1/12/2021: Joe Lobo, Charleston PD Forensics

January 12, 2021:

We welcomed Joe Lobo from the Charleston Police Department to our meeting to give us an overview of the CPD forensics department and how they use a  variety of techniques we’ve all seen on TV and in the movies to solve crimes. We also honored our Students and Educators of the month for October and November.

This past Tuesday, Joe Lobo, a retired officer with the Charleston Police Department, joined us to discuss “Forensics”. Joe came to Charleston about 4 years ago from Connecticut with his wife and kids and much of his extended family has since followed.

Forensic people are the unsung heroes of the Charleston Police Department because most people don’t see what they do. He briefly showed images of television crime scene investigators, contrasting those with the reality of the job. They will soon be moving into a new state of the art facility off Bees Ferry Road.  Their services include Crime Scene, Lab, Latent Prints, Photography and Computer/Digital. The unit works 24 hrs./day 365 days/year, working 4 10 hr. shifts. They are trained in a wide assortment of different forensic steps. Bloodstain analysis, shooting trajectory, shoe print analysis, photography. Most of the Crime Scene investigators are civilians and it is not required to be a police officer to be a crime scene investigator. Most everyone has a college degree, and often take biology, chemistry, criminal justice classes but the learning never ends with ever-changing technology.

There are a  number of crime scene shows including Criminal Minds and Forensic files but it all started back in the 1990s with the JonBenet Ramsey and O. J. Simpson cases. While the JonBenet Ramsay case is famous for being a terribly botched crime scene, O.J. Simpson’s case had all of the elements, blood, fingerprints, shoe prints and was on 24/7.

To things have come about as a result of the popularity of forensics, the “CSI effect” and the “Technology Effect”. The CSI effect is the exaggerated portrayal of what CSI can really do, the technology effect is the higher expectations of the capabilities of forensic science and technology. This has also contributed to an expectation of juries that enormous amounts of forensic evidence leans toward guilt while lack of forensic evidence leans towards innocence.

Crime Scene investigators’ job is to find proof and be objective in their investigation and cannot pick and choose what they collect. The integrity of a crime scene is of utmost importance and needs to be analyzed for additions, destruction and movement of evidence that can compromise a crime scene. This can be especially important as CSI may arrive after the fire department, paramedics, police, etc who may contaminate the scene. EMS is often the first on the scene but human life is the most important evidence to preserve.

Go here for a recording of the meeting.

Submitted by Don Baus, Chairman of the  Keyway Committee

IN OTHER MEETING NEWS 

    • President-Elect Rob Dewey gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.  
    • Rob Byko welcomed all visiting Rotarians & guests.  
    • President Lisa presented Health and Happiness.
    • President Lisa Van Bergen introduced retired CPD officer, Joe Lobo, who discussed Forensics.   

MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY

January 19, 2021 | Issue 4991| President: Lisa Van Bergen

UPCOMING EVENTS  
        • Jan. 19 –Anthony Jackson, Roper St. Francis, COVID Update (ZOOM ONLY)
        • Jan. 21 – Happy Hour Social @ The Shelter, 202 Coleman Blvd, MP 5-6:30 pm
        • Jan. 26 – Networking
        • Feb. 2 – Roger Warren, President Kiawah, PGA Championship in May 2021
        • Feb. 9 – Elliott Summey, Charleston International Airport
NEWS BRIEFS

 

Meeting on ZOOM This Tuesday (IMPORTANT)

This Tuesday, Jan. 19, our meeting will be held only on ZOOM.  Please do not come to 5 Faber –  we will NOT be there.  The link to attend the ZOOM meeting will be sent to all members.  We hope you will join us!

COVID:  In-Person Reminder

As we go back to attending meetings in person, we wanted to again share the below from the District. Members are asked to keep this in mind. 

