From Our District Governor

Grow More, Do More

By Mary Ligon

This month, I’d like to focus on Rotary International’s two top priorities – membership growth and continuing our work to eradicate polio.

Grow More 

To increase our impact in our communities and the world, membership growth is important and the #1 internal priority for Rotary International and our district. At this point in the year, we have 30 clubs with net growth of 1% or more. Congratulations to the clubs leading the way in net membership growth since July 1, 2021: Johns Creek-North Fulton, Bremen, Carollton Dawnbreakers, Camilla, Midtown Atlanta, Thomasville and Griffin (see the numbers and more in the rest of this story).

Pictured: DG Mary at her Forsyth-Monroe County visit with James Wilcox III
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Update Your Leadership Game Plan

By Mary Ligon

As we kick off the second quarter of this Rotary year, take a look at your club's game plan. think about your leadership plan and the part it plays in having an active, vibrant club. Does your club have a succession plan in place for president, other officers and committee chairs? How is your club developing the leaders to serve in coming years? What role would you like to play in leading the team forward?

Also keep these important dates in mind:

• Clubs: Nominations for District Governor Nominee Designate are due to Carol Lipphardt by November 5.
• Presidents-Elect: Remember to submit your incoming 2022-23 officers to Rotary International by December 31.
  
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World Polio Day

Join Midtown Atlanta on October 26 for Zoom Update on Polio Eradication

By Glenn Kellum

On Tuesday, October 26, from 12:30pm-1:30pm, in recognition of World Polio Day (Oct 24), Midtown Atlanta Rotary Club will host the Atlanta-based Task Force for Global Health whose CEO and leadership team will present a major program on polio eradication. Before the presentation of the Task Force for Global Health, Rotary District 6900 Polio Chair Paddy Sharma will share an introductory word about End Polio Now. Read on for more information. If you would like to attend, please contact Midtown Atlanta Rotary Club for additional information: gkellum@emory.edu. The program will be available only via Zoom.
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Membership

Take the Lead to Help Grow the Family of Rotary

By Jaclyn Donovan

Our Rotary year is off to a good start for Membership. We need your continued help to grow. How? Follow up on leads from Rotary International, hold a Rotary reunion to re-engage your former members. And take the lead - to introduce a friend to Rotary, welcome new members and check-in with long-time members and friends. Read on to learn more and  find out who is in the featured picture.
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Our Rotary Foundation

Planning for Global Grant Applications Quarters 1 & 2, 2021? Your Plans Due By October 20, 2021

By Anne Glenn

Now is the time to submit your Clubs’ first and second quarter plans to use District 6900’s DDF matching funds for Global Grant Project applications leading to The Rotary Foundation’s matching money. Please submit your completed plans to me by October 20,2021.

The District Global Grant Committee will meet via Zoom later this month and review your requests to move them forward or ask for more information. In preparation for this meeting, please send a brief summary of your project’s location, Host or International partners, work plan, area of focus, and budget plan. These basic facts are important as we try to allocate our Rotarian Resources in the best way possible for all Clubs.

We're looking forward to hearing your plans.

Anne Glenn

D6900 Grants Committee Director

adillardglenn@gmail.com
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Rotary Works Series

Join Us October 13 for "Personal Branding: Why Should I Care?"

By Claudia Mertl

Rotary Works has refocused from Career Transition to Career Development. Our October Newsletter has more info on Rotary Works, Career Coaching, Impact Grants and more. Check it out at" rotary.works." Don't miss our October program, "Personal Branding: Why Should I Care?" on Wednesday, October 13 at 5:30 pm EDT - here's the rundown ...
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GRSP Update

GRSP Scholarship for 2022-23 International Students - Application Deadline is October 31

By Katheryne Fields

Are you in touch with a former Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) participant to encourage them to share this opportunity in their home country? Do you have family or friends who are international college students? The GRSP scholarship application is open and the deadline is October 31.

