Metro Talk: Gordon Matthews & Jordan Chase
🌟 A Club Built Differently
Savannah Metro Rotary wasn’t created to follow tradition—it was created to rethink it.
Founder Gordon Matthews recalls a pivotal moment at a district meeting in Augusta, where a panel of younger professionals shared why traditional Rotary models weren’t working for them. Between the cost, weekly lunch commitments, and rigid expectations, many felt there wasn’t a place for them.
Instead of accepting that reality, Gordon saw an opportunity.
He gathered a small group for an exploratory meeting—bringing together core members to imagine a new kind of Rotary club, one with its own structure, flexibility, and approach to engagement.
At the time, Savannah already had five Rotary clubs. But there was nothing like Metro—not locally, and not anywhere else. The vision was approved, and in April 2012, Savannah Metro Rotary officially launched with 50 founding members and a bold new direction.
Since then, Metro has continued to stand out. From how the club approaches meals and attendance to the way it engages in service and partnerships, it has become a model others look to for inspiration. District Governors have even sought Gordon’s advice on how to replicate Metro’s success—something he considers a true compliment.
More than a club, Savannah Metro Rotary is proof that when you listen, adapt, and lead with intention, you don’t just build something new—you build something that lasts.