HIGWIA Strikes Again
Steve Eanes, Mary Lynne Calhoun, Todd Stevens, Jessica Dupree
By: John Galles
    
                          
One of the joys of Rotary is the opportunity to learn more about individual members when they participate in HIGWIA…How I Got Where I Am. This week, we were blessed with the presentations by Steve Eanes, Mary Lynne Calhoun, Jessica Dupree and Todd Stevens. Each one was introduce with a theme song to provide a little orientation to the person. (It did not always work, but it was a great effort!) We were reminded about the history of HIGWIA from an excerpt from recollections by Powell Majors who remembered that John Pender had inaugurated the program.
 
Steve Eanes is the President of Changing Matters and spoke about his life having been born in Guam and relocated to Charleston. He was born half-blind, however that has been corrected. He spoke with great pride in his education at technical school and college and remarked that he learned more in technical school. He married in 1995, has one son and a new baby due in 2011. In August 2000, Steve learned that he had Stage Three Melanoma and he recalls the change that occurred as result of his recovery from that. He remembers that he was always known as a go-getter and that he became a go-giver. Having changed his focus to giving before getting, he has found life much easier and more successful. He ended saying that when he is viewed at the funeral home, he wants to hear comments like “I miss Steve” and “I am sure he is UP there and not Down there.” There is no doubt about it.
 
Mary Lynne Calhoun was brought up in Huntington, West Virginia. Her mother was a teacher and her father was the editor of the daily newspaper. She was brought up with a special appreciation for education and social justice. She attended Randolph Macon Women’s College and received a masters and a Ph.D. Her first job was as a special education teacher even though she had not been trained for that specifically, but she fell in love with teaching. She went back to school at the University of Georgia to learn more about special education. In 1968, she married Lawrence Calhoun. Together, they have two daughters. They also teach together at UNC Charlotte. She is the Dean of the College of Education which has over 3000 students and 4 doctoral programs working to have a positive impact on children.
 
Todd Stevens is COO at WB Moore, Inc. WB Moore is an electrical contracting firm that has grown over 500% since Todd joined the firm. But before he got to WB Moore, Todd emphasized that first he grew up, married up and then moved up. He grew up in South Carolina with a real appreciation for faith and partners in law. He married up to Robin and in 24 years together, they have been godparents for six wonderful kids. He still enjoys time with his parents and especially riding motorcycles with his father. Todd’s education was in vocational education and says that he owes a great deal to Charlie Foster and to Tommy Gregory. He went to work for Gregory Electric in Columbia, S.C. and worked his way up to Assistant Project Manager. In 2003, he moved up to WB Moore in Charlotte.
 
Jessica Dupree was born in Lake City, FL. She grew up in the 80’s and knows that she always wanted to have her own advertising agency. She graduated in 2000 from the University of Florida. She has been married to her sweetheart Devin for five years. She now has her own advertising agency and is president of Dupree Media, Inc. He husband is currently attending UNC Chapel Hill and so they are maintaining two residences for a time. She has a substantial love for animals and is on the Board of Directors of the Humane Society and has been chairman of the Pet Palooza fund-raising event for two years. She also loves photography, traveling and the outdoors.
We are a much richer organization to have these four new members active in the Charlotte Rotary.
    
  
Head Table: Jerry Walters, Steve Eanes, Pender McElroy, Chris Kemper, Mary Lynne Calhoun, Todd Stevens, Jessica Dupree;  Invocation: Charles Woodyard; Visitors & Guests: Sandy Chambers;  Health & Happiness: David Zimmerman; Song: Gregg Walker;  Photos: Bert Voswinkel

•  John Cantrell introduced Brian Huber on Tuesday. Brian is Partner/President-Elect of Daniel Ratliff, Inc. and can be reached at b.huber@danielratliff.com. Welcome to Charlotte Rotary.
      
• Rotary Scholarship Golf Classic will be held Tuesday, September 28 at the Golf Club at Ballantyne. Attendance is below where it needs to be and everyone is asked to give serious consideration to participating in the tournament. Registration forms are available here and flyers are available at the check-in table each week. The tournament was established in 2003 and has raised more than $450,000 and awarded forty-seven multi-year college scholarships to the children of our first responders. Contact tournament chair, Alan Adler, if you have questions about the event.
   
• President Pender announced there are five new members in the Paul Harris Society, which means these individuals have pledged to contribute $1000 annually to The Rotary Foundation. On hand to receive their lapel pin were Luther Moore and Herb Harriss. 
 
• 2010-2011 Rosters will be available at the check in table; Sallie and Dick Klingman’s beautiful home is featured in the Summer 2010 edition of Charlotte Urban Home magazine.