The Charleston Rotary Board is closely monitoring the increase in cases of COVID-19 in WV and Kanawha County. The CDC’s recommendation is to wear a mask for all indoor activities where cases are high and Kanawha County is now included. 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 for that platform. We will continue to monitor the cases and make appropriate decisions to protect all Rotarians.
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Hybrid meetings continue in September. Look for your invitation. If you or anyone you know does not receive an invitation or a newsletter, please email rotarycwv@gmail.com to have someone added.
September 27, 2021
Sean O’Leary
Regional Economic Recovery Post COVID
Introduced by Justin Southern
Sean is the senior policy analyst at the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. Since joining the Center in 2010, Sean has authored numerous reports on working family issues, economic development, and state and federal budget and tax policy, including annual reports on the state budget and the State of Working West Virginia. Sean also collaborates with West Virginia Kids Count for the annual West Virginia Kids Count Data Book and serves on the board of directors for the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition. Sean holds a B.A. in political science and economics and a Master of Public Administration from West Virginia University.
October 4, 2021
Dr. Mark Curtis
WOWK Investigative Reporter
Introduced by Bob Brunner
Dr. Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is a 44-year professional in Radio and TV, all over America. He is now Chief Political Reporter for Nexstar Broadcasting Group. He is based at WOWK-TV13 in Charleston, but will also reports for the group’s five other TV stations: WTRF-TV7 Wheeling; WVNS-TV59 Bluefield-Beckley; and, WBOY-TV12 Clarksburg, as well as WDDM-TV 25 Hagerstown/Martinsburg and WDCW-TV 50 Washington, DC, in addition to all company internet platforms. He hosts the weeknight 5:30 pm network newscast on all stations, “West Virginia Tonight,” as well as the weekend public affairs program, “Inside West Virginia Politics.”
Between January 8, 2010 and March 10, 2015, he was the Chief Political Reporter, as well as Weekend Anchor and Weekday Morning Co-Anchor at WLNE-TV6 (ABC) in Providence, Rhode Island. Mark covered the entire 2008 & 2012 Presidential campaigns, traveling the country with all of the candidates as a reporter and political analyst for numerous media outlets.
Mark has received numerous awards for his work, including the Florida Motion Picture & Television Association’s “1989 Best Documentary” award in 1989 for a report on sightings of Unidentified Flying Objects. And the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters Association honored him with three awards including “Outstanding Spot News Coverage” in 1990 and 1992, and “Outstanding Enterprise/Investigative Report” in 1991. He has been nominated four times for Emmy Awards and was twice a regional Edward R. Morrow winner and a national finalist. Mark has covered eleven U.S. Presidential campaigns, having started with the Carter-Reagan race in 1980.
October 11, 2021
Bill Livingood
US House of Representatives Sergeant of Arms History
Introduced by Jerry Rouche
Wilson (Bill) Livingood is as an accomplished Senior Federal Law Enforcement Executive. His expertise is in all aspects of management, planning, leadership, operations, security, and emergency preparedness gained through 17 years, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, as The U.S. Congress House of Representatives Sergeant-At-Arms, and prior as a Special Agent and Senior Advisor to three Directors of the U.S. Secret Service.
As an elected member of the House of Representatives, Bill Livingood, the Sergeant at Arms, was the Chief Law Enforcement and Protocol Officer of the House of Representatives, and was responsible for the safety and security of Members of Congress and the Capitol complex. In that capacity, Mr. Livingood served as a member and as chairman of the U.S. Capitol Police Board, responsible for policy oversight over the Capitol Police, a force of 2,500 men and women. Bill also oversaw the development of extensive contacts at all levels of government in the U.S. and abroad, the coordination of Congressional delegations travel, directing security and logistics for Congressional delegations worldwide travel!
October 18, 2021
Sterling Elliott
The Sphinx Project
Introduced by Joe Tackett
Sterling Elliott will be in Charleston for an appearance with the WVSO. Prior to the start of the meeting, Sterling will demonstrate his talent with the cello.
As one of the youngest musicians to work as a sub for the New York Philharmonic, Mr. Elliott is a renowned cellist who had his solo debut at the age of seven. Beginning his studies at the age of three, Sterling is the youngest of three children, who are string instrumentalists, and rounded out The Elliott Family String Quartet.
Sterling recently won first prize in the Senior Division of the 2019 22nd Annual Sphinx Competition. Playing in prestigious locations such as San Francisco, Boston, Switzerland, and even Carnegie Hall. Sterling is now completing his cello studies at Juilliard where he is a Kovner Fellow.
The Charleston Rotary Club would like to update our member photos. If you are interested in helping us take photos each Monday, please contact
Mary Cook at rotarycwv@gmail.com.
Thank you!
INCOMING MEMBERS: Please welcome our incoming members.
Sally Barton – Education Alliance- Individual
Nicole Christian – Charleston Area Alliance- Individual
NEW MEMBER UPDATES:
Please welcome our newest members:
Joe Ward- Frost Brown Todd- Individual
David Hicks- Embassy Suites Charleston – Individual-Transfer from Greenville, SC.
And recently added members:
Ashley Deem – Thomas Combs & Spann, PLLC – Young Professional
Alex Schnulo – Northwestern Mutual – West Virginia – Individual
Bradley Harris – West Virginia American Water Company – Corporate Member
Kathy Beckett – Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC – Corporate Member
Lewis Payne- Payne Gallatin – Individual
JOIN US THIS SATURDAY! NO RSVP NECESSARY
Saturday, September 25, 2021 10AM-12 Noon
MLK MURAL PROJECT Mike Fidler, chair of the Fellowship Committee, is planning a workshop day for Rotarians and their families to come together with the City’s Director of Public Art, Jeff Pierson, to make portraits for the mural project.
Our Rotary club is participating in a significant community project, under the direction of the City of Charleston Department of Public Art, to create a mural honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This mural will be fixed to an exterior wall of the Martin Luther King Center in Charleston. Our contribution will be the addition of individual self-portraits surrounding the main portrait of Dr. King. The portraits require no artistic talent but are instead fanciful, cartoonish, or as representative as your skills permit. The project should be fun and an opportunity for fellowship.
A family-included workshop to create the self-portraits has been scheduled for Saturday, September 25, 2021, from 10AM to 12 Noon, at the Charleston Civic Center Coliseum. Refreshments will be available. The workshop will be directed by Jeff Pierson, Director of Public Art for the City of Charleston. This should be a fun outing for the whole family!
For more information, contact Mike Fidler, Fellowship Chair at: mofidler@suddenlink.net
SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
September Birthdays
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!
Reminders:
- Masks are not required but recommended for those who feel more comfortable wearing one.
- Lunch will be served buffet style with plexi-glass guards in place.
- Hand sanitizer will be provided.
- Pay-at-the-door lunches are $11.00 and can be paid via cash, check or card.
Please direct all correspondence that would normally go to Deb Coffman to Mary Cook at rotarycwv@gmail.com.
2021-2022 Board of Directors:
Christy Elliott, President
Justin Southern, President- Elect, Program Committee Chair
Michelle Foster, Secretary, Community Investment Committee Chair
Harold Holstein, Treasurer
DF Mock, Club Director, Membership Chair
Brian Sloan, Club Director, Public Image / Technology Chair
Craig Glover, Club Director, Diversity and Inclusion Chair
Mike Fidler, Club Director, Fellowship Chair
Melissa Pemberton, Club Director, Young Professionals Membership
Allison Francis, Club Director, Program Committee Secretary
Bill Scharf, Club Director
JB Akers, Club Director
Bob Welty, Immediate Past President
Mary Cook, Interim Club Administrator
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.