May 21, 2019: This week’s program was a presentation of the International Service that our Historic Rotary Club of Charleston has provided in the last 
year and will provide in the coming years. Karl Riner, the International Chairman, gave an overview of the four main programs we participate in: Rotary Youth Exchange, Ambassadorial Global Grant Scholarships, International Project Grants, and Global Grants. He invited any interested members to join the committee and participate going forward.
Richard Sidebottom spoke about the Youth Exchange program. We currently are hosting Lucia Violani (Italy) and next year will host Tobias Kaufmann (Switzerland). Our club is also sponsoring Eleanor Pope as outbound exchange student to Sweden next year. Richard invited Lucia to speak about her experiences this past year as an inbound exchange student.
Lucia showed us photos and talked about her family and her hometown of Faenza in northern Italy. She also spoke about here experiences here with two host families: the Carters and the Chicos. She was able to go on many trips, including a NFL football game inAtlanta (which she described as “very American”), Washington DC, Disneyworld, New York City, and skiing in Utah. Lucia attended Charleston Charter School for Math & Science and played soccer and swam on the swim team. She said her experiences as an exchange student caused amazing growth in her maturity and confidence in the last year. She thanked Rotary for giving her this opportunity and wished that more students were able to have the experience.
Karl Riner gave a short summary of the Ambassadorial Global Grants. We have a candidate that we will be coaching for this highly competitive cash grant of up to $50,000 for graduate study abroad for one academic year. Their study will be in one of Rotary’s areas of focus: Peace and Conflict Resolution, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Water and Sanitation, Maternal and Child Health, Basic Education and Literacy, and Economic and Community Development.
Our club gives out several International Grants each year. One of those was $2,750 to furnish and equip a breastfeeding room in a hospital in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic. Another was for “Outreach Paraguay”. In concert with the non-profit, “Save More Kids”, Rotary has provided a $2,000 grant to clear land and create a Tilapia Pond in Liberia. This is part of a plan to create sustainable economic development for the community there.
Sandy Morkel spoke about our Global Grant Applicant – Save More Kids Tree Impact Project. This is also a project in Liberia, with goal of planting 125,000 rubber and palm trees over 4 years. These trees will create a sustainability fund for 20-30 year master plan of community development. Our club’s $7,000 donation plus others is being matched at a 3.5: 1 by Rotary International. The estimated annual impact of this project will be approximately 500,000 people!
Karl closed by thanking the committee, the host families and members for their participation in Rotary’s International Services.
Submitted by Jeff Webb, Keyway Committee
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
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- Michael Smith gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Jeremy Divis introduced visiting Rotarians & guests.
- President Alex Dallis presented Health and Happiness.
- Rotary Foundation Chair, Karl Riner, introduced our program, which spotlighted our club’s international programs and projects.
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
May 28, 2019 | Issue 4930 | President: Alex Dallis
COMING EVENTS
- May 28 – No Meeting
- June 8 – John Reed, Cradle to Career
- June 11 – No Meeting
- June 18 – No Meeting
- June 25 – Presidential/Board Transition & Installation
- June 25 – 11am Board Meeting
NEWS BRIEFS
Rotarians support the 10,000 Scoop Challenge
On May 21, Moose Tracks Ice Cream hosted their 10,000 Scoop Challenge to benefit The Salvation Army of Charleston. For every scoop of ice cream that was served, Moose Tracks would donate $1 with the goal to raise $10,000 for local Salvation Army programming. The Salvation Army of Charleston is happy to report that with 8 minutes to spare, we hit our goal of 10,000 scoops! “We could not have hit our goal and done what we did without the support of the community. I’d especially like to thank Rotarians President-Elect Sandy Morckel, Heidi Finniff, and our inimitable Mayor of Charleston John Tecklenburg for their volunteer support as well as Rotarians who came out and ate ice cream in support of The Salvation Army,” said Rotarian and The Salvation Army of Charleston’s Director of Development Karl Brady. “The support we received from Rotarians shows that the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston truly embodies the ethos of service above self.”
