April 25, 2007

Last Meeting
April 25, 2007

Reporter – Chris King
Photos - by John Adair

President Molly called the meeting to order, followed by the invocation by Barry Johns and the Pledge of Allegiance. Lyman Whitehead provided us with some early morning Health and Happiness.

Special guests were four students from Dutch Fork High School who will be interviewing for Rotary Scholarships.

Joel Collins reported that the “Alive at 25” at Dutch Fork High School was a huge success. Approximately 500 students have signed up for the program.

Ginny Barr invited our membership to the DJJ International Fair next Wednesday.

Larry Stohs announced to the group that he’s updating our Rotary Directory and asked for updates on addresses, phone numbers, etc.

This Saturday is our “Adopt-a-Highway”. We will be coordinating with the Irmo Clean-up Day and also helping with lawn maintenance for senior citizens in Irmo.

Jim Jeffers announced that he is retiring and moving to Hilton Head. President Molly assured him that he would be greatly missed.

Eddie Robinson introduced our speaker – Irmo High School Principal Eddie Walker.

Mr. Walker said that he learns much from the students that he is around. Mr. Walker has had several heroes in his life – his father, his mother, his high school football coach (Mooney Player) and the father of an elementary student in Pelion. Mr. Walker gave examples of life stories about how each of these people influenced him and impacted the way he deals with others now.

Mr. Walker said one of the biggest dangers students face today is drug abuse. It can be life altering for young people. Mr. Walker also said the biggest issue in high schools in South Carolina is safety and security. Irmo High school and District 5 are making great strides to improve the security of all of its schools. The biggest academic problem is 9th grade failure rate. This seems to be a nationwide problem, and the District is addressing ways to improve this rate.

The meeting was concluded with Happy Dollars and was adjourned.


Ski Caskey
Bill Danielson
Si Amick
Jim Jeffers
Eddie Walker and Eddie Robinson

April 18th 2007 - Club Day

Last Meeting
April 18, 2007

Reporter – Johnny Jeffcoat

President Molly called the meeting to order, followed by the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. As always, Lyman Whitehead provided us with a few laughs to get the morning started with Health and Happiness.


President Molly announced this meeting day, as “Club Day.”

Joel Collins introduced his guest, the new Executive Director of the SC National
Safety Council, Brooke Russell. Joel feels confident that Brooke will do a great job for the Council.
Joel Collins


John Hanson announced that the Town of Irmo will have a Clean-up Day on
April 28th. It will be a day to clean-up the town and to help elderly citizens rake, cut grass, etc.



Our club will join in the Irmo Clean-up Day following Adopt-A-Highway which is being held that same morning.

Herb Harrison inducted new member, Greg Downs into our club. Patty
Cavanaugh assisted Herb with the induction. WELCOME GREG!
Herb Harrison with New Member Greg Downs and Patty Cavanaugh

John Adair presented a check for $1500.00 from our club to Brian Haley of
the Irmo Fire District. The money will be used to purchase a utility trailer. The trailer will be used to transport evidence from fires for investigation.
John Adair with our much missed and former Health and Happiness Jokemeister Brian Haley


Dutch Fork High Interact Club Advisor, Kelly Payne, announced a media blitz kick-off planned for the club’s Alive @ 25 project. It is schedule at 11:00 a.m. this Saturday morning at Dutch fork High. Club members were invited and encouraged to attend.

Ginny Barr introduced two officers from the DJJ Interact Club; President, Rashawn and Sergeant-of-Arms, Aldermar. They shared with us the service project the club has completed, as well as projects they are currently working on and planning for the future. The DJJ Interact Club has also hosted 2 guest speakers from our Rotary Club, Joel Collins and John Wilkins.
DJJ Interact Leaders with Ginny Barr

The Happy Dollar funds from last year and this year are available for a worthwhile project. President Molly asked for some ideas for projects. President Molly also asked all present to call any members who were absent and invite them to our next meeting.
The meeting concluded with a flurry of Happy Dollars and was adjourned.
Happy Dollars

Harry Hafer

Danny Morales and Samantha
Lyn Richards
Ritchie Tidwell

Greg Downs and Samantha
Jim Gadsden

April 11, 2007

Last Meeting
April 11, 2007

Reporter – Mickey Epting

President Molly called the meeting to order. After the invocation and pledge, guests were introduced. Lyman Whitehead provided a few laughs with a list of “Male Rules”. He concluded by saying that sleeping on the couch is really not that bad. I am sure that comes as a result of constantly repeating the rules to his wife.

