First Week of Governor Visits in Rotary District 6910

Wearing my Rotary Serving Humanity theme jacket and scarf.  Each Rotary International president chooses a theme jacket and scarf that each district governor wears during the official visit.

As district governor, I am tasked with visiting each of our 73 clubs in Rotary District 6910, an area encompassing 49 counties in North Georgia, roughly the area above I-20.  I made my first club visits this past week. What I find most fascinating is the unique club culture of each individual club. Each club I attended this past week has quite a history, ranging in age from the 27 year club at Social Circle to the 78 year old club at Calhoun and Cartersville's 92 year old Rotary club.

The Rotary Club of Social Circle meets at the historic Magnolia Manor, a private events venue,  in downtown Social Circle.

The Rotary Club of Social Circle had a special treat in store for me as I had the honor of inducting a new member,  Tyrone Oliver, Social Circle's Police Chief.

New member, Chief Tyrone Oliver, was pinned with sponsor Paul Posner and President Farren Elliott next to him.

The Rotary Club of Social Circle meets on Mondays at noon in a beautiful historic building called Magnolia Manor in downtown Social Circle. The club's signature project and fundraiser is the annual community fair held each October. The club's focus centers on pre-school literacy and scholarships for graduating seniors. Making a difference in the lives of children, one book at a time, the club supports Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy. Since the club's inception in 1989, the club has contributed $42,000 to The Rotary Foundation. The club has provided over $127,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors which have been used to attend technical schools, universities and universities. The club ended its 2015-16 Rotary year with 19 members. Per capita giving to the Rotary Foundation in 2015-16 was $65 with total giving in 2015-16 of $1,369.  In honor of our Rotary Foundation Centennial, the club is aiming for an increase in giving to our Annual Fund in 2016-17 with a goal of $2,000. The club also supports the Georgia Rotary Student Program with a student at Georgia Gwinnett College this year. Charter Member Anne Peppers was honored during my visit for serving as club treasurer for 25 years. With many of Anne's family in attendance, club member Harold Dally, the Social Circle Mayor, proclaimed 11 July as Anne Peppers day in the City of Social Circle.   

With Rotary Club of Social Circle Club President Farren Elliott.

Charter member Rebecca Dally cuts the red velvet cake emblazoned with a Rotary gear in honor of fellow Charter member Anne Peppers for her 25 years of service as club treasurer.

Mayor Harold Dally presents his fellow club member, Anne Peppers, a plaque commemorating July 11 as Anne Peppers Day in Social Circle.

One of our district's oldest clubs is The Rotary Club of Cartersville, chartered in 1924.  The club is doing a great job promoting #100ActsofGood in honor of our Foundation's Centennial on its Facebook page. Very active with youth - Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts,  both Pack 24 and Boy Scouts of America Troop 24 were chartered as community outreach programs of the club.  The club also recognizes Star Students and Star Teachers from area high schools at club meetings. The club ended the 2015-16 year with 41 members and $95 per capita giving to The Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Club of Cartersville has donated just over $184,000 to our Rotary Foundation since its inception.  The club meets at Cartersville Country Club, overlooking a scenic golf course, at noon on Wednesdays.  

With Cartersville Rotary Club President John Agnew

The Rotary Club of Calhoun, chartered in 1938, has several 'legacy' Rotarians. Jim Matthews, a member since 1991 and the club's Rotary Foundation chair, is the son and grandson of Rotarians in that club. President John King has a goal of task of sponsoring Jim's son which would make four generations of Rotarians in that club.  Past President Jim Lay had a uncle who was in the club, James G. Lay; Phillip Beamer's father, James Beamer, was in the club. What a Rotary legacy in those families!  

The Rotarians of Calhoun are making a big difference in the lives of others in helping the homeless and getting involved in the lives of local youth. The club sponsors two Interact clubs, two Rotaract clubs and focuses on projects that serve the community's youth. President John has done a great job seeing that the club's goals are entered at Rotary Club Central.  The club's 2016-17 goal is to increase membership from 29 to 32 members. The club is a strong supporter of The Rotary Foundation at $124 per capita and a 2016-17 goal of increased giving to our Annual Fund. The club's giving in 2015-16 included a substantial $75,000 gift to The Rotary Foundation by the Paul Whittemore estate.  Paul was active in the club for many years and a past President. Active in traditional media and social media, Lillian Towe, the club's Public Relations Chair, regularly posts to the Club Facebook page, The club meets in historic downtown Calhoun at Velo Vineyards.  I was fortunate to have husband David drive me to this meeting.  He kept saying, "This doesn't look like an area of vineyards!"  Not an actual vineyard, but an event space in beautiful Downtown Calhoun and the home of Rotary Club of Calhoun. The club will hold its 3rd Annual Open Invitation Golf Tournament on Wednesday, 24 August 2016 at Fields Ferry Golf Course in Calhoun.  If you're interested in more information, contact Joe Kauffman at 706-624-5325 or 270-217-5372.  Not only did the Rotary Club of Calhoun present me with a lovely quilt depicting area scenes, the club presented a check for $100 to The Rotary Foundation's PolioPlus fund which becomes $300 when matched with the Gates Foundation challenge match.  The Rotary Club of Calhoun meets on Thursdays at 12:15 pm at Velo Vineyards in downtown Calhoun.

