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Featured Guest Speaker | April 15th
 
COLONEL (RETIRED) TODD FREESEMANN announced as new District Governor of Rotary District 6920 | Non-Profit Organizations | savannahbusinessjournal.comFeatured Guest Speaker: Mia Mance, Executive Director-Savannah Downtown Business Association
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentation Recap: Encouraging Locals to Support Downtown Savannah

Mia Mance, a proud wife, mom, and powerhouse community leader, brings over two decades of broadcasting experience into her current roles as Owner of Mia Talks Media & Marketing and Executive Director of the Savannah Downtown Business Association (DBA). She’s a tireless advocate for local businesses and a familiar face across Savannah’s civic, nonprofit, and motivational spaces.

Why Downtown Engagement Matters Mia encouraged year-round support for downtown, reminding us that locals bring authenticity, stabilize business revenue, and boost community pride.

Downtown At A Glance

  • $2.2B spent in 2022 | 17M+ visitors in 2023

  • Challenges: parking, crime, construction, awareness

  • Savannah competes with Pooler & RH developments

  • DBA supports 40+ local tour companies, iconic shops, & festivals

Current Strategies

  • Shop Savannah Campaign

  • Local Appreciation Events & Discounts

  • Validated Parking Days

  • Broughton Street Clean-Up: May 8 at 8:30 AM

  • Small Business Week: May 5–9 | Shop Small Day: May 8

  • Culinary Institute Event: May 15, 8:30–10 AM at 7 W Bay St (Register by 5/13)

Events = Energy

  • Local Nights: Wexford Pub, Service Brewing

  • Family Weekends: Junior League, Telfair, Girl Scouts

  • Artist Markets & Starland Block Parties

  • School & Nonprofit Partnerships

Community & Communication

  • Digital campaigns, influencer highlights, local media support

  • Panel on Ellis Square safety, media transparency

  • Encourage visitors to share & tag downtown experiences

DBA Goals

  • Boost weekday foot traffic

  • Increase local sales & repeat visits

  • Strengthen online engagement

  • Gather feedback from businesses & residents

 

Follow the Savannah DBA on social, join, and get involved.

 

Member survey has been sent out to DBA members- please complete it!

 

 

    Announcements | April 15th Meeting
    Posted by Destiny Mojica-Taylor
     
     
     
    April 15th, 2025 Committee Updates:

    GUESTS:​​​​​​

    • Rachel Tilghman (guest of Elizabeth Summerell & Kristen Crawley)
    • Ashley Allen, CEO At Gateway SCB (guest of Julie Wade)
    • Janelle Varnadoe with J&L Accounting & Tax Services (guest of Julie Wade)
    • Mariah Espinoza. member of Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club (guest of Aaron Miller)
    • Tanayah Henderson, Poly Sci student at Savannah State (Guest of George Seaborough) and she is starting the first Rotoract club at SSU!
    • Hannah Robbins with Savannah Bee Company (Guest of Jordan Chase)
    • Chase Coward SJCH (Guest of Erika Morrow)

    SERVICE: 

    See Events Calendar for all service opportunities and sign up online

     

    GRSP: 

    Aaron Miller announced that Sonali will be cooking a meal for us! Stay tuned for details!

     

    CLUB:

    TEDxSavannah 2025 will take place on Friday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fine Arts Auditorium on Georgia Southern University's Armstrong Campus. This year's theme is Curiosity Unleashed. TWO of the thirteen speakers this year are our own Metrotarians Destiny Mojica-Taylor and Chelsea Sawyer! AND Cecilia Arango is the MC as well as a board member along with Kelley Boyd and Suzanne Kirk (who was a 2024 speaker). Metro basically runs this thing.

