Tim Newman, Center City Partners

     The new head of Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP) made an enthusiastic pitch for the work of his organizations’ role in promoting the city “inside 277”, Charlotte at large and the greater Charlotte region.  Tim Newman,who recently succeeded Rob Walsh as the Center City’s chief promoter-called on Rotarians for their ideas for improving the hub of the area.

Tim Newman and Marilynn Bowler

     He noted that center city has 14 million square feet of office space, about 40 percent of the city’s stock, which is regarded as very strong since the usual ratio should be one-third downtown and two-thirds for the rest of a community.  Some 55,000 people work in the area, 2,500 people live there and there are 45,000 parking spaces.

    Newman outlined some of his goals: standard but attractive newspaper racks, a full-service, seven-day-a-week drug store, movie theatre, more parks and open spaces (including the proposed Third Ward Place), more retail, and a decision about the future of the Hal Marshall Center-N. Tryon Street and the old Convention Center site. The former head of the Charlotte Knights said the city could again have NBA basketball.  It’s just a matter of getting an arena built.  Newman said he also approved of a baseball stadium back in Charlotte, but not necessarily uptown.  Somewhere close like South End would be fine.

    He also made a strong pitch for a new planning process the Arts and Science Council will enter into soon to determine what existing arts facilities need to be improved, what needs to be added and where.

     In other action at the meeting, the club welcomed two new members: Bob Carlson of Wright and Associates, introduced by Tony Zeiss, and Bill Blackwell, head of the Charlotte Knights, introduced by Marilynn Bowler.

    President Elect Tom Robertson made a report on his trip to the Rotary International Convention.   “If you have never been,” he said, “it’s inspiring, it’s eye opening to learn how important a part of the world Rotary is.”

    President David said he had attended the installation of new District Governor Charles Dixon and noted that more club members should be involved in activities that demonstrate that Rotary is more than just one club.  He also commented on the nice article about the Bill Loftin’s – Sr. and Jr. – in The Charlotte Observer.

Head Table: Tom Bartholomy, Carol Thomas, Suzanne Bledsoe, John Sharer, Bill Hillhouse, Marilynn Bowler.

 

Guests and Visitors, Doug Booth; Health and Happiness, Harold Hoak; Song, Thomas Moore; Invocation, Suzanne Bledsoe.

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MATTHEW R. JOYNER

2002

Manufacturing-Textiles

 

Yorkshire Americas, Inc.

3001 N. Graham Street (28206)

e-mail mrjesq@prodigy.net

704-372-5890

FAX 704-379-7619

     Matthew R. (“Matt”) Joyner is a native of Chapel Hill, NC  and a son of a former president of the Chapel Hill Rotary Club.   Matt lived in Copenhagen, Denmark for a year after high school, prior to attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.   At Dartmouth, Matt served as an editor of the student newspaper and an editorial research intern at Reader’s Digest before obtaining his bachelor’s degree in history.

   After college Matt graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in Philadelphia, PA., and served as a law clerk to the Hon. J. Dickson Phillips on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.   He entered legal practice in Charlotte in 1985 and currently is employed as General Counsel and Vice President-Administration for Yorkshire Americas, Inc., the American subsidiary of Yorkshire Group, plc, a British-based international manufacturer of dyestuffs and chemicals for textiles.  In this capacity Matt is responsible for the company’s legal affairs as well as its human resources/benefits and environmental, health and safety departments.

   Matt has been an active member of Myers Park United Methodist Church, where he has served as a Stephen Minister, a Disciple Bible Study Leader, and a founder and teacher of the Logos Sunday School class.  He also has served as a director of The Methodist Home, Inc. (now Aldersgate) and is president of Methodist Home Child Development, Inc.  Matt is the director of the NC Manufacturers and Chemical Industry Council, secretary of the corporate counsel section of the NC Bar Association and incoming chair of the corporate counsel section of the Mecklenburg County Bar Association.

   Matt and his wife, Betsy, have three children; 6 year old Anna Claire, and sons Matthew, Jr. age four, and Oscar, age 2.  Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Matt.

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