Meeting

Rotary Wheel

Report

January 3, 2006
Charter Date: December 1, 1916
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COMMUNITY SERVICE AVENUE -
David Zimmerman
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE AVENUE - Peggy Wesp
By Suzanne Bledsoe
    
Natalie English, third quarter program committee chair, introduced our program today with a teaser about upcoming third quarter programs. Without giving too much away, it sounds like we have a lot to look forward to. She also introduced our speakers for today's meeting, David Zimmerman, Community Service Avenue Chair and Peggy Wesp, International Service Avenue Chair.
 
David described for us the purpose and activities under his leadership as Community Service Avenue Chair:

1. World War II Project: Chaired by Richard Bailey, this committee has worked diligently to compile and promote the Word War II commemoration events as part of our Club's Centennial project. The archives have been distributed to libraries, and will be presented to the Library of Congress by Elsie Garner of WTVI in February. The premiere event was in November and over 350 were in attendance. In addition, the committee has begun work on a follow up project, focused on the theme of liberation. Corporate sponsorships are currently being sought by committee members.
 
2. 9/11 Golf Classic: This event, our largest fundraiser, chaired by Chip Scholz and Alan Adler raised over $33,000 to fund scholarships for the children of our public safety officers. With over 108 golfers participating, including both Rotarians and non Rotarians, this was a very successful endeavor.
 
3. Public Safety Scholarships: Chaired (and founded) by John Lassiter, the funds from our 9/11 Golf Classic were used to fund 9 scholarships to children of public service officers who met criteria including academic merit, financial need, and community service.
 
4. Crisis Assistance Ministry: Jim Adams, Chair, and his committee, once again, ran a very successful campaign to solicit and procure clothing and household goods for those in need. Not only was this past year the most successful in terms of quantity, quality was high as well. There were car loads every Tuesday for six weeks, several large home pickups, one neighborhood drive, and participation by a local consignment shop, thanks to member Tom Senger.
5. Salvation Army: The bell ringers, under the leadership of Biff Virkler, comprised the efforts of 60 members over 15 days for two hour shifts. All proceeds go to the Salvation Army.
 
6. Youth Programs: John Snyder, Chair, reported on a great year with the Interact Club at Myers Park High School, with over 70 new students joining the roll. They raised $500 for Tsunami relief, which was used to build a Habitat house in Sri Lanka, they collected clothing for our Crisis Assistance Ministry Drive, and are funding an essay contest where the winner will go to compete in New York and Washington, DC.
 
7. Environmental Committee: This committee, headed by Chase Saunders, funded a clean up of the creek through Hands On Charlotte, are providing funds for a Rotary clock to be placed on the Greenway at Morehead and King's Drive and are continuing their work on the Capt'n Jack project.
8. Habitat for Humanity: Under the leadership of Ken Samuelson, the club will help build a Habitat House with funding of $15,000 and the time and talent of approximately 65 club members.
 
9. Youth Merit Scholarships: Headed by Gene Bratek, this committee awarded 24 scholarships of $500 each to high school seniors at local public and private schools, nominated by their school principals for their outstanding achievements in high school.
 
10. Scholarships Committee: Rich Campbell and his committee oversaw the administration of these scholarships, funded by an endowment at the Foundation for the Carolinas, to college juniors and seniors who have shown academic merit, financial need and community service.

In addition to the committees, the overall committee, chaired by David, responded to numerous requests for other projects, the largest being the fundraising for Hurricane Katrina victims.
 
Peggy Wesp reminded us that Rotary is an international organization with over 1,200,000 Rotarians worldwide, in 31,000 clubs in 167 nations. The average club size is 39 members…quite different from us! She has five committees under her leadership:
 
1. Ambassadorial Scholarship: With Ed Kizer as the Chair, this committee awards up to $26,000 per year to students who want to study abroad. Deadline for applications for the coming year is April 1.
 
2. Rotary Foundation: Under the leadership of Pender McElroy, we have learned much about the workings of the Rotary Foundation. This year, 10 Paul Harris fellowships were awarded with 6 moved up to second and third levels. The goal for our club is for every member to be a sustaining member, contributing $100 per year. ($25/quarter)
 
3. Student and Group Exchange: Led by Lamar Thomas, this committee seeks students who are interested in spending a high school year abroad. Students coming to Charlotte need host families as well as people willing to plan activities and entertain them. Our club hosted one student this year, Paz Tovar and would like to increase that to two in the future.
 
4. Twin Club Committee: Katie Tyler and her committee worked with our sister club in Peru to develop long lasting relationships. We hosted a group of firefighters from Peru, all volunteers, and hope to reciprocate by sending some of our trained firefighters for a visit in the coming year.
 
5. World Community Service Programs: Chaired by Pete Larson, this committee helped raise funds to purchase laparoscopic equipment for Victoria Hospital. The also are working to fund Reading Rooms in Katmandu.
 
Both David and Peggy reminded us that all committees are open to interested individuals and offered thanks and congratulations to all of our club members for all the hard work they do.
    
