November 10, 2010

Lake Murray-Irmo meeting of 11/10

The meeting was convened by President Judy Johnson and Jeff Baldwin led us in a very poignant prayer that focused on Veteran’s Day.  Sergeant-at-Arms Darren Bouknight introduced three visitors to the meeting:  Ellen Moore, Terry Klosterman and Dorothy Goodwin.  We had a significant number of announcements, reminders and updates, which were as follows: 

-         Reminded to turn-in the money from sale of Belk’s fund raising tickets. 

-         Reminded about our renewed involvement in Meals-on-Wheels, where we have responsibility for delivery twice a week.  

-         Reminder to sign-up for the Christmas party to be held at Rawl’s Creek on Friday evening, December 3. 

-         Visitor Terry Klosterman reminded us of the flyers on each table for the annual fund raiser of the Spring Valley Club. 

-         Ginny Barr provided a Foundation moment, describing the Permanent Fund, an endowment to provide long-term stability to the Foundation.  The Permanent Fund was started in 1930, currently holds $579.4 million and there are four means by which a Rotarian can make a contribution.  Several of our Club’s members have made contributions to the Permanent Fund. 

-         Eddie Robinson provided a very nice review of the major articles in the October edition of the Rotarian Magazine. 

-         Jeff Baldwin provided an update on the Tour de Lake Bicycle Rally and Brooks Williams updated us on the Tour’s fund raising efforts, encouraging us to offer any potential suggestions, with a goal of securing commitments by year end. 

Bill Brooks provided the weekly classification talk.  He revealed that he is a 1956 graduate of the Citadel, has a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Florida, worked as a research chemist in the private sector for 30 years and spent the final 15 years of his career as head of the Department of Agriculture’s research efforts in SC. 

Lyman Whitehead introduced our speaker Barbara Wilm, VP of Community Relations for the Lexington County Health Services District. Barbara has responsibility for representing the Medical Center in community outreach efforts.  She began her career with the Medical Center in 1986, running the operating room in the Irmo satellite facility.

Lexington Medical Center opened on 1/7/71.  Its original location was to be in Batesburg-Leesville; however, the Hulons donated the property off I26 with the agreement that the couple could live in the hospital until their deaths.  Upon opening the Medical Center occupied 75,000 square feet.  This has grown to 1 million, with an additional 1 million in remote facilities around the county.  They operate the largest nursing home for Alzheimer’s in SC, the Carroll Campbell Place and in 1986 opened the first ambulatory care center in the State, in Irmo.  Lexington Medical currently employs 5,039 and last year they had 19K patients, delivered 3K babies, had 95 patient visits to the emergency room (second busiest in the State) and had 145K patients in their urgent care centers.  The Medical Center off I26 is land-locked; therefore they have purchased 44 acres on Long Pond Road to accommodate future growth.  The cardiac center will begin operations in the coming year after reaching agreement with Providence Hospital and Palmetto Health.