Students from around the world apply each year for this amazing cultural experience. GRSP’s ambassadorial scholarship is focused on education and cultural enrichment. The GRSP standard selection scholarship pays all scholastic costs, including tuition, a book allowance ($500), dormitory and meal plan. Students are responsible for covering all transportation expenses to and from the United States, medical insurance costs and any income taxes imposed on non-scholarship income by the U.S. Treasury.
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Rotary Youth Exchange

Host a Rotary Youth Exchange student for 2022 – 2023

By Mike Parks

Your club can host a Rotary Youth Exchange student for the 2022 – 2023 school year. Rotary Youth Exchange students are high school students from other countries who are carefully selected and prepared by their Rotary district to serve as a student ambassador while attending a Georgia high school and living with three different families in the local community. Host Rotary clubs arrange for the home stays and school enrollment and provide a small stipend to the student each month. District 6900 Rotary clubs may apply to host a student by filling out an application to host no later than October 30, 2021. For more information, visit Rotary6900.org/RYE or contact our District Inbound Student Coordinator, Kari Kirkley, or District Rotary Youth Exchange Chairman, Michael Parks.
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Club News

Roswell is on the Peace Train!

By Becky Nelson

Roswell Rotary is on the Peace Train! After hosting celebrities like Chipper Jones, Andru Jones, Jessie Tuggle and Michael Haynes at our annual Golf & Tennis tournament, we turned our attention to the Youth Peace in Action launch with 54 groups across District 6900. The Roswell High School Interact Club hosted a watch party at Lucky’s Burger’s & Brew. We were able to not only watch the official launch but also talk about our strategy to be most impactful. The plan is to spread the news school wide, get the curriculum done during the first semester and coordinate peace projects during the second one. Exciting times for developing Youth Peace Builders.
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Youth and Peace in Action

Peacebuilder Certification for Rotarians – REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!

By Becky Stone

District 6900 Rotarians can register NOW to become peacebuilder certified—just like students in 58 schools and youth organizations sponsored by Rotary Clubs in District 6900!! Guiding Young Peacebuilders is a 20-hour self-paced virtual training program designed for Rotarians to become peacebuilder certified and learn how to guide young people in their peacebuilding journeys! The course will be available starting on Oct. 15, so register TODAY at Guiding Young Peacebuilders (for Rotarians) (youthpeaceaction.org). The YPA program is FREE to Rotarians in District 6900. District 6900 is leading the way with the largest peacebuilding initiative in the history of Rotary! Don’t miss out on your chance to Make A Difference!
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Rotary Leadership Institute

A Letter from Our District 6900 RLI Chair

By Stephanie Windham

In January 2020, I submitted an article for the District Newsletter thanking the Rotary Club of Thomasville for hosting a wonderful RLI event. I talked about all of the upcoming RLI opportunities around the RLI Sunshine Division. In District 6900 we were planning to host RLI in Columbus in May 2020. Then came COVID and RLI moved online with Zoom. As successful as RLI has been via Zoom, I have truly missed our in person events. Peachtree City hosted an in-person session in June, and we have two more scheduled in District 6900 - one in Barnesville this December and one in Thomasville in January. I hope to see you online, or even better in person. Head over to www.rlitraining.org and register for RLI. Don’t miss these awesome opportunities to grow as a Rotarian and a leader.
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Laws of Life

Luncheon Kicks Off 2021-22 Laws of Life Essay Contest

By Lakisha Taylor

Last month, over 40 educators and Rotarians from across Georgia gathered at the annual Teacher & Rotarian Workshop Luncheon hosted by Georgia Rotary Clubs Laws of Life Essay Contest to kick off the 2021-2022 Contest. We gathered at the Emory Conference Center Silverbell Pavilion for a program which provided inspiration, information, and optimism for the future of our outstanding student writers.

Your club can help support the contest throughout the state and in your local community. Members from Sponsoring Rotary Clubs volunteer as Essay Judges to select Grade, School and State Winners in February. Rotary Club Sponsors who choose to also serve as a School Partner with a local school host Student Recognition Events honoring students, parents and teachers from their partner school. For information on how your club can become involved contact Carol Walker, Executive Director at carol@georgialawsoflife.org or 404-590-8039. [more]

Rotary Means Business

Mark Your Calendar for October 19

By Johnathan Clark

That's when the Rotary Means Business fellowship will gather again - at the Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Perimeter. Last month's gathering drew a crowd - with Rotarians from the Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Tucker, Peachtree City and Atlanta Metro clubs. A brief presentation addressed effective uses of LinkedIn and other marketing strategies … [more]

Club News

Smyrna Donates Comfort Boxes for Well Star Patients

By Narayan Sengupta

Responding to filled Cobb County Emergency Rooms and Urgent Care Centers, the Smyrna Rotary Club is donating 200 Comfort Bags to Wellstar, etc.

