Committee Reports

President Will Gruver announced that January is Rotary International's Vocational Service Month, in which vocational service means holding ourselves and our businesses to the highest ethical standards. What can you do?
  • Donate to the Rotary Foundation to help us continue to be an EREY club
  • Participate in service projects - Jan. 21 brown bag for the elderly and the canned food drive competition with Lion's Club
  • Register for District 6920 Conference April 27-30 - reach out to Whitney for more details
 
PRESIDENT-ELECT News & Notes Jasmine "Jazzy J" Mills announced our President-Elect nominee for 2024-2025 is Kristen Crawley. The club voted unanimously to elect her!
 
LUNCH will increase in price to $15.50 in advance and $17.00 the day of as of January 2023. Please pre-pay in advance (preferred) for accurate food ordering. Reach out to Chris Corey for more details. 
 
SAVE THE DATE:
  • ROASTARY Annual Oyster Roast in March - Date TBA - need committee members
  • SAT., FEB. 11, 8am-10am - Metro and Family ONLY ice skating session at the Civic Center - reach out to Julie Wade for more details
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 savannahmetrorotary@gmail.com to get service credit for your donations. 
  • Preston Johnson Speech Contest (with Woodville-Tompkins Interact Club) - Need 4-5 volunteers who would like to judge the Preston Johnson Speech contest in February (date TBA). Contact Sarah Smith (sbockelsmith@gmail.com or 912-944.7012) if you are interested.
FOUNDATION Josh mentioned that over half of our club have donation to the Rotary Foundation! 32 members have not donated yet so please do so before Josh has to remind you to. There are 9 members who are not registered on My Rotary - it's very easy to register here
 
MEMBERSHIP Katie announced that the membership committee will host an orientation meeting sometime in February with orientation in March - stay tuned for more!
 
PROGRAMS/SOCIAL Send your programs and social ideas to George Seaborough for 2023!
 
GUESTS
  • Joel Goodman, The Fiduciary Group - guest of Michael McLeod
  • Scott McGhie, The Fiduciary Group - guest of Michael McLeod
  • Jessica Gilstrap, Supreme Lending - guest of Emily Salzer
  • Melaney Crees, Co-Axe Studio - guest of Leigh Acevedo
  • Emily Doherty, Great Oaks Bank - guest of Suzanne Kirk

FEATURED SPEAKER: Derek Mallow - East Savannah United

Jeff Kole, Board Chair of the newly formed East Savannah United and the owner of Kole Management Company, introduced Executive Director Derek Mallow. Derek is no stranger to Metro Rotary and also serves as State Senator District 2. He was born and raised in Savannah and is a proud Jenkins High School Warrior. He is also an Eagle Scout. Derek is a son of East Savannah and thus, he has great passion in this new initiative. East Savannah United started as a Neighborhood Revitalization project for Hitch Village and Blackshear Neighborhoods. The organization is following the model of Purpose Built Communities and focusing on mixed income housing, reducing poverty, and "cradle to college" to promote equity in education for all students. Derek considers himself a "Community Quarterback". East Savannah United is focusing on these three main areas: Housing, Wellness, and Education. This approach can truly transform neighborhoods. 
 
Near the edge of these neighborhoods are great facilities such as Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club, DFCS, Curtis V. Cooper, and the Formey Early Learning Center. East Savannah United approached the Housing Authority and asked for 9 acres of land on Wheaton St. behind Randy's BBQ to create their own Early Learning Center. They engaged the Chamber of Commerce to lobby the city and county to put up funds, half of each from SPLOST. YMCA and Goodwill have agreed to add their own programs to the Early Learning Center and both have launched capital campaigns. East Savannah United needs to raise $8.25 Million to open the Early Learning Center. It will serve 140 kids ages 6 weeks to 3 years old, and will include a children's library. The Economic Development Impact on this new initiative will be quite sizable!