. Be sure to welcome him to the club the next time you see him.
You may have noticed that the weekly questions lately have been about the Rotary Foundation. It is important to remember that Rotary International is an international organization and feels it should function globally. Among the good deeds it is doing are attempting to eradicate polio and providing potable water where there is none. The shelter boxes are another Rotary project. Polio would have been wiped out by now if it weren’t for the unrest in parts of the world like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. The hope is for polio to become like smallpox.
Another function of the Foundation is to promote better understanding among the people of the world. Scholarships and exchanges go a long way towards promoting this.
While many members are most generous contributing to local charities, we can forget our obligation to help the world, also. This why contributions to the Foundation are promoted so vigorously.
Congratulations to Pam Wagoner. She had the winning ticket for 50/50. Unfortunately, she did not have any luck finding the Queen of Hearts even though the deck is getting smaller. But you will see her smiling face as she tries to sell you the winning ticket this week.