57 minute read
OUR PEOPLE A LEGACY OF ENGAGEMENT
Our People
A Legacy of Engagement
Advertisement
Our People – A Legacy of Engagement
By Christine deVlaming Marketing Director
What is really behind Keowee Key’s dynamic renewal? That’s simple – a legacy of engagement. The membership is so invested in their community that they have created a model of success. That success is its people and a culture of involvement.
Imagine a town that is able to benefit from its residents’ expertise. Underlying the town management is a culture of participation and volunteerism. That is Keowee Key. With its myriad of committees and a strong volunteer Board of Directors, this town operates efficiently and cost effectively.
Volunteerism has made Keowee Key a very high quality community. The capacity of its engine of people has allowed Keowee Key to improve exponentially. And there is no substitute for this level of interest and dedication. The results are obvious – Keowee Key is very attractive, very marketable and extremely livable.
We have coined the term, Volunteer Professionals, to describe some amazing members who have donated countless hours of their time and their amazing expertise. It is a simple fact, Keowee Key could not have afforded to pay for this level of talent and skill. It’s the kind of talent that you can never duplicate because each of these members knows and has a passion for Keowee Key. In this section, we will highlight select volunteer professionals. We spotlight many of the partner organizations that contribute to our rich history.
Volunteer Professionals
By Christine deVlaming, Marketing Director
David Rosamond Project Manager
David Rosamond served as board member 2017 – 2020 and did double duty during those four years by also serving as the project manager and liaison to all contractors involved with our Club and numerous other projects at a key time during major renovations.
David was deeply involved in the process for The New Club & Bistro from the inception and with boots on the ground daily to oversee the project from start to finish. He wrote countless project updates that were put out as Eblasts to the community and set a new standard of video walk-throughs with the help of Bill Koepnick.
You may not know that David Rosamond retired as senior executive after 45 years with Lockwood Greene. He served as president of the SE Asia operations for many years, living in Singapore, China and Russia during that time.
Yet he says he is most proud of his work on the Club where he helped to get an $11 million project accomplished for $7.5 million, that met 95 percent of the members requests. “The Club is the most satisfying project of my 45-year career! It was very personal to me, and I spent more time on the Keowee Key projects than those I got paid for because at the end of the day it was my home,” said David.
In 2020 and 2021, David was deeply involved with our latest projects: the Club parking lot expansion and landscape enhancements, four new pickleball courts, the bocce and shuffleboard courts at Chestnut Point and the new Northside Trail. David Rosamond has contributed to the Keowee Key brand by ensuring quality and an attention to detail to these many projects over the years. A graduate of Clemson University with a B.S. and M.S. in Engineering, the man in the Clemson Tigers hard hat (signed by Dabo Swinney, Clemson football coach and presented by the KKPOA Board), has helped to shape the revitalization of our community.
Bill Koepnick Videographer & Sound Editor
Bill Koepnick is a multi-talented contributor who started volunteering for our marketing efforts in 2016 as sound man for GBA Productions on videos of Keowee Key. But Bill quickly became known for his drone which he used to capture breathtaking aerial images and videos. His shots are used repeatedly for ads and marketing materials for Keowee Key. During the construction of the major projects, Bill regularly produced video shorts with David Rosamond and director of golf maintenance, Josh Sawyer, to update the community on the projects’ status which set a new standard.
You may know that Bill is a serious golfer, on both the 9-hole and 18-hole men’s leagues and is on the course several times a week, but did you know
David Rosamond
that he also plays drums in a band? His group performed at our Bistro Grand Opening! Also, little known, Bill is originally from California, and worked in Hollywood, where he received several Emmys at the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Bill’s skills and talent have taken us to a new level of visual communications, including technical expertise that allowed us to improve The Club’s A/V system, producing remote meetings and forums during COVID-19. He created numerous training videos for golf, tennis and pickleball that were inspiring and entertaining during COVID-19 lockdown.
And he made our amenities shine with a series of videos capturing their successful offerings. These include outstanding coverage of our award-winning FRC Triathlon, North Marina dock updates, the funloving dog park, spectacular Christmas décor, the new rental Tritoon, the Craft and Art Fair, Nuclear Golf training and our speaker series!
Bill chooses music, the visual format and cuts the videos to the proper length to be interesting. He also performed voice overs for numerous videos including those on our strategic planning process and financial governance. Bill makes Keowee Key look great in so many ways, he helps us communicate professionally and purposefully. We are in awe of the talent, art and expertise that he brings to Keowee Key.
Russ Carlson Photographer
Russ Carlson took up photography in 2015 and it has grown from a hobby to his passion. Russ creates images of Keowee Key with his special touch, and the way he uses light and color, has created an outstanding look that cannot be matched.
His work brings amazing brand impact for Keowee Key. In fact, he creates the actual visual personality of Keowee Key in print through many, many donated images. His photos have been used for years in our advertising and he has been the main contributor to the cover of the Scuttlebutt newspaper with about 40 covers since mid-2017 when we did our very first color cover.
His photos are featured on our Facebook page where these images produce thousands of clicks, shares, and comments. When the website was redesigned in 2017, we used Russ’ photos for the headers, giving our site a consistent look. We have
used the images as the headers in many of our e-blast communications representing the amenities.
Russ’ photos have been on display at the Club and at Keowee Key’s annual Art Show. But did you know Russ does professional exhibitions with the Blue Ridge Arts Center in Seneca? His photos have been used on the cover of local publications such as Lake Living and Visit Oconee Visitors Guide. Russ also photographed many of our groundbreaking ceremonies and our grand opening celebrations. Our internal and external communications have improved with his photographic genius.
He donated images to grace the Bistro walls as part of our permanent décor, depicting all the amenities and the surrounding natural environment. It is fascinating how he has captured the true spirit of Keowee Key and we are most grateful for the time and expertise he offers us. We could never have created the community visual personality quite like Russ has for Keowee Key.
Karl Muzii Landscape Architect
Karl Muzii has lived in Keowee Key 29 years and has worked in the horticultural field since 1980 both in nursery management and landscape architecture. He provides drawings to Duke Energy for shoreline stabilization and lake excavation permits.
He received his landscape architecture degree as well as a master’s degree in horticulture right here at Clemson University. Karl has been a member and advisor to the Grounds Committee. He has a 20-year legacy at Keowee Key having contributed landscape design to almost every corner of our community.
You may not know Karl designed and supervised the installation of the wall-waterfall feature with plantings at our main entrance in front of the Administration Building in 2007. He is also responsible for our original dog park design and plantings in 2011. He designed the landscapes around the North and South Entrances and gate houses followed by the Club Gate entry sign and landscaping in 2017. He teamed with Bill and Lenore Malin on the design documentation for the Southside Trail in 2017 and the Northside Trail proposal in 2018.
