February 16, 2016 - Rotary Club of Charlotte

REPORTER
February 16, 2016
Representative Dean Arp and UNC Chancellor Carol Folt
North Carolina Bond Package
Rotarian John Lassiter introduced Representative and
House Majority Whip Dean Arp and UNC Chancellor
Carol Folt who provided very persuasive arguments
for the support of the $2B Bond package that will be
presented to voters next month.
Representative Arp presented an overview of the “NC CONNECT” Bond Package
– a proposed package to upgrade and connect North Carolina to the “21st Century
through investments in education, parks, recreation water and sewer
infrastructure.”
The most notable omission in the bond package was the lack of funding for roads,
especially since the governor himself made note that 2 million people have been
added to the NC population. Representative Arp explained that the gas tax,
which had been heavily borrowed against, would no longer be a source of funding
for other investments. Going forward 100% of the gas tax would be retained by
the DOT to address roads and transportation.
The bond’s allocation would benefit every region of the state and would require no
tax increases to finance these proposed improvements. By borrowing at today’s
low rates, we are also locking in today’s construction costs as well. Financially,
this would also retain our triple A Bond rating given the state’s strong revenue
growth and ability to service the debt.
He then introduced UNC Chancellor Carol Folt. Coming from her position as
Interim President at Dartmouth as well as Professor of Biological Sciences, she
discussed the national reputation of the superior quality of education at Chapel
Hill and the rest of NC public schools that preceded her acceptance of the
position here. Notably, that reputation also includes our ongoing, statewide
financial commitment to education. This bond package further burnishes that
reputation as approximately one half of the bond revenue will support the UNC
system and another third will support the community colleges throughout our
state.
The additional monies going toward parks and recreation, water and sewer and
our National Guard will only improve the livability of NC and continue to attract
and grow our vibrant communities.
Speaker Write Up: Ed Wadsworth; Head Table: Dena Diorio, David Erdman, Tom Bartholomy,
John Lassiter, Natalie English; Invocation: Julie Haack; Visitors & Guests: Jeff Searcy; Song:
Chris Kemper; AV: Jessica Dupree & Pete Marriott; Photos: Bert Voswinkel.
CLUB NEWS
John Nicolay put his woodworking skills to good use and presented a beautiful lectern to
the club on Tuesday. The bottom of the old lectern has a few signatures: R. D. Long,
who built the lectern in 1951; Al. L. Bechtold did a few modifications in 1967; and John
Johnson did a little work in 2007. These signatures and the Rotary logo inlay will be
preserved into a shadow box and hung in the Rotary office. A new tradition will be born
to have each club president sign the bottom of the “new” lectern. Thanks again, John.
Eric Davis introduced the Allenbrook Elementary School team and is looking for
volunteers to join the North Star Reading Partners initiative. This program is designed to
bring community and business volunteers into schools to work with individual students on
a one-on-one basis to improve skills needed for literacy.
3rd grader, Deion, gave a testimonial to the importance of
his reading buddy and how he looks forward to spending
time with him and reading with him. Volunteers are
needed to commit to reading to a student one hour each
week. Contact Ivy Gill ([email protected]) or Eric Davis
([email protected]).
Additional information at
www.cms.k2.nc.us and click on North Star Reading
partners tab. This is an approved project for our club’s 100 service projects – please
report your participation to the Rotary office.
Global Vision Leaders Group will host its fifth Global Competitiveness Summit at CPCC’s
Harris Conference Center on March 23, 7:30a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Visit www.cpcc.edu/global
for additional information.
100 SERVICE PROJECTS
Everyone’s help is needed to (1) volunteer and (2) recommend a project.
volunteer hours to the Rotary office.
REMEMBER to report your
- Thanks to Past President Dal Shefte, who served as a judge in last weekend’s World
Science Fair at UNCC. Dal said the event was very well done and he thoroughly enjoyed
it.
- Allendale Elementary School (on-going): North Star Reading Partners with a
commitment to read to a 3rd grade student one hour a week. (See above information)
- Platelet Donation (on-going): Register at the American Red Cross or Community Blood
Center of the Carolinas to donate platelets.
- March 12: District 7680 will partner with TreesCharlotte to plant 350 trees at Cochrane
Middle School, 6200 Starhaven Drive, between 9AM and Noon (rain or shine). Tools, water
& LUNCH will be provided. Volunteers should bring gloves and extra shoes (pretty muddy
out there); wear long sleeve shirts, long pants and closed-toed shoes. 200 volunteers are
needed…Rotarians, Rotaract, Interact, family, friends, and children! Phil Volponi will be
coordinating volunteers for Charlotte Rotary or you can sign up here:
http://treescharlotte.org/event/devonshire-elementary-and-cochrane-academy-treeday-event/
COMING UP
- May 13-15: District Conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Asheville. Registration
opens at 3PM; opening reception at 6PM. Adjourn by lunch time Sunday AM.
Conference registration available on database (Sandy can get you registered) before April 1 $100 per person (after April 1 - $150 per person); Renaissance Hotel reservations $159
per night; 1-800-468-3571. All are invited to attend.
POSTED FOR MEMBERSHIP (comments to Rotary Office by 2/23/16)
David Mark Crockett (Mark)
Aon Risk Solution (Insurance, Benefits Advisor)
Sponsor: Edwin Peacock Endorsed: Jerry Coughter, Tim Newman
UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS (02/17/16 – 02/23/16)
02/17 Ken Poe
02/19 Warren Kean
02/20 Brian Gibson
02/22 Lynn Wheeler, Lauri Eberhart
02/23 Dena Diorio
UPCOMING ANNIVERSARIES (02/17/16 – 02/23/16)
02/20 Terri & Mark DeBoo
02/23 Joy & Hunter Widener
Visitors & Guests
Club Members
Total
Percentage
21
152
173
56.5%
MEMBERSHIP
06/30/2015
02/16/2016
Net Increase:
319
313
-6
New Members: Frank Watson, Vanessa Stolen, Andy Dinkin, Susan Nestor
Resignations:
Visitors: Robert Mock, Betty Doster, Deion Jant, Michael Roper, Katherine Bonasera, Ivy
Gill, Ada Nicolay, Shelley Clayton, Brittany Kicklighter, Lauren Gregg, Jenny Matz, Randy
Johnson, Audra Begg, Keisha Johnston, Michael Kirschman, Lindsay Middlesworth,
Andrea McGowan, Lindsey McAlpine, Murray Turner, Peter Brunnick
UPCOMING LUNCHEONS (www.charlotterotary.org and click on the events tab)
02/23 – David Marsh, CEO/Director of Coaching, SwimMAC Carolina
03/01 – How I Got Where I’m At (Em Syrewicze, Travis Vance, Greg Sizemore)
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