Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club has sworn-in new officers and board members for 2016-2017. They include (from left) directors Phillip Flynn and Gloria Saeed; president-elect Blake DuBose; secretary Katherine Anderson; sergeant at arms Ross Oakley; president Dr. Tommy Gibbons; director Ione Cockrell; and vice president/membership chair Ben Carlton. Not pictured are director Neda Beal, treasurer Craig Lemrow and past president David Boucher.
Past President David Boucher Honored
Dr. Tommy Gibbons (left), 2016-17 Capital Rotary president, presents a plaque to David Boucher to recognize his leadership of the Columbia-area club in 2015-16. As past president, Boucher now will be in charge of club donations to the Rotary Foundation that funds international programs promoting education, peace and world understanding.
July 27th Blood Drive – Capital Rotary
We invite everyone to join the Columbia Capital Rotary Club for our annual blood drive.
Download Blood Drive Flyer Here
Time: Wednesday, July 27th, 10am-4pm
Location: CBRE Building, 1st Floor, 1333 Main Street, Columbia, SC
Instructions to sign up are on the flyer (see link above) and listed below. If anyone has any problems signing up online.
- Visit www.redcrossblood.org
- Click the Blue “Make a Blood Donation Appointment” button in the top right corner of the website
- If you have not previously register, you may need to register using your email address
- Enter Sponsor Code CapRotary
Capital Rotary Tours Children’s Hospital
Dr. Ron Neuberg (in white lab coat) of Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital welcomes Capital Rotary Club members on a tour as part of their Fifth Wednesday program that substitutes local field trips in place of a regularly-scheduled club meeting. The Palmetto Health facility is South Carolina’s first children’s hospital and has more than 150,000 children’s visits each year.
Capital Rotary Highlights for 2015-16 Rotary Year
At the annual club assembly to review Capital Rotary’s accomplishments for 2015-16, president David Boucher lauded the team effort that led to what he described as “a tremendous year.” The highlights included:
- Earning first runner-up status for “Club of the Year’ among medium-sized clubs in District 7770, which includes 80 clubs in 25 eastern counties.
- Raising over $13,000 for the CART (Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust) Fund that seeks prevention of or a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
- Working with other clubs to donate $12,000 for disaster relief after local flooding in October 2015, plus taking part in rebuilding a home damaged by heavy rains.
- Inducting nine new members and getting them involved and engaged early in club activities.
- Sound fiscal management that resulted in a net gain of almost $9,000 above budget for the year.
- Donations of $12,400 to The Rotary Foundation, the international charitable arm that funds programs for world understanding and peace. Foundation giving amounts to $220 per capita for the club.
- $1,500 in support for PolioPlus, a worldwide initiative to eradicate polio with the backing of more than 1 million Rotarians here and overseas.
- Delivery of 637 dinners as part of the Meals on Wheels program that delivers hot food to the elderly and home-bound in Richland County.
- Scholarships totaling $17,000 to four exemplary college students from the Columbia area. The club raises some $20,000 in scholarship money by selling Christmas wreaths annually.
- Holding a summer blood drive that exceeded goals by attracting 71 potential donors with 67 pints collected.
- There have been 5,985 visitors to the club’s website. Of these, just over 78% were new visitors.
- The website has featured 65 stories including club and member accomplishments, community service acknowledgements, and notable speakers at club meetings.
- 149 people currently “Like” or “Follow” our Capital Rotary Facebook page.
Capital Rotarian brings The Woman’s Advantage Forum to Columbia
Ann Elliott, business coach and consultant, brings The Woman’s Advantage Forum to Columbia. This year-long structured program is for a woman business owner committed to the expansion of her business and willing to help others succeed. Not a leads group or networking group, it is for women committed to succeeding at a higher level. A group of 14 female business owners in non-competing industries meet monthly to share ideas, create accountability, and grow their businesses. PNC Bank in the Vista hosts the meetings in their conference room. To learn more visit www.womansadvantagecolumbia.
John Guignard, New Paul Harris Fellow for Capital Rotary
John Guignard (center) is the latest Paul Harris Fellow for Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club, signifying a $1,000 donation in his name to the Rotary Foundation in support of world understanding and international peace projects. Guignard has been serving as chairman of the club’s annual Christmas wreath sales fundraising effort. Capital Rotarian Chris Ray (left) assisted with Guignard’s donation. Also pictured is Mark Bokesch, the club’s Foundation gifts director.
Director of EngenuitySC speaks to Capital Rotary
Our speaker at our meeting Wednesday, June 15th was Ms. Meghan Hughes Hickman, Executive Director of EngenuitySC. Meghan is a graduate of the Honors College @ The University of South Carolina. She was first Deputy Finance Director for Senator Lindsay Graham, then a Senate Press Secretary. In 2011, she assumed the duties as an senior account executive with StrataComm and then returned to Columbia from Washington, DC in 2014 to lead EngenuitySC. In this role, she oversees theregional competitiveness mission of EngenuitySC and the execution of all their primary objectives including: developing a competitive environment regionally and measuring their progress against five indices of competitive communities including clusters, talent, innovation, entrepreneurship and livability.
Former Lt. Governor visits Capital Rotary
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
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
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.








