Rotary Club of Morganton

05/27/2026

Thanks to UNC Health Blue Ridge, a RCM Lurker-level sponsor of our October 10th 1-mile Family Fun Run and 5K Zombie Run, for speaking to our club today. President and CEO Gary Paxson, FACHE, RN, arrived with Danette Brackett, VP and Chief External Affairs Officer, and spoke to us about the state of healthcare today, the challenges they face and the (perhaps) lessor known services they provide (like neonatal care and pulmonary embolism treatment). President-Elect Steve DellaSala ran the meeting, like a pro.

05/25/2026

RRotary District 7670Rotary Club of ValdeseBBurke Sunrise RotaryHHabitat for Humanity of Burke County, NCDDowntown Morganton, North CarolinaCCity of Morganton, NC GovernmentBBurke County Government

05/20/2026

Two of our members biked to a Rotary meeting of the Rotary Club of Groningen North, in Bedum, Netherlands, during a recent visit to that country. The club meets at an historic restaurant where they gather every Friday night for an hour of socializing followed by a catered dinner with a meeting. The Morganton duo was welcomed into the fold for the evening. Isn't that just the Rotary way?

05/15/2026

A great program at this past Wednesday’s meeting. What more can we say?

I’m just getting a chance to sit down and reflect on yesterday’s panel at the Rotary Club of Morganton, and my heart is honestly so full. Speaking on "Preserving Local Economic Resilience Through Succession Planning and Employee Ownership" wasn't just another professional engagement for me; it felt like a vital conversation for the future of the community we all love.

I arrived early and took a little walk that led me to a local jewelry store going out of business. The long term owner had died last month, the people that came in ~7 years before decided they just want to spent time with grandkids so they are just closing. I asked at the lunch how many people had purchased gifts or wedding rings from there...about half the room raised their hands.

I’ve seen firsthand how much heart and soul goes into building a local business. That’s why I felt so strongly about sharing this yesterday: Succession planning isn't just an "exit strategy." It’s a way to honor the legacy of what’s been built and make sure the economic backbone of our town stays right here where it belongs.

A few things I really tried to drive home today:
👉 Procrastination is the biggest risk: Waiting until you’re "ready" to leave is often too late. The most beautiful transitions happen when we start the conversation early.
👉 Why I’m so passionate about Employee Ownership: It’s such a win-win. It protects jobs, keeps wealth local, and gives the team a stake in the future. Seeing the "lightbulb moments" in the audience when we discussed this was the highlight of my day!
👉 We’re in this together: The questions from the floor reminded me that as a community, we have to support our business owners through these shifts.

A huge thank you to Alan Fuhs for keeping the conversation flowing as our moderator, and to Ethan Stambler—it was such a pleasure sharing the stage and comparing notes with you.

I’m walking away from today’s event feeling so inspired. Let’s keep these conversations going!

05/11/2026

Getting ready for the 2026 Zombie Run 5k and Family Fun Run! The planning committee plans better with cold beer in our hands. Thanks to Fonta Flora Brewery for the space and the beer! Mark the date and get yourself registered. October 10, 2026, in Downtown Morganton, North Carolina.

https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Morganton/ZombieRunandFamilyFunRun

05/07/2026

Make sure you check out these posters when you are out and about in Downtown Morganton, North Carolina and soak up the talent of our local students in Burke County Public Schools NCSSM-Morganton and . Thank you TOSS for all you do!

Rotary District 7670 Rotary Club of Valdese Burke Sunrise Rotary Burke County Government City of Morganton, NC Government Burke Arts Council

We have dropped 68 posters in 21 different businesses and organizations throughout Downtown Morganton. WHOA! Talented young artists from elementary to highschool, from BCPSto NCSD to NCSSM, are now featured in windows until August 15th.

🗳️Vote for your favorites until May 12th! 🔗https://tosstudio.org/news

📍Find Artwork and Voting Key here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cBpmpTC34X5M-fAnLYMiBuqaqm5bvZGFt03eTQHaiKo/edit?gid=96668965 =96668965

Very BIG thank you to our downtown hosts, all the amazing art teachers who helped curate, staff, interns, and volunteers who hustled around town taping posters, Table Rock Printers, NC Museum of Art, and Main St Morganton for their partnership.

Grab a friend and check out all the lovely places and talent in Morganton!

05/05/2026

Reminder to get your tickets to the Distinguished Person of the Year event honoring Sonja Grant Marston. Deadline to purchase tickets through our Paypal link will be Sunday, May 10. Come join us to celebrate all the extraordinary contributions Sonja has made to our city and county.

City of Morganton, NC Government Burke County Government Burke United Christian Ministries Burke County United Way
Burke County Emerging Leaders Burke Sunrise Rotary Rotary Club of Valdese Habitat for Humanity of Burke County, NC NCSSM-Morganton Downtown Morganton, North Carolina Burke County Matters!

Join us to recognize Sonja Marston as the Rotary Club of Morganton 2025 Distinguished Person of the Year. Sonja's tireless service to the community of Morganton and Burke County have made her an obvious choice to receive this award. We will celebrate Sonja and all her contributions at the Morganton....

11/15/2025

It’s Habitat for Humanity Work Day! A beautiful fall day to be framing walls with Habitat for Humanity of Burke County, NC. It can be a little dangerous for these Rotarians to be slinging hammers but so far no one is damaged. We’re thrilled to be helping our neighbors! Burke Sunrise Rotary Rotary District 7670 Rotary Club of Valdese Burke County Chamber of Commerce Burke County Government City of Morganton, NC Government Rotary Club of Marion Caldwell Rotary Club The Rotary Club of Lenoir