December 15, 2015 - Rotary Club of Charlotte

REPORTER
December 15, 2015
Dave Coble - TreesCharlotte
Dave Cable joined us today to share the vision for
TreesCharlotte. Formed in 2012, TreesCharlotte is a not for
profit partner with the City of Charlotte with the purpose of
expanding Charlotte’s urban forest in a meaningful way by
2050. This will require planting over 500,000 trees and
includes maintenance, preservation and care for new and
existing trees.
A significant component of the mission of
TreesCharlotte is to educate our community about the
importance of an abundant and healthy tree canopy. The
benefits to the community of an abundance of healthy trees is
cleaner air, reduced storm water runoff, cooler temperatures during hot summer
months, increased property values, more varied wildlife and beautiful cityscapes.
Currently, Charlotte has one of the top 5 tree canopies in the United States, with
47% tree coverage. The goal of TreesCharlotte is to increase this percentage to
50% by 2050. Planting new trees, caring for old trees, diversifying the tree
population and broadening the coverage in sparse areas are all important
components of meeting the goal. Success in this endeavor will not be the result
of chance; it will require intentional and directed efforts to continue the legacy of
tree stewardship that Charlotte has enjoyed for many generations.
The ongoing efforts of the City of Charlotte are essential to the success of
this endeavor. The City plants over 1,000 trees per year, removes about 500 and
prunes 3,500.
City employees are trained and educated arborists who
understand the many threats to a healthy tree canopy. The City currently
maintains about 185,000 street trees and protection of our trees is very much
embedded in the heart and soul of Charlotte’s culture. Working with the City,
TreesCharlotte is committed to raising funds to buy and plant trees, recruiting,
training and supervising volunteers and educating the public about the importance
of tree stewardship. In addition to providing operating support, TreesCharlotte is
in the process of raising money for an endowment designed primarily to maintain
existing and new trees. The Knight Foundation has recently announced a gift of
$2M to the campaign and efforts are underway to raise an additional $8M.
Partnering with neighborhoods and schools throughout the city,
TreesCharlotte organizes planting events from October to April. Several special
events are planned in the days leading up to and including Arbor Day which is
March 18, 2016. Dave thanked our Rotary Club specifically and other Clubs
around Charlotte for our volunteer and financial support at these events and
throughout the year. A special recognition was granted to our club for support of
the tree garden at JW Grier Elementary School. And Dave gave a “shout out” to
Chase Saunders for his sacrifice at the tree planting: a brand new pair of
beautiful loafers, ruined!
I think we can all agree that what makes our beloved city special, amongst
many things, are the beautifully abundant trees that we all enjoy. Our continued
support of TreesCharlotte will allow that legacy to continue.
Speaker Write Up: Suzanne Bledsoe; Head Table: Robert Freeman, Chris Thomas, Tom
Bartholomy, Dena Diorio, Phil Volponi, Chase Saunders; Invocation: Amy Burkett; Visitors &
Guests: Chris Kemper; Song: Bill Griffin; Health, Happiness & History: David Erdman; AV: Jessica
Dupree & Nikki Keith; Photos: Bert Voswinkel
Club News
The 2015 Salvation Army Kettle Drive was a major success.
$6,448.50 was raised through the Red Kettle and Club Raffle, which
benefits 215 children.
Congratulations to the following sponsors & raffle winners:
- Pair of bezel set white gold diamond stud earrings from Donald Haack
Diamonds & Fine Gems ($1,385 Value) – JOHN TABOR
- Annual Pass for free car wash from Autobell ($445 Value) - REX REYNOLDS
- Office chair from Larner’s Office Furniture ($400 value) – JOHN CANTRELL
- Chef’s Choice Cooking Class for Two from Johnson & Wales University ($300 Value) - BIFF
VIRKLER
- Gift Card from Belk ($200 Value) – JOHN PHILLIPS
Congratulations to Bruce & Jennifer Marshall on the birth of a healthy baby boy,
November 13 weighing in at 8 lbs. 14 oz. and 21” long; Catherine Browning was front
and center in Friday’s Observer for her work with Good Friends. Catherine was one of
the founding members of the organization that has grown to raise more than $312,000 at
this year’s annual luncheon.
PRIORITY: If you are interested in serving as a host family for Radim, one of the club’s
exchange students (attends Myers Park High School) between March 1 to May 31,
please talk to Ed Wadsworth ([email protected]). Ashley & Mark Duncan, Nanelle
Napp & Chuck Cocke, Amy & Mark Norman are club members that have, or will be,
hosting this year and would be a helpful resource.
100 CLUB PROJECTS
NEW PROJECT:
Todd Lanham has introduced a new project for consideration.
AT&T has volunteered with the Library for digital literacy training at library branches in
2015. The library wants to expand these sessions to three other branch libraries and
volunteers are needed to provide 2-4 volunteers for each weekly session (6 week
program) to help students along should they get stuck or need individual help. You don’t
have to be an IT expert – just possess a fundamental knowledge of using a computer.
January 12: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Beatties Ford (Tuesdays 5:30PM – 7:30PM)
January 16: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Sugar Creek (Saturdays 10:00AM-12:00PM)
January 28: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Beatties Ford (Thursdays 5:30PM – 7:30PM)
Two options to participate: (A) Join AT&T volunteers at one of the events on Thursdays
(January 28 Beatties Ford Branch). (B) commit to providing volunteers for one of the
other two sessions for the entire 6 week program. This would be strictly a “Rotary” group
and 2-4 volunteers are needed each night.
Questions to Todd: [email protected]. If you are volunteering, please let Sandy know
as well.
Kim Popky Platelet Challenge is on-going. John zumBrunnen wants 100 platelet donations over
the next year and will donate $50 for every donation to the American Red Cross or Community
Blood Center. If the goal is met, he will donate an additional $5000.
UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS (12/22/15 – 12/28/15)
12/25 Pender McElroy
12/28 Kip Kiser
UPCOMING ANNIVERSARIES (12/22/15 – 12/28/15)
12/24 Maryl & John Galles
12/27 Sallie & Fred Lowrance, Ruth & Ed Wadsworth
12/28 Ginger & Joey Godbold
Visitors & Guests
Club Members
Total
Percentage
13
159
172
56.2%
MEMBERSHIP
06/30/2015
12/15/2015
Net Increase:
319
320
+1
New Members: Wangzhong Lu
Resignations: Karen Simon, Ellen McIntyre
Visitors: Mike Walker, Sean Gautam, Ineke Wilson, Beth Burleson, Radim Ptak, Huey
Rowe-Anderson, Uerstin Strohschein, Stuart Hair, Kim Brattain, Ryan Dayvault Richard
Glass
UPCOMING LUNCHEONS (www.charlotterotary.org and click on the events tab)
12/22 – Holiday Program
12/29 – How I Got Where I’m At (Cheryl Banks, Vernon Menard, Greg Reagan)
01/05 – Pat Riley, President & CEO, Allen Tate Companies
Photos from our luncheons and other events can be found on Flickr Click here
charlotterotary.org 704.375.6816
1850 East 3rd Street | Suite 220 | Charlotte, NC 28204 USA
Rotary Club of Charlotte