April 11, 2023
Our two International Youth Exchange Students, Jenny from Taiwan and Lulu from France, paid us a visit this past week and gave us an update on their experiences living in the Lowcountry.
Lots of things going on so read on for more information on upcoming service projects and our big Spring Fling Fundraiser that will happen on May 10.
To see a recording of this week’s meeting, go here
In Other Meeting News
- Karen Clark gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Stacy Ware introduced our visiting Rotarians & guests.
- Health and Happiness was presented by President Paul.
- Richard Sidebottom introduced our two Rotary Youth Exchange Students, Jenny Lan and Lula Gallou, who discussed their year as an exchange student in the US.
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
4/25/2022 | Issue 5087 President: Paul Stoney
UPCOMING EVENTS
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- 4/22 – Fresh Future Farms service project. Sign up here
- 4/25 – NO Meeting – Social Event
- 5/2 – Dave Echols, Charleston Riverdogs
- 5/9 – Honoring CCSD Teacher of Year/Rotary Scholars
- 5/10 – Spring Fling Fundraiser at The Wonderer: tickets/sponsor info
- 5/16 – Tyler Clark, SC DOT on I-526 Extension
- 5/23 – Chief Luther Reynolds
- 5/30 – NO MEETING!!
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NEWS BRIEFS
IMPORTANT: NO Meeting this Tuesday, April 25th
We are not meeting for lunch this Tuesday, April 25th. Enjoy your week “off” from Rotary!
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.
Spring Fling RCCF Fundraiser
We strongly encourage all Rotarians to purchase tickets and sponsors our Spring Fling Social at the Wonderer on Wednesday May 10th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. We will host a Discover Rotary beforehand at the Wonderer from 5:00pm-5:45pm. The Spring Fling event will have a complimentary full bar and hors d’oeuvres.
We will have live music by The ZD Experience – Zandrina Dunning and Stephen Washington. They are exceptionally talented, and just returned last week from playing with Darius Rucker at the “Monday after the Masters” event at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach. I know if we want people to have a great time, they will do a great job at creating that atmosphere. Here is a little better background for both: https://thezdexperience.com/bio-%26-gallery
We strongly need sponsors, and the sponsorship committee will be contacting every Rotarian for sponsorships for this event. All the proceeds raised will go towards the Rotary Club of Charleston Fund.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Michael Smith at 843-830-9856 or [email protected] or Karla Combs at 336-428-8908 [email protected]
Website Link to register for tickets and sponsorship:
Rotary Spring Fling May 10th (constantcontact.com)
RCCF Grant Presented to Vision to Learn
On behalf of our club and the RCCF Committee, Past President Alex Dallis recognized one of the six Spring RCCF Grant recipients.
Henry Blackford, who is a former member of our club and current member of the Rotary Club of Charleston-Breakfast, accepted the check on behalf of Vision to Learn. Our funds will be used to purchase optical equipment/supplies to be used in mobile vision clinics that visit students in schools. Vision to Learn serves all students in Title I public schools. Steve Dopp was the Rotarian sponsor for the grant.
We congratulate Henry Blackford and Vision to Learn and appreciate all they do to assist students in our community. We were able to grant 6 different organizations this grant cycle and will be recognizing the other 5 recipients at upcoming meetings.
Rotary Membership Drive – From Michael Smith
The Membership Committee would like to thank every Rotarian who participated in the Membership Drive. Without your help we would have never been able to attract 17 new Rotary Members to our club. I wanted to highlight Jan Luth and Mackie Moore our Membership Recruitment Chairs on doing an excellent job with the Membership Drive. Jan provided all the data analysis on the Membership Drive and Mackie followed up with all the Rotarians and guests encouraging them to join the club. We have 10 more approved applications pending inductions and with that total number we should have 177 members in our club.
Although our group is growing rapidly, it is very important to focus on member engagement and retention as we continue to grow as a club. I highly recommend every Rotarian to reach out to a new or old member and invite them to coffee or lunch. This is a vital part in keeping our members and making sure they are engaged in the club. We also need help on the membership committee, so please reach out if you are interested in becoming a Membership Committee Member. Thanks to everyone for making our club success!
