Another Two-fer

Once again, I am combining two trips into a single report.

It was my privilege to attend the American Library Association Mid-Winter Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia on behalf of my employer.  The ALA is is the oldest and largest library association in the world.  It was founded on October 6, 1876 during the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.  The mission of ALA is “to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.” To that end, the ALA brings together librarians with those of us who serve libraries at these great convention.

I was, once again, privileged to work with Oscar T. Robot.  He is a charming android who is a delightful co-worker.  Librarians from around the world stopped by to visit with Oscar and me.

I arrived on Friday afternoon and ate lunch at a wonderful bar-b-que place near my hotel.  The President's inaugural address was just beginning but through the marvel of technology, I was able to listen to it while I ate despite the absence of a TV or a radio.

While there, I was able to enjoy an evening with my nephew and his family.  They live north of Atlanta and are a wonderful family.

 We were in Atlanta on a momentous weekend.  On Saturday, the "Women's March" filled the streets of Atlanta with people calling attention to the causes of women's rights.  Then on Sunday, the hometown Atlanta Hawks played the Green Bay Packers for a spot in the upcoming Super Bowl. 

These conventions are exhilarating and very informative but I was glad to return home at the end of four days.













I attended a committee meeting of my brother's tribe on the following Saturday.  The committee has the responsibility of shepherding men and women who sense God's call on their lives to vocational ministry to prepare them for ordination.  I contributed little to the examination of the candidates but came away impressed that the future of my brother's tribe is in good hands.

Today was a short day.  I called first at nearby Cleveland Community College in Shelby.  More than thirty years ago, I lived in Shelby and audited a class in accounting at CCC.  The campus has blossomed (and moved across the road) since I attended.

Just outside Shelby, the State DOT has built a new bridge that is quite high.  From that vantage, you can see the mountains of Western North Carolina.  On this morning, they were all covered with snow.




Isothermal Community College was my next stop.  It is a fine part of the North Carolina Community

College system but you have to admit it has a unique name.  Here's what I found out:  "The isothermal belt is a zone in western North Carolina, primarily in Rutherford and Polk Counties, in which temperature inversion resulting in milder temperature contributes to longer growing seasons than in the immediate surrounding region. The phenomenon usually occurs on the southern slopes of mountains and foothills protected from frost and freezing temperatures by higher mountains to the north and northwest. The temperature inversion, possible at any time, usually develops in the early spring. The condition is advantageous for tender plant life and early blooming trees as well as for the cultivation of fruit, especially apples and grapes.

In 1858 Silas McDowell of Franklin coined the name "isothermal belt" based on the concept of the isotherm, a line on a weather map linking all points that have an identical mean temperature for a given time. Since then the term has been widely used and modified by scientists and area residents to sometimes exaggerate the advantages of the area. The names of Thermal City in Rutherford County and Isothermal Community College, which serves Rutherford and Polk Counties, are derived from this term."

Charles Wiggins is the director of the library.  He has served a number of schools mostly in Western North Carolina.

I stopped for lunch just prior to arriving at my last school.  Mojos BBQ and Grill is in a strip shopping center but parked outside was a food truck bearing the name.  The BBQ had an especially good "smokey" flavor that didn't need sauce.

My final stop was in Flat Rock at Blue Ridge Community College.  Ali Norvell is the newly-installed director replacing Susan Williams, who retired.  

I returned home by nearly the exact same route I had gone (minus the BBQ stop).  I have the impression that both my brother's tribe and the libraries of North Carolina have a bright future.    

Back to the Beach

One of the perks of this job is occasional trips to visit schools near the North Carolina Coast.  My last such trip was to the Outer Banks and once again, my favorite traveling companion joined me.  Monday was a holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King.  Mary and I left very early and traveled to Atlantic Beach near Morehead City.  When we arrived we found a wonderful diner named "Four
Corners" where we enjoyed delicious food and got excellent advice on local restaurants from our waitress, Jen.

We were anxious to walk on the beach but it was very cold and windy so we bundled up and enjoyed a stroll that left us chilled to the bone.  The hotel hot tub quickly chased the chills away and the heated indoor pool made for a relaxing afternoon.  We enjoyed a delicious meal at the Channel Marker Restaurant on the Bogue Sound waterfront.

