President Jim introduced our head table, which included Susan Hutchins, Harry Jones, Brenda Lea, Harry Weatherly, John Tabor, and Ed Kizer who introduced our program.
     Our topic for today was "The Great State of Mecklenburg Image — Myth or Reality?" and our speaker was Jack Betts, Associate Editor of the "Charlotte Observer," Raleigh, N.C.
     Jack Betts is a native of Greensboro and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. He is the Associate Editor and Chief of the Raleigh Bureau of the Charlotte Observer. Jack writes editorials on politics in North Carolina. Jack Betts began by telling us that when Ed Kizer had called him to speak, he felt certain that the legislature would certainly conclude its business by Halloween. The legislature has been in session for a record 170 days!
     Jack spoke then to "The Great State of Mecklenburg—Myth or Reality?" He stated that in his research in the "Observer" over the years, there has been a general decline in the term "State of Mecklenburg." One reason he feels this is true is that all of North Carolina is becoming more like Mecklenburg. More industry has moved into many counties across the state. Another reason is that Charlotte has an ongoing inferiority complex with trying to be Atlanta. He quoted from "Observer" articles going back to 1969 with articles speaking about Charlotte's inferiority complex and one referring to Charlotte as "Almost Atlanta."
     In the legislature he told us an interesting story that in the mid-70's our representatives tried to hide liquor by the drink in a tree ordinance bill. It was found out and there was hell to pay for it. But, in 1978 Mecklenburg was the first county to serve liquor by the drink and of course many other counties have followed since.
     Jack Betts stated that Mecklenburg has gotten a lot out of Raleigh. Some notable examples are Discovery Place, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, UNC-Charlotte and the Stadium. Mecklenburg has a lot of clout in Raleigh. A large part of that clout comes from Jim Black (Speaker of the House) and Ruth Easterling (co-chair of the Appropriations Committee). In fact, Mecklenburg has secured $15 million in this year's budget for a new train station.
     Jack Betts feels the "Great State of Mecklenburg" is in fine shape. Power is gradually moving west and to the Piedmont. Mecklenburg now has a larger land mass than ten countries. He said that maybe Mecklenburg should be thinking bigger and instead of the "Great State of Mecklenburg" we should refer to ourselves as the "Great Nation of Mecklenburg."
     President Jim thanked Jack Belts for his presentation (in spite of his flawed education) and adjourned our lunch.

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New Member

SUSAN L. PATTERSON

Joined 1994
Rejoined 2001

John S. & James L. Knight Foundation
P.O. Box 34769 (28234)
704-376-1818
FAX 704-376-1243

     Susan L. Patterson is community liaison program officer for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. She is responsible for facilitating grant making in Charlotte and three communities in Georgia for the Miami-based private foundation.
     Before joining the foundation, Susan was editor and publisher for "The Union-Recorder" newspaper in Milledgeville, Georgia, for over six years. There she was on the executive committee of United Way of Central Georgia, was president of the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Habitat for Humanity, and was the organizing chair of Kids Voting Milledgeville and the Pest of Ville community festival.
     Prior to moving to Georgia, Susan had filled a number of editing positions at "The Charlotte Observer" and "The Charlotte News," the most recent being editor and publisher of "Lake Norman Magazine." She helped organize the first Habitat house-building effort of "The Observer" and its first Christmas Bureau volunteer team. She served on the Crisis Assistance clothing ministry advisory board, the United Way's Christmas Bureau advisory board and Volunteer Center advisory board.
     A native of Shelbyville, Tennessee, Susan is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor's degree in communications. She has served on the college's Board of Visitors for a number of years.
     She's a past member of the Milledgeville Rotary Club and served as secretary and president-elect of the North Mecklenburg Rotary Club. She's a Paul Harris Fellow and her father is a past district governor.
     A member of Seigle Avenue Presbyterian Church, Susan enjoys spending her free time working on Habitat projects and traveling to Italy.
     Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Susan.

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POWELL'S
OBSERVATIONS

POWELL  MAJORS

     Jim Woodward along with the other living former chancellors. Bill Friday and Dick Spangler. oppose a proposal in the Legislature to again study the university system.
     Winn Maddrey is quoted in the "Business Journal" as saying the number attending the Network Monthly Meetings is holding steady.
     Jerry Orr is the ninth Rotarian to win the Excellence in Management Award. 0;her winners were Pete Sloan, Leroy Robinson, Bill Lee, Byron Billiard, Billy Wireman, Hugh McColl, John Belk, Jim Woodward and Harry Brace.
     The Business Monday section of the "Observer" carried much of Jerry Orr's remarks in accepting the Excellence in Management award.
     Charlene Kammerer and Katie Tyler are on the board of directors of Hospice.
     Peggy Wesp has been working with U.S. Customs officials to allow non-English-speaking artists to travel to Charlotte for the Christmas Show staged by David Zimmerman and associates.

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