Karl is the genius behind the landscape design at the Club, Bistro and Event Center, and has personally supervised and brought to life the landscapes of these major projects. He still comes by the Club regularly to check on the plantings. His designs use a great diversity of plant material that blends in with the natural beauty of our region and is planned with care for its size in maturity. These many plant varieties create a breathtaking display for each and every season of the year.
Paul and Kathy Ellis Karl Muzii
During 2020, he was instrumental in the design of the new landscape for the Club parking expansion, crafting several designs as the project progressed incorporating a great variety of trees. His professional design capacity is seen demonstrated in the exceptional outcome to the approach to the Club, with its stunning rock wall that follows the drive in. The new parking area has been surrounded with beautiful stone pillars and rustic wooden rails.
We are so grateful for Karl and all that he contributes to this community making it a very beautiful and high-quality experience for our membership. The visual impression of Keowee Key has been transformed and Karl has put a distinct touch on every aspect of our community.
Paul and Kathy Ellis Brand Developers
Paul and Kathy Ellis are an ingenious couple who created a new brand for Keowee Key. They moved to Keowee Key from Long Island, New York. Both had flourished in busy careers. Paul was an advertising executive and Kathy was a successful editor and bookstore manager. They had been creative their whole lives and continued to do so when they arrived at Keowee Key.
Paul was instrumental in the creation of the new Keowee Key logo, establishing a brand ideal of shape, font, and colors for the community. The logo has become a clean standard and creates a polished look that is consistent across all amenities. Paul put our new brand standards into a guidebook and was the go-to person for the design and manufacture of our signage throughout the community.
Kathy created the handwritten tag line, “More of what you love,” in her own handwriting. She created additional phrases in her hand for things that Keowee Key needed over time. Such as, “More golf, More fitness, and More of what we love.”
Kathy was also deeply involved with the Couple’s Invitational annual golf event. She created all of the art for the invitations and print materials for the event and coordinated much of the behind-the-scenes effort that created a super welcome to visiting couples over many years.
We admire Paul and Kathy for all of their creativity and for bringing us a brand standard that will endure. We are very fond of our signature tagline that indicates in a friendly and personal way what the community offers, More of what you love!
Margaret Eldridge Key Influencer
Margaret Eldridge is a key influencer with a vision for the community. Previous to Keowee Key, Margaret wore many hats throughout her career as bank executive, business owner and community leader. Entering banking at a time when few women held leadership positions, she was a pioneer, rapidly rising to the highest levels, as a bank president and as chair of the board in Arkansas, her home state.
Her career achievements and significant service to the community and state, led to recognition as the first “Arkansas Professional Woman of Distinction,” presented by the governor at a banquet in her honor.
Her passion to serve and to inspire others to achieve success continued to be evident in retirement. Dave and Margaret Eldridge moved to Keowee Key in 2006 from Florida. Before being recruited to run for the board in 2014, she served on the Golf, Club Advisory and Finance Committees.An avid golfer and
KKLGA-18 member for 16 years, she holds League and Senior League Champion titles and served on its Board.
In becoming a KKPOA Board Director in 2015, her leadership and banking skills were put to good use. As a mature community, Keowee Key had reached the inevitable stage of needing multiple infrastructure updates for the Club, Golf Course, Fitness Center and Marinas. Previous boards had worked to develop plans to address these issues, but the challenge remained – how to pay for upgrades without creating a large assessment spike.
That’s where the magic begins — Margaret determined there were sufficient funds to do the job with no special assessments. She dubbed this the “Affordable Assessments Plan.” Previously expiring project assessments were the secret to this plan. The memorable phrase was, only $34 a month. She then worked with the Finance Committee to obtain a low interest loan for the projects from our bank.
You may not know that Margaret had much to do with the Club interior design, leading the Club’s Interior Design Task Force. Margaret selected a particular piece of art that served as the standard of color inspiration throughout the new facility.
Since leaving the board, Margaret has continued to provide her financial expertise focusing on the redesign of the strategic planning process and serving as chair of the Planning Advisory Council during its inaugural year, culminating in the new Strategic Plan. We thank Margaret for her vision and leadership at Keowee Key during a very critical time, when the community has been completely transformed for the better.
George Henefeld Business Minded
George Henefield shared his business
George Henefeld
savvy on so many levels. George moved to Keowee Key with his wife Karen, in 2006 from Manila, Philippines. George holds a B.S. in Industrial Management from Georgia Institute of Technology, an MBA in Finance from Georgia State and a PM from Harvard Business School. He combined all of his training and skills into a very successful career in the electric power industry in the U.S., with Georgia Power and Southern Energy, becoming business unit manager in each Corporation. He then worked abroad with Mirant Philippines Corporation as executive vice president.
Once retired here, he became involved
with the KKPOA Finance Committee for four years including one year as chair. And he served on the Planning, Club Advisory, and Marketing Committees. He was cochair of the Nominating Committee.
George served as a KKUS Board Member for six years and was KKUS Board President for four years. He was the longest serving KKUS Board President in Keowee Key History. At KKUS, he was instrumental in the southside waterline replacement project from 2014-15, which resulted in a significant reduction of water loss for the community.
He has been involved with the Boating Committee for five years and has been the chair of that committee for three years. As Boating Committee Chair, George played a key role in the planning and execution of several Boating Department Projects, such as:
North Marina Dock and Pier Replacement Project; Dock #3 Replacement Project; South Marina Fuel Dock and Pier Replacement Project; South Marina Dock Refurbishment; Spinnaker Cove Dock Refurbishment; and Dry Storage Lot #7 Project.
He helped in the initial planning stages for all the projects even before Derek Massi, our Boating Manager and Project Manager for this work, came on board in 2016. These projects represent a complete overhaul of the boating amenity.
George’s volunteerism has impacted Keowee Key on so many levels. We are very grateful to have his business and project expertise in our community.
Bill and Lenore Malin Trailblazers
Bill and Lenore Malin have made a big difference in active lifestyle at Keowee. The couple met in Sacramento, California, in 1984, and married that same year. After running Malin Construction successfully together for years, they semi-retired in 2006, purchasing in Keowee Key. After five years back and forth, they settled here permanently in 2009.
Bill and Lenore have been active in service at Keowee Key. Bill was a member of the Care Committee and is chair of the Tree Committee. He also served on the Care Compliance Committee and was chair of the Roadside Improvement Committee. Lenore was a member of the Fitness Committee, the KKTA Social Committee, and co-chair of the Roadside Improvement Committee. They are both avid tennis players.
The first idea for a walking trail came to them when member, Hayes Cross, brought it up in a forum several years ago. At the time, it was a non-starter. But in a conversation with Richard Hartford, then construction manager, he showed them a plan drawn by a Clemson engineering group in 2012 for a walking trail along the South side of the community.
That’s when the Malins took the idea and ran with it. They presented a project suggestion to the board of directors in 2015, and it percolated around until later board president Margaret Eldridge figured out a way to finance it and the other major projects.
