1/5/2021: Mayor John Tecklenburg: State of the City

January 5, 2021:

We kicked off 2021 with our very own Rotarian and Mayor of Charleston JohnnTrecklenburg as a guest speaker. The Mayor gave us his annual “State of the City” report. The club was also given an overview of a new fundraising program called Charleston 50 which will serve as the main vehicle to raise money for our local grants program.

Mayor Tecklenburg joined us on Tuesday to give our club the State of our City. He started with “Resilient” and “Hopeful” to describe the current state of the city. His focus right now it to maintain safety during the continuing Covid pandemic and to focus on the distribution of vaccines. This coming year he had 8 focal points to touch on:

Drainage improvements– this continues all across the city in anticipation of sea-level rise.

Create more affordable housing– as residential property values rise, this only becomes more important.

Public Safety– Community policing and improving fire department resources.

Quality of life– enhancing parks and reopening cultural events.

Economic Development- Our economy has been thriving up until Covid-19 so we need to focus on recovery, especially focusing on technology base business to decrease reliance on hospitality.

Racial Equity– We have formed a Racial Equity Commission to explore actions we can take to make Charleston a more fair and just city.

Climate Action Plan– Developing plan this year, being on front line of climate changes dealing with rising sea level.

Maintain Financial Strength by refinancing bonds and maintaining our AAA credit rating.

Mayor Tecklenburg then focused on what he considered the five “Burroughs” of Charleston- John’s Island, James Island, West Ashley, The Peninsula and Daniel Island.

Last year we approved 12 acres to expand park on Johns Island, as well as making a number of purchases for affordable housing and a new (second) fire station. The 526 extension is now an active project.

On James Island, in the coming year, the city will acquire more greenbelt property for drainage improvements. Also leading an effort to improve the water quality going into Ellis Creek.

For West Ashley, we have the grant approved to create a dedicated bike connection to the peninsula. We are nearing completion of Fire Station 11 on Savannah Hwy and will be signing a contract to move to construction of a new park south of Charlestowne Landing as well as improvements to Ackerman Park.

On the Peninsula, phase I of low battery sea wall is nearing completion and phase II will start soon after.  The Deep Tunnel system is underway to improve drainage and has a total of V phases. We opened a warming shelter, renovated Moultrie Playground, reopened MLK pool with a permanent cover for year-round use. Grace Homes affordable homes opened and we are moving forward on the Low Line linear Park. Cannon Street fire station is being renovated as well as planned renovations of Huger street fire station.Drainage improvements include a King and Huger street drainage pump station, drainage improvements to the Medical District and the cleanout of the original arched sewer system that is under the city to utilize as part of the stormwater system.

On Daniel Island, the Tennis Center will be renovated (with the generosity of the Navarro family) as well as the completion of a new Recreation Center. 

The City is resilient, has seen all sorts of challenges over the centuries including Covid and he is very hopeful and excited about the state of the City.

Go here for a recording of the meeting.

Submitted by Don Baus, Chairman of the  Keyway Committee

IN OTHER MEETING NEWS 

    • Heidi Finniff gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.  
    • Virginia Lee welcomed all visiting Rotarians & guests.  
    • President Lisa presented Health and Happiness.
    • Joseph Tecklenburg introduced his father, Past President of our club and Mayor of Charleston, John Tecklenburg, who gave us a “State of the City” address.     

MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY

January 12, 2021 | Issue 4990| President: Lisa Van Bergen

UPCOMING EVENTS  
        • Jan. 12 – Joe Lobo, CPD, Forensics / 11 am Board Meeting
        • Jan. 19 –Anthony Jackson, Roper St. Francis, COVID Update (ZOOM ONLY)
        • Jan. 21 – Happy Hour Social @ The Shelter, 202 Coleman Blvd, MP 5-6:30pm
        • Jan. 26 – Networking
        • Feb. 2 – Roger Warren, President Kiawah, PGA Championship in May 2021
        • Feb. 9 – Elliott Summey, Charleston International Airport
NEWS BRIEFS

 

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.

 

Salvation Army Bellringing

Club volunteers got into the holiday spirit and took to the streets on Friday, Dec. 11 ringing the bell for the Salvation Army in two locations. The combined total for the two locations was $1,312.18.  Thanks to all of our members who volunteered and a special thank you to new member, Denise Kaufman, for coordinating this effort for our club. 

 

Holiday Senior Giving

Our club was again able to spread a little holiday cheer to the 80 residents of the Ansonbourgh House. Just like most of 2020, this project was a little different this year.  In lieu of the normal holiday party and gift-giving, we provided a meal that was delivered the week before Christmas by the senior center staff to each senior’s apartment.  Included with the meal was a Harris Teeter gift card and a personal note from a member of our club. Thank you to all the club volunteers who assisted with writing the notes and to Past President Sandy for coordinating this special holiday project. 

 

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

 

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

Ken Morelli had hip surgery over the holidays and is recuperating at home with hopes to return to work next week.  Our thoughts and prayers are with him as he continues to recover. 

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

  • 1/12 – John Bleecker
  • 1/14 – Karen Clark
  • 1/15 – Karl Riner & Tom Giovanniello

By the numbers

    • Attendance on January 5, 2021 (In-Person and Zoom):  67
    • Not in attendance:  Allen, Berry, Bickley, Brack, Burgreen, Clark, Cole, Cook, Coxe, Crouch, DeGraff, Diminich, Dopp, Drafts, Dukes, Fason, Galizia, Gill, Holmes, Howard, Husser, Jones, Jones, Kaynard, Lucy, Matheny, Minson, Moore, Moring, Morse, Oswalt, Patrick,  Phipps, Plotner, Rust, Savage, Shahid, Smith, H., Smith, P., Strickland, Taylor, Teller, Tonney, Walters, Weston, Williams
    • Out of Town Make-ups: None
WELLNESS TIP

 

Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning

Coffee’s great too, but it’s best to start your day by re-hydrating with a full glass of water. Hydrating first thing in the morning helps to aid digestion, enhance skin health and boost energy.

 

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