1/28: John Ravenel: French Huguenot Influence

January 28, 2025

Our guest speaker this week John Ravenel, who is an expert on the French Huguenot history and influence. John, a direct descendent of early Huguenot settlers, gave us excellent historical insights into challenges and the evolution of the Huguenot culture and the factors that gave rise to its power and influence throughout Europe, and eventually the world. The Huguenot influence is especially strong here in Charleston with immigrant Huguenots playing large roles in the early settlement and development of our city. There is a continued strong presence in one of the oldest still operating Huguenot churches in the world.

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 see a recording of this week’s meeting go here

Passcode: QH1%4GMd  

 

IN OTHER MEETING NEWS

  • Clara Heinsohn gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
  •  Jennifer Flanigan welcomed and introduced our visiting Rotarians and guests.
  •  Health and Happiness was presented by President Robert.
  • Owen Clary introduced our speaker, John Ravenel, who discussed French Huguenot influence.

MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY February 4, 2025  |  Issue 5156President:  Robert Sullivan  

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • 2/4 – No meeting (Board meeting 11 AM CHS Public Library, Calhoun St)
  • 2/11 –  Mayor William Cogswell, State of the City (Sign up required)
  • 2/11-14 – SEWE Volunteer opportunities
  • 2/18 – Barbara Melvin, SC Ports Update (New member orientation: 11AM)
  • 2/25 – TBD
  • 3/4 – NO MEETING

 

NO Meeting on February 4 We will NOT meet for lunch this Tuesday, February 4th.  We hope everyone enjoys the break and has a great week!  

 

IMPORTANT: RSVP’s Required for Luncheon on February 11 – Mayor Cogswell Speaking

 

Due to space constraints, RSVPS are required to attend our next Rotary luncheon on Tuesday, February 11.  Mayor Cogswell will give his “State of the City” address to the club. Reservations are open to all Rotary Club of Charleston members ONLY through Tuesday, February 4 at 5pm. If there is still space availability after this deadline, we will reopen reservations through 5pm on February 6 and club members will be able to RSVP for ONE guest on a space available basis – first come, first served. Please do not email me in advance to “hold” a spot open for a specific guest.  I will send out another email on Wednesday, Feb. 5 and, at that time, you will then be able to register your ONE guest on a first come, first served basis until 5pm on February 6 or until the seating capacity is met. The link to the RSVP is below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AA2AA7F5C52-54723996-february  

 

New Member Orientation – February 18 at 11am 

 

All New Members who have not attended a previous New Member Orientation Meeting are encouraged to attend our next orientation session on Tuesday, February 18 at 11am upstairs at 5 Faber. These sessions are offered quarterly and attending one of these sessions is a requirement for all new members. It is also a great opportunity to meet fellow new members and learn about the history and events of Rotary on an international and local level from Past Presidents of our Rotary Club. New Members can also learn about the various committees and how to get involved in our club.  Please contact Conner Spangler to let him know you are attending or with any questions –  [email protected].  

 

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 more 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  

 

Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) – Bluffton, SC on February 22

The Rotary Leadership Institute, RLI, has an in-person event coming to Bluffton SC and you are invited to participate.  RLI is intended to help Rotarians learn about Rotary and develop leadership skills. Courses are fun, topical, interactive, and geared toward busy business and professional people who want to become more effective leaders in their vocation and club.  

There will be a Part 1, a Part 2, and a Part 3 RLI session during the event on February 22, 2025.  Each part is a prerequisite for the next. The Saturday event will be held at the Technical College of the Lowcountry New River Campus, 100 Community College Drive, Bluffton, SC 29909.  Bluffton is about 90 miles from Charleston (not too far!). Doors open at 8:30 am and classes begin at 9:00 am.  Lunch and all materials are included and we finish at 3:30 pm. The registration fee is $95.

Join us for a great opportunity to meet new people and learn about Rotary in the process.

Learn more about RLI:

https://www.midatlanticrli.org

Registration link:
https://Registrations.DACdb.com/Register/index.cfm?EventID=77802487&NoCaptcha

Let me know if you have any questions – Jerry Kozel,  [email protected]

 

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

 

 

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

Our Rotary Foundation Chair, Heidi Finniff, was honored to recognize several fellow Rotarians with Paul Harris Fellows this past Tuesday and thank them for their dedication and service to our club and The Rotary Foundation.

 

  • Karen Clark – PHF
  • Past President Alex Dallis – PHF + 2
  • Rob Byko – PHF + 4

 

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

  • Elliott Williams – sponsor:  Megan Fink classification:  Eleemosynary/Executive
  • Charlie Jablon – sponsor:  Michael Smith; classification:  Insurance/Exec.
  • Nicole O’Grady – sponsor:  Jay Gibson; classification:  Banking/Community 

In the event you know Elliott, Charlie or Nicole, please tell a member of the Board how he will serve the ideas of Rotary.  

 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT   

Steve Morse

Rotarian Steve Morse was in the spotlight and he shared his various brushes with fame in the  movie business. Steve has worked as an extra in several films, including The Legend of Bagger Vance, and the scenes pictures of his experience on set and meeting with celebrities like Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Richard Dreyfuss. Thank you for the talk, Steve

 

 

 

Birthdays

  • 2/5 – Reeves Connelly

 

WELLNESS TIP

Limit the spread of germs 

 

Remember to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow. Wash your hands regularly using soap and warm water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. If you can’t wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

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 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