6/2: Historic Charleston Tour

June 2, 2026

Our club members were treated to a historical tour of downtown Charleston. Led by guides from Walk and Talk Charleston, we got great information and insights into some of the often unknown facts and stories that we walk by every day. Even if you’ve lived in Charleston for years, there’s something new to discover every day in this historical gem.

Please support our big fundraiser in the works – Far, Near, and Here raffle – our biggest fundraiser of the year. Buy tickets here and pack your bags. Check out the Keyway for details on these and other upcoming events and schedules.

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

   

IN OTHER MEETING NEWS

• • No formal meeting

• MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY 

June 9, 2026  | Issue 5195| President:  Karla Combs

UPCOMING EVENTS

• 6/9 – Taylor Jackson, Maritime Assoc. 
• 6/9 – Adopt a Poll Volunteer. Sign up here
• 6/16 – NO MEETING
• 6/16 – Amore Healing Kitchen Service Project Sign up
• 6/23 – Dr. Anya Benitez, MUSC, on Alzheimer’s
• 6/30 – End of Year Transition Happy Hour (5:30 -7)
• 7/7 – NO MEETING
• 7/14 – TBD
• 7/21 – TBD / Amor Healing Kitchen Service Project Sign up

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. 

Adopt A Poll- Volunteer opp/Fundraiser: June 9

Election season is upon us and we are partnering with Charleston County to Adopt-A-Poll! Similar to prior years, we need volunteers (Rotarian’s, family, and friends) to come together to staff two (2) locations on June 9th. This year we will be supporting polling locations at Burke High School and James Island Charter School. We need eight (8) volunteers per location. These eight (8) volunteers will work on split shifts evenly; meaning that four (4) will work on first shift (6AM – 2PM) while the remaining four (4) will work second shift (12PM – 8PM). Note this requires advanced training  and certain other eligibility requirements. More information can be found here on the sign up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AA2AA7F5C52-64138037-adoptapoll#/

Volunteer & Support Amor Healing Kitchen

Volunteers are needed to assist Amor Healing Kitchen on two dates: Tuesday, June 16 (NO MEETING DAY) and Tuesday, July 21.  Not only has this organization benefited from one of our Local Grants, but one of our fellow club members’ family has benefited from their services. Let’s volunteer and show our support.  Sign ups available on Sign Up Genius. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AA2AA7F5C52-64217831-amor#/

Youth Exchange Host Families Needed for Second Half of Exchange

Good news!  We have a host family for the first half of the year for our youth exchange student from Finland.  We are still looking for a host family (or two) for the second half of the year. Please note that we can likely arrange temporary coverage for a week or so, if you have plans that would conflict with your ability to host during your committed hosting period. The Rotary Youth International 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 a local Rotary Club. Typically, the exchanges offer the same benefits to host families. Our Club’s inbound student Sara, from Finland, will attend a local Charleston high school that is convenient for their hosts (we currently have approval from Wando and the Charter School for Math & Science and can approach others if necessary). Please contact Karen Clark at 301-412-8692 or Richard Kelly if you can help us and will consider hosting or have other interested contacts. 

  Last Call for January 2026 Dues Payments

We still have a few members who have not paid January 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 2026 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 June 1. 

Board Transition Social – Mark Your Calendars

To celebrate the end of this Rotary Year and the beginning of our new Rotary Year, a Happy Hour Social event from 5:30 -7pm is scheduled at Hall’s Signature Events on Tuesday, June 30 in lieu of our lunch meeting that day.  There will be a “brief” meeting, but mostly it will be a fun time to celebrate the year, ring in the new Rotary year and catch up with our Rotary friends.  We hope you will plan to bring your spouse or guest and join us!

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.

Change in Membership Status Deadline

If you plan a change in your club member status by July 1, 2026, to Excused, eMember, Leave of Absence or if you are planning to resign, please notify Carroll in writing NO LATER THAN June 1st.  Any change will affect July billing. Also, if you are listed on our membership roster as of July 1, the club pays Rotary International and District dues for you, which you will be required to pay. If you have any questions, contact Carroll. 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           

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

Proposed New Members

• Frank M. Rogers VIII (“Manny’) – sponsor:  Alan Uram; Classification: Banking/Commercial
• Jonathan M. Savitske – sponsor:  Jason Noble; Classification: Law

 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

Lisa van Bergen

Longtime Rotarian and former president Lisa van Bergen gave us some insights into her background. She joined the club in 2011 and has been a valuable contributor since then. She’s a graduate of the College of Charleston and also holds a degree from the Citadel. She has spent most of her career in various counseling roles, specifically focusing on young families and young mothers as they navigate the parenting and family development challenges. She currently runs her own counseling service and serves a wide range of family situations and also has a side gig as a grant writer for non-profits.

Birthdays

• 6/9 – Mena Hanna
• 6/10 – Nick Galizia
• 6/11 – Trent Drafts

WELLNESS TIP

Eat seasonal

Fresh fruits and vegetables are everywhere right now, and they taste better (and cost less) when they’re in season. Think of juicy tomatoes, sweet corn, berries, peaches and cucumbers. These foods are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and water—all things your body needs and loves. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control recommends filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables at every meal. Summer makes that easier than ever.     How to get started: Visit a farmers’ market and check what’s on sale at your grocery store. Try swapping one processed snack (e.g., chips, pretzels or a granola bar) for a piece of fruit or vegetables paired with hummus or cheese.

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]