As golfers approached the 12th hole, they were greeted by wonderful smells and happy Rotarians. Chad Bordeaux grilled fresh shrimp with his special secret seasoning and Amy Gulig Strong served her world famous peach cobbler. The golfers enjoyed fun, fellowship and great food with their local Rotarians.
The Lake Wylie Rotary Club was a sponsor at the recent Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic. This annual event is a great way to connect with the community and “strut your stuff!”
Last week, the Sweet Repeat Charitable Foundation which runs a local thrift store in Lake Wylie, issued its 2018-2019 Grants to 27 local non-profits for the outstanding work they do in our community. The Lake Wylie Rotary Club Foundation was a proud recipient of one of the generous grants which will be used to complete local community projects, including the Josh the Baby Otter project which focuses on water safety and literacy project.
While we are thankful to be the recipient of one of these grants, we are even more thankful that we have organizations such as Sweet Repeat in our community, and grateful of the work that all of their volunteers do on a daily basis to make their operation run.
We urge our friends and neighbors to support the Sweet Repeat Charitable Foundation by contributing their unwanted items and shopping at their store. All of the funds that they raise goes right back into improving our community.
Join us for a fun evening of fellowship and fun as we raise money to eradicate polio!
When: Wednesday, October 23rd from 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Where: Dust Off Brewing Company, 130 W. White Street, Rock Hill SC 29730
Cost: $30 includes up to three pints of craft beer and a souvenir pint glass. (Advanced ticket pricing of $25 has ended.)
Tickets are available at the door or online at the below link.
When buying tickets, selecting a particular Rotary Club will ensure that club gets credit for the ticket sale. You may also select Regular and all clubs will share credit for the ticket sale.
If you’re in Lake Wylie and you spot an otter, look a little closer, it just may be Josh the Baby Otter and he’s here helping local children learn about water safety.
In the last week, the Rotary Club of Lake Wylie once again brought the Josh the Baby Otter water safety and literacy program to the Kindergarten classes at three area schools -Oakridge Elementary, Crowders Creek Elementary, and Bethel Elementary.
The Rotarians talked to the children about what water safety means and read the book Josh the Baby Otter. The book delivers the message of the importance of learning how to float and never going near the water without an adult in a fun and age-appropriate way.
Then a special guest stopped by, Josh the Otter, to dance with the Kindergarteners to the song “Learn to Float.” Josh gave all the children hugs and high fives before each child received their own copy of Josh the Baby Otter, a coloring book, and sticker.
Ten Rotarians participated in the programs, but the entire club raised funds and put the book packets together. Matt McGarity, who wore the Josh costume, said, “I’m happy to be part of a program that teaches kids about an important and life-saving topic in an engaging and exciting way.”
Janet Gaglione, expressed at a Club meeting that, “this is one of the most rewarding things we get to do as Rotarians.”
Josh the Baby Otter was created by Blake and Kathy Collingsworth in memory of their son Joshua who passed away in a pool drowning incident in June 2008. Their goal is to prevent future drowning tragedies through early childhood education and water safety courses.
According to the CDC, drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children ages 1-4. And the second leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1-14. The month of May is National Water Safety Month.
For more information on the Josh the Otter program visit joshtheotter.org.
At their 8th Annual Celebration of Service event, the Rotary Club of Lake Wylie awarded Amy Strong with the 2018-19 Rotarian of the Year Award. The Award is given annually to a Rotarian that exemplifies the motto, Service Above Self.
2019 Rotarian of the Year Amy Strong with award presenter, Chad Bordeaux
Some of the immense contributions and accomplishments that Amy has made to the club since joining include:
Organization and expansion of the club’s Josh the Baby Otter Water Safety and Literacy Program
Helping organize the clubs shoebox program through Samaritan’s Purse
Helping to provide a match to the clubs Alzheimer’s Research charity, The CART Fund
Participation in the clubs picnic tables project for the YMCA
Instrumental in the canned food drive that netted over 2 tons of food for the Clover Area Assistance Center
One of the top club members in sales during the charity raffle which funds the clubs service projects
Attended and graduated from The Rotary Leadership Insitiute, one of only three club members to accomplish this in the club’s history
Attending District events such as Membership training, Pre-PETS and PETS (President-Elect Training Seminar)
Joined 33,000 other Rotarians from 174 countries around the world for the 2017 Rotary International Convention
Awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award from The Rotary Foundation in June of 2018 for her support of its charitable efforts around the world.
Maintained perfect attendance and engagement since she joined Rotary in 2016
Volunteers in our community outside of Rotary with the Clover School District and the Community Cafe
The Lake Wylie Rotary Club held its annual Celebration of Service on Thursday, April 25th, where it awarded its 2019 Spirit of Service Scholarship. The scholarships are issued annually to students residing in the Clover School District who has demonstrated a heart for community service.
