From Our District Governor

Let's Finish Strong: A Call to Action for Foundation Giving!

By André Marria

As we approach the end of the current giving cycle, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering commitment to our Rotary Foundation and its vital mission. Your generosity and dedication have enabled us to make a profound impact on communities around the world, transforming lives and fostering positive change.

As we stand on the brink of achieving our fundraising goals, however, we’re only half-way there.   I urge each one of you to dig deep and contribute whatever you can to help us finish strong. Every dollar count, and together, we have the power to make a difference on a global scale. Whether you're able to give a little or a lot, your support will help us surpass our targets and continue our important work.

To raise additional funds, I'd like to challenge you to a 50/50 Recognition. Any club that gets 50% of its members to become Benefactors/Bequest Society members as measured on the club recognition summary, you will receive a special recognition from the district at the end of the year. I will present this special award at your club meeting. Please do all you can to make this happen and I guarantee you we will finish strong!
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District Conference 2024

We're Waiting for You at Jekyll ... with So Much for You to Do!

By Stephanie Windham

Rotary 6900 District Conference is right around the corner, and our team looks forward to welcoming over 400 Rotarians and guests to Jekyll Island March 21 – 24, 2024. Here's a hint of some of the great things planned:

  • The festivities kick off with Music in the Moonlight at Great Dunes Park Pavilion, 101 N. Beachview Drive, with plenty of food, drinks, music, games, and fun from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
  • On Friday there will be opportunities for service and Rotary learning.  We are planning a Service Project with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Georgia at 8:30 am.  DGE Gordon Owens is also hosting a Vibrant Club workshop and District Training Assembly, and DG Andrè and Walter are hosting dinner at 5 pm before our first Impact Session.  Come dressed as your favorite musician!
  • On Saturday morning we will host our third Annual District Conference Brunch featuring our Rotary Youth. 

 And there's more ... [more]

Interact Update

Interact Conference Shines Light on Mental Health and Wellness

By Rose Caplan

The 2024 District 6900 Interact Conference was a day all about youth service, growth, community, and fostering mental health and wellness. Led by Atlanta West End Immediate Past President and District 6900 Interact Chair Corteney "C.J." Stewart, the 2024 District 6900 Interact Conference shined a light on mental health and wellness!

This year's conference was held on Saturday, January 21, at the historic Booker T. Washington High School. The program was guided by CHRIS 180 mental health professionals and Roswell Rotarian Becky Nelson’s wisdom. Booker T. Washington High School Principal, Dr. William Wade, led the way by inviting us to join him in celebrating the school's 100th year anniversary. [more]

GRSP News

Oslo Summer GRSP Scholarship Recipients Excited about This Summer

By Katheryne Fields

Georgia Rotary Student Program Founder William A. Watt, Sr., established a relationship in Norway that is prospering more than 70 years later as evident in the three college students from Georgia who have been selected to spend six weeks this summer studying at the International Summer School at the University of Oslo. The opportunity is the result of a partnership with the university, Georgia Rotary Student Program and Rotarians in Oslo.

Isabel Forster will represent District 6900 and the Rotary Club of Buckhead with the endorsement of Rotarian Catherine Land-Waters.  [more]

RYLA Update

The Time for RYLA (Registration) Is Now!

By Jaclyn Donovan

RYLA 2024 will be held June 8-12 on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University. Cost per student is $475, and this covers all necessary expenses related to attending RYLA. For any students riding our charter buses from the Atlanta area, there is an additional $50/per student cost.

Club Commitment Forms Due Now: Email to susanruckman@gmail.com. Fax to 229-924-7617

Student Registration Payments Due March 1: Mail to Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, c/o Susan Ruckman, P.O. Box 1547, Americus, GA  31709  [more]

Rotary Youth Exchange

Mike Irvin Appointed to District Leadership Role

By Mike Parks

District Governor Elect Gordon Owens has selected Rotarian Mike Irvin of the Rotary Club of Dunwoody to join the district leadership team in the role of District Chair for the Rotary Youth Exchange program, for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2024. In that role Mike will promote, manage, and oversee both the Inbound exchange program and the Outbound scholarship program for Georgia high school students.

