March 19, 2024
Joseph Affsprung gave the club an update on the CRDA and the dynamic nature of development happening in our region.
A busy month winding down with the District Conference and the Rotary Leadership Institute both happening in March. See the newsletter for more information.
For a recording of this week’s meeting, click here.
Passcode: ct&4ZL*!
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
- Channing Proctor gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Jennifer Flanagan introduced our visiting Rotarians & guests.
- President Cleave presented Health & Happiness.
- President-Elect Robert Sullivan introduced our speaker, Joseph Affsprung, who is the Global Business Development Manager for the CRDA. He discussed promoting economic prosperity in our community.
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
March 26, 2024 | Issue 5121 President: Cleave Ham
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 3/26 – Rob Salvatore, Co-Owner/Chairman, Charleston Battery
- 3/27 – Social @ Saltwater Cowboys, 5-7pm
- 4/2 – NO MEETING
- 4/9 – TBD
- 4/9 – Social @ Charleston Battery, Gales open @ 5:30pm; Game time 7pm (tickets $40 purchased via QR code or link)
- 4/13 – Service Project – Windwood Farms
- 4/16 – TBD
- 4/23 – Dr. Brian Cuddy, Roper St. Francis Healthcare
- 4/27 – Service Project – Children’s Museum (pack camp bags)
- 4/30 – Tiffany Irvin
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 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.
No Meeting on April 2
We will not have a lunch meeting on Tuesday, April 2nd as it is the week following Easter and Spring Break for many area schools. We hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday and we look forward to seeing you back with us on April 9.
Rotary Student and Educator of the Month Program
After a longer than expected break, our recognition of Educators of the Month has returned. This week we recognized two outstanding educators at Mitchell Elementary. For December 2023, we honored First Grade Math Teacher Javon Clark. Ms. Clark is a thoughtful and dedicated teacher holding her students to high expectations making sure they make the gains needed to reach those expectations. She is the best teammate ever and is always someone others can lean on when things get tough. For January 2024, the honoree was Reading Interventionist Joanna Herscher. Ms. Herscher is always calm and organized, helpful and knowledgeable. She ensures that the needs of all Mitchell’s scholars are met no matter what and goes above and beyond every time to get that done. Congratulations to these two outstanding educators!
March Social at Saltwater Cowboys
Join us on Wednesday, March 27th from 5-7pm for our March Social at Saltwater Cowboys on Shem Creek (130 Mill Street)! Light bites will be provided. Bar service available with cash or card. Parking available at location. Please make sure you RSVP so we can give an accurate headcount to the SWC staff.
April Social at Charleston Battery Soccer
Our April Rotary Social will be held at the Charleston Battery Soccer Game (85 Patriots Point) on Tuesday, April 9th. Gates open at 5:30pm and kickoff is 7:00pm. Tickets are $40, and this price includes admission to the match, access to the reserved private deck, soda, water, snacks, and catering by Home Team. Alcoholic drinks will be available to purchase via the stadium concessions. Scan the QR code or follow the link that was emailed to you to purchase your tickets. Please feel free to invite friends, family, and prospective members to join in on the fun!
We will host a Discover Rotary beforehand for prospective members looking to learn more about our Rotary Club.
One80 Place Food Drive – Month of March
The month of March we will be collecting essential pantry items for One80 Place in Charleston. The list of urgently needed items is below. You may bring donations to any meeting during the month of March.
If you prefer, One80 Place has a “shopping list” set up by Amazon that will be shipped directly to the center, and can be noted from the Charleston Rotary club. Follow this link to purchase a donation through Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2ZBP09LS02594/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1
Urgent Needs:
Stock products (chicken and beef)
Pasta and rice (brown or white)
Soups, canned tuna or chicken
Salad dressings
Salt, pepper, sugar
Lunch snacks for Veteran lunches and children (chips, goldfish, cookies, etc.)
