by Joan Perry | Contributing Writer
The premise of this West Ashley Wanderer column was that as I wander around our neighborhood I might happen upon interesting things to feature … and I have!
As a child, my wandering territory was wider. When I was seven years old, my parents packed up seven small children and answered a call for my father to serve as headmaster in an elementary school in rural tribal northeast India. After he built the school desks, painted the blackboards and installed all of us barefoot with little chalkboards in hand in the school, my father determined that he should go into the town of Shillong and connect with some of the businessmen in the area. He joined the Shillong Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club was all men at that time, but on occasion, they would invite the wives and families and lay out a dazzling buffet of Indian treats. We desperately wanted to go but were shy kids and tempted to hide behind the drapes and sneak out a hand to grab sweets off the buffet table. My father was determined to instill manners, and as we complained that we didn’t know what to say to Rotarians, he half-jokingly responded, “Just ask them where they were born and why.”
Today’s Rotary Club is not my father’s club, but the goals of service and connection remain unchanged. I walked up the Bikeway to meet members of the Rotary Club of West Ashley — Charleston, in the new Mulberry Food Forest where they had recently completed a service project planting fruit trees and bushes. As they talked about community engagement and service, the “why” was clear, but in my father’s honor, I had fun asking them where they were born.
President-elect Lisa Geoffroy, shared that the Rotary Club of West Ashley — Charleston (formerly Rotary Club of St. Andrews) is celebrating almost 75 years since being chartered. With 65 members, close to 35 attend Thursday weekly lunch meetings at Bessinger BBQ, which member T. O. Sanders – Sanders Law Firm, LLC, declares, “The best food and most fun of any club in town, and that’s a fact!” Recent speakers have included Governor McMaster, Henry Tecklenburg, Anita Zucker, Luther Reynolds, and will soon welcome Mayor William Cogswell.
The club raises funds to give to local nonprofits, and members participate in service projects throughout the year. Dave Ensor – HLA Inc., described providing and serving lunch at the HOPE Center each Christmas as one of his favorite projects. More than 350 meals are served at this festive event each year.
Will Connor (Connor Engineering) had happy memories of selling Christmas trees, charity golf tournaments at Kiawah and booths at the Fair, but his favorite project is the annual competition for students scholarships. The scholarships are from a long-ago endowment and awarded annually. One year more than $50,000 was granted to students attending state schools and the students and parents joined Rotarians at a regular meeting.
Like my dad, Emma Hart’s (The Best Rentals), father Greg Hart was a Rotarian as well. When he retired, he encouraged her to take his place. Emma was born in Charleston but says joining the club helped her connect with the community in ways she never had before.
Dave Ensor has been a member for seven years. He talked about making friendships that he anticipates lasting forever. The club holds social activities from time to time at West Ashley establishments, which are a good time for prospective members to get a feel for the club. A popular annual oyster roast is held at Truluck Island.
I first met President-Elect Lisa Geoffroy (Carolina One Real Estate), in the midst of the pandemic when she coordinated local donations of lunches to area hospitals and first responders, so I knew she practiced the service part. Lisa joined Rotary when she moved to the area to connect to the community and give back. She explains that just as West Ashley is, the club is in a growth phase and welcomes new members.
Lisa shared the club’s current major fundraiser where you can enter to win $50,000 towards a Hendrick Charleston Vehicle of choice. Early bird drawings offer a chance to win $2,500. Each ticket costs $100, but only 1,500 raffle tickets will be sold. The proceeds support Trident Literacy, My Sister’s House, Fisher House, Water Mission and the Lowcountry Food Bank. Those are all charities I support, so I just bought my ticket at: www.westashleyrotaryraffle.com.
Stay healthy my friends and wave at me as I wander. Send ideas for upcoming columns to westashleywanderer@gmail.com.