Mike is a long-time Rotarian who has served District 6900 and his clubs in many different roles, while being an active member of the Muscogee-Columbus club and the Dunwoody club. [more]

Imagine Thomasville Recognizes Our District Governor as Woman of the Year

By Jackie Cuthbert

When Imagine Thomasville proudly celebrated its annual Community Impact Awards in early February, our own District Governor Andre' Marria was recognized as Thomasville's Woman of the Year. These  prestigious awards acknowledge outstanding individuals and organizations in various categories, highlighting their exceptional impact and commitment to the community. The celebration included a gala and Thomasville's annual Rose Parade.
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GRSP Update

Students Pack Meals, Make a Difference at Leadership Weekend

By Jackie Cuthbert

All 42 GRSP students traveled to Dunwoody early in February to participate in the 20th annual GRSP Leadership Weekend. Led by the Rotary Club of Dunwoody, the weekend has several partners - with financial support from GRSP and the Rotary Clubs of Gainesville and Buckhead, and people power from the Rotary Club of Metro Atlanta and the Rotaract Club of Atlanta. North Atlanta, Buckhead, Gwinnett, Dunwoody and Atlanta Metro Rotarians, and Atlanta Rotaractors hosted students for the weekend.  [more]

RLI

10 Top Reasons to Consider Attending the Rotary Leadership Institute

By Tracy Van Norman

  1. You want ROI (Return On Investment) for your Rotary membership.
  2. You want to learn how to apply your business leadership skills to volunteer/non-employee leadership.
  3. You enjoy learning through discussion…NO LECTURES! (There's more; keep reading)
    4. [more]

Laws of Life

Plan Ahead for 2024-25 Laws of Life Contest

By Linda Hatten

With the Peach State PETS experience under their belts, Rotary Club President-Elects are mapping out their 2024-25 year. Now is the time to confirm high school partners for the 2024-25 Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest. Together, local Rotary Clubs and the Georgia Laws of Life state office offer this character education program, free of charge, to high schools throughout the state.

High schools from Hartwell to Columbus make the Laws of Life contest an integral part of their English Language Arts curriculum. Students love the contest as it offers them an opportunity to reflect and tell heartfelt stories of joy and of challenges. Teachers love the contest because they get to know their students on a deeper level. The contest also provides healthy competition among students. [more]

Club News

Vinings Cumberland Brings Super Bowl to Atlanta Mission

By Brenda Borden

Vinings Cumberland Rotarians Jessica, Jolene, Fiona, Lisa, President Matt and a couple significant others served a hot wing dinner and nachos with cheese during a Super Bowl party for the men at Atlanta Mission tonight. The club sponsored the party with a gift to the shelter which serves homeless men in downtown Atlanta.
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Our Rotary Foundation at Work

Community Grants Support Human Trafficking Presentations, Mental Health Support

By Claudia Mertl

Thanks to a community grant, the Rotary Clubs of Atlanta Southern Crescent, Griffin Daybreak and Henry County were able to support presentations and materials to fight human trafficking in Clayton County, Spalding County and Henry County high schools and middle schools. Human trafficking posters and the human trafficking video, "Chosen" were provided. The Atlanta area is a hub for human trafficking. Education has proven to be a deterrent. The posters, in English and Spanish, with an 800 number, and the video showing the signs to watch for should be a great educational tool.

Atlanta Southern Crescent also did a grant to focus on the mental health needs of first responders and other county employees at the Henry County Police Department. [more]

Club News

Smyrna Partners with Backpack Buddies to Provide Weekend Meal Bags

By Narayan Sengupta

The Smyrna Rotary Club has done an astonishing array of local, national and international projects for over 60 years.

Of recent projects, Club President Nominee Angi Sklar says, "We've been loving packing over 200 weekend meal bags every second Wednesday for the students at Green Acres Elementary school in partnership with Backpack Buddies of Atlanta. It is the highlight of our week!"  [more]

Club News

Thomasville Students of the Quarter Recognize Teachers, Parents for Inspiration

By Shanna Derby

The Rotary Club of Thomasville recognized students of the quarter last month. Certificates were presented to Brookwood, Thomasville High School, and Thomas County Central students who were nominated by their teachers. Youth Services Director Chandler Giddes explained the students exemplified what Rotarians stand for. “They are character pillars of honesty, good students, good athletes, and service in school,” he said.
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Club News

Alpharetta Polar Bear Plunge Earns $165,000

By Clark Savage

The Rotary Club of Alpharetta got cold for a cause on February 3rd with their 6th Annual Polar Bear Plunge. The Club smashed last year's record of $120K, raising $165K with over 150 jumpers. Nonprofits, schools, clubs, and community groups form teams and raise money for their cause. Teams get to keep most of the funds raised, with a small percentage going to the club.