Along with Karl Muzii, who played a major role in the design and planning, and with input and assistance from operations director Mark Dahill along with his crew, as well as committee member Alex Hazlett, the team was able to mark out a trail that wound through the southside of the community running two miles from the Guard House at the South Entrance to the North Entrance, close to the Club Gate.
Using the expertise of Karl and Bill saved Keowee Key about $60,000. The Roadside Improvement Committee received the go-ahead to build the Southside Trail which included road, guardrail and tree improvements. Encroaching and overhanging trees were removed from the roadway creating a new openness on South Flagship Drive. The trail was opened just in time for Easter in 2017.
Based on the success and popularity of the Southside Trail, the board of directors challenged the Roadside Improvement Committee members to develop additional trail options. The team recruited two energetic members, Charlotte Cobos and Lucy Voyik, who hiked throughout the community and came up with 14 future trail routes and nature areas.
One of the suggestions was the Northside Trail. The Malins stepped up and were instrumental in this project. The trail opened three years later in February 2020. The trail runs from the FRC along North Flagship to Tall Ship Drive and connects with the Leisure Trail at the North Marina.
Thanks to Bill and Lenore and their persistence, Keowee Key active lifestyle includes additional trails for walking and wellness, a key amenity that members appreciate.
Dave Metzler Tech Wizard
Dave Metzler is a technology wizard at Keowee Key. Dave moved to Keowee Key from Hurricane, West Virginia, with his wife, Mare, in 2013. He was working virtually from home for a couple of years after arrival here and officially retired in 2016.
Dave has a diverse engineering background. With a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, he spent 38 years as a chemical engineer for Union Carbide and later for the Dow Chemical Company. Early in his career he focused on design, construction and operation of global scale chemical and plastic manufacturing facilities. Later, he transitioned to a role as an administrator of engineering activities, including managing engineering technology.
Dave loves tennis! He was active on Keowee Key USTA Tennis Teams from 2013-2019 and continues with league play twice a week. He has been a member of the Keowee Key Tennis Association since 2013, serving as KKTA Treasurer and Tournament Co-chair in 2016. Dave was a member of the Keowee Key Tennis Committee in 2016 and 2017 helping coordinate the volunteer painting project for two of the tennis pavilions in 2017.
Dave served as Board Director in 2018 and 2019. During 2018, he was the board liaison for the Technology Project, which among other improvements, transitioned our website from AtHomeNet® to Jonas Club Software. During the project, he became familiar with the back-office part of our website and often would teach others how to edit and maintain our web pages.
Dave served as board secretary in 2019 and on the Communications Advisory Committee (CAC) that year. He was a key player in keeping the website project moving along and making improvements in the background when few others were yet well-versed in the programming.
In 2021, Dave was a member of the website redesign team that transformed the member side of the website to be more intuitive and user-friendly. The team, made up of Dave, Bill Koepnick, Ann Savoca, Sam Savoca and Steve Smith, worked for about 10 months to give the site its new design. Dave said his web implementation skills were developed out of necessity for this redesign project. He basically had to learn HTML and JavaScript to be able to implement the Redesign Team’s concepts.
This achievement is very important to Keowee Key members and makes an enormous difference in how each member interfaces with the site today. The new clean look and the ease of functionality took many hours of re-engineering to achieve. The site went live in October 2021.
Dave’s engineering eye for detail, his technology skills, and expertise in web systems have made a real difference in the community!
Steve Smith Communications Guru
Steve Smith has worked with people as a human resources expert for many years and has developed his communications skills along the way. His parents moved to Keowee Key in the late 1980s and he and wife Joanne had been visiting here on a regular basis. They moved to Keowee Key in 2007 to help with his dad’s health issues.
Steve holds a master’s in public administration from West Virginia University and he worked in a variety of organizations over his career including the city of Chicago, MetLife, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. While at Novartis, traveling back and forth to headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, opened his eyes to the critical importance of clear oral and written communications, especially when working with colleagues
Steve Smith
whose first language was not English.
Steve has served in Keowee Key in a variety of ways. He was a board member of the Boating Association from 2009-12 and its board president 2013–15. He was president of the KKMGA 9-hole league in 2015. In 2014, he chaired a committee for the demolition and construction of new guard houses at North and South Gates. Did you know Steve loves to cook? He has been a member of Les Marmitons of Keowee (men’s cooking club) since 2010. He was treasurer 2014–18 and has been its vice president 2021 to the present. Steve has also been a board member of the Keowee Key Community Partnership since 2022.
Steve served on the KKPOA Board from 2016-19 and became board president in 2019. While on the board, he was part of a team of very talented board members who helped to transform the community through the renovation of its outdated amenities. Steve’s involvement on the board shined primarily in communications. He worked closely with our videographer, Bill Koepnick, to develop scripts for the numerous videos that helped to educate the community about the projects, and penned countless Eblast updates.
As a member of the Communications Advisory Committee since its inception in 2016, Steve helped craft the communications strategy for educating and informing our members about issues facing our community. A long-term CAC member, he continues to be a key writer and editor of weekly eblasts to the community on a large variety of topics. He plans and organizes forums and writes Scuttlebutt articles. He is also a fantastic editor helping others to revise their words to a concise format. Steve participated in the internal website revamp team for 10 months, helping to make the site easy to navigate and more user friendly.
Leaving the board in 2019, Steve told his fellow members serving was one of the most rewarding experiences of his professional life. And that is the secret to our success. Volunteerism like Steve’s is often the cherry on top.
Joanne Heintz The Numbers Gal
Joanne Heintz had visited Keowee Key over the years for vacations with her husband Steve Smith and their two children. They stayed with Steve’s mom and dad, Bud and Dolores Smith. Steve and Joanne eventually retired and moved to Keowee Key in 2007 to be close to Bud and Dolores.
Joanne has a B.A. in Spanish and French from Gannon university, and an M.A. in linguistics from the University of Rochester. Then when she got her MBA from the University of Chicago, she fell in love with finance and migrated away from language. She spent 30 years in corporate lending, portfolio management and asset/liability reporting. She retired as managing director at Prudential Financial, where she oversaw a team responsible for investing and hedging $70 billion in assets.
After coming to Keowee Key, Joanne volunteered as treasurer for the Keowee Key Boating Association 2011-2013. During 2016 and 2017 she was chair of the Bank Selection Committee for the Affordable Assessment Initiative as Keowee Key embarked on its renovation projects.
At that point, she really became our numbers gal at Keowee Key and was in the backdrop keeping her eye on finances for the five years that we refurbished our aging amenities assuring that we maintained our financial strength over that process. She served on the Strategic Planning Committee from 2019–20 which
impacted our ongoing project success. She served on the Finance Committee from 2017–21, being chair for two years and including two years on the Reserves Oversight Subcommittee.
Joanne emphasizes that reserves are essential to a stable community, helping to prevent spikes in assessments. She was part of a recent multi-year plan to modernize and upgrade our reserve practices to include reserves to replace capital assets at end of use, reserves for debt repayment, and operating contingency reserves to cover unexpected expenses from natural disasters that exceed insurance proceeds.
