Sep 26 2007

Picture - Skey Caskey and Danya Jordan


Rotary Meeting Minutes 9/26/07
Rod Funderburk - reporter

President Beetle Bailey presided over the meeting. Theresa Miley led in the invocation, and John Hansen introduced the visitors and guests. Lyman Whitehead provided some words of wisdom for Health and Happiness. Chuck Larsen invited everyone to the grand opening of the new Chamber of Commerce offices Thursday at 5:30 P.M.
Kelly Payne introduced the Rotary Interact sponsored candidate for Dutch Fork Homecoming Queen. Jim Wellman made a plea for participation in the Okra Strut ticket booth, Okra Man display and parade. A reminder for those who signed up will be posted on the blog site.
Patti Cavanaugh introduced the guest speaker, Danya Jordan, who spoke on “Safe Water for a Thirsty World.” Danya is with Water Missions International, which is a Christian Non-Profit Engineering Firm. The firm provides safe water solutions in developing countries and disaster areas. According to Danya 1.1 billion people in this world do not have access to safe drinking water. 25,000 people die each day from contaminated water. A child dies every 15 seconds from water related diseases.
The Water Missions International living water treatment system was originally designed to supply safe drinking water to Honduras after Hurricane Mitch in 1998. There are currently 370 living water treatment systems in place around the world. These systems can treat 10,000 gallons of water per day at a cost of $3.00 per 1,000 gallons. Danya suggested that those interested could contribute their time, their talent and their money to improving the access to safe water around the world.
President Beetle Bailey thanked Danya for her remarks and declared the meeting adjourned.

September 19 2007

Joel Collins presents a Paul Harris Fellowship to Kelly Payne





President Beetle with Senior master Sgt Jeffery Duncan United States Air Force
Meeting notes for 9/19/07 Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary Meeting:



President Beetle Bailey called the meeting to order. John Adair gave our invocation, followed by our Pledge of Alliance. Lyman Whitehead presented some Health and Happiness. John Hanson announced Ron Althoff as a guest from St. Andrews Rotary Club. Dr. Carey Hite introduced his guest, Dr. Minhas. Dutch Fork High School Teacher Kelly Payne spoke about the completion of our Club’s successful Interact Dictionary Project. She spoke of Dutch Fork’s Valet Day next Friday, which is for parking pass rewards for the Alive @25 Program. We had Interact students as guests at this meeting as well. Joel Collins proudly awarded Kelly Payne a Paul Harris Fellowship Award, noting some of her accomplishments. Kelly received a standing ovation from the Club. Jim Wellman asked for assistance with ticket sales for the Okra Strut and gave an update on volunteers. Ben Herritage gave an update on the October 29 Annual Charity Golf Classic at Golden Hills Country Club. President Beetle said our Club’s DSG project in Mississippi was back to an active status. He also announced publication of a picture on the front page of the September 13, 2007 The Irmo News of our Club’s participation with the Dutch Fork Interact Club 2007 Kickoff on September 10, 2007 at Gatsbees World’s Fair Soda Fountain in Irmo. Herb Harrison told the Club about the MSKP Foundation for Kyle Page and other families with spina bifida and other serious diseases. John Wilkins introduced our speaker, Senior Master Sergeant Jeffery Duncan of Why We Serve, Office of the Secretary of Defense. Sergeant Duncan is the Squadron Superintendent of the 15th Maintenance Operations Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. He serves as the senior enlisted manager for 486 military, civilian, and Hawaii Air National Guard Technicians. His responsibilities include advising the Commander on all matters affecting the health, morale, and welfare of assigned personnel. He has been in the USAF for 21 years and has served in the United Arab Emirates, in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. Among his many accomplishments are his assistance with tsunami relief and other world disasters. Sgt. Duncan spoke about his and others’ military service and also explained about the refueling of jets in flight. Among his many major awards and decorations are the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and six oak leaf clusters, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and one oak leaf cluster and three Bronze Stars. President Beetle thanked him for speaking to our Club and presented him with one of our special Rotary bookmarks. Bob Berry presented a Rotarian Magazine quiz and information on the Four-Way Test. President Beetle then adjourned the meeting.

Reporter Patty Cavanaugh

September 12 2007

The Rotary Club
Of
Lake Murray-Irmo
Meeting Minutes


September 12, 2007

Reporter: Tim Williams


President Beetle Bailey called the meeting to order.

Ginny Barr gave the invocation.

John Hanson welcomed all guest.

Lyn Richards filled in for Lyman Whitehead and provided Health and Happiness. Lyn also gave an update on the Rotary Foundation and stated there are 15 members who can become Paul Harris fellows for less than $500.00. Lyn stated this year’s goal is $15,500.00

Larry Stohs reminded all that dictionaries are being delivered today by the Dutch Fork High School Interact Club. Larry stated that Kelly Payne needs help driving students back to the High School this morning and requested volunteers.

Jim Wellman gave an update on the Okra Strut and stated additional volunteers are needed for the ticket booth. Jim reminded all that free “T” shirts are provided.

