Clayton Rotary “Out and About”
When our Club members are out and about and not at a club-attended or sponsored function where they would expect to see another Rotarian and randomly run into another Rotarian, whether from our club or not, they are to take a selfie with that person and submit it with the details of the encounter. We are doing this to show all the fun our Rotarians get up to and how easy it is to come across another Rotarian randomly. We’re making it a little contest to give them an incentive to take the photo! We often hear about these encounters at our meetings but don’t see the proof. As the saying goes, “Pics or it didn’t happen.”
Out And About #1:
Our first photo comes from member Carter Manning Wade and Past President John Long. Both were volunteering with hundreds of other volunteers at the SAS Championship, a golf tournament on the PGA Tour Champions, held at the Prestonwood Country Club in Cary. The tournament, held on Saturday, October 14, 2023, raises charitable giving to support area youth educational initiatives, with the YMCA of the Triangle being the host charitable organization. What are the odds they would run into each other but also get assigned to work the same hole? Carter worked as a Marshall, telling people to please be quiet, which was no easy feat given their Hole #17 was serving alcohol and much partying was going on, but she did her job well! John and his wife were assigned to work hospitality checking IDs. John’s wife, Beth, took the photo for them.
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(L) to (R): Carter Wade and Johnny Long
Out And About #2:
Our second Out and About submitted photo comes from Club Programs Chair Donna McDowell White, who happened to run into Club President James Woodall. Both showed up at the pancake breakfast fundraiser put on by Boy Scouts Troop 24 in Clayton on Saturday, November 4, 2023, and took a photo with Troop 24 leader Scott Carroll. Great job supporting the Boy Scouts, Donna and James!
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(L) to (R): Scott Carroll, Donna McDowell White, and James Woodall.
Out And About #3:
Our third Out and About submitted photo comes from Club Past President Jim Perricone. On Saturday, December 23, 2023, Jim and his wife Sara stopped for gas at the Speedway on Brightleaf Blvd before boarding the Amtrak in Selma, bound for Washington, DC, to see family for the holiday. Past President/Past District Asst. Governor Charles Marcom was in Smithfield with his daughters visiting family and stopped for gas at the same Speedway.
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This chance encounter is the perfect “Out and About:” Two Clayton Rotarians and family running into each other in Smithfield!
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(L) to (R): Charles Marcom, Sara Perricone, and Jim Perricone
Out And About #4:
Our fourth Out and About submitted photo comes from Club member Justin Beers. Justin was at the Clayton Rec Center playing pickleball and ran into Carol Houston! They have run into each other twice at pick-up pickleball games but forgot to take a photo the first time!
(L) to (R): Carole Houston and Justin Beers.
Out And About #5:
Our fifth Out and About submitted photo comes from Club member Justin Beers, who has now submitted his second Out and About photo! Justin was out to dinner at the Clayton Steakhouse when he spotted Past President Stewart McLeod on Thursday, January 18, 2024.
(L) to (R): Stewart McLeod and Justin Beers.
Out And About #6:
Our sixth Out and About submitted photo comes from Club Membership Chair Michelle Sanders, who ran into a long-time Club member and current member of the Town of Clayton Town Council, Ruth Anderson, while shopping at Costco on the morning of February 26, 2024.
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(L) to (R): Ruth Anderson, Michelle Sanders
Out And About #7:
Our seventh Out and About photo was submitted by Club Member Carrie Walker, who attended the Anne Frank exhibit at Clayton Middle School. She is pictured here with Club Programs Chair and NC House Representative Donna McDowell White and Club members Pondra and Eddie Byrd, who also attended the exhibit.
(L) to (R): Donna McDowell White, Carrie Walker, Pondra Byrd, and Eddie Byrd.
Out And About #8:
Our eighth Out and About photo was submitted by Club Treasurer Kristen Feld, who ran into Past President/Past District Asst. Governor Charles Marcom (literally, she tells us) at the Clayton Post Office on March 7, 2024.
(L) to (R): Charles Marcom and Kristen Feld.
