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Pawsitivity Partnership Seal
March 25, 2026

Meetings

March is Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Month

3/30 Kyle Waide, President & CEO, Atlanta Community Food Bank
4/6 Griff Lynch. President and CEO, Georgia Ports Authority
4/13 No Meeting After Foundation Benefit
4/16 District Conference - April 16 - 19
4/17 District Conference - April 16 - 19
4/18 District Conference - April 16 - 19
4/19 District Conference - April 16 - 19
4/20 Katharine Kelley. CEO, Buckhead Coalition

Events

3/27 Ansley School Egg Hunt and Games at Piedmont Park
3/31 Order Your Buckhead Rotary Polo - Lowest Price!
4/4 Healthy Pet Event as part of the Pawsitivity Partnership with LifeLine
4/4 Healthy Pet Event as part of the Pawsitivity Partnership with LifeLine
4/9 Preview Live Auction Trip: Gems of Northern Italy Luxury Experience
4/11 2026 Buckhead Rotary Foundation Benefit
4/18 Pawsitivity Partnership with Buckhead Rotarians Delivering Pet Food with Open Hand
4/20 Board of Directors Meeting

Our Rotary Family
BIRTHDAYS

3/5 Carol Gray Walker
3/10 Geoffrey Beakley
3/13 Mary O'Brien
3/13 Garth Peters
3/15 Carl Wilhjelm
3/16 Julia Chabannes
3/17 Brandon Smith
3/23 Tayen Hazqiyal
3/24 Timothy Bresnahan
3/26 Jimmy Paulk
3/27 Alec Smythe
3/29 Molly Guenther

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

3/26 Mark Meltzer (10)

Rotary Online

https://buckheadrotary.com
https://rotary6900.org/
https://rotary.org/

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LEADERSHIP

President Shelley Hammell
President-Elect Jeff Clark, Jr.
Immediate PP Denise Starling
Vice President Jeff Clark, Jr.
Treasurer Radu Zernoveanu
Secretary Michael Stimpert
Public Image Mark Meltzer
Sergeant-at-Arms Garth Peters

President's Message: 75 Years of Service Above Self

What a heartwarming celebration as we marked our 75th anniversary together, bringing generations of members, from longtime friends to those just joining our Buckhead Rotary family. We are especially grateful to our past presidents for their leadership and dedication, which have helped shape our club into the vibrant and thriving community it is today.

Together Buckhead Rotary has accomplished so much over the years.

Hosted 74 GRSP students from 32 countries with contributions reaching $333k since 1986

Donated $22k+ to the Polio Plus efforts

Accrued $2.6+ M in Buckhead Rotary Foundation

30% of members are women

Thank you to everyone who shared their memory on our board. Please send any of your Buckhead Rotary memories to Shelley Hammell for sharing. Here are just a few memories that were already collected.

“I remember hosting my first GRSP student, a young man from Honduras. What a cool experience that was.” Mark Meltzer

“There are so many. Rotarians walked with me in happy times and low ones. I knew I was not alone!” Anonymous

“I was the first chairman of Polio Plus in 12/73. I was one of the first supporters of women in Rotary (even when some of our members quit).” David Bockel Sr.

“One of my favorite memories is sitting next to Andrew Young at the 2000 holiday luncheon at Cherokee!” Catherine Land-Waters

“I remember my very first meeting and being so impressed with our speakers and all the friendly members. Nine years later, I am still impressed – all the great people!” Kathy Finn

“Buckhead Rotary made things possible I couldn’t dream of. An incredible organization with incredible people.” Anonymous

Here’s to honoring our legacy and looking ahead to the next 75 years together.




March 27: Easter Egg Hunt Volunteers Needed

Ansley School Egg Hunt and Games at Piedmont Park 

RSVP HERE! 

March 27, 2026 10:30 am— 2:00 pm

Returning for it’s second year, the Easter Egg Hunt in Piedmont Park for the children at the Boyce Ansley School, a Signature Project of our club. Join us on Friday, March 27. We need volunteers who can help with the egg hunt and games, distributing the lunches, and making sure the kids have a great time. We’ll be hosting about 100 children, and they’ll be joined by the school faculty and staff.

Please be at the park by 10:30 if possible. The first group of children will arrive at 11 am, and the event will end at 2 pm, though some of us will need to stay around to pick up any trash. If you can’t stay for the entire time, come for whatever time you are available. We’ll have lunches for everyone.