Adopt-A-Highway Pick Up Service Project
On Saturday, June 8th at 9 a.m. we will be having our first Adopt-A-Highway clean-up day of 2019. Rotarians will meet at the corner of Lockwood and Bee Street. In the past, members have parked at Brittle Bank Park. Gloves, reflective vests and trash bags will be provided. Depending on the number of volunteers, the clean up usually takes less than an hour. If you intend to participate, please contact Brett Barry at bbarry@cleanenergyfuels.com
New Member Orientation
All members are invited to our upcoming New Member Orientation session. This training session will not be like the one you had as a new member. We will be learning how to get the most from our Rotary membership. Rotary at its core is an organization of business professionals coming together for business and to do good in the world while building friendships. There are many new tools to help us do just this. It will be beneficial for all our members to attend this session.
Meeting will be —
Wednesday, June 5th at 6pm – 7:30pm
College of Charleston
Education Building — Alumni Center
86 Wentworth Street
Main Floor
Please Bring your Laptop or Ipad
Please RSVP to Heidi @ heidifinniff@gmail.com
Please Note: We will be using our Club Website, the District Database, and the Rotary International website. You as a member have log ons for each of these websites. Here are links to the log in pages. If you do not have access please let me know so I can help you get reset.
https://www.charleston-rotary.org. — Our Website. — Signing in takes you to the District Database site.
https://my.rotary.org/en. — Rotary International — My Rotary
RCCF Grant Presentations
On behalf of the RCCF and our club, Past President and RCCF Chair, Paul Stoney, recognized two organizations at our meeting this past week with RCCF grants.
Analisa Muti accepted the grant check on behalf of First Tee of Charleston. Our donation will provide one class of 10 participants with programming scholarships and golf equipment. Each year, First Tee hosts almost 900 kids in programming at golf courses across the Lowcountry. Scholarships are offered to any of their participants who are on free or reduced lunches at school, all military families and anyone experiencing financial hardship.
Julie Fenimore accepted the grant check on behalf of Charleston Symphony Orchestra League. Our donation is being used to purchase used musical instruments for their Instrument Petting Zoo program. The program currently serves approximately 500 children each year and with the purchase of additional instruments it is hoped that the program will reach 750 children per year. The Instrument Petting Zoo program is transported to the Aquarium and the Charleston County Library multiple times throughout the year to share the love of music with children in the community. Armed with a trumpet, trombone, violin, cello, flute or clarinet, volunteers assist budding musicians with the proper hand positions and show them how to blow into a mouthpiece.
The RCCF Committee was also out in the community this past week and visited Sanders-Clyde Elementary, where they learned more about Communities in Schools and all it does in our community to support children in need. They also were treated to a tour of the school and a visit with a few students, who were benefiting from the CIS program. Past President and RCCF Chair Paul Stoney, along with President Alex, Virginia Lee, Past President David Burt and President-Elect Nominee Lisa Van Bergen presented a RCCF Grant check to Jennifer Harris and members of the staff of Communities in Schools. Our club’s donation will be used to purchase the curriculum and support materials to provide anti-bullying programming to 90 students (65 at Mitchell and 25 at Sanders-Clyde), grades K-5, during the upcoming school year.
This organizations are truly making a difference in our community and we are pleased to support their efforts.
Change in Membership Status Deadline
If you plan a change in your club member status by July 1, 2019 to Excused, Leave of Absence or if you are planning to resign, please notify Carroll in writing NO LATER THAN June 21, 2019. This change will affect July billing. All current members who officially resign after June 21 will be billed $65 to cover Rotary International dues, which are paid the first of each billing cycle. If you have any questions, contact Carroll.
Rotary (District 7770) Night at the Ballpark
Save the date – July 26, 2019 – Rotary Night at the Ballpark …. Rotarians like to have fun and enjoy the friendship of fellow Rotarians. What better way to have fun than with Baseball, Hotdogs and Rotary?
You are invited to a night out at the ballpark. Friday, July 26, 2019 has been designated as Rotary Night with the Columbia Fireflies. Put mark this date on your calendar for the Segra Ballpark in Columbia. This will be an opportunity for Rotary club members to have a great social time. Tickets are $9.00 each and food vouchers are $5.00. We will sit together along the first base line and have a great time. An email with an attached flyer was sent to all Rotarians with information about the event and how to purchase tickets.
