Summerville Journal Scene ®
Community stewardship is more than a catchphrase for Melony Are. It is truly a way of life for this woman who has had a hand in many of Summerville’s most memorable events.
“It’s a great town to be part of. It’s exciting to think what it can be,” she said.
Are grew up on the Isle of Palms and visiting her grandparents in Summerville. She spent many an afternoon at the Tastee Freez across from Summerville High School.
When her husband David retired from the military, the family voted on where they wanted to live. Having moved 17 times in 20 years, they had plenty of choices, but Summerville just felt like “home.”
The globe-trotting lifestyle of a military family was formative not only for her children but for Are.
When she graduated from the College of Charleston, she hadn’t spent much, if any, time outside South Carolina. Two weeks later she was married and two weeks after that she was in Germany.
She cried every day.
Five years later, she was managing a staff of 18 people, using German as the common language amongst the international crew, and had to be dragged kicking and screaming from the country, she said.
Living and working with a diverse group opened her eyes to different viewpoints and helped her accept people for who they are.
Those are life skills, she said, and she’s happy that military life imparted those skills to her children, Danielle, a junior at USC, and Clayton, a sophomore at Pinewood Prep.
“They’ve been the different kid,” she said.
Both will always be the first one to walk up to a new kid in school and to make people feel welcome, she said.
Are is passing down her passion for helping the community as well. It’s something she picked up without even realizing it from her own parents, who were involved in all aspects of the Isle of Palms community, from the fire department to the recreation department.
Whenever she gets involved in something, the kids provide an extra set of hands.
“I use it as a tool to keep my children headed in the right direction. My kids need to be community stewards as well,” she said.
During the recent Scrumptious Summerville Kitchen Tour, the two were there picking up trash and stocking water bottles.
“They’re such troupers,” she said.
Are has gotten involved in a number of community groups. She worked with the Arts, Business and Civic Coalition, ARK, the Summerville Exchange Club, the USO and with her church, St. Paul’s Episcopal.
Her favorite event, the Summerville Taste of the Town in Azalea Park on Veterans Day, sadly won’t occur this year because of funding problems. She’s confident that it will return, however.
Are is so enthusiastic about Summerville that she even sees conflict in a positive light.
One of her causes, the ABCC, has sparked debate about whether the town should be pursuing a civic center. Are sees the arguments as proof of how strongly people feel about Summerville. That passion doesn’t exist everywhere, she said.
“I don’t think people truly understand what a community spirit there is here,” she said.
Are manages her non-profit involvement while also running her own business, The Vesper Company.
After some 20 years as a civilian employee and contractor with the military, Are was pretty familiar with government procedure.
When she moved here, she worked for a time for the Greater Summerville Dorchester Chamber of Commerce. On the side, she did consulting work for the Department of Defense and the Army. That side work eventually turned into a full-fledged business helping the departments comply with acquisition laws and regulations.
Right now she’s working on a project to help the Army buy radar that will identify incoming mortars. The project has the potential to save lives, she said.
“I put a lot of value in what I’m doing,” she said.
The detail-oriented work keeps her on her toes.
Are is also part of two professional groups, the Charleston Defense Contractor Association and Women in Defense. Through Women in Defense she started mentoring a female cadet at The Citadel.
She had no idea that would be so fulfilling, she said – or that her mentee would start bringing friends to be mentored as well! Everyone should have a mentor, Are said.
“We’ve been there, done that, and learned some of those lessons,” she said.
As Are looks ahead, she still has plenty to do. She’d like to double her business in five years. Her son will be out of the house soon and her daughter finished with college. Watching Danielle launch into adulthood has been a joy, she said.
One thing that Are doesn’t see changing – she doesn’t see herself being anywhere but here.