The meeting was called to order by President Ronnie at 12:35. Jim Alexander introduced nine visiting Rotarians from the Charlotte area, four from other states, a guest from Peru and two from South Africa. Mr. Roy Ronquest, one of our Rotarian guests from Durban, South Africa presented his club pennant.
     Leland Park presented Health and Happiness. He said "Age does not always bring wisdom, sometimes it comes alone."
     Bob Webb introduced our newest member John R. Nicolay. Mr. Nicolay is a twenty-year veteran at Bovis and currently a principal in charge of the Senior Living Group. From 1989 to 1991, John created and directed the implementation of McDevitt Street Bovis’ quality improvement process, which has received national recognition. His past activities in the Charlotte community include The Arts and Science Council Board of Directors and chairman of the Chamber Leadership School for ten years. He is a member of Myers Park Methodist Church with two children Beth and David.
     President Ronnie then told of an E-mail he received the day before complementing our clubs Home Page. It was from Mr. Will White, the editor of the Rotarian Magazine. He said our page was well designed utilizing high quality photography and graphics.
     We then gave our pledge followed by the song "Let me call you sweetheart" lead by Howard Chadwick. Susan Sewell presented the invocation. Seated at the head table were Luther Moore, Brian Schick, Sharon King, Douglas Boyd, and Jeff Brown who introduced our speaker, Jake Jacobsen.
     Mr. Jacobsen is Director of Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services. He came to Charlotte having served as the Director of DSS in San Diego, California. He began his presentation by saying, " For the next three hours I will try to keep you entertained. I have learned in Charlotte that the last four words of the National Anthem is Gentlemen, start your engines." He then went on to describe the lessons he had learned from Pikes Fish Market in Seattle, Washington. "They know how to enjoy what they do every day. Work can be fun. Even though we are a government agency, we should operate it like it is a business. It is our objective to wipe out poverty by 2002."
     The Department of Social Services is the largest department in Mecklenburg County and spends 18% of its budget. This represents a full time staff of 1,111 and accounts for one out of every Four County employees. The biweekly payroll is over $1.3 million dollars. They average servicing 9,900 Customers each month. The department has a total fiduciary responsibility of approximately $437 million dollars. They authorize over $259 million dollars in Medicaid benefits annually. Federal and State revenues offset 54% of the annual budget.
     Mr. Jacobsen discussed the shared common concerns of ten otherwise independent groups that have come together to help fight poverty. They call this collective effort the "Customer Fusion Decagon." This group includes the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, The State of North Carolina, The Charlotte Housing Authority, Presbyterian Healthcare Health Maintenance Organizations, Charlotte City Government, Mecklenburg County Government, The Non-Profit Community, The Faith Community, Central Piedmont Community College, and the Chamber of Commerce. " The synergy of this collective group working together has achieved far more than they were as independent providers. No one institution can wipe out poverty."
     He showed a video that described the Work First program. This is an unprecedented partnership with the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services and the Charlotte Chamber. The objective is to move people off welfare and into the workforce. This model program challenges businesses to explore the untapped reserve of work-ready people. Candidates entering this program are taught the fundamentals of appropriate work behavior before employers mentor and train them for job-specific tasks. "Every individual has the opportunity to succeed on their own." The video featured the success experienced by Ms. Debra Sanders, a welfare recipient who entered the program two years

PRICE  HENDERSON  GWYNN  IV

Joined 1999

Information Systems

Osprey Systems, Inc.
9401 Arrowpoint Blvd., Ste.300 (28273)
522-0880
FAX 672-1460

     Chip Gwynn is the training and documentation Group Manager for Osprey Systems, Inc. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Osprey Systems, they are a full service information technology solutions provider headquartered here in Charlotte. Chip's training and documentation group provides just what the title suggests—end-user training and documentation for systems integrations. Chip joined the rapidly growing firm in 1996.
     Chip is also involved in a number of community activities, including Habitat for Humanity and Crisis Assistance Ministries, and has participated in numerous fund raising and membership drives for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Arts and Science Council. He is also involved with the award-winning Charlotte chapter of ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) and serves on several committees within that organization.
     Prior to joining Osprey Systems, Inc. Chip was the Assistant Director of Corporate Training and Development at Lance, Inc. His responsibilities included several organizational development initiatives focusing on "soft skills" training such as leadership, team building, communications, sales and sales management. Chip's career with Lance began in the sales department in Nashville, Tenn., before he transferred to the corporate office in Charlotte in 1991.
     Chip is a Charlotte native. He was born and raised in" Charlotte and attended South Mecklenburg High School before ultimately graduating from The Webb School, in Bell Buckle, Tenn. He attended East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., and received his B.A. degree in English Literature in 1975. Chip enjoys writing, reading and Internet research. Among his outdoor activities Chip lists golf, hiking and almost anything associated with the beach.
     Chip is a lifelong member of Steele Creek Presbyterian Church where he serves as a Deacon and on several church committees.
     Chip and his wife, Star, have two children: Jason, 23, and Ashley, 19.
     Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Chip

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1. Enthusiasm.
2. Disillusionment.
3. Panic.
4. Search for the guilty.
5. Punishment of the innocent.
6. Praise and honors for the non-participants.

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ago and now is the Assistant Manager of the Free Trade Store at the Airport. She has restored her self-esteem and the respect of her two children.
     Mr.Jacobsen ended the program by what he called throwing the fish. He picked up a two-foot long stuffed fish and challenged our audience to pass it around the room being sure that it went to every table. "Catch the fun" he said. "The next time I come I hope we together have eliminated poverty in Mecklenburg County."

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POINTS TO PONDER:

• There are three kinds of people — those who can count and those who can't;

• A conclusion is simply the place where you get tired of thinking;

• Budget: a method of going broke methodically.

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Click here for photos of this Meeting

Powell Majors

POWELL'S

OBSERVATIONS

     E. K. Fretwell, in a letter to the editor of the Observer, disagrees with a Gene Payne cartoon about the N.C. Department of Transportation. E. K. is a railroad fan.
     Dennis Nowicki has authorized the formation of a history committee which will oversee the collection of memorabilia from the newly formed Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (1993) and its predecessors.
     Jim Woodward was given accolades in an Observer editorial for his help in bringing to Charlotte the headquarters of one of the world's largest pension funds.

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