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 BARRY WEITZ
By: Jim Kelley
Executive producer Barry Weitz was introduced by Chip Scholz to
Charlotte Rotary on Tuesday. Barry has an impressive background. He
has produced or packaged some of the best known motion pictures of
the last two decades as well as 32 feature-length television movies.
As Vice President of the William Morris Agency, in Beverly Hills, he
was responsible for films such as “Love Story”, “The Exorcist”, “The
Graduate”, “The French Connection”, “The Green Berets”, and
“Bullitt”. He has represented actors such as Warren Beatty, Nick
Nolte, Bill Cosby, Gene Hackman, Faye Dunaway and Jack Lemmon.
Barry recently moved to Charlotte to work with Marcie Kelso and The
Light Factory, where he currently serves as a member of their board.
He fell in love with Charlotte and its potential eight years ago
while producing a movie in Wilmington and traveling between
Wilmington and Los Angeles. Barry talked about being an executive
producer. In his work, he was responsible for creating the idea,
selling the idea, financing the project and producing it. With each
of his projects, he became a small business entrepreneur over and
over again. Every time he undertook a project for the big screen or
television, he had in mind the image he wanted to portray and he
understood the world to which he was selling. He had to balance the
needs of those above the line, such as the actors, writers and
directors, and those below the line, such as electricians. He had to
stay on top of the details while working with the executives from
the studio or the network.
Barry drew comparisons between executive producers and business
leaders. We each know where our strengths lie and what we have to
offer and we stick with those strengths. We throw great ideas at
projects not more dollars; we demand excellence; we expect people to
do what they said they would do; we keep our selves and our
employees on the mark and on image. If we don’t get those things,
then we fire people and cut our losses.
In production work as in the business world, we reach desperate
moments when an initial idea begins to die. It is then that we have
to throw good alternative ideas at the problem. For example, in the
movie “Love Story”, Beau Bridges quit and they replaced him with
Ryan O’Neal. In “The French Connection”, Jackie Gleason fell through
and they replaced him with Gene Hackman. In “Shakespeare in Love”,
Julia Roberts quit and they replaced her with Gwynn Paltrow. All
three movies went on to great commercial success.
Barry closed his comments by quoting Winston Churchill. When asked
at the end of the war if he had any words of wisdom for the
parliament, he simply said, “Never give up. Never ever give up.
Never ever, ever give up.”
Head Table:
Skip Berry, Natalie English, Chip Scholz,
Tom Robertson, Shannon Vaughn, Lee Tabor
Visitors and Guests:
Kurt Waldthausen; Song: Thomas Moore; Invocation: Steve
Montgomery
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Attendance
Record |
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3/30/04 |
4/01/03 |
| visitors &
guests |
14 |
24 |
| club
members |
180 |
204 |
| total
attendance |
194 |
228 |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
06 Carol and David Hughes
07 Brenda and Jim Lea
08 Jane and Gib Smith
10 Margaret and Dwight Thomas
11 Kelley and Robert Kirk
12 Joann and Andy Calhoun
12 Ada and John Nicolay |
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New Members | Resignations |
Ken Carter
Michelle Fish
Ed John
Shannon Vaughn
Ron Mikels |
Mark Schaffner
Ron Vinson
Arnie Webb
Suzanne Fetscher |
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| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
07 David Anderson,
Florence, SC
08 George Thompson,
Charlotte, NC
10 Russell Ranson, Durham, NC
11 Peggy Wesp, Bend, OR |
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2003-04
RI
Theme
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z All club members are invited to
attend the dedication of the Habitat House (5312 Eaton Circle)
this Saturday, April 3rd at 10:00.
z
Welcome to the club’s newest Rotarian,
Ron Mikels.
z
Anyone wishing to volunteer at
Classroom Center on April 29 or May 20 should contact
John Johnson.
z
Registration is still open for those wishing to attend
the
District 7680 Conference April 16-18 in Myrtle Beach.
z
David Norman
will have his photography equipment
set up in the State Room of the Hotel on Tuesday at 11:30 and
again at 1:30 for those needing to have their Roster photo taken
or updated. |
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NEW MEMBER BALLOT
The Classification and
Membership Committee recommend and the Directors approve for
consideration for all members, the following NEW MEMBERS.
Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, please call
the Rotary Office by April 6th. You will be
contacted by a member of the Board. Otherwise, no reply is
necessary and election will proceed according to our bylaws.
Anne Bridgeman
Alexander Youth Network
Classification: Fund Raising,
Non Profit
Proposed: Sadler Barnhardt
Endorsers: John Rogers and Tom Barnhardt |
Al Nikels
The Entrepreneur’s Source
Classification: Consulting,
Human Resources
Proposed: Chip Scholz
Endorsers: Ed Turner and Budd Berro |
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WOMEN IN ROTARY
From The ABC’s of Rotary
Until 1989, the Constitution and Bylaws of Rotary International
stated that Rotary club membership was for males only. In 1978,
the Rotary Club of Duarte, California invited three women to
become members. The RI Board withdrew the charter of that club
for violation of the RI constitution. The club brought suit
against RI claiming a violation of a state civil rights law that
prevents discrimination of any form in business establishments
or public accommodations. The appeals court and the California
Supreme Court supported the Duarte position that Rotary could
not remove the club’s charter merely for inducting women into
the club and upheld the California court indicating that Rotary
clubs do have a “business purpose” and are in some ways
public-type organizations. This action in 1987 allowed women to
become Rotarians in any jurisdiction having similar “public
accommodation” statutes. The RI constitutional change was made
at the 1989 Council on Legislation, with a vote to eliminate the
“male only” provision for all of Rotary. Since that time, women
have become members and leaders of clubs and districts
throughout the world.
Last week’s Charlotte Observer ran an article that Esther
Johnson, the first woman admitted to RI in 1986, passed away at
the age of 89. |
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ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS…THE
FRIEND MAKERS |
Rotary Fellowships are groups of Rotarians
with similar interests joined together by the first object of
Rotary – Acquaintance. Fellowships become your personal
connection with Rotary International. Interest groups are
categorized by Sports & Games, Hobbies, Service and Vocations.
For instance, the Hobbies fellowship includes amateur
astronomers, ballroom dancing, bird watching, bridge playing,
yachting, yoga…the list goes on and on. The Vocations section
covers accountants, dentistry, computer users, total quality
management. You see what I mean. For a complete listing of
Fellowships, log on to
www.rotaryfellowships.org.
May 17-22, the International Golfing Fellowship of Rotary (IGFR)
will hold its 41st World Championship in Charlotte. Your help is
needed to ensure this is a first class event for some 400
Rotarians coming from all over the world to play golf.
Volunteers are needed in areas of hospitality, golfing,
back-office, and greeters. If you did not pick up a volunteer
form at this week’s luncheon, contact the Rotary Office. Or you
may contact Jeff Parlier
(jeff.parlier@firstcitizens.com)
or Fred Beaman
(jeffbeaman@aol.com)
for additional information. |
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