How I Got Where I'm At
(With or Without Dangling Prepositions)
By: Suzanne Bledsoe
      
                           
What a great way to close out the calendar year with the life stories of three of our distinguished members! The recurring theme in all three stories was one of community focus and the importance of giving back.
 
Ben Dobson, a Charlotte native, is a graduate of Charlotte Country Day School (also known as a "lifer", having spent all of his 13 years of primary education there) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Like his mother and grandfather before him, Ben was born at Presbyterian Hospital, was baptized and married in, and remains a lifetime member of, Myers Park United Methodist Church. After graduating from college, he returned to Charlotte and began his career in the financial services industry with Consolidated Planning. His experience there, along with managing a bar in college and conducting business to business sales for Klingman Williams prepared him for his current role at Corporate Benefit Advisors. He loves what he does and feels that he has found his "forever job."
 
While at Chapel Hill, Ben played on the Varsity LaCrosse team. He currently coaches LaCrosse at Charlotte Country Day School as well as a travel team in north Charlotte. Practicing his deep belief that the community is made better by those who give back, he currently serves in several community endeavors including Succession, an organization that raised $15,000 for needy organizations in the Charlotte community and the local board of the American Red Cross.
 
Ben ended his comments with the best news of all: he and his wife are expecting their first child in about 6 months. Hopefully, that child will follow in his father’s footsteps and make Charlotte his home as well.
 
Dr. Bill Anderson has a long and distinguished career as an educator and school administrator. He spent his early years traveling around the country with his family. His father worked for the government and went where the work was: Colorado, California, Florida, Mississippi, and Maryland. Bill’s early education included time at a Catholic boy’s school where he learned from one of his favorite teachers the importance of serving others. He began his career as a teacher in Charlotte at Alexander Graham Middle School and then taught for ten years at Myers Park High School. He eventually moved into administration and served as principal in many schools, including Myers Park High School. During his tenure there, he was named Principal of the Year and Myers Park was designated as the 7th best high school in America. Bill played soccer in college and carried those skills with him to Myers Park where he was coach of the Varsity team.
 
Bill retired from Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in August 2006 to join Communities in Schools. He has since left Communities in Schools and will be joining Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education as its executive director in January. Bill’s years of service to our community, our children and our educational system are a tribute to his commitment to serving others.
 
Dan Ramirez was born in Bogota, Colombia. While his economic circumstances were humble, his family’s household was rich with love, respect and discipline. His father died when he was nine, leaving his mother to raise and provide for their family. She was a strong, tenacious woman who believed in the power and value of education.  Upon graduation from university in Bogota at the age of 21, Dan moved to Texas for his first job. This was followed by job moves to New York, Wisconsin, and finally Charlotte. During this time he married "the most beautiful girl he has ever seen" and together, they raised three daughters. Dan has made Charlotte his home in every way—he has raised his family here, he has been deeply involved in the community through service on numerous not for profit boards and as an elected official. He continues his service to those less fortunate than him by serving meals at the homeless shelter and is instilling the desire to give back in his children and grandchildren by having them join him in that service. He concluded his comments with the assertion that he believes that he is the luckiest man alive for having the opportunity, with his family, to have been a part of this community for over 35 years.
 
We are, in Charlotte, deeply fortunate to have the likes of Ben Dobson, Bill Anderson and Dan Ramirez working to make our community a better place for everyone. Thanks to you all.
     
    
Head Table: Jeff Searcy, Dan Ramirez, Pender McElroy, Ben Dobson, Karen Simon, Bill Anderson; Invocation: Catherine Browning; Visitors & Guests: Lynn Wheeler; Health & Happiness: David Zimmerman; Sax Trio: Pam Jefsen, Bradford Picot, Thomas Moore: Photos by Bert

• Hank Donaghy’s wife, Sandi, fell down the steps and has broken her leg. She’s looking at about a three month recovery; Floyd Davis returned to Rotary and is doing quite well since hip replacement surgery three weeks ago; Sharon Bullard (Richard) has been diagnosed with lymphoma and is meeting with doctors to discuss treatment options; condolences to Neil Burkhead and family. Neil’s mother, Virginia Lisk Burkhead passed away December 14th.
     
• A brief business meeting was called to order to vote on the slate of officers and directors. The following were approved unanimously: Vice President 2012-2013, Marilynn Bowler; Secretary 2011-2012, John Tabor; Treasurer 2011-2012, George Rohe; Directors 2011-2013, Alan Adler, Ron Campbell, Meg McElwain, Arch McIntosh, Jay Westmoreland, Cindy Wolfe and Charles Woodyard.
 
• A resolution to endorse Luther Moore as a candidate for 2013-2014 District Governor-Nominee was approved. Good luck, Luther!
 
• Sheila Cottringer was named a director in the Women’s Inter-Cultural Exchange.
 
• Roster updates: Bill Anderson, Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education, 704-335-0100, banderson@mecked.org; Eric Levinson email update: levinson530@aol.com.