President Alex's Message
Fellow Rotarians: This month we give thanks to all of the blessings that we have received. We are grateful for all those who volunteered to support our veterans this month, including at our basketball tournament. We are also grateful for the great success we've had with the Roswell Christkindl Market and I continue to urge everyone to invite your friends and family to our great Christmas gathering. Additionally, this week we will gather and join as we have our speaker Honorary Counsel Monika from the Czech Republic in which she will share not only her own personal journey in the automotive industry but also a history about her native country, The Czech Republic and its global outlook and its relationship with the US. Alex B. Kaufman Roswell Rotary Club President, 2023-2024 Economic and Cultural Diplomat from Czech Republic to Speak
Monika Vintrlikova is an accomplished Senior Executive with 20+ years of experience in automotive manufacturing. She has valuable expertise in management, quality, engineering, production, and HR for the automotive and agriculture industry. In 2011, Monika relocated to the United States from her native Czech Republic to establish an American manufacturing entity for ALBAform. She was able to accelerate its growth and success while minimizing the risk of an internationalization process. Currently, Monika continues to grow ALBAform’s manufacturing business. She is responsible for expansion strategies and financial planning, as well as some internal procedures. On October 1, 2020, Monika was appointed the Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Atlanta. She is responsible for accommodating Economic diplomacy between Czech Republic and Georgia, USA, such as connecting trading and manufacturing companies. Monika is also assisting Public diplomacy with promoting Czech and Moravian culture, language education and film, and organizing related events. Lastly, her team provides Consular services for Czech citizens through a consular office in Sandy Springs, GA. In addition, Monika (together with her husband Jan) is the founder of the Moravian Glory Foundation that preserves Czech traditions and culture. The aim is to rescue an old art of folk motif painting by organizing domestic and abroad exhibitions and workshops. Monika resides in Lawrenceville, GA with her husband Jan and their two teenage daughters. RRC Volunteers Needed- So Much Fun! Bulloch Hall Gift Shop Volunteers at ChristKindl Market
Calling Rotarians to Volunteer... and Shop!!
Check out this video from a volunteer this past weekend! The holidays are here and Roswell Rotary is ready! As a partner in the Christkindlmarket now open in Roswell through Dec 24, Roswell Rotarians are needed to work the check out desk in the Bulloch Hall Gift Shoppe right next door to Bulloch Hall. Feel free to pass along to your spouse/partner/friend that you think might be interested. We ask that you sign up for a minimum of 2 shifts between Nov. 24th and Dec. 24th. It’s easy! It’s fun! It’s a great way to get involved. Partner up with a friend as 2 people are needed per shift. Click the link to sign up for your shifts. Remember this is a major project/fundraiser this year and we need you! Roswell Rotarians, use this link to sign up for a time slot to work at Bulloch Hall Gift Shoppe during the Christkindlmarket:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45A9AE2EA7F58-45476807-christkindlmarket Short Tour of Booths A Walk Around the ChristKindl Market
Check this Tour Video A quick peek at some of the booths at the market! Meet us under the Tent! Holiday Party December 8 at ChristkindlMarket
Annual Holiday Party is at the Christkindl Market at Bulloch Hall this year! Check out video of party venue. Very Cool! (Thanks Joe Mazzeo) - When: Friday, December 8th 6 pm
- Where: Christkindl Market at Bulloch Hall (Rotary will have a tent in the grass just to the right of the entrance with tables and chairs)
- Attire: Red Sweaters/ Casual- dress warm depending on weather
- Tickets: $30 per person or $50 per couple (any plus one)
- Includes: 2 alcoholic drinks per person and 1 food item per person (can purchase additional food and drinks at cost)
- Options include: many authentic German food vendors to choose from- sausage, schnitzel, potato pancakes, pretzels, desserts and many other substantial items!
- There will be a Biergarten set up serving beer and mulled wine!
- Vendors and shopping galore, music and pictures with Santa
- RSVP: on Rotary website and Tori will bill your account
- Pickup tickets in advance at Rotary meetings on Thursdays
North Fulton Community Charities Toyland Drive
Bring a smile to a child’s face this holiday season by donating toys and gift cards. Toyland Shop provides toys and gifts to local children in need at the holidays. At NFCC’s Toyland Shop, unwrapped, donated toys are arranged so parents can pick out their child’s holiday gifts. Last year, the program served more than 1300 children in our community! The Toyland Shop Toy Drive is collecting new, unwrapped toys for children from ages 0-18. Please do not forget to keep our teenage clients in your hearts this year. We often see less toys donated for this age group. The most popular items for teens continues to be gift cards. We are requesting gift cards in increments of $35 from major retailers such as Target, Walmart and Amazon.
