At our meeting on May 20 we honored our students of the month:
Perla Mejia Martinez from MC Riley
Angel Balcarel from Red Cedar
Our speaker at our May 20 meeting was Michael Reynolds, accomplished marathoner and dedicated historian, who embodies the spirit of Bluffton with his deep-rooted connections to the community and insatiable curiosity about its past.
He explained that Bluffton’s early economy was built around agriculture and trade, especially indigo, which was sold to England before the indigo trade eventually declined and the cotton trade began. Salt production also became important and was often called “the white gold” because without salt, meat could not be preserved.
Before the Civil War, the area was home to around 60 different plantations that produced crops such as rice in the lowlands and indigo before shifting toward cotton. After the Civil War, many plantations became dormant, and the region turned toward timber and turpentine operations for economic survival.
In the late 1850s, Bluffton developed new industries centered around oysters, including oyster factories near the May River Club area, although one of the facilities reportedly burned in 1942. By 1903, oyster shucking and shell-related businesses such as the Bluffton Lime Company, known for producing “shell rock,” became important local industries. Oyster shells were even used to cover streets from around 1905 until paving replaced them in the 1950s.
Transportation also played a major role in Bluffton’s growth, as steamboats docked in the town as early as 1820 before service declined around 1925 when bridges were built across the May River. Freight and transportation later shifted to buses traveling to Savannah
The Bluffton Rotary Satellite Evening Club announces its Inaugural Rotary Charity Golf Tournament will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at Island West Golf Club in Bluffton, South Carolina.
Thee theme for the event is Patriotism - celebrating our country’s 250th Anniversary. The tournament will raise funds for the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) Nursing Scholarship Fund, directly supporting aspiring nurses who wish to pursue their education and careers in the Lowcountry.
The tournament will feature a full field of 26 teams of four golfers each. competing on Island West Golf Club's acclaimed 18-hole, par-72 championship course — designed by Fuzzy Zoeller and Clyde Johnston — nestled among rolling fairways, elevated tees, natural marsh areas, and majestic live oaks. The event will include a shotgun start format, on-course contests, raffle prizes, awards, and a post-tournament reception.
As a tribute to the freedoms we are blessed to enjoy in this country and in our Lowcountry community, four 10-foot American flag poles will line the back of each tee box throughout the course. The flags will be provided by the Hilton Head Rotary Sunset Club, creating a striking, patriotic display that honors our nation as it celebrates its 250th anniversary. Flag Sponsorships are available for businesses and individuals who wish to align their support with this signature visual tribute or recognize a Hero in your life with a custom placard describing your Hero. Each Flag Sponsorship includes recognition on a dedicated plaque displayed at the sponsored tee box, ensuring lasting visibility throughout the tournament.
Proceeds from the tournament will be directed to the TCL Nursing Scholarship Fund, administered through Rotary District 7770 Foundation. The fund provides critical financial support to nursing students at the Technical College of the Lowcountry, helping to address the region's growing demand for qualified healthcare professionals.
"This tournament and our volunteers represents the best of what Rotary stands for - Service Above Self," said Shawn Marlowe, Chair of Bluffton Rotary Satellite Evening Club. "By supporting nursing education at TCL, we're making a direct investment in the health and well-being of our Lowcountry community. Every golfer, sponsor, and donor who joins us on July 2 is helping put a future nurse through school, and we need to support as many as we can especially now with all the growth in our area”.
Sponsorship packages are available at multiple levels, offering businesses and individuals the opportunity to support the cause while gaining visibility before, during, and after the event. Sponsorship tiers include Title Sponsor – Full Scholarship Donor $3500.00 , Liberty Sponsor-$1,500, Eagle Sponsor- $750.00, Patriot Sponsor - $250, Beverage Cart Sponsor, American Flag and other add-ons. Each tier includes benefits such as signage, recognition in promotional materials, and golfer registration spots depending on level. Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities are encouraged to reach out early, as packages are expected to fill quickly.
Individual golfer and team registration is now open. Registration includes greens fees, cart, lunch, non-alcoholic, beverages, on-course contests, and the post-tournament awards reception. Space is limited to ensure a premier experience for all participants, and early registration is strongly encouraged. To register, secure a sponsorship, or learn more about donation opportunities, contact Shawn Marlowe at blufftonrotarysatelliteclub@gmail.com or check us out on our social media pages: Rotary Club of Bluffton Evening Satellite
Regardless of issue, please let us know if something is going on to prevent you from attending our meetings. We have many members who can help, pray, or just call to lift your spirits.
Club Dues Invoices - please submit payment at your earliest convenience. Several Rotarians have outstanding balances from prior invoices - if you are unsure of who you are, please reach out to Don Kensey, Rotary Club of Bluffton Treasurer.
Do you worry about Alzheimer’s? We do not have a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but we must find one. Finding a cure starts with you. Every year the CART (Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust) Fund gives research grants focused on finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Have you given to the CART Fund this year? The CART Fund is dedicated to raising funds to provide “seed” money for cutting edge, high impact research in hopes of finding a cure/prevention for Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of the CART Fund is to encourage exploratory and developmental Alzheimer’s disease research projects within the United States. This is accomplished by providing financial support for the early and conceptual plans of those projects that may not yet be supported by extensive preliminary data but have the potential to substantially advance biomedical research. These projects should be distinct from those designed to increase knowledge in a well-established area unless they intend to extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications.
If you would you like to donate to the C.A.R.T. fund, please scan the code below:
The Bluffton Rotary Club has a YouTube Channel! You will find previous guest speakers and other fun videos, so be on the lookout for more content in the future. All you have to do is create a YouTube account and subscribe...with 80+ current members, we can do better than eight subscriber's!! Link:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8TYzr9_xUE8Jfy-lniTt1A
Did you know ClubRunner is now available on your mobile device app store for FREE?!? Once downloaded, use your ClubRunner log-in. This will give you instant access to our member directory, events, news and other important information. Here is a video that highlights some of the features: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFLu08meAHI&t=12s
