President Worth called the meeting to order at 12:45 following an extended time of lunch and fellowship, and asked that Phil Van Hoy bring us health and happiness. Phil told a true story of a street robbery in Washington, DC. The man with the gun said, "Give me all your money." His victim said, "I want you to know that I am a member of Congress." "In that case," said the robber, "give me all my money." Phil followed with another true story of an ABC fan with a snow blower. Truth is stranger than fiction.
     Roger Sarow brought us up to date on the latest news from public radio. He reminded us that the weather was hot, the stock market was down, and that people have been poisoned by plutonium. The audience was thrilled with the update.
     David Anderson introduced guests and visiting Rotarians. Harry Brace led our invocation.
     Frank Watson introduced the newest member of Charlotte Rotary, George Bain IV. George is the City Executive with Central Carolina Bank.
     President Worth introduced our program participants: Rusty Brink, Andy Fair, Mary-Stuart Brooks, and Ralph Strayhorn, who spoke in that order.
     Arthur M. "Rusty" Brink is a native of Madison, Wisconsin, but spent much of his life in New England, graduating from the University of Vermont. He served in the army in Vietnam after graduate school.
     Rusty has worked in philanthropy for 30 years, much of it in various roles at the University of Vermont. He joined the health care industry in 1983 in Vermont, and since March of 1998 he has been the Executive Director of the Presbyterian Hospital Foundation. He expressed gratitude to our own Paul Betzold for his role in bring Rusty to Charlotte.
     Rusty and his wife Kathy have six children ranging in age from 21 to 30.
     Rusty told us he was following advice to be brief and be seated.
     Andy Fair was raised in Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Grove City College, where his father taught for many years.
     He and his wife Susie are the parents of an exceptional son of 21 months.
     Andy professed that he is not a scholar, much to the concern of his father. Upon graduation from college he was headed to law school until he received the advice that he was too decent and too nice to be successful as a lawyer. He took that advice and embarked on a career of Marketing and Advertising, after a brief stint in politics as a city council member.
     Andy has served in advertising positions with Belk Brothers and Price/McNabb Advertising. Since August 1977, he has been marketing director of WDAV at Davidson College. He and Susie are expecting another exceptional child soon.
     Mary-Stuart Brooks did what was expected of her as she grew up in the turbulent sixties. Labeled a nerd by her children for her DAR award, she has taken their expectations to great heights through her service in untold volunteer organizations.
     She was born in Winston-Salem, graduated from Meredith College and worked as a computer programmer for Wachovia after college.
     Raising three children and volunteer work have consumed many of her years. She served as president of the Junior League of Charlotte in 1993-94.
     Mary-Stuart is now serving as Executive Director of Mecklenburg Ministries. She offers three bits of advice for all of us: Live like there is no tomorrow, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody's watching.

New Member

MICHAEL WESTON WILKINSON

1999

The Ray Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 35225 (28235)
372-0100
FAX 372-5111

     Mike Wilkinson grew up in Statesville, N.C. He obtained a BS Degree at North Carolina State University. After military service and several years working as a chemical engineer in major cities on the east and west coast, he returned to North Carolina in 1968 as a 4th generation employee of The Ray Company. He became president and owner of The Ray Company in 1970. The Ray Company was founded in 1904 and provides commercial and residential roofing and exterior building maintenance and repair services, steel erection, and sheet metal fabrication and installation. Mike has been active and held offices in various national and local contractor and professional trade associations. He has also participated in many community organizations and activities during this time.

      Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Mike.

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DID YOU KNOW?

      Make-ups by attending an "All Clubs" meeting aboard a cruise ship cannot be used as a make-up because RI dictates that make-ups must be at a duly chartered Rotary Club.

      Send the card in anyway — The Reporter will let others know that you were on vacation . . . cruising.

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     Ralph Strayhorn was born in Durham, but strayed to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His promising football career there was cut short by an injury in his freshman year. He had a good time in Chapel Hill following his injury, but managed to graduate and gain a law degree.
     Ralph worked for a time with Walter Davis, who sent him on a trip around the world during which he visited 45 countries. During that experience he discovered the meaning of freedom while in France. Freedom then was the opportunity to choose between going to the Riviera or Oktoberfest. He also met and married his wife Kerry in South Africa.
     Ralph has spent much of his career in banking, for seven years at NCNB and five years at First Citizens. Since 1994 he has been with Park Meridian Bank. He is executive vice president of the bank and chairman of Park Mortgage Company.

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CORRECTION

     Office telephone number for Mary-Stuart Brooks on page 36 of Roster should read 347-2404.

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POWELL'S
OBSERVATIONS

POWELL MAJORS

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