Capital Rotary Club

Capital Rotary Distributes Dictionaries to Schools

May 272014

Begun by a non-profit organization in Charleston in 1995, our annual dictionary project aims to help students become better writers, active readers, creative thinkers and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary.

Capital Rotary donated dictionaries to nearly 850 students in 12 Richland County District One schools for 2013-14. Over the past nine years, the club has purchased and given dictionaries to over 10,500 third-graders in the Columbia area.

A number of clubs in South Carolina and throughout the country are Dictionary Project sponsors. One of Rotary International’s six major goals is improving basic education and literacy.

Capital Rotary Club members Jenks Mikell (back row, left) and John Guignard (back row) are all smiles after distributing paperback dictionaries to third-grade students at Arden Elementary School, part of the club’s annual participation in The Dictionary Project.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus speaks to Capital Rotary Club

May 212014

Today, Dr. Richard Conant was the guest speaker at the Capital Rotary Club. The meeting began with Dr. Conant singing the Star Spangled Banner. Dr. Conant is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at USC, founder of the Carolina Alive singers and an opera/concert singer. He is well-known for his rendition of the National Anthem at University of South Carolina football and basketball games and has sung for numerous political leaders and celebrities including Presidents Reagan, Bush Sr. and Nixon, as well as Pope John Paul II.

He has sung around the world, from Bulgaria to China and has performed as a soloist in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Dr. Conant was involved in police work as a State Constable for 35 years, is past President of the FBI Citizens Academy, and is currently working with the Red Cross as Government Liaison, in Public Affairs and with Disaster Relief. He also directs the Chancel Choir at Trinity United Methodist Church in Blythewood.

Harvest Hope LIFT

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May 152014

Several of our members from the Columbia Capital Rotary Club were in attendance to support Harvest Hope and their LIFT fundraiser (Leader Inspired to Fill Tables).

Harvest Hope began in 1981 as the result of a shared vision of Columbia, SC business leaders and the faith community who set out to provide for the hungry. Since then, Harvest Hope has increased its mission to feed the hungry across 20 counties of South Carolina. Harvest Hope distributed over 28 million pounds of food last year and fed approximately 38,000 people a week.

For more information and to support Harvest Hope, please visit their website: http://www.harvesthope.org

Pictured from left to right: Harvest Hope’s Treasurer Mike Farmer and CEO Denise Holland, Columbia Capital Rotary Club Members Ione Cockrell and Chip Hardy.

Bucks Heros with Johnny Mayo, Vietnam Vet

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May 142014

Our speaker on Wednesday was Johnny Mayo. A native of Columbia, SC, Johnny was drafted into the US Army in 1969. He served as a scout dog handler in his tour of duty in Vietnam. He served as a point man with two German Shepherds, assigned to the 39^th Scout Dog Platoon., 173^rd Airborne Brigade. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Air Medal.

Johnny has helped lobby for a War Dog Postal Commemorative Stamp. In 2002, he was featured in Oliver North’s “War Stories”. In 2001, he assembled an educational display for a local air show that would be the beginning of an exhibit sharing the details of service of our country’s military working dogs, past and present.

After 13 years of traveling with the exhibit known as the War Dog Wall, Johnny’s final chapter of service to the military working dogs is his tribute to the K9s of the military by building a world class War Dog Monument in the SC Veterans Memorial Park in Columbia, SC. The first meeting in March 2011 started the process as the park’s architect and several park commission members asked Johnny to take the point once again and lead the way in building a world class monument to the military K9s, past to present.

For more information about Johnny’s book, Bucks Heros, please visit http://www.bucksheroes.com– And a link to an article about the memorial Johnny is helping build: http://www.thestate.com/2014/01/31/3238941/war-dogs-to-be-memorialized-in.html

David Boucher recognized as Major Donor

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Apr 292014

Rotary District 7770 Governor Lou Mello (right) congratulates David Boucher of Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club as a new 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.

Boucher is a former member of both the Spring Valley and Kingstree, SC Rotary clubs. He served as membership chairman for the Spring Valley and Capital clubs and has been a member of the Paul Harris Society (donation of $1,000 annually to the Rotary Foundation) for several years.

Boucher is president and chief operating officer for UCI Medical Affiliates, Inc. in Columbia. It provides nonmedical support services to a network of freestanding medical centers in South Carolina and Tennessee.

Pictured above: David Boucher and District Governor Lou Mello

Harvest Hope, Serving South Carolina since 1981

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Apr 152014

Our speaker on Wednesday was Mrs. Denise Holland, who is the CEO of Harvest Hope Food Bank. Denise is a past board chair of the South Carolina Association for Non-Profits and was a prior board member to the Souper Bowl, a past member of the School Improvement Council for Airport High School, and an active member of her church. Mrs. Holland is am a native of SC and a graduate of the University of South Carolina; she is married with 2 children. Prior to coming to work at Harvest Hope Food Bank, she was with the American Red Cross for 16 years. For more information about Harvest Hope, please visit their website: http://www.harvesthope.org

Drainage Solutions in Shandon and Columbia

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Apr 032014

Our speaker this week was Ms. Betsy Kaemmerlen, who is a landscape architect at Fuss & O’Neill. Betsy gave our club a unique perspective on green infrastructure, rain gardens, and historic preservation. Betsy has received degrees from both Syracuse University and the SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry. Her presentation focused on “Drainage Issues in Shandon and Columbia”.

Student from Sweden lives with Rotary Host family

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Mar 312014

Ione Cockrell with Julia Ohl at the district conference dinner banquet. Julia is from Sweden and is living with a Rotary Host family in Charleston, SC. Julia attends Ashley Hall School this year and says she loves being in Charleston.

Exciting Plans for Patriots Point with Mac Burdette

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Mar 282014

Our speaker on Wednesday morning was Mr. Mac Burdette. Mr. Burdette is the Executive Director of Patriots Point Development Authority. He gave us insight on some exciting new plans for Patriots Point. For more information, please visit http://www.patriotspoint.org.

Prior to assuming the leadership role at Patriots Point in November, 2013, Mac was the administrator of Mount Pleasant, where he served for over 25 years. Burdette took over as the Patriots Point Development Authority embarked on a cruise to find millions of dollars needed to maintain and repair the historic Navy ships that comprise Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum.

Jonathan Haupt Director of USC Press

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Mar 212014

This Wednesday, Jonathan Haupt spoke to our Capital Rotary Club. Haupt is the Director of USC Press, which is one of the oldest and most respected publishing houses in the South. As the largest publisher and only university press in the state, USC Press publishes scholarly research and publications that advance knowledge in all fields and understanding in particular of South Carolina’s natural and cultural heritage; it was established in 1944. Haupt joined USC Press in 2004 as marketing manager and was named assistant director for sales and marketing in 2008. He has served as interim director of USC Press since June 2011.

A native of Hazard, Ky., Haupt earned bachelor’s degrees in English and history from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a master’s degree in English from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Prior to joining USC Press he served as assistant marketing manager at SIU Press, where he was hired and trained by Lisa M. Bayer, the newly named director of UGA Press, and led marketing efforts for many prominent authors, among them two-time National Book Award finalist Harry Mark Petrakis and U.S. Sen. Paul Simon.

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