Out And About #9:
Our nineth Out and About photo was submitted by Immediate Past President Dana Wooten who ran into Club member Rick Mercier and Past President Michael Sims at the Clayton Civitan’s annual Oyster Fest on Club Treasurer Kristen Feld, who ran into Past President/Past District Asst. Governor Charles Marcom (literally, she tells us) at the Clayton Post Office on March 16, 2024.
(L) to (R): Rick Mercier, Dana Wooten, and Michael Sims.
Out And About #10:
Our tenth Out and About photo was submitted by Past President/Past District Governor Leigh Hudson. Around midday on Friday, April 26, he ran into Club Honorary Member Joyce Blackley in downtown Clayton. Joyce was on her way to get her hair done, and Leigh and his wife Karen were on their way to the Clayton Chamber.
(L) to (R): Leigh Hudson and Joyce Blackley.
Out And About #11:
Our eleventh Out and About photo was submitted by Club Sergeant-at-Arms Greg Adamson, who was out on Friday evening, April 26, 2024, with some friends at Draft and Vine. He ran into Club member Eric Rabuse with his dog (sadly not in the photo) at the Brick Landing Calabash Seafood Co. food truck, which was the food truck for the evening at Draft & Vine.
(L) to (R): Eric Rabuse and Greg Adamson.
Out And About #12:
Our twelvth Out and About photo was submitted by Club Sergeant-at-Arms Greg Adamson, who was out on Friday evening, April 26, 2024, with some friends at Draft and Vine. He ran into Club member Eric Rabuse with his dog (sadly not in the photo) at the Brick Landing Calabash Seafood Co. food truck, which was the food truck for the evening at Draft & Vine.
(L) to (R): Eric Rabuse and Greg Adamson.
Out And About #13:
Our thirteenth Out and About photo was submitted by Immediate Past President Dana Wooten, who was going out to eat with member Melissa Overton on May 18, 2024. They ran into member Emory Howard, who was at Eggs Up Grill in Clayton with his family.
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(L) to (R, ): Club Immediate Past President Dana Wooten, Club member Melissa Overton, and Club member Emory Howard.
Out And About #14:
Our fourteenth Out and About photo was submitted by Immediate Past President Dana Wooten, who attended the 540 Outer Loop Groundbreaking with member Ruth Anderson. One of our members, Pastor Michael Tolar, was asked to give the invocation, and they knew he would be there. What they didn’t expect was to run into Club Programs Chair and NC House Representative Donna McDowell White and Club member Rick Mercier. Dana said everyone was surprised to see everyone else there.
(L) to (R): Club member Ruth Anderson, Club member Michael Tolar, Club member Rick Mercier, Club Past President Dana Wooten, and Club Programs Chair Donna McDowell White.
Out And About #15:
Our fifteenth Out and About photo was submitted by Past President Marty Bizzell, who ran into Past President/Past District 7710 Assistant Governor Charles Marcom and his family at the Wolfpack Club’s Clayton Celebration at the Deep River Brewing Company on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. They are taking their photo op with all the hardware from the ACC Tournament and the run to the Final Four!
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(L) to (R ): Charles Marcom and Marty Bizzell
Out And About #16:
Our sixteenth Out and About photo was submitted by Club President James Woodall, who was at Clayton High School to present scholarships from our Club to graduating seniors at their scholarship awards night on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. James ran into new member Jeff Sullivan. James said, “We didn’t know that each of us was presenting different scholarships.”
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(L) to (R): James Woodall and Jeff Sullivan.
Out And About #17:
Our seventeenth Out and About photo was submitted by Club President James Woodall, who was at Clayton High School to present scholarships to graduating seniors on their scholarship awards night when he ran into Immediate Past President Dana Wooten and Club member Emory Howard.
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(L) to (R): Club President James Woodall, Immediate Past President Dana Wooten, and Club member Emory Howard.
Out And About #18:
Club President James Woodall submitted our eighteenth Out and About photo. Immediate Past President Dana Wooten and Past President Stewart McLeod ran into each other while working out at Woodall’s Fitness and Performance Center at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. James said, “They didn’t know the other was going to be there.”
