August 11, 2026
We welcomed our 2026-27 District Governor, Herman Dixon, for the DG’s annual visit to our club. institutions. 
This past week’s meeting of the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston was a powerful reminder that Rotary’s greatest strength has always been its people.
District Governor Dixon challenged us with three simple asks:
Participate. Speak up. Live and promote the Rotary lifestyle.
His message was clear: strong Rotarians build strong clubs, strong clubs build stronger communities, and together, we change lives. We also had the privilege of celebrating people who are already living that message.
In other news, Channing Proctor received the Four-Way Test Award from District Governor Herman Dixon. Channing’s commitment to service, our club, and the greater Charleston community represents Rotary at its best. Congratulations, Channing!
Our September Social is set for Tuesday September 8 (no meeting that day) – See you at Sunsets on Shem Creek (more info below)
Zoom meeting, use this link and the passcode: Rotary.
To see a recording of this meeting, go here
Passcode: G^@6iuyk
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
- Cody Callarman gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Jennifer Flanagin introduced our visiting Rotarians & guests.
- Asst DH Digit Matheny our guest speaker, District Governor Herman Dixon
- MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
Aug 18, 2026 | Issue 5201| President: Marion Platt
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 8/18 – Dr. Kamyar Goudarzi, Assistant Professor of Management at College of Charleston
- 8.20 – Low Country Orphan Relief. 9:30-11:30 AM Sign up
- 8/25 – David Ginn, CRDA
- Sept 1 – Dave Wallace, Scout Boats
- Sept 8 – No Meeting
- Sept 8 – September social. 5-7PM Sunsets On Shem Creek: Sign up
NEWS BRIEFS Important Reminder …
Fall 2026 RCCF Applications have closed
We have received our full allotment of RCCF grant applications, and the process for this cycle is now closed. Our team will be reviewing the applications and making decisions on Fall 2026 grant recipients in the coming weeks.
Congrats our Channing Proctor
Congratulations to Channing Proctor, who was presented with the Four-Way Test Award last Tuesday by District Governor Herman Dixon. Channing’s commitment to service, our club, and the greater Charleston community represents Rotary at its best. Congratulations, Channing!
September Social: Sept 8, Sunsets on Shem Creek
Join us for the Rotary Club of Downtown Charleston’s September Social on Tuesday, September 8th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Sunsets Creekside Bar on Shem Creek. Come for the waterfront views, stay for the conversation. Cocktails, bites, and a drink ticket are on us. This is a relaxed way to meet current members, and see how “Service Above Self” shows up in the Lowcountry. Thinking about joining Rotary? This is the easiest first step. Bring a friend. We also have two sponsorship levels open for this event: Platinum Sponsor, $500 (1 spot left): social media shoutouts, recognition at the event, and the opportunity to speak Gold Sponsor, $300 (3 spots left): social media shoutouts and recognition at the event Interested in sponsoring? Reach out to Charles Jablon at [email protected].
Low Country Orphan Relief Project: August 20
Join Charleston Rotary’s Low Country Orphan Relief Project Your registration helps us organize volunteers, supplies, and support for children in foster and emergency care. Together, we live out “Service Above Self” through hands-on help—packing bags, sorting clothing, and preparing essentials. Please complete this form so we can confirm details, coordinate shifts, and keep you informed about project updates. Your time and care directly support vulnerable kids in our community. https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/historic-rotary-of-charleston-low-country-orphan-relief-project
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
- 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
- Todd Duwel – sponsor: Past President Robert Sullivan; Classification: Architecture
- Brandon Fish – sponsor: Past President Sandy Morckel/Jan Luth; Classification: Non-Profit
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
- David Osbourne – August 15
- Barnie Howell – August 16
- Michael Pruitt – August 17
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]