Saturday, May 3, 2025 11:30 am, at The Lakehouse at Middleton Place, 4290 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414.

Entrée options:

Our Featured Speaker: Governor General Lisa Pennington

Our guest speaker will be Governor General Lisa Pennington. Lisa Pennington is the Mayflower Society's Governor General for 2023-2026. She previously served as Counsellor General and Member-at-Large on GSMD's Executive Committee. She joined the Mayflower Society in 2000 and has held oMicer positions in both the Texas and Massachusetts member societies over the years.

Lisa earned her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. She practiced business litigation for thirty-four years and was elected Managing Partner of her firm’s Houston office for eighteen years until she retired in 2018. Lisa and her husband, David Furlow, have three children and five grandchildren and enjoy travel and speaking and writing on historical topics.

NOTE FROM THE GOVERNOR: Please bear in mind that several of our members have severe allergies to scents. Please refrain from wearing heavy perfumes. We will have two tables reserved for those of us with scent allergies. If wearing perfume please do not sit at these tables.

Middleton Place Tours

Two tours are available to SMD-SC members at Middleton Place on Saturday morning. Members staying at the Middleton Place Inn will need to pay only for their added tours, as your stay at the Inn includes General Admission to Middleton Place. Those members staying elsewhere must purchase General Admission to Middleton Place at a discounted rate of $23.00 (vs. the usual $32.00) and add the tour(s) at the discounted prices below. To ensure your place on a tour, sign up when you make your Luncheon Reservation online or using the form on Page 32. A minimum of 10 people is required in order for tours to occur. We may combine the 10:00 AM and 10:15 AM House Museum tours, depending on reservation numbers.

Meet the Historic Livestock Breeds

This guided tour takes a closer look at the historic livestock breeds at Middleton Place. Learn why the breeds were originally brought to Middleton in the 18th and 19th centuries and how each breed contributed to the plantation. Hear stories about the people who owned and cared for them.

This tour usually runs daily only at 11:30 a.m., but a special tour with additional time, access, and information will be oMered for SMD-SC members at 9:15 a.m. for $7.

House Museum Tour

This guided tour explores an historic structure built in 1755 at the direction of Henry Middleton. It was part of the three-building estate that looked over the Ashley River. Middleton House contains an extraordinary collection of furniture, paintings, books, artifacts, and documents dating from the 1740s through the Civil War. Please note that the structure has limited handicap accessibility.

These times are reserved for SMD-SC Members for $12.

Hotels:

We have reserved two blocks of rooms for our members to take advantage of at the Hampton Inn and at Middleton Place Inn.

Middleton Place Inn (4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston SC 29414): your room will be riverfront with floor to ceiling windows. The rate includes admission for two to Middleton Place, a hot breakfast, reduced price happy hour, and a night cap of port and chocolate. If you stay at the Inn at Middleton Place, you may arrive on Friday after 12:00 pm and enjoy the amazing gardens on Friday afternoon. You can join the Governor General and First Gentleman, along with SMD-SC members who stay at the Inn, for happy hour on the property at 5pm, as well as a nightcap at 9pm. There is a lovely restaurant located at Middleton as well.

Our room rate at the Inn at Middleton Place is $275 (vs. published rate of $369), with one queen bed, due when the room is reserved. Please note there are no elevators at the Inn at Middleton Place, so if you have challenges with stairs, be sure to request a first-floor room. Also note that our reduced rate ($94 savings) is available only until March 3, 2025.

Use this link to reserve your room at Middleton Place (valid until the block is full or March 3):

Hampton Inn & Suites Charleston/West Ashley (678 Citadel Haven Drive, Charleston SC 29414): The rate is $209, and includes breakfast. This rate is available until April 3, 2025.

Use this link to reserve your room at the Hampton Inn ( valid until the block is full or April 3):

• ● 2025 Compact Day Luncheon Meeting, November 8, 2025, Upstate
• ● 2026 Spring Luncheon Meeting, May 1, 2026, Midlands
• ● 2026 Compact Day Luncheon Meeting, November 7 or 14, 2026, TBD