July 9, 2008

July 9th, 2008 Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary Meeting


President Eddie Robinson called the July 9th meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance.

Guests in attendance for this meeting included Allen Shumaker, the Hood Family and President Robinson’s Wife Sylvia.

Lyman Whitehead gave us a few stories to show why we should be proud to be an American.

A few announcements were made that included acknowledgement of the SC Jr. Golf Association being awarded the distinction of a Top Jr. Golf Group in the country by Golf Digest Magazine. Past President Beetle Bailey was recognized and wished a speedy recovery from Knee replacement surgery. Carl Manheim was recognized and is said to be recuperating well. An encore appearance By Representative James Smith is scheduled for July 23rd since there was an abundance of interest in his topic last week.

President Elect Ginny Barr introduced today’s guest who is with the SC Department of Education’s PACE Program- Mr. Dick Thompson.

Mr. Thompson explained the Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) to the Rotarians as a program created by Governor Dick Riley in 1984 as part of the Education Improvement Act. PACE is designed as a program for those considering a Career change to earn a Professional Teacher’s Certificate in three years while being employed as a classroom teacher. PACE teachers account for 10%-12% of the approximately 5000 teachers hired in South Carolina each year. The Pace teachers are placed in Critical Needs Subjects i n middle and high schools around the state.

To become a PACE teacher you need to take the Praxis Exam and attend an intensive 10 day training program. For three years you will take classes and attend workshops while you also teach in a classroom under the supervision of a teaching mentor.

Mr. Thompson answered questions on the program that details the Critical Needs Subjects. For additional information you can go to www.scpace.org.

President Robinson thanked Mr Thompson for speaking and presented him with a Rotary pin. Some additional announcements were made to let the Rotarians know that going forward we will have Happy dollars on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday meeting and Classification Speeches on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday meetings. Also the CART fund buckets will be on the tables every Wednesday for your donations.