Meeting

Report

September 30, 2003
Charter Date: December 1, 1916

Gloria Pace King
United Way
Central Carolinas
By: George MacBain

Our Charlotte Rotary Club gave a warm welcome to Gloria Pace King, Executive Director of the United Way of Central Carolinas. Gloria was introduced by Mac McCarley, Mecklenburg County Campaign Chairman. Gloria came to Charlotte in 1994 after serving as Senior Vice President in her home state Ohio for the Greater Cleveland United Way. Mac pointed out that under Gloria’s leadership in her 10th campaign since arriving in Charlotte, the goal has gone from $18 million to $37.4 million this year and she has increased the number of $10,000+ donors from 40 to 504.

Gloria opened her remarks by recognizing the eight members of our club who direct agencies that are part of the 98 agencies supported by our United Way covering Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus and Lake Norman/Mooresville. “These people are the reason why our local United Way is so successful”. She also praised the outstanding job of Mary Mack, Regional Campaign Chairman, club member and just the 3rd woman to lead this campaign.

Much of Gloria’s comments centered on the fact that the income gap continues to widen and with that comes greater poverty. She quoted recent headlines in various local and national papers with a common theme; poverty continues to grow putting more and more pressure on social service agencies. Charlotte is one of the most beautiful cities to live/drive through yet if you drive 1mile in any direction you will see the poverty “if you know where to drive”. Once people are able to see the poverty many of our citizens live in “most people then get it (understand) and we then find ways to make peoples lives better”.

United Way was at Pillowtex 8 weeks before they closed their doors earlier this summer as a problem solver. She thanked all of the United Way agencies for marshalling resources to make the assistance even stronger. Gloria pointed out that as the company entered bankruptcy last year, its employees contributed $130,000 to our campaign! Assistance has been in the form of a new Resource Center in Cabarrus County, which has served over 2,300 people and contributed between $5-8,000 to over 1,000 persons in need of assistance. And this is just a drop in the bucket of the real need. Evictions, foreclosures and mounting medical expenses are all looming on their horizon.

Gloria went on to share with us that though we read times are getting better, there are 9% of the 770,000 citizens of Mecklenburg County living below the poverty line (70,000 people in OUR community), enough to fill Ericsson Stadium. There are 28,000 who were in so called white collar jobs seeking employment, foreclosures were up 50% in our area in 2002, and so far in 2003 there have been 50, million dollar homes foreclosed in our area. Take a drive down a street you never travel and see/feel how many in our community must live. You know where one is! Please think of the good your dollars can do here in our community and how good you will feel by helping your neighbor. If you need a United Way donor card, they will be available at the check in table through October.

Head Table:
Anderson, Marilynn Bowler, Mac McCarley, Tom Robertson, Catherine Browning, Bob Barber; Invocation, Brent Trexler
Visitors and Guests:
Duke Ison; Health & Happiness: Ed Turner; Song: Thomas Moore
 

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Salute to Membership

The Rotary Club of Charlotte would like to recognize thirty-four members that achieved 100% attendance during 2002-2003. Take note: there are 3 members with 50 years or better perfect attendance. This is a fantastic achievement – one that all members should strive for. If anyone has been overlooked, or reported in error, please contact the Rotary Office.

Years of Perfect Attendance 53 Ralston Pound   18 John Phillips   6 Robert Freeman 52 Martin Waters   14 Bruce Darden   6 Marilynn Bowler 50 Mac Jackson   13 Bert Voswinkel   5 Al Allison 32 Jim Barnhardt   13 Alan Barnhardt   5 George Rohe 29 Dwight Thomas   13 Ken Harris   5 Dale LeCount 27 Leland Park   10 Bob Barber   3 Harry Daugherty 26 Tom Burgess   7 Pat Millen   2 Frank Watson 26 Bill Barnhardt   7 Tony Lathrop   2 Harry Weatherly 24 Vernon Anderson   6 Gayle Smith   1 David Anderson 19 Ronnie Pruett   6 Lamar Thomas   1 Matt Joyner             1 Tom Robertson

2003-04 RI Theme

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