ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE:
Bearing Good
By Matt Joyner
John Bradberry, chair of the Rotary Scholarship committee introduced
our speakers Club member Rich Campbell, outgoing chair of the
committee and Tonya Faulkner, current recipient of the scholarship.
John noted that Rich has been a driving force and a visionary in his
leadership of the Club's Scholarship program and its recent
resurgence. John also noted that in the scholarship selection
process last Spring Ms. Faulkner impressed him with her "strength of
character and willingness to go the extra mile to reach her goals."
Rich Campbell said that "giving back is a responsibility in life"
and that we are indeed to be our "brother's keeper." Serving on the
Rotary Scholarship committee is an excellent opportunity to
participate in a great service of the Club to the community and to
see the positive impact. Rich informed us that the Rotary
Scholarship fund was started in 1921 and was originally designed to
loan money to high school students pursuing a college education. By
1937 the scholarship fund experienced a loss of $10,000 and in 1979
the rehabilitated fund was turned over to the predecessor of the
Foundation for the Carolinas, where it is currently administered.
Consequently the Scholarship has now helped nearly a thousand
students.
Recent Scholarship recipient, Ms. Faulkner, thanked the Club for
helping her achieve her mission: to serve the community and to raise
herself and her family out of poverty. Pursuing a career in human
and community service by working as a tutor in CPCC's Trio Program
and as an intern in the ECHO Program preventing recidivism, Ms.
Faulkner said that the Rotary Scholarship was a "critical part" of
her education. She thanked the Club for giving her the chance to
become a good steward and vowed, "Your generosity will bear good
fruit."
The Scholarship is currently awarded to a rising junior or senior at
a four year institution. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and
demonstrate substantial community involvement. The Scholarship has a
preference for Mecklenburg County residents and CPCC alumni. In
fact, CPCC's increasing awareness of the availability of the
Scholarship has led to a greater demand on the Scholarship.
Campbell said that the Scholarship is at "a crossroads." He noted
that the Scholarship has two sources of funds - a budget line item
in the Club's annual budget and the dividend income from the
Foundation fund. He said that last year the committee had $12,800 to
distribute, but was confronted by $16,000 in needs. Faced with the
compelling circumstances of the applicants, the committee members
funded the difference on the spot out of their own pockets.
The Scholarship Committee is now posing a challenge to the Club. If
the Club will raise an extra $20,000 for the Scholarship fund by the
end of the month of March, an anonymous committee member will donate
an additional $10,000 for the corpus of the donor advised fund at
the Foundation. The scholarship challenge equates to $75 per member
of the Club. Checks should be made payable to "Rotary Foundation
Donor Advised Funds." Let's get to it!
Head Table:
Tyson Bennett, Steve Meckler, Luther Moore, John Bradberry, Rich
Campbell, Tonya Faulkner, Bob Culbertson
Visitors &
Guests:
Jim Kelley; Visitors & Guests: Don Carmichael; Health and Happiness:
Worth Williamson; Song: Alan Barnhardt; Piano: Thomas Moore
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NEW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Vanessa W. Ramseur
Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg County
Classification: Libraries, Public
1230 Alleghany St (28208)
704-432-2477
vramseur@plcmc.org |
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Vanessa Work Ramseur is a Senior
Library Manager for the Public Library of Charlotte and
Mecklenburg County with responsibility for the management and
operations of library branches and staff in the northeast and
west region of Mecklenburg County. A native of Mecklenburg
County and having grown up in Cornelius she attended North
Mecklenburg High School, received a BS from Barber-Scotia
College, an MLS from North Carolina Central University and an
MBA from the McColl Graduate School of Business, Queens
University of Charlotte. Vanessa has 30 years of service working
in public libraries in North Carolina. She serves on several
American Library Association committees which include ALA/APA,
Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and the
Committee on Organizations. State and local affiliations include
the NCLA Executive Board, NC State Library LSTA Board, president
of the Freedom Drive Development Association and currently
working with the City of Charlotte Business Corridor
Revitalization Strategic Planning Committee. Civic participation
includes active membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
Thomasboro Community of Shalom Board and Charter member of the
University City YMCA. She is a member of Torrence Chapel AME
Zion Church where she serves as Leader of Leaders and member of
the gospel choir. Vanessa is married to Calvin Ramseur Jr. and
they have two daughters, ages 20 and 26. Vanessa enjoys singing,
reading, walking and playing an occasional match of tennis. |
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Rotary Club of Charlotte
841 Baxter Street, Suite 118, Charlotte 28202
chltrot@bellsouth.net 704-375-6816 |
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þ
Welcome to
Rotary! Mac McCarley
introduced Nancy Roberson,
who serves as Executive Director of the Mecklenburg County
Bar. Contact Nancy at
nroberson@meckbar.org;
Carol Jordan introduced
Vanessa Ramseur, Senior
Library Manager for the Public Library of Charlotte
Mecklenburg County. Contact Vanessa at
vramseur@plcmc.org.
