Thanks to the matching grant from Rotary International and funds raised at our Flags for Heroes event, the East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club was able to provide 66 bicycles to Toys for Tots in Charleston this year. Tripp Hoover and David Schwartz coordinated the pickup from Wal-Mart at Oakland Shopping Center in Mt. Pleasant. It was a miracle that the store had just enough bikes for our $5000 budget. Due to COVID-19 the store manager said that they were running low on bikes. Families were buying them up all year with children being home schooled and needing more exercise. In addition to the Wal-mart stock, Dimi Matouchev added in a great bike that he and his wife purchased for the cause. Dimi, Mike Bloser, Craig Johnson, and Bratton Fennell helped load the bikes into David’s landscaping company truck. The next morning, Michelle and Steve Whitbeck met Tripp and David at the Toys for Tots warehouse in Summerville to unload bikes of all sizes and colors. Alison Dailey arrived just in time to help as well and to donate toys that she brought. This year Toys for Tots has about 20,000 toy requests, 6,000 more than last year. It’s a challenging year for many families so we’re hoping our club’s contribution puts some smiles on children’s faces this Christmas.
Rotarians Receive Narcan Training

Thanks to WakeUp Carolina, 17 rotarians from the East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club are now trained in administering Narcan (naloxone), an opioid antagonist used for the complete or partial reversal of opioid overdose. Nate Lyles, Program Director at WakeUp Carolina, led the on-line training session during a recent Zoom meeting that the club has been holding on a weekly basis during the COVID pandemic.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, South Carolina had 835 drug overdose deaths involving opioids (a rate of 17.1) in 2018—an increase compared to the 628 (a rate of 13.1) deaths reported in 2016.
- Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (mainly fentanyl and fentanyl analogs) continued to rise from 404 (a rate of 8.5) in 2017 to 510 (a rate of 10.8) in 2018.
- Heroin-involved deaths remained unchanged over the past year but have trended up since 2014 with 183 (a rate of 3.8) reported in 2018.
- Deaths involving prescription opioids have remained steady with 375 deaths (a rate of 7.4) in 2018.
Rotary Club President-Elect Michelle Whitbeck says, “In the unfortunate event that one of our members who received the training does encounter an opioid overdose victim, they are now educated on what signs to look for and how to administer Narcan safely before paramedics arrive. It’s an important issue that is happening here in our own community. If we can help educate others on how to prevent drug abuse, we may be able to save a life.”
Another way to help prevent drug overdose is by disposing of any prescription drugs that are not being used or are expired. The Town of Mount Pleasant has a CVS Take-Back box located at the entrance of the police station at Town Hall, 100 Ann Edwards Lane.
Narcan Training June 2nd
East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club members will have an exclusive opportunity to receive online Narcan Training Tuesday, June 2nd at 8 a.m. This overdose prevention training is recommended for anyone at risk of an opioid overdose, friends, and family of someone at risk, healthcare providers, social services providers, law enforcement, and emergency response providers. You will learn how to recognize the signs of an overdose, the steps to administrating Narcan nasal spray, and how to save a life. Participants who complete the training may receive a free overdose prevention kit containing 2 Narcan nasal sprays. We encourage all members to attend this Zoom meeting, and if you have family or friends who would like to join, please forward their email addresses to Ted Chestnut ted@hillcon.com. The more knowledge we have as a group, the better we can serve our community in preventing opioid overdose and abuse.
Rotary Social Cancelled May 28th: Happy Hour at Saltwater Cowboys
Rotary Social has been cancelled. Check back for next month’s schedule.

Craig Johnson, Chief Operating Officer at Beacon Bank, receiving his “Red Badge” of membership to the East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club.
Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Luncheon

