The June 17 speaker for St. Andrews Optimists was Tina Wilkerson, owner and founder of Elite Personal Training. Her business opened in 2008. A few years prior to opening, Wilkerson undertook a personal makeover to improve her fitness level. She spoke of a family history of poor health and ofContinue Reading

Irmo Town Councilman Bill Danielson spoke recently to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. In his presentation, in addition to taking questions for the Club members, Danielson updated those in attendance on three key areas, among many, on which he is focused: Broad Road widening project, which is running behindContinue Reading

If it touches Lake Murray, either along shorelines or within the lake itself, Billy Chastain from Dominion Energy is responsible for its management. Chastain, who spoke on June 3 to St. Andrews Optimists, outlined some of his areas of responsibility. Lake Murray offers more than 650 miles of shoreline andContinue Reading

The Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo held their 36th Annual GolfTournament on Monday, May 9th at Golden Hills Golf & Country Club inLexington. The tournament was presented by Ken Shuler Schools andCorporate Sponsors included Ameris Bank-Irmo, Charles Elfert Family Farmsand John Mitchell Realty. All proceeds benefit youth programs in Irmo.Continue Reading

The St. Andrews Optimists Club welcomed Amanda Dupree as its featured speaker on May 13. Dupree is the Regional Development Director for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). She is responsible for fundraising efforts in the Georgia-South Carolina Region. Despite its name, LLS actually includes all blood cancers, such as HodgkinsContinue Reading

Mike Gula, Executive Director of Columbia Metropolitan Airport, spoke on May 6 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. The club’s speaker host was member Rick Calhoun, who happens to be a commercial pilot. In his presentation, Gula brought the club up to date on the current status of theContinue Reading

The St. Andrews Optimists Club inducted two new members on March 25.  Pictured, Optimist Don Keating administers the oath of membership to Misty Whetsell and J. B. Beckett. Left to right are Kerry Powers and Jim Turner who were the new member sponsors.Continue Reading

Shirley Clark, CLC (Certified Leadership Coach) spoke to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo March 11. She serves primarily in the field of corporate coaching. Clark brings with her a diversified background, including having been Executive Director of the Women’s Center of Washington, DC and Northern Virginia, now in itsContinue Reading

Sarah Mayle, of Sarah Mayle Coaching, was the featured speaker at the December breakfast meeting of the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. Mayle became interested in coaching after working for 20 years in corporate Human Resources. Her role there was primarily devoted to training, and in so doing, she sawContinue Reading

Darren Norris, representing Franklin Defense, spoke recently at the  St. Andrews Optimists’ breakfast meeting. A 1990 Irmo High School graduate, Norris has a U.S. Navy and civilian law enforcement background and blends that experience into his current activities.  The first such venture is his ongoing training of a variety ofContinue Reading

Bonnie Jean Sherbert, Past Governor of the South Carolina Optimist District, spoke to St. Andrews Optimists on November 12. The motto of Optimist International is “Friend of Youth,” and its nationally supported cause is childhood cancer. Sherbert has taken those ideas a step farther and has formed a virtual ChildhoodContinue Reading