August 3, 2021
An entertaining and informative talk from Scott Stephens of the South
Carolina Historical Society. Scott touched upon a range of events, people and places in our state’s colorful history. Don’t forget our August social on the 26th at Saltwater Cowboys.
Scott Stephens, of the South Carolina Historical Society joined us this past Tuesday. It was started in 1855 and is one of the oldest, if not the oldest Historical Society in the Southeast. A group of gentlemen met at Otranto Plantation to form the society and James Lewis Pettigrew was the first president of the Historical Society. He was an outspoken supporter of staying in the Union, noting that “South Carolina is too small to be a nation and too large to be an insane asylum”. The first collection the Society received was the Henry Laurens collection which includes letters to and from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.
The collections also include letters, cookbooks, menus etc. from Eliza Lucas Pinckney, known for developing Indigo so it would grow in South Carolina.
The fireproof building in Charleston housed all of the important documents of the City up until about 20 years ago. Robert Mills designed the building and is considered the first professionally
trained architect in the nation and started here in Charleston. The Fireproof building is now the home of the South Carolina Historical Society museum. The archives are housed at the Addlestone Library at the College of Charleston and contains over two million items. Other items include Francis Marion’s powder horn and pistol, the only double Palmetto Flag in existence from Fort Walker which fell early in the Civil War. The flag ultimately ended up in the Massachusetts’s Historical society who contacted our Historical Society to return the flag. A secession banner, found in a dresser is also part of the collection as well as a mile marker, from when Charleston was the capital of South Carolina, found under the fire proof building during renovations.
The collection also includes pieces from the earliest Rotary of Charleston meetings, the Rotary Ragout.
Additional items include a cannonball from the Granville Bastion 1785 (Site of Omar Temple), a slave badge from 1811 which is part of a larger collection to be shared with the new African American Museum.
The museum also has numerous maps, letters, documents and photographs from Early Charleston and South Carolina.
To access the recording from this week’s meeting, go here.
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
- Harry Staley gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Sandy Murckel introduced our visiting Rotarians & guests.
- President Rob Dewey presented Health and Happiness
- Rob Dewey introduced our guest speaker
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
August 10, 2021 | Issue 5014 President: Rob Dewey
COMING EVENTS
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- August 10 – Whit Smith, Harbor Pilots – SC Ports
- August 17 – Ann Warner from SCWREN (Zoom only)
- August 26 – Club Social at Saltwater Cowboys
- August 31 – Tom Leonard
NEWS BRIEFS
Important – COVID Meeting Protocols Updated
In alignment with the new CDC guidelines, the Rotary Board has determined that the club needs to make adjustments to our Rotary meeting procedures. Effective immediately, we will no longer take temperatures upon arrival or be required to sign a waiver at the door. Face masks are now optional for all Rotarians and visitors, who are fully vaccinated. Those Rotarians and visitors, who are not yet vaccinated, are encouraged to continue to wear masks. Name badges will again be worn at meetings.
The staff and servers at Hall’s will continue to wear masks.
For the safety of our members and guests, we ask all members to please comply with the CDC guidelines and our protocols.
Grant Deadline Approaching!
The Rotary Club of Charleston Fund grant deadline for the fall is fast approaching. If you know of any nonprofit organizations in our community that would benefit from a grant from our club, please let them know. The grant process is explained on our website, and the link is: https://www.charleston-rotary.org/guidelines-for-grant-applicants/.
This is an important part of our club’s efforts to support those making our community a better place for all. The deadline is September 1, 2021.
Run with Bernie Polio Challenge
Many years ago Rotarians made a promise to the children of the world that they would not have to suffer from Polio. We are getting SO close to keeping that promise.
Fellow Rotarian Don Oswalt is inviting you to be a part of the “Run with Bernie” Polio Challenge.
If you walk, run, swim, bike, row, count your steps via your watch then YOU QUALIFY! Or if you want to start doing any of those activities YOU QUALIFY!
This is open to Rotarians and non-Rotarians.
Starting date is July 1st and runs through October.
The goal is to raise money and awareness for the Fight Against Polio, have fun and maybe just get a little healthier.
If you are interested in joining Don and other fellow Rotarians from our club, please email Don Oswalt don.oswalt@proforma.com
No cash? No problem. We now take Venmo!
Thanks to overwhelming demand by our younger, cash-fee members, the club will now accept Venmo payments. Venmo can be used to pay dues, meals for guests, contribute happy dollars and conduct other transactions which previously required cash, check or credit cards. Simplly add @rotaryclubofcharleston as a payee on your Venmo account. Thanks Joseph Tecklenburg for helping us reach this incredible technology milestone!
Rob Dewey is now looking into how we can use Bitcoin to pay our dues.
