4/19 Greg Parker, Parker’s Kitchens

April 19, 2022

Greg Parker of Parker’s Kitchens gave an inspiring and motivating talk about leadership and success at this week’s meeting. Don’t forget our next club social for May, a special event at the Canon Street Theatre. More info below

Greg Parker opened his first convenience store in Midway, Ga., at the age of 21. Admittedly, he didn’t have a business plan, but what he lacked in strategy he more than made up for with perseverance. His determination coupled with a herculean work ethic catapulted him to success. He currently has stores in 71 locations with over 1200 employees, and his stores, aptly named “Parker’s Kitchens,” have been named the top convenience store chain in America.

Great detail is paid to the esthetic design of his properties. Unlike other convenience stores that historically marketed to the trucking industry, Parker’s Kitchen’s targets working mothers with a commitment to safety and cleanliness. Fresh food offerings such as fried chicken are cooked in “Smart Kitchens” managed by artificial intelligence. Nothing is ever served that’s been on the shelf for more than 30 minutes.

Parker is active and heavily recognized in many different organizations in his industry, including the Petroleum Marketers Study Group, National Association of Convenience Stores, BPAmoco Marketers Association, Pepsi and Coca-Cola advisory committees. He is also a philanthropist involved in many different organizations including the charitable giving initiative he founded called Parker’s Fueling the Community.

He shared his keys to success with the club: 

1. Work hard 
2. Surround yourself with a great team
3. Make success measurable 
4. Stay hungry and nimble 
5. Always strive to do better

 

 

 

 

 

A recording of the Zoom meeting can be found here.

Access Passcode: pXC9$&bF

IN OTHER MEETING NEWS  

• • • • • Jan Luth gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.  
        • Marion Platt introduced our visiting Rotarians & guests.    
        • President Rob presented Health and Happiness.
        • Amber Mufale introduced our speaker, Greg Parker, Founder and CEO of Parker’s and Parker’s Kitchens. 

 

MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY

4/26/2022  |  Issue 5047 President:  Rob Dewey

COMING EVENTS 

• • • April 26 – Winslow Hastie, Historic Chas. Foundation
    • May 3– Cannon Street Theater (no lunch meeting)
    • May 10 – Chris Fraser
    • May 20 – Recognizing CCSD Teachers of Year & Rotary Service Above Self Scholars (Members only meeting – no guests)
    • May 24 – Grady Johnson, Harbor Entrepreneur Center
    • May 31 – NO MEETING!

 

NEWS BRIEFS

Meeting Update – RSVP is Required for all Guests by Monday at 5 p.m.

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 we do ask that if you are bringing a guest (especially a prospective member), please let Carroll know by 5:00 pm on Monday.  Also, if you have a dietary restriction, please inform Carroll weekly, so a special meal is prepared for you.

Blue Bucket Collections – LAST DAY to Support Ukraine

Tuesday is the FINAL day to make your contributions in support of Rotary International’s Disaster Relief Fund for Ukraine.  Be sure to bring your Happy Bucks and consider making a cash donation into the Blue Buckets this Tuesday.  We have a generous, anonymous donor, who will match our total donations. 

 

May Social – Canon Street Theater

We will not meet for lunch on Tuesday, May 3, but instead invite you to join us for a unique theater experience! Only 22 tickets are available as of our meeting this past Tuesday, so please register yourself and any guests on-line by April 26th.  There is no charge for this event.  If you have any questions, contact Michael Smith at [email protected].

Tuesday May 3, 2022

6.00pm: Reception (light hors d’oeuvres & cash bar) 

6.30-9.00pm – Play

Canon Street Theater Center, 134 Canon Street

**parking is available at the adjacent lot at 136 Canon Street (corner of President Street))

Parking Fee $5 – please pay at the box 

 

Community Impact Award to Sgt. Ana Beyler

President-Elect Virginia recognized our EMS Community Impact Award recipient, Sgt. Ana Beyler, this past Tuesday. Sgt. Beyler started her career in public safety in 2010 working with several services, before joining Charleston County EMS in May of 2021.  During her time with CCEMS, she has shown herself to be an outstanding paramedic and was selected by her peers for this prestigious award. Sgt. Beyler has shown clinical excellence and a passion for continued education to improve herself.  She embraces the art of elegant prehospital resuscitation, paying close attention to details.  She treats everyone with dignity and respect while taking great pride in every task she performs. Sgt. Beyler has a positive attitude that radiates to others and her passion for caring is obvious to those around her.  She volunteers to assist wherever she’s needed and is willing to do as much as possible to contribute to the growth and success of CCEMS. For all these reasons and more we were proud to honor Sgt. Beyler as Charleston County EMS’s Paramedic of the Year 2021. 

