Happy Holidays & New Year!

Sharing The Magic Over The Holidays

By Gordon Owens

I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season and the new year is off to a great start. December was certainly a special time of year as our clubs shared the magic of Rotary through projects like the jingle jog fundraiser, holiday ham haul for first responders, shop with a cop, Salvation Army bell ringing, presents from Santa for children in need and teaching our youth the Giving Side of Christmas.  It was a pleasure to get to participate in many of these and a personal highlight was getting to play Santa to hand out presents with the Jackson-Butts Club. These are just a few of the ways in which our clubs had a positive impact in their communities during the holidays. I look forward to seeing all the amazing ways in which our clubs continue to share the Magic of Rotary throughout 2025, Happy New Year!
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2023-2024 Annual Report

John Hewko Shares Our Annual Report

By André Marria

We are building a healthier, more resilient, and more peaceful world. I invite you to be among the first to read about the difference we’re making together in our 2023-24 annual report. We have reason to celebrate. More than 400 million children were vaccinated against polio in 2023, with the support of Rotary and our polio eradication partners. We also have much to be thankful for and to hope for in the future. Our donors contributed more than US$417 million in gifts and commitments, and we awarded US$82 million in total funding to more than 1,200 global grants.

The stories about our impact and supporters, alongside the financial information, in this year’s report testify to the strength of our partnership. I have confidence in the good the Rotary community will continue to achieve together, locally and globally. [more]

April 24-27, 2024 | Jekyll Island, GA

Register For District Conference

By Ryan Swertfager

We hope you've booked your hotel room for our first-ever joint district conference by now as there are only a few rooms left in our block. Now it's time to get registered. Registration will include meals from lunch on Friday to breakfast on Sunday, our beach tailgate party on Friday afternoon, live entertainment on Saturday night and a few adult beverages along the way. We are using DACdb for registration and most of you don't have a login, so click on the "Guest Registration" tab at the top of the registration form to get started. Visit GeorgiaUnitedDC.com for more information.
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Our Rotary Foundation

Take a New Look at the Rotary Foundation

By Bob Hagan

Greetings and Happy New Year from your District Foundation Chair! It seems only fitting that as it is a new year, I should send this month’s message to New Rotarians. We tend to get so caught up in the business of Rotary that we sometimes forget that not everyone, particularly our newer members, might not be as familiar with all the functions as they would like. So, this month I want to focus on the History of the Foundation specifically. Therefore, if you are a seasoned Rotarian, you can take this month’s message off. However, before you do, I might point to this month’s quote. [more]

Tour the Canadian Rockies | June 26-July 2, 2025

Post Rotary International Convention Tour

By Chris Archer

The Rotary International convention is June 21-25th, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta. Don’t miss the chance to visit highlights of the Canadian Rockies and the great resorts while in the area! Plus spend July 1st in Canada as the country celebrates Canada Day – and still be home for July 4th celebrations. It’s a win-win! Check out the full itinerary and contact Chris Archer if you are interested in joining fellow Rotarians on this amazing trip.
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Freezing For A Reason | Saturday, February 1

Have you taken the Plunge? Anyone can!

By Paul Ray

The Polar Bear Plunge 2025 is very close, but there is still plenty of time for YOU to raise some serious money! This is the absolute easiest way to raise funds for any charity you support.  Does your Rotary Club or other organization you support need to raise money?  On February 1, 2025 the Rotary Club of Alpharetta will host a ready-made fundraiser just for you! We are Freezin’ for a Reason! Our 8th annual Polar Bear Plunge lets you create your own team, raise funds, take the “plunge”, and get a check! Last year the average team earned around $5000.00! The sky is the limit for you, so start a team today! You do not need to come to Alpharetta to participate. You can plunge in whatever body of water near you. Last year we had teams in Utah and Brazil.   The sooner you start, the more funds you will raise.

Start a team today to get those end-of-year charitable donations. Scan the QR code in the flyer and get started. [more]

Take Action to Secure Your Rotary Legacy

By Lee Hollingsworth

Children perform for visitors at the Mollejones Community Center in Costa Rica. In partnership with CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza), a group of women living near Turrialba, Costa Rica, launched an ecotourism cooperative to attract visitors and grow their community-based tourism businesses. Members of Rotary clubs in Cartago, Costa Rica, and in Denton, Texas, USA, partnered with CATIE to support the project through a Rotary Foundation global grant.

He believed he would get better, but the medical clinic didn’t have the resources to help him — Rotary did.
They knew clean water could be captured from the spring year-round, if only they had the engineering know-how — Rotary does.
She knew she could make a difference for others, if only someone believed in her enough to help with her education — Rotary will.

