The Charleston Rotary Board is closely monitoring the increase in cases of COVID-19 in WV and Kanawha County. The CDCs recommendation is to wear a mask for all indoor activities where cases are high. While masks are not yet required, the Board does recommend 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.
NO MEETING
SEPTEMBER 6th, Happy Labor Day!
September 13, 2021
Danny Twilley
Assistant Dean for the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative
Ascend West Virginia
Introduced by Mary Cook
Dr. Danny Twilley is the Assistant Dean for the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative. By utilizing West Virginia University’s intellectual and social capital, Danny focuses on growing the state’s outdoor economy to make West Virginia a more desirable place to live, work, and play by leveraging the state’s expansive outdoor recreation assets. To do so, he leads initiatives that focus on talent attraction and retention, such as the Ascend WV Remote Worker Program, outdoor recreation infrastructure enhancement, asset development, business and workforce development, and research to tell the story of outdoor recreation in the state. He approaches this work by engaging with communities and facilitating academic collaborations across the University, state and local governments, outdoor industry, and related groups.
Dr. Twilley received his B.S. from Salisbury University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Ohio University. Prior to joining WVU, he spent 13 years as a faculty member in Ohio University’s Recreation and Sport Pedagogy Department where he served as a Professor of Instruction and Assistant Professor in the Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies Program. He was the Director of the University’s Ecotourism Certificate, Interim Program Coordinator, Coordinator of the Outdoor Skill Development Program, and led education abroad programs for 7 years to places such as Costa Rica and the Balkans. In addition to his academic career, he has worked for organizations such as Outward Bound, Project Adventure, Sun River Recreation Department, and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Safe to say, Danny has wasted no time on using his knowledge to improve the world around him through outdoor recreation and community.
Danny recharges his vision by connecting with nature through whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, and now that he’s back in West Virginia, skiing!
September 20, 2021
Doug Hartley
Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority
Introduced by Todd Goldman
Mr. Hartley is the Executive Director of the Kanawha Valley Regional Transport Authority (KVRTA). He will speak to our club regarding the 50th anniversary of the KVRTA, the new Downtown Charleston Transit Centre, and what is on the horizon for public transportation for Kanawha County!
September 27, 2021
Doug Hartley
Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority
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.
NEW MEMBER UPDATES:
Please welcome our newest members:
David Hicks- Embassy Suites Charleston – Individual-Transfer from Greenville, SC.
Joe Ward- Frost Brown Todd- Individual
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
SAVE THE DATE!
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.
Charleston Civic Center Coliseum
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!
Sign-Ups by the Fellowship Committee are underway!
For more information, contact Mike Fidler, Fellowship Chair at: mofidler@suddenlink.net
CELEBRATION STATION UPDATE-Under the leadership of Michelle Foster, chair of the Community Investment Committee, Rotary has been a key community player in the upgrade of this critical community park. We are working with the City of Charleston, Kanawha County Schools, Piedmont Elementary and their PTO, Childhood Language Center and the local community to make this dream a reality. We have raised $89,476 of our $100,000 goal and we need all Rotarians to help us get there. The West Virginia American Water Company Foundation recently donated $20,000 to this project. We were selected second out of nine projects submitted from a multi-state area. We have received generous donations from banks and other corporations involved with Rotary. We don’t have far to go. We hope you will agree to help us get there. All donations help! Click here to contribute!
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.