As member folks around the district look forward to the beginning of another school year, I do too! I'm lucky enough to be working and making visits, although it takes up the time I would have in the evenings to explore a little more it is my commitment to serving our student population at Augusta University. So my visits to clubs will be more of the "local" day trips. It was GREAT to be home on Monday at the Rotary Club of Augusta. This club is very special to me for many reasons besides being on the Augusta clubs. Many Rotarians in this club have been mentors to me, lead by example, and are just as passionate about service and foundation as I am. Not too mention several of the members of this club are also part of the Augusta University community which I love!
The Rotary Club of Augusta is led by Jennifer Pennington. Jennifer is the Director for Red Cross. She is involved with service every day of her life. Jennifer and members of her board met with me before the club meeting and I learned some new things about members that I've known for awhile. They are one of the clubs that have already reached their 100% Paul Harris Fellow designation but continue to support the foundation. I was honored to present two new Paul Harris Fellow pins to two special members. This club sponsors so many things in our community and has a heart for service. They support the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library which is very close to my heart. What an amazing club. So much Rotary history and a club full of life! Thank you for the contribution to Polio Plus in honor of my visit!
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| Rotary Club of Augusta |
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I had the honor of presenting Susan with her first Paul Harris Fellow pin and
Ed with his Paul Harris Fellow +2 pin. |
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I'm a walker instead of behind the podium presenter.
Yes, Dr. Keel (Augusta University President) right up front and
yes I am very proud to represent not only Augusta but our institution! |
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| Checking to make sure all is good! The club's GRSP student helped take the group photo. |
It was back to work after the Augusta visit to get some things done before I did hit the road. It was not until 7 when I was able to get on the road and head to Waycross. I was looking forward to this club meeting. There is really not an easy way to get to Waycross from Augusta, all back roads. I was able to see some of it but missed a large portion since it was dark.
The Rotary Club of Waycross meets at a locally owned restaurant, Jerry's J's Country Cafe. The board was a great mix of Rotarians. Something about this club that was noticeable was many of the members wore these beautiful blue polo shirts with their club name. I LOVE when a club brands itself. They did a great public image campaign with a newspaper ad, brochures, Be My Guest cards, and their handbook. They had two visitors and I was told after the meeting they wanted to join. One of the visitors came up to me and I enjoyed our conversation. He is the local commander for the Salvation Army. They are working on becoming 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club.
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| Rotary Club of Waycross |
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| Newspaper ad for the club - GREAT public image piece |
It was time to get on the road and head back to Augusta! It was an interesting drive home since I was able to see where I was going. There were several things I took photos of and wanted to share.
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| There is even a road sign - Lightsey Lane |
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| A church sitting next to another...... |
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| Churches |
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| Some interesting homes along the way |
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| Welcome to Surrency |
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| Outside the entrance of someone's farm - on the left side of the entrance |
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| On the right side of the entrance |
It was back home to take care of a few work-related items and start making my notes for the next visit. I would be heading to Jefferson County on Wednesday.
This club I've visited several times as my term as Assistant Governor/Georgia Rotary Student Program Trustee to share students, upcoming events, and various presentations. The Rotary Club of Jefferson County may be small but they are contributing to so many areas of the community. They have an ENGAGED president that is excited to serve Rotary. One of our Alumni from the university also belongs in this club. He is a young member with small children in his family but has been involved in the club for a little while now. I was excited to see this! If you are in Louisville, Georgia, you need to stop by Foster's Restaurant for lunch! GREAT group of Rotarians! Thank you Assistant Governor Liz for taking the photo!
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| Rotary Club of Jefferson County |
I posted on Facebook my check-in and received a comment from David at Broken Shackle Ranch that I should stop by since I was really close. I had time to do that after the meeting before my travel to Statesboro. I did decide to spend the night in Statesboro, since the next meeting was my first breakfast club at 7am! After the meeting with Jefferson County, on the way to Broken Shackle Ranch. I had no clue what I was about to experience. I had a pie to deliver from the Rotary club as well.