It has come to my attention that we need to set some ground rules for dealing with Rotarians who contract COVID-19 and how we deal with this in our clubs.  First, for the Rotarians themselves. We MUST maintain absolute confidentiality for ANYONE who tests positive for COVID-19 unless they give us permission to share their information.  That said, we MUST also ask, even require, that any Rotarian who has been to an in-person Rotary meeting or other function and later suspects they have COVID-19 report this to their Club President as soon as possible.  This could be due to being in close contact with a person who tests positive or that they show symptoms. And, they absolutely must let the Club President know immediately if they test positive.  Then, keeping confidentiality, the Club President MUST let all who attended that event know that there was someone at the event or meeting who came down with symptoms or tested positive.  This will, at least, give all those notified the option of being tested immediately.  And, it gives them a warning that maybe they should limit their contact with others until it is proven that they are not infected.

 

January Club Social at The Shelter

All members and their guests are invited to join us for Happy Hour outside on the patio of The Shelter, 202 Coleman Blvd., Mt. Pleasant on Thursday, Jan. 21 from 5-6:30 pm. This will be a wonderful opportunity to catch up with fellow Rotarians and to support one of our newer members, Thomas Berry, who is an owner.

 

Charleston 50

The Charleston 50, a special group of generous supporters who contribute $500 annually to the Rotary Club of Charleston’s community grants program, is almost 50% filled! What a great opportunity to continue our decades-long tradition of grant-making while also building brand awareness and visibility before a group that values local businesses, generous leaders, and community-minded professionals.  This group receives exclusive benefits, and all funds will support local charities.  Your donation is 100% Tax-Deductible.  The group will never exceed 50 donors, and this is your opportunity to join the inaugural class of The Charleston 50!  Memberships will be accepted until 50 are obtained, and benefits continue through June 30, 2021.  At that point Year Two will start!

Please download and complete the attached Pledge Form, and return it via email to Phoenicia Miracle at [email protected].

 

As benefits (through June 30, 2021), each Charleston 50 member will annually receive:

  1. Their logo or name on the website with a hotlink
  2. Recognition at a meeting (Recognize two at a time)
  3. Right of first refusal for 2021-22
  4. a Charleston 50 lapel pin
  5. A frameable certificate for office
  6. A decal
  7. Permission to use The Rotary 50 on their website and email
  8. Automatic enrollment in and recognition at other Rotary events
  9. Name association with every good deed Rotary funds
  10. Special event post-Covid

 

CCSD Students and Educator of the Month (Oct & Nov)

We honored our Students of the Month for October and November at this week’s meeting. Honorees from our sponsor school James Simons included Holden Gottschling (October (left)) and Melachi Singleton (Nov (right)).
Also honored were Theresa Ray as October Educator of the Month, Jenna Weed (not pictured) as November Educator of the Month, and Clifford Brown as Parent Advocate

Support The CART Fund

It is easy for club members to make individual contributions and support The CART Fund electronically. The CART Fund has a new portal www.mycartfund.org, which you can easily access. As a Rotarian and a DACdb user, you automatically have an account already set-up in your name. Your user name and password are the same as it is for the DACdb.

 

Support the Rotary Foundation

The District 7770 Million $ Campaign and dinner will be held on May 5th 2021 at the Francis Marion Hotel. Our own Sandy Morkel is the Chair for that event.  $10,000 spread over 3 years or a Bequest gets you an invite.  

And do not forget your opportunity to be recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.  Eighty-five dollars a month gets you there.  Please reach out to Karl Riner, Club Foundation Chair, to sign up or ask questions.You can also donate to Rotary’s efforts to end polio now: https://endpolio.org/donate.

 

Our Club is on Social Media

Members are encouraged to follow all of our social media channels and share posts with their followers too!  We also need members to send us pictures of anything they do that relates to Rotary – service projects, meetings, events, etc.  We would love to keep our accounts full of smiling Rotarians! Photos can be sent to Mike Sottak, [email protected], or Rob Byko, [email protected].

 

MEMBER NEWS

Congratulations to Rob Dewey, who was confirmed by the Board this past Tuesday as our club President for the 2021-2022 year, and to Virginia Lee, who was elected President-Elect for the 2021-2022 year and will serve as our club’s President in 2022-2023.  Both of their terms will start on July 1. We appreciate their willingness and desire to serve our club in the upcoming years.

