The Rotary Club of Sumter

About Our Club

The history of the Rotary Club of Sumter-Palmetto begins with a request by Ralph Abercrombie, District Governor of District 7770, 1975-1976, to the Sumter Rotary Club to consider the formation of a second club within the City of Sumter. The Rotary Club of Sumter agreed to appoint George Moseley as Special Representative and asked him to conduct a survey of the city to determine if there was sufficient interest to organize and charter a second club. The survey was completed in January 1976 and listed forty businesses and professional firms.

The survey was submitted through DG Abercrombie to Rotary International. Upon receiving approval from RI, the Rotary Club of Sumter voted on April 19, 1976 to sponsor a new club. Phil Edwards, President, and John Chappell, Secretary, affirmed the vote to Rotary International. George Moseley organized the process by which individuals were invited to affiliate with the new club.

On May 27, 1976, a formal application that contained the names of twenty-two Charter Members was submitted to Rotary International for approval. On June 30, 1976, George Moseley was notified by telegram that the Rotary Club of Sumter-Palmetto was admitted to membership in Rotary International effective June 21, 1976. Charter President was Joseph S. Sublette and Marion Myers was charter Secretary.

Joe and Marion formed a strong team and provided excellent leadership to the new club. Ralph Abercrombie, Bill Heath, George Moseley and many others form the Sumter Rotary Club stayed close to the new club. They helped the officers to stay on track while allowing them to establish a separate organization. They were quick to remind the leaders of the principles upon which Rotary was founded.

One of the unique features of the Palmetto Rotary Club in its very early years was that the Board of Directors met in the homes of the board members on a rotating basis. Dinner or refreshments were served. Board members had time for fellowship as well as time for club business.

Charter Night was held on September 28, 1976 with a banquet at Big Jim’s Restaurant. Past District Governor Ralph Abercrombie was the speaker, and District Governor Jim Hackler presented the Charter to the members of the new club. Charter Members were: Dr. Wallie Jones, Hugh Betchman, R. J. (Chick) Mathis, Bill Teel, Halsell Roberts, Bill Price, Julian Frasier, Charles McCreight, Art Norred, Claude Dinkins, Marion Myers, Dr. Barney Williams, Jr., Larry Nettles, Jim Burdick, Clyde McManus, Davie Fort, Jim Karvelas, Joe Sublette, John Hinks, Mack Kolb, Purvis Anderson, and Russell Hurst. Gene Nalley was approved, after the fact, as a Charter Member.

In July 1976, Joe Ramsey and Emil Bozanek were approved as the first new members of the new club. It was the object of the club leadership that the club should grow slowly but steadily, with quality taking preference over quantity. We today, like to think that this object has been the hallmark of the Rotary Club of Sumter-Palmetto for the past twenty-nine years. Today, July 18, 2007, the membership of the club is (54).

Some of the notable landmarks that define the history of our club are:

Rotary Club of Sumter-Palmetto has been a “Friend of the Foundation” since the first year.
Sunshine Report made part of the regular meeting in February 1977
First Ladies Night held on September 20, 1977
First fund raising project: Aluminum Can Recycling. Started in the fall of 1977. We used a shed built adjacent to Joe Sublette’s Rental Center. Operated each Friday afternoon. Project ended when a commercial recycling center opened in Sumter.
Onion Project initiated by Murdoch Walker, 1981-82, to replace recycling project.
Second major fund raising project was Annual Auction. Invitations were sent to civic leaders; hors d’oeuvres and cocktails were served. Donated items were placed on display and, after a social time, were auctioned off to those in attendance. About 1996, the auction was moved to WRJA-TV to provide the opportunity for more citizens to participate in the auction.
In 1984, club adopted policy that one-half of the profit from the onion sale and one-half of the income from investments would be used to fund scholarships to University of South Carolina-Sumter, Sumter Technical College (CCTC), and, later, to Morris College. In 1995, The Sumter Palmetto Rotary Club Scholarship Trust Fund was formally incorporated. It uses the same formula to fund local scholarships today.
May 1984, Interact Club was formed at Sumter High School with Joan Gibbs as advisor. Later this club was disbanded. Rotary Club of Sumter- Sunrise presently sponsors an Interact Club at Sumter High School.
To support Rotary International’s Polio-Plus campaign, members of this club agreed to collect envelopes and cut the stamps off to be sent to Asia for use by stamp collectors. The volume of envelopes collected became huge. We paid the Interact Club members $9.50 per 1000 stamps to do the actual cutting. Eventually the project ended.
On October 3, 1991, Marsha Hanes was admitted as the first woman member of the club. Her classification: Florist. Marsha was also the first woman elected club president (2000-01). Since then four other women have served as president.
While Ken Young was president (1994-95), the club moved its meeting place from Big Jim’s Restaurant on Broad Street to Sunset Country Club.
Added a “Dove Shoot” as the third fund raising project.
In 1996 Earl Wilson recommended that our club become involved in the Soup Kitchen operated by Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 421 South Main Street. Volunteers serve lunch once a month to the homeless and poor at the church.
In 2001, our club joined others in District 7770 in project to provide a Dictionary to every third grade student in the district. This is an on-going project of our club.
In 2004, our club agreed to provide money to purchase school and health care supplies for needy students at Furman Middle School.
On September 1, 2005, our club hosted for the first time a joint meeting with the Sumter and Sunrise Rotary Clubs. Governor Mark Sanford was the speaker.
Developed and implemented “Greeter Program” to assist members to get to know each other.
Our club sponsored Sarah Price as a candidate for RI Ambassadorial Scholarship. She was selected. She studied Health and Nutrition in New Zealand while serving as ambassador for RI, District 7770, and Rotary Club of Sumter-Palmetto.
On June 29, 2006, our club celebrated its 30th Anniversary. PDG Ralph Abercrombie presented Paul Harris Fellows to the five Charter Members who remain active in the club.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, our club ‘adopted’ a club in Mississippi and provided needed support to them.
In 2006, our club attained 100 % membership participation as Sustaining Paul Harris Fellows.
Our club recommended Anne Geddings as a candidate for District 7770’s Group Study Exchange Team going to Africa. She was selected and will travel in 2007.
In 2007, our club joined four other clubs in Rotary District 7770 in which 100% of the members are Paul Harris Fellows. District Governor Bernie Ridell recognized our club for this singular achievement.

Over the years the Rotary Club of Sumter-Palmetto continues to be recognized for its work and its fellowship. It has received the District Governor’s Citation and the Rotary International Presidential Citations each year. Past President Joe Sublette has served as District Governor, 1988-89, Area Representative for three years, and Treasurer for R. I. Zones 33 and 34, 2002-04. He was recognized as district “Humanitarian of the Year for 1983-84” and again for 1990-01. He has also received a Meritorious Service Award and a Distinguished Service Award from the Rotary Foundation, and the R. I. “Service Above Self” award for 2003-04. Past President Chuck Gibbs and Past President C. J. Troyer have served as District Secretary. Past President Lee Holloway has served as Assistant District Governor, and Past President Susan Trautsch has served as District Communications Director.

As a final thought, I wish to recall the summation included in an earlier part of this history. “Rotary is not an organization of heroes. It is composed of men and women who choose to serve for the privilege of doing so rather than for personal accolades.” These words are true of the men and women who have contributed to the growth and work of this club. May it always be true of those who accept the mantle of membership and the opportunity for leadership in this club, and in all Rotary clubs worldwide, now, and in the future. By understanding our history and the underlying principles of Rotary, you have the tools to make your unique contribution to this institution known as Rotary.

Charles A. “Chuck” Gibbs
Club Historian