ANNOUNCEMENTS
September is Rotary's Basic Education and Literacy Month. “More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That is 17 percent of the world's adult population.”. Rotary supports education for all children and literacy for children and adults. Rotary clubs supoort many literacy projects world wide. This is one of Rotary;'s seven areas of focus.
SOCIAL
August 27 VLR members gathered at Club Seats for fellowship, good food and libations for the first social of the year. Here are a few pictures of some in attendance:
Watch for the next opportunity to spend some time to get to know your fellow Rotarians better.
ONLINE AUCTION
How awesome is it to be gathering sponsors and items for our online auction during Basic Education and Literacy Month? VERY, when you realize that proceeds from the auction will benefit the Zach VanLandingham Scholarship fund. That is the annual four year scholarship that we award to a deserving graduating high school senior to help with their college years. Get busy - be aware that the cutoff for items/sponsorships is September 25. The auction dates are 10/20-10/30.
MEMBERSHIP
Proposed new members John Howe and George Liapis had their second posting at the September 2 meeting. Their third posting will be on September 9. If anyone has any concerns related to admitting either candidate into membership of the club, please contact membership chair, Bruce Yeager. Induction of these new members will take place shortly after the third posting.
DISTRICT 7770 NEWS
District Governor Sandy Morkel will be making her official visit to our club on September 16. She will be the speaker and will deliver a message from, the District as well as Rotary International. We expect that attendance will be higher than normal, so President Joe has requested you to RSVP him directly of your intention to attend. Please do that by THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11 so we can provide the caterer with an accurate count to plan for breakfast.
World Polio Day is October 24 and District co-chairs, Mary Gasque and Sandee Brooks are leading a World Polio Challenge and Awareness Campaign. Flat Bernie (as opposed to 3D Bernie) is making appearances and helping to create awareness that polio is still Rotary's number one project. More to come about this fun campaign.
RECENT PAST MEETINGS
August 26, 2025
Speaker was Dr. Carl Martin, the founder of Real Champions.
The organization provides full time paid mentors for the vulnerable children in SC. The work out of Jasper County. Poverty is a lack of access. Right now they are helping 69 kids. They start when they are six years old and stay with them until graduation. They “start earlie, go deeper, and stay longer” than other similar organizations. A mentor spends 4 hours a week with each child. The mentors are paid, as it s a full time job with a 1 on 8 ratio. The children that are in middle school have been in the program 4 years. So far there is an 88% retention rate.
September 2, 2025
Our speakers were from NAMI Lowcountry, which has programs of education and support for people living with mental illness, their families and caregivers. Programs are offered free of charge
Shelley Hammond is the Executive Director. It is a national organization. Locally on November 8 at 10am there will be a Walk at Shelter Cove Park. September is suicide prevention month. NAMI is launching four new support groups in 2025.
Peter Gaw spoke as well, telling us about his personal experience, difficulties, expense with getting various mental health treatments for his daughter. One experience was a 6 week program that didn't work to a treatment from September to May at a cost of $1000 a day. One of the things that did help was NAMI. Lession learned: be more attentive, there are groups that are there for you.
To learn more about the support groups, education programs available, visit www.namilowcountry.org