Bob Berry auctioned off some tickets for the BBQ at Saluda Shoals. John Adair and Carey Hite were the successful bidders. The funds went to the Cart Fund.

Carey Hite introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Michael Rowe. Dr. Rowe had a background in engineering and as an ER Physician. He now operates a unique medical practice where he is available to his patients 24/7.

Dr. Rowe’s talk focused on the “Things to Ask Your Doctor” which included: What is your philosophy? What level of service can I expect from you and your staff? What is your availability? Can I get to someone after hours? Can I get my medical records easily even on weekends? What do I do if I have an emergency?

Dr. Rowe also talked about “What to Tell Your Doctor” which included: Tell the Doctor why you are there and be succinct. Tell the Doctor what you expect from his practice. Tell your Doctor what you will and will not do. Tell the Doctor if you are afraid of certain tests or exams – there may be other alternatives. Tell the Doctor your secrets. He is the keeper of secrets. Tell the doctor what your wishes are in regards to life support. Tell the physician when you are satisfied and dissatisfied with his services.

President Molly closed the meeting by reminding us that there is going to be a special club meeting next week.

Weekly Fellowship/Attendance Reminder: A Rotary member must attend or make up at least 60% of meetings during each six-month period of the Rotary year and cannot be absent four consecutive weeks in a row without a make-up.

April 4 2007

April 4, 2007

Reporter – Ritchie Tidwell


President Molly called the meeting to order and the invocation was presented by Ginny Barr. Guests were introduced including 3 USC students who are applying for Rotary scholarships.

It was announced there will be a BBQ on April 14th at Saluda Shoals. Music will be provided from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; tickets are $10.00.

Ginny Barr reported that Attorney John Wilkins spoke at the DJJ Interact Club and he was so well received by the youth that they want him to return for a second visit.

Lynn Campbell posed questions to the group from the most current issue of the Rotary magazine.

Tameka Simms from Sister Care was presented with 31 Easter baskets to provide to children of the families they serve.


Sister Care Presentation and Sue Oliver

Molly cousins and Sue Oliver


John Adair introduced Sue Oliver, Director of Voices for Children. Sue was the founder of EdVenture, the children’s museum in Columbia. Her daughter, Elizabeth, is a Rotary exchange student in Finland who will return in June. Voices for Children is a public policy group which advocates legislation on behalf of children and youth. Seatbelt legislation was an example mentioned. Sue also presented data from Kids Count and commented about the number of companies who do not locate in S.C. because of the illiteracy rate and taxes. She pointed out there are 100,000 kids in the state without health insurance and 90,000 who live in extreme poverty (family income is less than $9,000/year). She said that for youth to be eligible to receive Medicaid, they would have to be at 150% of the poverty level, which is one of the three lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in the country. Voices for Children also partners with Prevent Child Abuse S.C. and the Children’s Trust Fund on the issue of child abuse and Sue pointed out there are 10,000 confirmed cases of child abuse in S.C. each year.

After presenting the speaker with a “coveted gift from our club,” President Molly adjourned the meeting.


John Adair and Sue Oliver

Tamika Sims and Harry Hafer

Rotary District Conference 2007

Rhonda, Joel, Cynthia, and Eddie
Robinsons and Collins
Sea Side Fun
John and Ellen Adair
Jeff and Libby Baldwin
Beetle and Debra
Eddie and Cynthia

Jeff and Libby
Jerry and Jeanette
Judy and Mike
John and Kris
Luther, Molly, and katie

March 28, 2007

Last Meeting
March 28, 2007

Reporter – Bob Berry

President Molly called the meeting to order and the invocation was provided. Sergeant-at Arms, John Hanson introduced our guests.

