Cynthia Marshall for Junior Achievement
By Jill Santuccio
              
Rotarian Phil Volponi from Junior Achievement opened the program with a video about JA from an international perspective. Started in 1919, JA is a proponent of entrepreneurship that reaches 8 million young people worldwide each year. Programs around the globe include International Entrepreneurship Forums, innovation camps and projects that address business impact on climate change.
 
Volponi introduced board member Cynthia Marshall, president of AT&T North Carolina, who joined the JA leadership about a year ago when she relocated to Charlotte from San Francisco. She said that Carlos Sanchez and Phil Volponi took her on a 30-second tour of JA and within four minutes she was on the board of directors and increased AT&T support of the organization.
 
The mission of JA is to ensure that everyone has a fundamental understanding of the free enterprise system, and Marshall reminded the group that "it takes a village" to raise a child. She recounted her favorite story of her son's involvement in JA and the establishment of his
"company" JTB - Just The Best. When asked what the company was about, he told his mom that they were "gospel music video producers who sell tennis shoes on the side and also help out the little guys."
 
JA locally reaches 720 schools; 4,354 teachers; more than 10,000 volunteers; more than 67,000 students and hosts 13,445 visitors annually. The local chapter is recognized on a national level and boasts that more than 82 cents of each dollar goes directly to programs.
 
Marshall related the three Rs as they pertain to JA; relevancy, relationships and results. One of the goals of JA is to address the "silent epidemic" of school dropouts which currently is at a staggering 30 percent nationwide.
 
She lauded the Rotary Club of Charlotte for funding JA Biz Town, a program aimed at fourth through sixth graders, six years ago. She then asked the club to support a related program called Finance Park, a companion program that focuses on eighth graders.
    
  
Head Table: Jay Westmoreland, Mike Hawley, Mac McCarley, Phil Volponi, Carlos Sanchez, Tyson Bennett;
Invocation: Charlie Bones;
Visitors & Guests: Jim Woodward; Health & Happiness: Cecily Durrett; Song: Pam Jefsen; Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Welcome new Rotarians: Ali Perrin was introduced by sponsor Tom Bartholomy. Ali, a former Rotarian in Baltimore, is a second generation concrete contractor who is President of Perrin Empire. Contact: perrinempirellc@yahoo.com; Paul Wyche was introduced by Luther Moore. Paul is Senior Vice President and Associate Counsel at Belk, Inc. and can be contacted at paul_wyche@belk.com.
   
• Ronnie Pruett caught a 4 lb. 3 oz. bass in Camden, SC over the weekend; Biff Virkler has been appointed to the Lake Wylie Marine Commission; Cecily Durrett gave a shout-out to Will Barnhardt for his civic work with JA, Habitat, and the Boy Scouts; Carlos Sanchez was recognized for his support to The Rotary Foundation.
   
• Pam Jefsen provides an address for those wishing to donate to the National Disaster Fund: American Red Cross, P.O. Box 60766, Charlotte, NC 28260-0766; Jerry Walters invites everyone to the Boy Scouts of America Mecklenburg County Council's 6th Annual Sporting Clays Classic and Auction to be held October 16th at South Charlotte Mercedes-Benz. Contact Jerry for additional information.
 
• Carol Hagemeyer Perkins, age 59, died of cancer earlier this week. She was the daughter of the first president of CPCC, Dr. Richard Hagemeyer (Charlotte Rotary president 1990-1991). Condolences are extended to this family.
   
• You can sign up or review the Host Dinner Schedule by clicking here.

• First year recipients of the Public Scholarship Fund have either graduated or are scheduled to graduate in the coming year. Officer Bob Phelps was on hand to express thanks to the club for providing the scholarship to his daughter, Laura. Laura has attended UNC and plans to teach English as a second language. Alan Adler provided a brief update on several other scholarship recipients and all are on track to graduate with very promising futures. The October 7th tournament at Cedarwood Country Club will be another stellar event and all club members are invited to participate - come out and walk the golf course, stop by the wine tasting around 4:30, attend the awards banquet and BBQ (provided by SMS Catering) around 5:00 - plenty for everyone to enjoy. There will not be a Rotary meeting at lunchtime on tournament day.
  
• This year's Rotary Foundation Banquet will be a time of celebration, appreciation and inspiration. The event will be held on November 10th at the Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord Convention Center (just down from Concord Mills). Reception at 6:00; dinner at 7:00. Two special Rotarians will speak - Carolyn Jones holds the distinction of being the first female elected to the Foundation Board and comes all the way from Alaska to share her experience as a volunteer in Russia helping children affected by the Chernobyl disaster; Shai Tamari is a Rotary World Peace Fellow who is searching to find a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The cost is $40 per person. Contact Sandy if you are planning to attend.
   
• Rotary Club of Charlotte, Charlotte Business Journal and the Charlotte Chamber will present the 21st winner of the Excellence in Leadership Award on December 16th. Nominations for the award may be submitted to the Rotary office by November 17th. Criteria for the award is available by clicking here.

Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, contact the Rotary office by 9/29/2008.