In 2018, she was one of the founding members of the Keowee Key Community Partnership which has a big impact on our local county with the donation and matching of funds to charities. Also locally, she was a board trustee and secretary for the Tamassee DAR School from 2013–19.
Joanne is KKPOA Board Treasurer and wants to complement our project success with a sharper focus on improving the member experience and maintaining our beautiful amenities. She continues to have a big impact on our success, and we greatly appreciate the expertise that she generously shares.
Bob Foreman Change Agent
Upon retirement, Bob Foreman and his wife looked forward to relocating away from the congestion of metro Atlanta. No strangers to Keowee Key, they had visited previously and also became familiar with the area when attending the graduations of their daughter and son-in-law from Clemson University.
In 1999, there were very few options for amenity rich communities abutting beautiful Lake Keowee, so it became a natural choice that fulfilled their search for a vibrant community. They purchased property in December that year and rented a home on site while the new home was being built.
Soon after, Bob became actively involved in the community and it didn’t take long to identify that Keowee Key was facing two major problems: financial deficits and a deteriorating infrastructure. In 2002, he determined that he only had two options: move to another community or become positively involved as a change agent at Keowee Key.
So, it began. Bob petitioned the 2003 board to allow him to assemble a committee of accomplished professionals to study the problems facing Keowee Key and consider options available to address the challenges. The efforts put forth by the committee are well documented in the History of SASS narrative available on the Community website.
The underlying strategic initiative of the committee’s proposal was to increase amenity utilization by encouraging member use across all amenities at one affordable price. Bob personally met with almost 1,000 residents to present the proposal and fortunately what became known as the Single Amenity Support Subsidy (SASS) passed in 2003 by more than twothirds of the community vote.
Originally, SASS applied only to the golf, fitness, swim, and tennis amenities. In 2018, the term Amenities Covered By SASS was expanded and is now defined as “any facilities or activities that provide for the recreation, enjoyment, comfort and convenience of members.” The wisdom of the underlying strategy is evident in the resulting overwhelming support for the capital improvements we enjoy today as a bundled community.
Bob has been active in many organizations while here at Keowee Key. He was a member and chair of the Golf Committee and was vice president of the KKMGA. He was the chair of the FRC Committee that initially proposed the current renovations. He served as chair of the Marketing Task Force and was chair of the inaugural Facility Audit Committee, as well as cochair of the UPO Steering Committee.
Bob was a KKPOA past board president and while serving as a board member, he was instrumental in introducing and gaining passage of the New Owner Capital Assessment (NOCA) and codifying and restricting the number of amenity lots within Keowee Key.
In the local community, Bob was past president of the Newcomers of the Foothills and past board member of hospice. And for fun, Bob has enjoyed being a member of Les Marmitons cooking club since 2012.
Bob Foreman
Bob has made a memorable contribution to Keowee Key with SASS. He solved a community-wide problem and created the financial foundation that has been the stimulus for all the wonderful capital improvements and amazing value we enjoy as Keowee Key Property Owners.
David Eldridge Business Developer
Dave Eldridge is retired but he never really stopped working. He has a passion for bringing business to South Carolina and spends his time engaging the contacts that make things happen. Dave is a graduate of Western Michigan University and served in the Army Special Forces. His career began with BF Goodrich. His executive work included labor negotiations, regional plant management and relocating manufacturing facilities around the world – leading to his interest in economic development.
After heading up Goodrich’s manufacturing in the Carolinas, Dave was recruited to work in the S.C. Department of Commerce as directorof the International Division. He was later named director of economic development, responsible for all business recruiting efforts in the state. Dave served three governors over 10 years, leading many successful trade missions to include recruiting companies such as Michelin, BMW, FujiFilm and Beneteau. South Carolina’s economic development program often ranked #1 in the U.S. at that time.
Ultimately, he was recruited by the State of North Carolina to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce, responsible for economic development and tourism. After that, he joined Entergy corporation to lead Marketing and Economic Development in Arkansas. He most recently retired as CEO of a manufacturing company in Florida. In 2006, he and Margaret moved to Keowee Key.
Dave eagerly volunteers his expertise at Keowee Key and was founder of the Communications Advisory Committee (CAC), instrumental in formalizing policies and communication procedures for our success. The CAC meets weekly to this day. Dave is responsible for negotiating with The Journal to update the monthly Scuttlebutt publication to color pages.
Dave’s primary volunteer interest is job creation in the Upstate. He is chairman and CEO of Tri-County Entrepreneurial Corporation, a business incubator for startup companies. He currently serves on the Boards of Tri-County Technical College Foundation, Ten at the Top Strategic Alliance, Ripple of One, Main Street Walhalla and is a member of the Oconee Economic Alliance.
Keowee Key is tied to many of these organizations and Dave is a superior ambassador and contact with outside organizations. He has been a big part of the Keowee Key Community Partnership, helping with relationships and planning.
Dave received numerous awards for his work in economic development, including the Fulbright Award in Arkansas for the highest success in International Business Development. In South Carolina, Gov. Richard Riley presented him with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor accorded to a citizen. In 2021, Dave was recognized by the Oconee Economic Alliance as Volunteer of the Year, an award now named in his honor.
If you ever want to hear amazing stories about the formation of companies in South Carolina, you need only sit with Dave to be drawn into a fabulous history. We are proud to have Dave Eldridge as one of our own at Keowee Key.
While this write up highlights the contributions of our Volunteer Professionals, we must acknowledge that there are many, many other members who have given of their time and expertise to our numerous committees over the years. There are simply too many to mention by name. But we do want to say, “Thank You” to them. Your contributions both large and small have made Keowee Key, “More of what you love.”
M. Brandon Shirley, Chief of the Department
Keowee Fire Department Yesterday and Today
Wow! Keowee Key is 50 years old! We are humbled and we appreciate being a part of this great community for the last 27 years.
Let me take you back to March 1995. The anticipation was over, and Keowee Key not only put into operation its very own fire station but staffed it with a fire chief and three paid firefighters, each working a 24 hour shift supplemented by 12 volunteers. The fire department’s only responsibility was responding to fire related emergencies. To become a certified firefighter required 40 hours of training and about two months’ time. The department responded to 29 calls for service in its first year.
I was hired in 1996. During the early years, the staff stayed busy creating maps, commercial building drawings, testing fire hydrants and teaching these new volunteers all we could about the trade. While many of our volunteers had spent their careers as test pilots, engineers, CEOs, and various other highly skilled and successful roles, learning to be a firefighter proved to be a challenge. Despite the large learning curve and average age of 64, “the dirty dozen” as we called them, stuck with it and became outstanding assets to our department.
