From Our District Governor

Working and Learning Together to Expand Our Reach

By Mary Ligon

The statement to the left is powerful – the heart of Rotary International’s vision for what we can accomplish. As individual Rotarians, as clubs … all the way up to the RI level, we have a tremendous opportunity to make a positive difference in the world. And to grow ourselves – through contacts, experiences and knowledge sharing.

Rotary International gives us many of the tools and resources we need to plan, take action and be successful. You can access many of those resources through Rotary’s Learning Center; you can also participate in Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) courses (see an article about RLI later in the newsletter).

Take, for example, Membership – an area you know is important to me and the #1 priority of our Rotary International President. 
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From Our RI Director

Join Zoomformation Call - Monday December 6 at 1:00 pm

By Mary Ligon

Once again, I am pleased to announce that the upcoming Zoomformation call (login details below) on December 6 at 1:00 pm will include three very distinguished speakers. As December is Disease Treatment and Prevention Month, the focus of each presentation will be on a different aspect of public health. Each of our speakers are leaders in their respective fields. You will not want to miss this Zoomformation call.

Please invite your Rotarian friends to join the call.  Join Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85181928278?pwd=OTZyZVIycDdCS1lCSklGZ0VpTVcwQT09 [more]

Our Rotary Foundation at Work

Meriwether County Students Benefit from D6900 Competitive Grant

By Laurie Lewis

When District Governor Mary Ligon made her official visit to the Rotary Club of Meriwether County, she toured the Wrap Around Care Center at Manchester High School - the beneficiary of one of the competitive $10,000 grants awarded by Rotary District 6900. A school and community-based partnership providing one-stop Community Access to Resources and Education (CARE) the resource center focuses on the whole child by providing access to resources, services, and opportunities for Meriwether County students. [more]

Membership

Way to Grow! Keep It Going ...

By Jaclyn Donovan

Welcome these new members to District 6900 in November:

  • Roswell – Alicia Hughes, Bill Hoban, Clifton Sprinkle, Haniel Jones, Tillie O’Neal
  • Vinings Cumberland – Nate Muller
  • Fayetteville – Katie Shawn
  • Newnan – Brent Blankenship
  • Thomasville – Lindsay Clay
  • North Cobb – Marisela Lema, Brenda Fischer, Austin Abney
  • Moultrie – Brad Gregory
  • Lake Spivey/Clayton County – David Lighten Jr., Larry Vincent
  • Columbus – Vivian Bishop
  • Carrollton – Keith Carroll
  • Buckhead – Alan Redding, Jane Arney
  • Alpharetta – Deana Lindo, Victor Jones

Expanding our reach is one of our four strategic action priorities. Congratulations to thee 36 clubs who have a YTD net increase in membership (click more to see the list). Every club needs a strategy for growth. Need help with yours? Please reach out to district membership chair, Jaclyn Donovan so she can connect you with resources that will help your club expand their reach. [more]

The Rotary Foundation

An Update on Giving for 2020-21

By Mary Ligon

Having just wrapped up November where our focus has been on the Rotary Foundation – our charity of choice - special thanks and recognition banners go to these clubs for their gifts to the Foundation in the 2020-2021 Rotary year. As we reported last month, the top three clubs based on per capita giving to the annual fund for 2020-2021 are:

    1. Emory-Druid Hills at $1777.78
    2. North Fulton at $1625.55
    3. Muscogee-Columbus at $1598.08

We also want to recognize the two groups of 24 clubs - one for achieving EREY and 100% sustaining club status, and the other group for giving at least $1,500 in the last Rotary year to polio.
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GRSP 75th Anniversary

Help Celebrate 75 Years of GRSP Next January

By Katheryne Fields

Two special events are planned for Thomasville in January 2022 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Georgia Rotary Student Program. We would love to have you join us for:

  • The GRSP 75th Celebration Dinner on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 6:30 PM at the Plaza Restaurant located at 217 Broad St., Thomasville. The event will feature … [more]

Youth and Peace in Action

Sign Up for Guiding Young Peacebuilders and Get Involved

By Becky Stone

District 6900 is a designated Champion (!) in the Zones 33 & 34 Youth & Peace in Action (YPA) program, the largest local peacebuilding initiative in Rotary history. Any Rotarian in our District can join in by registering for the online YPA Guiding Young Peacebuilders course, at no cost, and learn what peacebuilding involving Rotarians and young people is all about: https://tinyurl.com/GYPRotary. There’s a YPA online discussion community available with the course. Read more about the program.
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RI Convention 2022