We returned to the "Four Corners" for breakfast and met the owner, Once again, Jen waited on us and we told her about the wonderful food we'd had at the Channel Marker.

Tuesday morning we drove inland to go to Jacksonville which is home to Camp Lejune and the
United States Marines.  This proud military town is also home to Coastal Carolina Community College.  Sally Goodman is the Director and Kerry Brinker is in charge of ordering books.  Located in Onslow County, I also visited the Onslow County Public Library.
Virginia Sharp March is the new director and Karen Moore is in charge of acquisitions.  Both facilities were new to me but I received a very warm welcome at both places.

Turning north we traveled to Craven County Community College.

 Throughout our travels in this part of the state we had listened to the NPR station which would regularly identify itself saying "broadcasting from Barker Hall on the campus of Craven Community College."  Barker Hall is also the home of the Craven County Community College Library!  Entering the building, I felt compelled to drop by the radio station office and thank them for their excellent programming.  Upstairs at the library I learned that the director, Cathy Campbell, the director, was not there but I enjoyed a great visit with Mark King and Edie Boesen.  Mark is an "army brat" who spent much of his youth in the area and Edie is from the great frozen north of Wisconsin.  It was a beautiful, warm sunny day in January so Edie was especially glad to live in the South.

Pamlico Community College is in the town of Grantsboro and serves the people of that county in association with East Carolina University.  Electra Kriele is in charge of getting books and is always a delight to talk with.

To get from PCC to our final stop you can go one of two ways.  The trip around Pamlico Sound is 50 miles and takes an hour.  OR, you can drive a few miles to Minnesott Beach and take the ferry.  We took the ferry.

It was lunchtime and as we passed through Beaufort (pronounced "BYOO-fert" (as in "beautiful") in South Carolina and "BOH-fert" (as in "Beauregard") in coastal North Carolina, which is also the correct pronunciation of the Duke of Beaufort's name.  Just sayin').  We stopped at "The Spot" and enjoyed friendly service and delicious food.  

Our final stop was at Carteret Community College.  The library sits
on the banks of the Bogue Sound and how anyone could get any work done with that beautiful view is beyond me.  Elizabeth Baker is the librarian and she will host the North Carolina Community College Library Association Conference near the end of March.

We returned to our hotel and made our way to the beach.  The change of weather was remarkable.  It was warm and sunny and we enjoyed our stroll and collected "sea glass" to put in our indoor fountain.

After another dip in the hot tub, we returned to Morehead City to

Sammy's (recommended to us by our waitress, Jen).  It was "all-you-can-eat" oyster night.  As tempted as I was, I settled for a half-dozen of the biggest and freshest oysters I've had in a long time.  Sammy Boyd, the owner, started out cleaning fish at age eight.  That night he stood at the counter and shucked oysters the entire time we were there.

Mary had to be at work on Wednesday by 12:30 so we left very early.  It was a full three days but they were full of great memories.

Concentration

I set a new "personal best" for visiting the most number of schools in a single day with ELEVEN on my first day back to work after a very long Christmas and New Year's break.  The vacation was extended by a very uncharacteristic snowfall.  The number of calls was not due to pent up enthusiasm but rather, a concentration of schools in the Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Durham area.

My first call was to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law School.  Katherine Orth is in charge of ordering books and her warm personality was a delightful start to the day.

The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University in Durham was next on the itinerary.  I had visited there in the summer but due to the retirement of Dave Connelly, Carlton Brown is now in charge of acquisitions.  Carlton is mostly an IT guy but is, as are most librarians, willing to help to get the job done.

Next door is the Duke University Law School.  Shyama Agrawal is the person who orders books but she was not in her office when I stopped by.

I next visited the Shepherd Library on the campus at NC Central University.  NC Central is another one of the fine historically black colleges and universities in North Carolina.  Vanessa Lennon is the librarian and she gave me excellent walking directions to my next stop--the Law Library on campus.

