Past President Bill Wood opened the meeting. The "Wild Joker" Pete deWitt, in costume, introduced a large group of guests and visiting Rotarians.
     Curt Farmer, reporting on "Health and Happiness," informed us that George Henderson has been diagnosed with lung cancer and that Andy Fair's father had passed away. Please remember both in your thoughts and prayers. Curt also informed us in detail of the Halloween presidential debate. As Curt said, this debate report had something to offend everyone.
     After the debate report, Ed Ellis scrapped plans for a humorous song, and with Thomas Moore's help, we all sang "America."
     The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Past President Bill, followed by an invocation by Suzanne Bledsoe. Sitting at the head table were Jack Smylie, Sam Spencer, Suzanne Bledsoe, Eric Smith, and Ken Harris.
     Ken Harris introduced member Dr. Jim Woodward, Chancellor of UNC-Charlotte, and Dr. Kathy Drumm, Executive Vice President of CPCC. The topic, of vital interest to both speakers, was the Higher Education Bond Referendum to be voted on November 7.
     Jim Woodward gave a context for the bond issue and an answer to why it is crucial now. He stated that there are a growing number of students graduating from high school. Through previous studies, we have a good idea what the demand for college attendance will be in the next ten to twelve years. We also know that education is increasingly important in our society. In North Carolina, the percentage of the population with a baccalaureate degree is 18%, versus the national average of 21%. As North Carolina gets closer to the national average, the demand for higher education will also increase.
     A few years ago, the General Assembly began to look at future enrollment in the 16-campus university system. In the next decade, it is expected that the campus enrollment will increase from 150,000 to 200,000. The community college system is expected to have a similar increase.
     In an older campus like East Carolina or UNC-Chapel Hill, some of the bond money will be used to catch up the deferred maintenance and repairs. At UNC-Charlotte, the bond money will provide for new buildings to accommodate an expected enrollment increase from 17,000 to 25,000 in the next ten years.
     A key message was the selection and admission of students. Qualified students are not being admitted to UNC-Charlotte because we do not presently have the space. For a public university, we need to better accommodate our qualified students, and this bond issue will greatly help.
     Kathy Drumm then spoke about the need for bonds for the community colleges, especially CPCC. More than 70,000 students attend CPCC during the year. For the N.C. Community College system as a whole, the number is over 700,000 students.
     The biggest challenge to our economy is having an educated workforce and these bonds will help North Carolina with this problem.
     CPCC is scheduled to receive $63.8 million from the bond package. This allocation has to be matched by local support; Charlotte already gives enough local support to CPCC that no additional support is required.
     As a final plan for voting for the bond issue, the state auditor has projected no tax increase to fund these bonds.
     With no questions asked. Past President Bill took this response to mean everyone was in favor of the bonds. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

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New Member

Joined 1990
Rejoined 1999, 2000

Retirement Communities

The Cypress of Charlotte Club, Inc.
3442 Cypress Club Drive (28210)
704-714-5500
FAX 704-714-5501
email chatfield@lcsnet.com

     George is the Executive Director of the Cypress of Charlotte. The Cypress is a 450-member continuing care retirement community in the South Park area of Charlotte. This luxury retirement community is where several of our Rotary Members (Colvard, Fretwell, Briley, Page and others) reside. "Buddy," as he likes to be called, works for Life Care Services (LCS) in Des Moines and is responsible for all day-to-day operations at The Cypress.
     Before coming to The Cypress, Buddy and his wife, Genia, lived and worked for the same company (LCS) in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego, California. He was CEO of one of the largest retirement communities (Casa de las Campanas) that LCS manages. He also was active in the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club.
     Buddy has been in the retirement management field for 20 + years and is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in California, Texas, Florida and Tennessee. Previous to his retirement career he worked professionally with the Boy Scouts of America in middle Tennessee for 11 years and as president of Knoxville Christian School for six years.
     Buddy graduated from Lipscomb University in Nashville in 1966 with a degree in Sociology. He is an active member of Providence Road Church of Christ. He and his wife, Genia, live out in the Ballantyne Commons area of Charlotte.
      Welcome to Charlotte Rotary, Buddy.

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POWELL'S
OBSERVATIONS

POWELL  MAJORS

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     Leigh Derby will be recognized for his accomplishments by the UNC-Charlotte Alumni Association and will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame on November 4th.
     Jan Thompson, "Stashed in the Stacks," was pictured in the "Observer" in an article on the library in the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's office.
     The Bethlehem Center directed by Doug Boyd celebrated its 60th birthday at a banquet at Providence Methodist Church, where George Thompson is the senior minister.
     Jim Woodward is quoted in the Business Journal as saying the University Research Park performed an important role in the development of the university area.
     Doug Booth and wife Emily were among the attendees at a surprise birthday party for Judith Alien, president of the N.C. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, given by Sis and Stan Kaplan.

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