January Dues Statements Past Due
We still have a few members who have not paid their January dues. You know who you are — please be sure to make payment as soon as possible. Past due notices have been distributed via email and snail mail. Billing for the second half of the year will occur in June, so we want everyone to be paid in full. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Carroll.
Our Club on Social Media
Members are encourage to follow all of our social media channels 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, mikesottak@gmail.com, or Rob Byko, rob@bykorealty.com.
MEMBER NEWS
Member News
Congratulations to Lisa Van Bergen, who was elected by the Board as President-Elect for 2019/2020! We appreciate her continuous support and willingness to serve our club.
With much regret, the Board accepted the resignations for Ry Hudnall and Ja’net Bishop at the Board meeting this past Tuesday. We will miss these Rotarians and wish them all the best!
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
John M. Bleecker, Jr.
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- Joined: 1992
- Sponsor: Johnny Stuhr
- Membership Involvement: Former Board Member
- Classification: Attorney-At-Law
- Profession: Licensed lawyer, Law Offices of John M. Bleecker, Jr.
- Something Unique About Yourself: John has been a member of the South Carolina Bar since 1960 and at age 87 maintains an active law practice. One of his favorite pastimes is stamp collecting and photography.
Birthdays
- May 30 – Lisa Van Bergen
- June 2 – John Strickland
By the numbers
Attendance on May 21, 2019: 63
Not in attendance: Baggs, Bailey, Beam, Bickley, Bini, Crack, Brady, Buzon, Carico, Channell, Clary, Coe, Coghill, Cole, Cooper, Cooper, Cooper, Crouch, Deavenport, Dewey, Diminich, Donnellon, Drafts, Dunaway, Fellabom, Fink, Galizia, Gill, Hudnall Husser, Jones, Kaynard, Lee, Leonard, Lietzow, Lucy, Mitchell, Moring, Patrick, Prewitt, Raver, Rich, Riley, Ruettiger, Rust,, Saboe, Savage, Seguer, Smith, H., Sottak, Strickland, Tayor, Tecklenburg, John, Tecklenburg, Peter, Teller, Thomas, Whitaker, Wieters, Willey, Williams, Woodell
Out of Town Make-ups: None
WELLNESS TIP
Take A Springtime Trip
Pick a wildly beautiful place in nature. Schedule a weekend to go camping or hiking. Or simply take some extended time to relax in a wonderful outdoor place where spring is showing its colors and beauty. Taking a trip in nature will jumpstart your springtime energy and will shake off the hard work, restlessness, and stagnation from winter.
AREA CLUB MEETINGS
Mondays
- Summerville – Oakbrook: 7:30 a.m., Monday, Westcott County Club, 5000 Wescott Club Drive, North Charleston
- North Charleston: 12:30 a.m., Monday, Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 International Blvd, North Charleston.
- Summerville Evening: 5:30 p.m., Monday, Montreux Bar and Grill, 127 W. Richardson Ave., Summerville
Tuesdays
- East Cooper Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Cooper River Room at Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant
- 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
Wednesdays
- Daniel Island: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Daniel Island Club, 600 Island Park Dr., Daniel Island
- St. John’s Parish (John’s Island): 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, 2817 Maybank Highway, Unit 1, John’s Island
- Mount Pleasant: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Harbor Breeze Restaurant, 176 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant
- Summerville: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sticky Fingers, Summerville
Thursdays
- North Charleston Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Embassy Suites, 5055 International Blvd., 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: 7:30 a.m., Friday, Harbour Club, 35 Prioleau St., 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: Alex Dallis
- Keyway editor: Don Baus don@sgaarchitecture.com
- Executive secretary: Carroll Schweers, carrollschweers@gmail.com
- Mailing address: Rotary Club of Charleston, P.O. Box 21029 ,Charleston, SC 29413-1029
- Copyright 2018, Rotary Club of Charleston. All rights reserved.