Road Clean Up Nov 17

Lots of Rotarians and17 Interact Students from Dutch Fork High School with their advisor, Kelly Payne, enjoyed a shrimp and grits breakfast with Blount Shepard then enjoyed a quick clean up of Farming Creek Road. Many hands make light work. Thank you Blount, Rotarians, Kelly and Students.

Nov 14 2007

Pictured: Sue McLeese, students, Brittany Starky and Phillip Levi and Chris Joye

Patty Cavanaugh was presented a plaque by Stacey Atkinson of DJJ for her interior decorating contributions at a DJJ facility.

Sue McLeese, guest speaker, shared with the club the concept of the Middle College program of Midlands Technical College. The program takes high school drop outs and lets them finish their high school education on the college campus and then prepares them for college courses.

Photos by John Adair

Reporter: Ritchie Tidwell

The Rotary Club of Lake Murray was called to order on November 14, 2007 by Eddie Robinson in the absence of President Beetle Bailey. Following recognition of guests, a representative of the Spring Valley Rotary Club discussed their fundraiser for the holidays to sell an assortment of nuts. Lyman Whitehead lightened the mood with his health and happiness report. Patty Cavanaugh announced that the holiday party for this year is Dec. 12 from 7-10 p.m. at our meeting location.
Stacey Adkinson, representing Friends of Juvenile Justice, recognized Patty Cavanaugh for her efforts in coordinating and developing the resources to support a home for girls leaving DJJ institutions. Ginny Barr announced that the club had provided a scholarship to Antonio to go to Barber School following his release from DJJ after three years and read a letter from him discussing his goals. John Adair mentioned that the annual holiday meeting of the club will be December 19.
Chris Joye introduced the guest speaker, Sue McLeese, director of the Middle School College at the Midlands Technical College airport campus. The college, which serves 16-19 year-olds in Richland, Lexington and Newberry Counties, provides an alternative educational setting with college credit for students on the verge of dropping out of school or who are not suited for the traditional high school setting. Students are not eligible if they have serious behavioral problems. Class size is about 15 students and students are provided with laptop computers when they graduate, and their diploma is from their home school. Midlands Tech has contributed $1.5 million in facilities and more than $300,000 has been contributed by the business community. The Nord Foundation has also contributed $100,000. Each school district provides $3,000 per student to attend.
Two students, Britney Starr from Dutch Fork High School and Phillip Levi from Irmo High School, discussed their satisfaction with what the school has provided for them.
Ms. McLeese pointed out that about 54% of ninth graders in South Carolina do not graduate and how important it is to provide an alternative to curb the dropout rate in the future.

Nov 7 2007

Eddie Robinson and John LaFond

Rotary Golf Tournament Oct 29 2007

Dr. Ron Carroll and Jeanette Coulter

Breakfast of Champions with chili

More Rotary Golf

The winning team - Jim Browning, Joel Haskins, Balbir Minhas, Carey Hite












Judy Johnson and Joel Collins








Dr Ron Carroll and the team from our Tournament Sponsor, Palmetto Parkridge Hospital.

Oct 23 2007

The October 24th meeting of Lake Murray- Irmo Rotary was held in the Chapel of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Ben Heritage gave a report on the up-coming golf classic to be held at Golden Hills Country Club on October 29th. It was reported that the young men at D.J.J. had raised money to sponsor a hole.

The meeting continued with the officers of the D.J.J. Interact Club being introduced by Ginny Barr. The president of Interact introduced the guests and told of projects to provide reading material for its members and also of a project on International Day through U.S.C.

Antonio introduced Judge Bill Byars who came to D.J.J. in 2003. From 1989 to 1999 Judge Byars was a Family Court Judge. He is a U.S.C. Law School graduate and a former military officer. Judge Byars was recognized for making many changes at D.J.J. including new dress code of khaki pants and polo shirts and the construction of new dorms.



Judge Byars thanked Lake Murray-Irmo for its participation with D.J.J. He said that our club was the first to provide needed equipment for sports programs that were previously unavailable but now include participation in an international league.

He also was very appreciative of the donation of wood-working equipment that has been used for chair production projects and our sponsorship of scholarships at D.J.J.

Judge Byars said that this Interact Club was the first in the World in a facility like D.J.J.

He told of the new programs of Intensive Supervision Officers- that will help young men from D.J.J. to adjust and handle the move back into our communities. These programs have reduced the return rate to D.J.J. by 20%.

He said that they were starting employment programs on the outside with the first 80 hours of salary being covered by D.J.J.

