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District 7750 History

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District 7750 History

The Rotary Club movement began in 1905 in Chicago, IL when Paul P. Harris, a young attorney, brought a group of business and professional men together to recapture the friendliness and fellowship many had known in the small towns where they grew up. Harris named the group Rotary because its members rotated the meeting location. In November 1908 a second Rotary Club was organized in San Francisco closely followed by Clubs in Oakland and Los Angeles. The New York City Rotary Club was formed in 1909 and in 1911 Rotary became international with the formation of Clubs in Ireland and England.

With this growth Rotary began organizing itself into Districts, first called Divisions (1912). South Carolina’s first clubs, Greenville (1916), Spartanburg (1916), and Anderson (1917) were in District 4, which included the southeastern part of the United States. Then in 1918 the Clubs in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina were grouped to form Division 7. Lewis W. Perrin (Spartanburg) served as District Governor of District 7 in 1920-21.

North Carolina and South Carolina were reorganized into District 38 in 1922 and by 1926 there were sufficient clubs to form District 58, an area that included all of South Carolina and Western North Carolina. Zac Wright (Newberry) was the first District Governor of District 58.

In 1937 District 58 was changed to District 190 and in 1945, when North Carolina split into four Districts, South Carolina became a single District (190). After WWII (1949) the District number was changed to 282 and then five years later (1954) the state was split into two Districts. The eastern portion became District 283 and the western portion remained 282. In 1957 our District number was changed to 775 and finally in 1991 it became District 7750, as it is known today.

There are 55 Clubs in our District and approximately 3100 Rotarians. Our District consists of the 19 western counties plus a portion of Lexington County. District 7770 includes the 26 eastern counties plus a portion of Lexington County and has 77 Clubs and 4500 Rotarians.

Internationally, Rotary today is made up of more than 32,000 clubs totaling 1.2 million plus Rotarians in more than 162 countries.

District Governor

Gary Goforth
District Governor

Former Assistant Governor Gary Goforth, a member of the Rotary Club of Emerald City for 17 years, will serve as District 7750 Governor for the Rotary year 2011-2012.

Born in Hawaii, Gary graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor’s Degree in physics in 1976 followed by a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1980. He was awarded a Master’s Degree in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in 1990. He completed his Family Medicine internship and residency in Hawaii at Tripler Army Medical Center in 1983, and served with the U.S. Army on active duty as a family physician for 14 years prior to moving to Greenwood, South Carolina in 1994. He retired from the South Carolina Army National Guard as a Colonel in 2001. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He serves as the Director of Medical Education and the Family Medicine Residency Program Director at Self Regional Healthcare. Gary served in Afghanistan from July 2008 to June 2009 where he worked with CURE International Hospital and as a key leader in the development Hope Family Medicine Afghanistan, an organization dedicated to overseeing Family Medicine training and development of Family Medicine as a specialty throughout Afghanistan.

Gary served as the President of the Emerald City Rotary Club in 1998-99, as an Assistant Governor for Area 9 from 2002-2005, and as a member of Rotary District 7750 Strategic Planning Committee since 2006. Gary has chaired the District Foundation Grants Subcommittee and has led our efforts to become more involved in international projects and District Simplified Grants. In 2002, Gary was awarded Rotary International’s “Service Above Self” Award and in 2004, the Rotary Foundation awarded Gary its “Citation for Meritorious Service” award. He is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Bequest Society and Paul Harris Society.

Gary has been active both professionally and in the community. He serves on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, Greater Greenwood United Ministries Free Medical Clinic, Community Initiatives, and the Lakelands Rural Health Network. Gary has led more than 40 international medical mission trips. He was honored as the 2008 SCAFP South Carolina Family Physician of the Year, the 2008 SCRHA Rural Educator of the Year, a finalist (top 5) for the 2008-2009 AAFP National Family Physician of the Year, the 2011 Boy Scouts of America Long Cane District Distinguished Citizen Award, and the recipient of the 2010 SCMA Continuing Medical Education Award.

Gary is married to Kathy, and they have three children (Jonathan, Michael, and Sarah). They are both active at Rice Memorial Baptist Church in Greenwood. During the Goforth’s time in Afghanistan, Kathy served as a high school mathematics teacher at the International School of Kabul. Kathy now teaches high school mathematics at Greenwood Christian School.

Email Gary

District Governor Elect

Kim Gramling
District Governor Elect
(District Governor 2012-2013)

As a District 7750 GSE team member, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Walhalla in the year 2000, Kimberly Gramling was introduced to Rotary. The exchange with District 7030 in the West Indies developed in Kim a great appreciation for the positive impact Rotarian service makes locally and globally and for the unique fellowship shared by Rotarians.

Shortly after the exchange, Kim was invited to join the Seneca Golden Corner Rotary Club. She has served the club as chair of the international committee, club secretary, and board member. She served as president of the club in Rotary’s centennial year 2004-2005. As a member of the District 7750 GSE Committee since 2001, Kim has enjoyed sharing the GSE experience with others.

Kim served as Assistant Governor for area 2 from 2007-2010, working with the Rotary Club of Seneca, Seneca Golden Corner Rotary, the Rotary Club of Westminster, the Rotary Club of Walhalla and the Rotary Club of Fair Play. Kim is a Rotary Foundation Alumni, Foundation Benefactor and Paul Harris Fellow, and a 2005 recipient of the Rotary Foundation District Service Award.

In 1984, Kim was the recipient of a Congress Bundestag Scholarship and studied for an academic year as an exchange student in Germany. The exchange experience lead to an interest in international studies. Kim graduated from Clemson University's Language and International Trade program in 1991 with B.A. in German and Global Marketing.

Kim’s vocation is plastics consulting. She has worked extensively in the area of post industrial plastics recycling.

Kim has a daughter, Sara, who is a sophomore studying engineering at the University of Southern California.

Kim enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, home renovation projects, and is a general aviation enthusiast.

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District Governor Nominee

Lorraine Angelino
District Governor Nominee
(District Governor 2013-2014)

Lorraine Angelino has been a member of the Emerald City Rotary club in Greenwood, South Carolina since 2003. She has served as Public Relations Chair, Club Service Chair, Foundation Chair, and was Club President in 2009-2010. At the District level, she has served as District Treasurer, District Secretary, member of the Grants committee, and member of the World Community Service committee. She will serve as an Assistant Governor for Area 9 for 2011-12.

Lorraine is a graduate of the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) and currently serves as a faculty member. In 2006 and 2008, Lorraine traveled to Olanchito, Honduras with several Rotarians from District 7750 to establish matching grants for two water wells and to participate in several medical missions. She will be returning to Honduras in February 2011. Lorraine is a Paul Harris Fellow, Benefactor, Bequest Society member, and a Paul Harris Society Charter member,

Lorraine is a graduate of University of South with a Bachelors in Engineering Technology, Bachelors in Management Information Systems, and a Masters in Business Administration with a certificate in International Business. In 2009, she earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Clemson University. Lorraine currently works for Self Regional Healthcare in the Information Systems & Technology department. In addition, she teaches at Lander University.

Lorraine enjoys playing with her two cocker spaniel dogs Ruby and Angel, traveling, scuba diving, teaching, and visiting all of her nieces and nephews.

Email Lorraine

 
 
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