President's Message
Excellence Is Not an Accident — It Is Leadership
Horst Schulze
Horst Schulze stood before our club this week and reminded us of something that sounds simple — yet is profoundly rare: excellence is a decision. As the founder of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, as we all know it, Schulze did not merely build hotels. He built a culture. When he came to America in 1964, he arrived with little more than belief and discipline. Twenty years later, the first Ritz-Carlton opened in Buckhead with 600 rooms — not simply as a place to stay, but as a place defined by standards.
His message was crystal clear: You don’t hire people to fill jobs. You invite people to join a dream. Employees must have purpose. Leadership, he said, is a process where people want to do the work — not because they are told to, but because they believe in it. A leader must articulate vision so clearly that every person understands not just what they do, but why they do it.
To that end, in Rotary, “Service Above Self” must not just be a slogan. It is a standard. It is the discipline of doing the right thing — exactly right — even when no one is watching. It is expecting excellence not occasionally, but consistently. It is defining ourselves by the quality of our character and our commitment to others.
Schulze spoke of exactness — of doing the right thing every time. In hospitality, that may mean how a bed is made or how a guest is greeted. In Rotary, it means how we serve our community, steward our resources, and lead with integrity.
And that brings us to Leadership 20/20. Each year, through this program, we invest in students from Roswell High School. These young men and women are not just participants. They are future business owners, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, military officers, teachers, and parents. They are the future custodians of our communities and our country.
If Schulze’s message was about building excellence in a global brand, Leadership 20/20 is about building excellence in human beings. When we teach these students that leadership is rooted in purpose, belonging, and vision, we are shaping something far more enduring than a hotel chain. We are shaping culture. We are shaping character.
Colonel Dwight Schmidt
This week, they will also hear from Colonel Schmit of the United States military — a leader who understands that leadership is not positional; it is moral. In the military, as in hospitality, as in Rotary, standards matter. Discipline matters. Clarity matters. Excellence matters.
Leadership is not about title. It is about influence. It is not about authority. It is about responsibility. It is not about being served. It is about serving.
Leadership 2020
That is why programs like Leadership 20/20 matter. We are not merely mentoring students. We are inviting them into a dream — a dream where leadership means integrity, excellence, and service above self. Horst Schulze built world-class hotels by insisting on purpose and exactness. Rotary builds world-class citizens by insisting on service and character. If we do this well — if we articulate our vision clearly and model it faithfully — then these students will not simply inherit our community. They will elevate it.
Excellence is never an accident. Leadership is never accidental. And the future is not something we wait for — it is something we build. Service Above Self is how we build it.
Sic Vos Non Vobis
Trummie Lee Patrick III
From the Cockpit: Roswell Rotary Welcomes Col. Dwight Schmidt
Roswell Rotary welcomes retired naval aviator Col. Dwight Schmidt as our speaker for the February 19 meeting. His leadership philosophy, shaped in classrooms, combat zones, and commercial aviation, offers a perspective on what it means to lead with integrity.
After college, Schmidt joined the Marine Corps, and in 1991 he was designated a naval aviator , fulfilling the dream he had carried since childhood. He went on to serve as an instructor pilot and pilot training officer , roles that placed him directly in charge of developing and mentoring fellow aviators. He was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel , deploying to Norway, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark . Following the September 11 attacks, his squadron became the first Marine Reserve Fighter Squadron deployed since the Korean War . During the War on Terror, he was promoted to Colonel and deployed numerous times to Osan, Korea and Al Udied, Qatar. [read more]
Leadership 20/20
Over 30 years of Investing in our Roswell HS Emerging Youth Student Leaders!
Without a doubt, Leadership 20/20 is one of our best youth-focused events. For over 30 years, the Roswell Rotary Club has invested in the teacher/staff nominated students from Roswell High School by introducing leadership descriptions, techniques, and resources. All RHS teachers and staff can nominate up to 2 students who have exhibited leadership qualities in the classroom, hallway, club meetings, etc. Leadership20/20 is a nod to vision. Having 20/20 vision for their future.
