The Charleston Rotary Board is is following the CDC’s recommendation is to wear a mask for all indoor activities where cases are high. The Board recommends wearing a mask when not actively eating or drinking.
VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE IS STILL AN OPTION. Look for the invitation via email.
Invoices for the January 1. 2022 – June 30, 2022 period have been emailed. You may pay on our website at www.charlestonrotary.com. After logging in you will have an option to Renew, Update or Upgrade your membership. If you prefer you may bring a check to a meeting or send it to P.O. Box 111 Charleston, WV 25321. If you prefer to have a hard copy mailed to you, please let Mary Cook know.
February 14, 2022
Dr. Michelle Foster
Update on The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
Introduced by Christy Elliot
Dr. Michelle Foster is the President and CEO of The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation (TGKVF). Before joining TGKVF in 2016, Michelle was the CEO of the Kanawha Institute for Social Research & Action, Inc. (KISRA), a community-based, non-profit organization that strengthens West Virginia families through health, employment, asset development, and learning initiatives. Michelle’s original career was as a chemical engineer, most recently at Union Carbide Corporation.
Michelle’s chemical engineering undergraduate degree was conferred at City College of New York. Additionally, she has a doctorate in community economic development (CED) from Southern New Hampshire University and two master’s degrees – one in CED from SNHU and another in engineering management from Marshall University. Her doctoral dissertation was entitled, “The Contributions of Pre-Incarceration Experiences and Prison-Based Programs to Post-Release Employment Acquisition, Retention and Recidivism.” Most recently, she completed additional university-level studies in impact investing at the University of Oxford, Saïd Business School as well as in nonprofit management and leadership at Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Through the years, Michelle’s work has been recognized locally and nationally. She has received many awards including the Woman of Achievement Award from the YWCA (2020); Living the Dream Award from the WV Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission (2016); Woman on a Mission Award from Union Mission (2016); Civil Rights Day Award from the State of West Virginia, Office of the Governor (2015); Dr. Martin Luther King, Humanitarian Award from the Saint Albans Ministerial Association (2015); Fatherhood Champion of Change recognition from President Barack Obama at the White House (2012); National Association of University Women, Charleston Branch, Leadership Award (2012); Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Theta Psi Chapter, Citizen of the Year (2012); Charleston Police Department, Award for Community Service (2011); U.S. Small Business Administration, Minority Business Champion (2009); and West Virginia State University, President’s Award for Community Service (2009).
Michelle lives a life of community service and is actively engaged with several organizations in West Virginia and the Appalachian region. She is a board member of Women for Economic and Community Development (WELD), WV Women’s Business Center, WV Workforce Development, and the Charleston Rotary. In the philanthropy sector, Michelle serves as a co-chair of the Steering Committee of the Appalachia Funders Network, board member of Philanthropy West Virginia and Invest Appalachia, and founding member of African American Philanthropy in Action (a giving circle). She is the President of the Charleston-Institute (WV) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and a member of the Charleston-Institute Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Additionally, she has served as the Minister of Administration of Ferguson Memorial Baptist Church since 1997. Over the years Michelle also served on the boards of the WV Community Development Hub, Kanawha County Library, WV Center on Budget and Policy, WV Non-Profit Association, and Our Children Our Future.
In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling, attending the symphony, music festivals, and theatrical productions, making scented candles, and soul line dancing. In 2020 she launched Fostering Solutions, a podcast and blog, to encourage, enlighten, and empower. Michelle lives in Charleston and places a premium on spending quality time with her family and friends.
February 21, 2022
Joel Kuhn
Workforce Rehab Services
Introduced by David Hicks
Come join us in-person or online to hear from Joel Kuhn, Transition/Specialty Supervisor with the West Virginia Department of Rehabilitation Services, speak about the services the department offers and organizations they partner with to provide job skills assessments, career services, and life skills training for clients with disabilities.
Brian has a B.A. Psychology and M.A. Counseling from Marshall University. He has spent the last 23 years of his career serving his clients through the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services in multiple roles including Senior Rehabilitation Counselor, Quality Assurance Specialist, DRS Liaison to Region 3 Workforce and One Stop, and currently the Transition/Specialty Supervisor for the Charleston DRS office. Ms. Kuhn has also served as the agency’s representative for the Governor’s Rapid Response Team for layoffs for nearly 10 years as well.
Disclaimer: This meeting may be recorded and may be published on various social platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and websites. You can protect your identity by not providing access to your camera, revising your registration name, or limiting your participation.
Mark Your Calendar
Cost: $45 per person (combo ticket includes pre-concert reception with complimentary beer, wine, champagne, and heavy hors d’oeuvres as well as concert ticket)
Time/Date: Pre-concert reception, 6:30pm, Concert 7:30pm; Saturday February 26, 2022
Location: Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV
- Rotary will have a block of 60 tickets held for the concert
- Deadline for guaranteed tickets is Friday, February 18, 2022 (1 week before the concert)
- All Rotary Club of Charleston purchased tickets will be held at will-call for pickup at the Clay Center under the Rotarian’s name beginning Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The box office hours are Tuesday–Friday, 10:00am–5:00pm. Tickets on Saturday, February 26, 2022 can be picked up beginning at 10:00am through the beginning of the concert at 7:30pm. Club members are encouraged to pick up their tickets ahead of the concert to reduce wait time the night of the event.
- Information on ticket purchase coming soon.
The Program Committee invites any and all members to join us every Monday at 1:00 in our meeting room. We only meet for 20-30 minutes and we plan our weekly speakers. We need new energy and encourage all members to join us!
Vaccines are encouraged! The Board of Directors is in full support of the Governor’s, as well as the Health Department’s, efforts to vaccinate the citizens of our great State and County. We encourage all members to support this effort and get vaccinated. If you are still in need of a vaccine, please go to www.vaccinefinder.org and locate a vaccine site near you. You can even make an appointment there. If you do not use the internet, you can also call the WV COVID Vaccine Hotline at 1-833-734-0965 and they will help you schedule an appointment.
LOCAL ROTARY CLUB MAKE-UP LOCATIONS
MONDAY
The Program Committee will resume weekly meetings at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center when in-person meetings commence, directly after the regularly scheduled meeting. Parking is free just let the parking attendant know you are with the Rotary Club of Charleston.
TUESDAY
Putnam Rotary Club Meeting begins at 12:00 noon at Area 34
7013, 971 WV-34 in Hurricane.
WEDNESDAY
Vandalia Club meets at Edgewood Country Club Wednesdays from 7:30 am – 8:30 am. The last Wednesday of the month is a social or service project.
THURSDAY
St. Albans Rotary Club meets every Thursday at 12:00 noon in their new meeting location at City National Bank 560 4th Street, Saint Albans, WV 25177.
South Charleston Rotary Club meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 12:00 noon. Meetings are located at Little Creek Country Club, South Charleston, WV.
Other Ways to Make-up a Meeting:
1. The board unanimously approved another avenue to get additional credit for attendance. In addition to attending a committee meeting, doing an online make-up, or visiting another Rotary Club you can now get one meeting credit for every new member prospect/guest you bring to a regular Monday meeting. The credit will apply during the same quarter in which you bring the potential member/guest. This is a great way to both make up attendance and recruit new members into our club. Contact Paul White with questions.
2. To attend a make-up meeting online, click the link below: Rotary Club Online make-up location: http://www.rotaryeclubone.org/ The online system is set up to provide written confirmation of the make-up to the person who actually did it. The member is then responsible for providing confirmation to their Rotary Club Administrator. Please forward a copy of your confirmation letter to rotarycwv@gmail.com to receive proper credit.