4/14: Laura Pelzer, Charleston Library Society

April 14, 2026

Laura Pelzer of the Charleston Library Society joined us today to give us a great overview of the history, assets and programs of this great historical institution right here in Charleston. As the second-oldest library society in the United States, the building houses an incredible resource of archives of important historical documents, literature, and other treasures that are accessible to researchers, society members, and others. In addition to its great historical assets, the society stays current with active programming for all ages, featuring interesting speakers, authors, historians, and a dedicated program aimed at children. We thank this society for all that it does in our community and for being such a valuable resource of learning. history and culture.

Lots going on in the coming months, including our big Spring Boil & Build outing and fundraiser on April 23, plus Fans in the Stands, the Duck Race and more. And check out the details of our Far, Near and Here raffle – our biggest fundraiser of the year. Check out the Keyway for upcoming events and schedules.

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

To see a replay of the meeting on Zoom, go here 

Passcode: vdazw7$%    

IN OTHER MEETING NEWS

• • Kay Fuller gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge. 
  • Mac George introduced our visiting Rotarians & guests.
  • Our guest speaker, Laura Pelzer, Executive Director of the Charleston Library Society, was introduced by fellow Rotarian Clara Heinsohn

• MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY 

April 14, 2026  |  Issue 5189| President:  Karla Combs

UPCOMING EVENTS

• 4/21 – TBD
• 4/23 – Spring Social/Fundraiser @ Charleston County Park. Go here.
• 4/25 – Charleston Miracle League “Fans in the Stands” Go here
• 4/28 – TBD
• 4/30 – Duck Booth Volunteers @ Riverdogs Stadium
• 5/5 – Allison Reener, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

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.   

Boil & Build Social: April 23

Our spring social and fundraiser event is off and running. Please plan on joining us on April 23rd at James Island County Park for a great afternoon/evening of low country food, fellowship, and a chance to win one of three great getaway trips through our raffle.

Be a “Fan in the Stands” & Support the Charleston Miracle League: April 25

Mark your calendars to come show your support the Charleston Miracle League by being “Fans in the Stands” at their games on Saturday, April 25 from 10am-12noon. This will be a special day as CCSD Special Needs Teachers of the Year from all 3 School Levels will also be recognized. Let’s show our support for these exceptional educators!  To sign up, click the link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AA2AA7F5C52-63190580-fans  

Far, Near and Here Raffle: buy tickets now!

Back by popular demand, our Far, Near, and Here raffle is up and running. We’ve got four great prizes that are available to win by purchasing tickets in each individually priced draw. We’re limiting the number of tickets sold for each so the odds are very good and the prizes are even greater.  So pack your bags and buy some tickets. And its even easier to buy a tickets by going to this web site

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/historic-charleston-rotary-spring-and-summer-raffles

This is our clubs biggest fundraiser of the year so lets all support this effort to keep our RCCF fund plentiful to help so many great local causes.

Drawing will be held at our Skyline Social event on July 9

On offer this year are:

Enjoy a 5-night stay at a luxury 2-bedroom condo at The Sands Resort on world-famous Grace Bay Beach. This unforgettable experience includes a welcome cocktail, dinner for four at Hemingway’s beachfront restaurant, and admission to the Rotary Club of Providenciales weekly meeting. Relax, recharge, and take in one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful destinations. Dates subject to availability; excludes Christmas and New Year.

Adopt a Duck

Our Rotary club is teaming up with the Daniel Island Rotary Club for this year’s Duck Race on May 31. You can support both our club and the RCCF by adopting one or more ducks. To participate, simply click the link: https://charlestonduckrace.com/participating-clubs/historic-rotary-club-of-charleston/ !

Volunteers are also needed to work at the Duck Booth at the RiverDogs Stadium on April 30 and May 14 from 5:30-8:30pm.  Free entry into the game is included.  Please click on this link to volunteer.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AA2AA7F5C52-63352850-duck        

Club Seeking Outbound Exchange Student for 2026/2027 School Year

Our club is currently accepting applications to sponsor a local high school student for an outbound exchange for the 2026/2027 school year. The Rotary International Youth Exchange Program offers teenage high school students ages 15-19 an opportunity to make new friends, learn new ways of living, open themselves up to different ideas, a new culture, traditions, experiences, and to adapt and gain fresh perspectives while attending high school in another country and living with 2- 3 host families arranged through the local Rotary Club. Typically, the exchanges offer the same benefits to host families. The parents of sponsored outbound students for the exchange program will need to be one of the hosts for the Charleston Rotary Club’s sponsored inbound students (for 3-6 months), while their children are overseas on their exchanges. 

• The students selected for sponsorship will go overseas in August 2026, for the 2026/2027 school year, attend high school and will be hosted by 2 to 3 families and the local Rotary Club in the host country.
• The Charleston area family of the sponsored student will need to be one of the hosts for our sponsored inbound student that will arrive in August 2026.

 CCSD currently supports this program and is accepting inbound international exchange students at various Charleston County high schools for the 2025/2026 school year and has done so for many years. The following is a website link for additional link formation: Rotary International Youth / Student Exchange Information: Youth Exchanges | Rotary International . Interested students and families will need to complete an application, engage in an interview process, and attend online and in-person training before the exchange year begins in August 2026.   

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. 

“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 a new 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

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with District Governor-Elect Herman Dixon, who had a serious bike accident a few weeks ago.  He has been released from the hospital and is now recovering at home.  

Congratulations to our newest BLUE Badgers – Tyler Jones, Lenny Reeder and Elliott.  These new members have been actively involved in our club activities and completed all new member tasks. We look forward to their continued involvement and fellowship.    

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Charlie Jablon

Charlie Jablon gave us some insights into his past and current status as an insurance professional here in the Charleston area. Charlie was born in Maryland and came to Charleston via his college experience at the College of Charleston. He fell in love with the city and decided to stay and make a life here, and perfect his golf game. We appreciate all Charlie does for our club and he is our current Instagram master, spreading news and information our club.

Birthdays

• 4/22 – Bryce Ranniello
• 4/23 – Robie Scott
• 4/27 – Mark McMath & Mac George

WELLNESS TIP

Rebalance Work and Life for Less Stress  

Spring is a great time to evaluate work-life balance and make adjustments that support well-being. If winter had you feeling burnt out and overworked, take this season as an opportunity to prioritize self-care and set boundaries. Scheduling breaks, outdoor time, and moments of relaxation can prevent stress from building up. Make time for activities that bring you joy and fulfillment, whether it’s hobbies, socializing, or spending time with family. If your workload feels overwhelming, delegate tasks, practice time management, and unplug when needed. A healthy work-life balance enhances mental clarity, motivation, and happiness, helping you enter the new season with renewed energy and focus.

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 1^st & 3^rd 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]