Judge Byars told of the new construction of the Community Connection Center with no state funds at a cost of 3 million dollars. This building will provide meeting rooms and facilities for D.J.J. residents to have privacy to meet with families. Judge Byars again recognized our club as being the catalyst for community involvement at D.J.J.

Reporter W. Lynn Campbell

Oct 17 2007

Past District Governor, Mack Branham, spoke to us about recruiting and retaining members. Shown here with John Adair.

Oct 10, 2007

District 5 Chairman, Paula Hite


District 5 Superintendent Dr. Scott AndersEn with Paula Hite, Kelly Payne and members of the Interact Club

Report of Lake Murray - Irmo Rotary Club 10/10/2007
Kevin Adams, reporter

After President Beetle Bailey called the meeting to order, Rod Funderburk led us in our opening prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Next John Hanson welcomed our guests and visiting Rotarians. Lyman Whitehead then brought is his dose of Health and Happiness.

Ginny Barr reminded us for our meeting on 10/24/2007 at the Department of Juvenile Justice that all weapons should be left at home and that the ladies should lock their purses in the trunk of their cars. Everyone should lock their vehicles, too. She will have a pre-approved list of Rotarians visiting that day but if you will have a visitor with you, please be sure and see her as soon as possible so they can be added to the list. The Interact Club will be conducting the meeting and they are very excited about it. Ginny also provided written directions to DJJ for us because she knows the men won’t ask for them.

Ben Herritage reminded us of the upcoming golf tournament on 10/29/2007. We still need more teams. Also, due to the golf tournament, we will not have our regularly scheduled meeting on 10/31/2007.

The Chair of School District 5, Paula Hite, was glowingly introduced by her husband Dr. Cary Hite (he should be out of the dog house for at least a day or two). Paula provided for us a brief biography of the district superintendent Dr. Scott Andersen. Dr. Andersen has been with District 5 for about 1.5 years. Prior to coming to South Carolina, Dr. Andersen spent several years as a school superintendent in the northeast. Along the way he has received numerous awards in the public education arena.

Dr. Andersen conveyed to us the bottom line purpose of his presentation was teaching and learning. District 5 has a stellar reputation as being an excellent school district and the impression he gave was to keep that reputation intact.

In that the last bond referendum was passed in 1996, Dr. Andersen feels our present facilities are woefully inadequate for an anticipated growth of 3,700 students in the next 10 years. In 2003 and 2006, two different community based groups were organized to evaluate two studies that had been prepared regarding the present facilities. Though that process, 9 recommendations have been formally presented to the Board for consideration.

The Board has proposed a $256 million bond referendum to address these facility needs. If approved, the bonds would be paid out over a period of 20 years. Proceeds would be used to renovate nearly all of the elementary schools in the district as well as Chapin High School, Irmo High School and Dutch Fork High School. Further, a new high school will be built along with a new middle school, elementary school and a career and technology center.

Without the bond referendum, Dr. Andersen predicts the growth of students in the district would require an additional 143 portable classrooms over the next 10 years. Dr. Andersen lamented that recruiting for high quality teachers has been hampered because some of the recruited teachers have refused to teach in a portable.

Following a brief question and answer session, President Beetle dismissed the meeting.

Oct 3 2007

Callee Boulware, SC Coordinator - Reach Out and Read

Rotary Club minutes October 3rd, 2007 Reporter: David Isbell
I. Call to order
II. Invocation (John Adair) and pledge
III. Guest welcome (John Hanson)
a. Adam Amaker
IV. Health and Happiness (Lyman Whitehead)
V. Okra Strut Update
a. Appreciation of support (Jim Wellman)
b. Media coverage nationwide
VI. Golf Tournament Update (Beetle Bailey)
a. Golden Hills October 29th
b. Still need sponsors and teams
VII. Change in meeting location October 24th (Peggy Cavanaugh)
a. Moved to DJJ, directions will be provided
VIII. Speaker Introduction: Stan Bugner
IX. Callee Boulware “ Reach out Read” program
a. Privately funded, national project that provides 4.6 million books to 2.8 million children nationwide
b. Ties reading to health and utilizes physician visits to promote literacy
c. Three tiered approach:
i. Literary waiting area
ii. Doctor reinforcement
iii. Children leave with a book
d. SC initiated program in 1998 and reaches 60-65% Medicaid population
e. Doctors write prescription to read with hope that parents and children more likely to comply
f. Sources of funding and need for private donation
g. Question and answer
X. Happy Dollars
XI. Meeting Adjourned

Okra Strutt