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
On November 12, Bonnie Jean Sherbert, representing the South Carolina Optimist District, presented a Distinguished Lieutenant Governor Citation to St. Andrews Optimist Jay Downs for his recent service. After his term as Club President, Jay had become interested in the inner workings of the District and stepped forward to volunteerContinue Reading
Representing Lexington County Animal Services, Department Director/Chief Roy Mefford spoke on November 5 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews/Irmo. Previously, Mefford had been a law enforcement professional. After assuming his current duties and doing an evaluation of the Department, he set several goals: 1. Standardizing officers’ uniforms for moraleContinue Reading
Milos Vasiljevic, Principal Program Manager for the Carolina Crossroads project, spoke on October 29 at the St. Andrews Optimists’ breakfast meeting. Prior to assuming his present position, Vasiljevic had been heavily involved in a similar undertaking in Phoenix and in a bridge reconstruction in New York City. The speaker mappedContinue Reading
On October 15, for the first time in the history of the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo, the club inducted four new members in one meeting. Pictured from left to right are member Don Keating administering the oath, sponsor Larry Blosser, inductee Darren Davis, inductee Grant Stouffle, sponsor AlanTaylor, inducteeContinue Reading
Michael Bundy, Chief Executive Officer for PRISMA’s Parkridge and Baptist locations, spoke on October 8 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. In his position Bundy monitors the performance at his two assigned hospitals on a daily – sometimes hourly – basis. Obviously, along with all the other medical situationsContinue Reading
Irmo Town Councilman Bill Danielson, currently running for reelection, spoke on October 1 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. Councilman Danielson highlighted both near- and long-term issues that challenge the Council. Near-term, Mr. Danielson described a climate in which small businesses are struggling to remain intact and viable underContinue Reading
On September 17 St. Andrews Optimist Club donated more than $20,000 to causes it supports. The photo shows representatives of those entities. More than its 50 year history, St. Andrews Optimists have donated more than a half million dollars in similar gatherings. The common thread is that these organizations impactContinue Reading
St. Andrews Optimists launched its 51st year August 13, welcoming as its speaker Ryan Taylor, Executive Director of the Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter. The Optimist Club has been a benefactor of the Shelter for many years, supporting the vital work done there. The Shelter was founded in 1972 andContinue Reading
On July 30, St. Andrews Optimists hosted a two-speaker breakfast in order to hear from a pair of causes that the Club has supported for several years. In each case, that support has been financial and at times, in-person interaction with youth. The first speaker was Brian Riddle, Athletic Coordinator forContinue Reading