From Our District Governor

Facing Challenges; Adapting to Change; Delivering Hope

By Kirk Driskell

As we welcome in 2021 with a renewed sense of hope, encouragement and goals it is with out question they will intersect with the challenges of COVID-19. I can honestly say that I was praying we would be in further along in restoring our “normal” lives. This pandemic is serious as it affects the health and lives of many with little known about it. Uncertainty is uncomfortable and is inconvenient as we have to adapt our plans.

Uncertainty is a part of life and how we react to it will direct our paths.Our intentions do not determine our destination; our actions do. [more]

RI Convention and District Conference 2021

Rotary International Convention Goes Virtual; District Conference Cancelled

By Jackie Cuthbert

Since our last communication with you, COVID conditions have continued to forecast difficulty with ensuring Rotary can safely hold large gatherings. [more]

The Rotary Foundation

2020-2021 District Grants Upcoming Deadline

By Gillian Leggett

The time to close out all District Grants for 2020-2021 is near. If you have an open District Grant ALL documentation is to be uploaded to the district website, reviewed, and ACCEPTED by the District Grants team no later than March 31, 2021. If you have a grant that is currently in overdue status, documentation is to be uploaded immediately. Thank you to those clubs that have already uploaded their spending documentation.
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Rotary Leadership Institute

Our Own PDG Margie Kersey Named to New RLI Board

By Stephanie Windham

Under the direction of Michael McGovern, Rotary International Chair and Past Rotary International Vice President, Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) International will seat its inaugural board of directors this month. The RLI Board includes two Rotarians from the RLI Sunshine Division (covering Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean) including our own PDG Margie Kersey (pictured with husband Ron) and PDG Timothy Schuler of District 6950.
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GRSP Update

Celebrate 75 Years of GRSP This August in Thomasville

By Scott Rich

A tremendous project is underway in downtown Thomasville, Georgia to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Georgia Rotary Student Program. To be located at the main entrance to a strikingly new downtown hotel, Rotary Districts 6900, 6910 and 6920 have the opportunity to name the main hotel entrance plaza and fountain in honor of the 75th GRSP anniversary year, 2021.

You can join in the celebration and see the fountain when the Rotary Club of Thomasville hosts the 75th Anniversary GRSP Conclave in August 2021.The event is scheduled for August 20-21 ... mark your calendar now and watch for details. [more]

GRSP

Katheryne Fields Named GRSP Marketing and Development Director

By Jackie Cuthbert

Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) Chair Bert Guy recently announced Katheryne A. Fields as the inaugural Marketing and Development Director. In her role at GRSP, Fields will work to strengthen the program’s strategic initiatives, fundraise and market the student scholarship program throughout the state. In the role, Fields will be working … [more]

Club News

Vinings Down Hill 5K Run for the Kids Sets Records During Pandemic

By Ross Henderson

On January 27, 2021, the Vinings Cumberland Rotary Club gathered virtually to celebration its donation of over $100,000 to 17 charities specifically targeting children's projects. All this raised by a 66-member Rotary Club with money during the pandemic in the August 2020 Vinings Down Hill 5K run for the Kids. [more]

Club News

For Club's 100th Birthday, the Gift is Trees ... to the City

By Carol Jones

It’s not every year that an organization celebrates its centennial anniversary. May 2021 will mark the Rotary Club of Thomasville’s 100th birthday - and the club intends to celebrate all year long. Rotary Past President Jeff Zoller (pictured with President John Brown) summed up the core spirit of the club and its membership when he said, “Over the past 100 years, the Club and its members have made significant and diverse service contributions to the city, with innumerable members involved in service projects to youth and the community. Members have served in diverse leadership roles within the business, education, medical, and government spheres, including members who have served in city, county, and state governments.”
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Serving During the Pandemic

District Clubs Join to Distribute Masks and Sanitizer

By Jackie Cuthbert

Our District was approached to help facilitate getting thousands of masks and bottles of sanitizers distributed to non-profits and others that our Clubs support! Thanks go to the Emory Clifton Rotary Club and the Georgia Center for non-profits that secured the donation, and Chris Brand and FODAC for helping coordinate this effort.
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Serving During the Pandemic

