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. As a reminder, virtual attendance is still available and you have received an invitation to register.


MEETING ROOM CHANGE ON MONDAY

For the remainder of the year, we will move to our original meeting room (202-203) upstairs.


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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.


November Schedule:

November 15, 2021
Venus Hong Brown
From Vietnam to Charleston
Introduced by Vic Grigoraci

Venus Hong-Brown is a Chinese-Vietnamese CPA with Arnett Carbis Toothman, LLP (ACT) who is originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  She has been living in the United States for more than 8 years and currently lives in Charleston.  While completing her degree at Marshall University, Ms. Hong-Brown had two internships with ACT which supported her future post graduation as she passed the CP exams and went on to become a Senior Tax Associate and win the CPA Merit Award.



November 29, 2021
William S. Thompson
United States Attorney
Introduced by Justin Southern

William S. Thompson was sworn in as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia on October 13, 2021.  Thompson was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on August 10, 2021 and confirmed by the United States Senate on October 5, 2021. 

As United States Attorney, Thompson is the top-ranking law enforcement official in the Southern District of West Virginia.  Thompson will oversee a staff of 34 attorneys and 41 non-attorney personnel located in offices in Charleston, Huntington, and Beckley. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics.  The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States. 

Prior to taking office as United States Attorney, Thompson was a Circuit Court Judge in West Virginia’s 25th Judicial Circuit.  He was appointed to that position in 2007 and re-elected in 2008 and 2016.  Thompson presided over several treatment courts, including the first family treatment court in West Virginia.  Prior to becoming a Circuit Court Judge, Thompson practiced law at the law firm of Cook and Cook in Boone County.  There, he focused on litigation, which included representing several hundred indigent clients in criminal defense and other matters.  Thompson also previously served as President of Madison Healthcare, Inc. and as Vice President of Danville Lumber Company.

Thompson was born in Charleston and raised in Boone County, West Virginia.  He earned a degree in civil engineering from West Virginia University and a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law. 


The Fellowship Committee, in keeping with efforts to benefit youth located on Charleston’s West Side, has partnered with The Junior League of Charleston with a toiletries drive supporting “Backpack Buddies.” The program, run by The Junior League, benefits youth at Grandville and Mary C. Snow West Side Elementaries and West Side Middle School. Students are provided bags to take home on Fridays containing easy-to-prepare meals. At the request of West Side Middle School counselors, the bags will now contain much-needed basic toiletries.

The following toiletries are needed:
Combs
Deodorant
Shampoo
Conditioner
Lotion
Soap (body wash and bar soap)
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Other needed items include Kroger/shopping bags to help pack items. Items can be full- or travel-sized (it’s very helpful to collect hotel provided toiletries while traveling!).

Donated items will be collected every Monday in November at the check-in desk during Charleston Rotary meetings at the Civic Center. Direct monetary donations can be made through the following link by clicking the “Donate” button with direction to support “Backpack Buddies.”

Support Us – Junior League of Charleston West Virginia (jlcharlestonwv.org)

Please contact fellow Rotarian Jessica Westfall for questions or if your organization would like to further benefit this worthy program: jwestfall@wvsymphony.org


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 regular 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 7:30am – 8:30am. The last Wednesday of 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 on-line, click the link below: Rotary Club Online make-up location: http://www.rotaryeclubone.org/  The on-line system is set up to provide a 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.