05/04/2026
Letters: Thanks from the Oriental Rotary Club
Grateful for the community support, proud of the difference we make
May 1, 2026
Good things happened at the Oriental Boat Show (April 10-12, 2026). The Oriental Rotary Club writes in with an update:
On behalf of the Rotary Club of Oriental, we want to express our sincere thanks to everyone who helped make our 16th Boat Show and Nautical Flea Market such a smashing success.
• We had 1,500 paying attendees.
• Pocket Yachts sold four new boats.
• The Oriental Dinghy Club sold a Navy Whaleboat-Lifeboat Launch.
• The wooden Hank Hinkley sailboat sold on the first day.
• Our Nautical Flea Market raised a stunning $8,000, boosted by selling three dinghies, three outboards, a Hobie daysailer, and six folding bikes.
• Our first beer garden/music venue was popular and profitable, so we plan to expand it next year.
Thanks especially to:
• The many non-Rotarian volunteers who gave their time to operate the Nautical Flea Market, work at the gates, drive golf-cart taxis, and help pack the tents and merchandise up after the show.
• Our generous sponsors whose support contributes to the vital local initiatives that the Rotary Club of Oriental carries out.
• Sailcraft Services for donating a 6 HP Mercury outboard that we raffled.
• TownDock.net for promoting the show.
• All 37 exhibitors who showcased their products and services.
• Those who advertised in our program.
• The speakers who delivered seven professional and informative seminars.
• Joe and Jeannine at The Pamlico News for working magic on the program.
• Everyone who donated their used nautical items to the flea market.
Before the 2026 Boat Show even started, Rotary Club of Oriental had given over a half-million dollars raised by previous Boat Shows to college scholarships and local charities. Just in the last year we’ve done too many community projects to list here, but you might have seen us adding to and improving the playground at HeartWorks or building wheelchair ramps at several homes. We also purchased and installed a back-up generator at Hope Clinic, so that when the power goes out they don’t lose all the medications that must stay refrigerated.
The Rotary Club of Oriental’s mission is to foster camaraderie among professionals and leaders, and to leverage their skills and resources for the betterment of the community. If this sounds like something you’d like to participate in, contact our Membership Chair, Jim Kellenberger at 919-621-0362 or [email protected] and he will get you to a meeting.
With gratitude,
Jim Kellenberger and Beth Obenshain
Oriental, NC
May 1, 2026
