President Worth called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. Rick Jackson provided a news update. Harley Dickson introduced seven guests and six visiting Rotarians. John Lassiter introduced his Health and Happiness report by saying that he would give those of us concerned about the quality of education in our public schools reason to be concerned. He then shared a number of amusing answers given by students to questions of vocabulary, science, and political events.
     President Worth made announcements about several committee meetings and encouraged us to make reservations to attend the Joint Rotary Meeting on Tuesday, February 22. Construction on our Rotary Habitat House will begin Thursday, February 17, and will continue each Saturday through May. We have had good response from our club, and anyone interested in working is encouraged to call Tom Robinson to sign up.
     Bill Belk, President of Charlotte South Rotary Club, announced that Charlotte has been selected as host city for an international Rotary event to be held in the summer of 2004. He made a special plea for support of a Marathon Golf event which will be held May 1 as a fund-raiser for this international Rotary event. Glenn Clinefelter and Jim Adams are our club's contacts for the May 1 golf event and club members are asked to support the event either as participants or sponsors.
     John Nicolay introduced new member James E. Rogers, Sr. Vice-President of L. J. Melody & Company, a commercial real estate mortgage banking firm. Jim is an active community leader and serves currently as president of the board of trustees of the UNC-C Athletic Foundation and Co-Chairman of the Carolinas Leadership Connection.
     Following the Pledge of Allegiance and a rousing round of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" led by Chuck Lineberry, Ric Cannada led us in prayer. Members seated at the head table were John Johnson, David Guilford, Jerry Blanchard. Ric Cannada, Richard Rankin, and Dick Klingman.
     Jerry Blanchard, a graduate of Wingate University and member of the Board of Trustees, introduced Jerry McGee, President of Wingate University, and welcomed him as our speaker. Dr. McGee is a native of Rockingham and has served in senior administrative positions with institutions of higher education for over 25 years. He has served four Baptist Colleges in the Carolinas, including Gardner Webb, Meredith, Furman, and Wingate. Since becoming president of Wingate University in 1992, he has been responsible for doubling the school's endowment and helping it become ranked as one of the best small liberal arts schools in the country. Jerry McGee serves on the Board of Directors of First Charter Bank and Presbyterian Hospital and is a Past District Leader of Civitans. For the last 15 years. Jerry has been a college football referee and has officiated at over 250 games, including a number of bowl games.
     Dr. McGee's topic was "If College Students Are So Smart, Why Do They Wear Their Hats Backwards?" — a title he gleaned from a question asked by the younger sibling of one of Wingate's incoming students. He enjoys his rapport with the 1214 undergraduate students at Wingate and explained that he learns a great deal by listening to young people. He cited the dramatic differences in life experiences between people of his generation and Wingate's freshmen, who were born in 1981 and are too young to remember or have experienced significant events of our lives, including the Vietnam War, the Cold War and threat of nuclear attack, the Challenger disaster, PacMan video games, LP records, Ronald Reagan's presidency, and life before AIDS.
     Jerry described Wingate University's growth from a junior college chartered by Baptists in Union County 104 years ago to a university boasting students from 33 states and 14 foreign countries. He acknowledged the support of Charlotte leaders who have invested in the school, and thanked club members Luther Moore and Jerry Blanchard for their involvement as Trustees. The school's endowment has grown to $32 million, 83% of the professors hold doctorates, and average SAT score for freshmen was 1010. Wingate University has a philosophy of "carrying Wingate to the world and carrying the world to Wingate." Every student is offered the opportunity to go abroad at school expense as part of the curriculum. Six trips are offered each year and students are encouraged to take a course which culminates in a trip abroad with the professor. World leaders are brought to Wingate through programs of the Jesse Helms Center two to three times each year. For example, Richard Holbrooke, US Ambassador to the United Nations, will speak at Wingate as well as at this year's joint Rotary meeting in February. Jerry encouraged Rotary members to take advantage of the opportunity to attend these lectures, which are free and open to the public.
      Acknowledging that most club members were probably more interested in his work as a college football referee, he told several humorous stories of his experiences officiating games. He described his Saturdays on the football field as his way of hiding from the world, and quoted his wife as saying that he was the only person she knew who could hide in front of thousands of people. His last and most poignant story was about Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz, from whom he learned an important story about preparation. Jerry and his referee partner Bill Booker had worked diligently to prepare for the Orange Bowl game in which Notre Dame played Colorado. Just prior to the game, Jerry was introduced to Coach Lou Holtz, who demonstrated an exceptional level of preparation by inquiring about Jerry's wife and two sons by name and confirming that they were present and had good seats in the stadium. "And I thought I was prepared!" he concluded.

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New Member

FREDERICK SMITH PARKER

Joined 1999

Bluegrass Promotional Marketing
8334-L Arrowridge Blvd. (28273)
704-529-0999
FAX 704-529-0266

Paul Harris Fellow

     A co-founder of Bluegrass Promotional Marketing, Fred acts as national sales manager and director of marketing. Previously, he spent seven years in sales for Hillerich & Bradsby Co., maker of the world-famous Louisville Slugger baseball bats.

     Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Fred.

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