10/29: Sam Skardon & Andrew Boucher, Election 2024

October 29, 2024

  We welcomed views from both sides of the political aisle ahead of next week’s big election as Sam Skardon, chair of the Charleston County Democratic Party and Andrew Boucher who heads the  Charleston County Republican party, offered their views on the current political landscape. Great insights into the workings of both political machines on the local, state and national levels.

Lots going on this Fall in Rotary with volunteer opportunities, events and more great speakers. Read on in The Keyway!

To join an upcoming meeting by Zoom use this link and the passcode: Rotary

 

 

 

 

To see a recording of this this week’s meeting, go here.

Passcode: !Z%847Ji

 

IN OTHER MEETING NEWS

  • Past President Lisa Van Bergen gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.  
  • Theresa Adkison welcomed and introduced our visiting Rotarians and guests.  
  • Health and Happiness was presented by President Robert.
  • Jeff Hollis introduced our speakers, Andrew Boucher, Charleston Country GOP Chair and fellow Rotarian, Sam Skardon, Charleston County Democratic Chair, who discussed Election 2024.

MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY November 5, 2024  |  Issue 5147 President:  Robert Sullivan

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • 11/5 – Victoria Blunt, CCF
  • 11/12 – Veteran’s Day Program, 11am Board Mtg.
  • 11/13 – (Service Project) Oyster Reef Fabrication, 9:30-12noon
  • 11/15 – (Service Project) Humanities Foundation Food Drive, 12noon-2pm
  • 11/19 – Real Estate Panel (mtg. moved to High Cotton)
  • 11/26 – NO MEETING – Happy Thanksgiving

 

NEWS BRIEFS

Reminder … Guest RSVP by 5pm on Monday

If you are planning to bring a guest to Rotary, it is important that you 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.  Guest fee is $30 paid at the door.  First-time prospective members are free and sign in at the Membership Table.  

 

Membership Committee Needs Volunteers The Membership Committee is looking for a couple of volunteers to meet with a new member about once a month. The objective is to meet with the new member one on one to answer any questions, discuss committees, reasons for joining, goals as a member. In summary, it’s a personable meeting to help get them on their blue badge path and optimize club experience. If interested in becoming involved on the committee, please contact Connor Spangler at [email protected].  

 

Teacher of the Year Presentation

Another school year has begun and the Rotary Club of Charleston continues our support of outstanding educators at Mitchell Elementary this week. 

We recognized Darvin Harvey as the honoree for September.  Mr. Harvey teaches music, but is always helpful going beyond his curriculum to help with all sorts of technology.  He just wears so many hats around the school.  He motivates students to do their best in every way. 

The honoree for October was Allison Rouse does so many things to support Mitchell it is hard to enumerate what she does.  She always has a positive attitude offers everyone with any task presented to her.  She is both a leader and a role model for staff and students alike. 

This week we were also introduced to the new parent advocate at Mitchell, Monica Guevara, who accompanied Mr. Harvey and Ms. Rouse.  Ms. Guevara has been making meaningful connections with the families, students and staff at Mitchell with increased parent engagement.  She has put together several successful events for the parents and families of the Mitchell scholars.  We are so glad these fine representatives of our local schools were able to visit our club this week.

 

SCORE Oyster Reef Fabrication Service Project

On Wednesday, November 13 from 9:30am-12noon, join the SCORE team and Casual Crabbing with Tia to construct Modified Wire Reefs (MWR) that will be an alternative substrate for oyster larvae to land and grown on.  Rotarian volunteers will help to cut, bend and fasten galvanized wire to form a reef structure using power tools.  Volunteers must wear closed toe shoes.  Safety gear, bug spray, water and other needed materials will be provided.  Sign up by using the Sign-Up Genius link that was emailed to members or contact Cody Callarman at [email protected].

 

Humanities Foundation Food Drive

On Friday, November 15th from 12noon-2pm (location TBD), volunteers are needed to assist the Humanities Foundation with handing out food boxes to those who drive through. All of the meals and provisions will be prepared for our distribution prior to the event. Come enjoy a couple of hours with your fellow Rotarians helping those in need in our community. Sign up by using the Sign-Up Genius link that was emailed to members or contact Cody Callarman at [email protected].

 

Hurricane Helene Support

We are all deeply saddened by the recent storm damage to our neighbors in Western North Carolina.  As Rotarians, such tragedies are a call to action, and our Rotary Club wants to do all that we can to create hope and help the people of Western North Carolina devastated by this disaster.

