Happy Rotary New Year!!!
Club President Kristin Keller welcomed all to the first meeting of the new Rotary year at Palmera Inn and Suites
Kevin Courtney offered the prayer and led the pledge to the flag.
Welcome Visting Rotarians - Vicky Beyerle from Bluffton and Don Kensey from New Jersey
Announcements:
Run with Bernie - start tracking your miles!
Installation: AG Mary Briggs was in attendance to install the officers and Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 year
;Photo credit - Angie Stone
The Board for the new year is: Kristin Keller, President; Lynn King, Past President; Suzi Oliver, Sergeant at Arms; Jacob Hunt, Treasurer; Nancy Riedel, Secretary; and Directors Kevin Courtney, Brian Neumann, Sonny Huntley, Joah Etchells, Joe Rowey.
Sergeant at Arms, Suzi Oliver collected Happy $$
Speaker:
Barry Lefkowitz provided an informative program about human trafficking.
Just last year there was a 15% increase in human trafficking in South Carolina. Many are not aware that it is an epidemic in the US and world-wide. There are 20 - 40 million people involved in this very lucrative "business". In the US we average about 50,000 cases a year. There are three types of trafficking: forced labor; forced marriage & prostitution; organ removal. Organ removal is a very profitable industry making billions of dollars and in high demand. Sex trafficking starts at 12 - 14 years old and its victims are both male and female. They are often children who are runaways and in some cases it is parents selling their kids into HT. In South Carolina, labor HT is big in the hospitality, agriculture, and construction industries. Sex trafficking has been aided by the internet. In NJ a ring was broken up where high school classmates were helping to recruit. Often an older gentleman will befriend, shower gifts on a potential victim then the victim becomes obligated to that person giving in to sex or other demands. South Carolina is #11 in the nation for HT Gerorgia is #7, with Atlanta being a huge area. Delaware is #2 with a good location right on I95. HT is prevalent wherever there are major events involving a lot of money - for example, Clemson/Gamecock game.
photo credit Angie Stone
We as organizations, as human beings must be aware and vigilant concerning this problem
There are a lot of myths about HT:
#1 - it is not in the US - it DOES occur in every large city, area
#2 - victims are foreign born - NOT ALL - rings in high schools are being broken up
#3 - there is a difference between smuggling and trafficking
Up until recently laws did not treat those victims as victims - so they were afraid to get out of their situation. Some states are now taking a very hard stand against traffickers. In NJ they are starting to prosecute those who have sex with the victims. South Carolina needs to step up legislation, needs to "get it". We need to speak up, educate, help victims and speak on their behalf. Organ donors - money talks - there is a long waiting list of those needing organs. People are desperate. The HT have their own medical network that does this - all for high profits. Our own Suzi Oliver who donated a kidney shared her experience with the offers that were made to her previous to the actual donation. Very, very eye-opening. The #1 location for HT is Washington DC. There is a Rotary action group - Rotary action against slavery. Also investigate the Red Sand Projectg.