Meeting

Report

 
2004-2005
Club Achievements
by Julius Melton
               
Suddenly, today, the introduction of new members (David Dunn and David Barnhardt) was interrupted by a phone's ringing at President Catherine's podium. Really! Up at the podium-a phone rang! It was a call coming through at that moment from the president of the Constantia, South Africa, Rotary Club! The subject of the call underscored the fact that exciting, and unusual, things have been accomplished in the two areas (called in Rotary "avenues") of service reported on in today's program.
 
The South Africans were saying a hearty word of thanks for our leading the way in buying the first laparoscopic surgical equipment for the very needy "Victoria Hospital" in their region. Some three years ago our District 7680 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, Warren Buford, wrote to our club about the sad state of hospital care for poorer people in the part of South Africa where he was studying. Some of our members checked further on the situation, and raised this need as a cause our club ought to consider. Others in our club joined in looking into the need and supporting the project in that far-off place, that had become home for a year to one of our own Ambassadorial Scholars. They discovered that matching funds were available in our district and at R.I., if we could lead off with a club gift. The project became a central one for our club, and a total of $37,500 was ultimately made available to meet this dire need for modern equipment. Not only that, but a follow-up project came on line this year, with an additional $21,228 given and leveraged, to provide 16 new adult hospital beds, and 2 pediatric ones, for this hospital on which a population of 400,000 native South Africans relies. Today's program was also concluded by hearing from (and seeing a film of) the South African club, at a special meeting where tribute was paid to our support, by Rotarians and the hospital's CEO.
 
Some of the activities and successes of our club in these two avenues were less surprising, showing, rather, how we can stick with good works for which we have become known over the years. Our recent experience of rounding up impressive loads of warm coats and clothes for Crisis Assistance Ministries was repeated this year (17 cars filled with them!). Faithful Charlotte Rotarians again stood in the cold at the "Square" for Salvation Army kettle duty at Christmas-60 in all. And 65 came out to help build a Habitat house, backed by $20,000 in our gifts. John Snyder, who gave the Community Service report, couldn't hide his delight at getting "Interact" re-established and active at Myers Park High. Also in the "youth" area, we again welcomed a graduating leader from each of 25 high schools in our county, honoring each with a $500 scholarship award. Through our endowment at the Foundation for the Carolinas, we awarded $15,000 as scholarships, divided among eight different college students.
 
The list of accomplishments in "Community Service" came to more than a dozen, including also our four $1,000 scholarships for children of public safety professionals, in gratitude for sacrifices on 9-11-01. The new golf benefit for this program was another success of the year, raising over $35,000. We also gave help to the Foundation for the Carolinas' new SEED Charlotte efforts at community improvement, and sponsored the training of "Rotey," a guide dog. After several years of hard work and skilled, artistic production, our documentary TV filming of "How I Survived the War, and the Rest of My Life" moved to a point where showings of parts of it were possible. We put up $25,000 of the cost, with this support leveraging the huge remainder of the total $442,000 that will go into this project, which involved archival interviews with twenty-four of our own WWII veteran members, among many others.
 
The International Service report was not confined to the South African hospital project. "International" is, after all, half of R.I.'s name! Peggy Wesp had more to talk about. Shock at the Tsunami devastation, wrought as 2005 began, led our membership to send $18,253 to help those hard-hit areas acquire over 21 shelter-box- homes. We enjoyed a spirited talk by our club-sponsored Ambassadorial Scholarship winner Sam Barger, on his return from a year in New Zealand. We arranged, with a sister club in Arequippa, Peru, an exchange of fire fighters between our two cities, to start with their sending eight from their volunteer brigade next year, to learn how our professionals handle their vital duties. In support of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, our members sent $37,000 this year, as the roster of Paul Harris Fellows grew.
 
Our club gave support to District 7680's Group Study Exchange of this year, as Spanish visitors came in this direction, and people from our district's area spent time in Spain. On our own, we helped support a Belgian high school student for his year in Charlotte, and we laid plans for helping one coming from Colombia next fall. As the Rotary year ends, we are involved in delivering $2,000 to assist "Room to Read," to create alternative places to find books and periodicals, in areas in Nepal where there are no libraries. It is a country with only 20% literacy.
 
To thoroughly recap the successes of Charlotte Rotary, you must not overlook the good work done by the Vocational Service Avenue. John Johnson led a team of five or six Rotarians to Classroom Central on a monthly basis to provide assistance to teachers shopping for free, donated or recycled supplies. A donation of $3,000 ensured the on-going efforts of Junior Achievement's Exchange City, a fantastic program that provides business ethic case studies for students in grades 4-12. Krista Tillman, President of NC Operations at BellSouth, was awarded the 2004 Excellence in Management award, which was established in 1988 as a joint effort of Charlotte Rotary, the Business Journal, and Charlotte Chamber, to recognize the most exemplary manager in the Region. And of course, the Four-Way Test, which is the most widely printed and quoted statement of business ethics in the world, was always in the forefront. "Of the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"
 
This catalogue of accomplishments is exhaustive, but it is by no means a "laundry list," to yawn at. Real people are obviously impacted for good in each project and effort sketched. Not only are our committee personnel in these "avenues" to be commended, but also the entire club, who have rallied around them-as well as the good people of the broader community who have set in motion many of the enterprises which Rotarians have been among the first to honor and support!
         
 
Head Table:
Ed Wadsworth, Lee Tabor, Catherine Browning, Peggy Wesp, John Snyder, Myra Johnston, John Phillips
 
Visitors & Guests:
Invocation: Floyd Davis; Visitors & Guests: Bill Blackwell; Song: Richard Early

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NEW MEMBER PROFILES
	Janice M. Stevens Professional Association Services, Inc. 4600 Park Road, Suite 300 (28209) 704-527-2244 jms921@aol.com Classification: Association Management
Janice Stevens is President of Professional Administrative Services, a Charlotte-based association and project management, as well as meeting/convention planning firm, founded in 1991. She is an honor graduate of Peace College in Raleigh, NC with degrees in Accounting and Business Administration, and has continued her education at North Carolina State University.    Janice is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, Association Executives of North Carolina, and International Association of Association Management Companies. She is also a member of the Charlotte Chapter of Association Executives of North Carolina, and has served as a Past President, Vice President of Programs, President Elect, and former board member. As a member of Sharon United Methodist Church, Janice serves as a Ministry Coordinator, an usher, and is on the Strategic Planning/Leadership Committee. She also chaired the 2004 Capital Campaign Special Event. Janice has presented association management and leadership workshops at various state and national conventions throughout her career. In 2002, she completed an intensive six month Leadership In Life program through the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
	Eric James Carrig Exervio Management Consulting Box 49551 (28211) 704-651-8074 ecarrig@exervio.com Classification: Consulting, Business Strategy
Eric J. Carrig is Senior Strategy Manager for Exervio Consulting in Charlotte. He is responsible for all aspects of the firm's strategy practice, including recruiting, training, delivery, and the creation of white papers and other intellectual capital related to improving client profitability through new value propositions; customer segments; products and services; pricing structures; and relationships with suppliers and distributors. Previously, he was on the management team of Pipal Research Corporation, a custom, business research and analysis firm in Chicago. Mr. Carrig also worked in the Chicago office of McKinsey & Company, a strategy consulting firm, and Northern Trust, a Chicago bank. Eric has been active in the Northwestern University Alumni Club and with the Episcopal Church in Charlotte. He has a B.S. from Northwestern University and an M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was born in Iowa and is married to Nicole. They have a daughter, Carolina, who is almost two.

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