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.
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.
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.
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.
Capital Rotarian Ben Carlton (left) is congratulated by past president Mark Bokesch as the latest member to join the ranks of the club’s Paul Harris Fellows, signifying a $1,000 contribution to the Rotary Foundation. Paul Harris Fellows receive a special pin, a certificate and a medal to honor their donation. Gifts to the Rotary Foundation help fund international programs promoting world understanding and peace. Carlton – a local corporate law attorney – joined Columbia’s Capital club a year ago. Bokesch is the club’s chairman for Foundation giving.
Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club has honored three members for multiple donations to The Rotary Foundation, the international service club’s charitable corporation that funds programs for world understanding and peace. Mark Bokesch (left), the club’s chairman for Foundation giving, congratulates (from right) Mike Montgomery as a Paul Harris Fellow plus-three (representing an initial $1,000 donation, plus three additional gifts of $1,000); Neda Beal, a Paul Harris Fellow plus-one ($1,000 initially with an additional gift of $1,000); and Tommy Gibbons, also a Paul Harris Fellow plus-one.
Tennent Manning (left) and Dr. Edgar Peacock (center) are welcomed to Capital Rotary membership by David Boucher, president of the Columbia-area club. Manning, a Columbia native, is an associate at Newmark Grubb Wilson Kibler, with professional interests including commercial real estate land acquisition and development, tenant representation, healthcare, retail, land and lender-owned properties. He previously worked in farming, banking and lumber and plywood sales. His memberships include the state’s Real Estate Commission, the Delta Waterfowl Foundation and the Palmetto Club. Peacock, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon practicing in Columbia since 1974, is an Aiken native. He has degrees from the University of South Carolina and from Emory University’s School of Dentistry. An Air Force veteran, Peacock met his wife, Jennifer, while stationed in England. The couple has two children and seven grandchildren.
Members of the Rotary Club of Spartanburg and Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club joined forces to contribute $5,000 toward relief efforts after record rainfall amounts caused catastrophic flooding in the Palmetto State in October. The funds resulted from Spartanburg’s initial gift of $2,500, which was matched dollar for dollar by the Capital Club. The total donation was split between the Columbia chapter of the American Red Cross and Harvest Hope Food Bank – two organizations that have been active in disaster recovery efforts. Capital Rotary president David Boucher made check presentations to Denise Holland, Harvest Hope director, and to Red Cross director Rebecca Jordan on behalf of both the Upstate and Midlands clubs. Support for emergency agencies following natural disasters is common practice for Rotarians worldwide.
Capital Rotary president David Boucher welcomes the club’s newest 2015 member – Allison Atkins, community relations and development director for the Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council. A native of Swansea, Atkins worked for the University of South Carolina’s Department of Student Life before joining LRADAC. She’s a summa cum laude Clemson graduate, earned a master’s degree at USC and is immediate past chair of Leadership Lexington County. Atkins also serves as Midlands regional director and board member for the SC Public Relations Society of America.
Two Capital Rotarians Recognized for Paul Harris Giving Capital Rotary president David Boucher (left) and immediate past president Mark Boksech (rear) honor club members Tony Thompson (right) and Ann Elliott for donations to The Rotary Foundation, the international service club’s charitable corporation that funds programs for world understanding and peace. Elliott was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow plus-two, representing an initial $1,000 donation, plus two additional gifts of $1,000, while Thompson is a Paul Harris Fellow plus-one, ($1,000 with an additional gift in the same amount). Bokesch is the club’s current chairman for Foundation giving.
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