Project Life: Positeen Program

Liz Zimmerman Keitt, former Mayor pro-tem of Orangeburg, and the president of the Claflin University International Alumni Association gave us food for thought on August 12. Currently, she is the founder and director of Project Life: Positeen Program, and this was main focus of her presentation. The program was founded in 1992 and is an after school program tutoring and counseling students, ages K-5 – 12th Grade. Held at 349 Summers Avenue and on the campus of Brookdale Elementary School in Orangeburg, SC, the program is designed to help students after school with reading, science, math and character building. We could use your support,” she told about 30 Rotarians and guests who had assembled to hear her. “Many of these kids have no where else to study after school.” Bernice Tribble pointed out that one of their prize students had traveled with the Orangeburg County team that competed for (and won) the All-American Town designation. “We wouldn’t have won without him,” she said. “We help them become what they can be,”Ms. Keitt said.

Special Thanks to...

Mary Scarborough and Acacia Flowers. Thanks to their generous donation of roses, our club was able to raise $660 to donate to the Rotary Foundation.

Genuine Rotary Roses

Special Thanks to

Bill Carter, who generously donated his time, effort, and photography skills to our second annual Youth TriAthlon. The the numbers were down from last year, there was no less heart on display.

Thanks to his efforts, and the efforts of all the volunteers, parents, participants, and sponsots, Orangeburg Striders will be able to donate $500 to combat Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy.

Still Time to Buy Roses!!

Once again, Mary Scarborough has agreed to sell roses for 30/dozen to her fellow Rotarians. This, you probably know, is a tremendous bargain, and the proceeds go to support our foundation.

Don't let this opporunity pass you by! Call, email, or send a telegram to Catie McClain with your order and payment!

Edisto Youth Triathlon Returns

The following is not officially a function of the Morning Club (the lunch club is backing it), but several of us (Wendell, Bill, me) are participating.

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The course has been laid out, the volunteers (mostly Rotarians and Striders) have volunteered, and Chief Wendell Davis and his public safety officers are ready to make the area safe and secure. Everything is set for the return of the Edisto Youth Triathlon, Saturday August 25th, 8:30 am at the Family Baptist Life Center
Typically in a triathlon, the participants compete in swimming, biking, and running. In a Youth triathlon, all that changes is that the distances are adjusted to be age appropriate. Teen 13-15 will swim 9 laps, bike 3 miles, and run 1 mile; those 9-12 swim 5 laps, bike 2 miles, and run ½ mile; and the 6-8 year olds will swim 3 laps, bike 1 mile, and run ½ mile. First, second, and third awards will be given in each age category for each sex. "We want to get young people competing for fun," Orangeburg Striders President Jim Johnson said. "Last year, we had a friendly neighborhood, back yard party atmosphere, and that’s what we’re going for again."

Registration is free to all who pre-register by June 24th. For this very reasonable price–nothing–each competitor also gets a t-shirt, and a membership in the sanctioning body, USA Triathlon. "We and the USAT try to encourage young people to take up these healthy habits now, so they can last for a lifetime," Jim said.
Last year was our first year running the youth triathlon, and we learned about how to make it a smooth operation. For instance, we learned to start a each wave of athletes precisely on the minute to make the math easier when comparing scores. Addition and subtraction sound pretty simple, they can be surprisingly complex when you are subtracting seconds from minutes and you only have minutes to do so. .
Last year we held at the beginning of the summer, to mark the official kickoff of the summer season. This year, we are holding it at the end of the summer to say goodbye to the season and welcome and the fall athletic season.
Joe Bates, coming off of a successful summer with the YMCA swim team (which saw them go to the state finals) is helping out with the swim portion, and the recruitment of athletes. The Wellness Celebration is underwriting the costs of registration for all youth who preregister. Any funds above and beyond costs will be used towards our ongoing efforts to support people and their families afflicted with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy.
Volunteers will be at the Family Baptist Life Center from 5-7 to take registration and to give out packets. All athletes should plan on arriving an hour early – around 7:30-- Saturday morning for body markings and instructions. And of course, no one will be allowed to enter without a bicycle helmet.
The pool is set, the road is calling, and the trophies await. All that remains is for the competitors to show us all what they are made of.

Contact http://www.orangeburgstriders.com/ for more information.

Meet Our Newest Member

LORI SALLEY-Partner with McGregor and Co., LLP.

I am a graduate of Furman University. I reside in Orangeburg with my husband, Richard Salley, and two children, Ryan, 16 years old, and Lindsay, 5 years old. We are members of First Baptist Church. I am a board member of the Maude Schiffley Chapter of the SPCA and a sustainer member of Junior Service League. Hobbies are limited to going to athletic events that my children are involved in.

Group Study Exchange, and Basketball

At our August 8 meeting, we had two speakers. Lt. Loretta Davis, who our club supported to be on the GSE team to South Africa, used our club as a practice session for the presentation she hopes to give to South African Rotary clubs. In a brief five minute tour, she took us through the brief slideshow of her life and her work in law enforcement that she’ll be showing to South African Rotarians. Quite obviously brimming with excitement, she thanked us for supporting her and promised a full report when she gets back.
There will be an official send-off on August 30, at the State room in the Columbia Airport. Any Rotarians interested in attending should let President Bill know.
Afterwards, Catie McClain introduced our main speaker, Tim Carter, the new Men’s basketball coach at South Carolina State University. A practiced and polished speaker, Coach Carter filled us in on some of the highlights of his career as a coach. Of the 12 years he spent as a head coach, Coach Carter saw virtually all his athletes graduate, with the exception of one young man who opted to go into the NBA instead.
In a climate which often rewards programs that have an 80 % graduation rate, this is a tremendous accomplish. "The secret," he said afterwards, "is recruiting athletes who want to succeed," both on and off the court.
He is proud of having taken two teams to the NCAA tournament, and equally proud of having achieved the winningest record of any coach in the league when he was head coach of the University of Texas at San Antonio. He expressed optimism for the season upcoming, though he came on board later than he would have liked. "It’s hard to believe, but by May, much of the recruiting is over. Still we’ve had success. Whenever you can recruit an All-American to your team, you’ve got to be pleased."
At the heart of his talk, though, was an inspirational story of a young man who had to have a serious operation. Realizing he’d never told his mother he loved her, he called her before the operation to tell her just that. Of course she assured him he was going to be all right and not to worry.
He was. She wasn’t. Just a short time after his operation, his mother died. "That young man was me," he said. "Can you imagine that if I hadn’t had a life-threatening illness, my mother might have died without my ever telling her I loved her? God is good! If you have any family members you haven’t said ‘I love you,’ to recently, what are you waiting for? Tell them you love them."
Club Notes
Did you know that our district now has 863 Paul Harris Fellows? According to an announcement made by Catie McClain on behalf of the district, members donated $861,463 to the Paul Harris Foundation, a district record.. . . Do you have any news that you want in a club bulletin? Let President Bill know. . . Apparently, some of us still haven’t paid our dues. Remember the four way test: Is it true that you owe Rotary Dues? Is it fair to pay them? Will it build Goodwill and better friendships? Is it beneficial for all concerned? Please, please, please get in touch with Frank McLeod with your payment.