Please bring an unwrapped toy or gift card to Rotary on December 7th. Invitational Success
The Rotary Veterans’ Appreciation Basketball Tournament 2023 was a fantastic success. Thanks to all who played and participated, with a 3 POINT SHOUT OUT TO LYNNE LINDSEY, DAVE YOUNG, and GENE BECKHAM for coordinating. Every year in November at Roswell High School your efforts at this Invitational support all our veteran programs: our Ft. Moore Bus Trip, Adopt-A-Platoon, Memorial Day activities, and more. Congratulations to Girl’s winner Midtown High School & Runner-up Riverwood High. Job well done! And congratulations to the Centennial team that went undefeated in the Boy’s Round Robin tournament. Go Knights! RRAH Celebrates the Holidays at Last Meeting of Year!Roswell Rotary After Hours will gather one more time in 2023 for a special holiday meeting! The club has "adopted a family" and each member has purchased a toy or two off of a local family's wish list to help brighten their holiday season. While all toys have been accounted for, the club is accepting additional donations to purchase grocery/ gas gift cards for the mom. Venmo Natalie at @Natalie-Cook-37 if you would like to contribute! Be sure to put "Roswell Rotary Adopt-A-Family" in the memo. Additionally, our very own John Connell's mother, Mary Margaret, will be the guest speaker! Having worked as both a criminal attorney and an advertising & marketing executive, Mary Margaret will share her unique "Top 10" careers tips. After the meeting, the club will have dinner at a local establishment! Location is TBD. AJC Covers RRAH's Brooke Foxman at the Suicide Prevention Walk
After Hours President Brooke Foxman grew up in the quiet enclave of Roswell, but, as she discovered, even suburbia isn’t immune to big city troubles. Foxman had three mutual childhood friends who took their lives, and the grief that followed for her and her younger brother was hard and confusing. “Unfortunately, from the time I was a freshman in high school until I was a junior in college, we lost a kid in our high school every single year,” said Foxman, now 25. “Mostly to suicide, unfortunately." The young professional signed up to help after hearing Lynn Prothero speak on the subject at a Roswell Rotary Club meeting. Prothero, also from Roswell, serves on the Georgia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). She invited others to join her in the fight for better mental health. Foxman has since become a leader with Georgia AFSP, serving on the Junior Board and the Board of Directors. Earlier this year, she helped to organize the chapter’s annual spring fundraiser, Party for Prevention, which raised more than $19,000 to support suicide prevention initiatives across the state. It was planned with Gen Z in mind — a band, an auction and a craft brewery location. The 20th Annual Atlanta Out of Darkness Community Walk, at Piedmont Park on Nov. 5, drew crowds of young professionals. The walks are planned each year by a group of dedicated suicide loss survivors, and raise money to help reduce the suicide rate in Georgia and bring hope to people impacted by suicide. Read the whole story here
Meet us at Jekyll Island Join Us in March-District Conference
Why attend the District conference? - Cool trip to Jekyll Island
- Meet Rotarians from other clubs
- Find out what is going on in our district
- Get to know your fellow Roswell Rotarians better
- Support our own Gorden Owens as he prepares for his role as District Governor in 2024
- Did someone say beach karaoke?
Register HERE before early bird price is gone! WHY should I go to District conference this year? CLICK HERE
Coming Up at RRC Save the Date: Making Roswell Rotary's Magic Happen
This is what earns Rotary such a great reputation...Service Above Self. Plan to attend many of these events...and think about bringing a friend or prospective new member. If you believe in Rotary's mission and recognize the value our club brings to our community and our world, then participate -- and share it with others! Events Chair 2023-24 Katie Tucker Christkindl Market November 24 - December 24
Hump Day at Lucky's Burgers & Brew December 6, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Add To Calendar Toyland Donations Dropoff December 7
Add To Calendar Caroling on Canton December 8, 5:00pm - 6:00pm (right before Party - Meet at the Vick) RRC Holiday Party December 8, 6pm - 10pm at Bulloch Hall
Add To Calendar Hump Day at Roswell Garden January 3, 6:00pm - 8:00 pm
Add To Calendar
No Meeting - Off for the Holiday January 4 Rotary Means Business January 16 TBD 2024 District Conference Jekyll Island March 21-24
Add To Calendar
Last week at Rotary
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