January 31, 2023
Thanks to everyone who came out for our January social at Edmund’s Oast and super job by our membership committee for organizing it. We had a lot of new faces join us, which is great to see.
As we turn the page to February, remember that our Membership Drive continues so bring a friend along to a Rotary meeting or event. You may even win a prize! A great line up of speaker this month, plus Charleston Stingrays games in February! Read on for all the details.
Welcome to February, Rotarians. Lot of things happening and we are stil in our Membership Drive mode, so bring a friend to a Rotary meeting or event.
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
2/7/2022 | Issue 5078 President: Paul Stoney
UPCOMING EVENTS
-
-
- 2/7 – Knudt Flor, College of Charleston and former BMW exec
- 2/8 – CofC Basketball game/Member Social, 7pm. SOLD OUT
- 2/14 – Ron Scherba, Google, 11am Board Mtg.
- 2/21 – Matt Sloan, Cainhoy Development
- 2/24 – Stingrays Fundraiser; Tickets here. Code: Rotary
- 2/28 – NO MEETING
-
NEWS BRIEFS
Congratulations Sandy!
Congratulations to Sandy Morckel who has been named District Governor for Rotary International District 7770 for the Rotary Year 2025-2026. Sandy has been a Rotarian since 1993 serving in our District as well as districts in North Carolina and Ohio. As we have seen from her role as our club’s past president and a long-time dedicated member, we all know Sandy’s unwavering commitment to #serviceaboveself and are proud she has taken the next step in her Rotary journey. Congrats Sandy!
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.
.
SOLD OUT: Rotarians Night at the College of Charleston Basketball Game
The Rotary College of Charleston Night hosted by the Membership Committee is now sold out. For you lucky Rotarians who got tickets, have fun and go Cougars!
Feb 24: Rotary Night at Stingrays game
Many of you have heard about our event at the Stingrays hockey game on Feb. 24th. This will be a fun time to bring friends and family together to enjoy ice hockey and promote our club. The link below is where you can buy tickets. The first 50 Rotary members to get a ticket will get it for free, then it’s $20 each. If you’re in the first 50 Rotary members to get one, and you’re bringing non-Rotarians, they will have to purchase 1 each but you get yours for free. Please let Robert Sullivan know if you have questions about this or have trouble getting your ticket(s).
The team will be wearing a special jersey with our club logo on it. The jerseys will be auctioned off during the game. This auction is open to the public and we will get half of the proceeds. There will be more info to come on how to bid on the jerseys.
Promo code for the free ticket: ROTARY
Membership Drive this January & February
Our January Membership drive has been extended into February!. This is an effort to help strengthen and expand our membership through our best resource: you, our current members!- 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.
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
Welcome to our two newest Rotarians, who are both former members of the East Cooper Rotary Breakfast Club – McCain Kerr and Toby Skarke. McCain was introduced and sponsored by President-Elect Cleave Ham. He was accompanied by his father, James Kerr, who is a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow from the Monroe Rotary Club. McCain will hold the classification of Banking. Toby was introduced by Robert Sullivan and joins us under the classification of Logistics. We are excited to have these two Rotarians join our Rotary family.
Proposed New Members
The following membership candidate has submitted an application and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston:
Elizabeth Lynn – sponsor: John Tecklenburg; classification: College Planning.
In the event you know Elizabeth, please tell a member of the Board how she will serve the ideals 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
- None
WELLNESS TIP
Take time to listen to your needs.
The beginning of the year can be a hectic time, personally and professionally. Make sure you’re not overdoing it and listen to your body. Whether it’s taking time to get more sleep, time to meditate, time away from others, or time for regular workouts — schedule spots into your day to take care of your own needs.
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