10/4: Marcus Amaker, Charleston’s Poet Laureate

October 4, 2022

We were treated to the creativity, inspiration, wisdom and humor of Charleston’s first poet laureate, the multi-talented Marcus Amaker, who gave us his insights into the world of poetry and how he is sharing his gift across the community Reminder of a couple of events coming up: Trash Talkin’ Highway Clean up on Oct. 15 and October Social aboard the Palmetto Breeze on the 18th. Sign up info below.

Marcus Amaker, Charleston’s first poet Laureate, share his story and his poetry, with members of the Historic Charleston Rotary Club on Oct. 4th

The position of Poet Laureate of the City of Charleston was established at the May 24, 2016 meeting of City Council.

Marcus is an award-winning web designer, graphic designer, videographer, musician and author. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

As an author, Marcus has released seven poetry books and has performed for national TV. His poems can be found in several volumes, including “Home Is Where: An Anthology of African American Poetry from the Carolinas,” “Seeking: Poetry and Prose Inspired by the Art of Jonathan Green,” “My South: A People, A Place, A World of Its Own” and Charleston Salt and Iron. As a spoken word poet, he’s performed for the MOJA, Piccolo Spoleto, Spoleto and North Charleston Arts festivals. (from Marcus Amaker.com)

Currently, Marcus works with students across the city through “Poets in Schools,” a program aimed at inspiring students to use words to express their personal stories and to understand the power and influence of words.

Marcus’s focus also includes poetry and music, including jazz, electronic music, bluegrass, and even opera. 

When named poet laureate, Markus said, “This honor is not just for me, it’s for every poet in Charleston.” He continued, “Poetry is such an important and vital art form. I’m looking forward to working with nonprofits, businesses and schools to give literacy a bigger platform. It’s going to be fun to come up with creative ways for poetry to be spread throughout Charleston.”

 

Here is a link to the recording of the meeting

Password: 8ktQf3u$

IN OTHER MEETING NEWS  

  • David Baggs gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.  
  • Past President Sandy Morckel introduced our visiting Rotarians & guests. 
  • Health and Happiness was presented by President Virginia.
  • Past President Sandy Morckel introduced our guest speaker, Marcus Amaker, Charleston’s Poet Laureate. 
  •      

MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY

10/10/2022  |  Issue 5067 President:  Virginia Lawrence

COMING EVENTS 

      • 10/11 – District Governor Bob Gross / 11am Board Mtg. 
      • 10/15 – Adopt-A-Highway, Bee Street, 9am-10am
      • 10/18 – Social Aboard the Palmetto Breeze 
      • 10/25 – Lisa Metheny, Deputy District Engineer of the US Army Corps of Engineers
      • 11/1 – Herman Dixon, Shelter Box
      • 11/4 – Doors to Dreams/Burke Bowl, 2-3:30pm

 

NEWS BRIEFS

Reminder… Guest RSVP Protocol

If you are planning to bring a guest to Rotary, please let Carroll know by no later than Monday at 5pm.  There is some preparation that needs to be done for all guests prior to the meeting.

 

Special Dietary Requests

If you have a special dietary request or need, be sure to let Carroll know in advance of a meeting. She will work with the staff at Hall’s to ensure that you are prepared a special plate that meets your restrictions. Please do not enter the kitchen area to make a last minute special request. 

 

Blue Buckets – Hurricane Ian Relief

Last week Hurricane Ian hammered Florida, especially Rotary District 6960, and caused widespread devastation.  Rotarians have mobilized in that district and are seeking help. 

Our club will be collecting donations in the BLUE buckets this coming Tuesday, so please bring in your donations this Tuesday. Your donation will go to our District, who will incorporate our club’s collected donations with others from around the District and send one payment. Money is due to them on 10/14, so we will only be collecting this Tuesday.

If you are unable to attend and would like to donate, you have 2 options:     

  1. Mail a check to Rotary District 7770, ℅ Paul Walter, 1000 William Hilton Pkwy,
         Suite F4, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 
  2. District 6960 has set up a website for receiving relief: https://www.rotaryfl.org/ 

Additionally, the Hilton Head Club will be sending supplies to Florida and may have room to take supplies donated by clubs or individuals.  Please contact President Joe Chappell to work out details: [email protected].  For more information, go to the DACdb home page to see a more detailed description of their efforts.

