The Save Our Children Movement Inc: Impacting Children's Lives One Event At A Time

Service organizations, especially those involving our youth, have always been important to me. I am currently involved in three such groups. One of the most active is The Save Our Children Movement Inc, or SOCM ("sock em") for short.

SOCM is a non-profit organization which was founded by my cousin Rodney McGill, whom is also the president and CEO.Rodney, along with our other cousin, Greg "G-Baby" Gaines (vice-president) have grown up and have witnessed firsthand the despair regarding the youth situation in Gastonia, NC. These two, along with others, have taken action and wanted to make matters better.

In 2014, SOCM has taken off full blast. To date, there have been a total of 15 different events that this organization has sponsored or headlined over four cities in North and South Carolina. SOCM has been in Gastonia, Kings Mountain, NC, Clover, SC and Charlotte, NC. These events have included cookouts, school supply giveways, free haircuts for the children, a movie night, a health fair, and a weekend of Halloween parties. Free stuff such as food, beverages, clothes, candy and school supplies have been available at each and every SOCM event. One of the next events is slated to be a day trip for 30 children and 10 adult chaperones to the aquarium in Atlanta, GA, depending upon funding. SOCM has definitely been on the move. They have been all about positive action.  They also received an award at event #15 in Charlotte for outstanding community service. Word is definitely getting around not only on social media and the streets but to major movers and shakers.

There have been many people, donors and sponsors that have assisted throughout this year. Some include Sean Boyd (Rodney's youngest brother) , Lewis Tate (another cousin of ours) , Hope Boyd, Ananasa Wright, Chris Wallace (our DJ) , Rodney Barber (appropriately named since his business provides the free haircuts for children), Sonji Williams, Cynthia P. Stitt at the Highland Health Center, and Martha Bratton, who is our SOCM liaison in Clover. Other sponsors include Primary Care Solutions, Cardinal Medical, American Gold Label, Absolute Steam and Star Faith Ministries.

SOCM is truly taking the Carolinas by storm and making a positive mark. For further information or to make a donation towards one of our events, email info@socminc.org or call (704)937-1617 or visit www.socminc.org. They are there to help and uplift youth of all cultural, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Simply come to an event and witness the positive action in motion!

The Local Fair: Always Good Food, Folks and Fun

Many of you already know Fall is my favorite of all of the four seasons. There are many reasons for this. The leaves are changing, football is back, the weather is comfortable and not unbearably cold.

Last but not least, the fair is in my area!

I grew up on the county fair. My mom took me and my brother every year. We would ride every ride we could, eat all sorts of unhealthy snacks, and even play those crooked games. I was especially good at the dart games.

Now as an adult, I still enjoy the fair but mostly for the unhealthy foods and nostalgia. The fairs now have so much more variety: fried everything (Oreos, candy bars, Twinkies), turkey legs, funnel cakes, Krispy Kreme burgers, and the classics such as candy apples, cotton candy and giant sausages. It is all good to me!

Near me, the more popular fairs are the Cleveland County Fair in Shelby, NC, the Piedmont Interstate Fair in Spartanburg, SC, and the granddaddy of them all, the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia, SC. Due to safety and proximity, I attend the Cleveland County Fair. It is located on the campus of Cleveland Community College, only a 20 minute drive from my home. Also it's free to park if you arrive early enough and park on the campus. Plus it's the fair I grew up going to. Can't wait to go this year!

Do you enjoy going to the fair? What is your favorite ride, snack, and/or game?

Rocking The Hill: More To Rock Hill Than You May Know

This is for now my final installment in my series about various towns and cities in South Carolina. This is my second home: Rock Hill, SC. I lived here for six years and find it to be a joyeous, growing place.

Many know it as the medium size city just south of Charlotte. But there's much more to this city than that.

All is takes is a ride down the two most popular roads, Cherry Road and Dave Lyle Boulevard, to see that "The Rock" has a lot to offer for all ages and demographics. It's a town that's positioned for exponential growth but still striving to keep the small community atmosphere. This city has three higher learning institutions: York Technical College, Clinton Jr. College, and Winthrop University. All are gaining more notoriety and use the city of Rock Hill as a selling point for admission.

Need something to do in the Rock? No problem. There are several local bars and lounges, including McHales and Empire Pizza. They have a bowling alley, Manchester Square with a Regal Cinemas movie theater, a $2.50 theater off of Cherry, Cherry Park and Glenclairn Gardens. Winthrop usually has plenty of entertainment on their campus and encourages the city to be involved.