Nichelle Perry is the Director of the Law Library and she visited with me in the absence of Mitzi Townes.  It was a beautiful day and the walk from the parking deck to the Library to the Law library and back to the parking deck was invigorating.  I noted that even in Durham, the sky is still Carolina Blue!

Durham Technical Community College provides outstanding practical education in Durham.  Julie Humphrey is always a delight to visit.

It was lunchtime and I began to look for a place to eat on my way to my final stop in Durham.  In a shopping center I found Gussey's Place. Gussy's started out as a food truck serving students at Duke University.  Gus Megaloudis played professional soccer in Greece for 17 years and brought his mother's recipes with him when he came to America.  I enjoyed a real falafel and it lived up to Gus' motto, "Everything's betta with a little feta."

Apex School of Theology was founded in 1995 as Apex Academy School of Religion by the Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Perkins at the historic, Apex First Baptist Church, Apex NC, where he is the pastor. The school offers training for both pastors and laypeople.  Ms. Cynthia Ruffin is the Librarian.

In Raleigh I stopped first at Meredith College.  Gerry Sargent is the librarian and the new Director is Laura Davidson.

I had never visited William Peace University but it is a beautiful, old campus with brick paver sidewalks and old oak trees.  The library is led by Nathan Helmers and Diane Jensen is in charge of getting books.  William Peace University was founded in 1857 as Peace Institute, offering education for boys and girls in primary grades and to women from high school to college.  Once a two-year college for women, WPU has evolved into a four-year, coeducational university, offering bachelor’s degrees in more than 24 majors, minors, and concentrations.  William Peace, the founder, was a Raleigh businessman and Church elder.


St. Augustine's College is a favorite stop on my trips.  The Director is Tiwanna Nevels.

My last visit was to the campus of Wake Technical Community College.  Julia Mielish and Paula Hartman lead this fine Community College. 

I still had a long drive ahead of me to get home but as I drove I wondered what it was about that area that attracted so many schools.  Was it simply a function of being a population center?  Do, in fact, "birds of a feather flock together"?  Can an atmosphere where education flourishes be fostered or does it happen somehow organically?  Such thoughts would have been better entertained before I have visited eleven schools!

Out-of-Order

No one likes to arrive at a rest room or a gas pump or a water fountain to fine the words "out-of-order" posted.  But sometimes the phrase means "not in the correct order."  Such is the case with this blog.  I won't bore you with all the reasons why this blog post should precede the one that follows it but suffice it to say that getting older is not for "sissies."

A week ago, I had a very important appointment to keep in the early evening but the schools I needed to visit were at some distance.  I arose very early and left to visit schools which sit along the Virginia border and in the north.  east corner of the state.

I arrived first at Halifax Community College.  Outside the main building on campus is a fish.  I assumed it was some sort of mascot but I learned the school's mascot is the "Knights."  Marc Finney is the Director of the Library.

One of the few public libraries I call on is in Scotland Neck.  Brenda Mills is the librarian there and has led the county-wide system of public libraries to serve this rural community.

Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson is led by Elaine Stem.  She was preparing to leave for a meeting when I arrived so I didn't have long to speak with her.  I learned a week later that VGCC qualified for a very special award from the company I represent.  Congratulations to Elaine and her fine staff!


Piedmont Community College is in the town of Roxboro.
 Vanessa Bass is the director and had just begun her duties when I visited during the summer.  Vanessa was not in her office when I arrived so I left my calling card on a table near the entrance.  The next day, I received a gracious note from her to indicate she had found my card.
 
It was after lunchtime when I left PCC so I stopped at a place called "American Hero."  American Hero is run by two brothers from Lebanon.  Sammi prepared my meal of grilled chicken with peppers and onions on a bed of wide egg noodles.  The meal was accompanied by a salad and garlic bread.  Ordinarily, when I have calls to make, both onions and garlic are off the menu for me.  But since I had made my final call for the day and had only the drive home ahead, I enjoyed Sammi's fare.
 

What could be more American than two brothers from a foreign country serving delicious food at a reasonable price to a diverse clientele? American Hero indeed!

It was a long drive from Roxboro to my home but I made it in time for my evening appointment.