Although the days were busy with training, pre-planning, and putting the finishing touches on the newly constructed station, I would be remiss if I didn’t recall all the family barbecues, Friday lunches with the admin staff from the (at the time) LKPOA portable office located in our parking lot and many other fun times we shared together.
Chief Edward H. Goff was the first fire chief of the department, initially hired as a consultant in 1993 to oversee
Chief Goff (white shirt next to door) with fire crew in 1996.
the construction of the station and hiring of the initial staff. Chief Goff had retired from the City of Columbia Fire Department and moved to Tamassee before being asked to help with this new endeavor. Chief Goff faithfully served the Keowee Fire Department until he retired in 2004, bringing with him 40 years of fire service experience and leadership. The countless hours spent sitting around the firehouse table listening to his stories, his wisdom and absorbing as much as we could from his bigger than life personality, left a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to work with him and helped shape the station into what it is today. Chief Goff passed away in October 2021 at the age of 81.
In 2004, Oconee County held a special referendum to establish the Keowee Fire District, moving our operation from a KKPOA funded organization to a taxing district. This was a necessity since the department was no longer covering just Keowee Key, but many of the outlying neighborhoods.
Today, the Keowee Fire Department is composed of 25 paid staff and five volunteers and responds to an average of 600 calls for service annually. The minimum training requires 240 hours in firefighting, along with another 500 hours in medical training. The department is charged with the responsibility of providing professional and efficient fire suppression, emergency preparedness, emergency medical services, dive operations, trench and confined space rescue, fire prevention and public education to the Keowee Fire Tax District. The department covers approximately 30-square miles, 3 commercial marinas, 550 waterfront homes, 10,000 residents and the Oconee Nuclear Station.
In addition to providing the mentioned services, we just ordered a new 95-foot E-One ladder truck with an expected delivery mid-2023. We are currently constructing a medical heliport at our headquarter’s station across from Subway. The heliport is expected to be completed in mid-2022. Our goal is to provide the highest level of service in the most efficient manner possible; to constantly safeguard and preserve life and property against the elements of fire and disaster through effective preparation, training and education; and to respond to all emergencies in a safe yet swift manner with sufficient resources to address the situation. The Keowee Fire Commission, staff, and volunteers of the Keowee Fire Department congratulate Keowee Key on 50 years, and we look forward to serving you in the future.
Recent Fire Department training with first responders.
Alice Guzick, Club President
Lakes & Hills Garden Club Then and Now
Agroup of ladies gathered with garden clippers and shovels at the end of a road in Keowee Key. Their goal on that hot, sunny day: to clear vines and discover hidden stones. The year was 1988, and one of those people was Barbara Shaver. Led by a passion for making outdoor spaces look beautiful, what they uncovered was a cemetery for the Hunnicutt family, early settlers in the area. Today, the area is neatly lined with stones and the ground is covered with well-tended flower beds and natural moss. It is a place of beauty where ancestors come to honor their loved ones.
Beautification of the Hunnicutt Cemetery was the first project undertaken by Barbara and her friends who would officially form Lake and Hills Garden Club in September 1989. Directed by their fearless leader and first Garden Club president, Bobbi Heenan, they gathered friends, one by one, inviting them to pay $10 to become a Charter Member of the club. Within a few months, there were 60 members. With her passion and energy, Barbara served as one of the club’s first Presidents and remained on the Executive Board for many years as she fulfilled key roles including treasurer and secretary.
Barbara and the early leaders had a vision for Lake and Hills Garden Club to contribute to Keowee Key as well as to the surrounding community. The group planted pink dogwood trees throughout Keowee Key and native trees at local elementary schools for Arbor Day. They decorated The Club at Keowee Key for the holidays and beautified historic markers along area roadsides. The group planted daffodil bulbs at local senior centers and organized formal flower shows that were judged by outsiders. These Garden Club projects continue today.
Certification of backyards with National Wildlife Federation was a New Project in the 1992 club yearbook. As Barbara recalls, each member was given an application to certify their backyard. Enthusiasm was so high they set a goal for 100 percent participation, and today Barbara still has her original NWF certificate.
In 2018, as a new generation of passionate and energetic ladies were making their mark on the Garden Club, Alice Guzick was asked to revitalize the National Wildlife Federation backyard habitat project. What she discovered surprised her, and she seized the opportunity to do more for Keowee Key. By this time, National Wildlife Federation had a program that allowed entire communities, cities and towns to become certified. Alice proposed this larger project to the Garden Club and volunteered to lead it.
For Keowee Key to become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat, education and outreach as well as new backyard certifications were needed. Within nine months, Keowee Key became the first certified community in Upstate South Carolina, the fifth in the state, and the 112th in the nation. Keowee Key is now in its fourth year of active NWF certification with more than 125 backyards, four common spaces and the golf course certified as wildlife habitats.
Hunnicutt Cemetery 1991
National Wildlife Federation Habitat Certificate Holders
As current president of Lake and Hills Garden Club, Alice encourages members to find a niche in the club that now numbers near 100 people. Whether people are interested in “dig in the dirt” activities or flower arranging, either in Keowee Key or in the larger community, she believes there is something for everyone. Alice says, “Garden club is more fun when everyone participates.” This belief is reflected in her presidential theme: Create, learn and connect with others.
Garden Club members’ recent projects include beautification of the Seneca Library, beautification of the Salem Firehouse, and the creation of a new Pollinator Garden at Keowee Elementary School. Members engage with residents at two local senior living facilities by creating flower arrangements. They keep bird feeders filled and flowers planted at a rehabilitation center. Members plant young tea plants at Table Rock Tea Company. They create flower arrangements as part of Keowee Key’s annual Art Show. And, yes, members of Garden Club still maintain the gardens at the Hunnicutt Cemetery. These projects bring beauty to the lives of others, and fulfillment to members.
In addition to contributing time and effort to beautification projects, Lake and Hills Garden Club makes monetary contributions to the community. Annual donations benefit Clemson University Scholarship Fund and the Future Farmers of America programs at two local high schools. Donations to South Carolina Botanical Garden, started as seed money in 1995, today support a Children’s Garden, Butterfly Garden and more. As a member of the state and national garden club organizations, Garden Club donates to Garden Club of South Carolina. Close to home, Garden Club donates to Friends of Lake Keowee Society to preserve the beauty of Lake Keowee.
Garden Club’s works in Keowee Key and in the larger community have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, Garden Club won six district awards, and 15 state awards for contributions made to the community. A higher-level Southeast Region Award was won for the historic preservation of Hunnicutt Cemetery.
The core of fellowship of Garden Club means that each generation of leaders embraces and welcomes new members to the club each season. With its spirit of beautifying and serving others, Lake and Hills Garden Club will flourish in Keowee Key for another 50 years.
In August 2022, Keowee Key earned its fifth year of certification with the National Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat.
— ALICE GUZIK —
Steve Smith, Past Board President
Philanthropy and Keowee Key
In 2022, Keowee Key Community Partnership (KKCP) topped $1 million dollars in donations from its residents to 22 local charities.
