Message from President Trummie Lee
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
— Mark Twain
This presidential message is coming to you from London, England. Ya'll wore me out at last week's Rotary meeting and I had to go on vacation to recover! But seriously...
As we reflect on our start to this new Rotary year, I want to thank you all for the strong kickoff last week. This is our 75th anniversary — a landmark year for Roswell Rotary — and we are off and running with energy and purpose. Now is the time to lean in and keep the momentum going.
Let’s strike while the iron is hot.
There’s a reason the blacksmith doesn’t wait — the moment the iron is glowing, you act. This Rotary year is our glowing moment.
The energy is here. The excitement is real. We’re out of the gate strong, with new ideas on the table, and a milestone 75th year to celebrate. But momentum only matters if we use it.
Now is the time to:
• Invite that future Rotarian. Don’t wait for the “right” moment — make the ask today.
• Sign up for the tournament. Sponsor a hole. Register a team. Spread the word.
• Support the Foundation. If you’ve been thinking about your next Paul Harris level — go ahead and do it.
Let’s not wait for things to settle or slow down. Let’s build while the fire is burning.
The most successful clubs — and the most impactful leaders — are the ones who don’t wait for conditions to be perfect. They act when the opportunity is hot, and they create results others only talk about.
So ask yourself:
What can I do this week to move Roswell Rotary forward?
Membership: Set Your Pledge
Membership is the lifeblood of our club. This year, I’m asking every member to pledge how many new Rotarians they will bring into our club. Just one new member per person would double our reach. Think about a friend, a colleague, or a community leader who shares our values — and invite them in. Regardless, if you pledge to bring in just one new member or five new members, your efforts can make a difference!
Tournament Time – Mark Your Calendars!
Our biggest fundraiser of the year is almost here: the Roswell Rotary Tennis, Golf & Pickleball Tournament at Roswell Country Club on Monday, is on September 8th. This year we’ve added Pickleball to bring in even more excitement and engagement.
Our fundraising goal is $300,000, and with everyone’s support — from sponsors to players to volunteers — I believe we’ll hit it. This is a fun day with serious impact. Let’s rally around it and make it a record-breaking year.
Paul Harris Fellow Drive – Early Success
We’ve already seen a strong start to our Paul Harris Fellow Foundation fundraising drive — thank you to those who have already contributed. Our goal this year is 100% participation. Every dollar helps support Rotary’s global mission and life-changing service projects.
This is a big year, and it’s off to a strong start. Together, let’s keep that momentum going — in membership, fundraising, and community service. Let’s lead boldly and honor the legacy of Roswell Rotary by building an even brighter future.
Sic Vos Non Vobis
Trummie Lee Patrick III
President, Roswell Rotary Club
2025–2026
Speaker July 17, 2025
Rotary Club Welcomes Clark Dean
Rotary Club Welcomes Clark Dean: A Visionary Leader Bridging Real Estate, Innovation, and Community Impact
The Rotary Club is delighted to host Clark Dean as our guest speaker on July 17th for his talk, Connection, Community + Convergence. Clark is known as a disruptive innovator in both the business and civic spheres whose career spans real estate innovation, strategic consulting, and community leadership.
With a background in biomedical engineering and management consulting from Harvard, Clark brings a rare blend of analytical rigor and visionary thinking to his work. Clark serves as Executive Managing Director and Board Member at Transwestern, where he founded the firm’s Transaction Sciences Group. This groundbreaking initiative builds businesses, grows non-profits, and enriches communities through structured solutions for real estate globally.
Beyond his professional achievements, Clark is deeply committed to civic engagement. A past President and Chairman of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, he has received multiple honors for his service, including the Armin Maier Community Service Award, Bert Adams International Service Award, and the Fred Hoyt Hospitality Award. His board service spans organizations such as the Shepherd Center, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Café Momentum Atlanta, The Metro Atlanta Chamber, The Atlanta Opera, The Carter Center, the Covenant House Georgia, The Veritas School of Social Sciences, and the Chick-fil-A Foundation. He was in the 2012 Class of Leadership Atlanta, the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “40 Under 40” in 2005, and the “500 Most Influential Leaders” list in 2024 by Georgia Trend.
