It's that time of year again when NCCBI members all across the state get out their calendars to mark down when the association's annual road show will pull into town. This year, Chairman Mac Everett of Charlotte will lead the NCCBI staff through a record 22 meetings, up from 21 last year. Everett, the First Union Bank executive, has added Statesville to this year's tour.

The chancellors of 15 UNC System campuses and the presidents of 20 community colleges will speak at the 22 regional membership meetings. NCCBI is leading the campaign for passage of the $3.1 billion higher education facilities bonds on the Nov. 7 ballot, and is inviting the educators to speak at the meetings so business leaders can learn firsthand about the needs of their local colleges and universities.

Please click here to see the complete list of speakers for all the meetings, including the one in your city.

Nearly 2,000 NCCBI members, prospects and guests are expected to attend the 22 meetings, which begin Sept. 7 in the Triangle with a luncheon at the Angus Barn. A complete list of the meeting dates and schedule of speakers is attached.

“We hope that hearing from their local community college president and the chancellor of the university in their region will show our business leaders that there is a human face and real needs behind this bond issue,” said NCCBI President Phil Kirk. “These educators walk our campuses each day, and they see the decaying buildings and overcrowded classrooms — and their students often are the sons and daughters of the people they will be addressing at the NCCBI meetings.”

At all 22 membership meetings, Chairman Everett will give a report on the health of NCCBI as an organization. Kirk, who also serves as the chairman of the State Board of Education, will give members a report on the association's leadership of the bond campaign and other results of the recent legislative session. UNC System President Molly Broad will speak at two of the meetings.

“This is the fourth major statewide bond campaign that NCCBI has championed in a decade because the association knows it's wise to invest in North Carolina's future, particularly in education and economic infrastructure,” Chairman Everett said.

To register for the meeting in your city, please do three things. First, mark that date on your office calendar. Second, confirm your attendance by pre-registering to attend the meeting by using the brochure, pictured at left, we've mailed to your office. And third, make plans to invite a friend who you think would be interested in joining NCCBI. This year, we're really encouraging members to bring prospects to the Area Meetings because it's a great opportunity for prospective members to learn what NCCBI is all about.

If you have a conflict the day of the area meeting in your town, then try to attend one at a nearby location. The Area Meeting tour is set up on a regional basis, so the road show likely will be in your part of the state for two or three days.

Most of the meetings are luncheons and the rest are breakfasts or receptions. But they all generally follow the same format. They begin with a half-hour of free drinks and networking, followed by a good meal and brief speeches. The meetings never last more than two hours, so you're guaranteed of leaving the luncheon meetings by 2 p.m. NCCBI is very lucky that many good members have agreed to host each of the meetings, which means they pick up the check at each event. Please join us in thanking these loyal members by seeing the complete list of hosts.