One of the hallmarks of Keowee Key is the spirit of volunteerism. A survey to the community in 2018 reported that residents donate over 100,000 hours per year of service to our community through numerous organizations. A thought came – if we can donate 100,000 hours, what happens if we start adding dollar signs to that? Could we leverage volunteerism to drive financial contributions as well?
To help facilitate this, in 2019, the Keowee Key Community Partnership (KKCP) was created by a group of dedicated members, led by Jon Bachman. “We knew that Keowee Key members were giving tens of thousands of hours each year as volunteers,” said Jon Bachman, chair of KKCP Board. “We thought that we would leverage that volunteerism to drive financial contributions as well.”
Julie-ann Shannon, director of Grace’s Closet, with Jon Bachman
The KKCP is not a 501(c)(3), nor does it receive and disperse funds. Instead, it selects local “partner” charities and promotes them to encourage donations. Members make donations directly to the charity. KKCP does not know their identity.
The partnership board carefully screens prospective partners to ensure that they are 501(c)(3) or 170(c)(1) charitable organizations and that the funds donated by our members will be used exclusively in Oconee County. Partners agree to report back quarterly to KKCP the total of those contributions so that we can track our total Keowee Key contribution.
Our partners provide a range of services to the community in areas such as housing assistance, counseling, child welfare, overcoming addiction, transportation, food insecurity, and teaching self-reliance. They address critical needs for our less fortunate neighbors.
Our mission is to improve the lives of the less fortunate in Oconee County by partnering with nonprofit organizations making a difference here, informing Keowee Key members about them, encouraging their support and seeking matching funds for members’ donations
By raising awareness, KKCP has helped to generate over $1 million dollars in donations from Keowee Key members to our partners in a little more than three years. In many instances, our partners are small organizations with limited capacity to raise the funds to support their operations. KKCP provides them with an additional means to gather much needed financial support.
KKCP Partner Organizations
Habitat for Humanity Keowee Fire Department Fostering Faithfully Collins Children’s Home Our Daily Rest Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital Foundation Friends of Guardian Ad Litem BabyRead Grace’s Closet Oconee County Sheriff’s Department Our Daily Bread Golden Corner Food Pantry Safe Harbor Ripple of One Tri-County Technical College Tamassee DAR School Foothills YMCA Wild Hearts Equine Therapy Center Ride to Work Ministry Purple Heart Homes Foothills Care Center Christ Central Ministries
Humanitarian of the Year
Founder and president of BabyRead wins Humanitarian of the Year Award
BabyRead founder and president Caren von Hippel (a resident at Keowee Key) has been awarded Humanitarian of the Year for 2022 by the South Carolina Head Start Association. At a recent luncheon, a variety of awards were presented to people who have made major contributions to Head Start over the years. Caren began her association with Head Start in the 1970s, working with a Head Start program in the South Bronx in New York.
Von Hippel founded BabyRead, a 501(c )(3) all-volunteer nonprofit, to address the need to bring the joy of reading to lower income families with preschool-age children in Oconee County. Nearly 70 percent of preschoolers in the county go to kindergarten unprepared. Fifty-seven percent live at or below the poverty line. These families often do not understand the importance of reading to their little ones from birth. Those who do often do not have sufficient funds to buy children’s books.
Head Start and BabyRead share the same goal – to provide experiences to children from birth to kindergarten that will enable them to succeed in school and in life. Because of this shared vision, von Hippel expanded BabyRead’s mission from working with individual families to include reading to children at the local Head Start in 2016 and providing them with free books at Christmas and in early June to take home for summer.
Prior to the pandemic, BabyRead volunteers were reading to and playing with the infants and toddlers at the Seneca Head Start facility. During the lockdown, the gift of books was expanded. BabyRead gave the Early Head Start children free books monthly to take home. Now that Americans are learning to live with COVID, von Hippel and other BabyRead volunteers plan to resume their visits to Head Start weekly to read and play with the babies and young children. BabyRead, a local organization devoted to the low-income families of Oconee County started in 2014 with only eight volunteers. Today, there are more than 60 volunteers serving more than 30 families, emphasizing the need to read to infants from birth. Families often stay in BabyRead for one to four years. Family readers meet with parents or other caregivers and their young children twice a month to read with them, sing songs, do finger plays and recite nursery rhymes. At the end of each meeting, the child receives an age-appropriate book to add to their own library. Parents develop a sense of comfort and familiarity with books that many do not have prior to participating in BabyRead.
The assigned BabyRead family reader and caregiver read together with the baby or toddler in on-to-one sessions in public places such as town or school libraries. The relationship that develops between them is the “secret sauce” of why BabyRead is so effective.
Caren von Hippel reads to child in the BabyRead program.
Community Impact by an Actual Community
Guest View with David Eldridge
We get excited to see headlines in The Journal when one of our great manufacturing partners announces a multi-million dollar expansion and financial investment or when we welcome a new employer to Oconee County. We realize these positive announcements foretell new job opportunities, growth in the tax base and the welcoming of new industrial neighbors to our community.
But do we ever think about the importance of the neighborhoods and communities that also drive economic impact in Oconee County? Kevin McCracken, general manager of Keowee Key, recently spoke about this during our monthly business forum, where speakers present topics of interest to business, government, education and law enforcement leaders.
Keowee Key was developed almost 50 years ago during the same time frame three current major employers came to Oconee County: Itron Corporation, Koyo Bearings and Schneider Electric. For those of us who were around then, we remember them by different company names like Sangamo Electric, Torrington Bearings and Square D.
It may come as a surprise to learn that Keowee Key has more residents than the employees of these three businesses combined. Think of the economic impact that these three companies and Keowee Key together have had on the economy of the county for 50 years, changing lives with work opportunities and providing the increased tax base to support job skill
training, improved education, expanded medical access and social improvements. Keowee Key residents are estimated to have purchased more than $53 million in goods and services last year, supporting local and state small business contractors, service providers, retailers, restaurants and the like. Equally as important is how the county benefits from nearly 100,000 hours each year of volunteer efforts with local charities, service clubs, educational organizations and medical support. Resident involvement ranges from teaching kids to read to supporting local shelters, food pantries and organizations that help struggling families, like Ripple of One. Residents have served as volunteer firefighters and first responders and raised money for important Keowee Key residents are estimated to have purchased community social services like the more than $53 million in goods and services last year, new YMCA and supporting local and state small business contractors, Hospice of the Foothills. Those service providers, retailers, restaurants and the are just a few organizations like. Equally as important is how the county benefits the residents from nearly 100,000 hours each year of volunteer serve as valuable volunteers. In fact, efforts with local charities, service clubs, educational a representative of Oconee Memorial organizations and medical support. Hospital said at the meeting that they couldn’t operate at the level they do without the hours volunteered by Keowee Key residents. Dave Eldridge is the director of small business development for Oconee Economic Alliance and a resident of Keowee Key Community.
