May 23, 2023
Thanks to our fellow Rotarians James Dusenberry, Hugh Lane and Kurt Seguer, who gave us their professional perspectives on the current state of the banking world – from interest rates, to Fed decisions to a recent spate of failings. Thanks to Robert Sullivan for moderating the discussion.
No meeting next week (May 30). Enjoy the long weekend and see you again on June 6.


To see a recording of this week’s meeting, go here.
Passcode: 43X..0w=
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
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- Katherine DeMoura gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Julianne Farnsworth introduced our visiting Rotarians & guests.
- Health and Happiness was presented by President Paul.
- Robert Sullivan introduced our panel of bankers, James Dusenberry, Hugh Lane and Kurt Seguer, who discussed regional banking issues and trends.
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
5/30/2022 | Issue 5089 President: Paul Stoney
UPCOMING EVENTS
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- 5/30 – NO MEETING!!
- 6/6 – Frank Abagnale. “Cybercrime, Identity Theft and Scam.”
- 6/10 – DG’s Installment Banquet (tickets here)
- 6/13 – Brian Itzkowitz, Palmetto Goodwill
- 6/20 – Jacobo Mintzer, Alzheimer’s
- 6/27 – End of the Year/Transition Happy Hour
- July 4 – No meeting
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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.
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.
NO MEETING – May 30th
We will not be meeting the Tuesday after Memorial Day – May 30th. We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend!
June 6th Meeting – RSVP Required (Frank Abagnale speaks)
As was announced by President Paul at the luncheon last week, Frank Abagnale (“Catch Me If You Can”) will be speaking to the club on Tuesday, June 6th. He will discuss “cybercrime, identity theft and scam”.
We anticipate a full house for this meeting. Due to space constraints, RSVPs are required to attend this luncheon on June 6th. Rotarians planning to attend should RSVP by May 30th. Please note that at this time, we can only accept reservations for Rotary Club members. After May 30th, if there is still availability, reservations will be open to our Rotary Club members and their guests on a first-come, first serve basis. Please use the link below to RSVP to the June 6th luncheon.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeg55sGmHFQ2DO3_XUgr7xB7IBUmCCpukvvAfiCPAThHjeruw/viewform?usp=sf_link
RCCF Grant Recipients Recognized
On behalf of our club and the RCCF Committee, Past President and Past RCCF Chair David Burt recognized two local organizations with RCCF Grants.
Fellow Rotarian Courtney Plotner and her co-worker Anne Reid attended on behalf of the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Our donation will be used to purchase 15 white canes and provide a corresponding fitting session for clients in need.
Another RCCF Grant was awarded to AMOR Healing Kitchen to fund kitchen equipment to set-up a “classroom” for Community Cooking Classes to educate clients experiencing some type of health crisis. Maria Kelly and Katharine Roof (intern) attended on behalf of the organization.
We congratulate both ABVI and AMOR Healing Kitchen and were pleased to support their efforts to help others in our community.
Rotary Educator of the Month Program
This week as we wound up our recognition of educators at Mitchell Elementary for the 2022-2023 school year we were able to highlight the efforts of a couple of the unsung heroes of the school. In addition to classroom teachers there are many others who make education in our community possible. Our Educator of the Month for April is Marguerite Farrell the school guidance counselor. Ms. Farrell is truly a saving grace for Mitchell. She goes above and beyond to help those young scholars in dire need. She remains calm and collected as she ensures that each child has the support and services needed to succeed. Our Educator of the Month for May is Kate Seay, the school nurse. Nurse Kate, as she is known on campus, is always willing to help students and staff with their concerns and the students feel so comfortable talking to her. She has organized health and wellness visits does so much more – even helping get prescriptions filled, walking students home and running errands for medical needs. Both of these honorees are amazing assets for the school.
Last Call for January Dues Payments
We still have a few members who have not paid January dues (and you know who you are!), please be sure to take care of making payment as soon as possible. This Rotary year is quickly coming to an end and July dues statements will be issued next month. The Board would like to receive all past due January dues payments before the Board Meeting on June 13 .
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.
Board Transition Social – Mark Your Calendars
To celebrate the end of this Rotary Year and the beginning of our new Rotary Year, a Happy Hour Social from 5-7pm is scheduled at Hall’s Signature Events on Tuesday, June 27th in lieu of our lunch meeting that day. There will be a “brief” meeting, but mostly it will be a fun time to celebrate the year, ring in the new Rotary year and catch up with our Rotary friends. We hope you will plan to bring your spouse or guest and join us!
Change in Membership Status Deadline
If you plan a change in your club member status by July 1, 2023 to Excused, eMember, Leave of Absence or if you are planning to resign, please notify Carroll in writing NO LATER THAN June 9th. Any change will affect July billing. Also, if you are on our membership list as of July 1, the club pays Rotary International and District dues for you. If you have any questions, 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 our newest Rotarian – Brooke Manheimer! Brooke was introduced and sponsored by Katherine DeMoura and will hold the classification of Waste Mgt. Services. We are excited to have Brooke join our Rotary family!
President-Elect Cleave Ham and Past President/District Governor Nominee Sandy Morckel are in Melbourne, Australia this week representing our club at the Rotary International Convention. We look forward to hearing about their amazing trip down under.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of fellow Rotarian and Charleston Police Chief Luther Reynolds. Luther has been a dedicated member and supporter of our club for 2 years. He will be greatly missed by our club and our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Caroline and two children.
Proposed New Members
The following membership candidate has submitted an application and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston:
Nancy Schwartz – sponsor: Mike Sottak; classification: Estate/Sales
Peter Hearne – sponsor: Cleave Ham & Julianne Farnsworth
In the event you know Nancy or Peter, please tell a member of the Board how they will serve the ideals of Rotary.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Rotarian: Robert Leaventhal
- JOINED: March 2023
- SPONSOR: Jan Luth
- CLASSIFICATION: Consulting/Synagogue
- PROFESSION: Consultant: Robert Leaventhal Consulting
- Community Service Organizations, Current Activities or Activities/Volunteer Work in the Past: Led reading group at Dayton Career Academy, was volunteer 7th grade religious school teacher – 8 hours per week commitment, Was United Jewish Appeal – Midwest Chair of Young Leadership Cabinet – Israel Advocacy and fundraising, Was President of Hillel Academy Day School Board – KKBE tour guide now.
- Something Unique About Yourself: I just finished a memoir called Swept Away – My journey from family broom business (O-Cedar) to synagogue consulting. I built a painting studio in half of my garage in Mt. Pleasant.
Birthdays
- June 2 – John Strickland & Brian Itzkowitz
- June 8 – Travis Ronk & Duncan Grant
- June 10 – Nick Galizia
- June 11 – Trent Drafts
WELLNESS TIP
Give Your Diet a Berry Boost
If you do one thing this summer to improve your diet, have a cup of mixed fresh berries — blackberries, blueberries, or strawberries — every day. They’ll help you load up on antioxidants, which may help prevent damage to tissues and reduce the risks of age-related illnesses. Blueberries and blackberries are especially antioxidant-rich.
A big bonus: Berries are also tops in fiber, which helps keep cholesterol low and may even help prevent some cancers.
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