On Saturday, February 8 at 7:30 am, when we started setting up the Rotary Club of Alpharetta’s second Annual Polar Bear Plunge, the air was cold and dry. At 9:00 am, the first tiny snowflakes began tumbling past my face. The weather forecast that morning called for a light dusting in the North Georgia mountains without accumulation. After 30 years in Atlanta, I’ve learned that a light dusting is forecaster code for a snow apocalypse or at least blizzard conditions.

By 10:00 am, with over 30 Jumpers ready to take the plunge for charity, we had over two inches of snow with more fat, moist flakes falling. What proceeded to unfold was a Polar Bear Plunge of epic dimensions. Notable Jumpers included Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin, District 6900 Governor-Elect Kirk Driskell, Club President Will Daniel, and Alpharetta’s favorite K9 Team, Sargent Mark Tappan and Mattis.

By the end of the morning, with a pulled-pork competition assembling in the pool parking lot, our club had raised over $45,000 for the following charities: North Fulton Community Charities, Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation, Lionheart Works, BrewAble, Family Promise, Stand Up For Kids, Atlanta Dream Center, Roswell Fire/PD Program, Vision Warriors, Rotary Foundation and Angels Among Us. Special thanks to Rotarian Casey Robinson and the City of Alpharetta for organization and facility donation.

This year we added the “Cook Your Butts Off” pulled-pork championship to the plunge. Thirteen teams provided samples of taste-bud tantalizing smoked pork. Several Rotarians took part in the competition including, Paul Ray, Scott French, Paul Slavik, Tom Kent, Bill Woulfin, Charlie Schuetz, Matt Williams, and Christopher Mayer. First, Second and Third Place prizes were awarded. So not only did we enjoy watching people jump in freezing waters in a snowstorm for charity, we left with full bellies. God Bless America!

D6900 Editor's Note: DGE Kirk Driskell was "kidnapped" by his club from District Leadership Training at Avalon to participate in the plunge that Saturday morning. Kidnappers included Past President Robin McIntire disguised as a polar bear! When Kirk returned to the meeting, he told us Alpharetta would be happy to share all the details for this easy fund-raiser with other clubs!