Dock of the Bay keeps growing
'Blackbeard' and wife (Ben and DeeGee Cherry of Plymouth) approach Dr. Marshall Stewart, 4-H program leader, for a donation at this year's Dock of the Bay.
Photo by Art Latham
Like the Eastern 4-H Environmental Education Conference Center itself, "Dock of the Bay" - launched in 2004 as the center's major annual fund raiser for 4-H camper scholarships and other projects - just keeps getting better.
"This event demonstrates the powerful impact our 4-H camps have on local communities," said Dr. Marshall Stewart, state 4-H program leader and department head.
From the time "Blackbeard" and wife (Ben and DeeGee Cherry of Plymouth) stormed the beaches of Bull Bay until the last strains of Carolina beach music echoed across the waters, 4-H camping was celebrated. The more than 300 guests attending this year's event near Columbia, N.C., danced the night away. Veteran 4-H campers and other guests munched on seafood, pasta and chocolate and shuffled through musical oldies reminiscent of evenings at the beach.
Amidst the scents of citronella and honeysuckle, under a half-moon riding high in a clear evening sky, they contributed more than $35,000 in sponsorships and gifts, along with more than $6,500 for regionally oriented silent auction items.
The event's "gold clover" sponsors ($2,500) were East Carolina Bank, the N.C. 4-H Development Fund and Piedmont Natural Gas, according to Sarah Lilley Phelps, the center's marketing director.
"The amazing support of volunteers and sponsors from northeastern North Carolina is a great reminder of how 4-H and N.C. State University impact local youth, families and communities," Stewart said. "With this type of support, 4-H youth in North Carolina can be assured of a bright future."
- Art Latham
"This event demonstrates the powerful impact our 4-H camps have on local communities," said Dr. Marshall Stewart, state 4-H program leader and department head.
From the time "Blackbeard" and wife (Ben and DeeGee Cherry of Plymouth) stormed the beaches of Bull Bay until the last strains of Carolina beach music echoed across the waters, 4-H camping was celebrated. The more than 300 guests attending this year's event near Columbia, N.C., danced the night away. Veteran 4-H campers and other guests munched on seafood, pasta and chocolate and shuffled through musical oldies reminiscent of evenings at the beach.
Amidst the scents of citronella and honeysuckle, under a half-moon riding high in a clear evening sky, they contributed more than $35,000 in sponsorships and gifts, along with more than $6,500 for regionally oriented silent auction items.
The event's "gold clover" sponsors ($2,500) were East Carolina Bank, the N.C. 4-H Development Fund and Piedmont Natural Gas, according to Sarah Lilley Phelps, the center's marketing director.
"The amazing support of volunteers and sponsors from northeastern North Carolina is a great reminder of how 4-H and N.C. State University impact local youth, families and communities," Stewart said. "With this type of support, 4-H youth in North Carolina can be assured of a bright future."
- Art Latham