January 7, 2025
For our first meeting of 2025 we welcomed Tom Keppler and Jason Brown of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA). They gave us an update on the economic growth happening in our region and some of the programs CRDA uses to recruit top companies and talent to the Charleston area. The CRDA plays a key role in promoting the attractiveness of the region and contributing to our enviable track record in growing and diversifying our economy.
Read on for more information on how to volunteer for SEWE in February, the fantastic multi-day, cross cultural event that offers something for everyone who has an interest in the outdoors, the environment, wildlife, art and many other interests.
Lots more going on as his the round running in 2025. Check the Keyway from important meeting and events information.
To join an upcoming meeting by Zoom use this link and the passcode: Rotary
To view a recording for this week’s meeting go here
Passcode: eG.=mWJ9
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
- Evan Carl gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Drew Faw welcomed and introduced our visiting Rotarians and guests.
- Health and Happiness was presented by President Robert.
- President Robert introduced our speakers, Tom Keppler and Jason Brown of the CRDA
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY January 14, 2025 | Issue 5153 President: Robert Sullivan
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 1/14: Cody Callarman, State of the cannabis industry in South Carolina
- 1/19 – Bikes for Africa pick up
- 1/21 – Cliff Roberts, author Castle Pinckney
- 1/28 – John Bishop Ravenel – Huguenot influence in Charleston
- 1/30 – January Social – Harbor Club West Edge: RSVP here
- 2/4 – No meeting
- 2/11 – State of the City
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.
SEWE February 14 – 16, 2025 – Volunteers will be needed 
Our club has been given the opportunity to work at SEWE 2025!!! In the spirit of the PGA project, but only 3 days, our club members will earn FUNDS FOR OUR CLUB and FREE ENTRY TO SEWE!!! Sign-Ups will come out soon with mo – re details on positions such as merchandise sales, parking attendants, ticket takers, etc. We need ALL HANDS ON DECK as this could bring our club $20,000+ if we have strong participation within our club – family and friends are welcome as well! To sign up for a job, go here
Bikes for Africa Volunteers Needed
The next collection day is January 19th. From 2-4pm, volunteers are needed at Murray-LaSaine Montessori School, 691 Riverland Drive, Charleston, to accept bikes and load onto vehicles for transport to the warehouse in North Charleston. And, from 3-6pm, volunteers will be needed to help with the breakdown of the bikes and loading into the container at the warehouse at CD Nutra, Piggly Wiggly Drive, #C, North Charleston. The link to sign up is below. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AA2AA7F5C52-53864139-bikes
Volunteer and Help Raise Funds for the RCCF It’s College of Charleston Basketball season!! Our Club members have thee unique opportunity to not only attend the Cougar games but RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CLUB by volunteering at the game!! Positions will include ticket scanners, ID scanners, ushers and up to 7 of the positions can be filled by volunteers aged 16-17 for those community service credits through Rotary!! Parking is FREE at the St. Philip St Garage!!! Your shirt is provided and khaki pants complete the uniform. Complete details, dates and SIGN UP on the link below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AA2AA7F5C52-50046538-epifunraising
January Rotary Social Live at the Harbor Club at West Edge
Date: Thursday, January 30th 2025 from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Location: Stono Ballroom at The Harbor Club at West Edge – 22 Westedge Street Suite 700 Charleston SC 29403
We are ready to ring in 2025 with a bang, starting off with our January Rotary Social Live at the Harbor Club at West Edge.
We hope all current Rotary Club of Charleston members will be in attendance. Prospective members are welcome to attend as well. Light Appetizers and hors d’oeuvres will be served at the event.
Please RSVP by Monday, January 27th, so we can give them an accurate head count.
Link to register for the event:
https://www.signupgenius.com/
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]
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.
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
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Rotarian: Theresa Atkinson
New member Theresa Atkinson was our featured Member Spotlight speaker,
and it was her birthday, too! She recently moved from Washington State to assume the role of CEO of Seagrove Recovery, a soon-to-open 41 bed adult inpatient substance abuse treatment facility in Mount Pleasant. Theresa also shared that she is a person in long term recovery (17 years!) from substance abuse and mental health issues. Her inspiring talk reminded us that many people suffer from similar issues, and we may not recognize them or their challenges. People who suffer are recovering and living their lives. Support from families, friends, colleagues and communities is critical. Recovery is different for everyone and she reminded us that we need to meet everyone where they are in their own recovery journey. Theresa’s openness and honesty, and willingness to help other with similar issues, has been impactful to others and she offers the benefit of experience to anyone whom she might be to help. Thank you for you inspiring talk, Theresa
Birthdays WELLNESS TIP Take time for yourself. Give yourself the gift of peace. If you need some downtime to recharge, declare a “me-treat” and do something that relaxes you. Try yoga, meditation or spending time in nature.
OTHER AREA ROTARY CLUBS
Mondays
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. https://www.cainhoyrotary.com
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 302 Hibben St
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: 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