Club Assembly

     Tuesday evening, President-elect Tom Robertson unveiled his leadership team at the annual Club Assembly at SMS Catering Services in an event billed as “An evening of Fellowship, Fun, Food, Visions and Plans.”

     Said Robertson, my goal is to have a great year as we pursue Rotary International’s 2003-04 theme, “Lend a Hand,” and we will “have fun, fellowship, and networking along the way.  We have incredible talent in this club.  There’s nothing we can’t do.”

     One point that will get a great deal of emphasis is the Rotary Four Way Test.  “I’m really concerned about corporate leadership,” said President-elect Tom.  “It seems to me that it would be no problem with corporate leadership if they followed the Four Way Test.  It’s very simple.”

     Robertson praised the leadership of Luther “Legal” Moore – President-elect Tom gave nicknames to team members – as chair of the Membership Committee last year. “He’s the first person I went to see to get a commitment,” Robertson said.  Luther’s entire team will return this year for an encore performance.

     During the current year, membership increased from 291 to 315.  Forty-seven new members have joined the club and 23 have left for one reason or another.  There are another two members awaiting introduction and 11 applications in process.

     Another area of concern addressed at the Assembly is parking at the Sheraton Four Points.  Jim “Promo” Adams, Club Meetings chair, said he is “having discussions” with the appropriate people at the hotel and hopes to have improvements shortly.   “Be patient,” he said.

     Noting that this was not the first time anyone had dubbed her “Sister,” Peggy Wesp of Sister Cities, said she hoped to bring new life to the International Service Avenue this year.  This is one of Rotary’s most important thrusts, she said, and we need to give it more emphasis, citing the excellent program last week by Justin Perkinson, an Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar from Davidson who just completed a year of study in Argentina.

     President Dave, “Prez,” (who is 27 days from ending his term) presided.  Tom “Scout” Burgess gave the invocation.  Bob Freeman and son Robert rolled out the SMS red carpet complete with a barbecued pig and all the trimmings.  Even the newest Freeman, Bob’s grandson, was on hand for the occasion.

            Following is the Robertson team:

Club Service Avenue – John “Boy” Tabor, Programs; Andy “Survey” Zoutewelle, Club Management;  Jim “Promo” Adams, Club Meetings, and Luther “Legal” Moore, Membership.

Community Service Avenue – David “Show”               Zimmerman, Chair.

International Service Avenue – Peggy               “Sister” Wesp, chair.

Vocational Service Avenue – Tony “Hyper”               Zeiss, chair.

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     In 1978, Tom founded a design/build firm specializing in urban infill residential development in Atlanta, Georgia.  In 1984, he moved to Charlotte and became the division president of an infill development firm here.  In 1989, he returned to his professional roots, forming his own architectural firm.   In 1998, he merged this firm with Reg Narmour to form Narmour Wright Architecture.  Tom is married to the former Joan O’Sullivan, and they have three children.  They are members of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, and Tom is very active in Community Outreach Christian Ministries, primarily serving Charlotte’s homeless.                                           

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Did you know...

z NEW Rotary Office address: 841 Baxter Street, Suite 118, Charlotte, NC 28202.   Please update your records.

z 4^th Quarter Invoices must be paid by mid-June in order to close out the 2002-2003 Rotary year.

z Congratulations to Dorothy and Powell Majors as they celebrate their 70^th wedding anniversary on June 14, 2003.

z All is well with Benton and Alice Bragg following the birth of baby number 3 – Frances Catherine Bragg.

z There was a good crowd at this year’s Club Assembly.  As usual, Bob and Robert Freeman made everything look easy, and the food was outstanding!

z The USS Charlotte Foundation Scholarship in Memory of Dr. Barry G. Miller and Central Piedmont Community College Foundation, Inc. established a scholarship in the Fall of 2001 to benefit students enrolled in the Associate in Applied Science Degree Program at CPCC.   Former club member, Dr. Barry Miller, spearheaded the effort to get a vessel of the US Navy, named the Charlotte.    Those wishing to make a contribution to support this effort should make your check payable to the Central Piedmont Community College Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 35009, Charlotte, NC 28235-5009.  Please contact the Rotary office if you need additional information.

z Sympathy is extended to the family of Robert Dea Peterson, Jr., upon his death on June 2, 2003. Funeral services will be held at Plantation Estates Auditorium at 3:00 pm Friday, June 6, 2003.  Mr. Peterson was a member of Charlotte Rotary between 1997 and 2000.

z ROSTER UPDATES AND PHOTOS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO LOFTIN & COMPANY IMMEDIATELY.

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