Posted July 27, 2004
IN GEAR—July 23—In the absence of music it was bad joke day. The pinnacle of the form was offered by Don Durham. He said a Highway Patrol Officer stopped a rural citizen and asked, “You got any ID?” To which the citizen replied, “About what?” President Mary Joan Pugh, after calling the meeting to order, announced, “There in no Joy at the club.” Sadly all too true. Joy Menius is at the beach..
Richard Pugh offered an invocation for current times. He thanked God for the opportunity to gather free men and women and not have concern for safety. He hoped for worldwide peace that would allow this privilege for everyone.
Sergeant At Arms Carole Gilliam introduced visitors. From the Randolph Club we welcomed Linda Brown, Doug Allen, Vickie Gallimore, and Derrick Grantham. Dede Reese was guest of Rob Reese as were special guests Red Alcuaz and her husband Caro. Many members remembered Red from her visit to Asheboro in 2000 as a Group Study Exchange Team member from the Philippines. Since then Red has married and come to the US to teach school in Texas. She thanked her hosts Rob and Dede and spoke about her experiences on the GSE visit. She said she wanted to show Rotarians what happens to GSE team members. “They move on, move up; and pass it on,” she said.
President Mary Joan gave Red one of our special gift pens made from recycled materials and announced a meeting of the GSE Committee after the meeting to discuss hosting German visitors in the spring. (Jim Culberson, Jaci Betts, Mac Whatley, Mac Pugh, Rebecca Redding, Phil Koonce, and Ranbir Singh)
Please remember Elizabeth Cox who is recuperating from injuries sustained in a car accident. Also, Carolyn Cox whose health is not good. Carl Phillips is home from the hospital after a fall. Cards for these folks will be most appreciated. We send our sympathy to Kemp Foster whose wife Barbara died Thursday.
President Mary Joan let us know that Jamie Stitt is on the search committee to find a new president for High Point University. HPU is currently hoping Nido Qubein will fill that role.
Family of Rotary Copperhead Game this coming Thursday—last day for tix is today. We are the host for this event.
September 9—District Golf Tournament at the Tot Hill Farm links. It was said that the course will separate the big G golfers from the little g ones.
A call board meeting for Asheboro Rotary Board of Directors immediately after the July 30 meeting.
One birthday this week: Larry Peraldo.
Jason Hughes announced that the Salvation Army, the Randolph Mall and Coca Cola are sponsoring an event called “Clothes For Kids” in an effort to get some new back-to-school duds for kids who need them. This program is similar to the Christmas “Angel Tree”. Take a form from the tree located at Mall Center Court, purchase the item listed and return it to the Mall.
Rotary Fact: What city was Paul Harris from? Easy one—Chicago. But, what profession was he? That was going to be a hard one until Alan Pugh stuck up his paw and hollered LAWYER! Extra credit: who of our Asheboro Rotarians attended the 50th Anniversary in 1955 as Club President? Archie Smith!
Green Talk: HOW NOT TO BE A DRIP II
Fix leaky faucets. Average person uses 50 gallons of water a day. So, conserve water by smart consumption and by keeping plumbing in good repair. Animal Talk: Two new lion cubs at the zoo can be seen on closed circuit TV.
President Mary Joan turned the program over to Alan Pugh to introduce our speaker Rebecca Clark, Director of the Piedmont Triad Film Commission (PTFC). She has familial connections with Randolph County in that her mother was from Randleman. She is a graduate of UNC-G in psychology and has been with the PTFC since 1994. PTFC has been instrumental in attracting many films to this area such as Cabin Fever, National Lampoon’s The Trouble With Frank, Two Soldiers (winner of an Academy Award) and Junebug.
The PTFC serves the twelve county Piedmont Triad area. “Film” in this usage includes movies, TV, commercials, and still photography. Why have a Film Commission? Because of dollars pumped into local economies by film projects.
The film industry in North Carolina is the third largest in the US over the last ten years. Most activity has been centered in Wilmington and Charlotte. There are five film commissions in the state plus a state office covering areas not covered by a local office. The larger commissions are those in Asheville, Wilmington, and Charlotte.
What sells our area to film producers? Abundant locations. The PTFC maintains a library of locations documented by photographs for quick reference by inquisitive film scouts. Randolph County, Rebecca says, has many beautiful locations of rolling countryside.
Another resource provided by the PTFC is their Production Guide. This document lists infrastructure availability in the area. There are two hundred freelance crewmembers waiting and willing to work. These folks are camera technicians, electricians, grips, hair and makeup personnel. The Guide lists soundstages, hotels, and rental car information among other things.
Rebecca mentioned that w2 Entertainment checked with her office before holding tryouts in Asheboro. More than two hundred people came out. Her office helps spread the word about auditions, helps production companies find out who can be of assistance in a Piedmont community.
She stated that over the last ten years film projects have made $203 million in local expenditures. $23 million was spent by film crews on rental, location, off duty policemen, trash removal, lumber, and so on, whatever item or service a production might happen to need.
Rebecca thought that the film industry might be key in retaining young professionals who might otherwise feel the need move out of area in order to progress in their careers. Two of the top film programs in the US are located in the Triad: at UNC-G and the NC School of the Arts School of Film Making.
President Mary Joan thanked Rebecca and presented her with a gift pen. She then adjourned the meeting.
Philip Shore, Best Boy