Dave Beadle, Club Public Relations Coordinator
Newcomer Club of the Foothills
Welcoming Neighbors for Over 50 Years
ust as Keowee Key was beginning its growth, a local organization started in the Seneca/Clemson area, designed to welcome new residents. The
Newcomer Club of the Foothills was originally known as The Clemson Welcome Wagon Club. Organized on Aug. 3, 1971, the club initially had 22 members, met in homes for lunches and was geared toward new women in the area. The first dues were a whopping $3. The club was also known as the Newcomers Club of Clemson, so in October 1979, the club dropped its affiliation with the Welcome Wagon, and became the Clemson-Seneca Newcomers’ Club. Throughout the 1980s the Club prospered, with membership increasing from the first 22 people to several hundred. Today, over 100 people typically join the Newcomer Club each year for a three-year membership for a $50 fee. On June 14, 2010, the club was formally incorporated as the Newcomer Club of The Foothills, a nonprofit 501(c)(7).
Fifty years ago, large employers such as Duke Power (now Duke Energy), Millikin and Clemson University would attract new employees from outside of the region. The Newcomers Club of Clemson was the ideal place for the many stay-at-home moms to find friendships and connections. Back then, the group was about 20 women meeting in homes for coffee or lunch, and they hosted guest speakers. They started an annual fashion show fundraiser and activity groups such as bridge, exercise and crafts. Their goal then was similar to today: “Welcoming those who are new to the Upstate, acquainting them with the area and its opportunities, and linking them with new friends and neighbors.”
What a difference 50 years can make — from meetings in local living rooms to a huge membership across much of the S.C. Foothills area! Today, the Newcomer Club of the Foothills has over 500 members, many are Keowee Key residents and retirees, often new to the area, seeking a relaxing rural community with easy access to boating, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Many members of the Newcomer Club move here from nearby areas in South Carolina, North Carolina or Georgia. The weather here is a huge draw, so a large number come from cooler weather states such as New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Illinois. Over the last couple years, we have even seen some from sunny San Diego escaping the high cost of living (and other things) for the relaxed lake lifestyle. Club members (as couples or singles) run the gamut from retirees to those working for great local companies or remotely for far flung employers or as consultants. All have the same goal - to make new friends and expand their social network.
When new members join the club, they are connected to small Social Groups (formerly known as Activity Groups). Many Activity Groups still meet, 5, 10, 15 years after graduation. One group nicknamed Prime Timers was formed in 2010. During their three-year club membership, they met most months for group activities such as tours of BMW, Bad Creek and Taylor Made golf balls. Since they had so much fun with their new friends, trying local restaurants, visiting area venues; after their three-year membership concluded, the Prime Timers kept meeting… and meeting… and meeting. Twelve years later, this Newcomer Club Activity Group is still going strong. About a dozen members attend regular activities and social events. A few moved away to be closer to family members. Some of the original members have passed, but the Prime Timers are there to support the surviving spouses. One Prime Timer tells us “Those were all great days. We’ve enjoyed making long-term friends and learning about everyone’s history. We’ve had so much fun over the years meeting for new experiences and food!”
This story is not unique.
Many Keowee Key residents have been members of the Newcomer Club, serving on board positions and volunteering with the community and social activities. The Newcomer Club of the Foothills just celebrated 50 years of welcoming neighbors to Upstate South Carolina, promoting friendships and acquainting members with the history, culture and community opportunities in the area.
The Newcomer Club still welcomes residents who are new to the area or want to renew their interest in the area. The Club meets in Seneca at St. Mark United Methodist Church on the first Tuesday of the month, August through May. Meetings feature guest presenters, community nonprofit partners with volunteer opportunities for members, special interest groups for hiking, dining, and book clubs and plenty of time to socialize over a cup of coffee and treats. The Newcomer Club has a lasting effect on residents to help them feel welcomed and connected to this area and graduates continue to encourage their friends and neighbors to join the club.
Congratulations to Keowee Key on its 50th! The Newcomer Club of the Foothills is honored to have been a partner throughout our shared history! Can’t wait to see what the next 50 brings!
Dale Wilde, President FOLKS
FOLKS History and its beginnings with Keowee Key
In 1993, a group of Keowee Key residents met with representatives from the Lake and Watershed Association of South Carolina (now defunct) to discuss their concern that Lake Keowee had no group dedicated to focus on lake issues. The Association, representatives of Clemson University and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) encouraged them to create a nonprofit organization that would address and advocate for their concerns.
In April 1993, the forming members, who became the original board of directors, produced the first issue of The Sentinel newsletter to pose and answer the question of “Why organize?” and introduce and explain the mission of what would become the Friends of Lake Keowee Society, Inc. (FOLKS). The newsletter’s specific goal was to enroll members. By June of that year, 103 families had become members and three years later the rolls had grown to 625 families. Current membership is just under 850 members and growing.
Below are several of the answers to the original “Why organize?” question that is still relevant today.
“Because lake organizations in other communities have been very successful in improving water quality, in participating in the development of plans, and in bringing lake-related issues to the attention of decision makers at various levels of government.
“Because political boundaries do not coincide with watershed boundaries (and because politicians have not often been among the first to identify with watershed concerns).
“Because a great deal of information about the lake does exist, but there is no medium dedicated to communicating this information to local residents. “Because the federal government, through the Pure Waters Act and the State of South Carolina, through the Department of Health and Environmental Control are mandated to develop watershed management plans which must have citizen input.
“Because commercial interests may not always be coincident with the interests of local residents.
“Because people who share an interest in the lake and its watershed would like to feel more of a sense of community.”
The first official meeting of FOLKS was held on May 11, 1993. By December 1993, FOLKS was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation for educational, scientific, and charitable purposes, organized under South Carolina and Federal regulations. Beginning as a volunteer-staffed organization, its membership grew to approximately 150 with annual dues for a family membership of $10. The founders
A group of FOLKS’ more than 150 2022 Lake Sweep volunteers who help pick up litter along the lake shore and islands. Scott Calderwood & Dick Havran from Keowee Key.
of FOLKS felt that cooperative community effort could lead to positive accomplishments, based on the premise that ecologically sound management of the lake and its watershed would be, in the long run, in the interest of the Upstate.
Over the past nearly three decades, FOLKS has made significant impacts to the Lake Keowee Watershed with SCDHEC 319 Grants, Keowee-Toxaway Habitat Enhancement Grants, water quality monitoring programs and regular lake litter cleanups. Today, with environmental impacts by development and water quality issues often on our minds, it seems that there is no reason to question “Why organize?”
FOLKS served as a stakeholder for the Lake Keowee relicensing, is the founding member of the Lake Keowee Source Water Protection Team and is currently serving on the stakeholder committee for the Bad Creek relicensing and Bad Creek II Pre-Application Document and Notice of Intent.