(L) to (R): Immediate Past President Dana Wooten and Past President Stewart McLeod.
Out And About #19:
Our nineteenth Out and About photo was submitted by Club member Melissa Overton, who was out to dinner in downtown Clayton on Friday, May 31, 2024. On the last Friday of each month, the Town of Clayton holds “Last Friday” to promote businesses; there is a farmer’s market, businesses stay open late, and restaurants have dinner specials. Melissa was out with Club Immediate Past President Dana Wooten, Club Secretary Lynn Roman, Club Rotary Foundation Chair Mike Mullins and his wife Valerie. The group ran into Club Past President and Rotary District 7710 Past District Governor/current District Treasurer Leigh Hudson and his wife, Club member Karen Hudson, who were eating across the street!
(L) to (R): Mike Mullins, Dana Wooten, Melissa Overton, Karen Hudson, Leigh Hudson, and Lynn Roman.
Out And About #20:
Our nineteenth Out and About photo is a past presidents golf fest! It was submitted by Past President John Long, who was volunteering with his wife at the 2024 US Open at the Pinehurst Golf Resort all four days from June 13 to June 16. On Saturday, June 15, 2024, they ran into Past President Michael Sims, who was attending with his brother in law, and Past President Marty Bizzell, who was attending with his son.
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(L) to (R): Marty Bizzell, Michael Sims, and Johnny Long.
Out And About #21:
Immediate Past President James Woodall submitted our twenty-first Out and About photo. He said he bumped into new Community Service Chair Valerie Weaver in downtown Clayton on June 28, 2024, at the Town’s “Last Friday” event. He was on the walking tour, and she and her husband were going to dinner at the Clayton Steakhouse.
(L) to (R): Valerie Weaver and James Woodall.
Out And About #22:
Our twenty-second Out and About photo was submitted by Club Member Justin Beers. He was leaving Boba Beans Bistro in Flowers when he ran into Immediate Past President Dana Wooten. Dana Wooten was on the phone with Past President Jim Perricone.
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(L) to (R): Dana Wooten and Justin Beers.
Out And About #23:
Our twenty-third Out and About photo was submitted by member Eric Rabuse, who ran into member Artem Lopatchenko at Hudson’s Hardware & Outdoor Equipment in Clayton on July 9, 2024. The location of this Out and About encounter is spot on for these two since Eric has a new house, and Artem is one of the owners of Ace Handyman Services Greater Triangle and Johnston County and is always fixing something!
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(L) to (R): Eric Rabuse and Artem Lopatchenko
Out And About #24:
Our twenty-fourth Out and About photo was submitted by Past President Dana Wooten, who was with member Melissa Overton at the ‘Sundown in Downtown’ concert in Benson to see Liquid Pleasure, Dana’s favorite when they ran into member Lee Dunn. The Benson Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc. annually puts on the free concert series at The Benson Singing Grove.
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(L) to (R): Lee Dunn, Dana Wooten, and Melissa Overton
Out And About #25:
Our twenty-fifth Out and About photo was submitted by Immediate Past President James Woodall, who was at Woodall’s Fitness and Performance Center Night at the Clayton Clovers Baseball Club game on Sunday, July 21, 2024. He ran into Club Secretary/President-Nominee Greg Adamson, whom he didn’t know would be attending.
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(L) to (R): Greg Adamson, and James Woodall.
Out And About #26:
Immediate Past President James Woodall submitted our twenty-sixth Out and About photo. On Monday, July 22, 2024, Club member Stuart Denham trained at 6:00 a.m. at Woodall’s Fitness and Performance Center, while Past President Stewart McLeod trained at 6:30 a.m. Neither knew the other would be there.
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(L) to (R): Stuart Denham, James Woodall, and Stewart McLeod.
Out And About #27:
Past President Dana Wooten submitted our twenty-seventh Out and About photo. On Friday, July 26, 2024, Dana had some shopping to do and stopped by the new Food Lion on Hwy 42 W when she ran into Club member Michael Tolar!