Open to the public, enthusiastic fans were blessed with sunshine and 50° temperatures. The plungers took over an hour to jump, followed by a tasty Chili Cookoff. Lionheart Life Center and the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra were this year's team leaders. Lionheart provides education and therapy to children with autism and developmental challenges and raised nearly $15K. The ASO set a new personal record of $14.5K. Notable Jumpers included the Mayors of Alpharetta and Roswell, the North Fulton Rotary Club, and the Rotary Club of Roswell. [more]

Linking Membership and Service

Meet Bella, Serving Others and Recruiting Rotarians

By Julie Bond

Thanks to the Rotary Club of Columbus for sharing this story about Bella Grace, a service dog whose owner - Rotarian Jay O'Neal - says "truly puts service above self!" Jay continued to say, "If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet her, stop by the Columbus Convention and Trade Center any Wednesday around noon. I invite you to join me for lunch and let us tell you a little bit about what Rotary means to us. Bella has many adventures that I could share with you and yes, most of them involve Rotary. There was this one time that involved flying in a tornado, while going to a Rotary convention, but that’s a story for another day. Until then always remember, service above self!"

Julie Bond tells us that Jim and his service dog are always out and about town with such big hearts to serve and help all. "Last year Bella came to the aid of a man who collapsed outside the Fountain City coffee shop and a Rotary visitor from Paraguay was with us and exclaimed as she saw the help that immediately came from Jay and Bella...'Rotary in Action'.

So read on and enjoy Jay's story of a day in the life of Bella - and how Rotary "recruiting" and "service" become a part of that. [more]

Club News

Roswell Hosts Career Day

By Becky Nelson

Investing into our youth yet again, the Roswell High School Career Day, sponsored by the Roswell Rotary Club for over 20 years, found over 50 area professionals talking about their profession to students in 15-minute segments. Broken up by industry like finance, real estate, law, engineering, and skilled trades, students had signed up for 5 categories they wanted to attend during the 6 morning sessions. 
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Club News

North Fulton Brings Valentines Day to Seniors

By Lisa Gelber

In an effort to bring joy and fun into the lives of local senior citizens, Rotary Club of North Fulton hosted a Valentine's Day party at the Milton Senior Center. Rotarians led the seniors in an hour of bingo playing, complete with prizes they were eager to select. Following the bingo games, Rotarians served a delicious Italian lunch of baked ziti, meatballs, salad and cannoli. A fun time was had by all and the seniors seemed so appreciative of receiving this special attention!
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Club members Rene Lanier, Lynn Lanier, Jim Bunda, Bob Thomas, and Charles Lassiter delivered the gift bags to the Cobb Senior Services office, where they were enthusiastically received by Cobb Senior Services employees Stacy Morton (2nd from left) and Angelica Swafford (3rd from left).

Club members Rene Lanier, Lynn Lanier, Jim Bunda, Bob Thomas, and Charles Lassiter delivered the gift bags to the Cobb Senior Services office, where they were enthusiastically received by Cobb Senior Services employees Stacy Morton (2nd from left) and Angelica Swafford (3rd from left).

Club News

Marietta Metro Shares Valentine's Joy with Seniors

By Sally Platt

Valentine’s Day was a little sweeter this year for 350 senior citizens in Cobb County. Gift bags assembled by Marietta Metro Rotarians were delivered to Meals on Wheels clients and visitors to Cobb Senior Services. The bags contain puzzle books, mechanical pencils, assorted toiletries, and sugar-free candy.


In addition, roses in bud vases were delivered to the women of The Extension, an alcohol and substance use rehab center in Marietta. The Extension’s mission is to facilitate a transformation that empowers individuals and communities experiencing homelessness and substance use challenges to engage in a process of change in recovery. The process happens through counseling, life skills classes, and maintaining stable employment. [more]

Club News

Douglas County Rotarians Serve Meals to Homeless

By Nell Boggs

The Rotary Club of Douglas County served over 100 hot meals to the residents of Sanctary Village. Sanctuary Village is a temporary residence for people in the Accountability Court in Douglas County. Judge Beau McClain helped establish the program after observing that homelessness was a barrier to success for many of the drug court participants.

Rotarian Joe Williams spent hours smoking ribs and chicken in preparation for the lunch. "This is a big population in the county, and they are trying to get back on their feet," Williams said. "We wanted to give them a hot meal and show that we are supporting them." [more]

Club News

Griffin Daybreak Honors Speakers with Books

By Debby Daniel-Bryant

Each of Griffin Daybreak's guest speakers sign a new children’s book that the club donates to the local library children’s section. Pictured here is Dr. Donald Green, President of Gordon State College who spoke to the club about his vision for the school. He is a strong proponent of higher education as a means to help people become more successful and productive in societyDr. Donald Green, President of Gordon State College who spoke to the club about his vision for the school. He is a strong proponent of higher education as a means to help people become more successful and productive in society. It seemed quite fitting to have him sign a book for our library program. 
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