Recognition

My National Customer Service Director called me recently to tell me that four of the schools I visit had earned special recognition.  He asked if I could be present to present a present to them.  One of the schools is perhaps the furthest away from where I live of any and the other, I had just recently visited.  We made other arrangements for those two and yesterday, I set off with flowers in the back of my car to deliver to the two schools of excellence.

The first was Wayne Community College in Goldsboro.  I had visited WCC twice before but had never found the director, Dr. Aletha Andrew, in her office.  This time, however, she was in and available to talk.  I was escorted to her office by Terri Smith, whom I'd met before.  Terri is the person who orders books and shared in the award.

Jaxie Bryan is the director at Johnston Community College in Smithfield.  I stopped in to visit with her while I was in the area.  The students were preparing for the end of the semester and Jaxie was very busy with students finishing up their work before the Christmas break.

Yesterday was seasonably cold and when I left the Library, I thought I saw snow flurries in the air!  Upon closer examination, however, it was only cottonwood tree catkins being blown about by the wind.

My second award-winning school was Campbell University.  Students there were busily involved in end-of-semester projects and I noticed on the door of the library that special extended hours and even snacks were offered to assist in the last-minute study and preparation for exams.  Students will leave campus on the 14th and not return until after the new year.  Michelle Gregory is in charge of acquisitions and my visit actually interrupted her preparing an order for more books--so I didn't stay long!





The next two stops were at schools which are parts of the same county wide system.  In Lillington, Central Carolina Community College is led by Jennifer Seagraves and her able assistant, Barbara Bera.  In Sanford, CCCC is led by Tara Lucas and her assistant, Jessica Walshaw.  Jessica is also a student and an aspiring writer.




I enjoyed lunch at Howard's Barbecue on the bank of the Neuse River.  Howard's is run by a man named Dave.  Howard was his Dad and he started the business 30 years ago.  Dave is a stereotypical "good ol boy" but is clearly an excellent businessman and a great cook.  Since I'm not a fan of Eastern style cue, I ordered the grilled chicken and it was delicious and "fall-off-the-bone" tender.  I asked Dave about the recent flooding.  He showed me how high the water in the river had gotten.  It is hard to imagine but easy to see how that much water could cause so much damage.

My final stop was in the "golf capital of North Carolina," Pinehurst.  Sandhills Community College is led by Dr. John Stacey.  Dr. John told me he was planning to return to his home in the northeast for Christmas.  When I mentioned that he would almost certainly have a "white Christmas," he said that such Hallmark sentiment had long since lost its romance for him.  He clearly enjoys living in our milder climate.

As I drove home, I thought about the two schools who had received special recognition and the four who hadn't.  On its surface, the practice of rewarding some and not others may seem unfair and many object to it these days.  However, the problem seems not to be with those who achieve but with the resentment of those who do not.  Why not celebrate the achievement of others and aspire to their standard rather than abiding ill will?  Such a tide would, I believe, "lift all the boats."

This was probably my last trip before the new year so let me take a moment to wish each of your readers a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  My brother, John, was not much to celebrate Christmas (owing perhaps to his unhappy home life) but our brother, Charles, seemed to have the joy of the season throughout the year.  He wrote:

Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free.  From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee:  Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art, dear Desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king, born to reign in us for ever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring:  by Thy own eternal Spirit   rule in all our hearts alone, by Thy all-sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne. 

Two-in-one

Back on the tenth of November, I traveled to the Eastern part of the state to visit schools I had previously visited.  Before I had time to record my visit in this blog, I began the work to prepare my mother's home for sale.  She has recently moved to an assisted living facility and the work of preparing the house for sale occupied me for several days. My most recent travels included a new traveling companion.  My wife was able to spend a few days traveling with me to the Outer Banks for a combination of work and vacation.

Michael Garafolo is the director of the Lenoir Community College in Kinston, NC.  When I visited earlier, Michael had been in a meeting concerning the beginning of school so I was pleased to meet him.  Since I was there last, the library has been renovated and is now a beautiful facility for the students and the community.  It is also the home of Heritage Place.  Heritage Place was established in 1988. It houses a special reserved collection of genealogical and local/state historical materials. Research material focuses primarily on Eastern North Carolina but includes other counties as well as an extensive section of Virgina books and records.  

