Meeting

Report

September 23, 2003
Charter Date: December 1, 1916

Jeane McGlaughlin
Penland School of Crafts
By: Carol Hughes

Native Charlottean Jeane McGlaughlin joined us in her role as Executive Director of the Penland School of Crafts.

The Penland School of Crafts is a national center for craft education located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Penland was founded by Miss Lucy Morgan, a teacher at an Episcopalian school that once occupied several buildings which are still part of Penland. In 1923, she organized the Penland Weavers which provided looms and materials to local women and marketed their handwoven goods. She invited guest instructors to teach weaving, and when requests for instruction began to come from other parts of the country, Penland School was born. Soon after the first students arrived in 1929, other crafts were added and the school began to raise funds, acquire property, and construct buildings. The mission of the school is individual and artistic growth in crafts.

Since that time, Penland has grown to encompass about 400 acres and 41 structures. Today, over 1,200 people come each year seeking instruction in ten craft media. The school offers one- and two-week classes in the summer and eight-week sessions in the spring and fall. Each class is structured by the teacher, but most are a mix of demonstrations, lectures, individual studio work, and field trips. A wonderway to “rekindle our creative spirit,” Penland is two hours away, yet you “feel like you are in another world.”

An on-campus coffee house provides hot and cold drinks, snacks, and a place to meet or hang out. The school supply store features a variety of hand tools and craft materials along with UPS shipping, books, postcards, film, snacks, drinks, and other items. Students live at Penland and may participate in activities on a twenty-four-hour basis.

Jeane was a graduate of East Mecklenburg High School and was an art teacher at Charlotte Latin. She has a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Art and Design from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Sharing photos of the school nestled in the mountains of Spruce Pine, Jeane encouraged us to visit and “find our creative voice.” Jeane closed the slideshow with images of hands to reflect the guiding force of craft.

Head Table:
Robert Webb, Kitty Stutts, Bob Culbertson, Tom Robertson, Peggy Wesp, Bob Landers; Invocation: Sadler Barnhardt
Visitors and Guests:
Tony Lathrop; Health & Happiness: Phil Van Hoy; Song: Thomas Moore
 

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9/11 Scholarship Golf Classic Update

Co-chairs Jim Adams and John Lassiter reported on the tremendous success of the First Annual 9-11 Scholarship Golf Classic held September 16, 2003 at Raintree Country Club. Members were thanked for their support, participation, and dedication and look forward to an even bigger event next year. Gross proceeds will come in at $52,256. After expenses, we expect to net around $36,000.

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Annual Clothing Drive to Benefit Crisis Assistance Ministry

Fall is here and winter is coming up fast. If you’re wondering what to do with those clothing items you have outgrown or are gently worn – the Club has the solution. We will begin our annual clothing drive to benefit Crisis Assistance Ministry during October and November. Additional details will follow.

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Attendance

Being present at club meetings is one of the basic obligations a member accepts upon joining a Rotary club. Members are asked to maintain a 60% or better attendance average over a six month period with 30% of these meetings being in your home club. Make-ups are permitted two weeks prior, or two weeks after a missed meeting. And there is also the opportunity to make-up over the internet by visiting www.rotaryeclubone.org. Refer to the front page of your Roster for additional meeting locations in the Charlotte area. Please note that Charlotte University City Rotary has moved to the University Hilton, 8629 J. M. Keynes Drive.

2003-04 RI Theme

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