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 LUTHER
COCHRANE
Auditorium Coliseum Convention Center Authority
Chairman
By: Matt Joyner
Mike Crum introduced Luther Cochrane, chair of the Charlotte
Auditorium, Coliseum, Convention Center Authority (“CACCCA”).
Cochrane is a North Carolina native who earned his bachelors and law
degrees from UNC-CH. He practiced in Atlanta as an attorney
specializing in real estate and construction and came back to
Charlotte with McDevitt Street Bovis, ultimately serving as chair of
the company.
Cochrane discussed the upcoming creation of the Charlotte Region
Visitors Authority (“CRVA”) from a merger of the CACCCA with Visit
Charlotte, (f/k/a the Charlotte Convention and Visitors Bureau). The
merger should be effective by July 1, depending upon passage of
authorizing legislation during the short session of the NC General
Assembly.
CACCCA was formed in 1951 to make sure “private sector attention was
paid to public sector assets.” It currently runs the Convention
Center, the “old” Coliseum on Tyvola, Cricket Arena and Ovens
Auditorium. Since the departure of the Hornets from Charlotte it has
run a deficit. Visit Charlotte was created to “put heads in beds.”
The combination of the two organizations is intended to create a
single “voice of tourism” in Charlotte.
Charlotte is the number one tourist destination in the state of
North Carolina. Tourism provided an annual economic contribution of
$2.6 billion to the area’s economy in 2002 and $687 million in local
sales taxes attributable to tourism-related sales. Over 50,000 local
residents depend on tourism for their jobs. The CRVA will have a
combined budget of $28 million in public money to spend on promoting
tourism in Charlotte.
The CRVA will be competing for a larger piece of a shrinking pie. As
the convention industry has declined since September 11, 2001,
bigger destinations such as New York, Las Vegas and Orlando have
been fighting for business that previously they would have left to a
“major second tier city” such as Charlotte, while smaller cities
have been building convention centers that compete with Charlotte
from the other end of the spectrum. The challenge to Charlotte is
increased by the fact that of its competitors Charlotte has the
lowest funding per capita of visitor to attract tourism. For
example, Charlotte spends $160 per visitor while Atlanta spends
$400.
The CRVA’s immediate goals will be to make sure that Nextel auto
racing events stay in Charlotte long term and to attract the
Atlantic Coast Conference football championship. We wish them good
luck in enhancing this increasingly important segment of our local
economy!
Head Table:
Bob Alexy, John Johnson, Mike Crum, Tom
Robertson, Joni Davis, Jeff Searcy
Visitors and Guests:
John Nicolay; Song: David Erdman;
Invocation: George Thompson
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CONGRATULATIONS to recipients of the $1000 Public Safety
Scholarships |
Philip A. Shields, Citadel
(Thomas and Lynda Shields, Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s
Department)
Maleah Hovis, UNC Charlotte
(Joseph and Brenda Hovis, Char Meck Police Department)
Jessica Miller, Appalachian
(Keith and Amanda Bridges, Char. Meck Police Department)
Savannah Sears, Gaston
College (Karen Williamson, Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s
Department) |
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NEW MEMBER BALLOT |
The Classification and Membership
Committee recommend and the Directors approve for consideration
for all members, the following NEW MEMBERS. Should you question
the eligibility of any nominee, please call the Rotary Office by
June 8th. 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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Jeffrey Michael Longo (Jeff)
Charlotte Checkers Hockey Team
Classification: Professional Sports, Hockey
Sponsor: Marilynn Bowler
Endorsers: Bill Blackwell and Mike Crum
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Rotary Club of Charlotte Moves to the
ADAM’S MARK HOTEL JULY 6, 2004 |
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2003-04
RI
Theme
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z WHEEL
OF FORTUNE ALERT!! Watch for
Hope Lanier on Wheel of
Fortune, Friday June 4th at 7:30 on WCNC.
z
CLUB ASSEMBLY is a chance
for a more casual meeting in which you have the opportunity to
enjoy dinner, fellowship, and learn a bit about what’s in store
for the upcoming Rotary year. Reservations are required in order
to give a head count to Bob and Robert Freeman. They are the
guys behind SMS Catering and always do an outstanding job of
hosting the club. The usual Tuesday lunch meeting will not be
held…this is in place of that meeting…and it will begin
at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 15th.
z
Claude Lilly had successful
knee replacement surgery last week. However, he’s having some
complications from the anesthesia tube used in his throat during
the surgery. Best wishes to Claude for a speedy recovery.
z
Barbara Robertson is well on
the way to recovery following hip replacement surgery last week.
Tom reports her progress is remarkable and will be back in full
gear soon.
z
Bill Loftin, Sr. is
publishing a novel written by Katherine Springs – “Gentleman
Surgeon”. Springs tried to get NY publishers interested in her
novel, but they were too slow to act. Katherine is 97 years old
and doesn’t have time to be put off! This is the third book
Loftin & Co. has published for Ms. Springs. An interesting side
note – the book is 390 pages long and was type set from 600
pages of handwritten notes.
z
Chase Saunders participated
in a gathering at Ri-Ra pub on May 20 for a Meck-Dec Day
celebration. Mec-Dec Day commemorates a controversial document
in which Mecklenburg County declared independence from King
George III before the Continental Congress.
z
Principals at Bragg Financial Advisors (Benton
Bragg) have enjoyed success with its small cap mutual
fund, which appeared in the Wall Street Journal’s “category
kings” listings again this month, ranking fifth among 238 peer
funds for its year-to-date performance ending April 29th.
z
Thanks to
all that volunteered with the International Golfing Fellowship
of Rotarians tournament. There were 60 countries represented and
nothing but good things were said about Charlotte. |
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Charlotte Rotary 9/11 Scholarship
Golf Classic
September 21, 2004 – Raintree Country Club
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Attendance
Record |
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6/01/04 |
6/03/03 |
| visitors &
guests |
30 |
7 |
| club
members |
187 |
92 |
| total
attendance |
217 |
99 |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
08 Eileen and Pat Millen
08 Gayle and Young Smith
09 Inez and Harley Dickson
09 Fran and B.B. Parker
09 Linda and John Shell
10 Leslie and Budd Berro
10 Ann and Julius Melton
11 Lori and Jeff Hurd
12 Karen and Herb Harriss
13 Jean and Andy Zoutewelle
14 Dot and Powell Majors
14 Shirley and Henry Snead |
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New Members | Resignations |
Cecily Durrett
Tom Senger |
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| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
08 Rufus Allison, Charlotte, NC
08 Susan Hutchins,
Charlotte, NC
08 Edgar Love, Lincolnton, NC
08 Tom Wright, Charlotte, NC
09 Henry Bostic, Lumberton, NC
09 Claude Lilly, Atlanta, GA
10 Leroy Mayne, Rockhold, KY
11 Tom Bartholomy,
Ft. Wayne, IN
11 Lee Morris, Chester, PA
11 Paul Smith, New Orleans, LA
12 Suzanne Bledsoe,
Newberry, SC
12 Ray Brietz,
Winston Salem, NC
12 Elsie Garner, Trujillo, Peru
13 Ed John, Salt Lake City, UT
13 Chris Thomas, Charlotte, NC |
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