President's Message
“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution.” — Aristotle
Last week, we paused…. and rightly so, to celebrate: Club of the Year, Membership Award, Best Polio Project, Governor’s Citation, Public Image Award, and a long list of individual recognitions that reflect the heart, effort, and consistency of this club. Those honors matter. In some ways and to some in our club, they validate the standard we have set and the impact we have made. However, if we are honest about what got us here, it was not a single moment, but it was momentum. It was showing up, week after week, project after project, conversation after conversation, committed to something bigger than ourselves.
And that’s what I want to talk to you about today. The challenge that we face right now is to avoid admiring the momentum and to figure out how to protect it.
In sports, there’s a tendency after a big win or a meaningful milestone, to let your intensity down. There is a tendency to feel as if you have “arrived” and that the job is done after that big win. You see this happen all the time in college football (sorry Clarkson, Auburn needs to have a “big win” to have the letdown). Where was I? Oh yes, there is a tendency to feel like the work is done. However, Roswell Rotary doesn’t operate on a finish line. Instead, it operates on purpose. With just over two months left in this Rotary year, this is not the time to coast. This is the time keep things going and put the hammer down as my Dad would say. The same habits that built this year, like the invitations, the engagement, the service, are the very things that will define how we finish and how we hand off to the next chapter to our incoming Pres. Leslie!
That starts this Thursday.
We have Rick Jackson joining us as our speaker, and as with other programs and speakers this year, it is an opportunity. An opportunity to invite a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, anyone who might be interested in our speaker and could be looking for a way to get more involved or to be part of something meaningful. Growth does not happen by accident, it happens one conversation at a time, one invitation at a time. When people walk into our meeting and experience what this club is, when they hear the stories, see the camaraderie, and feel the mission of Service Above Self, the value becomes undeniable.
Because here is the reality, more members mean more impact. More members means more hands in service projects. More members means more resources directed toward meaningful change. Growth is not all about numbers, it is about multiplying our ability to do good. And that good work is right in front of us.
Next month, we have a disaster relief service project supporting a Girl Scout camp, an opportunity to step into a real need and be part of the solution. These are the moments that define us, not just as a club, but as a force in the community.
And then there is Memorial Day. Our annual Memorial Day event at Roswell City Hall is not just a project, it is a statement. It is one of the most visible and meaningful things we do all year. It is where service meets gratitude, where community meets remembrance, where we honor those who gave everything for the freedoms we live with every day. When we show up for that event, and when we invite others into it, we are putting Rotary on display in its purest form, not as a meeting, not as a network, but as a mission. So as we move forward from conference, let’s be clear, this is not the end of something, it is the continuation of something powerful. Momentum is fragile if neglected, but unstoppable if maintained.
Let’s invite.
Let’s serve.
Let’s grow.
And most importantly, let’s finish this Rotary year the same way we built it: together, focused, and committed to making a difference where it matters most. Because the best measure of this year will not just be what we won, it will be what we continue to do next.
