Rotary District 7770
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Wales Group Study Exchange Team -Outbound

Meet the team which will depart September 30, 2006 for Wales

Team Leader- Rick Melton Rick Melton was born in Bennettsville, SC, and grew up in Florence. He attended Florence schools where he graduated from West Florence High School. He graduated from Clemson University with a major in Political Science in 1976 and began his banking career with South Carolina National Bank in March 1977. After 26 years in banking, Rick retired from Carolina First Bank. He and a partner have recently opened a used car dealership in Lake City where he lives. He is married to Millie Jordan of Olanta, SC. They have three children, Hillary, Kimberly and Shannon and a granddaughter, Mila. Rick first became a Rotarian in 1981 as an organizing and charter member of the Florence West Rotary Club and was the third President of the club. He was named “Rotarian of the Year” in 1985. While a member of Florence West, he served as area representative from 1987-89. With a change of jobs, he became a member of the Lake Marion at Santee Club where he served as secretary and treasurer. He is currently serving as president of the Lake City Rotary Club. He has served twice as District Golf Chairman while a member of the Florence West and Lake Marion Clubs. He is a Paul Harris Fellow. Rick is very active in the civic affairs of Lake City as he has served as President of the Lake City Chamber of Commerce and is currently serving as Chairman of the Lake City Development Board. He was named Lake City’s “Citizen of the Year” by the mayor in 2003. He attends the Lake City Presbyterian Church and serves on the Session, is a Sunday School teacher, and was chairman of the pastor search committee.
	Mariah Bywater lives in Beaufort and is an emergency room charge nurse at Beaufort Hospital. She is certified in adult and pediatric trauma nursing and advanced life support. She has made several medical mission trips to Haiti as a surgical team nurse. She has been with Beaufort Memorial since she graduated from Nursing School in 2000. Mariah is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Beaufort
Adrel Langley lives in Johnsonville with her 10 year old daughter, Allison and was recently named editor of the Lake City News & Post after being a staff writer/reporter at the paper for the past four years. She has collected 12 South Carolina Press Association awards. She graduated from Francis Marion University with a BA in Fine Arts with Graphic Design and Photography Specialties with a minor in Mass Communications. Adrel's long-term career goal is to become a journalist with an international magazine. Read article by Adrel published in the Lake City News & Post. Adrel is sponsored by the Lake City Rotary Club
	Betsy Reves lives in Charleston and is the Catering Sales Manager for Embassy Suites Hotel. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Business Management and a MBA in International Studies from the University in Birmingham. Betsy played soccer in college and is currently training for triathlons. She completed her first half Ironman in June. Betsy is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Spring Valley
Ruben Santiago lives in Columbia and is a lieutenant with the Richland County Sheriffs Department. He has been with the department since 1999. He is a 10-year veteran of the US Army and served in the Persian Gulf War with the 82nd Airborne as an Airborne Ranger. Ruben currently serves in Community Services Department where he is responsible for the Community Action Team, Drug Suppression Team, Gang Unit, Code Enforcement Team and the HQ Front Desk Section. He is married and has 2 children. Ruben is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Spring Valley
	Richard Sidebottom lives in Columbia and is a Historic Architectural Consultant with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. He graduated from Emory University with a BA in History and has a Masters of Architectural History from the University of Virginia. Richard is an avid soccer player and fan who just returned from Germany to view the World Cup before his selection as a GSE team member. Richard is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Columbia

Alternates:

The following were selected as alternates and will be involved in the training and will be ready to go if needed. Cayce McIntosh Granger lives in Timmonsville and is a realtor with Griggs-Floyd-Grantham in Florence. Stewart Haig lives in Orangeburg and is a Corporal and Planning and Research Officer with the Orangeburg Public Safety. Shannon Mewborn lives in Sumter and is the Director of Student Life at USC-Sumter.