March 10, 2026
This week, members of the Rotary Club had the opportunity to hear from the leadership behind Charleston’s premier tennis and entertainment venue, Credit One Stadium, home to one of the most celebrated tournaments in women’s tennis. We learned how the facility has transformed in recent years, expanding from 7,500 seats to more than 12,000, allowing Charleston to host larger tennis events, concerts, and global broadcasts seen by millions of viewers worldwide.
A few highlights from the discussion:
• Charleston’s professional women’s tournament is now viewed by 176 million households internationally, helping showcase our city on a global stage.
• The venue has grown into a year-round destination, hosting more than 25 concerts and events annually in addition to professional tennis.
• The facility renovation was completed in record time; built in just one year, even during the challenges of COVID.
• Charleston continues to lead in women’s sports, recently taking a major step toward equal prize money for players.
Rotary members were also treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the venue, including player areas, event spaces, and the outdoor grounds that make this one of the most unique sports and entertainment destinations in the country. A huge thank you to our guest speaker for sharing the story of how Charleston continues to grow as a global destination for sports, music, and community events.
Lots going on in the coming months, including Our District Conference on March 20-22 and our big Spring outing and fundraiser on April 23. Check out the Keyway for upcoming events and schedules. To join an upcoming Zoom meeting, use this link and the passcode: Rotary.
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
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- Tyler Jones gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- No visitors or guests.
- Past President David Burt introduced our speaker, Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment, who joined us to talk about Credit One Stadium. Members split into groups and toured the stadium at the conclusion of the program.
- MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
March 17, 2026 | Issue 5185| President: Karla Combs
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 3/17 – Dean Schwager, CofC Business School
- 3/20-22 – District Conference, North Charleston Marriott
- 3/24 – Dave Echols – Charleston Riverdogs
- 3/31 – Jon Olson, BlackBaud
- 4/1 – International Grant Applications due
- 4/3 – NO MEETING
- 4/14 – Laura Pelzer, Charleston Library Society (11am Board Mtg)
- 4/21 – TBD
- 4/23 – Spring Social/Fundraiser @ Charleston County Park
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 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.
International Grant Applications Being Accepted
The International Committee headed by Jan Luth is currently accepting applications and proposals for International Service Projects sponsored by members. Deadline for applying is April 1. Please contact Jan Luth at [email protected] for an application.
2026 District Conference – North Charleston: March 20-22
Registration for the 2026 District Conference to be held March 20 – 22, 2026 at the North Charleston Marriott is now open. Inspiring speakers, opportunities for networking, recognition of clubs and individuals making a difference in their communities. Registration fee of $275 until March 10, 2026. Covers Friday lunch kickoff, Friday night Dinner and Dancing, Breakfast buffet Saturday and Sunday morning and Saturday night Dinner with Flag Ceremony. Register on DACdb at https://www.dacdb.com/index.html?EventID=77882590.
Zoom Volunteers Needed
We are in need of some additional folks to help out with the Zoom/AV duties at our weekly meetings. As you know, Zoom is a great platform to allow members to participate in meetings even if they can make it IRL (that’s in “in real life” for anyone over the age of 25). And we are a bit shorthanded at the moment It doesn’t require any more skills than what you’ve probably developed using Zoom in other aspects of your working or personal life, and the club provides all the gear need, including a PC. The current Zoom team of Mike, Marion and Mark M will help train you. If you can pitch in about once a month to support this important aspect of our weekly meetings, please contact [email protected] or see me at a meeting.
Member Spotlight
Member Spotlight provides you with the opportunity to share your background, work and hobbies with our membership. It’s a great way for other members to learn more about you. You can be a long-time club member or a new member to participate. Please review the available slots below and sign up to secure your spot. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AA2AA7F5C52-60923410-member
Continue to Support Polio and By Becoming a Polio Plus Society Member
All Rotarians are encouraged to continue to support Rotary International’s efforts to take action and end Polio for good. You can support our efforts to end Polio by becoming a Polio Plus Society member by donating $100 through this link https://raise.rotary.org/Sandy-Morckel/fundraiser987.
Club Service Team Needs Meeting Day Volunteers
We are always looking for Greeters, Invocation & Pledge presenters, as well as volunteers to introduce our visiting Rotarians & guests at weekly meetings. Please contact Club Service Chairman, Sgt. Cody Callerman at [email protected] if you would like to volunteer at a weekly meeting.
Chess Club Needs Volunteers
Be A Mentor is a Charleston-based non-profit that partners caring adults with local youth to build supportive, one-on-one relationships that inspire growth, confidence and brighter futures. Through this program, Rotarian Cody Callerman has started a youth chess club to help students develop critical thinking, patience and a sense of community. Please contact Cody Callerman at [email protected] if you would like to be on our club’s Chess Team!!
“Birthday” Blue Bucket Donations
President Karla plans to announce all monthly member birthdays at the first meeting of every month. Blue Buckets will for the first meeting of the month will be “Birthday” buckets and all donated contributions the first meeting, unless otherwise announced, will go to support BabyBLOOMS, which is a program at the Ronald McDonald House Charleston. This new program offers support and resources designed to strengthen and assist families as they journey from the hospital to home. Through weekly learning and activity sessions, BabyBLOOMS seeks to enhance the parenting experience using evidenced-based practices, while creating an opportunity to enrich bonding, infant care, and development. On the other Tuesdays of the month during July and August, Blue Bucket donations will go to the Kerrville, Texas Rotary to support flood disaster relief in their area.
Be “Spotlighted” at a Meeting
The Rotary Club of Charleston will continue to highlight members twice a month. Members who are interested in being spotlighted should let Julianne Farnsworth know of your interest and she will assign you a date. 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 2025/2026 Theme: Unite for Good 
The 2025-26 presidential message, announced at the 2025 Rotary International Assembly in February, will remain Unite for Good, which calls on Rotary members to be a force for unity in a world increasingly divided by politics, geography, and ideology. Through service projects, Rotary brings together people of every background — across races, religions, and professions — in a shared mission to do good in their communities.
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 Jason Noble, jnoble @primefinancial.com
MEMBER NEWS
Proposed New Members
The following membership candidate has applied and signed letter of agreement to the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston: Chris Geel – sponsor: Jerry Kozel; classification: Law/Personal Injury & Family In the event you know Chris, please tell a member of the Board how he will serve the ideals of Rotary.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Riana Brennan
New Rotarian Riana gave us an introduction to herself. A native of Santa Cruz, Calif. and a junior chess champion and accomplished volley ball player (she played at CoC), she grew up in a Rotary family and had the ideals of service embedded in her early on. After college, she started a home care business and later sold it to a company where she still works, providing premium home based medical care . She enjoys outdoor activities, travel and contributing to community service, particularly through Rotary that has been a common thread in her life.
Birthdays
- 3/18 – Past President Sue Sommer-Kresse
- 3/19 – Katherine DeMoura
- 3/20 – President Karla Combs
- 3/21 – Leslie Fellabom
- 3/22 – Jason Noble
- 3/23 – Joe Maas
WELLNESS TIP
Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning Coffee’s great too, but it’s best to start your day by re-hydrating with a full glass of water. Hydrating first thing in the morning helps to aid digestion, enhance skin health and boost energy.
OTHER AREA MEETINGS
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: Karla Combs
Executive secretary: Carroll Schweers, [email protected]