President Molly told us that some 950 Rotarians from around the state attended last week’s statewide District Conference. At the conference, we were awarded Service Citations. Molly also announced that April 19th is the District Assembly in Florence, SC for all incoming officers.

Our Club has approved 25 student scholarships for the “Alive at 25” program at
Dutch Fork High School. Ben Herritage is leading our golf tournament and if
you can help, please let him know.

Patty Cavanaugh introduced Gary Watts, Richland County Coroner, as our guest
speaker. Mr. Watts explained that the Coroner’s Office is used for five identification processes. These processes are: visual id., fingerprint, dental records, x-rays and DNA. One of the most important duties of the Coroner’s Office is the Care Team which is made up of faith-based and mental health professionals in our community. They are sent to survivors to just listen and provide assistance as required.

The Coroner’s Office has a $1,100,000 annual budget and spends approximately
$600,000 per year on pathology. The office has 18 investigators and handles about 2,500 cases a year. Mr. Watts said, “A child’s death is the most difficult time in dealing with families.” Child abuse cases are everywhere. Typically, SIDS has been linked to child abuse in many cases.

Other duties of the Coroner’s Office are to pronounce death in the absence
of a physician; confirm no signs of life; estimate the time of death; and the cause and manner of death. He also told us that whenever there is a single-vehicle accident related death, that an autopsy is required. We were privileged to have Mr. Watts as our speaker.

President Molly adjourned the meeting.

March 21 2007

Last Meeting
March 21, 2007

Reporter – Kevin Adams

President Molly called the meeting to order and Dr. Lynn Campbell brought the invocation. John Hanson, our new Sergeant at Arms, introduced our guests: Bill Zeigler from the Chapin Club and a smattering of Interact members. He also informed us that our YTD CART Fund contributions were “Not real good.” Let’s see what we can do to help the cause. Lyman Whitehead then shared some health and happiness.

Saturday, 04/28/07, is our Adopt-A-Highway clean-up day and Irmo’s clean-up day. More details to follow. April 18 will be our scholarship presentation day with participation from the DJJ’s Interact Club and their efforts towards an International Day.

Our own Kelly Payne was our guest speaker this morning. She brought a very informative discussion regarding a program called “Alive at 25." The Dutch Fork High School Interact Club has spearheaded this project in the school which is a 4-hour driver’s awareness class presented by the National Safety Council (our own Joel Collins is on their national Board). The program teaches teens good decision making skills like saying “Slow down” or “Please stop and let me out of the car.” and driving skills such as how to handle a hydroplaning car. It also highlights the high correlation between fatal teen driving accidents and alcohol/drug use. Last year, three DFHS students lost their lives in auto accidents: Grant Gallagher, Francis Nyguen and Megan Preston. Alcohol or drugs played a part in all three accidents. The Interact Club has already been getting involved and promoted a pledge not drink and drive. To date, some 300 DFHS students have made such a pledge. A handprint from each student who made that pledge is featured on a mural in the school.

Jim Taylor, the principal at DFHS, appeared before Scott Andersen, District 5's Superintendent, and requested this course be mandated in order for students to acquire a parking pass on campus. It is expected other schools in the District will follow DFHS’s lead. Considering there are only 500 parking passes, 620 seniors and 580 juniors, these parking passes are in high demand. Mr. Taylor was also instrumental in basing the delivery of the parking passes to those with the highest grade point averages.




On April 21 (Saturday) from 11:00-1:00, there will be a media blitz at DFHS promoting 10 class sessions coming up in May. DFHS Cheerleaders, band, ROTC, various clubs on campus and the Interact Club plan to participate in the event. Some local businesses have provided scholarships for these training classes but more assistance is being sought.
Four states in the US require students to complete this course in order to get a driver’s license. Colorado is one of those states. After the meeting, Kelly said Colorado estimates that there has been a 96% reduction in the fatality rate among the course participants. An effort is being made in SC to make the course a requirement here. So far, there has been support from a number of state politicians and other public officials to adopt such a requirement.

