Georgia Rotary Student Program - Hosting GRSP Leadership Weekend

In January, 2017, our club hosted 46 International students for our annual GRSP Leadership Weekend over the MLK Weekend. This event partnered with our sister clubs and GRSP, began on Friday, January 14 with a visit to the Center for Civil and Humane Rights, followed by a Family of Rotary evening diner event at Sling Shot. Our sister clubs include the Rotary Club of Atlanta, Rotary Club of Brookhaven, Rotary Club of Buckhead, and the Rotary Club of North Atlanta. Then, on the following Saturday, the GRSP students were hosted at Oglethorpe University by Past President Larry Hart, for a lecture series entitled "Fierce Conversations." In the afternoon, we hosted a Stop Hunger Now Project event that brought together the GRSP Students, many of our club members, Rataract, Family of Rotary Student hosts and District 6900 North Atlanta Weekend Partners, volunteering to package approximately 10,000 meals that feed a family for a week internationally.

That evening, all enjoyed home hosted dinners, where the 26 families hosting the 46 GRSP students attending this weekend, gathered at four Rotary homes for fun and fellowship. Then, on Sunday, the Atlanta Rataract Club coordinated an exercise for GRSP students similar to "Shark Tank."

A portion of our District Grant supported the Stop Hunger Now Project. We accomplished this weekend project with approximately 25 Rotary host family volunteers and 160 volunteer hours.

Total funds spent for the project was $13,633. That amount was raised from: a District Grant ($1,500), 5 clubs participating (Buckhead $1,000, Brookhaven $1,000, Atlanta $3,478 and Decatur $500 and North Atlanta $500) , GRSP ($2,500) and RCD ($3,155).

Our goal - to make this "the best weekend ever."