Meeting |
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Report |
Meeting |
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Report |
September 3, 2002 |
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How I Got Where I’m At Proving once again that our own members give great programs, five of our newest members Tuesday told us in interesting and informative ways “how they got where they’re at.” Powell Majors presented Hank Heidenreich, executive coach/trainer; Claude Lilly, business school dean and professor; Rufus Robinson, university fundraiser; Mike Whitehead, management consultant; and Chuck Ambrose, university president, who entertained, informed and gave us special insights into their lives as they traced their paths to Charlotte Rotary. Hank even showed up with props – a notebook and a large clock – joking that he’d “let us out by 2.” But as Claude pointed out, the clock must’ve been broken. Said Hank, over the years, “I’ve had a lot of experiences and made a lot of decisions. Some of those decisions have been suspect. I am grateful the Good Lord saved me from the worst of those.” Claude said he arrived back on the East Coast after a mudslide almost destroyed his California home, a wild fire stopped five homes from his, and the dishes started dancing across the table in an earthquake. The dean of the UNCC Belk School of Business said his wife told him it was time to look for a job on the East coast. In taking this job as dean of the business school, he said it was difficult to say no to Chancellor Jim Woodward. “When he asked, I said, “Jim, I was just thinking about being dean this morning while shaving.” Rufus said Johnson C. Smith University President Dorothy C. Yancy was the answer to his prayer to leave Washington, D.C., after 15 years. “It’s a great place to visit,” he said. Rufus described Charlotte as a good place to live and very generous. “It’s growing on me,” said the Louisiana native. “How do I know?” he asked. “Because when I went home last and got my red beans, smoked sausage and spices, I wanted to come back.” Mike, who has his own consulting firm, described a childhood at the mercy of the Department of Social Services in South Carolina after his parents died when he was very young. He lived in 13 foster homes and three orphanages between the ages of 5 and 14. Mike said his experiences taught him that there must be a purpose greater than me in my life; prayer answers many questions, and all of us are indebted to those people in our lives who believe in us. Chuck, who was a last-minute substitute, said there are still folks from home who respond with a “you’re a what” when he tells them he’s president of Pfeiffer University. His parents stressed the value of education, for which he is very grateful. He’s also grateful to the sacrifices his golf club pro wife made to send him to graduate school. “There are people in our lives who love us and lift us up.” Mentors are very important, he said. Head Table - Powell Majors. Visitors and Guests - Robert Knight; Club Education - Ron Kimble; Invocation - Bill Wood; Song -J eff Wise & Thomas Moore. * * * CLUB EDUCATION Ron Kimble-tongue firmly planted in cheek-gave us the “simple eight-step process” to propose new members, while un-scrolling a sheaf of computer printouts. (It was a prop kind of day!) Of note, and according to Henry Bostic, Ron’s was the most cogent discussion of the membership process in this writer’s 21 years in the club. Here goes…
* * * PUBLIC SAFETY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS At the September 10, 2002 meeting of Charlotte Rotary, our program will be a memorial to the tragedies of 9/11/01 and the volunteer efforts of our public safety community both in New York and at home in Charlotte. Police Chief Darrel Stephens and Fire Chief Luther Fincher will deliver the luncheon program with members of their force that volunteered in New York City. As a lasting tribute to those who selflessly serve to protect our communities we will create a new scholarship fund for our club recognizing a son or daughter of both a police officer and fire fighter who is planning a career in public safety through a college scholarship. We will raise funds at our September 10, 2002 meeting at the conclusion of the formal program. A club committee will work with the Foundation for the Carolinas to manage the fund and the annual awards. The selected students would be recognized each year at the meeting falling closest to the 9/11 anniversary, with the first scholarships to be awarded in the fall of 2003. * * *
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New Memeber
John has been in the financial services industry over 18 years where he has been devoted to consulting with clients, providing advice, and generating value based on knowledge. Previously, John was President and Co-founder of CapTrust Financial Advisors, LLC, a national brokerage and consulting firm with emphasis on fee-based consulting and portfolio management services to a wide array of clients. He was responsible for growing revenues in the firm and within three years, built a highly respected, national brokerage and consulting organization from a single office with $1M in revenue to 13 offices with over $26M in revenues. After helping many financial representatives build their practice over the years, John elected to practice what he preached and recently moved from his senior management role into a client advisory role—serving as a Managing Director in the Wachovia Securities Myers Park office. He is often asked to speak at industry conferences on the topics of asset allocation, manager research, industry trends and client sales and servicing strategies. He is well known throughout the firm and the securities industry for his strong emphasis on teamwork and mutual respect. John graduated from Western Michigan University with a BA in finance. John is an active Graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business Securities Institute. He is a member of the Investment Management Consultants Association. He holds Certifications and licenses including: Certified Investment Management Analyst, Certified Portfolio Management Program, and the UBS PaineWebber Branch Management Program. John and his wife Linda have two children, John, II-10 and Hannah-6. John’s hobbies include golf and running. He serves as a McColl leadership coach at Queens College, member of the Charlotte Economic and Rotary Clubs, coaches a youth basketball team, is a past participant of Leadership Charlotte, and an active member of his church. Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, John. * * * New Memeber
Billy King returns to Charlotte after serving as BellSouth’s Director for External Affairs in Wilmington and the surrounding area for approximately five years. Billy had worked in community affairs for BellSouth in the Charlotte area prior to his tenure in Wilmington, and he and his wife, Linda, are pleased to renew previous friendships and professional relationships. Billy, a Kings Mountain native, joined BellSouth 33 years ago and has worked in various capacities with the corporation, including positions in Marketing and Regulatory and External Affairs. He currently partners with Rotary Club member Erik Lindborg as Director for Regulatory and External Affairs in the Charlotte area and also has responsibility as the company’s public affairs and business development contact in Gaston, Lincoln, and Cleveland counties. Billy serves as a Board of Directors member with the Charlotte Regional Partnership, the Gaston County Chamber of Commerce, and WTVI. He also is a member of the Charlotte Chamber Board of Advisors. He is a past member of the Wilmington Rotary Club, past president of the Kings Mountain Kiwanis Club and past Board Chairman of the Kings Mountain School system. He and Linda live in Charlotte, and their son, Billy, Jr. lives in Wilmington. They enjoy visiting the beach, listening to music, and finding unique restaurants in the Charlotte region. Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Billy. * * * Just A Note... Our friend and Ambassadorial Scholar, Justin Perkinson, has emailed Ed Kizer with an update from Buenos Aires. He tells of an amazing trip to Northwest Argentina, Ecuador, and Bolivia. The highlights: a 3-day excursion to the middle of the Ecuadorian jungle with a real indigenous guide; a 50-kilometer mountain bike ride through the Quebrada de Salta, an awe-inspiring region of Argentina’s semi-desert Northwest; an unforgettable and horribly depressing visit into the age-old silver and zinc mines of Potosi, Bolivia, where the miners (ALL of whom die of silicosis pneumonia within 10 to 15 years of entering the mines) still use the same crude tools of their forefathers from centuries ago. Justin begins his second semester in Buenos Aires and says “hola” to the Charlotte Rotary Club. * * * |
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