Meeting |
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Report |
Meeting |
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Report |
June 20, 2000 |
| Click here for photos of this Meeting | |
| President
Worth called the meeting to order at 12:45 p.m. Howard Chadwick reported on the
health of the club: Jim Appleby is recovering nicely from surgery on two discs and
bone spurs in his neck. He would appreciate cards and phone calls. Howard then went on to
the Happiness side of the report. He read a ditty about growing older, parts of which
referred to putting your teeth in a cup at night and your ears in a drawer. Oh, the things
we younger Rotarians have to look forward to. Howard mentioned the recent pastoral
promotion that Doug Fairbanks received from the Bishop sending him to Asheville. On
behalf of the club, Howard wished Doug well. Jamie Armstrong then introduced the guests and visiting Rotarians. President Worth then called forth Dr. George Page and Louis Ratcliffe to receive their 50 year membership badges from the club. George joined our club on May 30, 1950, and just a week later, Louis joined the club on June 6, 1950. The members in attendance gave the two men a standing ovation in recognition of their long service and tenure. Worth noted that the club would not have a meeting on Tuesday, July 4th. Enjoy the break. Worth also mentioned that the club was asked to host two international guests for a six-week visit, one from Japan and one from Taiwan. Mac McCarley has agreed to host one of our visitors. He asked any of the members who could to consider being the other host. President Worth then called up Richard Bailey, Bob Freedman and Barry Miller. He presented them special mementos for their outstanding work in organizing our very special Pearl Harbor day program with its link up to Hawaii and the video. Ken Harris and Bill Underwood then introduced our two newest members of the club. Ken introduced Kip Kiser, the president of the Kiser Corporation, a company that does site preparation for construction projects. He has a BA degree from USC in South Carolina and is a CPA. In 1999, Mayor Pat McCrorey recognized Kip as the Charlotte Citizen of the Year. Bill then introduced Suzanne Bledsoe, the regional president of the Charlotte office of US Trust Company. Suzanne is also a USC graduate and has a Master's degree from Pace University in New York. Suzanne is a proud mother of three children, ages 11, 9,and 1. Worth led us in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by our song led by Richard Early. Doug Boyd gave the invocation. Our president introduced the head table which included Jay Deyton, Charlie Briley, Doug Boyd, Jim Barnhardt, Helmut Deussen and Mark Leggett, who introduced our speaker, Tom Miller. Tom is a graduate of Duke and a business journalist by profession. Currently he works for NBC Night Side. Prior to his work in journalism, he was in the business world, first with Dow Chemical and then as a stock broker. Tom talked about the Great Global Revolution and the phenomenal economic boom that we are in and that will last for years to come. First, Tom discussed the why of the economic boom. He said that the median income in the United States is at $39,000, an all-time high. The number of people with jobs and homes is also at an all-time high. It wasn't like that in the 1970's. We had very high inflation, and corporate profits were stagnant. In the early 80's, corporations had the courage to restructure and reinvent corporate America. While that led to thousands of jobs being lost, it resulted in corporations becoming lean and mean and profitable. Another reason for the economic boom is that baby boomers are in their peak spending years and are investing heavily in retirement plans through the stock market. Lastly, our corporations are global in nature and are using their business genius to help satisfy the needs of the world. Our business idea makers are helping make the rest of the world more productive, which benefits us and the rest of the world. Second, Tom suggested that this boom can be our friend or foe. We have to embrace change, not fight it. If the pace of change outside your company is faster than the change within your company, then this boom will be your foe and you will be in trouble. Our wonderful corporate creativity and inventions are driving this economy. In fact, half of all the growth comes from companies that weren't here ten years ago. We have to be ready for and manage for growth. Accepting change is all about attitude. Get a different attitude or get out of business. Third, Tom said that we can all get wealthy off this boom. People don't get rich from their salaries. People get rich when they own a piece of the action, i.e., equity action. It is critical that we live below our means, save and invest the savings in high-quality securities. Keep your dollars in the stock market and enjoy the miracle of compounding. No matter what you do, stay disciplined by keeping your dollars in the market no matter what, and continue adding your savings into more investments. * * * FORTHCOMING PROGRAMSJuly 4, 2000 Holiday * * * |
New Member
SUZANNE G. BLEDSOE Joined 2000 Trust Services U.S. Trust Company of North Carolina227 W. Trade St., Ste. 1910 Charlotte (28202) 704-377-5100 FAX 704-335-0771 Suzanne G. Bledsoe is Regional President and Managing Director of the Charlotte office of U.S. Trust Company of North Carolina, a national investment management firm specializing in meeting the needs of affluent individuals and their families and not-for-profit organizations. Before joining U.S. Trust, Suzanne was in public accounting, most recently with Coopers & Lybrand in Charlotte for seven years and KMG Main Hurdman in New York City for seven years, specializing in taxation. Suzanne moved to Charlotte in 1987 after spending eight years in New York City. She is involved in various community activities, including currently serving on the Boards of the American Red Cross of the Greater Carolinas and the YWCA of the Central Carolinas. She is also a sustaining member of The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc., and a member of the Board of Visitors of UNCC. A native of Georgetown, South Carolina, Suzanne is a graduate of The University of South Carolina, where she received a B.S. in Accounting, and Pace University Graduate School of Business, where she received an M.S. in Taxation. She has been married for thirteen years to Louis A. Bledsoe, III, a partner with Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson and Charlotte native. They have three children, Carol (11), a fifth grader, Louis (9), a third grader, and Kathleen (1), a busy toddler. The Bledsoes attend Christ Episcopal Church and spend most of their free time attending various sports activities, including soccer, basketball, and football. Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Suzanne. * * * POWELL'S
Frank Timberlake's daughter Grey Timberlake Brownlow received the Outstanding Education Award given by the PTA-PTSA Council. Grey teaches at the Rama Road Elementary School. Rick Jackson expects WBT-A.M. will broadcast the Charlotte Hornets games for the coming season. * * * DID YOU KNOW?Top-of-the-Week Rotary Club will begin meeting at the Town Club Grill in the Omni Hotel at Trade and Tryon Streets — still on Monday mornings at 7:30 a.m. — effective June 5. * * * |
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