South Carolina is known for its many festivals and Rock Hill is no different. Every April for a week and a half is The Come See Me Festival, welcoming Spring and having the infamous frog mascot.

You will not go hungry in Rock Hill either. Many chain restaurants populate the inner and outer portions of the city. There are great local places as well such as White Horse, Anna J's, Luigi's, Toyo's,
and Charondas.

Many great athletes have come out of Rock Hill including Gerald Dixon Sr., Jeff Burris, Chris Hope, Coradelle Patterson and most recently Jadeveon Clowney, perhaps one of the greatest to ever play football in the state. Sports are a big tradition in the Rock and District 3 Stadium on Cherry has hosted some huge games and events. It is also where Northwestern and Rock Hill High Schools (for a long time, the city's only two high schools) each play their home football games.

The city is simply awesome: plenty of entertainment, top notch schools, close to Charlotte, Columbia and Upstate South Carolina. It is simply a great place to live and raise a family. You feel welcome from the time you drive into the city.

Not to sound too much like a city guide or a real estate agent, but come experience Rock Hill for yourself!

Clover: Quite Simply The City With "Love" in the middle

Nestled between York, SC and Gastonia, NC and about 30 minutes south of Charlotte, NC, off of SC Hwys 321 and Hwy 55 lies one of the best kept secrets in the Carolinas. It is a small town just shy of 4,000 people called Clover, SC.
Clover is very rich in its history and culture. Like many other small Southern hamlets, it has thrived from the mill and textile culture. Many residents know each other by name and their families and relatives.

During the 1970s and 80s, Clover was a bustling city to spend a night out. You had Howard Johnson's restaurant, the drive in theatre just outside of town, and Henry's Knob. Many, young and old, would drive up to the "Knob". Present day, it is now closed.

Clover is big on its festivals and community spirit. They recently had a BBQ and bluegrass festival and Clover Fest is coming up soon in this month of September.

Many businesses and restaurants have been part of the small city for years such as Boyd's Tire and Furniture, M.L. Ford and Son's Funeral Home, Patti-O's Grill, Victoria's Restaurant, The Eagles' Nest and Courtney's BBQ. Courtney's has brought notoriety to Clover, as the pitmasters that run this joint have won several regional and national BBQ competitions.

Clover has also has its fair share of famous names such as Herb Kirsch, Stan Spears, Poke Cobb, and Lamont Hall.  All of these figureheads still have a lot of pride in their hometown and regularly give back.

Personally, Clover is near and dear to my heart as any city. I have family members from both sides that are from and/or still live there. Many of my earliest memories are of the town with love in the middle and the mascot The Blue Eagle. One of Clover's sports mottos is "It's A Great Day To Be A Blue Eagle!".

Clover is one of those towns one may pass through enroute to Gastonia, Carowinds Amusement Park or to Lake Wylie. However, trust me, it is well worth it to stop and stay a spell. The love and history can truly be felt in this city.

The Drive-In Theatre: Still A Great Way To See A Movie

I love watching and going to the movies as many of you know. I go nearly every weekend and have been to the fancy theaters and run down ones. This weekend, at age 36, I finally got to experience the drive-in.

Basically, it is everything it is cracked up to be and more. Hard to beat $10-15/carload, seeing at least two movies, being able to bring your own food and all. I felt like a kid that night.

The drive-in was once the ultimate way to see a movie once silent movies fell by the wayside. They originated in 1933 in New Jersey and became a national phenomenon. Everyone loved meeting under the big screen and stars on the weekend.

Present day, the drive-in has taken a hit. Although ticket sales are still high and the parking lots are typically full, there are only 357 drive-ins nationwide still open. They mostly depend on concessions and tickets to make ends meet. Between showing the movies, electricity and the staff, it can be a challenge for this type of venue to stay open.

There are currently only nine in the Carolinas. Three notable ones are: The Bessemer City Drive In (where I went), Sunset Drive In in Shelby, NC, and the Big Mo in Monetta, SC. Many of these places are in secluded areas, but are fun for the entire family. The theater may be losing money, but the savings are passed on to the consumer.

That being said, I would hate to see the drive in completely fade away. It gives one a sense of nostalgia and showing you don't need frills and 3-D effects to enjoy a movie on the big screen.

Do you go to the drive-in some? What do you enjoy most about going?

Run The Rock Has Taken Off At Full Speed

It's definitely the season for running, or doing outside exercise. Janice Fuller knows this as well as anyone.