    • All Metrotarians receive a 10% discount on tickets by ordering tickets via this order form. This special offer is only for Metro, so please do not share outside our ridiculously awesome club. This year's ticket also includes lunch, and you can indicate if you require a veg or vegan lunch via this order form.
    • Mark your calendar, buy your ticket and see you at TEDx Savannah! Any questions, please ask Suzanne: suzanne@kirkhr.com!
    LEGACY PROJECT UPDATE:
     
    Get your tickets for our fundraiser on May 21st at Broughton Street Bowl & Brew
    • Sponsorship Opportunities here
     
    MEMBERSHIP MOMENT:
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Sarah Smith: Sarah Smith first joined Rotary during COVID, Sponsored by Jamie Arkins during COVID. She is the director of University Engagement at SCAD.Here Rotary moment was FB messaging Jamie asking about Downtown Rotary, to which Jamie was like “ummmm, you want to come to Metro.” It was love at first sight. Something she says most people don’t know is that she’s a really good downhill skier (for over 20 years!)
     
     
    CLASSIFICATION TALK/INDUCTIONS:

    • Danielle Pilgrim, PhD is sponsored by George Seaborough. She serves as the ED for a non-profit that advocates for justice & equitable policies on the local level. Currently working on a Mental Health Campaign. Her 3 words are Pilgrim Purpose & Play. A person who travels and is always on a journey. Originally from Trinidad & Tobago, and has lived in NY, NJ, Maine, MI & GA. Her family originally settled in Plymouth in T&C (funny since her last name is Pilgrim), Her purpose is summarized as it being to raise the quality of human life, particularly in marginalized communities. Her education includes Community Health Education, Master of Divinity, and Public Policy. She loves to have fun, primarily through music, karaoke, comedy, exploring, travel and visual entertainment.

     
    COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC IMAGE: 
    • Follow us on IG: @metrosavannahrotary (tag us in your posts!)
    • Send your member news and BFW/announcements to Katie and Kristin
     
      Upcoming Events
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      From the President

       

      Metropolitan Savannah Rotary, or “Metro” was founded to create a club to attract more younger professionals to Rotary while also accommodating diverse needs. Understanding that younger professionals often have limited schedules because of growing careers, family, or both, we built our schedule offering meetings on varying days, times, and activities. Our members enjoy the club because of the different experiences offered through volunteer service, networking, socializing, and community and global impact. Almost 15 years after our inception, we are still thinking and acting creatively to make the club “ridiculously awesome.” 

      While our club offers unique scheduling and meeting formats, we follow the traditions of Rotary International and live by the motto "Service Above Self." We participate in district and global grants to make the greatest impact possible like eradicating Polio, funding Alzheimer's research, partnering with local nonprofits, and sponsoring student programs. 

      If you found our site because you’re interested in joining Rotary or searching for a club to visit while in Savannah, we hope you’ll join us to experience it for yourself. Our upcoming events are posted on the left, and the invitation is open.

      In service,

      Kristen Crawley
      president@metrosavannahrotary.org
      2024–2025 Board
      Club Leadership & Board Members
      President
      Kristen Crawley
      President Elect
      George Seaborough
      Treasurer and Immediate Past President
      Jasmine Mills
      Secretary
      Sara Holton
      Legacy Project Chair
      Jordan Chase
      Service Chair
      Ro Patrick
      Grants Chair
      Cari Phelps
      Programming Co Chair
      Erika Morrow
      Programming Co Chair
      Lexi Henigman
      Membership - Retention
      Florence Slatinsky
      Membership - Recruitment
      Emily Doherty
      Communications
      Jamie Arkins
      Sergeant-at-Arms
      Leigh Acevedo
      Family of Rotary
      Sarah Smith
      Disaster Response
      Chelsea Sawyer
      Foundation
      Bret Bell
      Interact
      Ben Barksdale
      GRSP Liaison
      Aaron Miller
      Immediate Past President
      Jasmine Mills
      Club Information
      We meet In Person
      Tuesdays at 11:45 AM
      JEA
      5111 Abercorn Street
      Savannah, GA 31405
      United States of America
      Meetings are every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 11:45 a.m with the program starting at noon. Additional events are listed in our calendar on the Events tab.
      Venue Map