News
THE LUMBERTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maureen Metzger – Chairman-Robeson Community College
Bryan Britt – Past Chair-Cakes & Pastries of Lumberton
John Franklin – Chair-Elect- Flo-Tite, Inc.
Jennifer Stephenson–Vice Chair-Speech Pathology Services of Robeson, Inc.
Tamara Kemp -Treasurer-Floyd Mortuary & Crematory, Inc.
John Hendren – Walmart
Debbie Branyon – First Bank
Suzanne Abbott – Abbott Insurance Services, LLC
James Bass – UNCP Givens Performing Arts
Crystal Collins – Lumbee Guaranty Bank
Sara Collins – BB&T Now Truist
Donna Davis – Tomlinson’s Department Store
Allen Elks – Postnet
Lisa Hunt – Robeson Community College
Josh Jackson – Edward Jones Investments
Elly Johnson – UNCP
Tim Little – RC Partnership For Children
Tito Massol – Healthkeeperz
Stephen McIntyre – Musselwhite, Musselwhite & Branch & Grantham
Brion Oxendine – Realty One Group Heritage
Phillip Stephens – Carolina Acute Care
Beth Terranova – Air Production & Service, Inc.
Betsy Wilson – UNC Health Southeastern
BeBe Wright-Williams – Comfort Inn/Country Inn & Suites
News
The Lumberton Area Chamber of Commerce Image Committee is partnering with The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office to support efforts to clean up our county. WE ARE ASKING FOR THE HELP OF EVERY CHAMBER MEMBER.
“Operation Spring Cleaning” will begin this Saturday, March 20, at 8 AM until noon. Twenty-nine fire departments throughout our County are participating in this effort. The Image Committee has coordinated with Sheriff Wilkins and will meet at the Pine Terrace Fire Department at 1292 Alamac Road at 8 AM to offer our assistance in cleaning up Alamac Road. Once at the Fire Department, you will be given orange bags for collecting litter. Some vests and gloves will be available but we are asking that you provide your own if possible. You may wish to bring your trash grabbers as well. Deputies are assigned to each group and will provide support and safety for all.
Please join in on “Operation Spring Cleaning”. No one person can do it alone. We need your help and simply ask for a few hours of your time. March 20th is the first day of Spring and also our Sheriff’s birthday. Let’s show our appreciation for ALL he and his staff do for us by gifting him with community support by showing up to clean up.
(Note: Every Chamber member assisting in this cleanup will be registered in a prize drawing generously donated by Chamber Member Linda Branch. Someone will take home more than a sense of pride.)
Sincerely,
Mickey Gregory/Richard Monroe
Image Committee Co-Chairs
News
It is time to quit giving lip service to a major problem in Robeson County. Regardless of the financial cost of hiring personnel and purchasing equipment, this social problem must be eradicated once and for all.
There are two definitions for the word TRASH. One defines the term as garbage, debris, refuse, and waste. The other defines the word as a person being of very low social standing. As proud Robesonians, do we want to be considered “trash” by those beyond our borders? We talk about increasing tourism and attracting new industry and businesses to our county. We encourage our construction firms to build new homes where people can work, play and raise their families in an atmosphere conducive to a high standard of living. All this talk over the years has failed to rid us of a trash problem that projects a county that is unsanitary, unsafe, and unsightly. When are we seriously going to address the issue?
We know that some groups and individuals have tried to erase the problem and bring it under control. The Clean and Green Commission, the Sheriff’s Department Inmate Program, the Robeson County Commissioners, the municipal city councils, various civic groups, churches, schools and key individuals. These efforts are only putting a small temporary bandage on a massive open wound. Individuals guilty of littering who choose to ignore or recognize that they are the problem need to be criminally charged and forced to pay the price for their actions.
There is also another solution to this social problem. We live in the largest county geographically in North Carolina. Our previous efforts simply can’t cover such a massive area and keep it clean. Having tried and failed, it is time to open the public coffers and dig in—-whether we have it or not. If the county and each municipality needs to pass a “trash tax”, then so be it. That tax can be used to hire personnel to clean up our mess. It can also be used to purchase trucks and tools. I don’t mean waste trucks that ride around with automatic lifts. Buy sensible box bed trucks with personnel to get into the ditches and remove the trash. You may think that we can’t afford such a tax. Well, we caused this problem so we can’t afford not to have such a tax. Do you really want to be defined by the second definition of the term trash? If not, then let’s do what needs to be done to rid ourselves of this terrible social problem that shines such a negative light on our community.
Richard H. Monroe, Chamber of Commerce Image Committee Chair
P.S. More information on how to assist the Image Committee will follow in a few days.
News
CHAMBER NEWS
The Lumberton Area Chamber of Commerce would like to WELCOME our
New Board members. Congratulations!!
Suzanne Abbott-Abbott Insurance Services, LLC, Crystal Collins- Lumbee Guaranty Bank, Donna Davis- Tomlinson’s Department Store, Allen Elks-Postnet, John Hendren-Walmart, Josh Jackson-Edward Jones Investments, Elly Johnson-UNCP, Dr. Phillip Stephens-Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center, Betsy Wilson-UNC Health Southeastern and Bebe Wright-Williams-Comfort Inn and Country Inn & Suites
********************************
The NEW Chamber Business Directory & Buyers Guide has arrived! This is the Premier book for Lumberton Chamber members. Please give us a call at 739-4750 or email us at lumbertonchamber@bellsouth.net to get your copy.
**********************************
The Lumberton Chamber Golf Classic is Thursday, May 6th at Pine Crest Golf Club.
****************
COMMUNITY REMINDERS
The Robeson Community College Foundation has launched a fundraiser for the month of February for the College’s emergency fund for students in need of financial support during this time. Hearts Together Emergency Fund Campaign. Please call Rebekah at 910-272-3235 or 910-272-3236
********************************
Downtown Clean Sweep Saturday, February 27th, 9-11 am. For more information call 910-874-418. Sponsored by Main Street Lumberton
*********************************
Battle of the Butts Drive Thru Fundraiser
Thursday, March 4th 11am -2pm Robeson Community College
Proceeds benefit Communities In Schools of Robeson County Student Services.
For ticket information call 910-738-1734.
*********************************
2021 Rumba on the Lumber with UNC Health Southeastern 5k run
March 6th For more information call Owen at 919-889-2514
*********************************
17th Annual John P. Williamson Memorial Golf Tournament to Benefit the
Robeson County Humane Society
Saturday, March 18th, 2021 at Pine Crest Golf Club
Call Dwight Gane at 738-6541 or email Marion Thompson
at tmkthompson@hotmail.com
Southeastern Health Foundation’s 30th Annual Golf Tournament will be held Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Pinecrest Country Club located at 100 Nigel Rd., Lumberton, N.C. For more information, contact the Foundation office at (910)671-5583 or foundation@southeastern health.org.