A long time fitness instructor and enthusiast, Fuller is always finding ways to stay active and help others be the same way. This slender lady with the bright smile and short dreads has now formed a successful running group in Rock Hill, SC called Run The Rock or #runtherock.

The group had very humble beginnings. Janice simply posted on Facebook in 2011 that she was looking for runners, but to no avail.  She then posted that she would be running on Mondays at 5:30am. There were about four people that joined her on Mondays. She then made another post about her running and helping those train for upcoming 5ks. The numbers started increasing at that point.

Present day, the group averages around 40 runners on each day, with 70 being their largest turnout. There is certainly power in numbers. 

Run The Rock runs on Mondays at 5:30am at the Winthrop Coliseum,  Tuesdays (at Food Lion on Ebenezer Road) and Thursdays (Hwy 5 plaza across from Northwestern High) at 5am and Saturdays at 7am at the Winthrop Coliseum. Group members and guests simply run, jog or walk 3-5 miles. No fee is required. Just bring some comfortable running shoes, water, a hand towel, and excitement and determination.

Currently there are no evening runs due to Ms. Fuller's intense evening teaching schedule. There may be one coming in the Fall, as the schedule will be adjusted to accomodate the cooler weather.

The group has a day trip planned for Saturday, July 26 to go to Crowders Mountain and challenge those hills. They are also considering doing a 5K in October and perhaps a 10K shortly thereafter.
Run The Rock has gotten lots of local media attention around Rock Hill and surrounding areas. This group is moving, growing and simply having fun.

Becoming a part is easy. Simply search for "Run The Rock" on Facebook, or meet Janice and company at one of the dates listed above. They welcome people of all levels.

What Janice Fuller is doing is a wonderful service. It is hard pressed to find a running group or even a running partner in smaller cities. Fuller has proven with persistence and consistence, it is possible.

Get in on a run, jog, or walk, at Ieast on the weekend while you can. 5am or 7am are early times, but can be worthwhile, especially if you're in the area. You're sure to not regret it!

BONUS: CIAA: Tips for surviving, having fun, and being economically sound

CIAA festivities are just about a month away. Many of you are making party and hotel reservations, preparing your upscale wardrobes, etc. You and your crew want to hit downtown Charlotte the first weekend of March and paint the town red. It's going to be hot as always. For the first time in 4 years, I will not be participating in the festivities. However, being a CIAA veteran, I have some pointers to make this weekend fun, enjoyable, safe, and memorable

- Plan, plan, plan ahead

I cannot stress this enough. Right now you and your entourage should be making hotel reservations. And yes I know anything uptown, such as the Ritz or the Blake, is pretty much out of the question. However, I guarantee that if you act within the next week or so, there are plenty of nice hotels and suites available within driving distance of the various parties.  There are a plethora of these on University, Tyvola, Carowinds Blvd, and in Pineville, NC. If all else fails, there are nice, affordable rooms in Rock Hill, SC, just 20 minutes south of downtown Charlotte

- Get about 3-4 /room to save

People often think my friends and I are big ballers because whenever events such as a wedding or CIAA arrives, we stay in some nice rooms. This is a result of careful planning, and having about 3-5 of us/room. Doing this is still comfortable, usually within many hotel policies, and saves you more money for partying and drinking

- Reserve your party tickets NOW, and set a budget for them

It is my humble opinion that you will have just as much fun at a $100 V.I.P. party as you will a $25 party. It's CIAA, most every party will be packed out. Therefore, look on sites such as www.mingleberry.com and even www.ciaa.org for various parties around uptown. I would say attend no more than 2 parties/day you're in town. However, this depends upon your budget, energy level, and alcohol tolerance.  Act now if you don't plan on spending more than $30/party. If you wait until the end of February, general admission to parties will be $60 on the low end.

-  Do not drive on Tryon and College during this time.

This is the heart of uptown, where much of the CIAA action is. Therefore, traffic will be jammed up NY/LA style. Take side streets such as Davidson and 9th street, and park near Tryon and College to avoid an extremely long walk

- Dress to impress, but stay warm

Fellas, at least wear a dress shirt, tie, sweater or jacket, slacks, all clean and pressed, and some sharp dress shoes. Leave the Jordans and the Air Force Ones at home. Ladies, show your skin off, but wear a jacket and stockings. Half the reason us fellas come to CIAA is the eye candy but its still wintertime, and you want to be healthy after the partying is done

- Get at least one designated driver/nite, get plenty of rest in between and after parties, and have fun!!!

Please feel free to add more advice or even add experiences in the comments section

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