From Our District Governor

Celebrating All We Do!

By Mary Ligon

We are 22 days away from our next opportunity to connect in person!  This Rotary year has continued to be one of adapting to the uncertainty of what's next with the pandemic.  What has not changed, what is certain is our vision that together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.  While I love that technology has allowed us to stay connected and be flexible to meet differing needs, I truly look forward to our Jolly Holiday - celebrating our progress, exchanging ideas, having fun and fellowship with you in person! Conference co-chairs PDG Court and PAG Stephanie have created a “practically perfect” event of learning, sharing, recognition and fun.  Read all about the Conference below and be sure to register!

As we get ready to meet in Sandestin, there's work to do and a lot to celebrate. Take a look!
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Ukraine Relief

An Update from Shelter Box

By Jackie Cuthbert

.Editor's Note: This article reports on what Shelter Box is doing to help residents and refugees of Ukraine. Keep in mind that you can also support Ukrainian relief by contributing to the District Fund for that purpose, or to he Rotary Foundation's Disaster Relief Fund with contributions earmarked for Ukraine.

Shelter Box reports that its aid has arrived in Lviv in western Ukraine and distributions begin this week. The number of people who've had to leave their homes is close to 10 million – that’s almost a quarter of Ukraine’s population. Over four million children are among those displaced (more than half of the country’s estimated 7.5 million child population). Shelter Box is working on three projects – two within Ukraine and one supporting those fleeing the country. Want to help? You may send contributions to Shelter Box online - visit Ukraine Crisis Appeal - ShelterBox USA [more]

Register for District Conference Now!

Time to Make a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Move

By Court Dowis, Jr.

Join District 6900 from April 28 to May 1 for a Jolly Holiday with DG Mary “Poppins” Ligon in Sandestin! Enjoy our entertainment and the great meals we have planned. Dress up in your best Mary Poppins gear to laugh and have fun at the Thursday Evening ticketed event - Poppins Pony Prix followed by a Progressive Dinner in the Hospitality Suites for all ticket holders. See the attached Conference Newsletter for more details.

Membership

Planning for the Future; Welcoming New Members

By Jaclyn Donovan

Recently we distributed Membership Goal Setting sheets compiled specifically for each club based on five-year historical membership numbers. The Zone and Regional team put a bit of effort into this as a way to help you visualize where you've come from, understand where you are, and plan for where you want to go. We also included some action plan ideas for what to do if your attrition is too high or if your attraction is too low. 

And, we'd like you to join us in welcoming 25 new members added to the District database in the last month! [more]

Membership

How the Numbers Look

By Mary Ligon

At the District level, we have grown by 47 members - or 1.2% - this Rotary year ... from 3,887 to 3,994 members. Our top 10 clubs for growth include:

Our Rotary Foundation

2021-2022 District Grant Close Out and 2022-2023 District Grant Application Deadlines

By Gillian Leggett

Happy Spring to all D6900 Rotarians

First, a huge THANK YOU to all clubs that have closed out their 2021-2022 District Grants. The deadline to close grants for 2021-2022 is March 31, 2022.  Your club must close by the deadline to be eligible to apply for a 2022-2023 District Grant. Another THANK YOU goes out to all Rotarians involved in the grant process.  It has been a trying year, once again. This past Rotary year, COVID-19 was still a major factor in how we conducted our lives and the in-person grant training at District Training Assembly had to be cancelled. Despite all that, our bumps in the road were relatively few.

As District Grants Chair, I appreciate your dedication to the grant process to make a difference in your club and your community.  It is my hope that we continue to improve the grant process for easier use and changes will be coming soon. Read on to learn more. [more]

RLI Update

RLI: Your Ticket to Great Rotary Information

By Stephanie Windham

The 2021-2022 Rotary Year has been great for RLI in District 6900.  We have been able to host three in-person events and are scheduled for a fourth on May 14 in Columbus, Georgia.  I am grateful for the support of the Presidents, Assistant Governors, and District Governor Mary Ligon in making … [more]

RYLA Update

Did you know that there is still time to sign up for RYLA?