Club Past President Raymond Coffman says, “The Comfort Bags are designed to help children adapt to all too long wait times with age-appropriate puzzles, crafts and toys. What’s included … [more]

Club News

Griffin Brings Lunches and Support to Griffin-Spalding Teachers

By Stephanie Windham

The Rotary Club of Griffin has been a Partner in Education with the Griffin-Spalding County Schools for decades. The COVID pandemic has forced that partnership to change. While Griffin Rotary continued to support our schools financially in various ways, club members missed the in-person interaction with students and teachers. See how they addressed that ...
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From Facebook

Recognizing Our First Responders

By Jackie Cuthbert

Rotarians in Americus, Dunwoody, North Fulton, Milton and Vinings-Cumberland all did their part to recognize first responders - be that through gift baskets for medical center employees, donations to the USO, a first responder barbecue or 9-11 tribute, or helping fund community outreach through the Police Athletic League. [more]

Club News

Tucker Donates Backpacks to Start the School Year Right

By Lizbeth Dison

The Rotary Club of Tucker donated school supplies to NETWorks Cooperative Ministry for its Good Neighbor Back2School Shop, which donates new bookbags packed with everything a student needs to start the school year. Club members also manned the shop on Saturday, August 31 to help distribute the book bags.

Pictured: President Kellianne King and member Daryl Hubbard (far right) help a local family with their new student backpacks.
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From Facebook

Making a Difference in Our Communities

By Jackie Cuthbert

See what Rotarians from Atlanta West End, Atlanta-Brasil, Atlanta Metro, Carrollton Dawnbreakers, East Cobb and Henry County Rotarians did - some in conjunction with Interact and Rotaract Clubs, while Marietta delivered literary supplies. [more]

From Facebook

Joining Together to Make a Difference Fighting COVID

By Jackie Cuthbert

Rotary's motto of Service Above Self was put to practice during DG Mary Ligon's visit to the Rotary Club of Carrollton, when cardiologist Dr. Charlie Rouse made a $6,000 donation through the Rouse Foundation to combine with $750 from the Rotary Club of Carrollton and a $6,750 match from the Rotary Club of Druid Hills. These funds will be used to purchase six oxygenators for COVID-19 patients in India, a country experiencing havoc from the deadly virus.

Pictured: Ursula Phillip, executive director of the foundation; Dr. Rajesh Mathew(who also contributed to the project), Dr. Rouse and DG Mary, who accepted the donation on behalf of the clubs.
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From Facebook

Paulding County Rotarian Honored for 50+ Years Serving the Community

By Jackie Cuthbert

At a recent Paulding Rotary Club meeting, the Georgia Bankers Association honored Ken Thigpen for 50+years in banking. Joe Brannen of the Georgia Bankers Association presented Ken with a plaque. Ken is a 49-year member of the Paulding County Rotary Club and has always been very active in the communities he has lived and worked. He is a member of Picketts Mill Baptist in Dallas, GA. . He continues to serve as Chairman of Helping Hand's board of directors. Ken is a past recipient of South Cobb Citizen of the Year and was active in the South Cobb Lions Club. Ken is also a past recipient of Paulding County Citizen of the Year.
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From Facebook

North Atlanta Leads DeKalb Rotary Council in Project That Makes a Difference

By Jackie Cuthbert

Led by the Rotary Club of North Atlanta, volunteers gathered for FODAC July 2021 collection event. Over $318,000 in re-useable medical equipment and supplies were collected on this day through their efforts and the generosity of the community!

On an International Note

Moving Fire and Radio Waves To Celebrate Independence—Rotary is There!

By Dale Covington

On 15 September 1821, the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua declared their independence from Spain. Initially, it was riders on horseback carrying the news of independence. More recently—dating back to 1964—these countries annually celebrate this monumental declaration of freedom during the month of September with ceremonies and often runners carrying flaming torches over the region’s primary and secondary roads.

This bicentennial year, the Torch of Independence left Nicaragua to be handed to Costa Rica’s Minister of Education, Guisell Cruz at Peñas Blancas, Costa Rica on 13 September. When the flame arrives in Alajuela the next day, Rotarian and Rotaract members in the Rotary Club of Alajuela continue running the torch forward. From Alajuela the torch travels to the country’s present capital, San José, and on to Costa Rica’s old colonial capital, Cartago, where President Carlos Alvarado Quesada hands the flaming torch to 2020 Olympian biker Kenneth Tenico to light a large cauldron.
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