President Worth's
Year in Review

WORTH  WILLIAMSON

     President Worth kicked off his last formal meeting of the year saying he could be the happiest person in the room. By the end of the meeting he was right!
     President Worth asked David Anderson to introduce eleven guests and four visiting Rotarians. One of the visiting Rotarians, Jim Fry from Memphis, made a special presentation concerning the upcoming Rotarian Initiative for Population and Development. This program is designed to raise the awareness and address the serious problems caused by the recent population explosion. In 1960 there were two billion people living on this planet. This number will grow to six billion in the next four years.
     Mac McCarley is leading the Club's upcoming Cultural Exchange Program. This is an opportunity for Club members to host a foreign exchange person during his or her three-month stay in Charlotte. The guest will not stay in the host's home but will look to the host as an advisor during his or her stay. If you have an interest in helping, please contact Mac or Worth.
     Bob Freedman and Barry Miller were recognized for their efforts in organizing the Pearl Harbor meeting. In their absence, Hope Lanier accepted the presentation of a desk clock for each of them.
     Dr. Eugene Kozhevnikov was thanked for his efforts in building our Club's web site. This site can be viewed at www.charlotterotary.org
    It is the custom of this club to present a bound book containing all fifty-two Rotary Reporters for the year a President served. Past president Ronnie Pruett was presented a disk that contained this series of documents. It was noted that we have arrived in the new millennium and are now digital.
     Herb Harriss presented our newest member Herb Klein. Herb and his wife Bernhardine celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this spring. Their daughter Sandra lives in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. She manages a Berlitz language school of which she is part owner.
     Herb is originally from Leverkusen, Germany. He joined Bayer AG in 1967 for business training and held various positions in their Dyes Division. In 1983 he transferred to Mobay U.S. and moved to Rock Hill, S.C. In 1995 he was appointed President and CEO of DyStar. This is the U.S. subsidiary of the newly created Hoechst/Bayer JV for Textile Colorants.
     Mr. Klein is the President of the Charlotte World Trade Association. In addition, he is an incoming member of the council of advisors for the academy of German-American Business Studies at Pfeifer University at Charlotte.
     After the pledge of allegiance, Richard Early conducted the song "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" in honor of President Worth's final meeting. Howard Chadwick then gave the invocation. Members of the head table included David Anderson, Theresa Evans, Catherine Browning, Jim Adams and Ronnie Pruett.
     President Worth began his "President's Report" and the "Passing of the Gavel" by recounting a phone conversation he had last week with Fred Lowrance. Fred had advised President Worth "not to bore everyone by thanking everyone but rather to tell what you have learned."
     "It has been one year ago tomorrow since Paul Buck passed away. I am reminded of his vast contributions to our club and to our community.
     "Last year President Ronnie's message reminded me to enjoy Rotary and look beyond myself for the chance to contribute and make a difference.
     "During this past year I have learned many things, some of which I would like to share with you today:

     1. That our club is full of goodwill.

     9. From Shacoli McCorkel, David Fitch, and Jennifer KIotz, our three scholarship winners — With these three, our futures are in good and capable hands.

     10. From Bill Holland (United Dominion Industries): We were reminded of Rotary's well earned reputation for friendship when he recalled that a Rotarian was the first person to call John the Baptist "Jack."

continued from column 1

1. Annexation Rules
2. Merger of City-County School Systems
3. Airport
4. Federal Reserve Branch in the 1920's
5. UNCC

     20. From Mayor Pat McCrory, that education, transportation and public safety are his three key concerns for our community, and we cannot afford to fund all programs that come up with an advocate.

     "I was told that my year serving as your President would be one of the most enjoyable, satisfying years of my life. Well, that was proven to be true. Thank you all for your encouragement, loyalty and expression of goodwill that have made this an easy and fulfilling year. I want to thank my outgoing board members Bill Furr, Bob Cockerham, Rex Welton, Bill Underwood and Bill Loftin, Jr. for their contributions. Now, I  would like to say that I have upheld my pledge to take care of the President's Pin. With that, I would like for Don Steger to come up."
     Our new President Don then came forward. He thanked President Worth "for the gavel and a year full of lousy jokes." He was then presented with the pin. President Don then thanked President Worth for his leadership. "You have done an outstanding job and for that we all thank you." This was followed by the presentation of a Rotary coffee mug along with the President's Pin with a diamond, the suggestion that he would receive a check for $1,000,000, a Rotary Plaque commemorating his year as President and a brass Rotary table lamp for his office.
     President Don then announced that he would not be speaking at the first meeting in July. In his closing comments he said, "I will give you next week off."

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