Dan Morrill Speaks to Charlotte Rotary
By Matt Joyner
     
Richard Bailey introduced our speaker Dan Morrill, UNCC Professor of History, chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmark Commission and voice of our Rotary Centennial Project, "How I Survived World War II." Noting that Morrill interviewed 128 local and area WWII veterans and civilians for the award-winning project, Bailey also cited one UNCC student's online assessment of Morrill: "he has a weird sense of humor, but he is interesting."
 
"History is not the past. History is our consideration of the past," said Morrill, noting that students today are studying the same events and people that we studied in our history classes' years ago, but what has changed is the interpretation given to those events. In considering the importance of WWII in world history, Morrill said that three WWII-era developments will be cited a thousand years from now as marking the birth of our modern era: the invention of the nuclear bomb by the U.S. in the Manhattan Project, the first use of the computer (to calculate artillery trajectories) and the development of rocketry first by the Germans and then later by the U.S., which provided the basis for space exploration in later decades.
 
In discussing with WTVI a follow up program to "How I Survived WWII," the overarching theme that emerged was one of "Liberation" in light of the war's liberating impacts both technologically and socially. World War II saw the first widespread distribution of penicillin, ushering in a pharmacological revolution that continues today and advances in longevity and the attendant social issues. Jet airplanes and radar were also WWII-era military developments that were adapted to civilian life after the war, resulting in a revolutionary "shrinking" of our world.
 
In addition to the technological liberation wrought by WWII, Morrill noted the social liberation that followed in the war's wake. The postwar GI Bill made higher education accessible for the first time to masses of veterans and paved the way for our society's ongoing concern for making college education affordable and available to all. World War II also launched women into the American workplace in unprecedented numbers and in unprecedented occupations, outside of traditional roles in manufacturing, nursing and teaching. Likewise, the war was a major stimulus to the Civil Rights movement. After African-Americans had served their country in the war and been exposed to a larger world as a result, the pre-war Jim Crow racial status quo was doomed.
 
Morrill closed with a profound quote from one of our own, Martin Waters, who served aboard the U.S.S. Indianapolis, one of approximately 400 survivors of a crew of 1,200 on that tragically sunken ship: "War is too real. It takes the romance of life away." We are thankful to Dan Morrill and all who participated in our Rotary Centennial project for capturing this important slice of our history so that future generations may learn and benefit.
  
Head Table: Jon Hannan, Karen Steffens, David Zimmerman, Richard Bailey, Ed Driggs, Russell Ranson;
Invocation: Elsie Garner;
Visitors & Guests: Chris Thomas; Health & Happiness: Herb Harriss; Song: Biff Virkler; Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• George Thompson is doing well from Monday's bypass surgery and is expecting to be moved to a private room on Wednesday.
    
• Alan Adler was interviewed on Fox News Rising last Friday while attending the Hood-Hargett Breakfast Club fundraiser; Fred Lowrance has been called to be the Pastor to Meadowlake Presbyterian Church in Huntersville. Fred is a Commissioned Lay Pastor in the Presbyterian Church and will remain Counsel to Parker Poe; Terri DeBoo is recognized in Today's Charlotte Woman for being a finalist for the 2007 Charlotte Businesswoman of the Year; The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary 21st annual Festival of Tables {Barbara Robertson (Tom) and Maj. Christine Smith (Todd)} was a tremendous success; CPCC Theatre will present The Miracle Worker April 25, 26 and May 2,3, and 4. Tickets are available at the CPCC Box Office.
   
• Going Green: Pat Millen's comment in the Forum raises a concern of the environmental effect the disposal of TVs will have when the analog signals go black on February 17; Several companies, nonprofits and individuals in Charlotte Rotary were recognized by the Charlotte Business Journal Green Awards 2008: Bank of America, Moore & Van Allen, Little, Tim Newman, Doug Bean, Classroom Central, Char-Meck Utilities, Mecklenburg County, UNC Charlotte, CPCC, Goodwill Industries, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Johnson & Wales University, Childress Klein Properties, CMS Schools.
   
• CLUB SOCIAL UPDATES: A couple host dinners have been rescheduled (Zimmerman's from 4/26 to 5/18) or cancelled (Poe's 5/17). Check the website for the updated schedule; this weekend's wine tasting venue has slightly changed - still this Saturday, April 26th. Couples will enjoy the Taste Carolina Wine Festival, 11 am to 6 pm at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market, Colfax, NC. Tickets are available online at $16 a person, $20 at the gate. Contact Dave Adams at 704-400-7302 or dave@absolutedirectmailservices.com; the annual BBQ at SMS Catering will be moved to October. Stay tuned for the exact date.
  
• Todd Stevens gave an update on RI's effort to eradicate Polio, saying that since the effort began in 1981, 2 billion children have been immunized and $650 million has been raised. Todd recognized several Rotarians for their support to The Rotary Foundation: Neil Burkhead and Bill Meanor, Level 2; Doug Bean, Paul Harris Fellow; Bill Allen and Tom Cottingham, Paul Harris Society. President David announced that through the end of 3rd Qtr, the club has achieved 132% of goal in annual donations to the Foundation.
       
• Ed Kizer, Pender McElroy, Warren Kean, Lamar Thomas, Luther Moore, Ed Wadsworth, and Gloria & Jim Hintz provided a little one-on-one time to further explain the Peru scholarships that are available. Thanks to Alan Barnhardt and Jack Marks for attending the session and also for their willingness to support the Peru effort. Additional information is available here.

Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, contact the Rotary office by 4/28/2008.