Charleston 50: Year Two
Charleston50, a fundraising campaign launched by the Rotary Club of Charleston to fund community grants, has already reached 58% of its 2021-22 goal during the first 24 days of our fiscal year!
Begun last year when traditional events were canceled due to COVID, the project is continuing thanks to the overwhelming response by members who donate $500 annually to support deserving non-profits in our club’s service area.
The Rev. Rob Dewey, club president, said, “Charleston50 was a surprise success for us. After decades of supporting projects by selling tickets and sponsorships, we quickly learned that our members value the impact our club has in the community and the easy way they can give through Charleston50.”
Charleston50 members receive several visibility benefits including being listed on the club’s website and on a slide deck visible for 20 minutes before each meeting; a pin; a sticker; and an opportunity to briefly greet club members. Donations to Charleston50 are made through the non-profit arm of our club and are 100% tax-deductible.
Please download and complete the Pledge Form here, and return it via email to Phoenicia Miracle at PMiracle@MiracleStrategies.com.
Next Rotary Social: Saltwater Cowboys: August 26
Our next Rotary Social will be on Thursday, August 26 at Saltwater Cowboys on Shem Creek. Look for more info and E-vite from our social committee chairs Michael Smith and Leah Donaldson. Come out and join your fellow Rotarians in some waterside fellowship
PR Committee Seeking Volunteers
Our club’s PR Team is looking for additional members to join their committee. Specifically, volunteer photographers are needed to take photos at our meetings. If you are interested in serving on the PR committee and helping in this role, please email Mike Sottak at mikesottak@gmail.com. Fancy cameras are not required, an iPhone will do! It would be wonderful to have a couple of volunteers alternating the weekly duty.
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.
Become a PHF & Support the Rotary Foundation
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, mikesottak@gmail.com, or Rob Byko, rob@bykorealty.com.
MEMBER NEWS
Congratulations to Travis Ronk who was inducted into the club. Travis was originally sponsored by past member Silva Goxaj and Steve Morse became his official sponsors when Silva changed clubs. Welcome Travis.
Proposed New Members
The following membership candidates have submitted an application and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston:
Beth Meyer Bernstein – sponsor: Sandy Sue Sommer-Kresse, classification: College Professor/Dean
Daniel West – sponsor: Cleave Ham, classification: Financial services
Sam Skardon – Sponsor: Rob Dewey, classification: nonprofit development
In the event you know Beth, Daniel or Sam please tell a member of the Board how they will serve the ideas of Rotary.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Rotarian: Stephanie Dasher
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- JOINED: 6//8/2021
- SPONSOR: Skip Fink
- MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT: New Member
- CLASSIFICATION: Eleemosynary/Executive
- PROFESSION: Executive Director, Warrior Surf Foundation
- SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOURSELF: Though I graduated college with a Nuclear Engineering & Science degree, I actually dropped out of Algebra II in high school because I said it was too hard and I wasn’t good in math. I truly believe this and I hated math, but loved science. To me, this is proof that all of our brains mature at different rates and given enough time we can learn to do anything.
- JOINED: 6//8/2021
Birthdays
- 8/6 – Chloe Tonney
- 8/6 – Amy Chico
- 8/7 – Karl Brady
- 8/7 – Hilton Smith
- 8/10 – Alvin Williams
- 8/11 – Andrew Rosenfeld
- 8/19 – Mary Ann Kohli
- 8/26 – Rudy Gill
WELLNESS TIP
SLEEP IS ESSENTIAL
Knowing how much sleep your body needs and getting the required amount is key to self-care. Sleep patterns can change during the summer. Melatonin, a hormone produced by the body and released in the dark, helps us feel tired. Melatonin signals to the brain that it is time to sleep. Extended light hours during the summer means that release of melatonin is delayed, so our body doesn’t feel like sleeping until later when it is dark. Our normal sleep pattern, called the circadian rhythm, can be delayed as the day is longer during the summer months.
Think back on the last time you didn’t get enough sleep—it likely affected your entire day. A lack of sleep can impact our mental health, relationships, productivity, and overall well-being. Remember the importance of a good night’s sleep and get plenty of rest during the summer.
AREA 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
Charleston Breakfast: 7:30AM Hall’s Signature Events, 5 Faber, Charleston
SOCIAL MEDIA
Our Rotary club actively uses social media — and we encourage you to interact 
with us through social media.
We’re on Facebook. Take 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 don@sgaarchitecture.com
Executive secretary: Carroll Schweers, carrollschweers@gmail.com
Mailing address: Rotary Club of Charleston, P.O. Box 21029, Charleston, SC 29413-1029
Copyright 2018, Rotary Club of Charleston. All rights reserved