President John's Message
March is only a week old and already we've completed two great service projects. Many of us read to Kindergarteners in the Roswell High cluster of elementary schools last Thursday morning as part of Read Across America. What a delight it was to see the eagerness in young faces to hear a poignant story about friendships.
And our After Hours Club turned out in force to help serve at the Beer Festival supporting STAR House on Saturday. They manned a triple sized tent all afternoon, pouring and greeting many folks who turned out on a gorgeous March day.
There’s more…this Rotascope describes more ways to get out in the early Springlike weather throughout the month of March and serve our youth and our community. Opportunities include
• March 11 - Unity Garden volunteering Round 2. Time dig in the dirt again - signup below.
• March 18 - Roswell Rotary Relays at Roswell High School. Great day of track and field with many volunteers needed - signup below.
• March 25 - Sweep the Hooch - annual springtime cleanup of our portion of the Chattahoochee River along Riverside Road. Great way to get the whole family involved in service - signup below
• March 25 - Rotary Scholarships Essays Review - need an inside task, come help read essays from high school students seeking one of our four scholarships that we give each year.
• March 27 - Spring Blood Drive at Gate City Brewing - Give a Pint Get a Pint is back. Reserve a spot today to give lifesaving blood.
Rotary is about Service Above Self. Take the opportunity to get involved in Service this March.
Georgia Legislative Update
Lunch Speaker Kyle Wingfield: Local Legislation that Will Impact Your Business and Your Family
Tip O'Neill, a former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, is often connected to this quote that may have originated in the 1930s. Most of us would agree that Georgia policies and politics impact how our business every day. And it impacts our schools, our safety and our quality of life.
We’ll hear about current proposed legislation to address education, healthcare, housing affordability and economic freedom/opportunity. With “Crossover Day," earlier this week, there is much activity underway – and opportunity for your involvement.
Believing that an informed constituency is the best constituency, and your engagement with your representatives a vital part of the process, we welcome our speaker Kyle Wingfield, the president and CEO of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. A native of Dalton and graduate of the UGA joined the Foundation as president and CEO in April 2018 after spending 9 years as an opinion columnist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has also worked for the Wall Street Journal, based in Brussels, Belgium, from 2004 to 2009, and for the Associated Press, based in Atlanta and Montgomery, Ala., from 2001 to 2004.
At the AJC, Kyle wrote often about state politics and policy, focusing especially on education and school choice, transportation, health care, and state and local taxation. He is a frequent guest on GPB’s “Political Rewind” show and was a finalist for the Reason Foundation’s Bastiat Prize for Journalism in 2013. Kyle’s weekly column continues to appear in 10 newspapers around the state.
Kyle received the UGA Grady College’s John E. Drewry Young Alumnus Award in 2006, was named to the UGA Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2012 and is a member of UGA’s Board of Visitors. He is a member of Leadership Georgia’s Class of 2018 and, as an Eagle Scout, remains an active volunteer in Scouting.
Mike McRay - 2010-2011
Past President Moment: Mike McRay
Rotary’s theme for 2010-11 was “Building Communities - Bridging Continents”. Our District Governor Casey Farmer was a big baseball aficionado and declared a District theme of “Field of Dreams”. And somehow our President Mike McRay regaled us with “Cowboy Logic” each week. And indeed, Roswell Rotary hit is out of the park again with Service, Fun, and another Club of the Year. Come hear about Mike’s year this week and check out the scrapbook that literally hit it out. And remember… “Don’t Squat with Yer Spurs On!”
After Hours Meets Tonight!
Tax Prep + B-Day Celebration
After Hours is meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. at The Artillery Room @ Gate City! In honor of tax season, Roswell Rotary's own William Lindsey will share tips for young people on how to prepare and file taxes. But the fun does not stop there--the club will also celebrate its first birthday which was March 1st. AND, a new member will be officially inducted into the Rotary family. Everyone is invited!
District Conference is April 27 - 30
Rocking like only Roswell Rotary rocks!
Sunday morning…the night before we dined out together…dance and partied one last night in the hospitality suite. It was rocking like only Roswell Rotary rocks! Who let the family on the hall with young kids? Did security shut us down again because our music was supposedly too loud?
Oh well…once you start moving it’s time to don your red parrot shirt…head to breakfast…and get ready to see if we win any awards. Yes, they are awarding Club of the Year again this year. You don’t want to miss this District Conference in Sandestin, Florida .
Make your reservations today! Registration and Accommodations Link
