District Interest » Capital Rotary Club

Former Lt. Governor visits Capital Rotary

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Jun 082016

Our speaker at our meeting Wednesday, June 8th was Senator and former Lt. Governor John Yancey McGill – a native of Kingstree, South Carolina. Yancey McGill was formerly a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 32nd District in Williamsburg and Georgetown counties from 1989 to June 18, 2014.

McGill became Lieutenant Governor after Glenn McConnell resigned to become president of The College of Charleston, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office since 1995. McGill chose not to run for election to a full term, in November 2014; Republican Henry McMaster therefore succeeded him as Lieutenant Governor on January 14, 2015, having won the November election. In January 2015, McMaster appointed McGill to be the State Director of South Carolina’s Office on Aging^. He stayed at the position for 8 months before returning to his family farm in Kingstree. In March 2016, McGill left the Democratic Party and announced his intention to run for Governor of South Carolina in 2018 as a Republican. He had been a fairly conservative Democrat for most of his career; he opposed abortion and supported curbs on government spending and regulation. He admitted that he hadn’t changed parties sooner because his state senate district was too Democratic for him to be elected as a Republican.

Capital Rotarian Receives Ruby Pin

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Jun 082016

Columbia Capital Rotarian Craig Lemrow (left) has received a Paul Harris ruby–decorated pin recognizing multiple contributions to The Rotary Foundation, the international service club’s charitable arm that funds programs for world understanding and peace. Lemrow is 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.

Two New Paul Harris Fellows for Capital Rotary

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May 262016

Perry Lancaster (left) and Allison Atkins (second from left) are the newest Paul Harris Fellows for Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club, signifying a $1,000 donation in their names to the Rotary Foundation to support world understanding and peace projects. Lancaster is a clothing sales professional active in community charitable work. Atkins is community relations and development director for the Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council. Capital Rotarian Mike Montgomery (far right) assisted with Lancaster’s and Atkins’ donations, while Mark Bokesch is the club’s Foundation gifts director.

Financial Advisor joins Capital Rotary

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May 152016

President David Boucher welcomes Elise Bidwell as the newest member of Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club. Bidwell, a financial advisor with Edward Jones, is a Miami, FL native and graduate of North Carolina State University. She received her Certified Financial Planning designation in 2014. Bidwell has been a Rotarian for nine years, previously serving as a board member in the Spring Valley club. She is a South Carolina ETV commissioner, representing the Second Congressional District, and is a past member of Richland County’s Transportation Penny Tax Advisory Committee. She’s married and has two sons.

Rotary District Service Above Self Award

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Apr 132016

Capital Rotary Club president David Boucher (left) has been presented a Service Above Self Award by Rod Funderburk, District 7770 Governor for 2015-2016, in appreciation for outstanding and dedicated support of the international service club’s ideals. “Service above self” is Rotary’s principal motto because it best conveys the philosophy of volunteering without expectations of personal reward, thanks or praise.

District Leadership Citation for Capital Rotary

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Apr 082016

Ione Cockrell, an assistant governor for Rotary District 7770 in the eastern counties of South Carolina, presents a Club Leadership Citation for 2015-16 to Capital Rotary president David Boucher. The Columbia-area club was recognized for its participation in local and district community service projects and for contributions to Rotary International’s international humanitarian outreach programs.

David Boucher Circles the Globe for Charity

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Apr 012016

Capital Rotary Club president David Boucher did not think of himself as a long-distance runner when he took up jogging 25 years ago – but now he has circled the globe by completing 24,902 miles (the circumference of the earth) on daily three-mile stints downtown.

It’s fitting that Boucher celebrated his last ‘round the world lap in March during the Rotary District 7770 conference at the Columbia Convention Center. Not only did he run the distance, but he also celebrated the last 900 miles by raising money for Rotary’s CART Fund for Alzheimer’s research. Using his Facebook page and club announcements, Boucher solicited sponsors at a penny-per-mile for the 900 mile finish.

He’s also collected change off the streets while jogging for the past year-and-half in Columbia – a total of $68.86 in coins of various denominations. This money, too, was donated to CART, and Boucher invited Capital Rotarians to match it by contributing $68.86 on their own.

The overall donation goal was $10,000. As of late March, Boucher’s efforts had brought in more than $7,000 with additional checks to come. The CART Fund – Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust – was started by a Rotarian in Sumter County in 1999 and has been adopted by many clubs since that time.

One-hundred percent of the money collected is used as seed money for cutting edge research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. CART has provided over $5 million in grants since its founding.

District Honors for Capital Rotary

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Mar 312016

Capital Rotary was honored twice at the recent 2016 conference for Rotary District 7770. The district includes 80 clubs and about 5,000 Rotarians in 25 eastern counties of the state. Capital Rotary was named first runner-up for Club of the Year in the “medium sized” category, based on a listing of programs and accomplishments.

A past president of the club – Ione Cockrell – was presented a plaque by District Governor Rod Funderburk to recognize her selection as 2015-2016 District Rotarian of the Year. This award is given to one individual each year who has demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service and personal volunteer efforts. Cockrell was cited for playing a key role in relief efforts after many parts of District 7770 suffered significant devastation from rainfall and floods in October 2015.

Cockrell, a financial planner, joined Capital Rotary in 1993 and was its 2000-2001 president. She has been a significant donor to the Rotary Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation that supports humanitarian, educational and cultural exchange programs worldwide.

Capital Rotarians Take Part in St. Bernard Project

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Mar 312016

On two Saturdays in March, members of Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club joined with other volunteers to lend a hand in rebuilding a home damaged by catastrophic rains and flooding in the Midlands last October. Their work was part of a disaster recovery partnership between Rotary District 7770 and the St. Bernard Project.

The St. Bernard Project was founded 10 years ago to assist St. Bernard Parish following Hurricane Katrina’s devastating strike at New Orleans, LA. Since that time, it’s grown into a nationally-recognized leader in disaster resilience and recovery. St. Bernard Project has rebuilt homes for over 950 families with the help of more than 100,000 volunteers in five states and, most recently, in Columbia.

Capital Rotary’s volunteers painted, hung drywall, applied mud to the drywall and did lots of sanding to prep for paint at a Blythewood home suffering significant damage. Rainwater came through the home’s roof, damaging insulation and destroying the kitchen and laundry room ceilings, followed by mold. St. Bernard Project removed the ceilings and insulation and – with Rotary’s help – worked toward getting the home in good order for its owners to return after renting quarters nearby.

“It was a fabulous experience and we made a real contribution,” reported one Capital volunteer, in the true spirit of Rotary.

Retired Army, Air Force Veteran Joins Columbia Capital Rotary

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Mar 102016

Capital Rotary president David Boucher (right) welcomes retired Army and Air Force veteran Shane Lacaillade into the club following recent induction ceremonies. Lacaillade, a Maine native who spent 24 years in the military, is senior vice president of center operations for UCI Medical Affiliates, headquartered in Columbia. He formerly worked for Premise Health in Memphis, TN, and has graduate degrees in health administration, business and performance improvement. Lacaillade’s military awards include the Bronze Star and a Nation’s Gratitude Honor at the White House. He was also cited in a book – “Called to Serve” – in a discussion of PTSD and its effects on military members and their families. Lacaillade was active with an Optimist Club in Missouri and is married to the former Christine Michael. The couple has three children.

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