President's Message
The Courage to Create Something New
Ever wondered how the really great ideas in life start or who decided to come up with that crazy, yet incredible idea? Sometimes the most powerful ideas are born the moment we stop asking, “What is everyone else doing?” and start asking, “What is possible?” Innovation rarely comes from standing in the familiar; it comes from the courage to step beyond it. I am reminded of the words of Past District Governor Gordon Owens when he addressed Roswell Rotary Club at the Chattahoochee Nature Center and challenged us to not just do things that we have always done but to get out of the box and be bold-to shake things up and try new things. Whether in business, service, or community leadership, the spark of transformation begins when someone dares to think differently—when someone challenges the status quo, imagines a new path, and takes that first bold step into the unknown." As Steve Jobs once said, “The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” And history has shown us, time and time again, that remarkable things happen when ordinary people and Roswell Rotarians choose to create something new.
Jesse Cole
Years ago, a young man, who loved baseball with all his heart, walked into a failing ballpark in Savannah. The stands were empty. The finances were hopeless. The future was bleak. Most people would have walked away. But he didn’t. He stood there and imagined something wildly different. What if attending a baseball could be different? What if a fans experience felt different? What if we threw out the rulebook and started fresh? He had no real business plan, no financing, no experience running a business.
That dreamer was Jesse Cole, the man who transformed a bankrupt minor-league team into the global sensation known today as the “Savannah Bananas.” What looked like an ending, he turned into a beginning. Today, the Bananas have more than 10.5 million followers on social media, which ironically, is greater than any MLB team. They are valued at $500 million and have continued to sell out stadium after stadium and have changed the way fans think of baseball.
Eunice Shriver
To give you another story – but this one starts far from a stadium—this one started in a backyard. A woman invited children with intellectual disabilities to play, to compete, and most importantly, to belong. She saw what the world refused to see: ability, potential, dignity. What began as a neighborhood summer camp grew into a worldwide movement. That woman was Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics, and her courage reshaped millions of lives. She proved that when one person dares to ask, “What if we create something better?” the world shifts.
These stories share a common spark: the courage to create something new where no path existed.
Chris Cathers
And that brings me to someone whose courage humbles us all. He is fighting a terminal illness—a battle most of us cannot fathom. Yet each day, he rises with one mission: to save the lives of veterans who are struggling in silence. He founded the Brother’s Keeper Veterans Foundation because he believes no veteran should ever feel alone, forgotten, or without hope. You heard him briefly speak last week, as our “Roswell Rotary Hero of the Month.” His name is Chris Cathers, and though his body is failing, his spirit is unbreakable. He still calls, still listens, still shows up. Even now—especially now—he serves with a sprit that defines Service Above Self.
And then, something extraordinary happened in our own club……
One Roswell Rotarian, deeply moved by Chris’s mission, stepped forward with an offer few would make in private—let alone publicly: $10,000 of his own money. But there was a challenge attached.
“Match it,” he said. “Let’s do something worthy of these veterans.” And with that, the “Courage to Create Something New” at Roswell Rotary was potentially born….
If that wasn’t enough, after the meeting, Chris shared with me that, another donor, in his organization has also stepped forward and would match what Roswell Rotary could raise. Anonymous. No fanfare. No spotlight. “I’ll match whatever you raise,” they said. In an instant, one Rotarian’s courage multiplied. $10,000 could potentially become $20,000. Then $20,000 became $40,000. And $40,000 will soon become something far more powerful—a veterans project yet to be named, but certain to change lives. Nothing is certain and these plans are just a dream at this point. But don’t miss the point….there is something happening because a group of people dared to think outside the norm, outside the box and find different ways to help! I couldn’t be more proud of this kind of potential brewing in our club!
And this is where all these stories meet—in a place far deeper than a ballpark, a backyard, or even a Rotary Club meeting. They meet at the intersection of imagination and compassion, where ordinary people refuse to let the world remain as it is. The courage of Jesse Cole turned empty seats into a worldwide phenomenon. The courage of Eunice Kennedy Shriver turned exclusion into celebration. The courage of Chris Cathers is turning his remaining days into a legacy of hope for those who once fought for us. And the courage of one Rotarian in our club will hopefully create a wave of generosity that will change lives we have not yet met. (Reach out to me if this personally touches you and lets be a part of something awesome together!)
So as we step into the weeks ahead, I hope we remember this:
Greatness rarely announces itself at the door. It whispers. It nudges. It taps us on the shoulder with an idea, a need, a moment that feels small—but isn’t. We are surrounded by opportunities to create something new, to think differently, to stand up in ways that only we can. And when we do, when even one of us takes that brave first step, the ripple is felt far beyond what we can imagine. Let us be the kind of people who chase those whispers.
Let us be the kind of people that build something new. Let us have hearts that bring hope to those in need. Let us be the light someone in the dark. As we do, may we hold close the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
And as we move forward, may we remember this: the world doesn’t change because we wait, hesitate, or hope someone else will act. It changes when we decide to. When we choose to step into the moment right in front of us—imperfect, uncertain, but full of possibility—and create something that didn’t exist before. Not someday. Not when everything is lined up perfectly. But today. Today is our chance to build something beautiful, something meaningful, and something new.
Sic Vos Non Vobis,
Trummie Lee Patrick III
President Roswell Rotary Club 2025-26