Broken Shackle Ranch has existed for over 30 years and has had over 8000 young men through its doors. The Ranch is part of a process that shows young men what a family is all about! There is love, expectations, and responsibility. They are changing lives of so many from around our state and that is why it was so important to give back to them since they have been so freely giving to others. I walked the Ranch with David Cobb and he took me to each area. I met some young men from all over that were very polite and all of them were busy learning something. They were either in school or learning their trade. I was also able to share with David that we will have another grant comprised of clubs district money to use to purchase more needed items. Can't wait to share with you what was in the semi we sent to the ranch. Can you imagine going through 100 rolls of toilet paper a week? That is just at main ranch. I left the main location and headed to Statesboro. David was heading to Statesboro later that day and said he would lvoe to show me the new campus there. And I DID! WOW!
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| Floors are repurposed for the main house. |
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| Cabinet being built by the young men. |
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| Welding shop |
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| GED classroom, Carpentry, and Automotive shop at the other end. |
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| Welding shop at Broken Shackle Ranch |
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| New campus in Statesboro |
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| What an amazing view for young men to heal! |
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| How would you like this as your view!?! |
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| These hills made a perfect slip'n'slide for the guys! |
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| Main home at the Statesboro Campus |
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| Firepit at Broken Shackle Ranch, Davisboro |
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| Inside welding shop, Davisboro |
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| Broken Shackle Ranch, Davisboro |
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| Main house at Broken Shackle Ranch, Davisboro |
Clubs packed a semi that was sent to the ranch from the All Star Seminar contributed:
Pillows 60, Paper towels 668, Toilet paper 1131, Sheets 61, Blanket 21, Tooth paste 435,
Bar soap 631, Body soap 350, Shaving cream 132, Toothbrush 757, Deodorant 233 sticks,
Razors 2000, Mini soaps 20lbs, Mini shampoos 140lbs. Clean supplies 100 bottles, Floss 550,
Combs brushes 575, Mouth wash 50 large bottles, safety glasses 165, pairs Socks 466, Pairs Boxers 221, pairs Shirts packs 50, SunTrust shirts 26, Onion festival shirts 162, and Button shirts 30
WOW!!! Thank you to the clubs of District 6920! If you haven't had them as a program yet, call them and have them tell you a little bit about their ranch! You can have club members bring toilet paper to send back with David. I had dinner with David and his dad after the tour of the Statesboro campus.
Up really early to get ready for the Rotary Club of Downtown Statesboro!! The board meeting was after the meeting since they started at 7am. It was a morning with much celebration. This time last week found out that they restaurant was going to close and so the work to find a new meeting location for breakfast started. Today was the announcement that someone local purchased the restaurant and they will continue to meet there just like they have been doing for the past 21 years! A member of their board is the granddaughter of a member in the Rotary Club of Sylvania. I know he is proud of her.
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| Rotary Club of Downtown Statesboro |
As soon as the board meeting was over at the Rotary Club of the Downtown Statesboro, it was time to head back to Augusta to meet with the board of the Rotary Club of Augusta West. What a GREAT meeting! A new member inducted! A member donated his winnings from their card deck to the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library! And this club is already 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club, but they are looking at ways to increase the Bequest Society Members! Way to Go!!
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| Rotary Club of Augusta West |
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New member inducted -
His dad is a member of the Rotary Club of Augusta |
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| We are the ALL STAR TEAM! |
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Picked the Ace of Spades to win half the pot, $422!
He donated it to the Greater Augusta Partnership for Literacy to put
books in the hands of children from the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. |
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Adalyn's first day of kindergarten and she joined her mom at Rotary.
What a special day it was to have them there!
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Saturday was another early day at 6am~!~ Rotary Leadership Institute time! What a great group of Rotarians around the state! Thank you for spending your Saturday at Augusta University to meet with others to learn more about Rotary!
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| Graduates of the Rotary Leadership Institute Part 1 |
Thank you for your kind words :-)
ReplyDeleteDuring my visit with the Jesup club the same day you spoke at Statesboro Rotary the card drawing was won and the money was donated to Broken Shackle Ranch. God is so good to us. Thank you for your support and commitment to the ranch.