These students are invited to our 1-day leadership workshop, where they take the DISC test in the morning to not only learn what type of leader they are but also how to work with other types of leaders. We host them to lunch surrounded by adults who are making a difference around the city, state, continent, and world. Then the afternoon session offers 5 Hot Topic break-out sessions for the students to be in conversation to learn different responses, new information, and reframing communication as well as collaboration and disappointment. The Hot Topics are relevant issues suggested by Roswell HS social worker, Mrs. Val Rogers. The day ends with a personalized certificate congratulating them on their nomination.
Why is it a favorite RRC event? Because we host students from all corners of Roswell HS… not just the athletes, academics, club leadership, etc. This is our opportunity to show them what Service Above Self looks like as an adult service organization.
Personally, I am very proud of the 10 years I have served as Project Chair for Leadership 20/20 and am so comfortable handing the reins over to RRC Member Frederick Levy. Through fun and challenges, Leadership 20/20 in 2026 has regenerated interest from the teachers to nominate students and the students to attend. Proudly, Leadership 20/20 has never missed a year, and we have hosted some seriously impressive leaders from around the city, state, and world as our featured speaker and breakout group leaders.
Thank you to the amazing committee with Frederick and me,
- Katherine Knowles, RHS CTAE Dept Chair
- Stacy Perlman, RHS PTSA
- Marianne Scherck, RHS PTSA
- Kathy Igou, Roswell Rotary
Also, thank you to our event volunteers:
- Mrs. Maggie Ishak, Executive Coach for Focal Point Coaching, DISC
- Facilitator
- Retired Colonel Dwight Schmidt with RRC Member and friend, Mr. Dave
- Schmit, Featured Speaker & Break-out Group Facilitator
HOT Topic Facilitators:
- Dr. Vatsala Jajoo, DMD, RRC Member, owner Dentist V-Smile Family Dental
- Mr. Nnamdi Anene, Client Advisor, Sterling Seacrest Pritchard
- Mrs. Christiana Johnson, Owner Bella Modeling School
- Mr. Joshua William, Roswell HS Mental Health Counselor
90's Past Presidents
90's Video
New Member Spotlight
Welcome New Member Jay Pitroff
Jay Pitroff, Roswell Rotary’s newest member, was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Married to Colleen for 32 years, they have two sons, Jack, 25 and Carter, 22. Moving his family to East Cobb in 2013, he became the owner of CertaPro Painters of Roswell, a true family business with Colleen running the office and Jack supervising the painting crews.
Achieving his undergraduate degree in business at Barry University in Fort Lauderdale, Jay earned his MBA in Accounting and Finance at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio.
Prior to entering the painting business, Jay worked in the financial services industry, helping Fortune 500 companies grow. Performing various roles including project and program management, product development and product management, Jay also worked in Operations and IT, in addition to profit centers with significant P&L ownership.
Fun fact: Jay likes to golf and hang out with his family and their dogs, Chewy and Skywalker.
You are invited!
Vet Atlanta Summit-Feb 24
You are invited to this FREE event.
Join us for the VETLANTA Q1 Summit & 12-Year Anniversary Celebration on February 24, 2026, hosted at the historic Delta Flight Museum in partnership with Delta Air Lines and Delta VRG.
This special evening will commemorate twelve years of VETLANTA’s impact while convening veteran leaders, corporate partners, and community stakeholders for meaningful connection and dialogue. Attendees will enjoy extended networking time with vendors, the opportunity to explore the museum, and a featured fireside chat with Retired CMSAF JoAnn Bass and Retired SMA Michael Grinston, moderated by Lloyd Knight, Founder of VETLANTA.
The program will also include remarks from Delta Air Lines leadership, recognition of new VETLANTA board members, and closing reflections as we look ahead to the future of veteran leadership in Atlanta and beyond.
Questions? Contact William Brown williambrown1856@gmail.com or website
Post Event Results
Valentine's Blood Drive Huge Success
We collected 46 pints! Highest total in over two years!
Thank you to Roswell Junction for donating the space and for advertising our event. And note in the second picture- yes, we were using SIX donation beds at the same time.
Thank you volunteers and donors. Saving lives-that's true service above self!
Roswell Rotarians in the News
Hal Coleman: The "Sheriff" of Crabapple
This is a great read about Hal Coleman! You may know him as the Roswell Rotary comedian who announces the raffle, but there's so much more!
Click Here for Story
Last Week at Roswell Rotary