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(L) to (R): Michael Tolar and Dana Wooten
Out And About #28:
Immediate Past President James Woodall submitted our twenty-eighth Out and About photo. On Saturday, July 27, 2024, James ran into Club member Carrie Hobrough, Past President Dana Wooten, and President-Elect Lynn Roman on the pickleball court in Carrie’s neighborhood. He said they had arrived separately at different times when they ran into each other! James said they all had fun.
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(L) to (R): Carrie Hobrough, James Woodall, Dana Wooten, and Lynn Roman.
Out And About #29:
Club member Jerry Taylor submitted our twenty-ninth Out and About photo. On Sunday, July 28, 2024, Jerry was serving his church, The Church at Clayton Crossings, when he ran into Immediate Past President James Woodall, who was visiting.
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(L) to (R): Jerry Taylor and James Woodall.
Out And About #30:
Immediate Past President James Woodall submitted our thirtieth Out and About photo. On Thursday, August 15, 2024, James was on his way into Walgreens when Club member Karen Hudson and her husband, Past Club President and Past District 7710 District Governor Leigh Hudson, were on their way out.
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(L) to (R): Karen Hudson, Leigh Hudson, and James Woodall.
Out And About #31:
Club Past President/ Rotary District 7710 Past Asst. District Governor Charles Marcom submitted our thirty-first Out and About photo. On Sunday afternoon, August 25, 2024, Charles was at the Harris Teeter grocery store when he ran into Jill Homan and her daughter, Alexandra.
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(L) to (R): Charles Marcom, Alexandra Homan, Jill Homan.
Out And About #32:
Club Immediate Past President James Woodall submitted our thirty-second Out and About photo. On Thursday evening, August 29, 2024, three Clayton Rotarians separately had the same idea. Community Service Chair Valerie Weaver, member Stuart Denham, and Past President Dana Wooten decided to work out at Woodall’s Fitness and Performance Center. Dana Wooten had just finished their Women’s Weightlifting Small Group, and Valerie and Stuart were each walking in to start their stretch class when the three came across each other.
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(L) to (R): Valerie Weaver, Stuart Denham, and Dana Wooten.
Out And About #33:
Club President Randy Berry submitted our thirty-third Out and About photo. This afternoon, September 01, 2024, Randy ran into member Michael Tolar at Walmart on Hwy 70 in Clayton. Even in a big store on a Sunday afternoon, you can still find another Rotarian “Out and About!”
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(L) to (R): Randy Berry and Michael Tolar.
Out And About #34:
Club Membership Chair Michelle Sanders submitted our thirty-fourth Out and About photo. Michelle was at the Cleveland High School Rams game against the West Johnston Wildcats on the evening of September 06, 2024. Michelle ran into Club members Eddie and Pondra Byrd. We’re glad they had good weather for a Friday night football game!
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(L) to (R): Eddie Byrd, Pondra Byrd, and Michelle Sanders.
Out And About #35:
Club Membership Chair Michelle Sanders submitted our thirty-fifth Out and About photo. That’s two days in a row! Michelle was at RDU on the morning of September 7, 2024, when she ran into Past President / Rotary District 7710, Past District Governor Leigh Hudson, and his wife, Club member Karen Hudson.
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(L) to (R): Michelle Sanders, Karen Hudson, and Leigh Hudson
Out And About #36:
Our Club’s Immediate Past President, James Woodall, submitted our thirty-sixth Out and About photo. September 22, 2024, was a beautiful First Day of Fall in Clayton. James went for a bike ride on the Neuse River Trail and came across member Lee Dunn and his wife, who also took advantage of the beautiful day to ride their bikes on the river trail.
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(L) to (R): James Woodall and Lee Dunn.
Out And About #37:
Club member Jill Homan submitted our thirty-seventh Out and About photo. Jill and her family were at Clayton Steakhouse on Thursday, October 03, 2024. While on the way out, she came across member Dave Cooper and his wife enjoying an evening out.
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(L) to (R): Dave Cooper, Jill Homan, Alexandra Homan.
