Capital Rotary Club

CEO of Nephron speaks to Capital Rotary

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Jul 142014

Capital Rotary’s speaker on Wednesday, June 18 was Lou Kennedy, President, Chief Executive Officer and Owner of Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Mrs. Kennedy joined Nephron Pharmaceuticals in 2001, and accepted the position of President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2007. Having held a variety of marketing and operational roles during her career; one notable achievement at Nephron was creating a national sales force from the ground up, a rarity in the pharmaceutical industry. In the years following, this helped Nephron Pharmaceuticals grow by 300% and increased shipped product to one billion doses each of the last four years.

Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Nephron Pharmaceuticals recently opened a state of the art manufacturing facility in West Columbia, South Carolina. Mrs. Kennedy was at the forefront of this expansion, which opened in early June 2014.

Along with her husband Bill, Mrs. Kennedy helped establish the Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center in conjunction with the USC School of Pharmacy. She serves on the Central Florida Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Advisory Board, Garnet Way Campaign, and the USC Mass Communications Construction Committee. A graduate of the University of South Carolina’s College of Journalism with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Mrs. Kennedy never shies from the opportunity to cheer on the Gamecocks!

Capital Club Rotarian of the Year

Jul 082014

Adam Dougherty has been named 2014 Rotarian of the Year by Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club. President Scott Wallinger (right in photo) made the plaque presentation at a club assembly June 25th. The award recognizes dedicated service and loyal devotion to the ideals of Rotary.

Dougherty joined the club in January 2010 and has served as chair of its annual Christmas wreath sales fundraiser. Profits from this project (approximately $15,000) go toward college scholarships for local students.

Dougherty earned an undergraduate degree in business and an MBA from the University of South Carolina. He is a territory manager for the John Deere construction and forestry lines at Flint Equipment Company in West Columbia.

Dougherty and his wife, Haley, have been married for 10 years and have three children.

Longtime Capital Rotary Club Member Honored for Foundation Giving

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Jul 082014

Chris Ray, a 25-year member of Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club, has been recognized as a Major Donor for the service organization’s Rotary Foundation.

The foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that supports international humanitarian, educational and cultural exchange programs to promote world peace and understanding. It was created in 1917 and receives voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends who share its vision of a better world. A major donor is one whose cumulative giving reaches $10,000.

Ray is a past president of the club, also serving as secretary, treasurer and chair of its Rotary Foundation committee. He was a member of the club’s Scholarship committee for 18 years and is a member of the Paul Harris Society (donation of $1,000 annually to the Rotary Foundation).

Ray has been president and CEO for Receivables Management Corporation since 1992. The firm provides services to the accounts receivable industry with a focus in healthcare markets.

Food Bank Donation by Capital Rotary

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Jul 082014

Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club has donated $1,215 to assist Harvest Hope Food Bank in meeting the needs of hungry people in the Midlands, Pee Dee and Greater Greenville regions of South Carolina.

The contribution was spearheaded by Rotarian Ione Cockrell, following a visit by Harvest Hope CEO Denise Holland, recent guest speaker at a weekly club meeting. Rotarians also helped pack food boxes earmarked for familiesHar – a volunteer project organized by club member Chip Hardy.

Harvest Hope began as a Columbia-area undertaking in 1981. Since then it has expanded to give food, comfort and hope to those affected by poverty and hunger across 20 counties. The food bank partners with nearly 500 member non-profit agencies. It distributed over 28 million pounds of food last year and fed approximately 38,000 people a week.

Present for the check presentation were (from left) club president Scott Wallinger, Ione Cockrell, Denise Holland and Chip Hardy.

Be sure to see the article on MidlandsBiz: http://midlandsbiz.whosonthemove.com/food-bank-donation-by-capital-rotary

A tribute to Don Babb, long-time Capital Rotary member

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Jul 082014

In my 25 years as a Rotarian, I observed that there seem to be two primary reasons that people become Rotarians. Some join because they see it primarily as a networking opportunity, and they accept that there is a service obligation that comes with membership. Others join because the ideals of Rotary – integrity, compassion for others and service above self appeal to their core being, and to them, the networking is secondary. Don Babb is clearly one of the latter. He epitomized these ideals long before becoming a Rotarian, and his membership was simply another way of doing what he already did.

More often than not, the first word that will be used to describe Don by anyone who knows is integrity. While I have been blessed to know many people whose values were strong, many in the Capital Rotary Club, there is no one whose integrity and personal values are more evident than Don’s. Because of this, his wisdom and his generosity of spirit, I asked him to be the only outside board member of my company years ago. During the years, when we had difficult issues to deal with, Don would always, in his subtle way, bring clarity by asking the fundamental question of “What is the right thing to do?” Pretty simple – just the Four Way Test boiled down to seven words. It is who he is.

Don and Carolyn’s compassion and generosity has long been evident through their becoming Rotary Foundation Major Donors, through the fact that they are both multiple Paul Harris Fellows and by their unselfish giving and leadership in the charitable projects that the Capital Rotary Club has undertaken.

For all of this Don, we thank you, we appreciate you and we are thankful to have had you in our lives.

– Ancel Hamilton

Capital Rotary member lauds successful RYLA program

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Jul 082014

Rotary District 7770’s inaugural leadership development program for young people – held in mid-June at Columbia College – was a rousing success, according to David Boucher, who represented Capital Rotary Club at the event.

“We had 48 rising high school juniors and seniors attending RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) training for the first time ever in our district,” Boucher said. “The dorm rooms were comfy, the food was outstanding and I think the kids got a lot out of the event. As a matter of fact, 28 of the juniors asked to be considered as counselors for next year.”