Join Us in Houston - Last Call for Reduced Rates

By George Granade

Rotarians around the world are excited to gather again in-person to connect, share ideas, and strengthen relationships in an atmosphere of friendship and learning. The 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas offers that opportunity – and we remain optimistic that we’ll be joining the world in person June 4-8, 2022. There's already … [more]

Rotary Leadership Institute

Start the New Year Off Right with RLI

By Stephanie Windham

Rotary Leadership Institute offers a learning experience like no other Rotary training. It provides the opportunity to interact with Rotarians from all over Georgia in person, and all over Georgia, Florida and the Caribbean online. RLI is interactive, fun, and a great way to share ideas with a diverse group of Rotarians outside the confines of one’s own club. The bigger world of Rotary is out there waiting for you! Do you know about Rotary Fellowships? Rotary Action Groups? The history of the Four Way Test? The Rotary Foundation and the good it is doing in the world? Do you want to know more about ways to attract new members and keep your current membership engaged and active in your club and beyond? If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, then RLI is right for you!

The Rotary Club of Barnesville graciously hosted RLI at Gordon State College
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For the Club Leadership Team

Reminders As We Move into 2022

By Jackie Cuthbert

As we get ready to turn the calendar to 2022:

  • Presidents-Elect should be selecting their leadership teams for the next Rotary year. Club officers and directors for 2022/23 year should be entered in myrotary.org system by December 31 so that the incoming team receives messages about training and information to help them get ready to lead in the upcoming year
  • Clubs should update their club membership and officer information in preparation for the January 2022 club invoices from Rotary International and the District. Make your updates by January 1, using (Mary - please confirm whether it through District site or myrotary.org?)
  • The GRSP student selection process will take place in Thomasville in late January - clubs wishing to participate in hosting a student must submit their commitment forms to the GRSP office no later than January 14. The Student Selection "book" is all online this year, and club presidents should have received an email November 22 with access to the online site. Contact the GRSP office if you have questions.
    • [more]

Calling All Rotary Anti-Slavery Superheroes!

By Jackie Cuthbert

The Rotary Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS) - led by District 6900's own Dave McCleary - will hold a Zoom meeting on December 8 at 9:00 AM Eastern time. You may join using this Zoom link. The meeting will feature presentations by Matt Friedman, an internationally renowned expert on modern slavery and RAGAS Coordinator Amelia Stansell.

RAGAS is committed to connect, empower and equip Rotarians to engage their communities to eradicate all forms of human trafficking/modern slavery, locally and around the globe.
[more]

GRSP Spotlight

Meet Some of the Class of 2021/22

By Katheryne Fields

What do Yoonho, Geisha, Sagar and Hanna (clockwise from top left) have in common? All four are among the District 6900 sponsored students in the Georgia Rotary Student Program's Class of 2021/22.  Yoonho was VP of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global High School Union in South Korea; Geisha was Interact Club president in Colombia before coming to Georgia; Sagar comes to us from Australia - and is competing in Rowing at Georgia State, and Hanna traveled from Norway to Wisconsin to participate in a Rotary World Affairs seminar in 2019.  All four are here for a year's scholarship, thanks to the support and involvement of Rotarians throughout the State of Georgia. Learn more about them. [more]

Our Rotary Foundation at Work

Global Grant Project Focuses on Downs Syndrome Learning in Brazil

By Bob Koncerak

Six Alpharetta Rotarians traveled to Pelotas, R.S., Brazil. They were hosted by the Rotary Club of Pelotas-Oeste (D4680) as the clubs made progress on a Down Syndrome learning center and education project. Meetings and events included city, regional and federal officials. During the visit, Pelotas-Oeste finalized a $2,500 commitment for a Basic Education and Literacy (BEL) program, and D4680 announced a $5,000 BEL commitment. These funds, along with financial participation from the Stone Mountain, Dunwoody, Peachtree City, Roswell and Alpharetta clubs support funding of a $63,000 BEL global grant project now in development. All six of the Pelotas Rotary clubs joined the Alpharetta team at a November 18 celebration dinner.
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Membership

Are you looking for ways to engage current members?

By Jaclyn Donovan

Use these Rotary resources to learn strategies that will keep members involved:

  • Best Practices for Engaging Members — Take this Learning Center course to develop strategies for engaging people at all stages of membership.
  • Practicing Flexibility and Innovation — Take this Learning Center course to help you better serve the needs of members and prospective members.
  • Find ideas, a FAQ, and other resources on rotary.org/flexibility.
  • Enhancing the Club Experience — Tailor this member satisfaction survey to get opinions
    • [more]

Laws of Life

Laws of Life Essay Contest: You Be the Judge

By Jackie Cuthbert

The Georgia Laws of Life Essay contest is coming up this winter/spring, with thousands of essays from high school students around the state. Volunteers are needed as Essay Judges for the Georgia Rotary Clubs Laws of Life Essay Contest. As a Contest Sponsor you and your club members are invited to participate in the judging process. The response from schools has been tremendous this year. We expect to reach the number of essays we had in 2019, doubling last year’s numbers! Thus, now more than ever, we need your help. The judging process kicks off on February 14, 2022 - read on to see how you might help.
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Club News

East Cobb Honors Public Safety; Welcomes New Member

By Fred Hanna

Many members of the East Cobb Rotary Club attended a celebration for the East Cobb Law Enforcement Division. East Cobb Rotary has been a founding sponsor since the inception several years ago.

