The Rotary Club of Tryon hosted a special club meeting at the Carolina Event & Conference Center in Forest City.   

Rita Burch, club member and CEO of the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, arranged the meeting to introduce the members to the amenities available at the conference center. All proceeds from events held at the Carolina Event and Conference Center go to the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills to help ensure anyone can access the care program, regardless of ability to pay.

The highlight of the event was a presentation by Forest City native Judy Cairo. 

The club members learned that Cairo has produced a wide range of made-for-TV movies and feature films, including “Crazy Heart” (2009), “Erased” (2012) and “Stuck in Love” (2012). During the presentation, the club members and guests viewed clips from some of these productions.  

When asked by club members what aspects of growing up in Forest City did she take into her movie producing career, Cairo mentioned the strong support for theater in the area. 

“We didn’t have first run movies, but we did have live theater,” she said. 

From school productions to the Performing Arts Guild, she felt a strong community support for live theater while she was growing up in Rutherford County. 

Cairo also mentioned a strong culture of storytelling in the area. She has taken these roots and brought them to her Hollywood productions, she said.

The Rotary Club of Tryon meets at noon on Thursday in the Tryon Presbyterian Church. Those interested in learning more may contact the club’s president, Fred Hartley, at 423-341-4965 or hartleyfred46@gmail.com.

– Submitted article