 BILL
GOODWYN
Discovery Communications
By Jim Kelley
Shannon Vaughn introduced
Bill Goodwyn. Bill serves as the President of Affiliate Sales and
Marketing at Discovery Communications-the company that is home to
some of the most popular cable networks today. Bill is responsible
for all US network distribution and marketing, with oversight of
annual revenues in excess of $1 Billion. A North Carolina native,
Bill joined Discovery's Washington, DC headquarters in 1987 and was
the chief architect in building Discovery Channel into the most
widely distributed cable network in the US. Bill is a proud graduate
of UNC - Chapel Hill, as is his wife Leigh. Bill, Leigh and their
two young children left the wilds of DC and relocated to Charlotte
in 1999. He serves on the UNC Chapel Hill Journalism School of
Advisors, is a member of the Alexander Youth Network Board and the
Meinke Car Care Bowl Board.
Bill gave an overview of Discovery Networks from television to new
media. Discovery Networks was founded in 1985 as part of the
evolution of television from broadcasting to cable networks. HBO
provided movies; ESPN, sports; CNN, news; MTV, music and Discovery
provided documentaries. The Discovery Channel alone has over 91
million customers in the US and the Discovery Network has 16 other
channels, including The Learning Channel, Animal Planet and The
Travel Channel, among others.
The cable networks evolved from launch to distribution to awareness
to tune-in to ratings. Then the networks looked for revenue streams
such as distribution fees and ad revenue. These revenues allowed the
networks to develop ancillary businesses such as syndication and
licensing. Many times the networks make more revenue from these
sources than from distribution fees and ad revenue. Sponge Bob for
example makes more from licensing than it does from its cable show.
Discovery Networks worldwide has over 1.2 billion subscribers on 65
television networks in over 160 countries. In addition to the 17 US
television channels, Discovery also has 10 international television
channels, a library with over 100,000 hours of video footage, 120
retail stores and product licensing deals in over 100 countries.
Discovery also has programming available in 90,000 US schools and in
15,000 schools in 19 countries outside the US as well as six million
monthly visitors to its web.
Bill mentioned that customers are making shifts in their viewing
habits. They want "closer to reality" experiences and are looking
for the three C's - control, choice and convenience. They are moving
from linear TV to high definition TV which is sharper. They are
shifting into new platforms - broadband (video on the internet) and
mobile (video on the cell). They are also time shifting using DVRs
that allow for reviewing of programs while fast forwarding through
commercials. In closing, Bill mentioned that Discovery Networks have
made a transition from being the premium company for real world
linear TV to being the premium company for real world media across
all platforms. They are looking to inspire, educate and enlighten
their customers so they can learn.
Head Table:
Jill Santuccio, Bill Stegelmeyer, Luther Moore, Shannon Vaughn,
Carol Jordan, Leland Park; Invocation: Meg McElwain
Visitors &
Guests:
Edgar Love; Health &
Happiness: Ed Turner; Song: Thomas Moore
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LOOKING FOR DR. C.C. HUDSON |
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Last Friday, a call came into the
Rotary office from a lawyer in Greensboro who was working to
settle an estate. He had come across a cup with the inscription
"Dr. C. C. Hudson, Rotary Club of Charlotte, 1918-1919", and
wanted to know if we had any information on circumstances of the
presentation. I told him I would check into it and get back with
him. There was not a membership file by that name, so I took a
chance and decided to look through the minutes. If you've been
in the Rotary office, you will see we have minutes beginning
with the very first board meeting - dated October 28, 1916. In a
relatively short time, and to my total amazement, I came across
the following entry from minutes dated March 10, 1919: "Upon
motion duly made and seconded the Board authorized an
expenditure of approximately ten dollars ($10.00) for a loving
cup to be purchased and presented to Dr. C. C. Hudson, City
Health Officer, in appreciation of his work during the Spanish
Influenza epidemic." My next call was to Powell to see if by
chance he knew anything about Dr. Hudson. He did not, so I tried
the internet, which took me to a website maintained by UNCC, and
also a site called The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story - which is
maintained by the Public Library. After speaking to someone in
the Carolina Room at the Library, I learned he lived on Louise
Avenue, had a wife named Sue and a daughter Nancy. I returned
the call to the lawyer, who was totally shocked at the
discovery! He will continue his search to try and place the cup
with a family member. If nothing turns out, he will consider
sending the cup to Charlotte Rotary or the Health Department. He
said at the very least, he wanted to stop by Charlotte Rotary
next time he was in town. So interesting! |
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Rotary Club of Charlotte
841 Baxter Street, Suite 118, Charlotte 28202
chltrot@bellsouth.net 704-375-6816 |
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þ
Alan Adler asked
everyone involved in the golf tournament to stand and
announced the event raised more than $64,000 toward the
scholarship fund for the children of our sheriff, police,
fire, and medic department employees. This was more than
double the amount raised last year! KUDOS to everyone who
played a role in this most successful fundraising event.
