Rotary Year 1996 — 1997

The Rotary International President was Luis Vicente Giay, Arrecifes, Argentina, and the theme he selected was “Build the Future with Action and Vision.”

Governor Bill started his year with the innovation of the Lieutenant Governor program. This program was designed to aid the governor, but more importantly was designed to help clubs during the year with problems or opportunities when the governor was not available.

The program was adapted from a pilot program conducted in four other districts across the U.S. The Lieutenant Governors are now called Assistant Governors and the program is called The District Leadership Program. With 69 clubs and almost five thousand members (1999-2000), this program has been a big help in our district.

Bill also held the first Past District Governor’s Council at Callaway Gardens on Superbowl weekend. The purpose of this social retreat was to review the district’s progress, make suggestions to the leadership and to have fellowship with other Past District Governors. The Council of Governors retreat was enjoyed by all members and is continuing with the 4th annual council meeting in January 2000.

Bill had the honor of being Governor during the Summer Olympics held in Atlanta in July 1996. Under the leadership of PDG Bill Stubbs, Buckhead Club, and with the aid of Rotarian Ken Ingram, LaGrange Club, and Curtis Henson, Jackson-Butts County Club, and many other hard working Rotarians from District 6900, 6910 and 6920, a house of friendship was opened from July 10 to August 5, 1996 to assist and be a source of information for Rotarians around the world while attending the ceremonies. Due to this leadership, not only was the house of friendship a success for this venture, but we raised over $100,000 for The Rotary Foundation. For his vision and action in this program, PDG Bill Stubbs was chosen as the District’s Rotarian of the Year. Billy Payne, who was the spark for the Olympics coming to Atlanta, was presented with a Paul Harris Fellow for his dedication and hard work.

The 50th anniversary of the GRSP was celebrated at the conclave in Thomasville, Georgia on October 11-13, 1996. It was a special celebration with great food and fellowship hosted by the Thomasville Club. Eighty-one students from around the world were in our state that year. “Bringing Nations Together Since 1946” was our theme. At this conclave, long time chairman Ronnie Waller resigned and Greg Adams from the Thomasville Club was named chairman.

District 6900 contributed $179,410 to the GRSP Endowment for this year.

The 1996 Rotary Institute of Zones 33 & 34 was held in November at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. In attendance were District Governor Bill Foster, DGN Bill Mulkey, PDG Barry Smith, PDG Bill Stubbs and PDG Dan Reed.

District 6900 contributed a record of $343,495 to the Rotary Foundation. Out of that amount $260,545 was directed to the Annual Giving Fund. The district had 453 new Paul Harris Fellows, 142 new Paul Harris Sustaining Members, 67 new Benefactors and 2 new Major Donors for The Rotary Foundation. The district had 2 Ambassadorial Scholarships. We had two Group Study Exchange teams, with one traveling to South Africa, District 9210 and one to Mexico, District 4150.

With the help and leadership of Extension Chairman PDG Hal Barton, Bill chartered 3 new clubs. West Cobb, sponsored by Marietta and Marietta Metro, chartered on September 11, 1996; Carrollton Dawn Breakers, sponsored by Carrollton, chartered December 13, 1996 and Griffin Daybreak, sponsored by Griffin, chartered May 7, 1997. The 40th annual District Conference, under the dedicated leadership of Governor Bill and District Conference Chairman Don Stout, East Cobb Club, was held at Jekyll Island on April 25-27, 1997. The theme was “Georgia on my Mind.” The conference had a record attendance of 1,171 registered Rotarians and family members and 62 out of 64 clubs were represented. The RI President’s Representative was Harold L. Child from Grand Rapids, Michigan, District 6290. PDG Bill Stubbs was recognized with Rotary International’s “Service Above Self Award.”

RYLA was held in Americus and hosted by the Americus Club for the 4th consecutive year at Georgia Southwestern State University.

The year came to a close in Glasgow, Scotland at the International Convention, where William M. “Bill” Mulkey from the Dunwoody Club was elected to serve as the 1997-1998 District Governor.

It was another great year for our district as we built Rotary’s future with our action and our vision.