Thanks to the generosity of many of our club members over the past three weeks, we have collected $548 in the Blue Buckets.  We will continue to put the Blue buckets on the tables each Tuesday and collect donations to send to those affected by Hurricane Helene.  Members can also make donations to the RCCF for disaster relief support through this PayPal link: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/872RUU6PAC92W

 

Board Nominations

Past President Cleave Ham and the Board Nominating Committee will begin reaching out to those club members who are eligible for election to the 2025-2026 Board.  Board Director positions are two year terms.  If you are contacted by a member of the committee, please consider volunteering your time and talents to serve our club as a Board Member.    

 

Be “Spotlighted” at a Meeting

The Rotary Club of Charleston will be highlighting a member of the club twice a month through June of 2025. Members who want to be spotlighted need to let me know of your interest and I will assign you a date. At the assigned meeting, you will have approximately 2 minutes to tell the Rotary Club membership about yourself. You can use visual aids and/or just talk about yourself. Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to “spotlight” you and your personal and professional achievements. Contact Julianne Farnsworth at [email protected] if interested or for more information.

 

Rotarians Against Human Trafficking (RAHT)

One of Rotary’s big initiatives this year is to combat human trafficking. It’s a prevalent, but also oftentimes unspoken issue. Past President Alissa Leitzow is the RAHT Ambassador for our club, so please reach out to her for more information on how to get involved. [email protected]

 

EPI Volunteers & Fundraising for the RCCF

Our Rotary Club is collaborating with Event Partners, Inc. (“EPI”), which is an organization based in Charleston, established in 2005, serving partner organizations throughout the United States with event staffing solutions and consultation services in the sports and entertainment industry. EPI has a Group Fundraising Program, whereby organizations like our Rotary Club can raise money by providing our members opportunities to volunteer to staff multiple types of events, such as “Collegiate Athletics and Championships, Professional Sports, Music Concerts and Festivals, Races and Local Events”, with fees for their service paid to RCCF; examples of types of events in our area include Charleston Battery Soccer, Riverfront Park Festival, Spoleto Festival, CSU & Citadel football, Charleston Classic Basketball Tournament, and CofC basketball (about 15 home games).

This is a year-long fundraiser for our club and a fun and easy way for our members to help our club raise funds for RCCF on their own time, by volunteering for a variety of positions at events, such as ticket scanners, parking directors, etc. and can include friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and such.

For more information and Sign Up Genius, please click on the below link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AA2AA7F5C52-50046538-epifunraising

Please direct any questions to Karla Combs, Pres-Elect and 2024 Fundraising Chair, who is spearheading this fundraising effort for our club.

 

  Rotary International 2024/2025 Theme:  Create the Magic of Rotary

This year’s Rotary Presidential Theme is “The Magic of Rotary”.  You will see the themed banner hanging on the podium every meeting. Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick encourages members to recognize and amplify the organization’s power to save lives. Clubs are encourage to celebrate the magic of Rotary that is created with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member of Rotary.

 

July – December 2024 Dues Invoices PAST DUE

July-December 2024 dues invoices are now considered past due.  If you have not made payment, please do so promptly. If you didn’t receive an invoice or have misplaced, please contact Carroll.  Also note that payments can be paid on-line by either credit card or bank transfer.  Members just simply need to click on the “pay now” button on their invoice.  If you prefer to pay by check, please mail to PO Box 21029, Charleston, SC  29413.

 

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

Congratulations to Hamer Darby and Merriweather Mule for being recognized by Charleston Regional Business Journal as one of Charleston’s “Forty Under 40”!

 

Proposed New Members The following membership candidates have submitted an application and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston:

Sean Glavin – sponsor:  Sandy Morckel/Whitney Schillerstrom; classification:  Parking/Technology

Ryan Ranniello – sponsor:  Leslie Fellabom; classification:  Realty/Commercial 

In the event you know Sean or Ryan, please tell a member of the Board how he will serve the ideals of Rotary.  

 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Rotarian:  Stephen Moody

JOINED: February, 2024

SPONSOR: Digit Matheny

CLASSIFICATION: Real Estate

PROFESSION: Coldwell Banker

Community Service Organizations, Current Activities or Activities/Volunteer Work in the Past: Habitat for Humanity

SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOURSELF: I was a school teacher for fourteen years.

 

Birthdays

  • 11/6 – Joshua Davis
  • 11/7 – Tammy Coghill
  • 11/8 – Past President Digit Matheny

 

WELLNESS TIP  

Start taking a Vitamin D supplement.  We get most of our Vitamin D from the sun, so our intake decreases when the weather is colder since we spend most of our time inside during the fall/winter seasons. If you find you are not getting outside much, a Vitamin D supplement can boost your mood and immune system!

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 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: Robert Sullivan

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