1/18: Troy Evans, Teach for America

January 18, 2022

Troy Evans of Teach for America Zoom’ed into our meeting this week and gave us a great overview of how this program is helping develop a new generation of teachers, particualry in areas of the state where they are in short supply.  Don’t forget our next social on Jan 27 at Port of Call downtown. 

This week our guest speaker was Troy Evans, the executive director of Teach for America South Carolina. TFASC’s vision is that all children in South Carolina will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education. Their mission is: to find, develop, and support a diverse network of leaders who expand opportunities for children in classrooms, schools, and every sector and field that shape the broader systems in which schools operate. TFASC is different from other certification and teacher recruitment programs because of its intensive, high-touch support model.

Troy shared some current SC statistics: 28% of first-year teachers did not return to same position for the second year. There were 555 teacher vacancies on the first day of school. 36% of teachers who left the classroom had five or fewer years of experience. The average cost to replace a teacher: $20,000.

The key components of TFASC’s model are recruitment, training, coaching ongoing support, and retention. The first two years are critical for new teachers. They develop positive or negative habits that will last their entire career.

The current TFASC teacher demographics are: 77% female, 46% low-income background, 41% people of color. Of the latest class, 73% stayed beyond their 2-year commitment. Since 2011, over 65,000 students impacted by TFASC teachers. Over 90% of principals surveyed indicated that TFASC teachers were effective at delivering classroom instruction and maintained a positive learning environment. 

TFASC wants to find ways to scale what works in order to grow their impact. They want tin increase 2nd and 4th year retention. TFASC is launching a New Teacher Academy to bring their professional development to non-TFASC teachers in strategically chosen counties. Troy invited anyone interested to visit their website, follow them on social media, and subscribe to TFASC’s newsletter. 

To access a recording for this week’s meeting, click here.

Passcode: Q&R6rFR@

 

IN OTHER MEETING NEWS  

  • Angela Craig gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.  
  • Cleave Ham introduced those visiting on ZOOM.   
  • President Rob presented Health and Happiness.
  • Karl Brady introduced our speaker, Troy Evans of Teach for America. 

 

MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY

January 25, 2022  |  Issue 5034  President:  Rob Dewey

COMING EVENTS 

    • Jan. 25 – Tonya Matthews, IAAM
    • Jan. 27 – Monthly Social. Port of Call Food & Brew Hall (5PM)
    • Feb. 1 – Matt Martin, Federal Reserve/11 am New Member Orientation Mtg.
    • Feb. 8 – Will Shirey & Keith Freeman, VerdeSol
    • Feb. 15 – Steve Palmer, Indigo Road  (ZOOM ONLY)
    • Feb. 22 – Col. Art Athens

 

NEWS BRIEFS

January Social this Thursday, 1/27

We are kicking off the new year with a Social at Port of Call Food + Brew Hall, 99 South Market Street, on Thursday, January 27 from 5pm-7pm. This is a great space focusing on a variety of locally sourced food from a wide range of cuisines, at the same time providing a large collection of beer, wine, and spirits, with an emphasis on local craft beers.

We hope you can join us for networking and fellowship as we support a local business owned by fellow Rotarian Thomas Berry.

 

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION SESSION 

All new members who have not attended a previous New Member Orientation Meeting are encouraged to join Past Presidents Sandy Morckel and Lisa Van Bergen on February 1 for our next New Member Orientation/Information session. Attending one of these sessions provides new members with the information and tools to help them make the most of their Rotary membership. 

Our next session is Tuesday, February 1 at 11:15am (prior to our regularly scheduled Rotary luncheon) upstairs at Hall’s Signature Events, 5 Faber Street.

 

Operation Warm

Our annual Operation Warm project is complete. Because of your donations to the RCCF, our club was able to give 252 students at Mitchell Elementary brand new winter coats!  The initial shipment of coats arrived before the holidays and were distributed by Alan Burgreen with the help of several Rotarian volunteers. The final shipment of coats came in before the cold snap and were delivered to the students by the school staff.  Unfortunately, due to the recent increase in COVID cases, our club members were unable to assist with the final distribution of coats. There was a surplus of coats, so students in need at Sanders-Clyde also received new coats.  This is your RCCF donations going to work helping those in our community.

 

Meeting Update – NO EVITES or RSVPs Required

As those of you who have attended recently are aware, we have returned to a buffet-style luncheon. Our attendance numbers have consistently returned to pre-COVID numbers, so as we move forward into 2022 there will be NO EVITE or need to RSVP to weekly luncheons.  We have been printing nametags for guests, so if you are bringing a guest (especially a prospective member), please let Carroll know.  Also, if you have a dietary restriction, please inform Carroll weekly, so a special meal is prepared for you.

 

Ambassadorial Global Grant Scholars

Please help us identify potential candidates for the Ambassadorial Global Grant Scholarship through the International Rotary Foundation!

