Rotary International Theme for January is Vocational Service Month
Social!
Mark the date - January 29 - the first social of the year!
Captain Woody's
14 Executive Park (off Pope Ave.)
5:00 - 7:00
Wing Fest - March 21
Kristin Keller will be seeking volunteers to help at this event.
Heritage - April 14 - April 19
Lots of opportunity to work in the concession stand or at the popcorn wagon. This is a great way for our club to raise funds, so save the dates and sign up to help. Watch for more information.
District News:
Melissa Evans has been named as District Governor Nominee Designate to serve District 7770 2028-2029
Recent Programs:
January 6 speaker was Anne Caywood, Executive Director, Low Country Legal Volunteers
The organization, which has offices in Okatie & Beaufort provides free critical legal services to low income individuals living in Beaufort, Jasper & Hampton counties. There are 20 plus volunteers &18 board members. Services provided are: divorce, Child custody, restraining orders, parental visitation, child support, birth certificate amendment, adult name change, simple wills & healthcare POA, eviction defense & landlord tenant matters, Pro se divorce clinics, wills clinics, know your rights clinics. They have partnered with VIM in HHI & Bluffton & Beaufort Good Neighbor Clinic.
In 2025: classes held - 65; justice navigators trained - 123; cases closed - 320; cases opened - 402; people impacted - 2700 and provided over $3,000,000 value in free services. Since LCLV is a volunteer organization, there are opportunites to volunteer, you do not have to be a legal professional. They do apply for grants and have several fundraisers during the year.
January 13 we had an update on the City of Hardeeville from Mayor Harry Williams
Hardeeville is the fastest growing city in the state and is number 3 in the country. This amazing growth provides many planning challenges and the priorities are: new jobs, population increase, quality of life and social services needs, education/workforce training, housing & commercial demand and roads and utility infrastructure. Mayor Williams went over each of the priorities and what is being planned to accomodate the growth."Planning is the message". They expect to have 10,000 new jobs in the next 10 years. The widening of I95, creation of Exit 3 (with Convention Center, Hospital, gas, restaurants, hotels), the expansion of Exit 8 (with Buc-ee's - 200 jobs, reconfiguring of 2 round abouts, 120 gas pumps), new industrial and commerical companies, and more all contribute to Jobs creation. The City of Hardeeville is going to revitalize downtown, create “small town USA”. This will run between Exit 5 and Exit 8. Population growth is currently 2,000 per year. Affordable housing is also a priority. Margaritaville is currently at 2700 and there will be another 2600 in the new section. Exciting times for Hardeeville.
January 20 Jon Rembold presented a program about the expansion of the Hilton Head Island Airport
We learned about the modernization and transformation of the Hilton Head Island Airport terminal. It was originally completed in 1995. The first phase of the project is scheduled for completion by April. Phase 2 has no completion date as they are still working on the funding.
There will be three gates, each with their own jet bridge. An addition will be a bar as well as concessions & food.
The current airlines that service HHI, are American (year round) and United & Delta which are both seasonal. We are limited which airlines we can have because of the runway length & trees..
Staffing running the airport - 19
Passengers last year - 222,322
Economic impact - $400 million
Runway length - 5,000 (it will remain a single runway airport)
