Penelope Muse Abernathy, a Scotland County native who holds the Knight Chair of Journalism and Digital Media Economics at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism, shared an appreciation for her home county when she spoke to the Laurinburg Rotary Club as the featured speaker Tuesday during the group's thrice-monthly meeting.

"Two road signs caught my attention when I was driving into Scotland County recently," Abernathy said. "The first was the welcome sign when you pass the county line, which refers to Scotland County with a phrase that goes something like 'Proud Past, Vibrant Present, Progressive Future'. I was wondering how to reconcile that message of hope with the area's distinction of having the highest unemployment rate in the state when I took another turn and saw a wood and cinderblock church that had a sign out front with its 'lesson of the week'. Their sign read, 'Count Your Blessings, Not Your Problems'. I was impressed by this message, and decided that I would make my own three blessings for Scotland County."

Abernathy's hope for the county involves land, education, and soul, the latter term a synonym for quality of life.

Regarding the land, Abernathy said that after leaving Scotland County 40 years ago she and her husband "have been fortunate enough to live in various states and to work in a couple of dozen countries. I have seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the never setting sun in Norway. We have visited 44 different states, but when you take that drive in Scotland County out Sneads Grove Road to four corners, and then turn down Old Marston Road through the gamelands, you will see one of the most scenic routes in the country."

Abernathy cautioned that this asset to the county could be lost if a proposed landfill ever came to the Sneads Grove Road area.

"A landfill would destroy what I have just described," she said. "The land is resilient, unless something manmade prohibits it from returning to the way it was. I understand the economic need to consider a landfill, but I urge you to be careful about this use of the land."

On education, Abernathy praised both public and private area institutions.

"We have an incredible educational system in this state, not just in the public university system but in the private schools as well, such as Duke and Wake Forest. We have our own outstanding private school in St. Andrews.

"Like tourists in New York who never visit the Statue of Liberty, I'm afraid I didn't give St. Andrews a good look until my son went to college there. He has had an amazing experience, and I hope that he will be able to return years later to reunions at a college that is still vibrant and active."

Abernathy used a personal experience to demonstrate how a good instructor can inspire a student for a lifetime.

"Scotland County is blessed with inspiring teachers," she said. "In the third grade, I was introduced to a primer called "If I Were Going" by an Ohio author named Mabel O'Donnell. She was unmarried, and based the characters of Alice and Jerry on her own niece and nephew. This book about traveling to other places had a tremendous effect on me, and in a time when many people had posters of Bob Dylan and John Lennon on their bedroom wall, I had a travel poster of the Andes on mine. This book, and my instructor, ignited a passion in me to see beyond home."

On the "soul" of Scotland County, Abernathy suggested the region follow the observations of writer Eudora Welty, who suggested that the South produced so many good writers because the summer heat and humidity made its residents "slow down to get in touch with the rhythms of life".

Abernathy indicated that the creation of the Storytelling Center of the Southeast in Laurinburg was a positive example that Welty's assertion was being realized in Scotland County. She recounted the story of her husband, Harry, and his quest to hear storytellers from various points in the country.

"He signed up for storytelling festivals from Minneapolis to Atlanta in order to hear those tellers he enjoys most," she said. "It turned out that every one of those storytellers he traveled so far to hear has appeared at the Storytelling Arts Center's festivals here in Laurinburg, either this year or last."

Abernathy urged Scotland County residents to consider three questions asked by the Program on Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill to any rural community.

"What can we do in Scotland County to bring our sons and daughters back?" she asked. "What is unique about this area, and how can the county attach to someone else's dream?"

Regarding the latter, Abernathy used Moore County as an example.

"Moore County identifies with golf, but it also sees itself as a gateway to the Raleigh-Durham area. Scotland County might consider a nearby metro area to identify with, Fayetteville or Southern Pines, perhaps, and promote that association."

In closing, Abernathy recalled the message of hope on the church sign when she urged the group to "count your blessings, not your problems".

Rotary President Lisa Blalock thanked Abernathy for her presentation.

"We certainly do count our blessings to be living in Scotland County," she said, citing the uniqueness of growing up and going to church in the county. "No one is a stranger here; everyone makes each other feel at home."

Abernathy was invited to speak by Rotary member Sam Snowden. Laurinburg Attorney Bob Gordon introduced the UNC journalism school professor to the group at Tuesday's meeting.

Prior to accepting the position of the Knight Chair of Journalism and Digital Media Economics at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism, Abernathy was vice president and executive director at the Paley Center for Media in New York City. She is a former employee of the Laurinburg Exchange, where she was tutored by the late John Henry Moore.