Peanut butter and/or Jelly
Cereal, oatmeal, grits
Coffee, ground or whole bean
Save the dates – future service projects (details to follow):
- April 6 – Charleston Miracle League
- April 13 — Windwood Farms
- April 27 – packing camp bags for the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
Any questions please contact Karla sclowcountrylady@gmail.com .
District-Wide March Membership Madness Challenge
Who will be the first club to take on the March Membership Madness challenge? March Madness in basketball is all about shooting 3-Pointers from downtown. In Rotary, it’s all about attracting new members. All clubs who shoot 3-Pointers and grow membership by 3 new members from March 1 through April 30 will be recognized and receive a special award at Spring Training Assembly on May 3. A Grand Prize of $400 will be given in honor of the club who brings in the most new members to the Community Service Organization (501-c-3) of their choice.
Knowing our Club members and our excellent Membership Committee Team, on behalf of our Rotary Club, President Cleave has replied and accepted the District’s challenge.
Our club will be using existing Paul Harris Fellow points to reward current members who bring prospective members to our weekly luncheons and who join our Rotary Club. A current member, who brings a prospective member to a luncheon, will receive 100 Paul Harris Fellow points. If a current member has one of their prospective members submit an application to the club, they will receive 250 Paul Harris Fellow points. Paul Harris Fellow Points equal one point per dollar and are added to a member’s current Rotary Foundation donation total (i.e. If you have donated $750, 250 points will get you to $1000 or a PHF.)
This promotion will be held from March 19 – May 31, 2024. We encourage all members to bring a potential member to Rotary over the next two months and let’s make March Membership Madness a Slam Dunk!
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
Members are encouraged 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
Our Rotary Foundation Chair, Karl Riner was honored to recognize fellow Rotarians Jan Luth and Chito Walker with Paul Harris Fellows this past Tuesday and thank them for their dedication and service to our club and The Rotary Foundation.
CONGRATULATIONS to fellow Rotarian Kay Minson, who has been selected as the 2023 Global Realtor of the Year by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors (CTAR).
In the Post & Courier article, Kay “…was recognized for her efforts over many years by CTAR, the real estate industry, and the community, in the area of Global Real Estate Service.” This article also mentioned that she is “a member of the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston.” Read more about Kay and this recognition at https://www.postandcourier.com/kay-minson-named-2023-ctar-global-realtor-of-the-year-carolina-one-s-folly-road/article_6890e296-e161-11ee-a294-fb6ae1517205.html .
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Rotarian: W. McCain Kerr
JOINED: December 2, 2022
SPONSOR: Cleave Ham & Michael Smith
CLASSIFICATION: Banking
PROFESSION: Assistant Manager, First Citizens Bank
Community Service Organizations, Current Activities or Activities/Volunteer Work in the Past: Charleston Young Professionals Steering Committee: Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, Society 1858: Gibbes Art Museum (young professionals group)
SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOURSELF: I am an aspiring grillmaster. President-Elect Sullivan spends a lot of time trying my concoctions. Proud dog owner to Max, love reading, trying new restaurants and touring historic sites.
Birthdays
- 3/26 – Jane Horetsky
- 3/27 – Kelsey Willey
- 3/28 – Sam Steinberg
- 4/2 – Mary Peters
- 4/3 – Tamara Curry
- 4/7 – Past President Alex Dallis
WELLNESS TIP
Change your bedsheets every Sunday.
Allergens can disrupt sleep. To cut down on buildup, wash your sheets weekly. Also replace pillows at least every two years and mattresses every 10, both for hygiene and for comfort (they can break down over time).
OTHER AREA ROTARY CLUBS
Mondays
https://www.cainhoyrotary.com/
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
Wednesdays
Daniel Island: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Daniel Island Club, 600 Island Park Dr., Daniel Island
Mount Pleasant: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Hibben Methodist Church, 690 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant
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: Cleave Ham
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