In addition, during her official visit, DG Mary helped the club welcome Dustin McCormick as a new member.

Club News

Dunwoody Continues 20+ Year Tradition of Magic

By Jackie Cuthbert

For more than 20 years, Dunwoody Rotarians have gathered early in December to do magic - converting elementary school books into magical holiday presents for each student at Dresden Elementary School. Rotarian Roy Ethridge and his wife Franci took the lead on these efforts for many of those years - inviting us to their home and garage the first Saturday in December to enjoy coffee and breakfast goodies and add book labels and English/Spanish vocabulary cards to about 1,000 books. It was the start to our holiday season ... followed by delivering the books to Dresden and receiving hundreds of thank you cards from the children.
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Interact Update

Welcome Jackson High Interact!

By Becky Stone

Congratulations to the new Interact Club at Jackson High School! Officially chartered November 16, 2021, the club boasts 15 members and Kelly White as its faculty advisor. Assistant Governor Bonnie Pfrogner, District Governor Elect George Grenade and Rotarian Carlos Duffey (also Jackson Mayor Elect), all gave inspiring motivational talks to the … [more]

Club News

Thomasville Raises $25,000 for United Way

By Adrian Burns

For several years, the Caterpillar Corporation in Thomasville sponsored a golf tournament to raise money for the United Way. Unfortunately, Caterpillar closed their doors in 2016 and their manufacturing was relocated from Thomas County’s community. Rotarian Scooter Grubbs came to the Board and asked if the club would consider carrying on this tradition since the United Way of Thomas County supports over 18 organizations in the community. The Board approved it and on August 26, 2017, Rotary Club of Thomasville held its first annual Rotary Golf Classic to support the United Way. The club raised over $11,000 the first year and in year four the club raised and presented United Way a check for $25,000.
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Club News

New Moultrie Projects Focus on Kids

By Jaclyn Donovan

The Rotary Club of Moultrie participated in two new service projects recently: “Story Walk” and “Kicks for Kids.” The club sponsored two different books – “Buckets, Dippers, and Lids” and “The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet” for a literacy event held on the second Saturday of each month in downtown Moultrie. “Kicks for Kids” was a partnership with the Moultrie Junior Woman’s Club to provide a new pair of shoes to our local elementary school students. The shoes were purchased through a local retailer and each pair was tagged with a Rotary tag which lists the 4-Way Test on the back of the card.
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Club News

Americus Rotarians Offer Comfort to Cancer Patients

By Angela Smith

Chemotherapy Port Pillows Funded by District Grant

What seems like just a small pillow can prove to be a much-appreciated item for someone with a port-a-cath, the device used to draw blood and give treatments, including intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, or drugs such as chemotherapy and antibiotics. The port is placed under the skin, usually in the right side of the chest. The Phoebe Sumter oncology clinic in Americus administers about 2,300 chemo treatments per year and with over 350 cancer patients who access the clinic, the Americus Rotary Club wrote for and was awarded a district grant to manufacture and distribute chemo port pillows to help ease the discomfort from seatbelt irritation at the chemo port site. They worked with a local woman-owned clothing manufacturer to make 415 chemo port pillows in a number of colors and designs, and logged over 100 volunteer hours over several days.
[more]

From GRSP ...

Oslo Scholarship Applications Due By December 31

By Katheryne Fields

The Norwegian Rotary Advisory Board partners with GRSP each year to offer a scholarship to three Georgia college students to study in Norway as part of their International Summer School for June 27-August 22, 2022. Interested students can apply through the GRSP website; the deadline to apply is December 31, 2021. Requirement informational flyer and application are now available online: https://grsp.org/oslo-application.
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Club News

Roswell's Focus on Membership Paying Dividends

By Becky Nelson

Roswell Rotary President Terry Taylor, “The Roswell Rotary Club is proud of all our new 2021 members! Coming off the COVID restrictions where we lost so many members for so many reasons, Roswell took a proactive approach to recruiting and marketing. We asked former members if they were ready to return and we invited new ones … [more]