Sonny Huntley, co-president, called the meeting to order and welcomed members and guests
Kevin Courtney offered the prayer and led the pledge to the flag
Announcements:
Greg Wynn announced that the club received a check at the District Fall Seminar for $2500. This money is from the Rotary Foundation and is awarded to clubs for qualifying projects. Our check will be used to help fund our Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets that we distribute for Deep Well.
The club was also recognized as a 2 Star Club for 2022-2023 and received a badge. Two stars indicate that annual contributions to the Rotary Foundation made by the club was more than $200 per member. Polio Plus Society Certificates and pins were presented to Polio Plus members - john Cunningham, John Farrenkopf, Sonny Huntley, Nancy Riedel, and Greg Wynn. Any other members wishing to support Rotary's Polio eradication efforts by joining the society, please contact Greg Wynn for the details.
Rotary Social is at Roller's on Palmetto Bay Road Thursday October 5th. Cost is $10.
Bruce Yeager inducted two new members - Pam Dwyer and Louis Wright. Pam is a transfer from the HHI Sunset club and is a retired banker. Louis is the Director of Community Engagement & Programs at the Island Rec Center. Please take time to meet and welcome Pam and Louis into our Rotary family.
Suzi Oliver, Sergeant at Arms collected Happy $$.
Speaker:
Town Manager Marc Orlando and Deputy Town Manager and VLR member Josh Gruber were our speakers, giving us an update on the Town and the Strategic Action Plan for 2023 - 2025.
Marc
Marc went over a brief history of the town and who we are and what has been accomplished to date. We are driven by a strategic plan. He spoke of the HHI and Town Government, and the staff team. He also emphasized the Town's top priorities
Earliest human habitation on HHI dates to 8,000 BC. The island was named by Captain William Hilton in 1663 when it was named as a navigational marker. 1862 Mitchelville is the first self governed Freedmen's town in America. Modern development began in the 1950's with the construction of Sea Pines Resort. 1956 the Bridge opened, connecting to the mainland. 1967 the airport opened, The town incorporated as a municipality in 1983.
Josh
The town's mission is to promote the health and vitality of the community through ethical and inclusive programs, policies and actions. Their vision for 2020 - 2040 is to reinvent sustainability - again. To focus on revitalization and modernization, and to build an inclusive and diverse community. Some of the 2023 Accomplishments are: adopted a strategic plan, adopted a budget, acquired land - over $19 million worth, some intentionally for work force housing, over 22,000 residential permits, 85 new businesses opened between January and June, economic growth, beach ambassadors, shuttles, recycle, accessible; volunteers donated over 400 hours,
Top priorities are: short term rentals, workforce housing, capital improvement projects. Capital Projects : Corridor improvements, William Hilton Parkway Gateway, Park and open space investment.
Visit the Town of Hilton Head Island's website to get more details.