Our Location Has Changed to The Cotton House

Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary Club meets at The Cotton House 7777 St. Andrews Rd. Irmo SC (between Lizards Thicket and the Irmo Post Office). We meet Wednesday mornings at 7:30. Click on the X block for directions to and a map of our new location.

March 28 2007

President Molly with our speaker Coroner Gary Watts

March 14, 2007

Last Meeting
March 14, 2007
Reporter – Lyn Richards

The meeting was called to order by President Molly. The invocation was given by Irvin Ott. We are saddened to learn of Harvey Hoots’ resignation from our club due to business concerns; John Hanson will be trying to fill his shoes indefinitely. John introduced our guests, Alan Rey from Interact Club and Chuck Baer, our speaker. Lyman Whitehead gave us a few chuckles. Herb Harrison reminded everyone that the Chapin Oyster Roast is coming up on Saturday. Molly reminded us of the Board Meeting at Three Rivers Medical at 7:30 am on Thursday, and that our scholarship deadline is approaching. Jim Jeffers led several tables in a four-way test quiz.

Our speaker was introduced by Ginny Barr. Chuck Baer comes to The Club at Rawls Creek from Augusta, Georgia to be the new club manager. Formerly Coldstream Golf Club, The Club at Rawls Creek has been re-acquired by Dr. Yarrid, and extensive renovations are being done to reopen the golf course and provide a country-club type entity for this area.

Chuck is married, and has a 15 year old son who is learning to drive. He has a degree in Corporate Finance. After spending years in the corporate finance world, he “dropped out” to the golf world. After spending a few years in Myrtle Beach, he relocated to Augusta where he built The Applewood course from the ground-up from an abandoned apple orchard.


Chuck reminded us that the old Coldstream golf course is now 30 years old, which is near the end of any golf course’s natural life span. In addition, the course had been abandoned for a full year. As such, renovating and reopening the course has a lot of challenges. The largest challenge is the irrigation system for the course, which is fed by a reservoir; the dam of which recently was breached. Reconstructing the dam, dredging the reservoir, and determining the adequacy and overall health of the pipes in the current irrigation system is currently underway. Weed removal has been completed. Green re-construction is underway, with several holes undergoing some corrections. Fairways are being upgraded by narrowing the seven varieties of grass down to just one or two, and through landscaping. Many traps are being moved, eliminated or renovated to speed up play.

There will be tennis and pool memberships available through a country club membership and the banquet facility will be used for various community events. Early membership discounts will be available. Rates will remain much the same as they were. A senior citizen discount will also be offered during week-day play.

Anticipated opening date is optimistically set for July 1st, more likely it will be August 1st. All eighteen holes will be open.

The meeting concluded with happy dollars from Beetle, Skey, Irvin, Lyn, Chris Joye, Molly, Ritchie, and Chuck.

March 7, 2007

Last Meeting
March 7, 2007

Reporter – Jason Brown

President Molly Cousins called the meeting to order and the invocation was given by Roz Browning, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Lyman Whitehead entertained us with his usual brand of Health and Happiness.

Herb Harrison made an announcement about an upcoming oyster roast in Chapin this coming week-end and invited members to attend.

Si Amick and Jim and Connie Jeffers presented our Rotary Club’s Excellence is Vocational Service to Bobby Keough for his tireless efforts with Jeffers Hand Bell Supply.

Jim Jeffers also introduced and inducted Kevin Kuper, our newest member, to the Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary Club.

Fire Marshall Jeff Allen was introduced as our guest speaker. Mr. Allen has been with the Irmo Fire District since 1994. He moved to this area in 1991. He and his wife are both committed to the safety and welfare of our community. Mr. Allen’s wife is a paramedic for Richland County. The Irmo Fire District is located behind the Bi-Lo Shopping Center at the intersection of St. Andrews and Piney Grove Road.

