Ballantyne Magazine covers news, events, real estate, restaurants, shopping, health, schools and business in the upscale Ballantyne Area of Charlotte, NC.
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SMALL BALLANTYNE ROTARY CLUB HAS BIG IMPACT ON SCHOOLS So few people, so much time — that seems to be the mantra of the Ballantyne Rotary Club. Judging by the contributions this organization is making to children here, you'd never guess the young club only has 30 members, most of whom work. Despite their personal and professional commitments, however, these men and women have enthusiastically backed increasing efforts to support schools in the community. The past year alone, the club offered to sponsor the Endhaven Cougars Chess Club's inaugural city-wide tournament, as well as the Fourth of July Bike Parade at Ballantyne Village. The club also held a Literary Essay Contest at Polo Ridge Elementary, "Making Dreams Real," awarding the school $5,000 worth of books and materials for talent Ballantyne Rotary Club sponsors events to support the schools. development, as well as money toward a school beautifi cation project. Members also gave $750 worth of computer cables and a Flip video camera to Endhaven Elementary (in addition to $500 donated for the chess tourney), and stuffed 50 backpacks with school supplies for Ballantyne Elementary. At Ardrey Kell High, the club sponsors the Interact Service Club (the youth equivalent of Rotary), and hosts an international foreign exchange student each year. The club's major event, though, is an annual fundraiser now dubbed the "Teacher's Cup," a basketball tournament held in March at Ardrey Kell with Ballantyne school teachers competing against each other. Students and parents loved the new fundraiser so much last year that over 1,000 came to root for their personal favorites. To top that off, club members are now planning their fi rst golf tournament this fall. So, how do only 30 people manage to accomplish all this? "We are very energetic," says Patrick McCoy, the club's incoming president. "A lot of members have children, so we have a passion to help kids. It's a natural fi t to get involved in all eight public schools within the Ballantyne community in any way we can." According to Ineke van der Meulen, former club president, one of the greatest attributes of the group is its diversity. "Our membership roster spans male and female, ages 25 to 65, and includes people from Bulgaria, Pakistan, Brazil, Kenya, and local Charlotteans." She invites anyone interested in the club to visit one of its Friday luncheon meetings at the Tournament Players Club in Piper Glen. To learn more, visit www.ballantynerotaryclub.org. FALL 2010 CELEBRATING TEN YEARS 2000-2010 FROMWIND ORHAIL? ROOF DAMAGE Free Home Inspections Two Licensed Insurance Adjusters on Staff Local Company with Nationwide Experience Professional, Top Quality Repair Licensed and Insured 704.701.2964 skyetechexteriors.com BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE 81 like the professionals at SkyeT the claims ef ech Exteriors. For the highest quality roofing replacements, you need the professionals to deal with the insurance companies to accurately assess the damages, deal directly with the adjusters and process ficiently;