Wednesday, November 19, 2008
    Speaker: Dean Walker - Civil Air Patrol/NC
    Link: www.cap.gov
    
The speaker at our meeting (the week before Thanksgiving) was Dean Walker, of the Civil Air Patrol of N.C. in Statesville.   Dean is an employee of Duke Energy and works as an engineer at the Marshall Steam Station.  Dean gave an excellent presentation about the history of the Civil Air Patrol, including it’s start during WWII patrolling and guarding the U.S. shores to being the first organization allowed in the restricted airspace to patrol after the devastation of Sept. 11.  For example, locally the Civil Air Patrol flies over the lake before sunsets to check for those who may need help, and observes the damns and bridges for unusual activities to report back to necessary law enforcement.  The Civil Air Patrol also has an excellent program for young people (for example Dean joined a few years ago with his son when his son was 12 years old).

  Wednesday, November 5, 2008
   Speaker: Representative Mitchell S. Setzer (Rep)
   Link: www.ncga.state.nc.us

 Our speaker was Representative Mitchell Setzer of the N.C. House of Representatives representing the 89th   District (which includes Catawba andIredell Counties).  Mitchell’s presentation was exceptional  and informative and was particularly timely having followed election day the previous day, and Mitchell reviewed both what his role is and what the House does for the state of North Carolina and our area.  Mitchell pointed out how N.C . will be swearing-in a new governor (elected the night before), and also handed out information about proposed legislation that will be discussed in committee concerning the idea of improving boating safety on N.C.’s waters, which would include Lake Norman.

    Wednesday, October 29, 2008
    Speaker:  Dr. Amanda Barker-Assell, Advanced Family Eye Care  
    Link: www.advancedeyenc.com

  Wednesday, October 8, 2008
    Speaker:  Dewey Harris, Assistant Catawba County Manager    
    Link: http://www.catawbacountync.gov