Rotary Year 1992 — 1993

Bob was the eighth person to serve as governor from the Atlanta Club. He applied the same energy and enthusiasm to the governor’s job that he has applied to all his interests and endeavors. Bob started the year with the announcement that the dress at all affairs at the District Conference would be casual beach attire - no more black ties and white coats. Also no more speakers tables with long and redundant introductions of head table dignitaries.

In July, 1992 a District Wide World Community Service Project was undertaken to equip a $40,000 research laboratory at the University of Moscow to help eradicate polio from the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union). With leadership from Ken Kirk of Marietta and matching funds from the Rotary Foundation, the project was successful.

In August the District encouraged clubs to reemphasize literacy, drug prevention and child immunization programs.

In September the Clayton County Club initiated RAAN, Rotary Aids Awareness Now, for which it was awarded RI’s Significant Achievement Award.

In October two new Rotoract Clubs were chartered - a community based club by Brookwood-Midtown and the West Georgia College Club by Carrollton, which had several GRSP students as founding members.

Beginning in the Fall, District Clubs responded to disaster relief appeals from South Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi Districts because of Hurricane Andrew. Subsequently they also responded to hurricane relief from Hawaii, tidal wave relief from Nicaragua, flood relief from France and war relief from Bosnia-Croatia.

A truck load of medical equipment was donated to the Griffin Club by two retiring physicians. Placement and transportation were arranged by District World Community Service Chair Dr. Sofia Crouch of Sandy Springs, a former GRSP student.

On November 24, the two year old Sylvester/Worth County Club showed its determination when it held its Governor’s visit meeting in spite of a tornado which touched down in the high school parking lot. Assistant School Superintendent Alan Grimsley was the Club President.

The East Point Club capped 1992 with its impressive Four Way Test High School program awards ceremony at Tri-Cities High school.

On January 17, 1993 the D6900 Group Study Exchange Team led by Buckhead’s John Thames went to Bangladesh for a month long visit. The D3280 Bangladesh Team returned the visit in April. Both Teams and the 1992 D6900 Team to Brazil all attended the District Conference at Jekyll Island.

DeKalb County proclaimed the week of February 8 - 12, 1993 Teacher Appreciation Week sponsored by Rotary Clubs of DeKalb County who presented apples. Rotary book marks and “I Care” (drug awareness) cards to all DeKalb teachers.

March brought both bad and good GRSP news. Hughenin (Hue) Thomas, Jr. Chairman of the unique Georgia Rotary Student Program for 35 years, died at age 86. And Gordon College chose as their Homecoming Queen, Anne Graves, a GRSP student from Norway sponsored by the Bamesville and Thomaston/Upson County Clubs. She did not know what it meant when chosen. Her roommates supplied an evening gown and hair-do.

In April the Americus Club and Georgia Southwestern College announced that they would host a RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program for D6900 so that our students would not have to be sent to RYLA in D6910 or D6920 after 1993. The theme for the District Conference, chaired by Thome Flagler of the Atlanta Club, was “The Magic of Rotary - A Pirate’s Trove”. The informal dress code prevailed and was enjoyed by all. Highlights included Pres. Cliff’s Representative, former RI VP Keith Burnham, a rum party for incoming DG Bill Stubbs featuring a pirate ship entrance by the Peachtree City Club, entertainment by magician Bill Clary and a concert by Mac Frampton, Sen. Paul Coverdell and inspiration by Dr. Tom Haggai, recognition of Best All-Around Clubs Marietta-Metro, West End and Clayton County, and a record attendance of 1,051.

A sad note, PDG John W. Sheffield of Americus died at age 87 in May.

On a high note, Northlake was recipient of an RI Significant Achievement Award in recognition of their sponsorship of four Interact Clubs. And Tyrone was sponsored by Peachtree City, Fayetteville and South Fulton clubs as a Provisional Rotary Club (later established as D6900’s 62nd club.)

Capping a wonderful Rotary year was the RI Convention in Melbourne, Australia where the red coats of President Cliff Dochterman were replaced by the blue blazers of Pres. Elect Robert W. Barth of Switzerland.