Community Impact Award Nominations: Deadline April 30
As announced at our luncheon meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 22, each year our Rotary Club presents Community Impact Recognition Awards to deserving individuals who make a significant difference in our community, making it an even better place to live. Thus far this year, such have already been presented to persons in the Charleston Police Dept. and the Charleston Fire Dept.. In June, we will be presenting such an award to a person in the community who fulfills certain specified criteria.
Nominations: Our Club’s Awards Selection Committee requests nominations from any member of our club who wishes to submit a candidate for this award. The deadline to submit nominations is April 30, 2023.
How to submit a nomination: Nomination forms will be distributed to our Club members by email (“fillable pdf”). Paper copies will also be available at our Rotary luncheon meetings. The forms can be returned to Carroll Schweers at [email protected] or returned by hand to Carroll at the front desk at a Tuesday Club luncheon meeting.
Criteria for a Nominee (indicated on the Nomination Form): The Community Impact Award – Community Leader is presented annually by the Rotary Club of Charleston to a community member who exhibits “Service Above Self” in their daily activities, models the Rotary 4-Way Test in their life and profession, and exemplifies the ideals of the Rotary Vision: “Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”
Selection Process: The Awards Selection Committee will review nominations for this award, and the recipient will be selected by majority vote of this committee.
Questions or comments: Contact Awards Selection Committee Chair Cleave Ham at [email protected] or by phone at 843-729-6128 (text or call)
Rotary Readers Needed
After a hiatus due to COVID, we are happy to report that our popular Rotary Readers program is starting up again at Mitchell Elementary. There are several weekly spots available for readers in classrooms from now until the end of the school year. This is a very rewarding activity and, if anyone is interested, please reach out to Ashley Shaver [email protected] for more information.
January – June 2023 Dues are Past Due
January – June 2023 dues payments are now considered past due. If you have not paid, please be sure to take care of making payment as soon as possible. Club Leadership will begin calling those who still owe as we are nearing the end of this billing period. 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.
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.
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.
Our Club is on Social Media
Members are encouraged to follow all of our social media channels and share posts with their followers too! We also need members to send us picture of anything they do that relates to Rotary – service projects, meetings, events, etc. We would love to keep our accounts full of smiling Rotarians! Photos can be send to Mike Sottak, [email protected], or Rob Byko, [email protected].
MEMBER NEWS
Welcome to new member Josh Burrill! Josh was introduced and sponsored by Will Ralston and will hold the classification of Solar Energy. We were excited to have Josh 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:
Dallas Wilson – sponsor: Rob Dewey; classification: Non-ProfitIn the event you know Dallas, please tell a member of the Board how he will serve the ideals of Rotary.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Rotarian: Bo Crouch
- JOINED: June 2022
- SPONSOR: Leslie Fellabom
- CLASSIFICATION: Mortgage
- PROFESSION: Financial Advisor
- Community Service Organizations, Current Activities or Activities/Volunteer Work in the Past: Active member through the USTA and a member of the Cougar Club at the C of C
Birthdays
- April 26 – Conner Spangler
- April 27 – Mark McMath
- May 1 – Robert Hull
- May 3 – Marjorie Hanger & David Baggs
- May 7 – Dave Echols
- May 8 – Zac Jones & Cody Callarman
WELLNESS TIP
Turn off your phone before going to bed.
What better time of year than spring to change your phone habits—especially the ones that are interrupting your sleep and affecting your health. Before you get ready for bed, make a point to turn off your phone and/or put it somewhere where you won’t be tempted to use it. Why? It creates the opportunity for you to set boundaries, it reduces your exposure to blue light prior to sleep, and it makes space for you to decompress without the pressures of social media, work emails, and constant communication.
OTHER AREA ROTARY CLUBS
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
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, Hibben Methodist Church, 690 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant
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: Paul Stoney
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