The FriendShip Newsletter - July 2024
Office Information
Contact Info: 803-602-6434 or contact@thefriendship.org
Regular Hours: Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thank You to Our Board & Welcome to New Board Members
We are so thankful for all of the work our Board and committee members have accomplished this year! We extend our deepest appreciation to Teresa Arnold, Jeff Hopkins, Ann Humphries, and Vera Tucker. These members of the Board of Directors have rotated off as of June 30, the end of our fiscal year. Their commitment to The FriendShip has been felt in so many ways from leading committees to spearheading fundraisers, planning programs, and so much more. Thank you all for your leadership and for being a part of our FriendShip family!
The FriendShip's Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the following new Board members have begun their tenure as of July 1:
- Ted Campbell, graduate of the University of South Carolina, is a project manager for the SC Department of Commerce. Ted understands the challenges and demands of aging in your home because he assisted his parents with their house and personal needs as they got older. He has a real appreciation for The FriendShip's mission! He and his wife, Robin, are longtime members of St. John's.
- Delia Corrigan is a former humanities teacher at the middle school, high school, and college levels. She is married and has 3 grown sons and a grandson. She enjoys tennis, golf, reading, writing, and various volunteering activities. She has especially appreciated volunteering with The FriendShip and looks forward to serving on the Board.
- Trey Spong graduated from USC law school and entered into private practice in Winnsboro, Fairfield County. He served as Municipal Court Judge for 25 years before he assumed a managing attorney position for the Sixth Circuit with the DSS Department of Child Abuse and Neglect for his last three years of working. Now retired, he enjoys his time with his wife, Elizabeth, and two daughters and grandchildren. He plays tennis and enjoys exploring the country in his camping car. He has served as a FriendShip volunteer since 2023, helping members with transportation and other needs.
June Program Recap
June was jam-packed with great activities! To kick off the month, our Dutch Treat Lunch at Blossom Buffet was a hit. The buffet offered a huge variety of food. Our attendees had a great time together and loved ending the meal with an ice cream cone!
Our Annual Meeting was a wonderful celebration of The FriendShip's endeavors over the past 12 months. We had outstanding participation with 45 people in attendance, including people who have been with The FriendShip since its inception, our newest members/volunteers, and guests. Special thanks to the planning committee--Laurie Barnwell, Carol Barnett, Presley Hogue, and Norah Rogers--who executed such a wonderful event with festive decor and homemade treats. Everyone enjoyed hearing remarks by our Board president, Sam Waldrep, as well as the chance to socialize. We all left with a good feeling in our hearts!
Our "Share a Poem" Social Hour at the end of the month turned out to be a very memorable gathering. Participants shared lovely poems, including some with very personal connections (e.g., a book of poetry written by a volunteer's aunt, a poem written by a member's son, a Christmas poem that's become a family tradition), and they also created a community poem together. Sharing poetry is a beautiful way to get to know one another, and learning more about each another is one of our favorite things at the social hours. Thanks to poet and FriendShip member Ann Humphries for leading this special social hour.
Upcoming Events-at-a-Glance
- Thursday, July 11 at 11:30 a.m. - Lunch at Railroad BBQ
- Thursday, July 18 at 2:00 p.m. - Writers Group 2nd Session
- Wednesday, July 24 at 2:00 p.m. - Olympia Mill Village Museum Tour
- Wednesday, July 31 at 2:00 p.m. - "Summer Vacation Photo" Social Hour
You can find an events calendar on our website as well.
Lunch at Railroad BBQ (July 11)
Our July Dutch Treat Lunch is set for a fan favorite: Railroad BBQ. Join us on Thursday, July 11 at 11:30 a.m. and find out why the restaurant's motto is "the Best Darn BBQ on Both Sides of the Tracks." This will be a great opportunity to enjoy Southern food and socialize with other FriendShip members and volunteers.
Railroad BBQ is located at 2001 Hampton Street, 29204. Please RSVP by noon on Tuesday, July 9 by calling 803-602-6434 or by emailing contact@thefriendship.org. As always, rides can be arranged for members.
Writers Group Meeting (July 18)
We had good response to our Writers Group Interest Session and the group is planning to meet again in July. If you weren't able to come the first time but would like to participate, please come out for this second session!
As a reminder, Dr. Betty Mandell, a retired clinical psychologist, is a member of The FriendShip and an author who will be helping lead this group. At the info session last month, Betty and the other participants discussed their writing and why they are interested in the group. At the second session, they will begin sharing written pieces and will further discuss the focus/structure of the group. At this point, they plan to meet once per month.
For more info on where the group will meet and to RSVP, please email contact@thefriendship.org or call 803-602-6434.
Olympia Mill Village Museum Tour (July 24)
The Olympia Mill Village Museum preserves the rich history and culture of the Olympia and Granby Mill Villages in the form of a house museum, the annex (which includes information about Olympia High School), and outdoor exhibits. The FriendShip's Program Committee has booked a special tour of this historic village on Wednesday, July 24 at 2:00 p.m. Members, volunteers, and guests are welcome! Come learn more about this unique aspect of local history and life in the 1900s.
The Olympia Mill Village Museum is located at 1170 Olympia Avenue, 29201. Please RSVP by July 22 at noon by emailing contact@thefriendship.org or calling at 803-602-6434.
"Summer Vacation Photo" Social Hour (July 31)
Our afternoon social hours are always a fun way to spend time together! Join us on Wednesday, July 31 at 2:00 p.m. for July's get-together. Please bring a summer vacation photo to share with the group. You can bring a picture from a favorite trip you have taken or a photo of the place you would love to pack a suitcase to visit! We'll meet at St. John's. Please call 803-602-6434 or email contact@thefriendship.org to RSVP.
A New Look for The FriendShip: New Logo/Brochures
Don't you love the new snazzy logo at the top of this newsletter? We were excited to unveil this sleek design at the Annual Meeting and will be incorporating it into our online and print materials in the coming weeks. We want to give a special shout-out to our talented volunteer, Gordon Schell, who serves on our Communications & Outreach Team, for creating this new logo to update our look. We also have a new brochure so contact the office today to get copies to distribute to anyone and everyone who might be interested in being a member or a volunteer!
Thank You to Our Donors
The generosity of our donors is critical to our ability to fulfill our mission! We are grateful for June donations from:
Brian Jones
Sandie Lanham
Vicki Porter
Patricia Rock
Trish Sargent
St. John's Tuesday Morning Men's Bible Study
If you would like to make a donation, you can always mail a check to our office or donate on our website. Thank you for your support!
