July 14, 2026
In our new President Marion Platt’s first spin on the podium, we welcomed Elizabeth Chew of the SC Historical Society. Elizabeth reminded us that preserving our history helps us build a better future. Her passion for protecting South Carolina’s stories was inspiring and a great reminder that our community’s legacy deserves to be preserved for future generations.
We had a great wind-down to the Rotary year and start to the new one. It started with our Transition Social, including the introduction of the new board under President Marion, our annual member recognition awards, and a big thank you to outgoing president Karla. The following week our fundraiser/social event raised more than $7,000 for our RCCF. Read on for more details.
To join an upcoming Zoom meeting, use this link and the passcode: Rotary.
To see a recording of this meeting, go here
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IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
- Zach Serrins gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Cody Callarman introduced our visiting Rotarians & guests
- Past President Robert Sullivan introduced our guest speaker, Elizabeth Chew, CEO, SC Historical Society.
- MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
July 21, 2026 | Issue 5198| President: Marion Platt
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 7/21 – Ed Sutton
- 7/21 – TBD / Amor Healing Kitchen Service Project Sign up
- 7/28 – Andrew Hsu, President, College of Charleston
- 8/1 – RCCF Grant Application Process Opens
- 8/1 – Youth Exchange Student from Finland Arrives
- 8/4 – NO MEETING
- 8/11 – Herman Dixon, District Governor 7770
NEWS BRIEFS
Important 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.
Club Members Recognized with 2025-2026 Awards
At our club’s End of the Year Social, our outstanding Rotarians were recognized:
Mike Sottak and Jay Gibson were honored as Rotarians of the Year, receiving the Bill Hall Award named in honor of the late Bill Hall, founder of Halls Chophouse, devoted Rotarian and community leader. The award represented the highest standard of service and leadership within our club. Bill’s legacy continues to inspire each of us.
Charlie Jablon was named Rookie Rotarian of the Year, an award that reflects his immediate impact, enthusiasm, and commitment to serving others.
Congratulations to these three exceptional Rotarians! Charlie, Mike and Jay all exemplify the values of Rotary through their unwavering commitment to Rotary and the Charleston Community.
Sunset Social fundraiser a great success
Because of your hard work and generosity, and commitment, our Sunset Social was a tremendous success. Together, we raised more than $7,100 through our raffles and activities and that’s before sponsorships. What an outstanding result! Thank you for planning, decorating, promoting, selling tickets, securing sponsors, greeting guests, setting up, cleaning up, and doing all the countless little things that made the evening feel effortless. Events like this don’t happen by accident they happen because committed Rotarians like you are willing to roll up your sleeves and serve.
To see more great photos of this event, go here (thanks to Rob Byko, as always, for capturing the moment!)
Congratulations as well to our Rotary Escape winners, and thanks to all our prize donors and event organizing team! While those four individuals won some amazing experiences, the real winner is our Rotary Club of Charleston Foundation. Every dollar raised helps us continue funding grants and service projects that strengthen our community and create lasting impact.
Far Escape (Turks & Caicos) – Kay Minson
Volunteer & Support Amor Healing Kitchen: July 21
Volunteers are needed to assist Amor Healing Kitchen on 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#/
Rotary International 2026/2027 Theme: Create Lasting Impact
For the 2026/2027 Rotary year, President Olayinka H. Babalola has introduced the theme “Create Lasting Impact”, encouraging members to focus on meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and personal growth through Rotary service. This theme builds on last year’s message “United for Good” by emphasizing not just collaboration by the tangible, long-term effects of Rotary projects globally, locally and personally.
Global Grant Scholars
Our club is pleased to be sponsoring two candidates for a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship this year. Global Grants are for graduate students studying abroad in one of Rotary’s areas of focus:
- Promoting peace
- Fighting disease
- Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
- Saving mothers and children
- Supporting education
- Growing local economies
- Protecting the environment
Scholarships last from one to four years and can include an entire degree program. Global grant scholarships are funded using District Designated Funds (DDF), cash, and directed gifts and endowment earnings. The Foundation will provide an 80% World Fund match for all DDF contributions. Caroline Berg and Robert Torres were selected as candidates by our club this year and have been frequent visitors to our luncheons. District interviews will take place the weekend of August 7th in Columbia. Both candidates are outstanding representatives of our club and community. We wish them all the best during the interview process.
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.
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
Past District Governor and Past President of our club, Sandy Morckel recognized President Marion Platt as our club’s newest Paul Harris Society member. The Paul Harris Society is a special program administered by Rotary Districts. Paul Harris Society members make a commitment to contribute $1,000 each year to the Annual Program Fund. A Paul Harris Society member receives a “hanger” for their Paul Harris Fellow Pin with the initials PHS.-
- Jeff Dacey – sponsor: Rob Byko; Classification: Performance Venue Mgmt.
- Delita Marsland – sponsor: Rob Byko; Classification: Performance Venue Mgmt.
- Laighton Cain – sponsor: Cody Callarman; Classification: Real Estate
Our outgoing club president, Karla Combs, took to the podium in a slightly different role, giving us her member spotlight presentation. Karla talked about growing up in beautiful North Carolina and enjoying her time around the Lake Norman area. Karla has a beautiful daughter and wonderful pets surrounding her as she continues her insurance career. She’s a long-time Rotarian, having learned about the ideals of service above self as a young woman growing up in North Carolina, and then bringing her love for service and her leadership skills to our club. Thanks for everything you’ve done for us this year, Karla. It’s been a great year.
Birthdays
- 7/21 – Past President Robert Sullivan
- 7/22 – Leah Donaldson
- 7/24 – Stefany Ceccato & Kali Kobylka
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: Marion Platt
Executive secretary: Carroll Schweers, [email protected]