Muzak to my ears

     In 1995 Bill Boyd retired as head of the largest Muzak franchise in the Charlotte area after building it to 30 times its value in about 13 years to play and enjoy life.  Two years later, the Muzak board (of which he was still a member) invited him back to turn the brand around.   He has done that, and more, “re-creating” an established brand into a leading edge company and increasing its net worth by a factor of 10.  Down in its headquarters in Fort Mill (the company moved to the Charlotte area from Seattle because of good airport and a good place to do business), the company no longer creates “elevator music” but designs music to fit its clients as “audio architects.” It’s leading edge offices are in a wide-open warehouse that cost $8.50 per square foot and has no separate offices.

     Said Boyd, the company has reinvented itself in the past 5 years and did it with younger employees already on board.  They got the chance after former senior leadership left.  The company had a great brand that people “trusted,” he said, but we didn’t know what business we were in.  That was the first challenge.

     Under Boyd’s leadership the company realized that its job is to help its customers develop on-premises music that says what the company is.  “The emotional power of the right music at the right place is very important.  It tells the consumer what your company is all about.  The experience is absolute.”  Thus the term “audio architects.”  We figure out what music a company needs, Boyd said.  We work with the company to figure it out.  As a result, business is up from $80 million to $250 million and growing.   Noted Boyd, “we have 65 percent market share, but all the people in our business have only 10 percent of the business.”  That’s a lot of room for growth and Boyd is counting on it.

     Muzak was launched before World War I, but it didn’t get into the music business until the middle of the depression.  Bill Benton of Benton, Bowles advertising actually invented the business.   (He also invented Encyclopedia Britannica.)   Muzak also invented franchising, Boyd said, because they could not raise capital to grow the business during the depression.

     In other club news, Luther Moore introduced a new member, jeweler Bill Stegelmeyer of the Karot Patch on Providence Rd.  He was formerly a 20-year member of the Donaldsonville, LA, Rotary Club where he served as president.  He is a Paul Harris Fellow.

     Harry Weatherly reminded the club that if members wish, they could make donations to the Tim Hayes Fund, %Bank of America, PO Box 65165, Charlotte, NC 28265.  Hayes, the father of four including a 2-month-old, is the Medic employee who was struck by a truck while working an accident during the recent snow.  He lost both legs.

     Head Table: David Anderson, John Snyder, Frank Martin, Jon Barton, Lou Solomon, Bob Reid; Invocation: Jan Thompson.

     Guests & Visitors: Tom Burgess; Health & Happiness: Harley Dixon; Song: David Erdman; Club Education: Jeff Searcy

*    *   *

Guiding Principles Related to Attendance

Excerpted from the Manual of Procedure and Rotary Code of Policies

 -          Every member should attend regular club meetings.

-          A member is considered present if in attendance for at least 60% of the meeting.

-          A member can make up absences 14 days before or after the usual time for meeting in the following ways:

o       Attending at least 60% of a regular meeting at another Rotary club;

o       By the direction of the club, attending a regular meeting of a Rotaract club, Interact club, or Rotary Community Corps;

o       Attending a convention of RI, a Council on Legislation, an International Assembly, or any other Rotary meeting of past, present, or future officers of RI;

o       Being present at the usual meeting time and place of another club, even if the club is not present;

o       Attending a club service project authorized by the club’s board.

-          If an absence is made up at another club, notice must be given the member’s club, either by the member or by the other club’s secretary.

-          A member’s absence can be excused for the following reasons:

o       Ill health.

o       Stay in a country for more than two weeks in which Rotary clubs do not exist.

o       The member is a senior active member whose age and years in one or more clubs total 85 years or more and who has notified the club’s secretary in writing of the desire to be excused from attendance and the board has approved.

-          A member is automatically terminated for the following reasons:

o       Failure to attend at least 60% of the time allotted for regular club meetings in each half of the Rotary year.

o       Failure to attend at least 30% of the club’s regular meetings in each half of the Rotary year.

o       Missing and failing to make-up four consecutive regular club meetings, without the consent of the board.

*    *   *

     Mr. Francis Porter “Pete” Larson Jr., age 88, passed away peacefully January 21, 2003 at his home in Charlotte. 

     Mr. Larson was born July 6, 1914 in Jacksonville, FL.  He was a graduate of Central High School in Charlotte as well as Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1936.  His early career included several years with the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, followed by service during WWII as an Executive General Manager for Robinson Electric, charged with electrical power construction at numerous newly constructed military facilities.  Following the war, Pete joined and expanded the firm of Glenn and Larson, where he successfully marketed numerous major electric and electronic manufacturers’ products throughout the Carolinas.  Over the years, he was an avid traveler, visiting over 100 countries.  He also had a love for the game of golf and enjoyed many years of piloting his private plane.  An active member of the community, Pete was a member of the Charlotte Rotary Club for 34 years, the Shriner Band and the Navajo Club.  Pete is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 36 years, Margareta P. Larson, sister Mary Brantley; daughter, Pamela and husband Dr. Monroe Baldwin; and son Peter F. Larson and wife, Karen.   Son Stephen Larson predeceased Mr. Larson at the age of 57 on December 4, 2002.  Also surviving are six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.  Memorials may be made to Presbyterian Homecare Hospice.

*    *   *

Did You Hear…

è Polio Eradication Update

Club Pledge:              $54,000
Received To Date:    $46,410
Representing:            182 members

èWelcome to new member, Bill Stegelmeyer.

èTo volunteer for Habitat for Humanity,  contact Ken Samuelson or Paul Solitario.

è Speedy recovery to Phil Van Hoy.

è Sympathy is extended to the family of Bill Blackwell in the death of Bill’s father, Gerald.

è Please notify Sandy at chltrot@bellsouth if you would like to be added to the Reporter email distribution list.

*    *   *

POWELL'S
OBSERVATIONS

     Bobby Samuelson, 17-year-old son of Ken Samuelson and grandson of Bob Culbertson earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

     Sadler Barnhardt suggested that the new NBA team be named “Ice Storm.”

     Mike Whitehead was pictured in Greater Charlotte Biz Magazine with a client whom he had changed from being a manager to a leader.

     John Tabor has joined the architectural firm of Perkins & Will as marketing director.

     Dave Erdman’s wife Lynn was recently named vice president for women’s and cancer services at Northeast Medical Center in Concord.

*    *   *

Parking at the Hotel: Parking continues to be an issue with the Hotel.  Your concerns have been relayed to the management, and your patience is appreciated.  (hint, hint: your car will not be towed if you park in one of the “green” spaces)

*    *   *

Rotary Roster:  DO NOT use your Roster for…

• Circulation purposes

• Lists for mail, phone, fax, or e-mail

• Business advertising

• Political solicitation

• Charitable solicitations by other organizations

*    *   *

Hold The Date: Joint Rotary Luncheon, February 25^th, 12:00, Adams Mark Hotel.

District Conference, April 4^th through 6th, Renaissance Hotel, Asheville, NC.

*    *   *

Approved by the Board: Regarding invoices in arrears – if payment is not received within 30 days from the invoice date, a past due notice will be sent with a note from the Treasurer.  If payment should be outstanding another 30 days, a letter will be sent stating the invoice is to be paid immediately or the member is out of the club.

*    *   *

Click here for photos of this Meeting