 

Check donation to Charleston PD

 

Youth Exchange Host Families Needed

The Rotary Club of Charleston needs local families to host an exchange student (that our club will sponsor), age 15-18 1/2, for a period of 3-5 months in 2022/2023. The families are grouped together and organized through the Rotary Club. This great opportunity to volunteer and change the life of a young person and expose your family to a different culture! 

The exchange student will attend the same high school locally for the entire year so it is important that the host families are in the same school area (and it is convenient to travel to and from). Our inbound student will attend the Charleston Charter School for Math & Science which is located at: 1002 King Street, Charleston SC  29403. 

A host family needs to have the desire to provide the following:

1. Love as a family member. The student will be a part of the family not a guest.
2. Transportation– The student will not be allowed to drive while in the US.
3. A Bed-The student does not have to have his/her own room, but we do ask that they have their own bed. 
4. Food– We ask that you provide food for the student, including lunch while at school. Again, treating the student as you would your own.

If you are able to volunteer for this opportunity, please go to http://yehub.net/SC1-hfapp  and complete the online Host Family Application. This can be done on your smartphone, tablet or PC. You will also need to consent to a background check as part of this process. Please note the following:

• You will need two references (emails, street addresses & phone numbers for each)
• Also, to include photos of your home including: student bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, family room, exterior of home & a casual family photo (smaller sizes work best) in the application. 
• Please review the attached checklist for an overview of the process and timeline.
• Once you complete the application, we can schedule a time for me to visit you and your family at your home to go over some additional information and also address any questions or concerns you may have.  

Rotary Youth Exchange Dates to Remember:

2022

• June: Training- Host Families & YEO/YEC in Charleston
• August : Inbound Student Orientation Training Weekend- Charleston, SC
• December: Disney World Trip! Mandatory for all Inbounds

2023

• March: District 7770 Rotary Conference, Columbia, SC  (All Inbound and Outbound Students MUST attend)

• June: Rotary Western Tour (optional

If you have questions or need further information, please reach out to one of our club’s Youth Exchange Officers/Counselors – Karen Clark or Richard Sidebottom. 

 

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

Welcome to our newest Rotarian …. Candy Oliver!  Candy was introduced and sponsored by Stephanie Dasher and join us as a Corporate Associate member with the classification of Eleemosynary/Executive. 

 

The Board is starting to assemble Committee Chairs for the upcoming Rotary year.  We are in need of volunteers to coordinate Invocation & Visiting Rotarian/Guest presenters. If you are interested, see Stefany Ceccato. 

 

Proposed New Members

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

Tamara Curry – sponsor:  Harry Staley; classification:  Judge/ProbateIn the event you know Catherine, please tell a member of the Board how she will serve the ideals of Rotary.

 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Rotarian: Travis Ronk

• • • JOINED: 7/9/2021
    • SPONSOR:Silva Goxhaj
    • MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT: New Member
    • CLASSIFICATION:  Financial services
    • PROFESSION: Business Development Manager, Beacon Community Bank
    •  SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOURSELF: Travis and his wife Lauren Davis Ronk live in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. They enjoy outdoor time with their Boykin Spaniel, Ruby. Travis also likes to, “get out on the water fishing, and once in a great while I’ll catch something!”
      

 

Birthdays

• 4/27 – Mark McMath

 

WELLNESS TIP

Get organized, one week at a time. 

Pick out just one area each week that you’re going to tackle – like a junk drawer, the bathroom cabinet, or your locker at work. In 12 weeks you will have de-cluttered and organized 12 areas of your life, and the corresponding stress relief this brings is good for your health.

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, Marriott Hotel, 4770 Goer Drive, 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

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, Marriott Hotel, 4770 Goer Drive, 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: 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