Out And About #38:
Club member Ken Martin submitted our thirty-eighth Out and About photo. Ken and his wife Maria, also a Club member, were at the Clayton Center on Saturday, October 12, 2024, seeing The Masters of Soul concert when they ran into member Rex Everhart and his wife, Carol.
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(L) to (R): Rex Everhart, Carol Everhart, Ken Martin, and Maria Pitre-Martin.
Out And About #39:
Our thirty-ninth Out and About photo is of Club member Jonathan Huff and Sergeant-at-Arms Joe Russotto, who ran into each other at Fare Game in downtown Clayton on Friday, October 18, 2024.
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(L) to (R): Jonathan Huff and Joe Russotto.
Out And About #40:
Club member Justin Beers submitted our fortieth Out and About photo. Justin ran into the Club’s Past President, Jim Lee, on Monday, October 28, 2024, at Clayton Steakhouse for a special charity event. Clayton Steakhouse, which is not normally open on Mondays, was open for Serve the Need’s annual luncheon fundraiser. The funds from this charity luncheon are used to build ramps, feed the hungry, and support teachers, students, and the military.
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(L) to (R): Justin Beers and Jim Lee.
Out And About #41:
Club President Randy Berry submitted our forty-first Out and About photo. Randy and his wife Paige Berry (who took the photo) attended the Clayton High School vs. Cleveland High School football game last Friday night, November 1, 2024. They went to sit in the stands and ran into Club members Eddie and Pondra Byrd, and sat behind them. Randy said they later spotted other Rotarians in the stands (Club Membership Chair Michelle Sanders, Club Community Service Chair Valerie Weaver, and Club member Eric Rabuse), though they were not sitting with each other. More proof: you can always search a crowd and find other Rotarians! Randy said they had a great time, and Cleveland won the game 37-35.
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(L) to (R): Randy Berry, Eddie Byrd, and Pondra Byrd.
Out And About #42:
Club Treasurer Kristen Feld submitted our forty-second Out and About photo. On Saturday, November 2, 2024, Kristen was shopping at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Garner, NC, when she ran into Club member Paul Papineau.
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(L) to (R): Paul Papineau and Kristen Feld.
Out And About #43:
Club member Eric Rabuse submitted our forty-third Out and About photo. Eric and his fiancé Corrie were at the Raleigh Convention Center for the Bridal Show on Sunday, November 10, 2024. They were shopping for services, including wedding bands when he came across Michael Poulos, owner of The Jewel Box in downtown Clayton, a vendor at the Bridal Show. Michael is nearly a Rotarian as he has attended a few meetings and submitted his application, which has been approved, and he will be inducted into our Club at our meeting on November 14, 2024.
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(L) to (R): Michael Poulos and Eric Rabuse.
Out And About #44:
Club member Karen Nelson Hudson submitted our forty-fourth Out and About photo. After our meeting today, November 14, 2024, Karen and member Lyle Sheppard went to Burney’s Sweets and More of Clayton on Main Street to spend some time together catching up. They ran into member Jerry Taylor, who was meeting with someone who happened to be another friend of Karen’s. It’s a small world.
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(L) to (R): Karen Hudson, Jerry Taylor, and Lyle Sheppard.
Out And About #45:
Club Past President Charles Marcom submitted our forty-fifth Out and About photo. On November 20, 2024, Charles was on his way home from work and stopped at Food Lion. He ran into member Kay Johnson, who was also shopping.
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(L) to (R): Kay Johnson and Charles Marcom.
Out And About #46:
Club member Melissa Overton submitted our forty-sixth Out and About photo. Today, December 7, 2024, Melissa and member Carter Wade ran into each other in the same Zumba class at East Triangle YMCA in Clayton. November 20, 2024. That’s one way to warm up in this cold weather!
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(L) to (R): Melissa Overton and Carter Wade.
Out And About #47:
Club member Justin Beers submitted our forty-seventh Out and About photo. On December 30, 2024, Justin and member Lee Dunn ran into each other at Harris Teeter in Clayton.
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(L) to (R): Lee Dunn and Justin Beers.
