January 3, 2023
Welcome back Rotarians and Happy New Year. We hosted our very own Past President and current Mayor of Charleston John Tecklenburg for his annual State of the City address, laying his vision and expressing his optimism for continuing to make Charleston a great place to live.
It’s Membership Drive month so bring a friend along to a Rotary meeting or event. You may even win a prize! Lots going on in January with Rise Against Hunger and a special social/new member event. Read on for all the details.

If you were unable to attend our first meeting of 2023, the link to the meeting recording is below. We were honored to have Past President of our club and current Mayor of Charleston, John Tecklenburg, as our guest speaker.
Click here for the recording
Passcode: H5+eVA0y
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
- Chris Olson gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Jan Luth introduced our visiting Rotarians & guests.
- Health and Happiness was presented by President Virginia.
- Joseph Tecklenburg introduced his father, Mayor John Tecklenburg, who gave us a “State of the City” address.
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
1/10/2022 | Issue 5077 President: Paul Stoney
COMING EVENTS
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- 1/ 10 – New member orientation (11 am)
- 1/10 – Board Meeting (11 am)
- 1/10 – Harold Singletary, Bright Ma Farms
- 1/17 – Matt Miller, Zero Cancer
- 1/21 – Rise Against Hunger @ CofC: 10-12: Sign up
- 1/24 – George Reeth, LENS Foundation
- 1/31 – Social & Membership Drive (Edmunds Oast) RSVP by1/20
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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. This is especially important for our next meeting on January 3 when we expect a large turnout. Please RSVP any guests by Monday Jan 2 at 5PM
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.
New Member Orientation this Tuesday
A New Member Orientation session is scheduled for this Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 11:00am-12:00pm downstairs at Halls Signature Events. New members, who have not attended a previous orientation session, are encouraged to attend. This is a great way to learn more about our club and ways you can get involved. Attending one of these session is also a Blue Badge requirement for all new members.
Discover Rotary
A Discover Rotary session for prospective new members will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 11:30am-12:00pm downstairs at 5 Faber. Discover Rotary is a great way for prospective members to learn more about our club and Rotary. We encourage anyone who is interested in joining our club to join us for this event. Members, if you know of someone who is interested in learning more about our club and attending this meeting, please RSVP with their name by Monday 1/16 to Michael Smith at [email protected]. We would also encourage the guest to stay for our lunch meeting.
January Membership Drive Social
Don’t miss the January Membership Drive Social hosted by our Membership Committee! Enjoy light appetizers and cash bar.
- Tuesday January 31st
- 5:00pm-7:00pm
Edmund’s Oast Restaurant
1081 Morrison Drive Please be sure to RSVP to the email invite sent to all members by Friday January 20th
Rise Against Hunger : Jan 21
We are partnering with the Rotary Club of Charleston-Breakfast, Interact and Rotaract in a Rise Against Hunger (https://www.riseagainsthunger.org) event on Saturday, January 21. Volunteers are needed to help pack over 10,000 meals. The service project will be held at the Math & Science building at the College of Charleston. The meals we pack will be shipped all over the world to help feed those in need. Check your email for sign up information.
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Membership Drive this January

- 75% of new members learned about the club from one of our members, and
- 50% of prospective members who attend a weekly meeting decide to join
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.
Youth Exchange Students Need Host Families
Our club is hosting two youth exchange students this school year. Jenny, who is from Taiwan, and Lula, who is from France. Both students are staying with their first host family. All members will have an opportunity to meet our students as they will be attending club meetings, events and service projects throughout the year.
IMPORTANT!!!! We are still looking for local families to host both female exchange students in 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].
Please note that host family or couple needs to have the desire to provide the following:
- Love as a family member. The student will be a part of the family not a guest.
- Transportation– The student will not be allowed to drive while in the US.
- A Bed-The student does not have to have his/her own room, but we do ask that they have their own bed.
- 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. We need to line up our first host ASAP.
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
2023
- March: District 7770 Rotary Conference, Columbia, SC
Support The CART Fund
It is easy for club members to make individual contributions and support The CART Fund electronically. The CART Fund has 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
President Virginia was given a big “send off” at this past Tuesday meeting as she has been transferred by her bank to Asheville. This is unfortunate for our club, but a positive move for her and her husband. Past President Paul Stoney graciously agreed to serve as our club’s President through the end of Virginia’s term and was installed as our President this past Tuesday. Virginia will continue her membership as an eMember and plans to join us on ZOOM from Asheville for the remainder of this Rotary year.
Welcome to our newest member – James Dusenberry! James has joined us several times as guest speaker and has been attending as a guest the over the last several months. He is a former Rotarian of the Old Hickory Club in Jackson, TN. He was introduced and sponsored by Past President Virginia Lawrence and will hold the classification of Banking/Commercial. We are excited to have James join our Rotary family!
Congratulations to Lymari Rentas Gonzalez, who recently received her Doctorate in Business Administration (“DBA”). The title of the Doctorate Study was “Wellness Programs: Strategies for Increasing Employees’ Productivity and Reducing Health Care Costs”.
Proposed New Members
The following membership candidates have submitted an application and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston:
McCain Kerr (Transfer East Cooper Breakfast) – sponsor: Cleave Ham; classification: Banking
Toby Skarke (Transfer East Cooper Breakfast) – sponsor: Michael Smith; classification:
Conner Spangler – sponsor: Michael Smith; classification: Real Estate
In the event you know McCain, Toby or Conner, please tell a member of the Board how he/she will serve the ideas of Rotary.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Rotarian: Jennifer Brinson
- JOINED: June 2022
- SPONSOR: Alan Burgreen
- CLASSIFICATION: Interior Design/Office
- PROFESSION: Interior Designer / Account Manager
- CURRENT PROFESSION: Herald Office Solutions
- Community Service Organizations, Current Activities or Activities/Volunteer Work in the Past: Homeless Shelter Volunteer, Foster Care Mentorship, ONE80 Place Food Drive, Retirement Community Volunteer for Charleston Hope, and Habitat for Humanity
- SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOURSELF: I began doing community service in middle school have continued to work with various organizations ever since. Each volunteer opportunity has been meaningful in their own way, but I have never joined an organization specifically devoted to outreach and I am excited for the opportunity to be useful and help the community in a more organized and regular basis.
Birthdays
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- Jan. 12 – John Bleecker
- Jan. 14 – Karen Clark
- Jan. 15 – Karl Riner
WELLNESS TIP
Eat more whole foods
One of the easiest and most sustainable ways to improve overall health is to eat more whole foods.
Whole foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fish, contain a plethora of nutrients that your body needs to function at an optimal level.
Research shows that following a whole-foods-based diet may significantly reduce heart disease risk factors, body weight, and blood sugar levels, as well as decrease your risk of certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.
What’s more, adding more whole foods to your diet can be done slowly and consistently. For example, if you’re not used to eating vegetables, start by adding one serving of your favorite veggie to your diet every day.
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 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: Virginia Lawrence
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