Rick Thames speaks to Charlotte Rotary
By: Matt Joyner
    
                          
Liz Irwin introduced Rick Thames, news editor of the Charlotte Observer as "a visionary leader with a national reputation as an incredible journalist." Thames is a North Carolina native and former Rotarian who has worked in newspapers for 32 years, nearly half of which have been in Charlotte. Under Thames' leadership the Charlotte Observer received more than 35 journalism awards this year from the North Carolina Press Association and national awards for "The Cruelest Cuts," a series investigating the lives of North Carolina's poultry workers.
 
Thames commended Rotary for being a "community of caring citizens" and noted that the Observer shared that quality. Thames noted that the Observer is a "reader supported" community in the way that public television and radio is viewer and listener supported enterprises. Thames said that the good news is that the Observer is being read now in print and online "on a scale unimagined ten years ago," with over a million readers per week. However, despite its expanding readership the paper has had the same problems in the recession as everyone else. Reduced advertising revenues from entire economic sectors such as real estate and automotive have resulted in the paper scaling back its operations accordingly. Since December, 2007 the Observer has let go one third of its staff journalists. Nonetheless, the Observer remains the largest news gathering organization in the Carolinas with 150 journalists on staff.
 
Thames cited three examples of functions which the newspaper is uniquely situated to perform in our society. First, is the role of performing background checks for candidates for local offices. Speaking on primary election day, Thames noted that there were 75 candidates running for local office and only the Observer performed any background checks on the candidates. Second, is the role of rallying the community at large to worthy causes. Thames told the story of Dr. Will Conner, a Matthews family practitioner who was moved to volunteer his services for the Haitian earthquake relief effort. As a result of the Observer's coverage of Conner's activities Dr. Conner has been able to enlist a dozen more local doctors in the relief efforts and deliver to Haiti over $100,000 in supplies to date. (Thames noted incidentally that Rotary paid for Conner's flight.) Finally, Thames noted the paper's role in the community as the "court of last resort," to whom those seeking official action on neglected issues can appeal. Thames recounted the Observer's role in assisting Cornelia White in South Carolina in pressuring reluctant local authorities to exhume the body of her daughter Brandy Simmons. As a result White ultimately was able to prove that Simmons was in fact murdered by Simmons' husband rather than dying from natural causes as originally concluded by the authorities.
 
Responding to questions from the audience, Thames said in this "very, very tough" economic environment the journalists remaining at the Observer are a "great core of people really committed" to their craft of journalism and that overall the morale is good. "I think print is going to be with us for quite a long time, "said Thames.
         
 
Head Table: Meg McElwain, Nick Simonette, John Snyder, Liz Irwin, Tim Newman, Todd Stevens;
Invocation: Jessica Graham;
Visitors & Guests: Tod Thorne; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

•  Katie Tyler introduced Steve Meachum to the club. Steve was previously an active member of Charlotte South Park Rotary and enjoyed working with the Interact Club at South Meck. Steve owns MV Momentum Construction and can be reached at smeachum@mvmomentum.com. Welcome Steve.
     
• Dal Shefte's granddaughter, Whitney, received two awards from the Women Photo Journalists of Washington for her photography; Jessica Dupree invites all to Pet Palooza on May 15, 8:30 to 12:30, at Independence Park. Contact Jessica for additional information/sign-up; Sheila Cottringer presented "How the Sales Industry Has Changed" to Top of the Week Rotary club.
        
• Family of Rotary: John Johnson was back at Rotary this week and it was so good to see him; congratulations to Courtney Morris and Fernando Ycaza who were married April 24; Byron Bullard asks for prayers for Carolyn, who is hospitalized at Matthews Presbyterian. Carol suffered a stroke two months ago and is critically ill; Leland Park was taken to Huntersville Presbyterian Monday evening - no additional update; Marilynn Bowler's daughter, Laura, had reconstructive surgery on Monday and will be at CMC for the remainder of the week; President John broke a toe and is headed back to his favorite boot; condolences to Quincy Foil and family upon the death of Quincy's mother last week.
      
• HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! Plans are underway to host exchange students from Thailand (boy) and Germany (girl) this fall. The students will attend Charlotte Country Day and Myers Park and host families are needed. Please contact Matt Joyner for the details.
 
• Jim Hintz thanked Charlotte Rotarians for financial support of the District Showcase Project, which provided book bags full of school supplies to 604 children in Alto Cayma.

• Committee Sign ups over the website; Roster updates due by May 10; David Norman will take pictures next Tuesday, May 11th: $10 for Roster only; $45 for Roster and other use (digital version, color & black and white). 11:30 to 12:30 and 1:30 to 2:00 in the State Room.  Click here.
     
• Roster Updates are needed by May 10th.

B. LAMAR THOMAS, Jr.
Distinguished Rotarian 2009-2010

Lamar has been a Rotarian for 38 years and is a Paul Harris Fellow, Level Four. His wife, Kaye, is also a Paul Harris Fellow. Lamar has served on the Board and for the last six years he chaired the International Youth Exchange Committee. That position fulfilled one of his lifetime passions, to stay involved with youth and their families from around the world. Because of his efforts, our club continues to host two students annually and offer scholarships each year to many local youth to experience the world. In 2008 he traveled to Peru with other club members to visit and support work being done in Alto Cayma. In our community, Lamar is dedicated to his church where he has humbly held many leadership positions. He previously served on the board of directors for Rebound. Lamar received his Engineering Degree from NC State and has been President and Owner of T & L Equipment and Sales Company since 1974. Lamar and Kaye have two children and five grand children. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, traveling and flying his airplane. The Rotary Club of Charlotte is honored to nominate Lamar Thomas as the 2009-2010 Distinguished Rotarian.