Learn how an at-demise commitment, completely revocable, of as little as $25,000 can secure Naming Rights on a perpetual endowment to support the good work of Rotary. Honor yourself, your family or your most important life influence? Email District 6900 Major Gifts Chair, Lee Hollingsworth at lee@leehollingsworth.com to learn more.
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Rotavette.com

Don't Miss Your Chance To Win!

By Will Daniel

The Rotavette Raffle is a great opportunity to help us raise money for the Rotary Annual Fund from outside of our membership. Everyone has a friend, neighbor or family member who is a car guy, that would love a 1 in 3000 chance to win a Corvette C8. Asking "that guy" to buy a $100 raffle ticket is a much easier ask, than saying, "will you give $100 to our Rotary Foundation." The money we raise this year, will come back to us in 3 years in the form District Designated Funds to support community grant, competitive grant and global grant projects. The more we raise, the more impact we will have in the future. Thanks for helping us share this fun opportunity to support the Annual Fund.
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January 15th, 2025 | 1PM

Join A Special Mega Meeting On Peacebuilding

By Gordon Owens

Join us in a special Rotary Mega-Meeting and Podcast with The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. This is a unique opportunity to meet the team educating youth to follow in the footsteps of Nobel-Prize winning President Jimmy Carter. Space is limited and seats are filling up fast, so please register now at: Mega-Meeting.com.

We will be joined by Charles E. Davidson, Ph.D. who directs the school’s Center for Peace Technology and heads the Rotary/Carter School Collaboration for Peace. ​ “For decades, the Carters tirelessly walked in the shoes of the people they strived to empower, transforming countless lives in the process,” Davidson says.  “We teach our students to identify the underlying causes of conflict and equip them with the cutting-edge theory and practical skills to put their knowledge into action, whether that be at the local, national, or global level.” [more]

In Memoriam

Remembering Four Rotarians Who Served Our District Well

By Jackie Cuthbert

In the last quarter of 2024, Rotary District 6900 lost four fine Rotarians who meant a lot to their clubs and the district.

Steve … [more]

RYLA

Start Thinking About RYLA 2025!

By Jaclyn Donovan

It’s a new year and that means it’s time to start thinking about RYLA!! Not that we ever really stop thinking about RYLA… but now we can say that RYLA is happening This Year!!RYLA 2025 will be held June 7-11 on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University. Cost per student is $500, and this covers all necessary expenses related to attending RYLA. For any students riding our charter buses from the Atlanta area, there is an additional $50/per student cost.

RYLA 2025 will be held June 7-11 on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University. Cost per student is $500, and this covers all necessary expenses related to attending RYLA. For any students riding our charter buses from the Atlanta area, there is an additional $50/per student cost.

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GRSP Update

Meet João Vilela, Class of 2024-25

By Katheryne Fields

João Victor Verçosa Vilela, 21 from Brazil, says that Rotary International’s ideals, with an emphasis on service projects, international goodwill and cultural understanding, resonate deeply with his personal and professional objectives. He is attending Mercer University and since his arrival, this future diplomat has embraced his time at Mercer by being invited to take part on a reading group about Benjamin Franklin, being part of the Model Arab League, sharing his country’s culture with other students and most recently nominated to a conference in California.  [more]

In Memoriam

Past District Governor Steve Stanfield

By Bob Hagan

Because of the tremendous influence PDG Steve Stanfield had on District 6900 over the last several decades, it is hard to know where to begin to celebrate the man. Therefore, I believe the best way is to start at the beginning. Born February 19, 1947, Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Stanfield spent 21 years honorably serving his country and was Honorably Discharged in 1990.

PDG Steve joined the Rotary Club of Americus attaining his Blue Badge on August 1, 1993. He had an immediate impact at the District level, as he was instrumental in creating the Sheffield Leadership Award in 1994. The prestigious award is presented annually to District 6900 Club Presidents by size category who best exemplify the extraordinary leadership traits represented by the Sheffield family. [more]

Told By Senator John Albers

The Star Spangled Banner

By Nancy Alterman

Roswell Rotarian, Senator John Albers worked with his home club to help produce a video to share with the 13 Interact Clubs they sponsor about the history of The Star Spangled Banner. The video turned out awesome and there is no reason to keep it a secret or to only use it for Roswell Rotary. Any club that would like to share the video with their Interact Clubs or other school organizations they partner with, feel free. You can watch the video on YouTube and share it from there. Enjoy!
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Buckhead Rotary Ham Haul