FOLKS remains as relevant today as we did 30 years ago. Why? Because our board, our members, our business and corporate members, and our advertisers believe in our mission — “Friends of Lake Keowee Society is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of Lake Keowee and its watershed through advocacy, conservation, and education.”
Jason Eller, Tamassee DAR School Development Officer
Tamassee DAR School and Keowee Key
A Continuing Partnership
Since the 1980s, Keowee Key members have been intricate partners, mentors, tutors, committee members, board members, donors and more for Tamassee DAR School. A great example of this was during the early 1990s when Keowee Key members, skilled in woodworking, developed a campus program at Tamassee. Transforming parts of the old barn into a wood shop, students had the opportunity to learn to use woodworking tools, develop patterns and build simple clocks made of hardwood for their campus rooms. In the 2000s, Keowee Key members provided swimming lessons, boat rides, picnics and Christmas parties for the children of Tamassee DAR School. Throughout the decades, Keowee Key members have shown leadership, kindness and love to Tamassee and the children and families they serve.
Today, that partnership continues brightly as ever through their generosity to Tamassee’s Afterschool, Early Learning, Summer Day Camp and now Tamassee new residential Starlight Program for mothers with children. Starlight is a twoyear sober home program located on the Tamassee campus for mothers seeking to permanently heal from addictions, but do not want to leave their young children behind while they complete their therapy, education and gain valuable work and life-skills during that period. As a faith-infused program, Starlight will deliver the love of Jesus and help families work through their trauma, heal and be restored.
Tamassee has already started transforming campus homes in preparation for mothers and their children. Keowee Key volunteers have stepped up once again through their generous giving and volunteering their skills to help make this all possible. The words “Thank You” seem much too small to express the incredible impact Keowee Key members have made on hundreds of children’s lives at Tamassee, but we will say them anyway, THANK YOU! Here’s to another 50 years of partnership in changing the stars for children and families.
Tamassee DAR event at Keowee Key.
Keowee Key Is Golden
Long Term Residents of 25+ Years
Name *No. of Years Purchase Date
Jerry & Myra Eskew 50 1972 Charles & Dianne McGee 48 1974 Lee & Lee Cerny 41 1981 Don & Carolyn DeMoor 41 1981 Irene Ferber 40 1982 Alice Schrader 40 1982 Barbara Shaver 40 1982 Clark Riley 38 1984 Don Chamberlain 37 1985 Rheal & Roberta Desrochers 36 1986 Bill & Grace Holzhauer 36 1986 Joan Lodes 36 1986 Dolores Smith 36 1986 Charles & Carol Fritze 35 1987 George & Maggie Kavran 35 1987 Fredi Hallman 35 1987 Carolyn McNabb 35 1987 Charlie & Susan Robison 35 1987 Jeanne Welch 35 1987 Bob & Libby Dunlap 34 1988 Albert Kishbaugh 34 1988 John & Monica Leaning 34 1988 Joan Loughran 34 1988 Bob & Jan Naggs 34 1988 Wells & Linda Doty 33 1989 Paula Gauthier 33 1989 Jim Myers & Joni Gregg 33 1989 Josephine Leibfried 33 1989 Phyllis Raver 32 1990 Ellen Plumpe 31 1991 Paul & Linda Trehearne 31 1991 Gerry Walton 31 1991
Name *No. of Years Purchase Date
Owen & Marty Floyd
30 1992 Harry & Dee Helvik 30 1992 George & Patricia Ostapchenko 30 1992 Edna Elfont 29 1993 Greg & Nancy Henning Ed Hicks Bob & Marva Loebe Bill & Marilyn Miller Bob & Edna Rider Ester Dickens Nancy Mahan Al & Nova Nolan Bill & Jan Pennington Rich & Patt Skinner Mike & Eileen Small 29 1993 29 1993 29 1993 29 1993 29 1993 28 1994 28 1994 28 1994 28 1994 28 1994 28 1994
Jean Teising Jean Westfall Jim & Gretchen Griffin Wayne Hobin 28 1994 27 1995 27 1995 27 1995
Zeus & Peggy Stevens Barry & Sylvia Stuart Lea Allison 27 1995 27 1995 26 1996
David & Kathy Beam
26 1996 Ronald Childs 26 1996 Paul & Sherry Kantzler 26 1996 Linda Newmark 26 1996 Chuck & Elizabeth Sisson 26 1996 Len & Pat Hilla 25 1997 Don & Penelope Little 25 1997 Mitch & Nancy Padyjasek 25 1997 Jim & Elly Simmons 25 1997 Jeff & Pat Wolfe 25 1997
Judy Griffiths, 50th Anniversary Chair, Past Board Treasurer
Keowee Key’s Longest Tenured Employees
Keowee Key currently has eight employees that have been working here for over 25 years!
Randy Whitener started working for Keowee Key in 1985 and is the longest tenured employee. Randy is a core part of the Golf Maintenance Department. He regularly opens the shop before daybreak, readying the equipment for the day. What is outstanding is that Randy has worked for every golf superintendent at Keowee Key since its original development.
Bobbie Queen started working here in 1986, after graduating from Tamassee-Salem High School. Bobbie took a job as a “bus girl” at the Club and has been a part of our community ever since. Bobbie served lunch for years at the Club and now she works breakfast and lunch at the Bistro.
John Lindgren started working for the Club in 1990 after moving to Keowee Key with his family in 1989. John “Johnny” enjoys his time working in the kitchen. He likes the social connection he has built with co-workers. Johnny still lives in the community at Captains Walk.
Mark Dahill started working in 1992 as the Golf Course Superintendent and years later became director of operations, a job he has held for seven years. Mark manages about 30 people all dedicated to the maintenance of our facilities and grounds, including our parks, roads, landscaping, and handyman services.
Elizabeth Cliburn started working in the Environmental Control Committee (now CARE Committee) in 1995 when it was housed in a trailer. She also held positions in Operations, Accounts Payable and IT, before becoming the accounts receivable clerk. Her current position is well suited to her personality as she enjoys the daily contact with members, getting to know people and their families.
Jennifer Guffey started working at Keowee Key in 1995
at the Club on Thanksgiving Day where she trained under Bobbie to be a server. She worked for years as a line cook at the BRC and now is a server at the Bistro. Jennifer does a little bit of everything including housekeeping and prep work. Patricia (Trish) Davis started working at Keowee Key part-time at the FRC in 1996 while raising her two young sons. In 1995, she became certified in Aquatic Randy Whitener Fitness and has been teaching classes ever since. Trish finds it rewarding to watch members have fun in the water while increasing their fitness level. Patsy Lowery started working at the FRC in 1996 (Kourthouse back then) teaching aerobics and working the front desk. From January 1997 until September 2003, she was the fitness center manager. After a short break to help her family start a small business, she came back in April 2004 to teach aerobics and aquatics and to do personal training after receiving certifications in all three areas. Congratulations to these Awesome Eight for over 25 years of service at Keowee Key.
