Club Business
President Jim Cartner brought the meeting to order. Randy Perkins led the prayer and pledge of allegiance to the US flag. Our club hosted a Rotary information hour at 11 am. Four interested persons came to learn more about Rotary and our club. Two were able to stay for lunch. Randy Perkins introduced Chris Laforet, who owns Shutter Release. Micah Fox presented his guest, Logan Sharp, who is with Fisher Wealth Management. As a reminder, on December 5 we will participate in a special Rotary Packathon sponsored by Feed the Hunger at the Holly Hill Mall from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Rotarians can sign up online or at a weekly meeting. Please let Joseph Williams know if you are going to participate. Email him @ joseph@feedthehunger.org. Our club will have contributed a total of $2800 to the cause by then. Also, set aside December 18 for our annual Dirty Santa Luncheon, which will be at our regular meeting place. That meal will be catered from a special buffet line just for us. Buy a gift for whatever sex you are. Jim insists this will make everything just right. Next week David Moore has the program. Click here to see all scheduled program dates and responsibilities.
November Birthdays and Anniversaries
Member Birthdays | |
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Carlisle, Kelly L. (KELLY) | 30 November |
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Francois reported that his brother is recovering nicely from a leg amputation.
Member Responsible for Today’s Program: Mikie Morrison
Mikie Morrison is a recent member of our club, having taken over the reins as the GM for the Burlington Royals. He is the third GM to be a part of our club, which is a great tradition. He and his wife just celebrated their second anniversary. He is an ECU grad and a UNC fan. He loves golf and is sure he is just one round away from the PGA tour.
Scott Gollnick, VP Sales and Marketing – OT Sports
Scott started OT Sports in 1992 and continues to develop new markets, relationships and opportunities. He oversees all sales, marketing and creative work for the company. Scott has led a drive for creative work and hands-on service that has helped earn the company a national, high-profile customer base and a solid reputation. He is married with six children.
The company formed when Scott was attending college in the Czech Republic. After attending a fantastic hockey game, he struggled to find any decent hockey souvenirs in the country. For an American this seemed odd. The Czech Republic has its own professional leagues. And it is the home of Jaromir Jagr, Dominik Hasek and a number of other major NHL hockey stars. OT Sports launched in 1992 to meet what turned out to be a big demand for fan replica jerseys, hats and other souvenirs.
The company expanded operations to the United States in 1994 and quickly gained traction as a jersey supplier to minor league hockey teams in the ECHL, Former WPHL and other minor and youth leagues. In 1999, the company was granted a license from Minor League Baseball to produce replica and on-field specialty jerseys for teams on their many theme and charity nights. Bowled over by our vivid designs and incredible quality, more teams put in orders. In 2015, we produced more than 350 different specialty game-worn jerseys, celebrating everything from breast cancer awareness to Star Wars to ’80s nostalgia.
Sublimation is a unique printing technology employed by OT Sports that permanently dyes an image into a surface. When combined with heat and pressure, the dye on a sublimation transfer changes from a solid to a gas. The dye is absorbed into the material, where it then returns to a solid, leaving a permanent print. Unlike a screen printed image or applique, a sublimated image on fabric leaves no “hand” or “feel”, and will not crack, fade or peel.
OT Sports uses digital sublimation print technology and is one of only a few large format screen sublimation print companies in the USA. The entire sublimation process is done in their North Carolina factory, including the printing, transferring and sewing of the uniforms and apparel. The company started in Scott’s parents’ attic and now is located in an old hosiery mill at 172 Boone St., Burlington and has just shy of 100 employees. All orders are custom made with a projected turn around time of twenty days. Only OT Sports and one other company are entirely US based.
Conclusion
Lloyd Carter’s table had the winning raffle ticket, but once again there was a failure to draw the Ace of Hearts. There are only 15 cards left and the pot is growing. Next week may produce a long awaited winner. Finally we all stood to recite Rotary’s four way test before Jim adjourned the meeting.
Until next time…