Delivering Holiday Meals To First Responders

By Denise Starling

Buckhead Rotary brought back the holiday tradition of delivering Honey Baked hams, sides and pies to fire and police stations across Dekalb County this Christmas Eve. A small but mighty team help organize all the meals into a single bag making it easy for volunteers to pick up their assigned deliveries. Club members in partnership with Livable Buckhead and other community organizations made quick work of making the first responders working on Christmas Day merry and bright. We had a total of 48 volunteers who served 51 dinners to approximately 60 police and 185 fire fighters. There were approximately 150 hours of service logged for the event…Good will and better friendships created and it was definitely beneficial to all concerned! The club got awesome media coverage with most major news outlets featuring the story during their broadcast and online. All in, they reached an audience of over 225,000 people with the Magic of Rotary. Check out this video from 11 Alive News.
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RLI

Be Part of RLI in Thomasville - February 1

By Tracy Van Norman

Club News

Atlanta Southern Crescent Gives "Gift of Giving"

By Claudia Mertl

• Kinship Care, an organization created by the Clayton County government for grandparents and others caring for grandchildren
• the Clayton County Parks and Recreation Department.

Our Rotary Foundation at Work

Griffin Builds Handicapped Ramps with Competitive Grant

By Janice Wallace

The Rotary Club of Griffin has utilized a Rotary District Competitive Grant to construct a few handicapped ramps, including this one which significantly improves accessibility for a local family’s child with mobility challenges.  Collaboration was a key component of this initiative. The Rotary Club of Griffin partnered with Griffin Habitat for Humanity, fostering a sense of communal responsibility and engagement.  Members of the Rotary Club of Griffin got their hands dirty, constructing the ramp themselves for the family in need in Griffin. [more]

In Memoriam

Neill Ferrill, RC Vinings Cumberland

By Thomas House

In May 2022, beloved Rotarian and past president of Vinings Cumberland Rotary Club, Neill Ferrill, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor. For 29 months he showed incredible strength participating in clinical trials, numerous rounds of chemo, radiation, and 7 brain surgeries. He continued to attend his Rotary meetings until almost the very end.  His wife, Robin, would drive him to meetings and was his biggest cheerleader.  Neill passed away peacefully in her arms in November. Neill will be remembered for his infectious smile and his quick wit. He believed in giving back to others, finding joy and gratitude in your present blessings, setting goals and working hard, making the most of every opportunity, and cherishing time spent with those you love. He will be greatly missed by so many including his Vinings Cumberland Rotary Club family. [more]

Club News

Griffin Daybreak Celebrates December

By Debby Daniel-Bryant

Rotary District Governor Gordon Owens visited with Griffin Daybreak Rotary and shared his vision of the theme, the Magic of Rotary, in which Rotarians around the district do what they can to help communities locally and around the world. Pictured with DG Owens is Daybreak President Dylan Blasingame. In addition, Daybreak Rotarians helped … [more]

Club News

Rotary Club of Columbus Partners with Salvation Army to Spread Holiday Cheer

By LeighAnn Dicesaris

The Rotary Club of Columbus joined forces with the Salvation Army to ring in the holiday season and support the community through the annual Red Kettle Campaign. A dedicated group of 29 Rotary members volunteered their time and energy, spreading cheer with warm smiles and the familiar sound of ringing bells. Thanks to their efforts and the generosity of the Columbus community, a total of $729.66 was raised. This included $328.34 collected at Hobby Lobby and $401.32 at Walmart Grocery. The funds will help provide food, shelter, and essential services for individuals and families in need, ensuring that hope and joy shine brightly in Columbus during the holidays. [more]

Club News

Atlanta Southern Crescent/Clifton-Emory Satellite Collects Winter Coats

By Angeli Abrol Duggal

This fall, charter founder Yamin Farhat, President of the Rotary Satellite Club of Atlanta Southern Crescent/Clifton-Emory (RSCASC/CE) Angeli Abrol Duggal, and Angeli’s five year old daughter, Avya Duggal, led the Club's winter service project to collect winter coats and clothes for Atlantans in need. Rtn. Neil Shorthouse from Atlanta West End Rotary, and a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, helped RSCASC/CE partner with St. Luke's, and Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch, a supportive, community-focused leader, helped Avya partner with Director Judi Carlson at Malachi Storehouse, St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, to mobilize the distribution of coats and clothing. Together, the Club was able to donate over 800 articles of clothing and 60 baby and expectant/new mom essentials this fall! [more]