FEBRUARY SOCIAL
VLR kicked off February with a social on February 5 at San Miguels in Selter Cove
We enjoyed wonderful Mexican food, beverages and great fellowship. Make sure to watch for up coming socials - Make Rotary Fun Again!!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
WingFest - March 22 VLR provides volunteers to help the Rec Center (we do earn $$ for charitable giving in exchange for our help). Spots are full at this point.
RBC Heritage - April 14 - 20. We will need volunteers to work our refreshment stand and well as the pop corn wagon. We are able to earn significant $$ for our work at this event. Sign ups are taking place. See Joe Rowey to sign up for the food stand. Please be generous with your time as our club greatly benefits from this effort.
RECENT MEETINGS:
February 11 -
Speaker was Josh Gruber. Josh is a former VLR member and is now the City Manager of Hardeeville. He provided an update of what is happening in the fast growing Hardeeville area.
Priorities for a growing Hardeeville are: new jobs; population increase; housing & commerce demand; roads & utility infrastructure; education/workforce training; quality of life & social services. Some items discussed:
-95 widening project - has a 3 year time line with a 2028 deadline
-Exit 8 is being redeisned to accomodate Buc-ee's which will be locating there. Redesign will eliminate many of the problems that Florence had when Buc-ee's moved there. Buc-ee's will have a 70,000 sq. ft. building, 120 gas pumps and 200 employees.
- New Exit 3 - as a result of widening . There will be hotels, restaurants, housing, development, medical campus.
-Jobs - are trying to attract manufacturing jobs, announcements are forthcoming on companies. The city is growing and has doubled its staff in the last years - today at 150
- Population growth -growing 3,000 per year will max out at 50,000. Margaritaville is growing as well as Sun City East
- Roads - there are 14 bridges that will have to be "replaced" or widened. Roads need to be widened to 3 lanes.
- Exit 5 will be redesigned
Area -wise Hardeeville is larger than Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. These are exciting times of growth for the area.
February 18
Dr. Al Panu, Chancellor of USCB was our speaker.
Beaufort College, founded in 1795. In 1959 USCB became a two year institution in the USC system. In 2004 it became the only bachelor's degree granting institution in the Lowcountry. It is the youngest public comprehensive university in SC. They are celebrating their 20th year of granting baccalaureate degrees. They are growing with the Lowcountry, with 2204 students across 58 areas of study. There has been a 23% growth in 10 years. They have expanded to three campuses - Bluffton Beaufort & Hilton Head Island. USCB has received many recognitions and has aware-wining faculty.and student scholars. The athletics program is also growing having recently added Men's & women's basketball. Baseball, softball fields are planned to be added in the future.
All are invited to attend the 20th Anniversary Future of Education panel discussion to be held at USCB Hilton Head Island campus on March 27 at 11:00 am.