The Friends of Rowan Public Library are hosting their Annual Meeting 2025, and they're not pulling any punches when it comes to their guest list. Set for Thursday, April 24, at the RPL Headquarters in Salisbury, doors to the event will swing open at 5:45 p.m., with the real show starting at 6 p.m. The highlight of the night is a panel featuring a trio of local media mavens: Deirdre Parker-Smith, David Whisenant, and Mark Wineka have all been confirmed, bringing a heavyweight dose of experience and insight into the local media scene.
The panel is bound to provoke interest, with each member of the trio having honed their craft in the trenches of local journalism. Parker-Smith has been a fixture at the "Salisbury Post" for an impressive 35 years, while also juggling freelance gigs. She's lent her expertise to the design and editing of several recent titles, including Margaret Basinger's memoir. Whisenant, who started in broadcasting at the tender age of 16, spent more than three decades as a news reporter for WBTV. Wineka, not to be outdone, boasts 45 years of writing for "Salisbury Post" and "Salisbury the Magazine," and also has published books under his belt, including "A Drive Across Town." According to the event announcement by the Rowan County, all three panelists have new publications to discuss.
The event promises to be more than just a discussion about the panelists' careers, as a question & answer session will offer attendees the chance to directly engage with the experts. And for those hungry for more than just information, free refreshments will be available after the program. If that weren't enough, aspiring writers and avid readers can get their hands on the latest titles from the panelists, as books will be up for grabs.
Membership to the Friends of RPL is also on the table, with an annual fee of just $10. Those who sign up can not only enjoy benefits like volunteer opportunities and community engagement, but also support the library's beloved Summer Reading programs. "Members choose their level of involvement and activity," states the Rowan County's official release.
