 LENNY
SPRINGS
CIAA Basketball Tournament
By Bob Barber
Following the introduction of guests and visiting
Rotarians, Health and Happiness was presented by Gayle Smith.
Gail read a poem that reminded us all to slow down and not dance so
fast because life is short and the music won't last. Thomas Moore
then led the club in singing "This little light of mine." Pender
McElroy gave us a "Pender's minute" reminder on the important
work of the Rotary Foundation followed by the presentation of six
Rotarians that were receiving their initial Paul Harris Fellowship
or their Level 1, 2, or 3 pins.
Mike Crum introduced our speaker, Leonard F. "Lenny" Springs,
SrVP and Director of Supplier Diversity for Wachovia Bank
Corporation, and the chairman of the Charlotte local organizing
committee for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
Basketball Tournament. The tournament will be held in Charlotte
February 26 through March 4. After having been held in Raleigh for
the last six years, Charlotte won the bid in December 2004 to host
the tournament for the next three years. The bid was won through the
combined effort of many Charlotte organizations, including the
Charlotte Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Charlotte Sports
Commission, Johnson C. Smith University, and the Charlotte Bobcats.
The CIAA Tournament was founded in 1912 and is the oldest tournament
in the US for historically black colleges and universities. It is
the third largest tournament in the US, behind only the ACC
tournament and the Big East tournament. Last year the NCAA Division
II national championship was won by Virginia Union of the CIAA. Over
the years the CIAA has had many players that have had notable
careers in the National Basketball Association and there are many
CIAA players that are currently active on NBA rosters. The CIAA has
also had many well-known coaches, including the legendary Clarence
"Big House" Gaines of Winston-Salem State University.
The CIAA is comprised of historically black colleges and
universities in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. North
Carolina members include: Johnson C. Smith University, Fayetteville
State University, Livingstone College, North Carolina Central
University, St. Augustine's College, Winston-Salem State University,
Elizabeth City State University, and Shaw University.
Lenny described the CIAA Tournament as rich in activities and that
there will be "a little basketball played along with the other
activities." Because of all of the activities available, over
100,000 people are expected to attend the various activities,
including the games, during the week of the tournament. The funds
raised by the CIAA Tournament go largely to fund athletic and
academic scholarships for students attending the conference schools.
The economic impact of the tournament for Charlotte is expected to
be at least $21 million.
Head Table:
John Johnson, Lila Rash, Herb Harriss, Mike Crum, Joni Davis, Joey
Godbold; Invocation: Duke Ison
Visitors &
Guests:
Jim Woodward; Health & Happiness: Gayle Smith; Song: Thomas Moore
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DONOR ADVISED
FUND |
As mentioned by Mike Hawley at the
meeting today, our Club is in the process of establishing a
Donor Advised Fund through Rotary International that will be a
tax-exempt vehicle, under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, for accumulating contributions that will be
distributed for charitable causes designated, from time to time,
by the Board of Directors of our Club. Contributions to the DAF
will be tax deductible to the contributor when made to the DAF.
Our Board of Directors will make distribution recommendations to
The Rotary Foundation with respect to the DAF (such as for
Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross for Katrina relief, etc.).
Rotary International has a well-established investment,
management and administrative infrastructure to deal with DAF's.
In order to establish our Club's DAF, we need to make an initial
aggregate contribution to the DAF of at least $20,000. The Club
will be providing some of that funding, but we will be relying
on the generosity of our members for the balance. If you are
interested in participating in this inaugural funding effort,
please let Sandy or Herb know at your earliest convenience.
Checks should be made payable to "The Rotary Foundation - Donor
Advised Fund (Rotary Club of Charlotte #6006)." |
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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
Mark your
calendar to attend the club's Gala
scheduled for February 28, 2006
at Charlotte Country Club.
þ
Congratulations to
Warren Kean and Amy
Delene, who were married on January 1st.
þ
Jerry Blanchard has
joined CPA Firm Blair, Bohle & Whitsitt, PLLC as audit
partner.
þ
Last week, Powell Majors
quietly presented a $2000 donation from the Philip Van Every
Foundation in support of the Rotary Scholarship Golf
Classic. Oh, that Powell…what an inspiration.
þ
Greater Charlotte Biz has profiled
Ed Nowokunski, president of Integraphx, in their
January issue.
þ
Where were Marilynn and
Bob Bowler, and
Biff and
Joanna Virkler on New
Year's Day? They were part of the partying crowd at the home
of developer George Maloomian.
þ
Pender McElroy
recognized the club's latest Paul Harris Fellows -
John Lassiter and
John Bradberry. Moving to
Level One, Bob Brietz;
Level Two, Fitz Dove and
Charlie Pitts; Level
Four, Helmut Deussen. |
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NEW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Matthew A. McQuide (Matt)
Benefit Controls of the
Carolinas, Inc.
Classification: Consultant, Group Benefits
8049 Corporate Center Dr. (28226)
704-366-1451
mattm@benefitcontrolsnc.com |
Matt is Vice President of Benefit Controls of the Carolinas,
Inc. and is responsible for consulting on employee benefit
plans primarily for corporations and organizations domiciled
in the Carolinas. Benefit Controls is one of the largest
benefit consulting firms in the Carolinas with over 800
corporate clients. Matt has twelve years experience in the
industry and has been with Benefit Controls since 1999.
Prior to Benefit Controls, Matt worked as a senior account
representative for Employee Benefit Services, a third party
administrator specializing in working with companies that
self-insurer their benefit plans.
Matt has a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with an
Economics minor from the University of Tennessee at
Knoxville. He also holds the Registered Health Underwriter (RHU)
designation from the American College. Matt is currently
enrolled in the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS)
designation from the Wharton School of Business, University
of Pennsylvania. He has been involved with Habitat for
Humanity and the United Way. Matt and his wife Teresa have
lived in Charlotte for ten years. |
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Attendance
Record |
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1/10/06 |
1/11/05 |
| visitors &
guests |
11 |
13 |
| club
members |
210 |
195 |
| total
attendance |
221 |
208 |
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New Members | Resignations |
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Kit Cramer |
Jody
Morris
Dick Robberts
Bryan Moore
Ed White
John McDermitt
Randolph Smith |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
17 Joan and Tom Wright
18 Catherine and Bill Browning |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
19 Charlie Williams, Charlotte, NC
20 Fred Brown, Statesville, NC
20 Tony Zeiss, Nobelsville, IN
21 Mirsad Hadzikadic, Bosnia |
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