This Week's Program: NO MEETING
There will be no meeting this week of the Atlanta West End Rotary Club on Friday, May 22, 2026, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday weekend. We encourage members to use the time to rest, celebrate with loved ones, and reflect on the meaning of the holiday.
Enjoy the long weekend and stay safe, however you choose to mark the occasion. We look forward to reconnecting at our next meeting on Friday, May 29th, when we will be joined by LaShay Wilson, Executive Director of StepStone Family and Youth Services.
Also, please mark your calendars and make plans to attend Streets Alive: West End to Grant Park on Sunday, May 31, from 1–6 p.m. Let’s show up for the West End community so neighbors can connect with us, learn more about Rotary, and see the impact we’re making together.
KeyWay Report
KeyWay Report on Sonia Hantman
At last week's meeting, the Atlanta West End Rotary Club had the pleasure of hearing from departing member Sonia Hantman, who shared a moving and wide-ranging reflection on her personal and professional journey across Bulgaria, Sweden, and the United States.
Born in Bulgaria, Sonia moved with her family to Sweden at age 12 following the fall of communism. She spoke about adapting to a new country, language, and culture in Stockholm, where she completed her education and became a licensed optician, one of only 40 trained in Sweden at that time. Her remarks offered members an interesting look at Sweden’s education system, which she described as publicly funded, highly practical, and closely connected to vocational training.
Sonia’s life journey has also been shaped by resilience, service, and deep devotion to her son, Dennis. After the loss of her husband shortly after Dennis was born, Sonia transitioned professionally and personally to create a life centered on family, education, and community. She became an outdoor nursery teacher, founded a children’s social club called “Besties,” and volunteered with a Swedish organization supporting children with disabilities.
A highlight of Sonia’s presentation was hearing about Dennis, a gifted Georgia Tech graduate with a passion for technology, learning, and adaptive sports. Dennis graduated with a 3.97 GPA and participated in wheelchair tennis, sit-skiing, and sailing, including international competitions. He has now been accepted into a master’s program in Computer Science and Engineering at UC San Diego, choosing the program because of its quality and fit over several other prestigious offers.
Sonia also shared that she and Dennis are pursuing an EB-5 investor visa as a pathway to permanent residency and eventual citizenship. As she prepares for her next chapter in San Diego, Sonia expressed her hope to join a Rotary club there while remaining connected to the Atlanta West End Rotary family.
During the Q&A, Sonia brought humor and warmth to the conversation, sharing that her first stop when returning to Sweden is always the 7-Eleven at Arlanda Airport for a Swedish hot dog, followed closely by a shrimp sandwich known as a “räkmacka.”
Sonia’s presentation was a meaningful reminder of Rotary’s values of resilience, service, connection, and global fellowship. We are grateful for her time with our club and wish Sonia and Dennis continued success in their next chapter.
Atlanta West End Rotary Club
Atlanta West End Rotary at Atlanta Streets Alive — May 31
The Atlanta West End Rotary Club will be participating in Atlanta Streets Alive: West End to Grant Park on Sunday, May 31, 2026. This is a day when streets are transformed into shared community space filled with music, movement, and connection, and we’ll be there to meet the people who make the West End special.
Look for our tent and table outside — we’ll be ready to say hello and talk with neighbors. For us, showing up at events like this is about more than presence: it’s about visibility, relationships, and service. Rotary has always believed strong communities are built when people know one another, support one another, and work together to make life better for everyone.
What we hope to do at the event:
- Let neighbors know the club is active and available in the community,
- Share information about what Rotary is and how we serve, and
- Listen, connect, and continue building trust with the people we proudly serve.
If you’re walking, riding, rolling, or exploring on Sunday, May 31, 2026, stop by and say hello — we’d love to meet you.
Event details
Atlanta Streets Alive: West End to Grant Park
Sunday, May 31, 2026
2:00–6:00 p.m.
RI Focus
May is Youth Service Month
Rotary designates May as Youth Service Month, highlighting the importance of investing in young people and creating opportunities for them to lead, learn, and serve. For Atlanta West End, this observance is a chance to connect club priorities with the needs and potential of youth in our community.
Youth Service Month can guide clubs in planning speakers, programs, and projects that engage young people directly or support organizations that serve youth. It also offers an opportunity to showcase Rotary’s ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of leaders and community-minded citizens.
By centering efforts on youth in May, Atlanta West End Rotary can strengthen community ties, encourage intergenerational collaboration, and demonstrate Rotary’s investment in a brighter future.
Calander, Agenda, Connections, & Four-Way Test
Never a Bad Time to Catch Up (ON DUES)!
District 6900 has updated to a new Stripe ACH payment process. The new method is more convenient and more secure. If you pay your dues via ACH (and you should!), go to YOUR PAGE on our club website (Click here) and use the Setup ACH button to relink your account. Should you encounter any problems, click the Contact Webmaster link in the page footer.
