Metro meets on 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 12noon at the Jewish Educational Alliance, 5111 Abercorn St., Savannah, GA
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Tour of the Beach Institute
The Beach InstituteMar 21, 2023
11:50 AM – 1:00 PM -
11th Annual Roastary
Coach's CornerMar 26, 2023
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM -
Social: Proof and Provisions
Proof and ProvisionsMar 28, 2023
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Committee Reports
President Will Gruver announced that March is Water & Sanitation Month.
- Donate to Second Harvest $25/1 service credit up to 3 credits (Jan-March) Email savannahmetrorotary@gmail.com to receive credit Deadline March 15th (Link to Donate)
- Register for District 6920 Conference April 27-30 - reach out to Whitney for more details - DR. BERTICE BERRY is the keynote speaker!
PRESIDENT REPORT
- Our GRSP Student has been selected and Metro needs a GRSP liaison and host - we would share a student with Richmond Hill Rotary Club - please reach out to Jasmine Mills for more information.
- Roastary Committee Members needed- reach out to Jessica Pedigo if you are interested.
- Annual Service Partner for next year - it's that time again! - Cari Phelps to Chair
SAVE THE DATE/UPCOMING EVENTS:
- ROASTARY Annual Oyster Roast on Sunday, March 26, 3:00-6:00 at Coach's Corner - get your tickets here
SERVICE & INTERACT
- Canned Food Drive competition with Lion's Club: Donate up to $75 by March 15 deadline to America's Second Harvest Food Bank here to receive up to 3 service credits. For every $25 donated, you will receive 1 service credit (up to 3 max). You may donate as much as you wish and every dollar will help us win the contest! Email metrosavannahrotary@gmail.com to get service credit for your donations.
- Preston Johnson Speech Contest (with Woodville-Tompkins Interact Club) - thank you club members Sarah Smith, Cecilia Arango, Will Gruver, Suzanne Kirk, Zerik Samples and Alfred McGuire (principal of Woodville-Tompkins HS) for judging on February 22! First place winner: Syniah Seabrain will receive $750 - Second Place: Serani Hassan will receive $500. Winners will be at our April 18th meeting.
- Volunteer sign up for Roastary is live- sign up to help where you can!
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:
- The membership committee is wrapping up the current slate of members in April.
- Jessica Pedigo gave us a friendly reminder that attendance credit is not meeting up with 5 or more people at a non-Metro social event
MEMBERSHIP MOMENT:
- Cecilia's fancy wheel stopped on Reshma Johnson for the Membership moment- here's what we learned about Reshman!
- What was your first job: "Hostess at Bob Evans in OH and had to borrow anyone else’s name tag- she was “Nicole” for a year.
- Favorite quote: “Pay the bills, do what you love, specifically in that order.”
- Gained from being a Rotatian: "Friendships, better understanding of my city and it’s functions, in addition to multiple organizations in our city."
“Will You Sign My Yearbook?” Project
- Send HS Photo and updated Headshot to Cecilia
- Senior Quote
FOUNDATION:
LEGACY PROJECT: Please provide your Metro Rotary Legacy Project Suggestions here: Click Here - reach out to John Bennett for more details
PROGRAMS/SOCIAL:
- Tuesday, March 21 - Beach Institute Tour - reach out to George Seaborough for more details ($10)
- Tuesday, March 28 - Social at Edgar's Proof & Provision
GUESTS
Andrew Paul Houseton- a Laboratory Supervisor and Commissioner of Savannah Cultural Affairs Guest of George Seaborough
Emily Dougherty Great Oaks Bank (currently in membership program)
Beth Whallen (currently in membership program)
Ashley Hersey (currently in membership program)
Melanie Crese, guest of Leigh Acevedo
Aaron Miller, former military and moved back to Sav a few years ago- Guest of Clint Murphy, via Jamie Arkins
Daniel Weiner- former club member
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Allison Hersh & Brian Judson with TEDxSavannah.
Originally founded in 2009 and renamed in 2015, the TEDxSavannah initiative is committed to creating a legacy of ideas worth Spreading.
Allison’s background comes from Savannah’s Armstrong Campus and found herself quite captivated by the event. She then joined the Board. Cecilia will be EmCeeing this year’s event for a 2nd time!