Board Member Spotlight 2025-26
President-elect Leslie Bassett (Next Year 2026-27)
Having lived in the Atlanta area since attending Emory School of Law 20+ years ago, Leslie has been a Roswell resident since 2014. The Bassett household is Leslie and a bunch of boys: her sons Zack (18 years old and rising college freshman at GCSU), Sam (15 years old and rising sophomore at RHS) and three male Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Family activities include baseball, community service, solid dedication to grilling all things protein, family Sunday dinners, hiking, and making a point daily to unexpectedly be kind to at least one person for no personal gain.
As a local ERISA/Employee benefits dispute attorney, her law practice is currently the opposite demographic dynamic of her home, comprised of all female attorneys in the Dolvin House on Bulloch Avenue. She is also a mediator and handles mainly complex commercial litigation dispute resolution.
Leslie joined Roswell Rotary as a member in the heart of the Covid era, April 2020, sponsored by Jim Gray, her dad’s orthodontic school buddy. Having made the transition from the large law firm lots-of-travel life to a small boutique firm anchored in Roswell, she finally had the time and inclination to grow local roots and give back to the community.
Fun fact: When the boys were little, she owned a farm in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, spending 4 months of the year in bucolic bliss.
Tournament Updates
September 8 is Coming Up Fast
Sponsorship
Experience the Power of Corporate Sponsorship
The Power of Corporate Sponsorship: Making a Local Impact Through Golf, Tennis, & Pickleball
As Rotarians, we know service above self is more than a motto — it’s a call to action. That’s why the Roswell Rotary Golf, Tennis, & Pickleball Tournaments are more than just fun on the fairways and fierce matches on the courts. They’re engines of change for our community.
Why Do Corporate Sponsorships Matter?
Every dollar raised through our annual tournaments goes directly to local charities that make a difference in the lives of children, veterans, seniors, and families in need. Corporate sponsorship helps fund programs that provide winter clothing for students, medical equipment for veterans, meals for homebound seniors, and educational support for at-risk youth — to name just a few.
What Do Sponsors Receive?
Each corporate sponsor gets recognition through signage, marketing, and social media. Yes, a corporate sponsor receives a foursome to enjoy a day of networking and camaraderie on the course, or a team on the tennis and pickleball courts. But the impact of each sponsorship is more than that. Sponsors gain something money can’t buy: the intrinsic satisfaction of knowing their support is transforming lives right here in our own backyard.
It’s More Than a Logo — It’s a Legacy
By committing to sponsor, it’s not just promoting a business or brand. It’s about committing to Legacy of our Club and taking part in investing in the well-being of our community. That’s a win-win we can all rally behind.
Join us. Be a corporate sponsor. Swing for a cause. Serve up some good. And help us continue the legacy of giving that defines Roswell Rotary. Join me and be a corporate sponsor for the 2025 Roswell Rotary Golf, Tennie & Pickleball Tournament.
To sponsor or learn more, visit the Tournament Website or contact Jim Stone james@stonelaw.com or Ryan Gehricke rgehricke@lanternrealestategroup.com
Tournament Sponsor News
We Have a DIAMOND Sponsor-Second Year in a Row!
Thank you so much to the Wolff family for this generous sponsorship in memory of his beloved Patsy who recently passed. We are proud to display the sponsorship banner at every Roswell Rotary meeting. You are always with us.
Thursday July 19 5:30pm
Alive in Roswell
Alive in Roswell is a free monthly festival held every third Thursday from April through October in Roswell, Georgia. In 2025, the schedule is: April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, and October 16. The festival runs from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM, but our tent closes at 7:30.
Come join us in front of the Hagan Center 995 Canton St. for burgers, dogs, and Roswell Rotary fellowship! It's a Roswell Rotary tradition and a great way to get to know other members.
Roswell Rotary Billing -New Look
Your Roswell Rotary Club payment notices will now be coming from Quickbooks. So when you get the email to pay your dues (or anything else you've asked to be billed for) it will look different, but it is real. So please pay it! Any questions, contact Cheryl Greenway cgrotarydg1213@aol.com or Tori Nielson admin@roswellrotary.com .
Last Week at Rotary
