Serving Barnwell County and its neighbors since 1852
The Rotary Club of Barnwell County is now a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club.
The club celebrated the accomplishment on September 2 during a social gathering at Red Hill Grill in Barnwell. Club members were joined by Rotary District 7770 Governor Sandy Morckel and District 7770 Foundation Chair Paul Walter.
District 7770 Governor Sandy Morckel speaks to the Barnwell County Rotary Club on Sept. 2.
Jonathan Vickery
“It’s a testament to the dedication of every single one of you and legacy of service that you continue to thrive. It’s a symbol of your deep commitment to a single powerful idea – service above self. Our collective efforts can change lives,” said Walter.
The Paul Harris Fellow was started in 1957 to acknowledge individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation, which supports Rotary International's humanitarian efforts focused on improving health, education, and alleviating poverty worldwide.
“It doesn’t just sit in a bank account,” said Walter of the foundation. “It goes out and does incredible things.”
The club added 12 new Paul Harris Fellows, including Angela Cotton, Bob Snead, Jonathan Vickery, Reid Boylston, Shellie Bumgarner, Tommy Boyleston, Angie Overton, Beth Overton, Annie Tyler, Wil Alexander, Amanda Daff and Franklin McCormack. The new additions mean the Rotary Club of Barnwell County is now a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club, a distinction for clubs in which all dues-paying members are Paul Harris Fellows.
Walter said he was honored to be in attendance for the occasion because “Barnwell is a special place.” His mother, Pegilie Walter, grew up in Barnwell and he often visited to see his grandparents. Being in Red Hill Grill was also special because it previously was home to Berley’s Pharmacy, where Walter often visited.
Rotarian Lynn McEwen, a Paul Harris Fellow for several years, made it a personal commitment to support The Rotary Foundation after hearing a speech on its impact years ago. She started giving a monthly donation and reached major donor status last year when her donations reached $10,000.
Members of the Rotary Club of Barnwell County met September 2 to celebrate being a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club. Pictured left to right: Pam Rush,
Bob Snead, Angela Cotton, Don Alexander, Reid Boylston, Jason Stapleton, Jonathan Vickery, Crissie Stapleton, Lynn McEwen, and Shellie Bumgarner.
Nikki Fanning
“Rotary is professional, social and personal. Rotary brings people from all walks of life to work together for a common goal. From health to education, commodities and comfort, Rotary works to aid communities that need assistance,” said McEwen.
She gave each Rotary member present a coin to serve as a reminder of Rotary’s impact, both locally and globally. The front of the coin states Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” while the back is inscribed with the Four-Way Test of Rotary’s beliefs:
“Take this coin out into the world. Find a new member to join us. Commit to giving to the foundation. Find new ways to do good in our community. Don’t let it sit,” said McEwen.
Don Alexander, membership chair of the Rotary Club of Barnwell County, said the club always welcomes new members to join in the effort to make an impact on not only the local community but also the world. Several potential new members attended the celebration.
The Rotary Club of Barnwell County is now a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club.
He spoke of some of the projects the club is involved with locally, including the swim program to promote water safety, which the club would like to expand to all third graders in Barnwell County by partnering with the school district. The club also sponsors the Secret Santa program to help children in need, the dictionary project and little wooden libraries to promote literacy, and recognizes high school students for displaying “Service Above Self”. The club will sponsor its annual scarecrow village fundraiser in October with proceeds benefiting various local and global causes. Funding from clubs across the world helps provide clean water, eradicate diseases, and promote education.
“It’s the power of the global force for good that Rotary is,” said Morckel of the Barnwell County club’s example of the impact Rotary has all over the world.
The September 2 event was also a celebration of the club’s 35th anniversary. The Rotary Club of Barnwell County was founded June 19, 1990.
The Rotary Club of Barnwell County meets the second and fourth Thursday of every month at lunchtime.
Anyone interested in joining can email barnwellrotary@gmail.com or contact any member.
