President Don called the Election Day meeting of Charlotte Rotary to order. Jim Evans introduced guests and visiting Rotarians. President Don recognized several special guests as part of the day's program featuring the 2000 Excellence in Management Award Winner. This award is sponsored by The Charlotte Chamber, The Business Journal, and our club. Special visitors included the guests of Billy Wireman: Katie Wireman, Cathy Anderson, Tamara Leavell, Christopher Ammon, and Kristen Kelly; guests of Byron Bullard: Miriam Connor Hayes, Eleanor Barnhardt (mother of Sadler and Jim), Jack and Carol Reeves — all strong supporters of Queens College; and guests of the club: Carol Gray, President of the Charlotte Chamber, and Stacey Ellis, publications director of The Charlotte Chamber who coordinated the nominations.
     Health and Happiness was offered by Bill Furr who told the club that George Henderson was at home and was requesting just cards with our good wishes. Bill later shared some "famous" political quotes from the presidential candidates. President Don led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a rousing rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" led by Richard Early. Byron Bullard led the invocation. Mac McCarley introduced and welcomed our newest member of the club, Ron Kimble, Assistant City Manager for the City of Charlotte.
     As part of the meeting's special program, President Don recognized former recipients of the Excellence in Management Award. They included Johnny Jones, Pete Sloan, John Belk, Hugh McCoIl, Ed Crutchfield, Leroy Robinson, Jim Woodward, and Byron Bullard. President Don then introduced the head table which included Tom Johnson, Leroy Robinson, Byron Bullard, Jim Woodward, Nadine Fails, and Jeannie Falknor who introduced the speaker and this year's recipient of the 2000 Excellence in Management Award Winner, Dr. Billy Wireman.
     Jeannie told the group that this is the 13th year the Excellence in Management Award has been given by the Charlotte Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce and The Business Journal. She thanked Tom Johnson, who ran this year's judging on behalf of the Rotary, and Stacy Ellis of the Chamber who coordinated all the details.
     Jeannie then listed some of the highlights in Dr. Wireman's career. These included: a doctorate degree from Vanderbilt University, serving as a marine in the Korean War, helping to run a family business, a nine-year tenure as president of Eckerd College in Florida, a world traveler and consultant in many countries, a member of numerous boards, and an author and prolific writer of columns on education, religion, politics, and the world. Dr. Wireman has had many accomplishments at Queens. Since he became president in 1978, total enrollment has increased by some 300% to 1,700 students and the endowment has grown to $40 million. When he came to Queens the school was almost $2 million in debt. Now it has successfully completed a number of capital campaigns.
     New programs under Dr. Wireman's leadership include: the Pauline Lewis Hayworth College, the Graduate School, undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees, the Core Program in the Liberal Arts, the John Belk International Program, the shift to a coeducational college, the Executive MBA, and the Learning Society at Queens. Several scholarship programs have been launched. A $4 million gift resulted in the naming of the Hugh L. McColl Jr. School of Business. And for the last four years, the annual U.S. News and World Report survey has ranked Queens in its top 10 for Best Value and in the Top 25 of Southern Regional Universities. Jeannie cited several individuals who offered testimonials to Dr. Wireman's leadership including Hugh McColl, John Sykes, and Caroline Myers. Jeannie then presented the 2000 Manager Award Winner, Dr. Billy Wireman.
     Billy thanked the club, the Chamber, and The Business Journal. Billy took a few minutes to reflect on his definition of  Leadership and Management, two of the most widely discussed topics today. Billy's idea of leadership involves building a community around an idea. Billy offered several examples of this concept from history. Abraham Lincoln built on his idea of community by preserving the Union. Walt Disney built an entertainment community around the idea of wholesome entertainment. Gandhi's idea for independence from the British using a nonviolence approach was effective in bringing change. Rachel Carson's idea for environmental change in her book "Silent Spring" influenced President Kennedy. Rosa Parks was put on trial for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man; her quiet strength was the beginning of the civil rights movement. Caroline Myers, a graduate of Queens College and the wife of Rotarian Mike Myers, founded the Crisis Assistance Ministry that now distributes over $3 million annually to the poor, building her community around the idea of helping the less fortunate. Hugh McColl's legacy, and later Ed Crutch-field's seen in the financial center Charlotte has become since he started the Uptown Development Corporation, was built on the economic prosperity of the community. When Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years of imprisonment, a reporter asked him if he wanted to "get even." Nelson replied, "I don't have time for anger and revenge; there is a great country to build. Let's not do anything that would lead anyone to question our capacity to govern ourselves." This is a powerful message for government's concern and the vitality of the private sector. Dr. Wireman took a couple of questions from the audience before thanking the club, the Charlotte Chamber and The Business Journal for the award. President Don adjourned the meeting.

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New Member

NANCY LEE DORRIER

Joined 2000
Consulting, Executive Coaching

831E.Morehead St., #255
Charlotte 28202
704-343-9092
FAX 704-342-0234
email Nancy555@aol.com

     Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Nancy.

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