Proposed New Members

The following membership candidates have submitted an application and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston:

Clay Hopkins – sponsor:  Past President Digit Matheny; classification: 

Joel Cardwell – sponsor:  Past President Sandy Morckel; classification:  

Deb Mauk – sponsor:  Past President Sandy Morckel; classification: 

In the event you know Clay, Joel or Deb, please tell a member of the Board how they will serve the ideals of Rotary.

 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Rotarian:  Luther Reynolds

    • JOINED: 12/1/2020
    • SPONSOR: President-Elect Rob Dewey
    • MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT: New Member
    • CLASSIFICATION: Law Enforcement
    • PROFESSION: Chief of Police, Charleston Police Department
    • SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOURSELF: I have run a 50-mile race; I like to golf; I like to sing in church; I recently tried/am still trying to learn how to Kite-Surf (no easy task)

Birthdays

  • 1/19 – Anita Zucker
  • 1/20 – Mike Sottak
  • 1/24 – Jeff Webb

By the numbers

    • Attendance on January 12, 2021 (In-Person and Zoom):  46
    • Not in attendance:  Allen, Baus, Berry, Bickley, Bini, Brack, Ceccato, Clark, Cole, Cook, Crouch, Coxe, Curia, DeGraff, Diminich, Dopp, Drafts, Dukes, Echols, Fason, Fellabom, Fink, M., Galizia, Gill, Hanger, Holmes, Howard, Husser, Jones, C., Jones, Z., Kaynard, Lee, Leonard, Loredo, Lucy, Minson, Moore, Moring, Palmers, Patrick, Peters, Phipps, Plotner, Ravenel, Rust, Savage, Seguer, Shahid, Sidebottom, Smith, H., Smith, M., Smith, P., Staley, Strickland, Taylor, Teller, Tonney, Uram, Vanek, Wackym, Walters, Ward, Webb, Weston, Wieters, Williams
    • Out of Town Make-ups: None
WELLNESS TIP

 

Take the stairs

Taking the stairs instead of the elevator is a simple way to get a little more physical activity in your daily life. It also strengthens and tones your legs and core while you’re at it!

 

ARE CLUB MEETINGS

Mondays

  • Summerville – Oakbrook: 7:30 a.m., Monday, Westcott County Club, 5000 Wescott Club Drive, North Charleston
  • North Charleston: 12:30 a.m., Monday, Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 International Blvd, North Charleston.
  • Summerville Evening: 5:30 p.m., Monday, Montreux Bar and Grill, 127 W. Richardson Ave., Summerville

Tuesdays

  • East Cooper Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Cooper River Room at Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant
  • Charleston: 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Hall’s Signature Events, 5 Faber, Charleston
  • Goose Creek: 12:45  m. Tuesday, Gilligan’s, 219 St. James Ave., Goose Creek

Wednesdays

  • Daniel Island: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Daniel Island Club, 600 Island Park Dr., Daniel Island
  • St. John’s Parish (John’s Island): 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, 2817 Maybank Highway, Unit 1, John’s Island
  • Mount Pleasant: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Harbor Breeze Restaurant, 176 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant
  • Summerville: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sticky Fingers, Summerville

Thursdays

  • North Charleston Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Embassy Suites, 5055 International Blvd., North Charleston
  • Moncks Corner: 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Gilligan’s Restaurant, Moncks Corner
  • St. Andrews (West Ashley): 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Bessinger’s BBQ, 1602 Savannah Highway, Charleston.

Fridays

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Our Rotary club actively uses social media — and we encourage you to interact with us through social media.

  • We’re on FacebookTake a look at our page and be sure to “like us”.
  • We’re on Twitter.  You can follow us @chasrotaryclub.
  • We’re on Instagram.  You can follow us @ChasRotaryClub.
ABOUT THE KEYWAY 

The Keyway has been published weekly as a newsletter for the Rotary Club of Charleston for more than 90 years.

  • President: Lisa Van Bergen
  • Keyway editor: Don Baus [email protected]
  • Executive secretary: Carroll Schweers, [email protected]
  • Mailing address: Rotary Club of Charleston, P.O. Box 21029, Charleston, SC 29413-1029
  • Copyright 2018, Rotary Club of Charleston. All rights reserved