Meeting Report of July 20, 1999

Meeting

Rotary Wheel

Report

July 20, 1999
By MARILYNN BOWLER

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     President Worth Williamson called the meeting to order at 12:45 p.m. Jeff Brown gave the Health & Happiness report, advising us that Bill Kinney and Bill Spencer (two of Charlotte Rotary’s finest!) have been hospitalized but both are doing well. Cards would be welcome. Jeff continued with his Top Ten Lawyers Jokes which was met with delighted laughter since it was aimed at (what a surprise!) attorneys! His presentation was wonderful, culminating in the # 1 Lawyer Joke, "What do you do when you find a lawyer on the beach buried up to his neck in sand?" The answer being, of course, "Find more sand."
     President Worth then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Chuck Lineberry’s selection of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" as our song (which wouldn’t have won us any awards for singing!) and then Doug Fairbanks’ poignant and appropriate Invocation. Doug asked us to remember the families of John F. Kennedy, Jr., Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her sister, Lauren in our prayers. David Anderson introduced our visitors and, thinking he was finished, was surprised to see Phil Volponi’s hand go up to introduce his guest, Susan Nester, daughter of our own Dick Brigden. Thankfully and amidst chiding chuckles, someone advised David that if he’d look on the back of the page, he’d find visiting Rotarians and special guests to introduce. As is typical of our membership, we all enjoyed seeing David try to wiggle out of the oversight. (What are families for, if not for good-natured teasing???) Upon regaining control of the MIC, President Worth advised David that he had just set new low standards for the Introduction of Guests and Visiting Rotarians.
     Cindy Johnston told us about this being International Literacy Month and traced our Charlotte Rotary Literacy Program from it’s inception three years ago to the present. Cindy thanked the Literacy Committee members inclusive of all three-years and asked that we continue to support the Literacy and Numeracy Program both financially and through participation. Call Cindy or Ken Harris to offer help or ideas.
     President Worth introduced the Head Table which consisted of Tony Lathrop, Theresa Evans, Steve Byrum, our speaker Jeff Beaver, Doug Fairbanks, David Hodgkins and Kent Moore.
     President Worth made a special point of introducing David Hodgkins who is the Lt. Governor/Rotary District 7680 and has, himself, a twenty-five year perfect attendance record. David is a member of the Dilworth Rotary Club. He had met with members of our Board of Directors prior to the start of our Charlotte Rotary meeting and was pleased with our programs and projects onboard for this year.
     Steve Byrum (who we now know as "Goose"- thanks to our speaker) stepped to the podium to introduce his longtime friend, Jeff Beaver … newly appointed Chairman of the Charlotte Sports Commission. In his words, Steve kept the intro short so as not to "over-introduce" our speaker for today. We learned that Jeff is a native Charlottean (a breed that is getting more-and-more extinct) and graduated from Myers Park High School before going on to Chapel Hill, earning both his undergraduate and his masters degree from that prestigious institution. Having been an All-American and an All-Star, it was no surprise when he became a star for the Baltimore Colts in 1968 as a Rookie. Jeff and his wife Carolyn have two children – Windsor and Josh. Jeff joined the Sports Commission after being with Bank of America for twenty-eight years. "Goose" then presented his friend/our speaker with this final intro, "I’ll say no more, just ‘Leave it to ‘Beaver’…!"
     Jeff began his presentation by crediting some of his mentors, which may have explained some of his success both on-and-off the sports field. He certainly had the foresight to select excellent role models, including Gus Purcell, Tom Storrs and Hugh McColl. He was good enough to acknowledge the importance of community and civic service involvement in career success, naming his work with Charlotte Drug Education Center and the Communities In Schools programs as examples of organizations with which he has worked and which need our help. Our involvement will be paid back in innumerable ways.
     Jeff introduced us to his topic - the Sports Commission - by stating the mission as created in 1994 when Richard Vinroot formed the group. Basically, the Sports Commission concentrates on promoting Charlotte and the surrounding region by active support and development of sports through events, organizations and participation. In other

WELCOME
THESE 22 NEW ROTARIANS

Our Club has been strengthened by the addition of 22 new members over the past Rotary year, July 1, 1998-June 30, 1999. These new Rotarians come from diverse backgrounds and bring a wealth of experience and talents to us. How many have you made an effort to get to know? Resolve to look up these Rotarians — sit with them at lunch, perhaps.