Ben Heritage gave an update on the Golf tournament and stated He has received information from some of the teams but many of the teams have not responded.

Eddie Robinson introduced today’s guest speaker, Byron A. Wiley who is the Director of the Office of Access & Equity for Clemson University. Eddie stated he first heard the phrase: “A chain is only as strong as the weakest Link” from his band director when he was in school. Eddie stated that he did not fully understand the phrase at that time but his experiences at Clemson University have provided some insight into its meaning. Eddie elaborated by saying this phrase can be applied to many situations in life, one of which will be addressed today, which is South Carolina’s weakest link within the K through 12 public education system commonly know as the “Corridor of Shame” . Eddie stated Mr. Wiley heads up the Emerging Scholars Program at Clemson University which provides hope for effecting change for the students who live in this area in the lower part of the state up and down I-95.

Mr. Wiley stated he has been at Clemson University for eight years. He stated the Emerging Scholars Program was started in the summer of 2001. He made reference to a “Tale of Two Highways” as it pertains to South Carolina’s K through 12 public education system. Mr. Wiley stated it is a known fact that when there is a higher tax base in a county the public school system is better and when there is a lower tax base the public school system is poorer. Thus Mr. Wiley stated that this fact is the case in South Carolina. He stated the industrial I-85 corridor has a higher tax base and the more rural I-95 corridor has a lower tax base thus creating some economically deprived counties in the lower part of the state. Mr. Wiley stated the I-95 corridor includes Allendale, Bamberg and Hampton Counties. Mr. Wiley stated he proposed the Emerging Scholars Program not to change the schools within these counties but to change the “product” attending these schools.

The Emerging Scholars Program is a 3 year program that begins at the end of the 9th grade. Students spend one week at Clemson University after their 9th grade year, two weeks after their 10th grade year and 3 weeks after their 11th grade year. The program also provides assistance to students throughout their 10th, 11th and 12th grade years. The cost for this three year program is $5,000.00 per student and is funded through donations and supplemented by Clemson University. The three week summer session creates a college freshman environment where students actually attend classes taught by the University faculty.

Mr. Wiley stated during the program, he actually reveals to these students the secret to success in college which is being able to read and write on the college level. Mr. Wiley stated that 70% of the students that begin this program will complete the program. He stated that 90% of that 70% will apply to different Colleges and Universities. Mr. Wiley stated there are 4 students attending Clemson University that are products of this program.

Mr. Wiley concluded his talk by saying that the drop out rate in Allendale, Bamberg and Hampton Counties can be as high as 20% and in six years there have only been two students who completed this program to drop out of school. Mr. Wiley stated, “I can’t change schools but I can change students.”

President Beetle thanked Mr. Wiley for speaking to the club. After many “Happy Dollars”, President Beetle adjourned the meeting

President Beetle Out and About

first photo is RI President Wilf Wilkinson and President Beetle

second photo is President Beetle exchanging banners with Sergeant at Arms of the Rotary Club of Key West, FL

Interact Club Launch

The Dutch Fork Interact Club had their kickoff on Monday, September 10 at Gatsbee's. First photo is of everyone there, students and Rotarians. Second and third photos are tables of students putting Rotary Club labels on dictionaries. Last photo is John Wilkins eating a giant pickle (not sure how you want to label this one!)

Rotarians present were Bill Brooks, Larry Stohs, Nathan Ballentine, John Wilkins and Beetle Bailey

Nathan and Kelly, I'll forward you another email with a few other pictures if you want them for anything. Kelly, let me know which pictures we should send to the Irmo News.

Thanks for an entertaining evening!

Beetle

Sep 5 2007

Chip Lyerly, Stan Bugner, Ellen Shuler, Executive Director S.C. Center for Chidren's Books and Literacy

President Beetle Bailey called the meeting order. Kelley Payne brought numerous Interact Club members from Dutch Fork High School. Lyman Whitehead offered some Health and Happiness.

A sign-up sheet for members wanting to volunteer for the Okra Strut was again circulated. We will need members to work the ticket booth and the Okra Man picture taking booth. The Okra Strut will be held September 28-29.

Eddie Robinson encouraged members to contact him with suggested speakers.

Stan Bugner introduced the speaker, Ellen Shuler. Ellen Shuler is the Executive Director of the SC Center for Children’s Books and Literacy. The SC Center for Children’s Books and Literacy is located in the South Carolina State Library located at the intersection of Senate Street and Bull Street. The SC Center for Children’s Books and Literacy also has facilities in the University of South Carolina’s Children Center. The SC Center for Children’s Books and Literacy mission is to improve literacy among children in South Carolina. South Carolina has one of the lowest literacy rates in the country.

Ben Herritage gave an update on the golf tournament. President Beetle reluctantly turned over the signed Spurrier visor to Ben so that it can be auctioned off or awarded as a prize at the golf tournament.

President Beetle dismissed the meeting after thanking our speaker.