With President John King

Coming soon to a club near you...

Kim Waters

District 6910 Governor, 2016-17

Multi-District Rotary Foundation Grant Project in Jamaica

Every project starts with an idea.  The Rotary District Governors of Zones 33/34 came up with an idea a couple years ago to get together in Jamaica with a Centennial project to begin their year of service together as District Governors of Rotary International in Zones 33 & 34. Further, the idea involved Rotary International President John Germ accompanying them, and ceremoneously inducting them as governors for their respective districts while there.  

This idea ultimately became two projects.  One of which involved presenting a cataract surgery machine to Cornwall Regional Hospital, a 10 story, 400-bed public hospital in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This public hospital is the only hospital outside of Kingston providing specialist services treating approximately 500,000 Jamaicans annually.  The US$80,000 cataract machine project was a multi-district global grant project funded jointly by The Rotary Foundation. Twenty-one district governors of Zones 33/34 were in attendance for the presentation.

Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, Jamaica

Rotary International President John Germ and District 7020 Governor Haresh Ramchandani (our hero for hosting and planning the event) is shown with the plaque that honors recently deceased George Tyson, a classmate from District 7610, with District Governors of Zones 33/34.  Shown here are District Governors Dan Semanza (our hero for writing the grant), Chris Runion, Lance Young, John Scibal, Cliff Hutton, Roger Champion, Tom Smith, Jon Spillman, Pam Lightsey, Eric Gordon, Gary Dills, Ladd Waldo, Mike Chapman, Marshall Butler, Sandee Brooks, Joyce Gunter, Kim Waters and Jim Finley.

The late George Tyson of District 7610

The cataract surgery machine

The District Governors then got involved in a hands-on project at Granville Child Care Facility (aka Granville Girls Home).  This home had 57 girls in residence on the day of our visit, with the youngest of these children, just 10 years old.  The girls here have experienced varying degrees of trauma in their lives, including sexual abuse, neglect and exposure to violence, domestic and otherwise.  Two very young girls looked to be fairly far along in their pregnancies.  The girls are most receptive to counseling in a setting such as that envisioned by local Rotarians in a Peace Garden.  The Peace Garden project was funded by area Rotary Clubs with members working alongside the Rotary International President John Germ and Zones 33/34 District Governors with spouses and some of their children too, installing the Peace Garden.

Edie Ray, spouse of District 6900 Governor Raymond Ray, shovels, while her husband, Raymond, talks with Rotary Past District Governor Gary Gunter (spouse of District Governor Joyce Gunter) as District Governor Ladd Waldo also does the work preparing the Peace Garden.

Zone 34 Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator David Stovall, spouse of District 6910 Governor Kim Waters.

District Governor Mike Chapman does some heavy lifting with Assistant Rotary Coordinator Jeremy Hurst of the Grand Cayman Islands.

As President John Germ said when he saw this, "Now that's what it's all about."  Emily Butler, daughter of District Governor Marshall Butler and Karen, befriended two of the girls at the home.

Rotary International President John Germ shovels dirt with Shya Ramchandani, daughter of District 7020 Governor Haresh Ramchandani and Vindu.

President John Germ plants the final palm in the garden, a 'peace palm', with District 6910 Governor Kim Waters overlooking.

President John Germ, with wife Judy, in the Peace Garden, surrounded by Rotarians.

A multi-club meeting in Montego Bay started the weekend with these four area clubs sharing the good work of their area projects. President John Germ at sat the head table with four area club Presidents and District 7020 Governor Haresh Ramchandani.  Club Presidents at the head table were from the Rotary Clubs of Falmouth, Montego Bay, Rotary Montego Bay Sunrise and Montego Bay East.  Area Rotaract members also joined in the meeting as well.

Rotaract Club Vice-President Deidre Ann Brown with District 6910 Governor Kim Waters and Rotaract President Nekesha Dandy of the Rotaract Club of University of West Indies-WJC

A Rotaract leader, Paul Thompson. addresses the meeting, with President John Germ at the head table along with the presidents of the Rotary Club of Falmouth Club President Claude Thompson and District 7020 Governor Haresh Ramchandani.

The weekend culminated with an Installation Banquet.  Not only were the District Governors of Zones 33/34 installed, over a dozen Caribbean club presidents were inducted as well.  President John Germ inducted the District Governors, while Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator David Stovall and Assistant Rotary Coordinator Jeremy Hurst inducted and then presented the club presidents to Rotary International President John Germ.

As District 7020 Governor Elect Robert Leger, a surgeon from Haiti said, 'Seeing this machine at the hospital brought tears to my eyes knowing of the lives that would be changed by this.' Fittingly, District Governor Elect Robert and wife Rosa of Haiti were later presented and honored with Major Donor Recognition by Rotary Foundation Trustee Barry Rassin of Nassau, Bahamas and Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, David Stovall.

District 7020 Governor Elect Robert Leger and wife Rosa were recognized as Major Donors of The Rotary Foundation during the banquet.

This installation of district governors with a multi-district project collaboration amongst a class of governors with the participation of a Rotary International President is the first of its kind in the history of Rotary.  Truly, Rotary Serving Humanity.