The event featured the Top 3 Finalists for the scholarships, all from Clover High School. After welcome and introductions, the club listened to presentations from each of the finalists. Each student was given the opportunity to make a presentation about their service, and a team of Rotarian judges selected the winners.
Grayson Janus address members and guest of the Lake Wylie Rotary Club
The winner of the $2,000 scholarship was Grayson Janus. Miss Janus is the current President of the Clover High School Interact Club. She first developed her passion for community service while serving in the girl scouts for 7 years. Since starting high school, she has been involved in a number of community service activities including the scouting for food project for the Clover Area Assistance Center, Riversweep, fundraising for Hurricane Harvey victims, the Interact’s Veteran’s Day breakfast and the Special Olympics. She also received the Interact Clubs 2017-18 Service Above Self Award. She plans to attend Clemson University and major in business.
Grace Sain talks to the Rotary Club and its guests about service
Grace Sain won a $1,000 scholarship. Miss Sain has served as the Vice President of the Clover High School Interact Club. She participated in numerous Interact service projects and talked to us about the Honduras bake sale that the Interact Club did to provide money for schools in Honduras to build bathroom facilities for the students. She also participated in a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic. She hopes to continue serving through her career in nursing. She plans to attend Queens University in the fall. Lastly, Miss Sain challenged everyone in attendance to go out and get their hands dirty and do some community service.
Angelica Jeanty addresses the members of the Lake Wylie Rotary Club and their guests
The winner of the other $1,000 scholarship was Angelica Jeanty. After serving in the Giving Back program in middle school, Miss Jeanty continued her life of service with the Interact Club – serving as an officer for each of her four years at Clover High School. She helped run projects such as a Valentine’s party for Lake Wylie Assisted Living, Moped for Memphis and the Special Olympics. She plans to major in exercise science at the University of South Carolina.
The Lake Wylie Rotary Club is very proud to award these three outstanding students scholarships who all exemplify the Rotary International Motto of “Service Above Self”. The Lake Wylie Rotary Club Foundation is able to provide this opportunity to our local students primarily from the funds raised by the annual charity raffle held in the fall.
Club President David Redding, Anjelica Jeanty, Grayson Janus, and Jimmy Roach, the Faculty Advisor for the Clover Interact Club
At their 8th Annual Celebration of Service event, the Rotary Club of Lake Wylie awarded Gene McCarthy with the 2018-19 Unsung Hero of the Year Award. The Award is given annually to a non-Rotarian in our community that exemplifies the motto, Service Above Self.
Gene McCarthy began volunteering for the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program in 1999. The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program has more than 5,000 locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers, and senior centers. There’s no fee and no sales pitch for other services and AARP membership is not required.
Eugene McCarthy, recipient of the 2018-19 Unsung Hero Award with his grand daughter and Rotarian Ed Lindsey who presented the award
Gene, through this service, offers free tax preparation help to anyone especially if you’re 50 and older, and can’t afford a tax preparation service. After seven years he took over the local coordinator duties. He “manages” 12 Tax Consultants and helps prepare hundred’s of individual’s taxes. He makes sure there are enough consultants available to assist clients. He also sets up the equipment, makes sure the software is installed and operational, and the Library is set up properly.
Gene is onsite at the Clover library two days a week and many hours before and after the actual client work making sure the client’s taxes are processed correctly and in a timely manner. This program helps hundreds of local residents every year. He has been the coordinator for twelve years and had participated in the program for a total of 19 years and growing.
Please join us in our continued fight to eleviate poverty in our community by supporting the Clover Area Assistance Center(CAAC) by donating food items. We have entered into a challenge with the Clover Rotary Club to help get the shelfs at CAAC stocked!
Rotarian Mary Sieck Dropping off Food at Clover Area Assistance Center
Non perishable food donations will be collected and donated to CAAC. The club that brings in the most donations will choose a cocktail hour at a local establishment that will be hosted by the losing Club.
If you would like to help with this challenge, please bring your donations to the Clover School District YCMA (where we meet) and leave them in the collection bind labeled, “Keep it Local.” You can also drop off your donations at Allan Gregory Wealth Management (next to the Lake Wylie Chamber) or contact your favorite Rotarian to arrange a pick-up!
CAAC is the central nonprofit service agency within the boundaries of the Clover School District that those with needs turn to and those with resources support. Services are provided through the time and talent of three employees and over forty volunteers. Their Full Choice Pantry is 100% dependent on the community for all product donations, which is the foundation of their “Keep It Local! Feed the Need in OUR Community” campaign. Each month, they provide food, paper products, and toiletry items to 180-220+ families
