Our speaker on Wednesday morning, September 23rd was Dr. Caughman Taylor, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics & Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Taylor also serves at the Senior Medical Director at the Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital.
Rev. Peggy Konkel (center), senior minister at Unity Church of Columbia, is welcomed into Capital Rotary membership by her sponsor, Anne Elliott, and club president David Boucher. A Washington, DC, native, Rev. Konkel was ordained in 2005 and served churches in Michigan and Florida before relocating to Columbia. She formerly was a federal government accountant/budget analyst, a licensed physical therapist and a realtor. She has degrees from Northern Virginia Community College, the University of Maryland and the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University. She’s also been a Pilot Club member. Pilot International was chartered in 1921 and is dedicated to the principles of friendship and service, similar to Rotary International.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, September 2nd was Mrs. Reba Campbell, Deputy Executive Director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. In previous positions, Reba served as the Executive Director of the Governor’s School Foundation, Vice President of Communications & Government Relations for ETV, and Press Secretary for Congressman Robin Tallon. Reba earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina.
For more information about MASC, please visit http://www.masc.sc
wistv.com – Columbia, South Carolina
David Boucher gave running a try nearly 25 years ago and he never stopped moving. Every morning he hits the pavement, running through downtown Columbia for a three-mile jog.
After a little calculation, Boucher realized he’ll soon total enough miles to have run a trip around the world.
“When one looks and thinks, ‘Gosh. I’m closing in on 24,000 – 25,000 miles over a 25-year history,’ it is surprising,” said Boucher.
While the distance was never a goal, Boucher turned to Rotary Club where he serves as president to celebrate the last 902 miles with a good deed.
“I’m going to run this anyway unless I have health problems or blow a knee out or something. How can I serve human kind at the same time?,” said Boucher.
He wrote on his Facebook page, “I am looking for sponsors who are willing to contribute just a penny per mile……up to the next 902 miles that I’m able to run. Why 902 miles? Because with another 901.55 miles in the rear view mirror, I would have run the circumference of the earth over a 25-year period (24,901.55 miles). Any money that I collect will be delivered to the CART Fund.”
Columbia’s Rotary Club, along with others across the state and those in four other states place blue buckets out at meetings, collecting pocket change for an Alzheimer’s research fund started by a Rotarian in Sumter County in 1995. During that time, CART, or Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust, has provided more than $5 million in research grants.
One-hundred percent of the money collected is used as seed money for cutting edge research, aiming to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
“Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. Right now, it’s the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, and today it affects over 5.1 million Americans. So it’s a big number,” said Boucher.
He said he’s been overwhelmed with the number of people who stepped up to sponsor the cause.
“If we can do something to help human kind, that would be a good thing,” said Boucher.
So far, Boucher has raised more than $2,500. With 600 miles left to run, he’s set his fundraising goal at $10,000 to make a difference for families who know the effects of Alzheimer’s far too well.
Anyone wanting to sponsor Boucher can make checks payable to: The CART Fund, c/o Columbia Capital Rotary Club, PO Box 11946, Columbia, SC 29211.
Copyright 2015 WIS. All rights reserved. By Allie Spillyards – View the WIS Article here: http://www.wistv.com/story/29923198/columbia-rotarian-running-circumference-of-earth-to-raise-money-for-alzheimers-research
Columbia Capital Rotary member Craig Lemrow (left) has been honored for multiple contributions to The Rotary Foundation, the international service club’s charitable corporation that funds programs for world understanding and peace. Lemrow was congratulated as a member of the Paul Harris Society, signifying continuing donations of $1,000 per year. A former Rotarian in Lexington, he joined the Capital club in 2014. At right is Mark Bokesch, immediate past president and Foundation giving chairman for Capital Rotary.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, August 26th was Mr. Christopher (Chris) Hinchey, Head of School at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School. Mr. Hinchey has served in this role since the spring of 2015. He started his career in education as a science teacher, basketball and baseball coach, advisor, and dorm parent in 1991 at Avon Old Farms, an all-boys boarding school in Connecticut. In 1994, he transitioned to Salisbury School (CT), an all-boys Episcopal boarding school, where he remained for 19 years while serving as a biology teacher, Dean of Students, Dean of Faculty, and head varsity basketball, assistant varsity baseball coach, and varsity cross country coach. Chris served as the varsity boys’ basketball coach for 12 years, during which time his team, while recording over 170 wins, advanced to nine New England tournaments and made two trips to the New England finals.
Chris grew up in Norwich, CT and attended Norwich Free Academy. He played basketball and baseball in high school, and he served as the captain of the basketball team while earning all-area honors. Following high school, he attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where he played Division III basketball for four years in the NESCAC while earning his bachelor’s degree in biology. In 1991 Chris served as the team’s co-captain. Chris earned a master’s degree in liberal studies from Wesleyan University (CT) and a M.S. Ed in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania (PA). Chris’s research at UPenn examined the overlap teaching and coaching techniques utilized by successful varsity coaches that also taught high level (AP) and rigorous academic classes. He and his wife, Heather, reside in Columbia, and they have three children, Ryan, Jack, and Will, all students at Heathwood Hall.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, August 19th was Dr. Les Hall, Dean of the USC School of Medicine. Dr. Hall earned his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and completed an internal medicine residency at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He recently joined USC from the University of Missouri School of Medicine, where he previously served as interim dean.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, August 12th was Mr. Jason Freier, Chairman & CEO of Hardball Capital, Inc. and Columbia Fireflies (www.ColumbiaFireflies.com). Under his leadership, Hardball has built the Fort Wayne TinCaps into one of the premier teams in Minor League Baseball and drastically improved the performance of both the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Salem Avalanche. Hardball has set all-time attendance records with every team it has owned and operated.
Hardball recently led the acquisition of the Chattanooga Lookouts and is currently constructing a new, downtown, multi-use venue in partnership with the Famously Hot City of Columbia, South Carolina. That venue, which will open in 2016, is part of a major downtown redevelopment project.
Jason is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, where he was elected to the Yale Law Journal. Jason is an attorney by training. Prior to founding Hardball, he specialized in complex business matters and sports law, appearing in courts at all levels, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Following law school, he worked with former Solicitor General and Harvard Law Professor Charles Fried and practiced with Williams & Connolly in Washington D.C. and Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore in Atlanta. Jason’s work has been featured in national publications and Congressional legislation.
Jason serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern, Midwest and South Atlantic Leagues. He is a member of the Advisory Boards of Thuzio and Palmer & Cay. Jason previously served on the Board of Directors of the Carolina League. Jason is an appointed member of the Fort Wayne Stadium Advisory Board and an officer of the Harvard Club of Georgia.
Our speaker on Wednesday morning, August 5th was District Governor Rod Funderburk. Other than the incredibly busy schedule of being District 7770 Governor, Rod has served as Vice President at Resource Supply Management for the past 9+ years and prior to that he served as Global Energy Manager for Honeywell International.
Mr. Funderburk earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious University of South Carolina. Of course, he has been a long-term Rotarian as well.
Rotary District 7770 Governor Rod Funderburk presents Capital Rotary president David Boucher (left) with a t-shirt inscribed with the international 2016 theme, “Be a gift to the world.” In a speech to the local group, Funderburk urged continued support of Rotarian efforts to cure polio worldwide and to fund Alzheimer’s disease research.
He also lauded the Capital club for having a positive impact on the Columbia, SC community through its various charitable projects, and he said sharing the gift of membership in Rotary is important because “we are the premier service organization in the world.”
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