Current Board members include Ceclia Arango & Laura Lee Bocade
All TED x events are independent, and live performances are starting to be incorporated in the presentations, making it a full multi media experience. Attendees can anticipate a carefully curated and fully immersive, while listening to15 speakers (to be announced in the next few weeks.)
The staff an board are focused on connection and the power of community to foster the exchange of ideas
so in that spirit, there will be an after party this year with food trucks, beverages, and activities (included with ticket purchase).
Brian then filled us in on the 2023 program, and spoke about his personal passion for TED (and being tall to hang blackout curtains!)
- One Theme, 15 Speakers (45 pitches reviewed and auditioned 25 speakers)
- Venue: Aprmstrong Campus
- 500 capacity
- Thursday May 25, 2023 12:30-5:30 followed by the after party
- Shorter half-day format and opportunities to interact with the speakers.
- Sponsorship Opportunities still available (include sheet from Brian sponsor)
- Stay informed via FB, Twitter, IG, and their website for eblasts.
- Consider becoming a speaker for next year!
- Cecilia Arango bragged on Front porch Improv: Ceclila is one of the story tellers. This Tuesday is the Women Who Rule event at the convention center. Impressive panel. Funds support transportation assistance for women. She also gave a shout out to Kristen Crawley and all the people at United Way!
- Carri Phelps bragged about the ACP committee. Application is live and accepting applications for any 501(3) applications. Opened up areas of focus. (Service Partner Tab- April 11th deadline)
- Zerik Samples- bragged about a home dedication last week and Wine Down Wednesday at Oak 36 for Women in Construction Week.
- Kristin King bragged on Ryan & Liza Smith for being the title sponsor for Girls on the Run Pacesetter's concert and announced and they will donate a pair of tickets to Roastary auction.
- Kristen Crawley bagged on Patton Dugas for speaking with Younge Leaders for United Way
- Presenter, Brian Judson, bragged on Allison Hersch for insisting on the preservation of the Globe
Committee Reports
President Will Gruver announced that February is Peace and conflict resolution month. What can you do?
- Donate to Second Harvest $25/1 service credit up to 3 credits (Jan-March) Email savannahmetrorotary@gmail.com to receive credit Deadline March 15th (Link to Donate)
- Register for District 6920 Conference April 27-30 - reach out to Whitney for more details - DR. BERTICE BERRY is the keynote speaker!
PRESIDENT REPORT
- Metro needs a GRSP liaison and host - we would share a student with Richmond Hill Rotary Club - please reach out to Jasmine Mills for more information
- Roastary Committee Members needed- reach out to Jessica Pedigo if you are interested.
- Annual Service Partner for next year - it's that time again! - Cari Phelps to Chair
SAVE THE DATE/UPCOMING EVENTS:
- ROASTARY Annual Oyster Roast on Sunday, March 26, 3:00-6:00 at Coach's Corner - get your tickets here ASAP before they go up in price!
SERVICE & INTERACT
- Read United (formerly Rotary Read-In) is coming up on Friday, February 24. Sign up to read here.
- Canned Food Drive competition with Lion's Club: Donate up to $75 by March 15 deadline to America's Second Harvest Food Bank here to receive up to 3 service credits. For every $25 donated, you will receive 1 service credit (up to 3 max). You may donate as much as you wish and every dollar will help us win the contest! Email metrosavannahrotary@gmail.com to get service credit for your donations.
- Preston Johnson Speech Contest (with Woodville-Tompkins Interact Club) - thank you club members Sarah Smith, Cecilia Arango, Will Gruver, Suzanne Kirk, Zerik Samples and Alfred McGuire (principal of Woodville-Tompkins HS) for judging on February 22! First place winner: Syniah Seabrain will receive $750 - Second Place: Serani Hassan will receive $500
- 7th and 8th Grade students in the St. Andrews School Interact Club met the Kindergarten class at North Beach to help them do a beach clean up on the afternoon of February 27 as part of their Passport to Knowledge unit on sea turtles. A beautiful day to join together for service and connection!
