The program speaker this week was North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black. Please review these highlights of his insightful presentation.
• Jim believes that elected officials should have day jobs to keep them in touch with the mainstream.
• Jim became speaker on January 27 and pledged a focus on education and children in 1999.
• A two-year budget was passed before July 1 for the first time in 20 years.
• The third phase of Governor Jim Hunt's plan to raise teacher pay to the national average was approved. A top spending priority for next year will be to fund the fourth phase of that plan.
• Smart Start was expanded which provides vital services to children preparing for school.
• A record amount was spent on community colleges to help retain workers. Much of this money is being invested in retraining programs. This was done without raising taxes.
• Jim initiated a change in budget loading "special provision" bills. These controversial measures bring a hardship on budget conscious lawmakers.
• This year's budget passed by a large margin. Voting took place after consideration of more than 40 amendments.
• This year a plan was approved to refund intangible taxes to non-protesters.
• A plan was agreed upon for North Carolina's $4.6 billion from the national tobacco settlement.
• A bill was passed to make schools safer and make parents share in responsibility for bomb threats.
• A bill was passed to affect negative campaigning.
• Clean air legislation was passed, and efforts continued to clean up rivers and streams. Business groups as well as environmental groups participated.
• Jim was disappointed over the failing of the higher education bond issue and whether citizens should be allowed to vote.
• Jim feels that the business community holds the key to the bond package. In his opinion, passage of these bonds is vital to the economic engine of this state.
• Transportation is the top issue for this region. We are short on funds for maintenance and upgrades.
• Jim is suggesting a commission review of toll roads as solutions.
• Education is the other big issue for our region. Jim Woodward has been the right leader at the right time. He and Jim Black help push the legislation for the doctoral program at UNC Charlotte.
• Jim Black is the first House Speaker from Mecklenburg County in almost 73 years. He assured us that our issues will be heard.
     Mark Norman was responsible for the head table which consisted of Hal Bouton, Patricia Baldwin, Jim Woodward, Jim Black, Worth Williamson, Julian AIdridge, Charlie Green, and Tyson Bennett.
     Gerald Grohowski introduced such a large number of visiting rotarians and guests that President Worth quipped that members of the club would be entitled to our first dividend payment.
     Bronnie McNabb handled the sad report of Harry Brace's death. Our prayers go out to his family. Bronnie shared a story about our barding ex-president Ronnie Pruett. In addition to his talent with the rhyme, he now is to be known for another prowess. The Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria, was the scene of his Gene Kelly rendition.
     Gayle Smith introduced our newest member, Jeannie Faulkner. Look forward to her many credentials in the coming rotary report.
     Chuck Lineberry was in the starting gate to lead the song, but the gun never went off.
     Julian AIdridge gave our invocation.
     Don Haack recognized Paul Harris fellows Bill Spencer, Chase Saunders, John Barnhardt, and Worth Williamson.
     Worth's contribution was given in honor of his wife Sarah who received the award.
     In closing. Warren Jefferies is recovering and has been moved to a longer term facility. Please remember him in your prayers. Also, Mary Stuart Brooks wants everyone to consider the emergency winter shelter. They are looking for a new home.

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In Memoriam

August 23, 1937                       September 17, 1999

     Rotarian Harry Hitchcock Brace died unexpectedly on Friday, September 17, while exercising at the Central YMCA. He was 62.
     Charlotte Observer Columnist Ken Garfield captured the Harry Brace we knew and loved in a column on Sunday:
     "There's a sweet, sad justice to Harry Brace passing away while working out at the YMCA. He's gone on to a better place, of course. But as president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, he would have been the first to tell us that the best place on earth was the Y."
     Harry's doctors had prescribed exercise after recent heart trouble. Said Garfield, ". . . the best prescription anyone could have given him was to spend as much time as he could at the Y, for it was the place to which he gave his heart and soul. That's what made him so special to me and so many others," Garfield continued. "We were touched by his faith in God, his warmth for people and his passion for a bunch of gyms that became his ministry."
     A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Harry grew up in Omaha and graduated from the University of Nebraska. He received a master's degree from George Williams College. He was involved in Y work for 40 years in Minneapolis, Chicago, Grand Rapids and for the past 16 years as head of the Charlotte Y.
     Under Harry's leadership the Greater Charlotte YMCA became the nation's seventh largest. In 16 years, membership grew to 106,000 members and $40 million in revenue. Ironically, only four days after his death, the Y announced plans to build its third center city location, this time in the new Gateway complex Bank of America is developing in Third Ward.
     In his invocation at Tuesday's meeting, Julian Aldridge caught the spirit of what made Harry special: "We give thanks for the lives of people whose service on behalf of others has enriched life for all; most especially, on this day, we remember with gratitude the leadership of Harry Brace, whose commitment to the health of body, mind, and spirit made our community a better place in which to live."
     No doubt, Harry's already working on a celestial branch of the Queen City Y. Memorials may be made to the Harry Brace Memorial Fund, c/o Central YMCA, 500 E. Morehead St., Suite 300, Charlotte, N.C. 28202.
     We extend our sympathy to Harry's wife, Jean, his three children and his five grandchildren. A memorial to our student educational fund will be made by the Club.

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CORRECTION

To correct a possible wrong impression, our reporter for the September 7 meeting asked for this explanation. His FAXed report, as it was being set in print, had its text changed slightly. An altered sentence about our speaker, Congressman Mel Watt, made it seem that he himself recited his numerous honors and accomplishments. As those present know but others might not, that information was told to us by Jim Woodward, in his introduction of the speaker.

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USES OF YOUR ROSTER

The membership Roster is presented by Charlotte Rotary to help you become better acquainted with Club members. The Roster is your personal property under the following conditions: It must not be given to anyone for circulation purposes, nor may the names be used as a mail, phone or fax list for business advertising or political solicitation, nor as a list for charitable solicitations by other organizations.

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FUTURE CONVENTIONS OF R.I.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, 4-7 June 2000. San Antonio, Texas, 2001 (dates to be announced).

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POWELL'S
OBSERVATIONS

POWELL MAJORS

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