Disbanded Rotary club members are still handing out donations 11/9/2009 8:37 PM
By ROB NOVIT Senior writer
The Aiken South Rotary Club disbanded several months ago, but its former members keep on giving.
The club, represented by Peter Stein and Sandy Bartlett, presented a $1,000 donation Monday to Bill Boyce, who volunteers as the Area 15 Special Olympics coordinator.
Dwindling membership numbers led Rotarians in the club to take the reluctant action to disband.
"The club decided that we would take the funds that had been set aside over time and disperse them to local groups with the most need," Stein said.
Aiken South also contributed funds to Helping Hands, the Alzheimer's Association and to three elementary schools - Redcliffe, Oakwood-Windsor and Greendale. The club gave $500 to the Aiken Sunrise Rotary to help purchase dictionaries that were donated by three clubs to all third-graders in Aiken County.
Several members of Aiken South transferred to the Aiken Rotary Club and to Aiken Sunrise. Funds followed them in support of the International Rotary Foundation, which assists with service projects worldwide. An additional donation went to Rotary International for the specific project that will provide latrines for Ethiopian women who are HIV victims and were abandoned by their husbands.
"All the people remaining with the club had input on this," said Stein. "But James Goodman, our historian and a charter member, was probably the linchpin. This allowed us to fulfill a lot of the goals of Rotary."
Boyce was joined for the presentation by his son Paul and John Perre, both Special Olympics bowlers, and Carl Rapp, a longtime volunteer who started the bowling program. The new donation will go into general programming, including the annual Spring Games, bowling and swimming.
"We're trying to grow our program," Boyce said. "We're looking at golf right now and are looking for younger participants for bowling."
Rapp and other volunteers meet with Special Olympics bowlers most Sundays at Park Avenue Lanes. Rapp was pleased with the most recent donation.
"I think it's great they thought of us, especially at a time when we're trying to get some other activities going," he said. "We're lining up tennis practices and are looking for volunteers for that, too."
For more information about Special Olympics and volunteer opportunities, call Boyce at 293-6136.
When John Perre was 12, his mother Evelyn said, she was told it was time "to put him away." She ignored the suggestion.
"Now he's 56, and he's done a lot," Evelyn Perre said of her son, who regularly wins bowling awards. "Special Olympics has really helped, and I'm very proud of John. We need more parents to come out and help us."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.
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