Christine Vasica is the Director of the library at James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville.  As had been the case on my earlier visit, I found her hard at work providing quality resources with limited funds for the students.  

By the time I drove to Clinton, it was lunch time so I stopped in at Gracie's Grill.  Their specialty is barbecue but as I have mentioned before, I'm not a fan of Eastern style que so I ordered the hamburger steak with vegetable sides.  It was excellent.  








Donna Odum is the new Director at the Sampson County Community College in Clinton.  She was walking across the entryway when I arrived and greeted me with "May I help you?"  When I introduced myself, we were able to get to know each other.  She is clearly one of the many librarians I have met who are not just administrators but selfless hard-workers.

Pam Wood was not available when I arrived at Mt. Olive University.  But I met a delightful young woman who is relatively new to the job in Kelsey Chandler.  Kelsey is a Carolina alum so she is alright by me!










It was rather late in the day when I arrived at Wayne County Community College and sure enough, I missed seeing the Director.  But as I entered the building, I noticed that a Job Fair had been going on in the lobby.  As I was leaving, I walked over to the Marine Corps table and wished the two Marines there a "Happy Birthday."  The Marine Corps was begun 241 years earlier on November 10th. They both laughed and then one said, "You just cost me $5!"  He explained they had bet each other that no one would acknowledge the November 10th Marine Birthday on the college campus.  Their day was almost over when I broke the drought.  I thanked them for their service to our country and paid off the bet.

It would be 10 days before I would travel again but on Sunday afternoon, my wife and I set our course for Tarboro.  One there and checked into our room, we visited a local chain called "Ribeyes."  The salad bar was especially noteworthy because it featured watermelon rind pickles.  








The next morning, I began my day with an early visit to Edgecomb Community College where Deborah Parisher is the Director.  I learned that ECCC has a branch in Rocky Mount as well.

Mary and I then drove to Greenville to visit Pitt County Community College.  There is, apparently, another school in Greenville but it was not on my list to visit.  Stephanie Bowers was the Interim Director and I asked her about her lineage.  My oldest son is named for my grandfather, Bowers.  He was originally from Georgia and Stephanie's family hails from the Peach State as well but beyond that we could make no further connection.  The new Director is Leigh Russell and she is assisted by Millie Sparks.

Our next stop was Ahoski and the Roanoke-Chowan Community College.

 It was lunchtime so we drove to Winton and ate lunch at the Winton Corner Cafe.  It was delicious food at a reasonable price.  Who could ask for more?

Monique Mitchell, the director, was not available but Amber Moore showed me every kindness during my visit.  










Elizabeth City State University is another of the eleven HBCU's in North Carolina.  Both the Director and the person in charge of buying books were in a meeting so I will have to return to meet them both.

My last call of the day was on the Outer Banks on Roanoke Island. The Dare County Campus of the College of the Albemarle is located within a few miles of the site of the first English Colony in the New World.  I was worried by the lateness of the hour when we arrived but there at the circulation desk sat the Director, Patricia Peterson.  

With that last call, my work ended and my vacation began.  Mary and I have always loved the Outer Banks and have vacationed there often.  This trip, we checked into the Scarborough Inn.  It is a delightful old boarding house that has been upfitted with modern conveniences but stay-fitted with antique and period furniture.  The owner/operator, Rebecca Scarborough was a wonderful host.  Dinner was at a nearly-deserted restaurant called the Blue Water Grill that overlooks the inlet where Sir Walter Raleigh sailed in to Manteo Island.  We did a little Christmas shopping and then retired for the night.  

On Tuesday morning, we walked to TL's Family Restaurant and then drove to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  After previous weeks of unseasonably warm weather, this day was cold and windy but we enjoyed walking on the beach and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.  Around noon, we left the Outer Banks for home and stopped in Columbia at the Columbia Crossing Restaurant.  In one last homage to our trip to the beach, I enjoyed a fried oyster sandwich.