History
The history of the Columbia Sertoma Club is as storied
and widely known as any in all of Sertoma.
The Columbia Sertoma Club was chartered as the Cooperative
Club of Columbia, June 10, 1950, with William W. Bruner as
the charter president and William F. Dibble as the first Chairman
of the Board. The name was changed to Sertoma (SERvice
TO Mankind) a few months after the founding when the national
organization's name became Sertoma International. Of
the 61 Charter members, three (3) are currently
active in the Club. Prior to his passing, Charter member
Tucker Weston had perfect attendance since the charter date
(more than 50 years) and was a past President of Sertoma International.
(Dr. Tucker C. Weston
named President of Sertomal International)
The Columbia Sertoma Club has sponsored and built 30 new
Sertoma Clubs in the State of South Carolina since it's beginning.
Starting in 1967, we built a new club each year for 29 consecutive
years - a record that is unequaled in all of Sertoma International.
Gold Honor status in Sertoma International was also achieved
for 26 years in a row beginning in 1968. This is the
longest consecutive streak in all of Sertoma.
(Sertomans sell concessions
in the early days of the South Carolina State Fair)
The mission of the Columbia Sertoma Club is to generate funds
to donate to charity organizations local to the Columbia area,
and this is accomplished by coordinating fundraisers.
Through the years our major fund raising projects have included
the annual Carolina Childrens Home Campaign, operation of
the Grand Strand Concession at The State Fair, selling concessions
at 3 Rivers Music Festival, selling concessions and operating
gateways at St. Patrick's Day in Five Points, Super Garage
Sales, Art Auctions, selling concessions at events such as
MayFest and Columbia Bomber baseball games and The Farewell
Farms Eastern DeBroke Horse Trials in Blythewood, and many,
many others.
Major sponsorships over the years have included The Carolina
Children's Home, RiverBanks Zoo, EdVenture, Camp Sertoma,
The Sertoma Foundation, the Palmetto Baseball League, and too
many others to list here. The campaign to raise
operating funds for The Carolina Children's Home has raised
in excess of $3.2 million to date and last year the club donated
funds to more than twenty-five (25) local charities.
Over the years, several Sertoma Club members have distinguished
themselves and their club by making contributions that have
helped the organization become what it is today, and we owe
them a debt of gratitude. Without them, this history
wouldn't be possible.
(Sertomans receive Gold
Coats for starting new clubs and reaching other goals)
Dr. Tucker C. Weston, a charter member who was President of
Sertoma International in 1959-60 and was instrumental, along
with Lyle Noll, in establishing the Sertoma Foundation.
Nelson McDonald who wrote, edited and published our bulletin
for 27 years.
Ernest Lawhorne who was President in 1968 when our streak
of building Clubs and the Carolina Children's Home Campaign
began and who now solicits and collects contributions from
more than 40 donors annually.
Colonel Richard Coulter, who prior to his death, photographed
every Sertoma event and compiled a scrapbook he presented
to the outgoing President for over 25 years beginning in 1970.
(A Charter Sertoman
helping to support local charities)
(Assisting with the
Midland "Buddy Walk")
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