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HOW I GOT WHERE
I'M AT
By: Marilynn Bowler
 Known
within the membership of Charlotte Rotary as “HIGWIA,” today’s
program elicited several under-standing smiles from our membership.
“How I Got Where I’m At” was referenced by John Lassiter during his
program introduction as coming from the same grammatical
neighborhood as Martin Waters’ “stay stood” and Tom Robertson’s
familiar “grett.” And yet as much as we tease about the HIGWIA name,
it remains one of the most highly anticipated and enjoyable programs
of each quarter.
Motivational speaker and former Fortune 100 Companies tech-product
sales whiz Bob Elliott told of the lessons he learned
as a young child growing up in Chester, SC, dating back to his early
experiences with mowing the lawn. He shared the story that would
become a key lesson for him: Don’t look back or live in the past;
look forward and strive to reach your goals.
A graduate of Presbyterian College, Bob spent eighteen years in
outside sales before the entrepreneurial spirit inspired him to
found Elliott Seminars which supplies sales coaching
to sales forces in the southeast and motivational speaking to
corporate events nationwide. Bob closed his remarks by sharing his
philosophy, “Your life is a product of the many choices you’ve made;
it is the summation of those choices rather than any one event” that
defines whether you’ll be “making a living or living a life.”
Wachovia Securities manager John Armistead was our
second speaker and got a chuckle when he cleverly pulled out – and
read to us - his business card to demonstrate his back-up plan if –
in his nervousness - he became tongue-tied or forgot who he was.
John tributes his values and sense of community commitment to his
parents, who instilled in him a deep religious faith, the importance
of telling the truth and helping others.
Interestingly, John told us about the small lawn business he set up
as a youngster in order to earn a few dollars while his Dad was in
the Army. He talked about walking a paper route for the now defunct
Charlotte News, and his affinity for swimming and becoming involved
with his high school’s Interact program prior to earning his college
degree from Sewanee and his MBA from Duke. He began his early years
in the banking business with First Union National Bank and was
mentored by such prestigious men as Ken Thompson and Erskine Harkey
before moving to Tennessee and meeting the woman who would become
his wife, Julie Hancock. John refers to Julie as his “inspiration
and the reason their three children are turning out so well.” After
the 1982 recession, the tax law changes, the stock market crash in
1987 and the leveraged buyout craze, John returned to Charlotte and
joined Wachovia in 2001. John shared his personal and professional
philosophy, “Do the right thing for the client.”
Duke Energy’s energetic Joni Davis was our third
speaker. She fascinated us with the story of her roots, taking us
back to her great-grandfather who was one of the first African
American doctors in the Charlotte area. She told us that he provided
services for people who didn’t have the financial resources for
medical assistance and he instilled in Joni’s grandmother a strong
sense of community. That family mantra has been passed down from
generation-to-generation: “Don’t live your life for what you can get
from other people, but for what they can get from you.” Joni’s
family has long been involved with education. Her father was a
principal and her mother, a teacher. Joni, herself, began tutoring
students as a high school student. It was during this volunteer work
that she met Duke Power General Manager of Educational Services
Sondra Wise, the woman who ultimately would offer Joni summer
employment with Duke Power and that job opened the door for her
entire career.
Joni also ran a Kids Bible Camp at her church whereupon she met a
young man who was screening candidates for the Charlotte Post’s
“Senior of the Year Award.” That young man was so impressed with
Joni and her belief in education, volunteerism and social
responsibility that he nominated her for a scholarship which evolved
into a college scholarship to UNC/Greensboro. Upon graduation, Joni
settled on a job offer from Duke. It was Bill Lee who convinced her
that a focus on education could only be executed by people who
didn’t look at it as a JOB but viewed community service as a life
mission. Hence, Joni and her mentor Sondra Wise developed a “Power
In Education” volunteerism program for the power company. She has
now climbed the ladder at Duke, currently holding the position as
manager of community relations, philanthropy, local governmental
relations and business operations for the Charlotte area. Her
personality and outlook on life impressed us all.
Head Table:
Tim Newman, Bill Blackwell, Bob Elliott,
John Lassiter, Tom Robertson, Joni Davis, John Armistead
Visitors and Guests:
Martin Waters; Health & Happiness:
Russell Ranson; Song: David Erdman, Invocation: Pam Syfert
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CLUB OUTING |
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There will not be
a lunch meeting next Tuesday, June 29th. The Club has planned a
great outing at Knights Stadium which includes a picnic and
ballgame. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the game will start at
7:30. The event is free for Rotarians and the first 150 guests.