Out And About #48:
Club Treasurer Kristen Feld submitted our forty-eighth Out and About photo. On Friday, December 17, 2025, Club Youth Services Chair Eddie Price went to Kristen’s house to pick up a check. While he was there, Club member Leigh Malloy, who lives across the street from Kristen, saw Kristen was outside and went across the street to drop off a dues check from another member. Rotary transactions were made, and an unexpected meeting occurred!
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(L) to (R): Leigh Malloy, Kristen Feld, and Eddie Price.
Out And About #49:
Club member Melissa Overton submitted our forty-ninth Out and About photo. On Saturday, January 18, 2025, the Johnston Community College in Smithfield held “Ignite Your Dream,” a small-business summit where six business experts discussed marketing, grant writing, and other topics. Melissa moderated the summit, Club member Josh Apple was on the panel, and NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall was the keynote speaker. Being a business conference, it’s unsurprising that many Club members attended it.
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(L) to (R): Club member Carrie Walker, Josh Apple, Melissa Overton, Club Community Service Chair Valerie Weaver, and Club member Eric Rabuse. Other members were in attendance but missed the photo op!
Out And About #50:
Past Club President / Past Asst. Governor for Rotary District 7710 Charles Marcom submitted our fiftieth Out and About photo. On Saturday, January 25, 2025, Charles was on his way into the Harris Teeter grocery store in Clayton to shop for meatball subs for his family, and Club President-Elect Lynn Roman had finished her shopping and was on her way out of the store when they came across each other. If you’ve followed our “Out and About” posts, you’re probably thinking, “Haven’t we seen Charles Out and About photos at grocery stores before?” This would be Charles’ sixth Out and About photo and his third random meeting with another Rotarian at a grocery store, two of which at this Harris Teeter!
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These statistics had us wondering: Does Charles lie in wait at local grocery stores, hoping for another Rotarian to go shopping before accosting them at the store to get a photo? No, we’re just teasing. Charles is just a busy guy who is lucky enough to come across other Rotarians when running an errand! Either way, it is proof of the concept of our Out and About program that it is pretty easy for members of our Club to come across another Rotarian randomly when you are “Out and About.”
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(L) to (R): Club President-Elect Lynn Roman and Past President/Past Asst. Governor Charles Marcom.
Out And About #51:
Past Club President Jim Lee submitted our fifty-first Out and About photo. Today, on Monday, January 27, 2025, Jim and Cassie Bridges almost walked into each other as she passed his car, and Jim and his wife, Debbie, were headed into Lowe’s Home Improvement. Jim says Cassie, who is nearly a Rotarian (approved but has not been inducted yet), was at Lowe’s because she is installing several nice and modern “floating” display shelves. Jim is installing a ceramic tile floor “with a complaining back.” Thanks for taking the photo, Debbie, and take care of that back, Jim.
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(L) to (R): Cassie Bridges and Jim Lee
Out And About #52:
Club Treasurer Kristen M Feld submitted our fifty-second Out and About photo. Today, on Saturday, February 1, 2025, Kristen ran into Todd Bunday (TJ) and Sara Merz at Terrific Teeth Day in Raleigh. Terrific Teeth Day is an annual celebration by the Poe Center for Health Education and the Raleigh-Wake County Dental Society to celebrate Children’s Dental Health Month.
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(L) to (R): TJ Bunday, Kristen Feld, and Sara Merz.
Out And About #53:
Club member Michael Poulos submitted our fifty-third Out and About photo. Today, on Thursday, February 6, 2025, right after our Club meeting, Members Nicole Russotto and Michael stopped by Walgreens in Clayton. They ran into each other at the pharmacy while picking up prescriptions.
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(L) to (R): Nicole Russotto and Michael Poulos.
Out And About #54:
Club member Melissa Overton submitted our fifty-fourth Out and About photo. On Friday, February 21, 2025, Melissa ran into member Michelle Greer in Rocky Mount, NC. They were both attending a two-day nursing conference about entrepreneurship. Melissa was scheduled to present at the conference on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
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(L) to (R): Melissa Overton and Michelle Greer
