President Don opened the meeting shortly after 12:30. Don Carmichael introduced our guests and visiting Rotarians. In the absence of Bill Wood, there was no health & happiness report. President Don led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. In the absence of Chuck Lineberry, who is experiencing throat problems, Howard Chadwick led us in "Take Me out to the Ball Game," and Jeff Triplette gave the invocation. Sitting at the head table were Vernon Anderson, Patricia Baldwin, Ed Ruff, Jeff Triplette. Fred Parker and Hal Bouton. President Don read the list of perfect attendance members and gave a special introduction and presented a pin to Ralston Pound for his 50 years of perfect attendance. Donald Haack gave us information on the Paul Harris dinner. President Don read a note from Nancy Alexander, wife of deceased member Dr. Jim Alexander, expressing her gratitude for our contribution to the Rotary Foundation.
     Ed Ruff introduced our speaker, Jim Morgan, who is past president of Wachovia/IJL — a $300 million corporation. He graduated from Vanderbilt University and was a naval officer. He has many honors and is very active in professional and civic organizations. His concern today was the pressures in the present corporate environment. Corporations try to do business the same old way with goals established. Their boards of directors are made up of many members who do not know what their company does or what its goals are. Pressures come from stock market analysts who want them to predict quarterly profits, and the stock price depends on their predictions. That is what is causing the volatility in the market today.
     He continued by saying that times are changing and the corporations need to make the necessary adjustments to keep up with their ever-changing markets. They should do their own thing and not listen to the market analysts. He said volatility is here to stay, so you should be prepared in your own investments to go back to the portfolio concept. He offered five guidelines to follow:

     In closing he stressed that time is the key today. Take time to look around your environment, compliment people and enjoy home life. Take stock and slow down. His suggestions about time were to take time to think, play, work, read, love, enjoy friends, laugh, give and, last, pray, which gives the greatest power.
     President Don thanked Jim for his very moving, thoughtful presentation. There were no questions in honor of his thought-provoking message. President Don then adjourned the meeting. If you missed this program, you missed a real treat.

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• immunization activities to eradicate polio from all the nations of the world by the year 2000;

• approximately 1,300 scholarships for graduate, undergraduate, and vocational study;

• more than 250 Group Study Exchanges (500 teams);

• approximately 1,200 international humanitarian projects through Matching Grants, Helping Grants and Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants;

• Grants for University Teachers, to serve in developing nations other than their own;

• more than 250 Rotary Volunteers providing needed service abroad;

• one or more Rotary Peace Programs meetings.

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Service Salute

RALSTON M. POUND, JR.
50 Years of Perfect Attendance

     Ralston M. Pound, Jr., is Charlotte Rotary's second member to reach 50 years of perfect attendance. (The late Hoyt Galvin was our first.) Ralston received well-earned recognition at our October 17 meeting as President Don Steger presented him a pin to honor his achievement. Ralston will also be receiving a plaque to commemorate his dedication and faithful service.
     Ralston Pound was born and raised in Charlotte. He attended public schools through 9th grade and then went to Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia, for high school. He attended NC State until he joined the Navy in August 1941 to become a Navy pilot, serving in the Pacific theater aboard the new USS Lexington and becoming a Navy Ace. Ralston then joined (he Naval Reserves in Charlotte and associated with his father at Pound & Moore in 1946.
     That same year Ralston married Deanie Shaw. They have two children: Lynn, who lives in Greensboro and works for a law firm, and Tripp, who married Beth Revard, is a CPA in Fresno, and has two children — Brandon, 20, and Laura, 16.
     Ralston's father introduced him to Rotary in 1948 where he served as secretary and treasurer under Ernest Hicks. He has served on the Board of Directors and many committees, including several times on the Club Service committee.
     When Pound & Moore was sold in 1985, Ralston retired. He now belongs to the Naval Reserve Association, Senior Forum, Masonic bodies and Shrine, and Personal Computer Club of Charlotte, and he attends Navy Reserve Squadron reunions when they occur. He is active in the US Power Squadrons (a national boating organization that teaches safe boating), and he has served as Commander of Charlotte Squadron and District and as National Treasurer.
     Ralston enjoys boating, fishing, photography, computers and working around the house and yard. He is as busy as he wants to be and wonders when he ever had time to work. He told Deanie when he retired, "If 1 ever got bored, I will go back to work." He's still retired!
     They belong to River Hills Community Church where Deanie sings in the choir and helps maintain the music library. They are both into genealogy and enjoy traveling, looking for ancestors.

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POWELL'S
OBSERVATIONS

POWELL  MAJORS

     The "Observer" places David Anderson in the hot seat as he assumes chairmanship of the Planning Commission. An immediate problem of the commission is the "big dark boxes"—vacant shells that once housed giant retail centers — which are an eyesore and dampen economic development.
     Hope Lanier, commenting on the delay in calls to 911 during a storm, said that so many calls at one time caused the system to be on the verge of crashing.
     Eric Smith inadvertently mixed his Ken's when he referred to Lewis and meant Thompson at a breakfast at First Union.
     John Tabor applauds the City Council for helping bring the "Character Cities" issue to the forefront in a letter to the editor of the "Observer."
     Under the people column "Neighbors" reported that Don Steger is the new president of the Charlotte Rotary Club. The article listed Don's aims during the year and a brief listing of his affiliations.
     Bill Underwood's law firm is merging with the New York firm of Rosenman and Colin.
     Charlotte 2010, an annual discussion on the area's future, will have Eric Smith as one of the panelists and Hope Lanier involved with ticket sales. The event will be held November 15th at Theatre Charlotte on Queens Road.
     Bill Wood giving the invocation and Jeannie Falknor introducing the speaker gave the Novello program at the Civic Center a district Rotary flavor. Bob Woodward, noted author, was the speaker.

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