Harvey Gantt - The Mighty Oak
By Marilynn Bowler
 
                        
The man with the mega-watt grin and the warm, smiling eyes is one of the most admired and respected men in Charlotte because of both his business expertise and his incredible charisma. Add to that, his love for our city and his devotion to keeping its growth steady and on-course, and you have the very brilliant, much beloved - Harvey Gantt.
 
Anthony Foxx introduced Harvey by retracing our speaker's steps from his birth in Charleston, SC through his teenage years and his participation in sit-ins, his history-making graduation from Clemson University as its first black student, the earning of his master's degree from MIT, his career start with Odell & Associates, the launching of his own architectural firm with partner Jeff Huberman, onward through his landslide election as Charlotte's first African-American mayor in 1983.
 
Citing Harvey's leadership role in the shaping of Charlotte as it is today, Anthony reminded us that leaders - at their best - do not lead by being examples of power but by the power of their example. Reeling off a roster of accolades and awards too lengthy to list, Anthony tied up his introduction of Harvey via an eloquent reading from Sweet Swing Blues on the Road, a book written by his good friend, Wynton Marsalis. Anthony's comparison with Harvey to Wynton's "oak trees of men" was meaningful and touching. And it was a perfect fit.
 
Harvey stepped to the mic and thanked us for the warmth he felt in the room. (Of course, we all thought. You represent the best of what Charlotte has to offer.) Chuckling, he advised us of his awareness of our strict time constraints and so he came with prepared notes … as usual, he had done his homework.
 
Serving as Co-Chair of the Charlotte Center City Vision 2020 Plan, Harvey acknowledges the public's fears and anxiety over the future of Charlotte's growth, particularly during this economic decline and the jobs lost through down-sizing, the closing of businesses, housing foreclosures and a tighter-than-ever county budget. However, he told us, "I want to share with you an outlook, a vision, a positive projection … that Charlotte will be an elite 21st century city going forward." Reminding us that our center city has always been a "showplace of public/private partnerships," Harvey talked of the many changes that have taken place, inclusive of retail, residential, transit and institutional projects (interjecting, at this point, an "atta boy" to Tony Zeiss and CPCC.) He described Charlotte's center city today as "bustling" and "multi-cultural" and certainly exciting. Our center city is a premier business center, thanks to the city/county investment in roads, transit and the contributions of our Fortune 500 companies. Best of all, we can cite good planning, good leadership (both public and private) and tremendous citizen input and support.
 
Listing the major challenges pertinent to Charlotte's growth in the next decade, Harvey outlined eight particular needs for our center city: a need for a strong and viable regional economic engine; a need to attract new employers; a need to build on investments in the arts, cultural and sports venues as destinations; a need to revive retail to center city; a need to bring quality urban lifestyle via housing and job opportunities; a need to grow a life-long and strong public school system; a need to keep pace with neighborhoods by connecting them with our center city via parks, transit, streets and recreational facilities; a need to "go green" and use environmentally useful practices.
 
In closing, Harvey reminded us that the study area will include uptown but will reach beyond I-277, and that the selection of consultants - which will begin in August of '09 - will take a year or slightly longer to complete. He then thanked us and asked for our support and our involvement. In response to Q&A, Harvey assured us that, unlike times in the past when beautiful, historic buildings in center city have been demolished to make room for shiny, modern ones, "we hope and believe that we have learned something."
 
Harvey's architectural and planning background combined with his political savvy and keen vision for Charlotte have positioned him as the quintessential Co-Chair for the 2020 Plan. He is truly an "oak tree of men."
     
   
Head Table: John Tabor, Doug Bean, Mac McCarley, Anthony Foxx, Joel Walters, Don Steger;
Invocation: Chris Kemper;
Visitors & Guests: BG Metzler; Health & Happiness: Natalie English; Song & Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Welcome to new Rotarians: Lynn Wheeler introduced her third new member for this Rotary year, Michelle Monteith. Michelle is with Bank of America and can be reached at michellesylvester@carolina.rr.com. Next up was Bill Barnhardt, who had the pleasure of introducing his second new member for the year - Mark Turner. Mark is Scout Executive for the Mecklenburg County Council, Boy Scouts of America and can be reached at mark.turner@scouting.org.
          
• The Observer did a little catching up with Carroll Gray, who has taken the role as head of the Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission since retiring from the Chamber in 2005; Today's Charlotte Woman magazine had a nice feature on Mark Pierman and his leadership and vision as president of United Family Services, the only shelter for battered women in Mecklenburg County.
 
• Two long-time club members resigned this week - Jay Deyton and Bill Meanor. Both are well but sometimes unable to enjoy some of life's pleasures, like attending Rotary. Please visit when you can.
 
• Lamar Thomas made another plea for a host family for Any Slevarenska, who arrives August 15th from the Czech Republic. If you are in the Myers Park school district or know anyone that may be interested in hosting Any, please contact Lamar or Luther Moore.
  
• Arch McIntosh is home from the hospital following hip replacement surgery; Lila Rash is getting along well with her treatments; Jerry Walters was recognized in the 40 Under 40 group; John Snyder announced the return of the Metro Charlotte luncheon, which is scheduled for September 29 at the Blake Hotel. Rotarians from the fifteen Charlotte area clubs will be invited to hear Jay Brinkley, Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, as he presents his spin on a 50-year recall of our nation's history. David Zimmerman will help get the word out by visiting the surrounding clubs. Stay tuned.

• Biff Virkler has scheduled July 23 as the next date to tour the NC Research Campus. This will be the same format as last month's tour - lunch at Café 46 at 11:45 followed by the tour. The facility has requested a group of no larger than 25. Please notify the Rotary office if you would like to be included. If you are unable to make the July tour, he has also scheduled September 30.