By Jaclyn Donovan

RYLA will take place June 18-22 at Georgia Southwestern University in Americus. The program is open to high school students age 15-17 (a rising Junior or Sophomore) who displays Leadership … [more]

Laws of Life

Announcing 2021-2022 Essay Contest Winners

By Carol Gray Walker

2021-2022 Laws of Life Essay Contest winners:

• State Winner: Sarah Adams, Atlanta Classical Academy ($1,000 cash award)
• 1st Runner-Up: Zoe Karaberis, Bremen High School ($750)
• 2nd Runner-Up: Jalen Furqan, Paul Duke STEM High School ($500)
• 3rd Runner-Up: Soul'Elle Firman, Alpharetta High School ($300)
• 4th Runner-Up: Emily Martinez, Shaw High School ($200)
• 5th Runner-Up: Oyinkansola Adebomojo, Brookwood High School ($100)
• George A. Stewart Jr. Character in Action Award: Emily Escalero-Franco, ME Stilwell School of the Arts ($1,000)

See a snapshot of this year's contest. [more]

Our Rotary Foundation at Work

Global Grant To Help Down Children in Brazil

By Bob Koncerak

March 21 (3/21) is World Down Syndrome Day (Down persons have a third instance of chromosome #21.  Clever, eh?). Notably, it’s ALSO the day that Rotary Club of Alpharetta and Rotary Club Pelotas Oeste celebrate approval of a $70,000 Rotary International Global Grant to fund special education and training for Down persons, their families and support groups in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. God’s timing is excellent! Thanks to D6900 club partners Peachtree City, Roswell, Stone Mountain, Dunwoody, Atlanta Brazil AND D7780 clubs Bath and Yarmouth!  Thanks further to the 5 additional Pelotas Rotary clubs involved - 15 clubs and 3 districts in all!
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GRSP Update

Current Class Enjoys Weekend Fellowship

By Katheryne Fields

Georgia Rotary Student Program scholarship recipients were able to gather safely with 35 out of 41 students in late February for the GRSP Leadership Weekend in Dunwoody. Special thanks to weekend chairs Ron and Louise Barden as well as the Rotary Clubs of Dunwoody, Atlanta Metro, Buckhead, Gainesville, North Atlanta and the Atlanta Rotaract Club.

Three weeks later, 36 students from GRSP were able to make the trip to South Georgia for the Larry Frosteg Pelham International Student Weekend in late March. The 56^th annual weekend was hosted by Pelham along with Camilla, Thomasville and Bainbridge Rotary Clubs - and featured a visit with Will Watt III, grandson of GRSP Founder Will Watt as well as a visit to an alligator farm.

Read on to see more pictures and details!


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Membership

The Zone 34 Membership Competition Continues

By Jaclyn Donovan

Remember that the Zone 34 Membership Competition is still going through the end of June. If you do the stuff that helps grow a club, you get points:more]

Listen To The District Podcast

By Gordon Owens

DGN Andre and DGND Gordon have started a weekly podcast called We'll Be DG One Day,  to discuss what's happening around the District 6900. This was born out of the late night banter DG Mary witnessed between the two of them after a planning meeting in Griffin. There are now four episodes available for download on more]

Interact Update

Crabapple Middle School Interact Club Candy Sale Benefit

By Becky Stone

The Crabapple Middle School Interact Club wanted to have a candy sale to benefit charity. Led by President Elle Rocco, students discussed options and made decisions on what candy to order, quantities, and dates for the sale. They voted to call it "Luck Sale" and hold it the week of St. Patrick's Day - with profits split between Children’s Hospital and the Atlanta Humane Society. 
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Club News

Roswell Rotary Now an Evening Club Too!

By Becky Nelson

Roswell Rotary Club (RRC) launched the Roswell Rotary After Hours Satellite Club (RRAH) on March 1! With a committed group of RRC leadership, invitations focused on young professionals in the area but also included former members and others that could not meet for lunch on Thursdays. The initial RRAH meeting welcomed nearly 30 professionals to The Artillery Room at Gate City in Roswell (owned by Roswell Rotarians) where everyone mingled and then learned more about Rotary. In addition, the attendees brought Clorox wipes that were donated to a local school, because "Connect to Serve" is the focus of this satellite club.
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Club News

New Satellite from Lake Spivey/Clayton County

By Claudia Mertl

April Fool’s Day turned out to be a great day for the newly formed Rotary Satellite Club of Lake Spivey/Clayton County – Atlanta Southern Crescent. District Governor Mary joined us to give her congratulations as did Sonya Gaither, the President of the Host Club.

We meet virtually twice per month, the first and second Friday at noon. We meet in person for a social the Thursday before the third Friday. And we do a service project once every other month. The Satellite Club was admitted to Rotary International on March 29. We selected Nick Roberts as our Chair and Troy Hodges as our Chair-elect.

Twenty Charter members filed applications for membership in our Club. We look forward to great days ahead in our Club. [more]