This is an ideal opportunity to build global leadership opportunities for our impressive students pursuing graduate work abroad from our local colleges and universities. Our undergraduate, graduate and honors programs of our four-year colleges and universities often provide excellent outreach/access to students who may be eligible.  

Eligible candidates previous work or volunteer experience, academic program, and career plans should be strongly aligned with one of the six areas of focus:

  1. Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution
  2. Disease Prevention and Treatment
  3. Water and Sanitation
  4. Maternal and Child Health
  5. Basic Education and Literacy
  6. Economic and Community Development   

For more information, please contact Chloe Tonney at [email protected].

 

RCCF Grant Applications Being Accepted

The Rotary Club of Charleston Fund (RCCF) is accepting requests for grants.  Interested organizations are required to submit a Letter of Inquiry and complete a grant application prior to March 1 to be considered.  The application and other details regarding the grant process can be found on our club’s website — www.charleston-rotary.org.  For more information, please contact RCCF Chair, Alex Dallis at [email protected].

 

International Grant Applications being accepted through March 1

The International Grant application process is officially open for organizations to apply to receive an International grant from our Club. Our Club focuses on projects for people in need in developing countries throughout the world. We have funded projects in the past few years that concentrate on creating infrastructure for basic needs such as potable water, nutrition, sanitation, children’s health, and many others. Our impact has expanded to places such as Liberia, Dominican Republic, Kenya, Paraguay, and Peru.

If you have any contacts with organizations that are doing this kind of important work in the world and could benefit from a grant from our Club, please send them our application form. The application was emailed out last week, but if you don’t have it, please contact Joseph Tecklenburg at [email protected]. Or access the grant application form here.


The deadline for the applications is March 1, 2022. If you should have any specific questions, please contact Joseph.

 

Blue Bucket Collections

Blue Buckets will be on the tables this month in support of those in Kentucky affected by the recent tornados.  Bring your Happy Bucks and consider making a cash donation at an upcoming meeting.  $359 was collected this past Tuesday.  

 

District 7770 All Club Conference 

Registration for The District 7770 All Club Conference is now open. All Rotarians are invited to attend. Our club will cover registration fees on a first come, first serve basis for those wanting to attend.  Individuals are responsible for their own accommodations. The link for The All Club Conference may be found in DACdb under the calendar tab.

Our Family Reunion promises a weekend full of fun, service opportunities and fellowship for everyone.  This will be a time to renew old acquaintances and make new friends.  Celebrate all that District 7770 has achieved in 2021/22!

Join us at the beachfront Sonesta Hotel on Hilton Head Island March 11-13, 2022.  Rooms may be secured at $179 per night by calling 1-843-842-2400 or 1-800-766-3782.  Alternatively go on line at www.sonesta.com/hiltonheadisland using group booking code 0324Rotary.  If you would like to explore Hilton Head further, the same room rate is available for March 9, 10 and March 14.  This rate is only available until February 16, 2022.  After that date, no rooms will be guaranteed to be available or at that rate.  As this is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade weekend on Hilton Head Island, rooms will be at a premium!

The Opening Luncheon will kick off The Family Reunion Weekend on Friday, March 11, 2022.

District Governor Paul Walter, the Conference speakers and the entire All Club Conference Committee look forward to great weekend.

 

Important – Face Masks Optional 

At its meeting this past Tuesday, your Board re-evaluated our current mask policy.  Due to the decline in COVID cases, 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.

For the safety of our members and guests, we ask all members to please comply with the CDC guidelines and our protocols.

 

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. Simply 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 [email protected].

 

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.

 

MEMBER NEWS

Our thoughts, prayers and well wishes continue to be with Luther Reynolds and Stefany Ceccato, who are both recovering from recent surgeries.  

Proposed New Members

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

Jennifer Brinson – sponsor:  Alan Burgreen; classification:  Interior Design

Adrian Cain – sponsor:  Digit Matheny/Sandy Morckel/Tammy Coghill; classification: Chamber of Commerce

Harry Camferdam – sponsor:  Harry Staley; classification:  Real Estate

In the event you know Jennifer, Adrian or Harry, please tell a member of the Board how she/he will serve the ideas of Rotary.

 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Rotarian:  Robbie Wachman

      • JOINED: 11/8/2021
      • SPONSOR: Digit Matheny
      • MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT: New Member
      • CLASSIFICATION:  Roofing/Construction
      • PROFESSION: Operations Director, Southpaw Roofing 
      •  SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOURSELF
        In the past, Robbie served the following organizations: Little League as a Coach, the YMCA Miracle League, Habitat for Humanity, Augusta Urban Ministries, and the Ronald McDonald House. Something unique about Robbie is the fact he played baseball for the College of Charleston, and Middle Georgia College where he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. 

 

Birthdays

  • 1/27 – Past President/Honorary Member Conrad Zimmerman 
  • 1/30 – Debbie Barton
  • 2/1 – Bob DeGraff

 

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.

 

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, Mt Pleasant Presbyterian Church.  302 Hibben St.  29464.

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 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: Rob Dewey

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