Please consider helping those who are very much in need.  Our district was very fortunate, or we could have been in the same situation as District 6960.

 

 Community Impact Recognition Awards – Charleston Police Department

Congratulations to Police Officer Clyde King (2nd from left) and Master Police Officer Thomas Bedell (middle) receiving their Community Impact Awards from President Virginia, Rotarian and Chief of Police Luther and President-elect Cleave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At our Oct. 4th meeting, our Rotary Club’s Community Impact Recognition Awards were presented to Master Police Officer Thomas Bedell and Police Officer Clyde King of the Charleston Police Department, in appreciation of their commitment, leadership and compassion truly exemplifying our Rotary motto, Service Above Self. Also in attendance were the officers’ spouses, Tamara Bedell and Christy King, as well as other persons from CPD — Sgt. Christopher Koegler, Captain Jason Bruder, plus our fellow Rotarian and Chief of Police Luther Reynolds.

Captain Bruder introduced the officers to our Club, informing us that Officers Bedell and King are School Resources Officers at West Ashley High School, where they serve as law enforcement officers, mentors, and counselors; “…provide a safe and secure environment for the students to learn and grow…”; and, “…continuously interact to build lasting relationships with the students as they navigate this critical part of their lives.”

Congratulations to Master Police Officer Thomas Bedell and Police Officer Clyde King! The Rotary Club thanks them for their service above self to our community.

 

New Club – Rotary Cainhoy Peninsula 

A new Rotary Club was formed in January of this year. The Rotary Cainhoy Peninsula meets the first and third Tuesday of the month from 6 to 7pm at Kings Cross Church off of Clements Ferry Road. They have about 15 members to date.  If you are looking to do a make-up, consider joining them for a meeting.  https://www.cainhoyrotary.com/

 

Community Coat Drive

During the month of October, we will be collecting new and gently used youth and adult sized coats. Adult coats will be donated to the Living Amends, which is a program that distributes coats in a street initiative that works with people who live on the streets, usually drug or alcohol related, and looks for opportunities to not just meet the humanitarian need but also to deliver a lifeline to treatment options.  The youth coats will be donated to Carolina Youth Development Center. Please bring your coat donations to any luncheon in October or “bring a coat to the boat” on October 18th.

 

Trash Talkin’ Time!!

The Community Service Project for October is Bee Street Clean Up on Saturday, October 15 from 9-10am.  Meet up is at 140 Bee St, fellowship brunch for those interested afterward!  Click link below to register:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rotary-adopt-a-highway-bee-street-clean-up-tickets-419575681157

 

October Social – Aboard the Palmetto Breeze

Join us for a sunset cruise aboard the Palmetto Breeze on Tuesday, October 18 from 4:30-6:30pm. Enjoy appetizers, cash bar and live music by best saxophonist in Charleston, Louie D.

Tickets are $25 – Rotarians & guests welcome! Tickets are limited, so be sure to purchase soon.  An email was sent to all members last week. Buy tickets here

The cruise will leave from Shem Creek (behind Tavern and Table – 100 Church Street, Mt. Pleasant.

 

Blood Drive – Come Donate

Our club is hosting a Holiday Blood Drive with the Blood Connection at the Charleston Riverdogs Stadium on November 19 ahead of the season when blood is most in demand. Mark your calendars now to donate blood.

 

Volunteers Needed for Rotary Burke Bulldog Bowl

Volunteers are needed to assist with the Rotary Burke Bulldog Bowl from 2 to 3:30 pm on Friday, Nov. 4th. Rotarians will be assigned a station to lead for students to flex their mental health skills and prowess! If you are interested in mental health issues among our youth and are engaging listener, we need you!  Volunteers can sign up at Google Sign Up form.  More details to follow.

 

Youth Exchange Candidates Needed for 2023-2024 School Year

Do you know a high school student that would be interested in a year abroad as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student? Our District needs your help in finding candidates for the 2023-2024 school year. Preliminary Applications are being accepted now. Please pass this along to interested students, families, churches and neighbors so these students don’t miss this opportunity. All Rotarians’ children and grandchildren are eligible for Rotary Youth Exchange. If you have any questions, please contact Lou Mello, District Youth Exchange Chair, at [email protected] or 843-437-9084. 

