Rotary Club of the Lowcountry
The Little Club That Can
story by ERIN WALLACE photos courtesy of ROTARY CLUB OF THE LOWCOUNTRY
Beaufort may be small, but it quickly turns into a mighty force when the people of this town aim to accomplish whatever it is they set their minds to. One of these accomplishments is the town’s steady and thriving Rotary Club of the Lowcountry. Where there is a need in Beaufort, the Rotary Club finds a way. They quite literally will volunteer anywhere in this town, wherever help is needed for any age. This kind of help is a rarity in a world that would rather take the back seat to life’s demands as it is the easiest option. Thus, the Rotary Club of the Lowcountry are modern day superheroes that deserve the spotlight as they often serve behind the scenes, volunteering their time and energy as much as possible. What you need to know is that Beaufort’s special club was founded in May 1987 and is known as the “Fun Club” and the “Little Club That Can.” A club like this reminds us that there is strength in numbers and there is more to life than just our own daily lives. All we have to do is work on transitioning from inward to outward-focused lives, and we’ll find a multitude of people longing for help.
Speaking of helping others, Rotary International is one of the biggest service organizations in the world! The mission of Rotary, as stated on its website, is to “provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.” This kind of selfless service is so common in this town that there are three clubs in total. How incredible is that! It is important to note that the Rotary Club of the Lowcountry is classified as a small club in Rotary District 7770 as there are about 36 members currently, which even includes those who are involved online that are known as “e-members.” When COVID hit a couple of years ago, online video streaming was introduced to the club because it was necessary for their weekly meetings. This online opportunity continues to this day, allowing those who aren’t able to show up in person on a regular basis to participate and serve.
Robert (Bob) Bible, the president of the Rotary Club, states, “We are proud of our community outreach and associated fundraising,” and he should be proud of all the success that has followed over these past three decades! However, this club is not able to do what they do without their sponsors who aid their well-known fundraisers. Their next upcoming fall fundraiser is the Annual Oyster Roast, which occurs the first Saturday in November at Live Oak Park in Port Royal. In fact, Oyster Roast Chairperson Pinky Harriott says this is quite the event to attend as it is so much fun! There are door prizes from their sponsors, a silent and live auction, as well as music entertainment and more oysters to eat than you can imagine. You don’t want to miss this! And, the best part of this particular fundraiser is that all the funds raised go back into the community via the nonprofit organizations the Rotary Club is affiliated with. This oyster roast is one example of the Rotary Club as a gift that keeps giving and makes a difference in our community. Their Memory Links Golf Tournament is another important fundraiser that the Rotary Club hosts in June to benefit Alzheimer’s research.
Concerning community outreach, the club sponsors the Beaufort High School Interact Club and has for over the last 30 years! Fun fact: Pinky was a youth in the same Interact Club as she grew up in this community, and she is now serving as the President-Elect in addition to her Oyster Roast Chairperson responsibilities. This demonstrates how the student’s leadership role transitions from Interact to the Rotary Club and its vital importance for the club’s future and success. There’s no doubt that Interact Club reflects the need for our younger generation to get involved after high school. The young adults of Beaufort are introduced into this club of beautifully service-minded adults who want to improve the lives of everyone around them, and I am so glad they have Pinky as an example to look up to!
In addition to Interact, Rotary members volunteer in the community through: Adopt-A-Highway, Beach Sweep, Beaufort Charities, Rotary Readers in the local schools, the annual Beaufort Water Festival, Walk for Water, raising funds for Polio eradication, and many more. The club is also looking forward to volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and CAPA this year. It doesn’t end there as the club funds the annual Anti-Bullying Campaign for Beaufort County School District in October. This program is for all sixth graders in Beaufort County Schools, where the Rotary Club has worked closely with school counselors as well as the Beaufort High School Drama Clubs for the past ten years. Also, many of the Rotary Club’s members even volunteer with other organizations in the community as one of their Rotary tenets is “Service Above Self.”
Beaufort is incredibly privileged to have a small but mighty club that has fun serving others in their free time, and we are thankful for every one of them and their fearless leader, Bob. Overall, the Lowcountry is a less lonely place with this determined club’s diligent efforts. Lastly, if you are feeling the urge to check out this pivotal club within our community after reading this, there is a weekly meeting on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. at the Sea Island Presbyterian Church on Lady’s Island. All are welcome. Further, if you want to join this club, continuously making a difference throughout the Lowcountry, visit their website at www.rotaryclubofthelowcountrybeaufort.org or www.lowcountryrotary.org.
