Playing For Others
By Jim Kelley
              
Mike Crum introduced Jen Band, executive director of a new organization in Charlotte called Playing for Others. Playing for Others or PFO is an organization that takes teens with an interest in theater and combines that interest with service and philanthropy to the community. At its core the purpose of PFO is to teach teenagers to take what they were passionate about to benefit the greater good. According to Mike, the idea for PFO was Jen's brainchild and came to her while she was a student at Marietta College. She was involved in a children's show where the price of admission was a can of soup for charity.
 
Theater and service are two themes that characterize Jen's career. After graduating from Marietta with a BFA in theater, she came to Children's Theatre of Charlotte where she has served as a teacher, director, assistant stage manager, musical director, chorographer, workshop facilitator, register and coordinator of Children's Theater In-School Program.
 
As Mike continued his introduction, he said that Jen committed herself to serving others after working one summer at Boggy Creek Gang Camp in Cassia, Florida where she ran the theater program for children with chronic and terminal illnesses. Playing for Others debuted in 2006, when 30 teens from throughout Charlotte worked under Jen's direction to produce a rendition of "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" that raised $23,000 for Charlotte's LifeSpan Circle School. Last year, a larger group of PFO teens came together to produce "A Year With Frog and Toad" that raised over $30,000 for the Charlotte Chapter of the Down's Syndrome Association.
 
Jen started her presentation by sharing with the club her reason for starting Playing for Others. Jen noticed that typically those students active in the areas of theater, music and visual arts had a tendency to focus too much on themselves - on getting their parts in plays, on getting solos, on making sure they got their fair share of attention. Jen had real concerns about the selfishness she saw in too many artistic children and their focus on "it's all about me." She wanted them to focus on serving others through the use of their passion for the arts. She also wanted to teach them leadership skills so they could help others serve as well.
 
Jen mentioned that PFO is a nine month program. In August there is a retreat with the 65 volunteer kids in the program. From September through December there are once a month buddy events where the students work with clients of the partner non-profit. In January and February there are weekly committee meetings where the students make plans for the fundraising festival weekend held in late March.
 
As Jen finished her presentation, she introduced two of the volunteer students to make a few comments. Rebecca Moore said she learned to give a speech in front of 300 Rotarians and she learned the business side of a non profit - how to raise money through writing partnership letters, contacting corporate sponsors, handling merchandise sales and selling tickets. She now wants to pursue a career in working with disabled students.
 
Stephen Friedrich chaired the ticket committee in 2007 and the special events committee this year. He learned to take initiative, learned to research best practices in organizing a special event and learned to take a leadership position in a non profit. He now knows he can and wants to be a civic leader but most importantly he learned that "It's not about me."
 
In closing, Jen thanked the club for their interest and asked us to support their work.
   
  
Head Table: Pam Jefsen, Trent Merchant, Mac McCarley, Mike Crum, George MacBain, Kit Cramer;
Invocation: Meg McElwain;
Visitors & Guests: Mark Norman; Health & Happiness: Marilynn Bowler; Song: Pam Jefson; Piano: Thomas Moore: Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• 14 club members are lined up on this year's host dinner schedule. The intent is for 3 couples (singles too!) to get together at the host location for dinner. Check the schedule and sign up to attend through the club's website (charlotterotary.org). Rob and Fran Thomas are on deck for September 20th. October dinners will be hosted by the Van Hoy's (10/4/08) and the Siminoni's (10/9/08).
 
• Franz Lori, Top-of-the-Week Rotary, extended an invitation to attend their Rotary Auction & Costume Ball to be held October 24th at Byron's Southend. Tickets are $40. Contact Franz at 704-236-5105 for additional information.
   
• Floyd Davis' "Viewpoint on the United Way: What's at stake" is on page 47 of this week's Business Journal; Ed Kizer, 1961 graduate of Davidson College, has been elected a trustee by the Davidson alumni association; John Cantrell completed the Iron Man event in Madison, WI in 13 hours 45 minutes. He saw the sun coming up as he swam and saw it going down as he ran; congratulations to Meg McElwain and husband Frank, who are expecting their first child.
 
• Marilynn Bowler gave a Health & Happiness shout-out to Myra Johnston, Health Guidance Center and Pender McElroy, James, McElroy & Diehl; John Stedman reports the soon-to-be renamed Scottish Bank is scouting for real estate in the Lake Norman area; Charlie Greer's article on how to develop a tax-planning strategy says tax planning is a process, not an event; Loftin & Co. Printers has obtained Chain-of-Custody certification for the Forest Stewardship Council; Myers & Chapman were named #1 small business in NC by NC Business Leader magazine.

President Mac McCarley announced the invocation policy that was adopted by the Board of Directors:
  
Charlotte Rotary Club strives to be welcoming to all. In service of that goal, invocations offered at club meetings will be ecumenical. For further guidance, refer to the "ABCs of Rotary invocation at club meetings" stated below:
 
"In many Rotary clubs, it is customary to open weekly meetings with an appropriate invocation or blessing. Usually such invocations are offered without reference to specific religious denominations or faiths.
 
Rotary policy recognizes that throughout the world Rotarians represent many religious beliefs, ideas, and creeds. The religious beliefs of each member are fully respected, and nothing in Rotary is intended to prevent each individual from being faithful to such convictions.
 
At international assemblies and conventions, it is traditional for a silent invocation to be given. In respect for all religious beliefs and in the spirit of tolerance for a wide variety of personal faiths, all persons are invited to seek divine guidance and peace in their own way. It is an inspiring experience to join with thousands of Rotarians in an international "silent prayer" or act of personal devotion. Usually all Rotary International Board and committee meetings begin with a few moments of silent mediation. In this period of silence, Rotary demonstrates respect for the beliefs of all members, who represent the religions of the world.
 
Since each Rotary club is autonomous, the practice of presenting a prayer or invocation at club meetings is left entirely to the traditions and customs of the individual club, with the understanding that these meetings rituals always be conducted in a manner that will respect the religious convictions and faiths of all members and are nondenominational in nature."