Thomas R. Revels, July 14, Hospitals, Administration, Sponsor: John R. Belk.

Gerald A. Grohowski, July 7, Business Ethics, Sponsor: David Parsons.

Arthur M. Brink, Jr., July 14, Senior Active (Hospital Development), Sponsor: C. Rex Welton.

Joseph C. Becker, September 22, Social Services, Red Cross, Sponsor: Mike Elder.

Anthony Fox, September 29, Law, General, Sponsor: Fred Lowrance.

James M. Myers, November 3, Financial Asset Management, Sponsor: Donald J. Toney.

Josef H. Penner, October 20, Medical, Emergency Services, Sponsor: Harry Weatherly.

Mary-Stuart Brooks, December 8, Advocacy, Interfaith, Sponsor: Corinne Alien.

Sharon J. King, December 15, Education, Public Schools, Sponsor: F. Eugene Williams.

R. Dale LeCount, December 22, Foundations, Church, Additional Active, Sponsor: Bronnie F. McNabb.

Stuart C. Hemingway, III, January 5, Management Recruiting, General, Sponsor: Donald T. Carmichael.

Richard S. Anderson, January 26, Banking Administration, Sponsor: David J. Guilford.

Price H. Gwynn, IV, January 26, Information Systems, Sponsor: Stan R. Brookshire, Jr.

John R. Nicolay, February 9, Construction, General Contracting, Additional Active, Sponsor: Robert M. Webb.

Judith B. Diamond, March 2, Social Service Agency, YWCA, Sponsor: Stephanie R. Counts.

Michael C. Parrott, April 13, Investments, Capital Management, Additional Active, Sponsor: Donald J. Toney.

Warren M. Ludlam, April 20, Travel Agencies, Cruises, Sponsor: Jerry Blanchard.

John H. Tabor, May 11, Mortgage Banking, Additional Active, Sponsor: Brian Schick.

John C. Scharer, June 15, Dining Club, Private, Sponsor: William N. Meaner.

James E. Graham, Jr., May 25, Senior Active (Dentistry, General), Sponsor: Worth Williamson.

Rick Jackson, June 22, Radio Broadcasting, Sponsor: Marilynn Bowler.

George E. Thompson, June 15, Religion, Methodist Pastorate, Additional Active, Sponsor: Tom Burgess.

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words, bringing special sporting events to our area and utilizing the tremendous venues that exist here to house these events. It is a non-profit, privately funded organization and Jeff then noted the levels of sponsorships available to interested potential sponsors. A list of major sponsors was provided to each table in advance of our meeting today.
     Jeff did a good job of outlining the past events supported by the Sports Commission inclusive of February’s NC High School State Wrestling Championships, the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (1^st and 2^nd Round) as well as the Birkdale Collegiate Golf Classic, the Clemson/Miami Baseball Series, the Annual Leadership Summit, and the NC High School State 3A Track & Field Championships.
     Coming soon to a sports arena near you … Events such as the NC State vs. UNC College Football Game and the NCAA Men’s Soccer College Cup, among others. These are all scheduled for 1999 with more to come in 2000!
     Jeff took questions from our Rotary members and responded to topics such as the involvement of the Sports Commission with the Michael Jordan quest for partnership in the Hornets, the uptown arena talks (he commented that he’s personally in favor of an arena uptown) and the extent in which the Sports Commission is working with Charlotte Baseball Partnership.
     Jeff’s presentation was very well received and left our members with meaty conversation ideas with which to discuss.
     President Worth presented Jeff with the obligatory "Charlotte Rotary Mug" as a thank you, suggested that Jeff may be considered as a candidate for membership in Charlotte Rotary and closed the meeting at 1:30 p.m.

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OBSERVATIONS

Eighty-six names in the 1999-2000 Roster have been members for 25 years or more. Six have been members for 50 years or more.

Thirty-six Charlotte Rotarians have already celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries.

Tom Lane's father was the first secretary and on the first board of directors of Charlotte Rotary. Ralston Pound's father was a charter member as was Charlie Williams' grandfather.

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