June 10, 2025
Rotarian and Charleston City Councilman Mike Seeking joined us today and gave up an update on Lowcountry Rapid Transit, the ever expanding service that looks to improve traffic and transportation issues in the TriCounty area
Don’t forget our June Social this month, on June 19 at The Red Palm Tavern Check the Keyway from important meeting and events information. Also join our own Sandy Morckel as she gets installed as our new District Governor on June 28 – details below.
To join an upcoming meeting by Zoom use this link and the passcode: Rotary.
To see the video of this week’s meeting, go here
Passcode: 04%F^G4p
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
- Clara Heinsohn 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 fellow Rotarian Mike Seekings, who gave us an update on Lowcountry Rapid Transit.
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
June 17, 2025 | Issue 5171 President: Robert Sullivan
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 6/17 – Marion Platt, Star Gospel Mission
- 6/19 – June Social. Red Palm Tavern; 5:30-7:30 (sign up here)
- 6/24 – No Rotary
- 7/1 – No Rotary
- 7/9 – President/Board Transition Happy Hour 5:30-7:30 @ Hall’s
- 7/15 – TBD
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.
Last Call for January 2025 Dues Payments
We still have a few members who have not paid January 2025 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-December 2025 dues statements will be issued next month. If you have an outstanding balance and have recently received a past due notice or been contacted by club leadership, please make good on your payment by the end of May.
June Social @ Red Palm Tavern
Our June Club Social will be taking place at Red Palm Tavern on 6/19 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. We look forward to seeing everyone there. Please feel free to bring a prospective club member! Complementary appetizers will also be served. There is a small amount of parking on location. The Charleston Tech Center parking garage is a great alternative if onsite parking is full. Red Palm Tavern 45 Romney Street Charleston, SC 29403 Sign Up Link – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AA2AA7F5C52-57168816-june
District Governor Installation Luncheon – Sandy Morckel
Join us in celebrating one of our own Past Presidents as she is installed as the NEW District Governor on Saturday, June 28th! The luncheon will be held at Hall’s Signature Events from 11:30-1:30pm. The cost is $60 per person. Registration deadline is June 21 and is available on DACdb.
Youth Exchange Information / Host Families Needed for 2025/2026 Rotary Year
The Rotary Youth Exchange program offers teenagers ages 15-19 an opportunity to make new friends and learn new ways of living, to open themselves to different ideas, a new culture, traditions, and experiences, and to adapt and gain fresh perspectives while in the U.S., attending high school and living with 2- 3 host families. The exchanges offer the same benefits to host families. I have been involved with the program for the past 8 years and can attest to the wonderful opportunity it has presented to both the students and their hosts.
- This year’s student is a 17-year-old girl from Verona, Italy.
- She will attend the Charleston Charter School for Math & Science (bus routes to and from cover a wide geographic area)
- We are in need of a family to host her for at least 3-4 months beginning in August, when she arrives and before school starts. We also need one or two other families to host her for the remainder of the school year for 3-6 months.
- Host families will need to complete an online application and some online training modules as well as attend one in-person meeting with other host families and the Youth Exchange Officers & Counselors (my role) from our Rotary District this summer in either June or August.
Please contact Karen Clark if you would like additional information about the program, have questions and/or if you would like her to contact others directly to discuss this hosting opportunity. Also, if you know of any local students who may be interested in being sponsored for an outbound exchange in another country. Thank you for your consideration and for sharing this information with your families and others you know that may be interesting in hosting (they do not have to be Rotary members)!
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: New Instagram Account \
We now have anew Instagram account! Please follow us on @charlestonrotaryclub. Thanks To Charlie Jablon for setting this up. Continue to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, too. 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] Charlie Jablon [email protected] and Michael Smith [email protected]
MEMBER NEWS
Proposed New Members
The following membership candidates have submitted an application and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston:
- William Howle – sponsor: Baxter Hahn; classification:
- CVB Holton Siegling– sponsor: Lewis Edge, classification: Ministry
- Randy Owen, sponsor: Sandy Morckel; classification: Health/Home Care
In the event you know William or Holton, please tell a member of the Board how he will serve the ideas of Rotary.
In the event you know William or Holton, please tell a member of the Board how he will serve the ideas of Rotary.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Rotarian Meredith Mule from Beacon Point Advisors spoke about legacy and financial planning, emphasizing leaving assets to heirs or charity while minimizing taxes. She mentioned managing over $43 billion of bandwidth and her role as a park commissioner appointed by Governor McMaster.
Birthdays
- 6/18 – Past President Patterson Smith
- 6/22 – Past President & Honorary Member Jimmy Stuckey
WELLNESS TIP
Make healthy swaps. For instance, try mashed avocado instead of butter or use whole-wheat pastry flour in place of white, refined types.
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