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 JEFF
BEAVER
CHARLOTTE
REGIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION
By: Julius Melton
It is hard to think of a business or area of activity in
Charlotte that is not in some way affected by the success, or lack
thereof, of crowd-drawing sports. This fact of life, plus the simple
desire of many to "spectate" at major sports events without leaving
town, lay behind the founding, in 1994, of the non-profit
organization providing today's speaker. Jeff Beaver has headed the
Charlotte Regional Sports Commission (CRSC) for half its decade of
existence. His introducer, Ron Kimble, told us how Jeff moved over
to this "dream job" from a 28-year banking career that had seen him
directing both muni bond trading and the corporate investment
portfolio of Nations Bank (including times when it had other names).
Going with CRSC let Jeff act on his strong interest and involvement
in sports, dating from high school days at Myers Park (when he made
Parade Magazine's All-American Football Team), his college
years in Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar—and his three years with
the Baltimore Colts in the NFL.
CRSC, under Jeff's leadership, not only works with the franchises
like Panthers and Bobcats, but has a major role in bringing both
large and small sporting events here. He explained some of the steps
in handling requests for bids that Charlotte receives for sporting
events. Obviously, economic impact and contribution to "quality of
life" figure prominently in the analysis of a possible event. Since
an event does have a cost to us, how much pay-back will there be in
business for the local hospitality industry, and for retailing in
its various forms—and how much excitement will it provide area
residents?
Planning and contracting occur long, long before an event. A really
big event has a three to five year lead time. Even a small event
needs as much as half a year. What venues will serve the needs? His
long list of successful sports events during the decade of CRSC's
work was delivered with an auctioneer's speed, and enthusiasm—and
was "too much" for this amateur reporter's pencil to keep up with.
The events ranged from the big Continental Tire Bowl to the
just-finished Fencing Summer Nationals that were covered in the
Observer. As to the future, there are hopes for an NBA All Star
game, and the possibility of using the aquatic center in
Huntersville for U. S. Olympic Diving Trials. Success in his work
has been helped immeasurably by the good relationships among CRSC
(which is a 501(c)(3) charity), the city and county, Coliseum
Authority, Center City Partners, and Chamber of Commerce, to name
some of the larger "players."
Members' comments (Q & A) raised the idea of a Motor Sports Museum
in Center City; clarified that "we" do indeed find ourselves having
to "bid" for events with up-front money, and referred to the
increasing attendance by area participants at sports happenings
here. A comment about "lower level sports" such as youth volleyball,
AAU softball, and gymnastics—which have broad followings and involve
parents and other relatives of players in significant nationwide
travel—found a ready response, and raised the prospect of creating
venues for such events out of abandoned "big box" real estate.
A few out-of-the-ordinary elements of today's meeting: Adam's Mark
Hotel's manager Jeff Fuller was introduced, and presented staffers
whom we may be seeing at meetings. Benton Bragg led us in a prayer
written by a soldier currently facing the troubles in Iraq. Tom
Hutchins read a moving tribute to the numerous "signers" of the 1776
Declaration of Independence who indeed did lose property,
family and their lives for the cause of liberty. And Herb Harriss'
handsome11-month-old grandson Andrew became our newest Paul
Harris Fellow.
Head Table:
Myra Johnston, Michelle Fish, Ron
Kimble, Catherine Browning, Anne Bridgeman, David Anderson
Visitors and Guests:
Jack Smylie; Health & Happiness: Tom
Hutchins, Song: David Erdman; Invocation: Benton Bragg
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New Member Approval |
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The Classification
and Membership Committee recommend and the Directors approve for
consideration, the following NEW MEMBERS. Should you question
the eligibility of any nominee, please call the Rotary Office by
July 21st. You will be contacted by a member of
the Board. Otherwise, no reply is necessary and election will
proceed according to our bylaws. |
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Pamela Meister,
Charlotte Museum of History
Classification: Museums
Sponsor: Elsie Garner
Endorsers: Mary Ciminelli, Richard Bailey
Ruth Castleberry,
Castleberry Consults
Classification: Marketing
Sponsor: Catherine Browning
Endorsers: Katie Tyler, Frank Martin
Kevin Geddings,
Geddings & Phillips Communications
Classification: Public Relations
Sponsor: Luther Moore
Endorsers: Chase Saunders, Charlie Williams
Todd Owens,
Yorko & Owens, P.A.
Classification: Law-Litigation
Sponsor: John Lassiter
Endorsers: David Erdman, Kip Kiser
Janice Stevens,
Professional Association Services, Inc.
Classification: Management Services
Sponsor: Catherine Browning
Endorsers: Katie Tyler, Ken Harris
Harriman Jett,
Retired Surgeon/Self Employed
Classification: Medicine-General Surgery
Sponsor: Bill Meanor
Endorser: Harry Daugherty, Duke Ison |
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þ
Powell
Majors called
this week to let me know how Rotarians play an important
part in the Senior Forum meetings:
Darrell Stephens
provided the program;
Lee Morris is
Program Chair; and
Ray Killian is
President.
þ
Congratulations to
Natalie and
Fred English on
the birth of
Frederick H. English, IV
on July 9th.
þ
Make a note:
District Foundation Banquet
will be held Thursday, October 28 at the Renaissance Hotel.
Rotary International President Glenn Estess will be the
speaker.
þ
Claude Lilly
would like to remind
members of the Junior Achievement Exchange City committee
that they will meet for ten or fifteen minutes on Tuesday,
July 20th.
þ
Mike Crum
was named interim
chief executive of the city’s new combined tourism bureau,
the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
þ
Chase
Saunders, as
president of the Mecklenburg Historical Association, voiced
his opinion on naming rights for the new Mecklenburg County
courthouse.
þ
Pender
McElroy, managing
partner of James, McElroy and Diehl, was awarded the Sandy
Brandt Volunteer Service Award by the National Mental Health
Association. McElroy was recognized for his outstanding
volunteer service and ongoing advocacy for mental health
issues at the local, state, and national levels.
þ
Congratulations to
Mary Ellen Collier and Charles Hardwicke McElroy
who were united in
marriage on June 26th. Dad, Pender,
was the best man.
þ
Janet
Fortner,
President and CEO of Hospice at Charlotte and Hospice of
Lincoln County, was introduced by sponsor
Katie Tyler.
Welcome to Charlotte Rotary,
Janet. |
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Attendance
Record |
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7/13/04 |
7/15/03 |
| visitors &
guests |
19 |
18 |
| club
members |
161 |
184 |
| total
attendance |
180 |
202 |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
20 Barbara and Bob Boehm
20 Beth and Ervin Jackson
20 Lee and Mark Leggett
22 Mary Catherine and Bobby Chesney
22 Debbie and Bruce Darden |
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New Members | Resignations |
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Janet Fortner |
Dave Guilford
Jamie McLawhorn |
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| Roaming
Rotarians |
Chase Saunders,
West Palm Beach, FL | |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
21 Bob Brietz, Charlotte, NC
21 John Phillips, Charlotte, NC
23 Dick Robberts, Alexandria, VA
25 Tom Hutchins, Brooklyn, NY
26 Bill Nichols, Norfolk, VA
26 Frank Watson, Red Bluff, CA |
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