Volunteerism, coffee club, book club have kept King 'so busy'

Mic Smith
The Post and Courier

Mount Pleasant retiree Dick King keeps busy with a coffee club and book club, and until recently held several volunteer positions.

Dick King's date book is full.

"I've been retired for 15 years and it doesn't even seem like I retired," King said. "I'm so busy."

The Mount Pleasant retiree arranges Wednesday meetings for others just like him, inviting speakers to attend monthly groups for at least the last decade. King calls on area leaders and other interesting people to speak at Mount Pleasant Men's Coffee Club at Alhambra Hall every fourth Wednesday of the month and also at the Christ Our King Senior Center on the second Wednesday.

On the third Wednesday, he meets in the Mount Pleasant Regional Library to discuss books with others in King's Book Club.

Phil Siegrist, who sends out monthly invitations for the Alhambra Hall men's coffee club, said he and others benefit from the camaraderie of the groups.

"It's called 'get out of the house,' " Siegrist said. "Very few things are 100 percent positive; this is one of them."

King, Siegrist and two other men created the men's coffee group about 10 years ago, but King has always organized the meetings. The monthly get-togethers started out as part of the East Cooper Newcomers group, and members met in one another's homes.

In 2004, the men approached Chuck DeLorme, senior and adult programs coordinator for the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department, to discuss placing the program under his department.

DeLorme told King they would have to change the name to Mount Pleasant Men's Coffee Club.

"We'll supply the coffee," King recalls DeLorme saying.

King answered, "You got a deal."

DeLorme said the men's coffee club, also open to women, is one of the department's most popular events, which is why he recently named King senior volunteer of the year for 2007.

The retired Newell Co. regional sales manager, also volunteered on Tuesdays at The Neighborhood House soup kitchen on America Street in downtown Charleston up until recently. There, King became known as the "hotdog kid" for dressing up hot dogs with condiments. He also served as a previous Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic charity fundraising organization.

Bob Forte, a friend, said in addition to regular volunteer duties, King is the first person people call when they need a favor; it's one of the reasons why Forte thinks King deserves the Jefferson Award.

"If it's an award for people who do things for other people and not think too much of themselves, then Dick King is the guy," Forte said.

Reach Jessica Johnson at jjohnson@postandcourier.com or 937-5921.