East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club Year-End Awards
Exchange Student Presentation Tuesday
ECCO Donation from 2017 Speakeasy
East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club President Stephanie Bates presented East Cooper Community Outreach Executive Director Stephanie Kelley with a $5000 donation that the Club raised through their efforts from the East Cooper Speakeasy – Prohibition for a Cause event last October.
This years East Cooper Speakeasy is set for Saturday, October 13, 2018. For information visit www.eastcooperspeakeasy.com.
My Sister’s House Donation from 2017 Speakeasy
President Stephanie Bates presented My Sister’s House Director of Development and Marketing Tonya Pilkenton with a $5000 donation that the Club raised through their efforts from the East Cooper Speakeasy – Prohibition for a Cause event last October. This year’s East Cooper Speakeasy is set for Saturday, October 13, 2018. For information visit www.eastcooperspeakeasy.com.
Service Project March 23rd at East Cooper Meals On Wheels
Team Palmetto Patriots will hold a service project on Friday, March 23rd at East Cooper Meals On Wheels, 2304 Hwy 17 North Mt. Pleasant. We will meet at 9:00 a.m. and will ride along with the regular drivers to assist them with their meal deliveries. Drivers leave at 9:15 sharp! Volunteer time should be just a couple hours. If you have a Rotary shirt, please wear it! Please email Jeff Pulley if you plan on coming so they can plan accordingly. jvpulley@gmail.com
Water Mission Charleston Walk for Water March 17th 2018
Saturday March 17th at 9am at Riverfront Park in North Charleston
Follow the link below to join our 2018 Charleston Walk for Water team: East Cooper Breakfast Rotary.
If you cannot make the event you may also donate on behalf of the team from this link.
Every day millions of people have to walk miles and miles just for water. Most of the time, the water they can find is contaminated and makes them sick. Water Mission is changing lives, one community at a time, through their sustainable safe water solutions.
Each dollar raised by this event is going to make an impact through a safe water community development project!
Registration fee:
age 5 and under: free
age 6-15: $5
age 16-22: $15
age 23 and older: $20
link to club page:
http://events.watermissions.org/goto/ECBRotary
Charleston Walk for Water site: charlestonwalk.org
March 10th Service Project: Clean-up at ECCO
Rotary Volunteers Distributed Toys for Tots
132 Bikes Collected for Toys for Tots
Toys For Tots Bike Drive Volunteers Needed
We need volunteers to meet Tuesday, 12/5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Oakland Market Wal-Mart in Mt. Pleasant to help load bikes for the Toys for Tots fundraiser.
Also, our Toys For Tots volunteer event at the Marine Corps. toy factory will be Saturday 12/9 from 9am – 1pm at 7800 Rivers Ave N. Charleston. We are looking for volunteers to fill 1-2 hour shifts with 2-4 people per shift. We encourage as many people as possible to sign up, this will be a unique experience in which Rotarians will actually be able to give the bikes we donated to the family that will be receiving it. You will also be distributing other gifts as registrants come in.
Please email Tripp Hoover, tripp@thehoove.com, with the hour time slot that works best for you.
Elmire Raven Named Honorary Member of ECBR Club
Thank you, Elmire Raven, for your service to our Rotary Club and our community for the past 17 years! You served in so many capacities including past president, PR co-chair for events, and beneficiary liaison, to name a few. We’re going to miss you at our weekly meetings but look forward to hearing all about your retirement fun when you come to our social events! You are proud to officially name you as an Honorary Member of the East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club!
Speakeasy – Prohibition for a Cause

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE!
Sponsored by Louis and Grace DeWolff Foundation
Saturday October 21, 2017 . 7-11 p.m.
Sweetgrass Event Center 2125 Highway 17 N. Mount Pleasant, SC
Join us for an evening of 1920’s Prohibition-era fun and a chance to win Seven Day, Six Night Stay in a two BR cottage at Firefly Sunset Resort in Hope Town ~ Abaco, Bahamas or $2000 cash!
$100 entry includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, open bar, dancing to jazz and swing DJ music with the Charleston Swing Dance Association, games, silent auction with themed packages, and raffle ticket for chance to win grand prize trip! Guests must be present to win.
Period attire encouraged so don your “glad rags”! Open only to ages 21 and up.
Proceeds benefit East Cooper Community Outreach, My Sister’s House, and Rotary Charities.
Sponsorships still available!
Rotary Social May 31st at Awendaw Green
Bring your family and join us at the next Rotary Social Wednesday, May 31st from 6-10 p.m. at the Awendaw Green Barn.
Sewee Outpost 4853 N Hwy 17 Awendaw SC 29429
$5 donation at door, BYOB, pets on a leash, all ages, Wood Fired pizza, The Roost Bar ‘N Grille. Come early and play disc golf at Sewee
Barn Jam May 31
6:00pm MICHAEL Courage https://michaelcourage.com/
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6p0dChw-k9g
6:30pm Angwish http://www.reverbnation.com/angwishusa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jJQIOxcEj0
7:20pm Caleb and the Gents http://calebandthegents.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C16tspcXfoI
8:10pm The Ragbirds http://www.theragbirds.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzNNuJxsrG0&feature=share
9:00pm Swim In the Wild http://www.swiminthewild.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWXVTokeTZ4
9:50pm Sandinistas! http://www.sandinistasrock.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HSbV-pEOUE