 FLOYD
DAVIS
Community Link: Hope...Help...Home
By Suzanne Bledsoe
Alan Adler introduced Floyd R. Davis, President
and CEO of Community Link, an organization which Alan is proud to be
associated with and very actively involved in, as well as passionate
about. This mirrors his feelings about his involvement with
Charlotte Rotary. Floyd has been acting in his current capacity with
Community Link as President and CEO for the past three years. He is
not new, however, to the mission of the agency, as he has been
involved in social service agencies like Community Link for much of
his career. This experience has enabled him to bring a unique and
valuable understanding to the business of fulfilling the mission-to
help families and individuals obtain and sustain safe, decent and
affordable housing.
Simply stated Community Link prepares families for property rental
or ownership through education about home ownership and tenant's
rights and responsibilities, as well as counseling about the
financial aspects of both. This education has proven, over time, to
be the key to successfully maintaining stable housing and building
financial resources. In addition, counselors work with property
owners and managers, financial institutions, prospective and current
employers and other counseling resources to help families and
individuals so that they can become less reliant on other community
services.
The need for Community Link and its services in our region is great.
Over 35% of the work force in our area is classified as the "working
poor", earning somewhere between $5.15 and $12.00 an hour. This
translates to an annual salary ranging from $15,500 to $23,000.
Compare this with the cost of a safe and decent place to live:
monthly rent ranging from $565 for an efficiency apartment (hardly
sufficient for a family) to the average cost of a four bedroom unit
for $997. Even more critical is the fact that over 70% of new jobs
projected through 2012 in our region will fall within this range.
Floyd maintains that if Community Link wins, we, as a community win
also. So, how can we help? As employers, we can enable our employees
to take advantage of the benefits of the Earned Income Credit,
thereby increasing their take home pay. Employers can allow their
employees to elect direct deposit of paychecks and we can look for
innovative and efficient means of transportation to and from the
workplace. The benefits to the community are impressive: since 2004,
over 8,000 people have received services and are on the way to being
self sufficient, the tax rolls have increased as a result of
increased home ownership and financial service institutions have
grown their loan base by over $32,000,000. Equally impressive is the
fact that of the 285 loans closed, there have been no foreclosures!
So, Floyd, thanks for reminding us that Community Link can be a
win-win for everyone. And, thanks for all that you and your team at
Community Link do.
Head Table:
Mike Rash, Carol Hughes, Herb Harriss, Alan Adler, George Thompson,
Charles Woodyard; Invocation: Russell Ranson
Visitors &
Guests:
George Robinette; Health & Happiness: Leland Park; Song: Gregg
Walker; Piano: Thomas Moore
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NEW MEMBER
PROFILE |
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Gilberto Bergman
Bergman Brothers Staffing
Classification: Management,
Staffing Services
5205 Monroe Road (28205)
704-537-1230, ext 225
gilbert@bergmanbrothers.com |
Mr. Gilberto Bergman holds a Masters in Business Administration
from Wingate University, Wingate, North Carolina. He received
his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Florida
Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. Mr. Bergman is fluent
in Spanish, English and Italian. He is an Advisor to the Latin
American Chamber of Commerce; Board member of the Latin American
Coalition; Board member (2nd Vice President) of the Society of
Human Resource Management Charlotte Chapter; Member of the Hotel
Tourism Alliance, Member of the Charlotte Chamber President's
Circle; Member of the Union County Chamber, Former Chairman for
the Minority Affairs Advisory Committee for Mecklenburg County;
Member of the Mayor's International Cabinet; Member of Unidad
Social (Hispanic professionals Business Club).
Mr. Bergman has lived and worked in over 30 countries in Latin
America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Currently he is
President/CEO of Bergman Brothers Inc., President of Bergman
Brothers Staffing & Consulting, and serves as the Honorary
Consul of the Republic of Nicaragua. As Honorary Consul, Mr.
Bergman's mission is to create cultural, diplomatic, economic
and educational bilateral relations between the people of the
Republic of Nicaragua and the State of North Carolina. |
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Rotary Club of Charlotte
841 Baxter Street, Suite 118, Charlotte 28202
chltrot@bellsouth.net 704-375-6816 |
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Our Family of
Rotary extends deepest sympathy to
Tony Zeiss upon the loss of his mother, Mrs. Mary
Zeiss. Also, Jim Alexander reported that
Dr. Tom Perrin passed away
on Tuesday. Dr. Perrin was a member of Charlotte Rotary from
1954 to January, 2004. Funeral arrangements are unavailable
at this time.
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Mark Pierman,
United Family Services Chief Executive, will participate in
Operation Freefall, a skydiving event that will be held on
Saturday in Chester to raise funds for programs to aid
sexual-assault victims.
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Famed photographer and Rotarian
David Norman will be available to take your
Roster picture next week between 11:30 - 12:30, and for
about thirty minutes following Rotary. The fee is $10.
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Rick Jackson gave
Rotarians an opportunity to make a donation to help
establish a scholarship fund at UNC's School of Journalism
in honor of Hall of Fame broadcaster, Henry Bogan. As most
know, Henry, host of Hello Henry from 1979 to 1986, passed
away last week. WBT has recorded a CD with a few of the more
memorable shows, with proceeds benefiting the scholarship.
If you did not get the chance to purchase your CD on
Tuesday, please contact Rick at
rjackson@wbt.com for assistance.
þ
Pat Millen received the
District Foundation Service Award for his unwavering support
to The Rotary Foundation, and particularly, his work with
the Ambassadorial Scholarship program. Governor Bill Wilson
commended Pat at last week's District Conference by saying
the Scholarship program ranks among the top in the Zone.
Congratulations Pat.
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Two important tasks are underway in the Rotary
office…updating Roster profiles and assigning committees for
next year. Remember to submit changes and requests to Sandy
no later than May 24th.
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"Scooters" are Rotarians
that "scoot" out of the meeting as soon as they finish their
lunch. Try sitting in the back of the room and you'll be
amazed at the number of Scooters in Charlotte Rotary. RI
attendance requirements say you are to be present for at
least 60 percent of the meeting….the clock does not start
from the time you walk in the door at 12:15. Not the best
way to impress the speaker. |
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Attendance
Record |
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5/02/06 |
5/03/05 |
| visitors &
guests |
22 |
22 |
| club
members |
170 |
186 |
| total
attendance |
192 |
208 |
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New Members | Resignations |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
09 Mary Beth and John Snyder
11 Debbie and Jerry Blanchard
14 Kristin and John Bradberry |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
09 Ray Killian, Conover, NC
12 Robby Ray,
Chattanooga, TN
12 Gene Williams, Brooklyn, NY
13 Bayard Van Hecke,
Lawrence, KS
14 Bob Culbertson, Albany, GA
14 Ed Kale, Lincolnton, NC
14 Mac McCarley,
Greensboro, NC
15 Al Allison, Charlotte, NC |
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