Our meeting was our Club Assembly at SMS Catering. It began with cocktails at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:45.
     President Worth called the meeting to order at 7:15, and asked Luther Moore to introduce our speaker, Judge Vic Fleming. Vic is a graduate of Davidson College and University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law. He writes a weekly column, "I Swear," that focuses on the lighter side of law, life, love, and literature. He invited us to join his humor distribution list for health reasons. Contact him at www.fleming.com for details. Vic is the author of several books, one of which has the interesting title of Real Lawyers Do Change Their Briefs.
     Vic's presentation invited us to laugh for our health. Many times when he gives a speech, which apparently is at every opportunity, audience members tell him, "I needed that." We all need laughter. It makes us feel good. He gave us some medical changes that take place in the body, which do make us feel good.
     Vic offered six tips to help us get more fun and laughter out of life:

     When we finished laughing at and with Vie, we moved on to the update on Club Affairs. No affairs were mentioned, only committee and avenue reports. Relatively little laughter occurred. President Worth tried to leave during the reports,, but was detained at the door.
     Don Steger (Club Service) — Our membership development has added 12 members during the first half of the year, but we have lost 15 members. Total membership is now 287.
     Erskine Harkey (Attendance) — Our attendance has averaged 86% in the first half, exceeding our goal of 85%. We were reminded of our attendance requirements.
     Jim Barnhardt (Budget) — The best part of the report was that there was no dues increase this year. Archives needs money to keep up with the flags we receive from visits to other clubs.
     Frank Martin (Community Services) — We are developing a charter school project involving teaching, adult education, literacy, and classes at Discovery Place. The school is next to Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church. The committee is soliciting ideas for other community service projects.
     Pam Syfert (Vocational Service) — Pam reported on the work of the Connecting Links committee and the need for new members on the Four-Way Test committee.
     Henry Bostic (Projects) — We are helping to promote a new family court. We also are working with an orphanage in Guatemala. The committee welcomes suggestions for new rather than ongoing projects.
     David Anderson (Club Service Meetings) — Some good programs are coming up. We are looking for good news about the club and members. Send any items to the Rotary office. To gain more participation in How I Got Where I'm At we are considering those presentations as an occasional substitute for Health and Happiness or our music section of the program.
     Peggy Wesp (International Service) — Our scholarship committee is looking for participation with more colleges and universities. They will be sharing information with other colleges. We have had good participation in the Rotary Foundation with 15% more • Paul Harris Fellows.

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New Member

DANIEL J. FONTANA

Joined 1986
Rejoined 2000

Investments, Securities Brokerage
Additional Active

IJL — Wachovia
201 North Tryon St. (28202)
704-348-9527
FAX 704-348-9529
E-mail: danny@danny-fontana.com

     Danny Fontana, an Endicott, New York native, moved south after college and began working as a shoe manufacturer's representative, eventually owning a chain of shoe stores. The venture failed and Danny earned what he jokingly calls "the most expensive MBA in history." Paced with a mountain of debt, he paid back every penny and became even more determined to succeed.
     Investing was a longtime serious interest which led him to become a broker. He was made Partner/Sales Manager within a few years at his first firm. Today, as Senior Vice President/Branch Manager of IJL Wachovia, he handles millions of dollars for clients worldwide.
     Danny began delivering weekday economic and investment commentaries on the radio in 1992. The following year, he added television to his schedule, delivering commentaries on a local morning newscast and nationally on NBC News. The Danny Fontana Show, known as the fastest hour on radio, premiered early in 1997, and in September, '97 he became a member of Charlotte's Morning News team. He currently delivers daily financial commentaries on WBT radio and is the on-air financial consultant for WBT & WBTV.
     Danny, a professional speaker, released his first book, Waking Up To Wall Street, in 1995. His eight-hour tape series The Road To Riches. . . . Your Map To Financial Success will be released soon. He has been featured in or written articles for many national publications and publishes Danny Fontana's Financial Forum, a nationally distributed monthly newsletter.
    He has conducted a five-part television news special with John Templeton, founder of history's most successful mutual funds, the Templeton Funds, and has hosted a seminar and interviews with Louis Rukeyser. His "Business Beat" reports from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange were awarded 1994's Best Economic Report by the Radio/TV News Directors Association of the Carolinas.
     As an educator on the college level, Danny's goal is to provide the public with the basic education necessary in order to make prudent and intelligent investment decisions.
     Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Danny.

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     Jerry Blanchard has been elected a trustee of Wingate College.
     Bob Barber was awarded a doctorate in Health Administration by the Medical University of South Carolina at Charleston. The program is new and Bob is the 10th graduate.
     Thomas Moore was pictured in the Living page of the "Observer" doing what he likes best — playing the piano and bringing people together.
     The late Bill Poe and the late Luther Snyder have been nominated as Carolinians of the Century — Bill for his leadership on the Board of Education, Snyder for being the first Coca Cola bottler in the Carolinas, opening the business in Charlotte in 1901.
     The January Rotarian has pictures of the R.I. President visiting a school in Tarboro, N.C., damaged by the flood.

POWELL'S
OBSERVATIONS

POWELL MAJORS

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