Meetings

November

Composting at Riverbanks Zoo

The Riverbanks Zoo’s composting success is that “bottom line” of animal manure can be a profit-maker instead of a wasted byproduct.  The zoo must contend with about 1,200 pounds of excrement daily, mostly from its elephant, giraffe and zebra populations.  After collection, the manure decomposes and cures in a special storage area while being monitored for temperature and moisture.  When it reaches the stage where it’s ready to be called “natural soil amendment,” the compost can be distributed at Riverbanks Garden and sold.  It’s available for gift shop purchase or by the pick-up truckload during spring and fall bulk sales.  Some of the sale proceeds go to the zoo’s conservation fund that supports projects to save wildlife and wildlife habitat all over the world.  Each year Riverbanks converts 13,418 cubic feet of dung into money-making compost.

PRESENTER: John Davis, Director of Animal Care & Welfare

Mr. Davis holds a degree in wildlife biology from Kansas State University and has run the composting program since 2009 as Director of Animal Care and Welfare at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. 

MEETING LOCATION:

Riverbanks Zoo
500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC
11:00am-1:00pm

We will meet at Tusker’s Restaurant at 11:00am. Lunch will be on your own at the restaurant.

The tour will commence at 11:45am.

REGISTRATION PROCESS:

• We are continuing to use Eventbrite for meeting registrations.
• Meeting cost is $20 in advance ($15 for current/retired military).
• NOTE: The registration fee covers only the entrance fee into the Zoo. Lunch is on your own at Tuskers Restaurant.
• Please register in advance, so we can accommodate everyone.
• Please register by Monday, November 11th @ 8:00am.

Shaw Air Force Base Program

Colonel Arno J. Bischoff is currently the Director of Installations for US Air Forces Central Command, Shaw AFB, SC. He is responsible for 6,408 facilities at multiple bases valued at $14.7 billion. He oversees planning, development & execution of $3.8 billion in construction & $3.2 billion in service & commodity contracts and provides staff oversight of 3,600 rotational contracting, engineer, firefighter, EM/CBRN, EOD, and OCN escorts. From July 2015 to August 2016 he was the Commander, 1st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group (AFCENT). He led this diverse unit of 619 personnel conducting theater-wide repair and construction projects in support of Joint and AFCENT forces while completing over 100 projects valued at $48 million. From July 2014 to May 2015 he was a student at Air War College. Additionally, Colonel Bischoff served at the Air Staff, US Forces Afghanistan, two Civil Engineer Squadron commands, HQ Air Combat Command as an EOD branch chief, a CE Operations Officer, and 4x Flight Commander. He has deployed six times in support of Operations SOUTHERNWATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, SPARTAN SHIELD, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and INHERENT RESOLVE

September

Developing Communities of Veterans within Companies and Professional Organizations

1. Understand the facts about veterans and veterans in the work place.
2. Understand how improving veterans and their families quality of life improves corporate recruitment and retention.
3. Recognize the measurement and evaluation of a successful program.

Presenter: Mr. Jim Lorraine, President & CEO of Americas Warrior Partnership 

From city to city and town to town across America, there is no one organization or platform to ensure each unique veteran is holistically supported or that each veteran service organization has access to the national resources they need. America's Warrior Partnership is filling these gaps between current veteran service organizations: bolstering efficacy, improving results, and empowering initiatives.

America's Warrior Partnership is the connection that brings local veteran-centric nonprofits together through coordination and collaboration, ensuring consistent information is obtained, relevant services are provided, and national resources are utilized. We attack inefficiency and amplify the work of established nonprofits and government agencies.

August

USC Aiken - Newly Accredited Engineering Curriculum, Advanced Manufacturing Lab & Veterans Affairs Program

Robert Murphy (Director of Veterans Affairs) and Darren Timmons (Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs) USC Aiken will provide a joint presentation about their newly accredited Engineering Curriculum, the new Advanced Manufacturing Lab and their Veteran Affairs Program.

Robert Murphy is the Director of the Office of Veteran and Military Student Success at University of South Carolina-Aiken.  He has served over 25 years in a myriad of international, national, and community based positions. A military veteran with zeal and passion of quality leadership and team success. Highly regarded as an expert in community relations, team building, and results-based leadership. Has cConducted hundreds of hours in research and analysis of current USC Aiken student veteran programming, policies, resources, and overall student veteran awareness and published a comprehensive Veteran and Military Student Success program. He received is BS Degree in Business Management from USC-Aiken and his MBA, Management from University of South Carolina

Dr. Daren Timmons was the interim provost, managing all academic programs and academic support services, including enrollment management, admissions and financial aid. Before assuming the interim position, Timmons was the dean of USCA's College of Sciences and Engineering. Before coming to USCA in 2016, Timmons was the John C. Allen '62 Institute Professor of Chemistry and head of the chemistry department at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he developed new liquid crystal materials and metal-organic frameworks, according to a news release from USCA. Timmons has an impressive list of publications and has been the recipient of several significant grants, including one from the National Science Foundation, according to the release. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Duke University and his doctorate in chemistry from Texas A&M University.

Invited guests also included Dr. Forrest Mahan (President Aiken Technical College), SC State Senator Tom Young, David Jameson (President and CEO Aiken Chamber of Commerce), and Will Williams  (Director Economic Development Partnership Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda Regions of SC).

July

Making the Right Connections - The Fundamentals of Air Barrier Design 

Mr. Keith Kowadlo, Federal Account Manager for Tremco Commercial Sealants & Waterproofing will be presenting on "Making the Right Connections - The Fundamentals of Air Barrier Design". This is a on-hour AIA-approved presentation.