Please RSVP to the Rotary Office by June 28th. |
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2003-04
RI
Theme
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z Barbara Price,
vice president and managing principle of LS3P
Associates’ Charlotte office, has been awarded the Urbahn Medal
by the Society of American Military Engineers in recognition of
contributions in the architecture profession.
z
Mike Crum,
managing director of the awkwardly titled Charlotte
Auditorium-Coliseum-Convention Center Authority, says the merge
with Visit Charlotte into the Charlotte Regional Visitors is the
natural thing to do. The group is charged with marketing the
city to tourists and managing city buildings, such as Cricket
Arena.
z
The Charlotte Observer ran a story a month or so ago about
Betsy Barnhardt,
10 year old granddaughter of Rotarian
Tom Barnhardt.
Betsy’s story is remarkable for many reasons…she’s the only girl
in her baseball league of boys ages 10 to 12, she can throw a
fastball at 48 mph, she was born profoundly deaf and was
diagnosed with a “mild” case of cerebral palsy shortly before
the age of 2, but she is oh so comfortable standing on a
pitcher’s mound or a soccer field or a free-throw line! Thanks
to a cochlear implant, Betsy can hear. Says her mom, “she was
dealt a bad hand, but she turned that bad hand into a royal
flush.”
z
Sympathy is extended to
Susan Patterson
and family upon the death of Susan’s Father, Morgan Lorance. Mr.
Lorance, a Rotarian in Tennessee, had over 40 year’s perfect
attendance, was a past president and past District Governor of
District 6780, and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.
z
Wishes for a speedy recovery are extended to Peggy Wesp
as she recuperates from carpel tunnel surgery.
z
Martin Welton
passes along the message that baby Charles is improving and may
be transferred to a Charlotte hospital in the upcoming weeks.
z
District Governor Bill Belk
was on hand to present
President Tom
with the Presidential Citation for 2003-2004. Governor Bill
complimented the Club for being one of the best in the District.
z
Welcome to the club’s newest Rotarian,
Jeff Longo –
President, Charlotte Checkers Hockey Team.
z
If you have not paid your 4th quarter meals/dues… you are LATE.
Payment is expected immediately. |
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Charlotte Rotary 9/11 Scholarship
Golf Classic
September 21, 2004 – Raintree Country Club |
All members should have received a request from
the 9/11 Scholarship Golf Classic committee encouraging support
of the September 21, 2004 tournament. Sponsorships, auction and
goody bag items are needed. Thanks to
David Zimmerman, Southern Shows, for supplying 2
tickets to each golfer for the Southern Christmas Show.
Confirmed sponsorships to date: Gold Sponsor:
Rotary Club of Charlotte;
Silver Sponsor: BellSouth and
Motorola; Tee Sponsor:
Tom Robertson; Advertising
Journal: Charlie Allison.
In-Kind support: Catering: Bob
and Robert Freeman; Soft Drinks (Pepsi):
Darrell Holland.
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Rotary Club of
Charlotte moves
to the Mecklenburg Room of the
ADAM’S MARK JULY 6, 2004 |
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Attendance
Record |
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6/22/04 |
6/24/03 |
| visitors &
guests |
13 |
21 |
| club
members |
185 |
177 |
| total
attendance |
198 |
198 |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
30 Kathy and Rusty Brink
01 Lila and Mike Rash
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New Members | Resignations |
Cecily Durrett
Tom Senger
Eric Baldwin
Jim Combs
Dick Reiling
Jeff Longo |
n/a |
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| Roaming
Rotarians |
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Eric Baldwin, Hilton Head, SC | |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
29 Dick Reiling, Dayton, OH
30 John Bradberry, Auburn, AL
30 Dave Guilford,
Washington, NC
30 John Granzow,
Royal Oak, MI
02 Phil Volponi,
Heidelberg, W Ger
02 Mike Wilkinson,
Statesville, NC
03 Brent Trexler, Charlotte, NC
04 Tom Robertson,
Cascade, VA
04 David Erdman,
Camp Lejeune, NC |
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