Meeting |
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Report |
Meeting |
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Report |
July 24, 2001 |
| Click here for photos of this Meeting | |
| President Jim opened the meeting by welcoming
everyone present. Doug Booth introduced three visiting Rotarians and fourteen
guests. Completing the introductions, Doug exclaimed, "Y'all come back, ya
hear!" The Health and Happiness report featured Bruce Darden, who quickly
diverted attention from the head table to the IPP, Don Steger.
Bruce noted that he was happy to see Don "sitting up in his chair." Since there
were no other health issues to present, Bruce moved to the Happiness portion of his
report. He received a sheepish response to his question, "How many of you watch 'The
Simpsons'?" Surprisingly, an embarrassed 50 percent of those attending admitted they
had seen the show. Evidently each show concludes with credits scrolling over Bart, the
ten-year-old star, writing on the blackboard as a form of in-school punishment. The show's
website revealed that upon closer inspection, Bart's blackboard messages are more pithy
than punitive and they change from week to week. Of those that Bruce cited the following
two received the biggest chuckles: "I will not expose the ignorance of the
faculty" and "1 will not torment the emotionally frail." President Jim then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Following the pledge he introduced Howard Chadwick to lead the group in a stirring rendition of "God Bless America" accompanied by Daniel Heath on the piano. Tony Zeiss was recognized by President Jim as a fine example of the Rotary Motto, "Service above Self." On October 8, Tony will receive a 2001 Excelente Award for his many contributions to the local Hispanic community. President Jim concluded with a quip, "Good on Ya, Tony." Rumor has it the Prez may consider using the Aussie Kudo as the name of a special award that he will present from time to time to deserving Rotarians. Who's next? Following announcements of committee meetings, President Jim introduced the head table, which included: Hal Bouton, Phil Volponi, Bryan Adams, Will Pleasants, our guests Richard Spires and Brad Krantz of WBT Radio, and Rick Jackson who then introduced our speakers. Rick managed to represent station management well and provided a very entertaining introduction to their presentation, "What's All the Talk About?" Richard hails from Miami, Florida, and Brad from Columbus, Ohio. The magical combo was formed two years ago following an intensive on-air live audition for the 3 to 6 p.m. drive time slot on WBT Radio, 99.3 on your FM dial. Their large listening audience and high ratings make them the rising stars in the station's constellation of personalities. To announce their entry into the market they were asked to suggest a PR idea. They insisted on a moist towelette with their picture on it, and then they washed their hands of the entire project! With a mic for each, the two set off as if they were on the air. They admitted they had no idea what they were going to talk about prior to the airing of each show. They were eager to point out (to Hal and Rick) that RKO Boston had contacted them a few weeks earlier, but they decided to stay in Charlotte because they respected and admired the station for giving them great latitude to perform each day. Richard commented that "We believe what we say (on air) - pretty much," bringing a laugh from the audience. Part humor, part passion, and very energetic, the dynamic duo entertained the audience with their wit and repartee as they sparred back and forth. A spontaneous celebrity look-alike contest surfaced with Howard Virkler identified as Paul Harvey; Richard and Brad were tagged as Abbott and Costello, and Rick Jackson handily won the James Taylor look-alike category. Their rambling and rambunctious presentation offered a sense of their daily show. They debunk truth and they create fiction to the consternation and delight of their listeners. Some accept what they say as fact and others sit back and enjoy the fireworks. It is really Andy Griffith and Merv Griffin or is it the other way around? And who the heck is "The free cheese guy"? I think I am going to tune in, next chance I get. If you are listening carefully you might detect my voice setting the record straight! President Jim presented Brad and Richard with a Rotary gift of appreciation and then adjourned the meeting, mopping his brow with a "moist towelette." * * * |
New Member
2001 Mortgage Banking USMortgage Group, Inc. Lee R. Tabor is president of USMortgage Group, Inc. of Charlotte, North Carolina, a small, family-owned residential mortgage company. Before starting USMortgage Group, Lee was a partner in Tabor and Associates, a real estate industry consulting company. Her career began in 1979 with The National Bank of South Carolina in Columbia. She moved after seven years and various positions to First Union National Bank, where she was promoted and moved to Charleston, South Carolina. There she served as Assistant Consumer Banking Manager, overseeing ten branch offices. After meeting her husband John in Charleston she moved to Charlotte and served as sales manager for a division of Bank of America and Advanta Mortgage. A native of Flat Rock, North Carolina, Lee spent her high school and college years in Columbia, South Carolina. She attended Columbia College and the University of South Carolina. Lee majored in Public Administration in the evening program at Columbia College, finishing in 1986, and attended the S.C. Banker's School at the University of South Carolina, finishing in 1988. She attended Mingle School of Real Estate, obtaining a real estate sales and broker's license in 1993 and 1994. Currently she is an instructor for continuing education at Mingle, teaching "Finance Today" and "Non-Conforming Lending." Lee completed two national designations in her industry, the GRML and SMC in 1998. She is one of less than twenty mortgage professionals in North Carolina to have the latter designation. Lee is very interested in children's issues and has served on the board for Dilworth United Methodist Church Child Development Center and is currently involved in the PTA at Selwyn Elementary. She was adopted by her parents, as was her older brother Bill, and she is passionate about safe childcare and foster care for children. Lee is married to John Tabor (a Rotarian), the Charlotte office manager for SchenkelShultz. They will celebrate their tenth anniversary on Valentine's Day 2002. They have two children, John Paul (8), a soon-to-be third grader, and Allie (7), a soon-to-be second grader. The children attend Selwyn Elementary and are very involved in soccer at the Harris Y and Myers Park Presbyterian Church Cub Scouts and Brownie programs. Lee and John taught second grade Sunday School this year at Myers Park Presbyterian Church where they have been members for eleven years. They spend their free time participating in many of their children's activities. Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Lee. * * * |
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Revised: January 24, 2008.