Head Table:
John Tabor, Peggy Wesp, Herb Harriss, Natalie English, David Zimmerman, Claude Lilly, Gene Bratek
       
Visitors & Guests:
Invocation: Dale LeCount; Visitors & Guests: Sam Woodard; Health & Happiness: Herb Harriss; Song: Thomas Moore
 

 


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Rotary Club of Charlotte
841 Baxter Street, Suite 118, Charlotte 28202       chltrot@bellsouth.net        704-375-6816

   

þ Karen and Herb Harriss are delighted to announce the marriage of their son, Drew, to Sarah Scott Henderson on November 12th.
                         
þ Don and Jan Haack looked right at home nuzzled in a photo taken with the Three Kings following a performance of "Amahl and the Night Visitors."
       
þ A couple New Year's resolutions were shared: Michelle Fish wants to squeeze in more time for relaxation in 2006; Tim Newman wants to see hotel occupancy top 65% and daily-room rates rise to an average of $75. And a few 2005 highlights were told for all to remember one more time: Jeff Triplette and the "unnatural act" comment; David Erdman's version of "Kansas City."
  
þ Katie Tyler lends an ear to small businesses through her work with the Charlotte Business Hub Inc., better known as BizHub.

þ Look for Thomas Moore to return as a columnist to the Observer's Viewpoint page in 2006.
 
þ David Dunn is front and center and makin' noise for UNCC. Look for this new Rotarian to be popping up everywhere.
 
 þ Queens University of Charlotte announced the appointment of seven faculty members to named professorships and the appointment of a named librarian, Dr. Carol Jordan, who becomes the Dorothy Comer Bailey Librarian. Carol has served as the University's Head Librarian since 2000, and prior to that was the director of internships and career programs.

      
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NEW MEMBER PROFILE
Kathryn Wallace Cramer (Kit)
Charlotte Chamber
Classification: Civic Development, Education
P.O. Box 32785 (28232)
704-378-1301 kcramer@charlottechamber.com
 
Kit Cramer is Group Vice President for Education at the Charlotte Chamber where she is an advocate for K-12 and higher education as well as workforce development. She also is an at-large member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education and has served as vice-chair for two years. Kit has worked with volunteers on the passage of bond referenda in 2000 and 2002 totaling more than $490 million for schools. She worked with volunteers to raise more than $500,000 to create Classroom Central, a free supply store for teachers serving Charlotte's most impoverished schools. She serves on the Education Advisory Board for UNC Charlotte and on the Geospatial and Teacher Programs' advisory committees and President's Council for Central Piedmont Community College. Kit served as a school public information officer in both Charlotte and Florida before joining the Chamber. Kit and her husband, Mark, have two children, Kathryn, 17 and Mac, 15. She is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and a University of Florida graduate.

      
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ROTARY CLUB OF CHARLOTTE GALA
Plans are underway for another spectacular evening at Charlotte Country Club on Tuesday, February 28th. There will not be a Rotary lunch meeting that Tuesday, so you'll have plenty of time to get your party clothes on and head over to the Club by 6:30 P.M. Be on the lookout for invitations, which will be mailed next week.

 
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 VOCATIONAL SERVICE AVENUE
Rotary's second avenue of service is Vocational Service. Rotarians may be a bit unsure as to exactly what is meant by Vocational Service. The Manual of Procedures offers the following explanation:

"Vocational Service is the way Rotary fosters and supports the application of the ideal of service in the pursuit of all vocations. Inherent in the Vocational Service ideal are:
 
1) Adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including faithfulness and fidelity to employers, employees, and associates, and fair treatment of them and of competitors, the public, and all those with whom one has any business or professional relationships.
2) The recognition of the worthiness to society of all useful occupations, not just one's own or those which are pursued by Rotarians.
3) The contribution of one's vocational talents to the problems and needs of society.
Vocational Service is both the responsibility of a Rotary club and of its members. The role of the club is to implement and encourage the objective by example and by development of projects that help members contribute their vocational talents. The role of members is to conduct themselves, their businesses, and their professions in accordance with Rotary principles and to respond to projects which the club has developed."

 
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ATTENDANCE
 July 1, 2005 - December 31, 2005

There are several things to consider when reviewing the below attendance report: though not bound by RI attendance rules, non-mandatory members are listed (members whose age and years in Rotary total 85); you had to be on the club’s roster as of July 1st; attendance mistakes are easily corrected by calling or emailing the Rotary office; remember to notify the office if you are using a committee meeting or other Rotary function as a makeup; if you had a lousy six months, your attendance starts over again on January 1st; if you’re not on this list…YOU SHOULD BE!

View Attendance PDF* file  >> 
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Attendance Record

1/03/06 1/04/05
visitors & guests 8 14
club members 203 211
total attendance 211 225
 

New Members | Resignations

Kit Cramer Jody Morris
Dick Robberts
 
Roaming Rotarians
n/a

Wedding Anniversaries

10 Jennie and Leigh Derby
12 Liz and Kemp Dunaway
              
Birthdays and Birthplaces
10 Ira Griffin, Charlotte, NC
10 Bill Loftin, Sr., Gastonia, NC
14 Myra Johnston, Memphis, TN

 

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Copyright © 1998-2006. The Rotary Club of Charlotte. All rights reserved.
Revised: January 24, 2008.