The Fire Marshall spoke to us about the excellent job the Irmo Fire Department does for our community and how they get out in the community to educate about public safety. In 2006, the Irmo Fire Department went on 1,800 calls. They serve 43,000 people over 22 square miles with two stations. Of the 1,800 calls, 600 were vehicle related, 550 were medical related, 105 were fires, and the remaining were related to educational duties.

Through extensive training and educational programs, we are getting the most out of our tax dollars from the Irmo Fire District. A well equipped, well run fire department offers the community the highest possible quality of life. The Irmo Department’s main benefit to the community is their availability and reliability when called upon in a time of need.

Fire Marshall Allen feels that a fire department is in a different situation then other agencies, such as police departments. If more police officers are put on the streets, the feeling is that crime should go down. But putting more firefighters on the streets will not eliminate fires. What more firefighters will do is decrease the value of the loss to property, and most importantly the loss of life. A well trained and equipped fire department that can respond quickly from a nearby station will confine a fire to the room of origin before it quickly consumes the building, thus we experience less significant property loss and loss of lives.

Out of 104 fires with estimated values of potential loss of property totaling $21,500,000 last year, only $640,000 in losses occurred because of the great work of Fire Marshall Allen and our local fire department.

The meeting was adjourned by President Molly.

Feb 28, 2007

Last meeting
February 28, 2007

Reporter – Tim Williams

President Molly Cousins called the meeting to order and asked John Adair to lead the invocation. Chuck Larson, acting Sergeant-at-Arms, introduced guests. Lyman Whitehead provided Health and Happiness. Lyman also informed all members of the passing of Dr. Carey Hite's father. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Carey and his family. The funeral is to be held today at 3:00 p.m. in Florence.

President Molly reminded all members of the up coming District Conference and requested assistance with the display. Barry Johns passed around a sheet to sign up to volunteer for the morning invocation. Jim Jeffers spoke about the "4 Way Test." Ron Funderburk recited the "4 Way Test" and won the Hawaiian door prize.

President Molly introduced our guest speaker, Mary Pat Baldauf, the Executive Director of Keep the Midlands Beautiful. Mary Pat is the proud owner of a black lab named Winston.

Mary Pat stated Keep the Midlands Beautiful is a non profit organization interested in mainly these areas.
1. Litter Prevention
2. Recycling
3. Beautification

She shared 9 Ways we can help the environment without giving up a Saturday, selling your SUV, or radically changing your way of life.
1. Kick Butt
If you smoke, please dispose of cigarette butts properly. If you don't smoke, help us educate smokers by starting those you know.
2. Bust a Litterbug
Use Palmetto Pride's Litter Busters Litter Hotline to report litterbugs on highways and by-ways in the Midlands and throughout SC.
3. Recycle Your Old Mobile Phone(s)
Recycle your old mobile phones through Keep the Midlands Beautiful or another organization that reuses them or disposes of them correctly.
4. Recycle Your Phone Book
Telephone books are not accepted in any curbside recycling programs in the Midlands; your only chance to recycle them is during Keep the Midlands Beautiful special telephone book recycling program now through March 15.
5. Buy Recycled
Use your purchase power to buy products made from recycled materials and items packaged in recyclable packaging.
6. Be Republican, Be Democrat: Just don't be a Pollcat
Pollcat: a litterbug who puts posters and signs on polls and trees before an election and doesn't remove them when the election is over.
7. Make the Switch
The next time you need to buy a light bulb for your home, take a moment to look at the variety of compact fluorescent bulbs (CFBs) available - your electric bill and the environment will thank you for it.


8. Choose to Reuse
Before you discard something, think about how you or someone else may be able to use it again.
9. One a Day
You don't have to Adopt - A - Highway to make a difference; you can help by resolving to pick up at least one piece of litter each day.

Mary Pat noted the up coming event "Midlands Makeover," which is to be held March 1st thru May 1st.

President Molly thanked Mary Pat for speaking today. After Happy Dollars, President Molly adjourned the meeting.