Committee Reports
President Cecilia Arango reminded members that April is Maternal and Child Health Month and encouraged them to read the story, Healing the Scars of War by Illuia Mendel. In addition, she said the Rotary District in Ukraine and designated Rotary Districts that border Ukraine may apply for grants up to $50,000 from the Disaster Response Fund used to provide relief to refugees. Contributions can be made to the fund here.
Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley announced two upcoming opportunities, the Diaper Drive for Over the Moon Diapers through April 28 and the Forsyth Farmers Market Farm Picnic on April 24. She also thanked everyone who volunteered at the March service project with Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision. Metro donated $10,000 to Girls on the Run of Coastal Georgia and Lowcountry, this year’s annual service partner.
Program Committee Chair George Seaborough previewed two upcoming events, GRSP Student Sofie Bohl’s presentation at the April 19 club meeting and the April 26 Social at Toole Sculpture Works at Roberds Dairy.
Service Committee Cochair Cari Clark Phelps reported that 21 Annual Service Partner applications had been received. The committee is now reviewing applications.
Member Minute
George Seaborough, III! is executive director of at Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy and an outstanding MetRotarian. He's married to Tyneise and they have a beautiful soon-to-be 7-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old Yorkie. Two cool facts about George: 1) he's a Savannahian with 30 first cousins in the Savannah and Chatham area and 2) still likes to play in the rain. George says he enjoys being a Rotarian because Rotarians believe in service and community. He'd also like to add that within Metro Savannah Rotary Club, you have the ability to develop true friendships.
Guests
Campion Usry, Brendan West, and Claire Cobb were the guests of Katie Joyner.
Moya Campbell, Rachel White, and Joanne Morton were the guests of George Seaborough.
Opollo Johnson was the guest of Kristen Crawley.
Helen White was the guest of Sarah Smith.
Pitch Powers was the guest of Jason Nielubowicz.
Prospective Member Profile
Lexi Henigman is a California native, but lived in New York City for 15 years before coming to Savannah. She earned a B.F.A in Film and Television from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and works as a video editor and director. Lexi is currently working as an editor on Right Over the Edge, a feature documentary about the extremely endangered North Pacific Right Whale. In New York, she was involved with Hour Children, a Queens-based non-profit that helps women and their families during and after incarceration and equips them with tools to build their futures. She lives in Savannah with her husband, Steve.Featured Speaker: Jay Melder
Savannah City Manager Jay Melder talked about the large investments that have been made in the areas of sanitation, streets and sidewalks, drainage and stormwater, utility billing improvements, digital process improvements, and recruitment and personnel. He described these physical and process improvements as, “getting back to basics.” He said the city is also making a “historic” $19 million investment in initiatives to address homelessness and housing. Addressing homelessness is a major focus for the city along with workforce development, quality of life and cultural experiences, waterfront improvements, a transportation sales tax, jobs and poverty reduction, and critical infrastructure needs, Melder said.