While RYLA participants can be any age, most programs focus on students or young professionals who come together for several days of presentations, activities and workshops on a variety of topics such as leadership fundamentals and ethics; communication skills; problem solving and conflict resolution; and community and global citizenship.

The district RYLA focused on leadership activities and teamwork projects. Students also took part in a service project to fill 30 backpacks with miscellaneous articles that could be given to homeless persons in the Chapin area.

Key coordinator of the event was Michaele Lemrow from Richland School District Two, a member of the Spring Valley Rotary Club, assisted by a number of volunteers who led presentations and exercises.

South Carolina Ports Authority Economic Development

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Jul 082014

PDF Presentation – SC Port Trends

Our speaker on Wednesday morning was Mr. Jack Ellenberg who currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Economic Development at the South Carolina PortsAuthority. Mr. Ellenberg previously served as Deputy Secretary for New Investment at the South Carolina Department of Commerce. He joined Commerce in 1996 and was responsible for leading the agency’s efforts in new investment, both foreign and domestic, and overseeing the daily activities of state offices in Europe and Asia.

During his 15 years with the Department of Commerce, he was responsible for recruiting over $24 billion in new investment and over 72,000 jobs to South Carolina. He has a vast knowledge of the aerospace and automotive industries and represented the state working with numerous companies such as Amazon.com, BMW, Boeing, Eastman Chemical, Daimler, Google, Michelin, Honda, Fujifilm, ZF Group and Robert Bosch.

Ellenberg was named Southern Business & Development’s “Person of the Year” for his work on Boeing’s $750 million 787 Dreamliner assembly operation in the Charleston area. In December, 2010, Governor Mark Sanford awarded Ellenberg the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor, for his service to the citizens of South Carolina.

Rotary Serving Humanity

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Jul 082014

Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, believed that serving humanity is “the most worthwhile thing a person can do,” RI President-elect John F. Germ said, and that being a part of Rotary is a “great opportunity” to make that happen.

Germ unveiled the 2016-17 presidential theme, Rotary Serving Humanity, to incoming district governors on 18 January at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.

“I believe everyone recognizes the opportunity to serve Rotary for what it truly is: not a small opportunity, but a great one; an opportunity of a lifetime to change the world for the better, forever through Rotary’s service to humanity,” said Germ.

Rotary members around the globe are serving humanity by providing clean water to underdeveloped communities, promoting peace in conflict areas, and strengthening communities through basic education and literacy. But none more important than our work to eradicate polio worldwide, he said.

After a historic year in which transmission of the wild poliovirus was stopped in Nigeria and all of Africa, Germ said we are closer than ever to ending polio.

“We are at a crossroads in Rotary,” he added. “We are looking ahead at a year that may one day be known as the greatest year in Rotary’s history: the year that sees the world’s last case of polio.”

Last year’s milestones leave just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the virus still circulates. Polio would be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated.

When that moment arrives, it’s “tremendously important” that Rotary is ready for it, said Germ. “We need to be sure that we are recognized for that success, and leverage that success into more partnerships, greater growth, and even more ambitious service in the decades to come.”

Germ, a member of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, encouraged attendees to return to their clubs and communities and spread the word about Rotary’s role in the fight for a polio-free world.

“People who want to do good will see that Rotary is a place where they can change the world. Every Rotary club needs to be ready to give them that opportunity,” Germ said.

Enhancing Rotary’s image isn’t the only way to boost membership. “We need clubs that are flexible, so our service will be more attractive to younger members, recent retirees, and working people.”

He added: “We need more willing hands, more caring hearts, and more bright minds to move our work forward.”

Find more videos from the event
Download 2016-17 theme logo and materials
Follow the assembly on Facebook and Twitter using #IA2016
Download speech transcripts

By Ryan Hyland

Rotary News

18-Jan-2016

See the full article at Rotary International here: https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/news-media/news-features/germ-reveals-rotary-serving-humanity-2016-17-presidential-theme

Capital Rotary Club member awarded Harvard Business School scholarship

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May 282014

Senior Matters Extended Care Services, LLC and One Matters President, Mary Katherine Bagnal, was recently awarded a scholarship to attend The Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program at the 2014 Women President’s Organization (WPO) National Convention in New Orleans. Applicants were awarded the scholarship based on specific business criteria, interview presentation and questionnaire responses regarding their respective personal goals and proposed business mission/directive.

For the full article, please visit MidlandsBiz: http://midlandsbiz.whosonthemove.com/local-business-woman-awarded-harvard-business-school-scholarship

Radio Voice of Carolina Baseball and Basketball visits Capital Rotary Club

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May 282014

Our speaker on Wednesday was Mr. Andy Demetra, the radio Voice for USC’s Men’s Basketball and Baseball games.

According to the USC Sports website, “Demetra is a familiar name to those who follow Gamecock Athletics closely. He served as the play-by-play voice for Carolina women’s basketball and selected men’s basketball games from 2003-06. He was selected from a pool of approximately 250 applicants for the position.

“Since his time in Columbia, Demetra has worked for ISP Sports in Winston-Salem, N.C. He has done basketball play-by-play for the Big East National Game of the Week, football play-by-play for the ACC National Game of the Week and baseball play-by-play for the 2008 and 2009 ACC Tournaments for XM Radio. In addition, he has provided play-by-play work in basketball for the University of Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Villanova, UCF and Furman. He has also done play-by-play broadcasting for the Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

“Demetra, who graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University, was the 2005 and 2006 South Carolina Broadcasters Association Radio Sportscaster of the Year. He was the youngest recipient of the award in the organization’s 60-year history.”

Quote of the Week: “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way” – Babe Ruth

Photo courtesy of WLTX

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