Allen Tate, Jr.
Excellence in Leadership Award 2007-2008
By Jill Santuccio
            
The Excellence in Leadership Award, first bestowed by the Rotary Club of Charlotte on a civic and business leader in 1988, was presented to Allen Tate Jr., founder and president of the Allen Tate Company.
 
Rotarian Gary Scott, one of Tate's senior executives, wrote in the nomination that passion, vision and leadership are necessary not only to build a company, but to build a community as well. Founded in 1957, the Allen Tate Company boasted $6.78 billion in sales last year and has more than 1,600 realtors and 400 employees around the Carolinas.
 
During his introduction, Phil Van Hoy joked that if Tate ever wanted to run for elected office he would never need to put out yard signs, quipping that there was at least one on every street in Charlotte. Tate's family members, including Allen Tate III, Libby & Paisley Gordon and Lauren Campbell, as well as numerous Tate staffers were on hand for the presentation.
 
Tate's leadership outside of the fifth-largest, independently-owned real estate company in the nation include serving 15 years on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission, 10 years on the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce board, as well as numerous other realty, community and corporate boards of directors.
 
During his comments, Tate told the story of how he and Rotarian Pete Sloan - when Sloan was the president of the Charlotte Jaycees - brought the first rodeo to Charlotte in 1963. They decided the best way to kick off the festivities would be to have the famous Fred Kirby and his horse Calico make a grand entrance.
 
"There was Fred all dressed in Carolina blue with his white hat. As he rode in, Calico went left and Fred went right … he fell off and really got hurt," Tate laughed. "I think that was the most embarrassing moment Pete and I ever had."
He also recalled debating at his alma mater UNC Chapel Hill with Rotarian Edgar Love, recognized many a friend in the room and reflected upon his life being "an open book … you have watched me through it all."
 
Tate was presented with a crystal trophy to commemorate the award, and received two standing ovations during the luncheon..
        
Head Table: Jim Woodward, Luther Fincher, Byron Bullard, David Zimmerman, Gary Scott, Sheila Cottringer;
Invocation: Ron Campbell;
Visitors & Guests: BG Metzler; Health & Happiness: Ed Turner; Song: Pam Jefsen; Piano: Thomas Moore

• Dan Rajkowski was introduced to the club by sponsor Tony Zeiss. Dan is vice president and general manager of the Charlotte Knights. Contact Dan at danr@charlotteknights.com.
            
• Powell Majors remains in the Hospice unit at Presbyterian Hospital (200 Hawthorne Ln, Charlotte 28204) and is resting comfortably. He really enjoys receiving cards and notes; Chris Scholz (Chip's wife) fell last week and shattered her left arm. Fortunately, she will not need surgery; Leland Park is wearing a boot to relieve pain from tendonitis and swears word is out that he's retired on Medicare with lots of free time.
     
• Pender McElroy recognized several supporters of The Rotary Foundation: Bill Nichols, Brian Gibson, and Everett Harriss (Herb's grandson) were awarded Paul Harris Fellow; John Snyder, Benefactor (bequest in your Will); Jan Thompson, Level Two; Herb Harriss, Level Six.
    
• Phil Van Hoy commented on cutting time off the sentences of 20,000 drug dealers currently in federal prisons; The Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Board of Directors has named David Zimmerman a director of the Fed's Charlotte office; Donald Haack Diamonds & Fine Gems received the 2007 American Business Ethics Award from the Foundation for Financial Services Professionals in the Small Company Category.
    
• The global campaign to wipe out polio is getting a $200 million donation from Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
 
• Condolences are extended to the Allison family. Jim Allison, a member of Charlotte from 1951 to 1976, passed away November 22nd. Jim is survived by his wife of 62 years, Becky, and four of their five children. Brothers, Henry and Rufus, were also long-time members of the club. And sadly, Henry's wife, Martha, passed away November 25th. A memorial for Martha will be held at 2:00 pm on November 30 at the Chapel of Covenant Presbyterian Church. You will want to keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.
 
• Karen Calder, executive director of Classroom Central, says school supplies provided free of charge to teachers at 126 schools are at an all time low. Items particularly needed: pencils, loose-leaf notebook paper, three-subject and five-subject notebooks, pens, scissors, glue sticks, and colored markers.
 
• Frank Martin extends an opportunity for club members to make a donation to support the water project in Alta Cayma, Peru. Several sources will fund the $139,222 project: Matching Grant ($58,810), District 7680 ($37,206), Rotary Club of Arequipa ($6,000). Dilworth SouthEnd and Gastonia East Rotary will partner with Charlotte Rotary to complete funding of $37,206. Donations, payable to The Rotary Foundation DAF (memo section: Peru project), will count towards Paul Harris Fellow. Checks can be submitted to the Rotary office.
 
• Salvation Army Bell Ringing schedule is almost completed. Check here for confirmation of your assignment or to sign up as a volunteer. First day collections: $83.30.
  
• MAKE NOTE: The December 4th meeting will be held at Myers Park Country Club.
  
• Group Study Exchange: A team of 5 (1 Rotarian, 4 non-Rotarians) will travel to Taiwan for a thirty day visit as part of Rotary's Group Study Exchange Program. Team members must be between the ages of 25 to 40, cannot be lineal descendants of a living Rotarian, must be employed, and either live or work within the 11 counties around Iredell, which make up Rotary District 7680. Applications are due by December 1st. Contact Regina Patton for additional information.