MEMBERSHIP: Katie Joyner hosting a meeting on March 1st for new members who have completed all prerequisites for membership. Sponsors and board members are invited also. Our current new member class is: Emily Doherty (Great Oaks Bank), Ashley Harsey (Savannah Ghost Pirates), Jason Usry (WJCL), and Beth Whelan (SCCPSS/Charles Ellis Montessori Academy)
FOUNDATION: Josh Yates presented Lee Beckmann with his first Paul Harris Fellow award. Jeanine Roach received a PHF +1 Award. Thank you for supporting the Rotary Foundation!
LEGACY PROJECT: Please provide your Metro Rotary Legacy Project Suggestions here: Click Here - reach out to John Bennett for more details
PROGRAMS/SOCIAL:
- Tuesday, March 7 - TEDxSavannah: The Power of Community - Brian Judson and Clinton Edminster
- Tuesday, March 21 - Beach Institute Tour - reach out to George Seaborough for more details
- Tuesday, March 28 - Social at Edgar's Proof & Provision
GUESTS
- Aaron Miller (guest of Clint Murphy) - Gallery Stays Luxury Vacation Rentals - had been stationed at Fort Stewart 1999-2004
FEATURED SPEAKER: Courtney Rawlins - President & CEO of the Greater Pooler Chamber of Commerce
Courtney Rawlins hit the ground running when she accepted the top position at the Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce. Pooler has been Courtney's home for 17 years. She deemed her presentation to us as "The State of West Chatham Business." The growth there is not stopping anytime soon.
Growth is occurring in all industries, especially hospitality, hotels and restaurants (Crumble Cookie, Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux, etc.), a senior living center, JC Lewis Ford is expanding, Big Shots (similar to Top Golf), and you heard correctly, Dave & Buster's. No sign of Trader Joe's yet. With the Hyundai plants and its subsidiaries coming in 2025, things will grow even more exponentially.
The Pooler Chamber is instituting a forward vision for growth in several key ways: 1. Creating a Member Concierge position to enhance the membership experience, 2. by growing their social media presence and strategy (highlighting events, ribbon cuttings, etc.), 3. through a series of twice monthly digital newsletters (1st week is about chamber business and 3rd week provides resources for member businesses), 4. through fresh marketing campaigns and rebranding that highlight Pooler as a gateway to many surrounding vacation destinations and contribute to the visitor economy (the train is gone!), 5. Travel Guides, and 6. New hotel ad in the Tourism Leadership Council's guide Savannah: A Southern Journey.
Courtney joined the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. She has joined and teamed up with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Sharon Dupont, Director of Visitor Economy, has taken taken her role by storm. The Chamber offers an online membership directory and they provide three core networking events: 1. A.M. Chamber Chats in the mornings (quarterly), 2. BA5's (Business Afterhours) every month for business exposure, connections, and networking, and 3. Knowledge Now Luncheons each month (February - October).
When asked about traffic and water concerns, Courtney advised us to pay close attention to the Pooler Mayoral and City Council campaigns this year. She is also concerned about workforce development and the need for public transportation. One thing is for sure, Courtney will keep her thumb pressed against these issues!
The Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce goes by the motto "While You Are Working In Your business, We Are Working For Your Business." Join today!
Metro Savannah may not look like your grandfather's Rotary Club, but we're not all that different. We're proud to be members of Rotary International, believe strongly in its mission and traditions, and partner frequently with other clubs in the area.
We're just a bit different, and do things a bit differently. We're younger than the average club, and our meetings are twice monthly instead of every week. We fill in the free weeks with monthly service projects and socials. We throw larger events that have become legend.
Want to join us? Visiting Rotarians are welcome to join any of our lunch meetings or events. Others should come as a guest of a friend, colleague or acquaintance who is already a member of Metro. If you're interested in becoming a member after that visit, reach out to your host and they'll explain the membership process to you.
Thanks for checking out Metro.
Cheers,
Will Gruver
president@metrosavannahrotary.org
President
President Elect
Immediate Past President
Literacy Chair
At Large Director
At Large (Legacy Project)
Treasurer
Secretary
Sergeant-at-Arms
Programs Chair
Rotary Foundation Chair
Membership Chair
Communications Chair
Service Chair
Recording Secretary (2-year)
At Large (Assistant Service)
Family of Rotary
Interact Liaison
Disaster Response