þ
John Tabor's
father, Parker, will be in Presbyterian Hospital for 4-6
weeks while undergoing extensive chemotherapy for Acute
Leukemia. Several Rotary members were instrumental in his
obtaining quick medical opinions and treatment, which in
this case, was life saving. John and Lee pass along their
deep appreciation for the support of their fellow Rotarians.
þ
Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of
Dr. Guy Otis Keller, who
passed away on February 11. Dr. Keller was a long time
member of Charlotte member with 30 years perfect attendance.
He is survived by his wife Beverly S. Keller, three sons and
a daughter, as well as seven grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Hospice &
Palliative Care, 1420 E. Seventh Street (28204), to the
Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 W. Faris Rd, Greenville,
SC 29605, or to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3115 Providence
Rd (28211).
þ
Law and Politics magazine has named
Fred Lowrance on its North Carolina Super
Lawyers 2007 list; Goodwill Industries of the Southern
Piedmont President and CEO Michael
Elder received the J. D. Robins Jr. Distinguished
Career Award during Goodwill Industries International's
Conference of Executives in Las Vegas; Julie Haack Dral has
been promoted to president of Donald Haack Diamonds, the
company founded by her adventurer father and mother -
Don and Jan Haack;
Carolinas Regional Partnership President and CEO
Ronnie Bryant offered
commentary on economic development incentives; the CPCC
Theater will present Grease on February 16-25. For tickets,
contact their box office at 704-330-6534.
þ
GSE Update: Peggy Wesp
and Colleen Blanchard
report plans are well underway to host the Group Exchange
Study team from London. Mac
McCarley, Herb Harriss, and
Bill Bradley are on board to serve as host
families. However, one more family is needed to host a young
lady that has an allergy to animals and feathers. If you are
able to provide housing for the weekend of March 19th,
contact Peggy or Colleen. There is also a need for 10
tickets to the March 20th Bobcats game.
þ
Lori Hurd reports that
next week, a young Girl Scout from a community outreach
project will be set up to sell cookies to support the
troops. Lori thanked Fred Brown
for his involvement with this initiative.
þ
Those wishing to volunteer with the
Habitat project may
sign up here.
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GALA Update |
90 people have signed up to
attend the club's gala on February 20th at Charlotte Country
Club. We're hoping to have around 200 attend. The cost is
$50 per person; cocktail attire; cocktails at 6:30; dinner
at 7:30 followed by dancing. Please let Sandy know if you
will be attending ASAP.
NO lunch meeting on February 20th. |
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Please
remember to turn off your CELL PHONE
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Attendance
Record |
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2/13/07 |
2/14/06 |
| visitors &
guests |
12 |
11 |
| club
members |
181 |
193 |
| total
attendance |
193 |
204 |
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New Members | Resignations |
Vanessa Ramseur
Nancy Roberson |
n/a |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
20 Jocelyn and Louis Rose
26 Becky and Bob Boulware
27 Penelope and Edgar Love
28 Jean and Joe Penner |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
20 Mary Ciminelli, Clyde, NY
20 Brian Gibson, Alexandria, VA
25 Cynthia Marshall,
Washington, DC
26 Jay Deyton, Altapass, NC
26 Steve Montgomery,
Greensboro, NC
27 Regina Patton,
Texas City, TX
28 Rob Wright,
Philadelphia, PA |
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