 

July-Dec 2022 Dues Are Past Due

July-December 2022 dues payments are now considered past due. Second past due notices were emailed on 8/31.  If you received an email, please be sure to take care of making payment. We have made it even easier to pay!  We have upgraded our software and added a new component to our invoicing. We are now able to accept credit card and bank transfer payments on-line.  Members just simply have to click on the “pay now” button on their invoice and make payment.  We hope this new feature will make those of you paying by credit card or bank transfer easier. We will continue to also accept payments by check.  If you have any questions about your dues, please contact Carroll.

 

WE ARE NOW ON Linked In

For all you Linked In users, be sure to follow us on that popular professional social media network. Our handle is Rotary Club of Downtown Charleson and you can link directly to our page here:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/rotary-club-of-downtown-charleston/

 

Hosts Needed! Our Club’s TWO Youth Exchange Students Have Arrived and We Need Host Families

IMPORTANT!!!! We are still looking for local families to host both female exchange students for a period of 3-5 months in 2022/2023. This is a great opportunity to volunteer and change the life of a young person and expose yourself and your family to a different culture! All of the prior students have been wonderful and a delight to get to know! 

Both of our exchange students 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). They will be attending the Charleston Charter School for Math & Science located at: 1002 King Street, Charleston SC  29403. 

If you are interested in hosting one of these students for a couple of months, please reach out to either Karen Clark [email protected] or Richard Sidebottom [email protected].

This is a great opportunity to volunteer and change the life of a young person and expose yourself and your family to a different culture! All of the prior students have been wonderful and a delight to get to know and stay in contact with! 

Our exchange students 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). Each girl will attend the Charleston Charter School for Math & Science located at: 1002 King Street, Charleston SC  29403.

Please note that a host family or couple 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 as soon as possible. We need to line up our first host soon for each girl. Please note that Hosts do not need to be a part of Rotary, so it’s okay (and appreciated) if you share with other couples and families that you feel may be interested.

The application 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, include photos of your home including: student bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, family room, exterior of home and 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

 

MEMBER NEWS

 

At the District 7770 Fall Seminar on Sept. 23, our Rotary Club was among the Clubs presented with a 2-Star Club Award, for our Club’s $227.88 per capita contribution to the Rotary Foundation in 2021-22. Seminar attendees Asst. District Governor Sandy Morckel and President-Elect Cleave Ham accepted the award on behalf of our Rotary Club.

Subsequently, at our Oct. 4 Rotary meeting, Cleave presented the 2-Star Award to Karl Riner, our Club Foundation Chair. Our Club’s membership greatly appreciates Karl’s efforts on behalf of our Rotary Club and the Rotary Foundation, and congratulates him on achieving this award for our Club.

 

 

 

Proposed New Member:

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

Lymari Rentas Gonzalez – sponsor:  Adrian Cain; classification:  Consultant

In the event you know Lymari, please tell a member of the Board how she will serve the ideas of Rotary.

 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Rotarian:  Edward “Hamer” Darby, Jr.

  • JOINED: June 2022
  • SPONSOR: David Burt
  • CLASSIFICATION:  Construction/Business development
  • PROFESSION:  Business Development
  • CURRENT PROFESSION:  Monteith Constructions
  • Community Service Organizations, Current Activities or Activities/Volunteer Work in the Past: Meals on Wheels, and excited to see what opportunities Rotary provides.  
  • SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOURSELF:   My first plane ride was to Hawaii.

 

BIRTHDAYS

  • Oct. 13 – Dwayne Green
  • Oct. 15 – Baxter Hahn

WELLNESS TIP

Watch those tailgate party calories  

Four quarters is a long time to be in front of the t.v. while indulging in high-calorie foods. If you do it for every college and pro game, that’s a whole lot of extra calories and pounds over one football season. Enjoy, but modify your own game plan. Drink a light beer, fill up on veggies, and consider healthy alternatives to normal game day fare.

AREA CLUB MEETINGS

Mondays

https://www.cainhoyrotary.com/

Summerville – Oakbrook: 7:30 a.m., Monday, Westcott County Club, 5000 Wescott Club Drive, North Charleston

North Charleston: 12:30 p.m., Monday, Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 International Blvd, North Charleston, SC

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

Cainhoy: 6PM, on the first and third Tuesday of the month, King’s Cross Church, of Clement Ferry Road

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:  1pm-2pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday. Hilton Garden Inn-Homewood Suite/Lowcountry Conference Center, 406 Sigma Drive

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 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