Columbus Shares Lunches with Hospital Workers

By Julie Bond

Even though the Rotary Club of Columbus isn't meeting in person, the great work of Rotary continues. Having both in person and virtual meetings for a few months, the Board decided that because with case counts and hospital occupancy rates are still much higher in January than where they were in December, the club would suspend the in person meetings. It was also decided to give the meals that we would have had at the Trade Center( where we would normally meet) to those in the Health Care community and frontline workers in our community battle against COVID-19. This step would also benefit the trade Center by providing work for their food services team, a win-win!
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Our Rotary Foundation at Work

District Grant Supports Jacobs Ladder Taste of Love Kitchen

By Trummie Patrick

Jacobs Ladder offers tailored services to children of all ages with Autism, ADHD, Brain Injury, CP, Down Syndrome, Learning Differences, or any developmental syndrome. Their interpersonal Whole Brain Model of Care is individually customized and daily implemented in loving environments to ensure every child and young adult reaches their full potential, no matter the neurological or behavioral challenges faced. The District Grant awarded to Roswell Rotary and the Rotary Club of Milton funded a much-needed commercial oven for the Taste of Love kitchen.
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Club News

Graduate Student Focuses on Assisting Seniors; Preventing Suicides

By Ron Swofford

In January, members of the Rotary Club of Lake Spivey/Clayton County were treated to a special presentation from Mary Chase Mize, a PhD candidate at Georgia State University (GSU). What made the program special? First, her description of a new way Rotarians can serve their communities. And second, her background - Ms. Mize received her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University in 2013, with scholarship assistance provided by her hometown Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Somerville Tennessee. [more]

Serving During the Pandemic

Americus Delivers Protective Equipment

By Angela Smith

Thanks to Karen Beaver at the Georgia Center for Non-profits and Chris Brand with FODAC, the Rotary Club of Americus was able to distribute PPE to organizations and agencies experiencing a critical need during the post-holiday spike in COVID-19 cases. Americus Rotarians delivered 5,500 masks (including 4,000 KN95) and nearly 300 bottles of … [more]

From Facebook

Making a Difference in Our Communities

By Jackie Cuthbert

Our clubs have been busy in the community! Milton and Alpharetta supported a Meals on Wheels for Pets program for the local Senior Program, while Buckhead Rotarians were working with Livable Buckhead and Doc's Healing Hives to create a bee habitat. Marietta Metro participated in the Keep Cobb Beautiful tree chipper program, Emory Druid Hills sponsored a program on COVID-19, and North Cobb worked with the Ladies of KSU to collect coats, hats, gloves and scarves. See more about these projects. [more]

From Facebook

Serving Up Thanks to First Responders and Health Workers

By Jackie Cuthbert

As we continue to work through the pandemic, here's how the Rotary Clubs of Barnesville, Moutrie, Thomaston Upson and Thomasville have served up their thank you's to first responders and health care workers.
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From Facebook

Making a Difference in Our Education; Inspiring Youth for the Future

By Jackie Cuthbert

Our clubs continue to inspire youth and support education. Peachtree City has been sponsoring new Interact Clubs, while Paulding County supports the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Cordele participates in the Growing Garden program, East Cobb supports AVID at Wheeler High School, and Carrollton provides technology for special needs students. Be inspired by their ideas. Two of these clubs used District Grants from the Rotary Foundation to fund their projects. [more]

From Our GRSP Alumni

Open Letter to District 6900 Rotarians from GRSP Class of 1996-97

By Angela Smith

Carolina Mateus was Carl and Judy Tott's GRSP student in 1996 when Carl was Americus Rotary President. Carolina married their son Glenn a number of years later. In Carolina's text to Carl following a group chat with her GRSP class, she stated "After the situation in DC on Wednesday [January 6, 2021], the GRSP class of 1996-97 decided to write a letter to GRSP headquarters mentioning our love and deep belief in US democracy and thanking the program for shaping us to be ambassadors of peace as we moved into our adult lives. After sending the letter, many other GRSP classes joined in signing it and we have since received warm responses from Rotarians." Carolina shared the information and following letter with Carl.
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A Closing Thought From Our District Chaplain

It Starts with Thinking for Ourselves ...

By Gregory Adams

Shackles on our minds and bars around our hearts will imprison our souls. That's why it is so important not to allow any one person to control the way we think.

I remember when I was a child, my parents would often time tell me, Greg think for yourself. It's funny now, but I understand why they were telling me to do that. And I'm sure a … [more]