National Park Travelers Club to meet in Flat Rock; area benefit events scheduled

Staff reports
·4 min read
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is located in Flat Rock.
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is located in Flat Rock.

National Park Travelers Club to hold 21st annual convention here

The National Park Travelers Club, a diverse group of more than 3,025 National Parks enthusiasts representing almost every state and multiple foreign countries, will hold its 21st annual convention Aug. 2-6, with Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site serving as the host park for the convention.

According to a news release, Cascades Mountain Resort will serve as the host hotel and the club's annual meeting will be Aug. 5 at the Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College. Over the five days, the club will hold various group outings to area National Parks, including bus tours to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cowpens National Battlefield and Kings Mountain National Military Park.

They are anticipating nearly 300 members will be in attendance this year for at least one tour or event.

The NPTC was founded in 2004 to connect and provide fellowship to all those who enjoy visiting the currently 424 units managed by the National Park Service. Following the 2016 year-long Centennial Celebration of the National Park Service, interest in America’s National Park System is higher than ever.

The convention will recognize 10 members (Ted Olsen, Elizabeth Steffen, Ari Steffen-Scholl, Joseph Scheppe, Kathy Gaylord, Mike Gaylord, Paul Hairsine, Donna Narsh, Charlie Jack and Carolyn Jack) with its highest honor, the Platinum Lifetime Achievement Award, given for visiting all units of the National Park System in existence at that time (currently 424). To date only 94 individuals are known to have ever achieved this goal of visiting every National Park Service unit in the country.

Convention speakers include John Quinley, local author and Carl Sandburg Historian, as well as a speaker from the Blue Ridge Parkway. For more information, contact NPTC Secretary Craig Bailey at 719-740-0196 or by email at secretary@parkstamps.org.

Carolina Village Scholarship Fund awards 2023 scholarships

Recipients of scholarships from the Carolina Village Scholarship Fund this year are, from left: Ayman Kassem, Andrew Renegar, Makenna Cermak, Cheryl Plott, Lillian Pierson (not pictured Arely Perez, Ashley Rich).
Recipients of scholarships from the Carolina Village Scholarship Fund this year are, from left: Ayman Kassem, Andrew Renegar, Makenna Cermak, Cheryl Plott, Lillian Pierson (not pictured Arely Perez, Ashley Rich).

Carolina Village's Pauline Corn solicits funds every May, which is her birthday month, for the Carolina Village Scholarship Fund. So far this year, she's raised $30,050 with help from her family, friends, neighbors and associates. The fund benefits Village employees and their dependents.

For her many visionary efforts, including her tireless fundraising for the Carolina Village scholarship fund among many others, Ms. Corn was awarded the Carolina Village Board’s Guiding Light award in 2021.

In July, the scholarship committee awarded $28,800 in scholarships to seven Village employees or their dependents:

  • Cheryl Plott, Medical Center Dining Services, to study at Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC)

  • Lillian Pierson, Independent Living Support, to study Medical Sonography at A-B Tech

  • Ayman Kassem, son of Ginger Horvath, Dining Services, to study Computer Science at UNC-Charlotte

  • Andrew Renegar, son of Jon Renegar, Director of Operations, to study at BRCC

  • Makenna Cermak, daughter of Ashley Cermak, Independent Living Support, to study Human Services at A-B Tech

  • Arely Perez, daughter of Elia Perez, Dining Services, to study Architecture at UNC-Charlotte

  • Ashley Rich, daughter of Maria Rich, Director of Dining Services, to study English at Gardner-Webb University

Since it began in 2002, the fund has awarded 214 scholarships to employees and dependents, totaling more than $514,800.

Poker Run at Bold Rock to benefit Foster Parent Association

A "5 Card Poker Run" to be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 5 at Bold Rock in Mills River will kick off a Poker Run Route to benefit the Henderson County Foster Parent Association, a local nonprofit that is "committed to strengthening foster and kinship families with support, resources, public awareness and advocacy," according to a news release.

The Route will begin in Mills River and travel through Fletcher, Hendersonville, Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Tryon and back through Hendersonville. This event is to help cover school-related costs throughout the 2023-24 school year for the foster children in Henderson County.

Empty Bowls set for August at St. John in the Wilderness

Local pottery artists will be donating their bowls for the sixth year to help hungry children in the greater Flat Rock area for the Empty Bowls event, set for Aug. 13 inside the Parish Hall at the Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness located at 1905 Greenville Highway.

Advance tickets are recommended for the two seatings which will be from 12:30-2 p.m. and from 5-6:30 p.m. Each ticket includes one hand-crafted bowl (all donated by area potters) and a soup-based meal (a variety of soups, breads and desserts). For those wishing to eat at home, take-out is an available option.

Tickets are $25 per person or $50 for a family of two adults and children under 12. They are available at St. John in the Wilderness Parish House Office, from Backpack team members or at the door on the day of the event.

For more information, call 828-693-9783. Credit cards are accepted, and checks should be made out to SJIW, noting Empty Bowls.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: National Park Travelers Club to meet in Flat Rock; area benefit events scheduled