þ
Ed Wadsworth expressed
thanks to David and
Lynn Erdman, who are
serving as a host family for the club's exchange student -
Suji. If you are able to host Suji in your home for the time
period covering November 1 to March 1 or March 1 to June 1,
please contact Ed (ed@wadsworthgroup.net).
If you are interested in serving as a co-counselor for Suji,
contact Kitty Stutts
(kstutts@commercialdesignnc.com).
þ
Pender McElroy
recognized Dale LeCount
for achieving Paul Harris Fellow.
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Dot Adams (Jim) has been
diagnosed with cancer and had surgery last week. Jim says
Dot's prognosis is good and her spirits are improving.
þ
Most know that Leland Park
retired from Davidson College back in July. Thanks to a
little sneaking around behind the scenes, a few pictures
from Leland's career were suddenly available. And since he
was at the head table - it seemed like the perfect time to
share them with his Rotary friends.
þ
Thanks to Ron Campbell
for sponsoring the club's newest member, Greg Etheridge.
Greg is President of Comfort Systems USA, Charlotte, NC and
can be reached at
greg.etheridge@comfortsystemsusa.com.
þ
David Anderson gave a
final reminder that anyone interested in making the trip to
Peru in January should finalize their intentions
immediately. Rotarians confirmed to make the trip from
Charlotte Rotary are David
Anderson, Carol Hughes, Frank Martin, Ed and
Greg Wadsworth.
þ
At a seminar sponsored by the Mecklenburg County Veterans
Services, Al Nikels will
speak on "Self-Employment and Franchise Options…especially
for U.S. Veterans." September 28, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the
Hal Marshall Building.
þ
Meg McElwain was
photographed while attending the "Woven Worlds: Basketry
from the Clark Field Collection" at the Mint Museum of Craft
+ Design |
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NEW MEMBER APPROVAL |
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The Classification and Membership
Committee recommend and the Directors approve for consideration
for all members, the following NEW MEMBER. Should you question
the eligibility of any nominee, please call the Rotary Office by
September 26th. You will be contacted by a member of
the Board. Otherwise, no reply is necessary and election will
proceed according to our bylaws. |
Dean Jones
YMCA of Greater Charlotte
Classification: Social Service Agency-YMCA
Sponsor: Ed Kizer
Endorsed: Tom Norwood, Pat Millen |
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Attendance
Record |
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9/19/06 |
9/20/05 |
| visitors &
guests |
13 |
8 |
| club
members |
164 |
178 |
| total
attendance |
177 |
186 |
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New Members | Resignations |
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Greg Etheridge |
Jody Billiard
Bob Reid
Robby Ray |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
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29 Ashley and Marcus Lee |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
26 Tom Burgess,
Tallahassee, FL
27 Harriman Jett,
Milledsville, GA
27 Tim Newman, Danville, VA
29 Niels Olsen,
Copenhagen, Denmark
29 Lee Tabor,
Hendersonville, NC
30 Ed Ruff, Bakersfield, CA
01 George MacBain,
Newport News, VA |
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