Sic Vos Non Vobis
Trummie Lee Patrick III
P.S. Our good friend and past president/DG, Gordon Owens, claims that my articles are too long and that he never reads them. So, to have a little fun this week, if you have read this article, please call Gordon by his first name “Robert.” He will not know why we are calling him Robert, unless he decides to read my article this week. Don’t tell him……Lets see if he has enough people call him Robert that he figures out that something is going on and he is being messed with this week. HA-HA
Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate, Rick Jackson, Joins Us April 30
Date : Thursday, April 30, 2026
Time: 12:15
Location: Roswell Area Park
Bill Johnson Community Activity Building
10495 Woodstock Road
Roswell, GA 30075
We are honored to welcome Rick Jackson as our speaker on April 30th, Rick Jackson. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jackson Healthcare, one of the nation’s largest healthcare staffing organizations. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a privately held enterprise generating more than $3 billion in annual revenue and expanding its reach through major acquisitions in workforce solutions and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Over the past 34 years, Jackson has conceptualized and developed more than 25 healthcare companies, drawing on experience that spans staffing firms, surgery centers, practice management organizations, clinics, and hospitals. His career began in medical recruitment in 1978, ultimately leading to the founding of Jackson Healthcare in 2000. The company’s growth includes the development of a $100 million corporate campus in Alpharetta and the acquisition of organizations such as USAntibiotics and LRS Healthcare. His work reflects a deep understanding of the complexities of healthcare delivery and the operational challenges facing hospitals nationwide. Today, Jackson’s businesses serve all 50 states and help provide care for more than 20 million patients annually. His leadership has extended into moments of national and state‑level need, including efforts to preserve domestic antibiotic manufacturing and mobilize critical medical resources during the COVID‑19 pandemic. [read more]
New Member Spotlight
Welcome Ken Vaughn
Ken Vaughn, a native of Chattanooga, TN, after attending the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, relocated to the Atlanta area in 1983. Holding several managerial positions in manufacturing and quality assurance in the medical device industry, including CIBA Vision (now Alcon), Immucor, Inc (now Werfren), Femasys, Inc. and Stimlabs, Inc., Ken also worked at Georgia Quickstart, training employees for existing companies expanding into their workforce or new companies coming into Georgia.
Ken started Spring Water Promotions, Inc., a private-labeled spring water bottling company in Blue Ridge, Georgia. He and his wife Kathy, a managing broker of Ansley Real Estate, Christies International in Alpharetta, have lived in the Roswell area for 31 years. Their daughter, Taylor, works in photography and the entertainment industry.
April 29-drop ins welcome
Pint for a Pint Blood Drive
And CLICK HERE to check out this cool "Blood Suckers" clip!
Open until 2pm!
Volunteer Project Disaster Relief
May 6-9 Contact Gordon Owens by THIS Friday
JOIN US on May 6–9 at Girl Scout Camp Tanglewood near Augusta.
Together, we’re working to rebuild and reopen the camp before summer through hands-on service, from carpentry and site work to cleanup and preparing cabins.
Come for a day or all four. Housing is available for those traveling in.
Contact Gordon Owens by Friday May 1 if you want to help.GO@GOdigital.com
Save Date Mon May 25
Memorial Day Celebration
The 27th award winning Roswell Remembers Memorial Day Ceremony is scheduled for Monday, May 25th at 11:00 A.M. at Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street.
The grounds open at 10:00 a.m. with music by the Roswell New Horizons Band, followed by a moving program featuring a highly decorated guest speaker, the Presentation of Colors, Honor Guard display, National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, POW/MIA tribute, and laying of the wreath.
A BBQ lunch will be available for purchase on-site following the ceremony.
Contact Past President Dave Young, Committee Chair at nfultonpt@juno.com with questions. This is a great opportunity for ALL Roswell Rotarians to serve those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. Donations may be made via billing to your club account, check, or credit card. The deadline to donate is Thursday, 14th to be listed as an in-kind sponsor in our program.
Nancy Alterman at nancyhalterman8@gmail.com or 404-509-1700 will be taking names of volunteers every Thursday at Rotary.
Special thanks to our 2026 Hometown Hero Sponsors for their generous support. Jim & Sherry Broadway, Gunnison Tree Service, Robert W Hagan W.S. Nielsen, Slopes BBQ, and Wellstar Health System.
Click Here for more information on the 27th Annual Roswell Remembers Memorial Day Ceremony.
Add To Calendar
Memorial Day
Volunteer!
Volunteers Needed for Memorial Day Service Project ??
Roswell Rotary is partnering with the City of Roswell for our annual Memorial Day event, and we need your help!
We’re looking for volunteers on:
• Sunday (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM) for setup
Bonus: Pizza will be provided after the Sunday setup shift!
• Monday shifts:
• 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
This is a great opportunity to come together, serve our community, and honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.
To sign up or learn more, please contact Nancy Alterman at 770-262-6300. We’d love to have you join us for this meaningful tradition!