In the event of rain, we’ll have the event at the school, and we’ll send out alternate directions. This is a family-friendly event. Please go to the calendar and sign up. And join us for 15 minutes after the March 23rd meeting to help stuff the plastic eggs with candy.

Contact Jimmy Paulk with any questions – JimmyPaulk@Yahoo.com or 917-213-8915.



Monday, March 30: Kyle Waide, President, Atlanta Community Food Bank

We've had tremendous turn out at our meetings! Please remember to RSVP and register your guests. We have a fantastic meal at Maggiano's and we want to make sure everyone has a seat and lunch. 

RSVP HERE

Need to join by Zoom, click the link below.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87941219913?pwd=S15RIBjTE1TRk1NaDRNa3hTcmphUT09#success Password: 485257

Invocation: Fotemah Mba

Sunshine: Bryanne Wainford

Rotary Club of Buckhead
Maggiano’s Little Italy
3368 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30326



Join Us for a Preview of Gems of Northern Italy luxury experience and a Wine Tasting

Step into the flavors and charm of Northern Italy at an intimate evening gathering for members and their guests on Thursday, April 9, hosted at Karla Arriola’s home. This special event offers an exclusive, first-hand preview of one of the premier live auction items featured in our upcoming Foundation Benefit.

Members and their guests will be introduced to the Gems of Northern Italy luxury experience—an unforgettable journey through Lake Como, Valtellina, and the Swiss Alps. Come learn more about this one‑of‑a‑kind, all‑inclusive trip, while enjoying a guided wine tasting featuring selections from the Italian family’s own vineyard.

If you’ve ever dreamed of an extraordinary travel experience, this is your chance to learn what makes this trip truly one-of-a-kind before it goes to the auction block. Come savor exceptional wines, connect with fellow members, and discover what makes this experience such a special part of our upcoming Foundation Benefit live auction.

Space is limited, RSVP HERE! Salute! 

Pawsitivity Partnership with LifeLine and Open Hand was a Dog-gone Success

Another delivery day in the books with helping families in need. We delivered to a total of 62 families which included 51bags of dog food and 20 bags of cat food. 

Thank you Kari for helping to organize the routes, along with our delivery teams of Jim Coleman and Family, Radu and his work colleagues, Kathy Finn, Garth Peters, Fernando Torres, Michael Stimpert, and Sam Alston & Ellen.

Please join us for the next delivery date on Saturday April 18th, RSVP HERE


2026 Buckhead Rotary Foundation Benefit

The biggest night of the year is almost here, the Buckhead Rotary Benefit, honoring Gary and Tia Stokan, is less than a month away!

This special evening is our only annual fundraiser, providing the critical funds that empower us to support all our club’s charitable efforts throughout the year.

If you plan to attend, you must register no later than Monday, April 6th at: https://buckheadrotary.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/2026BuckheadRotaryFoundationBenefit/RegistrationTickets/tabid/1568572/Default.aspx

Please consider becoming a patron sponsor, we have two levels available, pick the one that is right for you: https://buckheadrotary.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/2026BuckheadRotaryFoundationBenefit/Sponsorships/tabid/1568573/Default.aspx

or Scan the QR Code 


Polo Shirts Available! Order Here

We are taking orders for Buckhead Rotary branded polo shirts. They are $43.52 for either the men’s or women's and will be embroidered with the Buckhead logo on the upper left side of the shirt.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS AND PLACE YOUR ORDER!

These high-quality dry FIT fabric polos can be worn to our volunteer events or anywhere around town to proudly display you are a Buckhead Rotarian. You need to act now and place your order at https://buckheadrotary.org/event/9354 . March 31st is the last day to order. Don’t wait to the last minute, order today.






Thirsty ThirdsDay Turnout was Music to our Ears

A big thank you to Ben and Claire Bowen for opening your beautiful home for our latest Thirsty Thirdsday. It was a special evening filled with delicious food, lively conversation, and plenty of laughter. The highlight of the night? Our talented piano player, who took us on a musical journey across the decades, reminding some of us just how many decades we’ve actually lived through.

Special thanks to Cathy LaMon for organizing the fantastic food, to Lee Hester Rhodes for the beverages, and to Maggie O’Brien for bravely navigating traffic to make sure the food arrived safe, sound, and still tasting good. All in all, a wonderful night with even better people building better fellowship.


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