The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) has presented the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce with two membership achievement awards for 2008.

The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce achieved a top 10 placement in the $450,000-$900,000 total revenue category for both number of new members and new member dollars.

The awards are determined from data compiled annually in an ACCE survey.

Earlier this month, the Rowan County Chamber was notified by ACCE that, based on the same survey, it qualified to enter the national Chamber of the year competition. This is the fifth consecutive year the local Chamber has earned that distinction.

Seamus Donaldson of Community Bank of Rowan was Chamber chairman of the board in 2008, and Skip Wood of Community One Bank and current Chamber chairman elect was membership division chairman for both 2007 and 2008. Donaldson previously served as membership division chairman in 2005 and 2006.

Both banks have fielded Chamber membership drive teams during the last few years, and each has won the coveted "Banker's Cup" as a result of their levels of new member recruitment.

In 2007, also under Wood's leadership, the Chamber experienced its most successful membership drive in organization history, bringing in almost 200 new members. The Rowan County Chamber averages about 1,000 members.

Chamber President Bob Wright said, "We salute Seamus and Skip for stepping up and giving of their time and talents to help make the Rowan County Chamber and business community stronger. They've done an outstanding job and continue to do so. We can't thank them enough for their service".

Randy Welch of Duke Energy and 2009 Chamber chairman of the board added, "Community Bank of Rowan and Community One Bank are generous institutions for allowing and encouraging their employees to get involved in local initiatives. That's the mark of a community-minded organization and we appreciate them."

Team Chevrolet's Dillard takes post with dealers group

Thom Dillard of Salisbury was named secretary of the N.C. Automobile Dealers Association (NCADA) during the association's recent 74th annual convention in Asheville.

He has formerly served as treasurer for NCADA.

Dillard is president of Team Chevrolet Cadillac in Salisbury, which includes Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac and GMC franchises.

His career in the automotive industry began with washing cars at Mountaineer Chevrolet while attending Western Carolina University.

He later worked at dealerships in Charlotte and Hickory before being named general sales manager of Valley Auto World in Fayetteville in 1984.

In 1992 Dillard and a business partner purchased Von Byerly Chevrolet in Salisbury. Most recently Dillard purchased Salisbury Motor Company.

Dillard has served on the Chevrolet National Dealer Council, Chevrolet National Car Advisory Board and Southeast Regional GM Dealer Council. He has also served on the board of Rowan Helping Ministries and Red Cross.

The NCADA is a trade association representing North Carolina's franchised automobile, truck and RV dealers. Formed in 1935, today's NCADA actively represents nearly 650 new car, truck and RV dealers.

Golf tournament raises nearly $10,000 for Trinity Oaks projects

The third annual golf tournament hosted by Trinity Oaks Retirement Community and the Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks raised almost $10,000 to be used for projects at the skilled nursing home and a children's playground at the retirement community.

Close to 80 golfers participated in the June 19 event at Corbin Hills Golf Club.

Mike Walsh, Trinity Oaks' executive director, said, "It was a great day for Trinity Oaks and the Lutheran Home. Our sponsors, supporters, residents, staff, and members of the wider community came together for an enjoyable afternoon of fellowship for a wonderful cause. "

Bill Johnson, administrator of The Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks, said, "The funding available from this event will enable us to help meet a growing need within the area and allow the Lutheran Home to expand its services to families in our marketing our efforts to provide state-of-the-art medical equipment to our residents."

Major sponsors were Cheerwine, F&M Bank, Grove Medical, Quick Copy Print Shop, RoMedical, Salisbury Moving, Salisbury Orthopaedic, Salisbury Post, Silver Eagle Distributing and Taylor Clay Products, and Wachovia. Tournament and hole sponsors included BB&T Insurance, Carpet Deals & More, Dr. Jim Fryar III DDS, Gary D.Morgan CPA, Intersect Termite & Pest Control, JB's Window Cleaning, Kevin D. McIntosh (attorney), Orkin, Ralph Ketner, Shemin the Landscape Supplier, Sun Dance Rehabilitation and Windsor Gallery Jewelers.

Door prizes were provided by Alligood Automotive, Applebee's, Carolina Golf Mart, Curt & Geri, East Coast Wings, Edwin Watts, Evercare, Fine Frame Gallery, Grease Monkey, Haps Grill, Harris Teeter, L.A. Murph's, Ligon Electric, Longhorn, McDonald's, Olive Garden/ Concord, O-Reilly's, Orkin, Piedmont Gardens, Pottery 101, Randy Hall, Salisbury Flower, Sam's Car Wash, Spanky's, Spring Robin, Sticky Fingers, SunDance Rehab, Texas Pete, Thread Shed, Tire Kingdom, Vogue Cleaners and Zaxby's.

Top honors went to the team of Perry VonCannon, Van Benfield, Steve McIntyre and Kev Hayes. Second place went to Rex Davis, Jim Huckin, Bobby Measmer and Brent Robinson. Awards for the closest to the pin went to Timmy Lingle, Jeff Barnes and Rob Arnold. Honors for the longest drive went to J.C. Ritchie and Carol Walsh.

Miller Davis' newest client is international trade association

Miller Davis of Salisbury has added PRISM International, located in Raleigh and Brussels, Belgium, to its client base.

The international, not-for-profit trade association serves companies that provide commercial records center services, data protection services, digital imaging services, confidential destruction services and other related information management services. It has members in more than 60 countries and produces the quarterly journal, inFocus.

Miller Davis, in its eighth year of business, is located in the historic Washington Building at 118 N. Main St., Suite 200.

Home Instead's caregiver of the month for June is Elizabeth Cuellar

Elizabeth Cuellar has been named caregiver of the month for June at Home Instead Senior Care, 625 W. Innes St.

This award is given to an employee who goes above and beyond the call of duty in caring for seniors with whom they are entrusted.

Cuellar has been a caregiver with Home Instead since February. She is originally from Houston.

Mona Knight is staffing coordinator for Home Instead Senior Care.

Contact Home Instead Senior Care at 704-636-2010 or www.homeinstead.com.

CommunityOne Bank parent company paying 2.5 cent dividend

ASHEBORO — FNB United Corp., the holding company for CommunityOne Bank, announced that its board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 2.5 cents per share, the same as paid in the previous quarter.

The dividend will be paid on July 24 to common shareholders of record on July 2.

"We believe that conserving capital by maintaining a lower dividend payment is in the best long-term interest of our shareholders and will help ensure that FNB United maintains its well-capitalized position," said Michael C. Miller, president and chief executive officer.

"We look forward to restoring dividends to previous levels when earnings improve."

FNB United Corp. is the Asheboro-based holding company for CommunityOne Bank and the bank subsidiary, Dover Mortgage Co.

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