By Rick Abercrombie At the August 7 meeting of St. Andrews Optimists, the Club heard a presentation by Chris Manley, Director of the McGregor Presbyterian Preschool and by Beth Reilly, representing District 5 as a Certified Teacher Mentor. Reilly’s field of expertise is in Special Education. The number “three” holdsContinue Reading
Pictured are Optimist Club President David Kafitz, speaker sponsor Kerry Driggers, and Adina Maynard, who received a copy of the Optimist Creed. By Rick Abercrombie Adina Maynard, a highly experienced career nurse, spoke July 24 to St. Andrews Optimists. Maynard worked in the field of oncology and witnessed firsthand aContinue Reading
South Carolina’s rapid growth is creating new challenges for protecting the state’s natural resources, but the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is expanding conservation, planning and education efforts. That was the message delivered recently to the Rotary Club of Lake Murray-Irmo by Anna Huckabee Smith, Certified Wildlife BiologistContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie Representing Indian Waters Council of Scouting America – formerly Boy Scouts of America – Scott Haigler spoke recently to St. Andrews Optimists. Among other duties, Haigler is a National Camping School Course Director with the organization. The Council includes 19 counties in South Carolina. Haigler outlined aContinue Reading
Pictured are speaker sponsor Buck Wilson, Mitch Ray, and Optimist Club President David Kafitz. Ray received a copy of the Optimist Creed. By Rick Abercrombie In a world protected by the military and by first responders, there is an ongoing need for “post-traumatic growth.” Speaking to St. Andrews Optimists JulyContinue Reading
Pictured are speaker sponsor David Deal, Bonnoitt, and Optimist Club President David Kafitz Jim Thorpe In 1913, Jim Thorpe, who many argue was the greatest athlete in U.S. history, was forced to return the gold medals he had won in the 1912 Olympics. Researchers had discovered that Thorpe had playedContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie Since 1999, Pawmetto Lifeline has worked tirelessly to “address the companion pet overpopulation issue in South Carolina.” Jack Sloan, the Pawmetto Director of Development, recently visited the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo to describe the mission and daily workings of the organization. The long view of itsContinue Reading
Pictured are Donna Williams from LawyerLisa, speaker sponsor Kerry Powers, Lisa Hostetler Brown, and Optimist Club President David Kafitz. By Rick Abercrombie Lisa Hostetler Brown, known in South Carolina as “LawyerLisa,” spoke recently to St. Andrews Optimists at their Friday breakfast meeting. Donna Williams, LawyerLisa’s Markeing Director, was also inContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie Lieutenant Lee Barrett, a member of Lexington Sheriff’s Department Community Action Team, was a recent speaker at St. Andrews Optimists’ breakfast meeting. Lt. Barrett first rendered a broad “macro” picture of the Department’s coverage and then listed a variety of services offered. The County does not houseContinue Reading
Pictured are Optimist Club President David Kafitz, Paul Cumbers, and speaker host Roger Johansson. By Rick Abercrombie In a third visit to St. Andrews Optimists over the past three years, Paul Cumbers, Executive Director of Lighthouse for Life, provided the Club with a review of Lighthouse’s mission and services andContinue Reading
By Rick Abercrombie On April 17, St. Andrews Optimist Club welcomed as its speaker Clint Shealy, Assistant City Manager, Columbia Water. Shealy was on duty non-stop during the events following the “Thousand Year Flood” of 2015 and as such, was exactly the right person to detail the damages and rebuildingContinue Reading