JOHN BELK: A MEANINGFUL LIFE
By: Matt Joyner
    
                          
Tod Thorne introduced Chris William, Senior Executive Consultant at Wells Fargo and, for the past twenty years, host of local PBS program Carolina Business Review.  William, a graduate of the University of Colorado with a degree in electrical engineering as well as the Air Force Advanced School of Avionics, has been active in the community for years on the Board of the British-American Business Council and the Thompson Childrens’ Home among other worthy causes.
 
William unveiled another worthy project on Tuesday, one that will hit the WTVI airwaves in the Fall: "John Belk: A Meaningful Life," a one hour video documentary on the life, times, wit and wisdom of former Charlotte Rotarian and Charlotte Mayor John Belk. William noted that the special was "not to canonize, but tell the honest story of a man who had an unparalleled impact on the Carolinas." With the integrity of an Eagle Scout, the competitiveness of a Davidson basketball player and the resources of a family retail empire, John Belk was a larger than life personality who acted as a "hinge" in 20th century Charlotte’s swing from Old South to New South and handled it with characteristic Southern grace.
 
The 12 minute video excerpt William presented painted a portrait of this colorful character through the reflections and reminiscences of other community leaders who knew him well. Here is John Belk through the eyes and in the words of his peers; to the extent he had any:
 
Harvey Gantt: "Tenacious and with a point of view….John Belk understood where the South and Charlotte were heading."
 
Jerry Richardson: "A man of very high integrity."
 
Tony Zeiss: "A man of heart and compassion." Once Belk advised Tony,"Don’t bother telling people your troubles. Half don’t care and half are glad you got ‘em."
 
Pat McCrory: "John Belk was the last member of the business elite that had the courage to run for office."
 
Jim Woodward: On Belk’s famed gift for the malapropism: "One political opponent said the best way to defeat John Belk would be to buy him TV time. His brain outran his mouth sometimes!"
 
Jim Hunt: "People might have underestimated John because he didn’t speak smoothly." But "he was constantly enlarging his vision."
 
Hugh McColl: "John Belk was not afraid to appear foolish because he knew he was not."
 
John Kuykendall, former Davidson President recounted Belk’s opposition to a proposed faculty raise at the college: "A lean horse will run a long race, but a fat dog will stay on the porch."
 
Get off the porch this Fall and enjoy this compelling video portrait of one of Charlotte’s greatest leaders, John Montgomery Belk.
   
 
Head Table: Will Barnhardt, Bryan Adams, John Snyder, Tod Thorne, Gray Langley, Chris Kemper;
Invocation: Bill Anderson;
Visitors & Guests: Don Carmichael;
Song: Biff Virkler; Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

•  Ron Kimble introduced Carolyn Flowers, who is the club’s 30th new member introduced during 2010-2011. Carolyn is CEO/Public Transit Director for CATS/City of Charlotte. Welcome Carolyn at cflowers@ci.charlotte.nc.us
     
• President John recognized David Barnhardt and Jessica Dupree for their AV expertise; Louis and Suzanne Bledsoe are proud of daughter, Carol Gainey Bledsoe, who will be presented at the 41st annual Charlotte Assembly Debutante Ball in December at Charlotte Country Club; Andrew Hallett, son of Michael and Denise Hallett, has been awarded his Eagle Scout; Natalie English was part of the 135-member delegation that made the Chamber trip to Boston; profiles for Meg McElwain, Elsie Garner and Cindy Wolfe, recognized as Women in Business 2010, can be found in the Business Journal’s June 25th insert.
  
• Leland Park has plans for a big 4th of July…he will be visiting a friend who used to be the library director at Duke, then at the New York Public Library, who was appointed Archivist of the US by the President this year. Leland was invited for the 4th of July ceremony at the Archives in Washington, tour the place and be on the terrace with folks watching the parade which starts right there! Awesome.

• Carol Jordan gave an update on three club projects: Reach Out and Read, which provided 1,110 books to mothers to read to their newborns; Beneath the Badge, a history of Char-Meck Police Department housed at the Charlotte Museum of History; and the near-completion of a matching grant to provide treated bed netting for women and children in Botswana. The total grant to complete the project was $38,000.

• Steve Meckler gave a bittersweet overview of a club project with Make A Wish Foundation that enabled 8-year old Ellie Potvin to make her dream come true by visiting Disney World. Ellie passed away June 23. Steve thanked the club for providing funding needed to make the trip a reality.
 
• John Tabor recognized several Rotarians for their commitment to The Rotary Foundation. Paul Harris Fellow: Joe Gass, Cindy Wolfe, Bradford Picot, Alan Simonini; Level 1: Harriman Jett, Richard Bailey; Level 2: Luther Moore, Bob Phifer; Level 3: Tom Cottingham.

• 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.

The following results are archived on our Club Projects page.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE AVENUE

The Rotary Foundation - $10,000
Donation to Polio eradication effort

The Rotary Foundation - $2,500
Donation to Annual Fund in honor of weekly club speakers

Grameen Foundation - $5,000
Donation to support microfinance programs in Indonesia

Rotary Youth Exchange Program - $7,000
Supported exchange students from France and Czech Republic for the school year

District’s Showcase Project - $1,000
Donation helped provide book bags filled with school supplies for children in Arequipa, Peru

Waxhaw-Weddington Sunrise Rotary Club - $1,000
Partnered on Matching Grant project to provide water in a village in Peru

USA’s Group Study Exchange Team to Brazil - $800
Funding for visas, host family gifts, orientation training, etc for USA GSE team to Brazil

Rotary District 7680 - $200
Help cover shipping charges for container of books headed to Liberia.

VOCATIONAL SERVICE AND YOUTH SERVICE
 
Rotary District 7680 - $1,200
Sponsored three Interact students to attend Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders training program

Junior Achievement -$1,500
Support Exchange City

Classroom Central - $2,500
Support book pack project

Carolinas Healthcare Foundation - $3,000
Literacy project that provided books to Mecklenburg County Health Department’s Reach Out and Read Program.

Myers Park High School Interact - $550
Purchased tee shirts for Myers Park Interact students

Youth Merit Awards - $10,000
$500 scholarship to high school seniors in public and private schools in Charlotte

COMMUNITY SERVICE AVENUE
 
Habitat for Humanity - $10,000
Funding for Habitat build

Foundation for the Carolinas - $7,000
Provide scholarships to enable 2-year college students to continue their education in a 4-year institution

Charlotte Museum of History - $3,500
Funded Beneath the Badge exhibit that provides permanent display of CMPD history

Troutman Rotary Club - $200
Charter gift to newly formed Troutman Rotary Club

Charlotte Rescue Mission - $2,500
Support Dove’s Nest Continuing Care Division

Foundation for the Carolinas - $5,000
Support Rotary Scholarship Golf Classic

Partners for Parks - $2,000
Support fundraising efforts for statues to be placed along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway

Eagle Scout Project - $450
Eagle Scout project to build nesting boxes that will be placed along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway

World View Program - $500
Enrollment to send four educators to the Global Education Symposium at UNC-CH

CART Fund- $2,000
Donation to support Coins for Alzheimers Research Trust

Flight of Honor - $5,100
Program to fly WWII veterans to Washington, DC for the day
 

Attending weekly club meetings allows members to enjoy fellowship, enrich their professional and personal knowledge, and meet other business leaders in the community. The following members are recognized for 100% attendance during 2009-2010 (number of year’s perfect attendance is shown):