PRESIDENT UPDATE & COMMITTEE REPORTS
- President Jasmine Mills kicked off the meeting with the 4 way test.
- She ask for those who have been members for fewer than two years to please stand to be recognized: Emily Doherty, Lexi Henigman, Kristin King, Brad and Ro Patrick
- Please respond to the Operating Overage Distribution Survey here
MEMBERSHIP MINUTE: Sam Hubbard answered the question the most fun that he ever had was he studied a semester abroad in Spain in college
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Did you know? You can subscribe to the Metro Rotary Calendar! Go to ClubRunner, Events, click on Subscribe to Calendar at the bottom (Google, Apple, Outlook compatible)
Attendance Check-in: Check your attendance in ClubRunner. Is it accurate? If not, email metrosavannahrotary@gmail.com.
Membership Committee is reaching out it not meeting 50% attendance to discuss options - go to "Members Only" area of website for info on makeups
Lunch purchase policy: if absent, but already paid - members can buy lunches paid via Venmo/cash to Treasurer at $10 discounted price. Absentees need to alert Leigh beforehand at leigh.acevedo@gmail.com.
UPCOMING DATES (PROGRAMS & SOCIALS):
- May
- 5/28: Social @ Coastal Empire Beer Co.
- June
- 6/4: Dana Williams, Mayor of Thunderbolt
- 6/18: Re:Purpose Savannah (Annual Service Partner)
- 6/25: End of Year Celebration Social @ Aqua Vitae - registration required for you +1
SERVICE:
- 6/10: Emmaus House Soup Kitchen - 7:30-9:30am, 2nd Monday of each month - minors 13 and up can volunteer accompanied by a parent or legal guardian
- June will be the final service with Re:Purpose - date TBA
- Legacy Project will take the place of ASP for 2024-2025 - see below for more details!
LEGACY PROJECT: Legacy Project will take the place of ASP for 2024-2025, chair John Bennett - click on the title link to watch the video presentations and then VOTE for your favorite here!
- Oatland Island Playground presented by Julie Wade. She thanked John Bennett for keeping us focused. This is an open-nature zoo that has been owned by the school system for over 50 years. Over 100,000 visitors per year including general public, schools and visitors. There is a new pre-K school on site as well. Proposal is for a public playground next to the picnic pavilion. This is solely Metro’s project. Various designs would be presented for consideration. Metro would be responsible for design consultation, product selection & fundraising. SCPSS responsible for sitework, installation & ongoing maintenance.
- Budget: $60,000-$100,000 from Metro.
Forsyth Park Gathering Space presented by Bret Bell. Eddie Deloach (president of Downtown Savannah Rotary) approached Bret to partner with Metro on this project to make a big picture statement in our community. The “Master Plan” survey by the city 2 years ago showed that there was a need for a “Gathering Space,” basically a place to sit, eat, and commune. Regardless, the city plans to demolish the “old playground” with no current plans to replace it with anything else. The City Manager has already embraced the plan for a landscaped/hardscaped gathering place, so this will happen even if Metro doesn’t partner on it. Downtown Rotary has already executed a similar project. The proposal: “Herb Traub Gathering Place.” Metro responsibilities: Design, Hardscape, Softscape, Furniture. City’s responsibilities: Playground Demo, Sitework. Perimeter Sidewalk, Irrigation, Lighting, & Bed Materials
- Herb Traub (1917-2008): Longtime Savannah Rotarian, founder/owner of the Pirate’s House, community champion, and spearheaded numerous civic efforts including the Lucas Theater Restoration, Daffin Park Beautification, Lighting of the Talmadge Bridge, Forsyth Park Fountain, several squares, and monuments.
- Other points: As a true Legacy Project, this will be central to the public and serve as a unique opportunity to unite Rotary Clubs and set a new precedent for partnering. The plan is for the project to start this year. Since the city would have ownership, maintenance will not be an issue.
- Budget: $225,000-$250,000 (Downtown can raise it on their own - they are more interested in a partnership - they'll consider it 50/50 if Metro can raise $60,000)
CAST YOUR VOTE HERE!
MEMBERSHIP:
- “Fireside Chat”: First step for a new member. Thurs., May 23, 5:30 PM @ Habitat for Humanity Restore @ 701 MLK. If you are interested in sponsoring a member, check out the “Members Only” area of the website for more info! Let Zerik know if you have someone attending so he can plan for snacks.
- Sponsor Challenge: Anyone who sponsors a new member this Rotary year will be entered into a drawing to be held on June 18 (last meeting of the Rotary Year!)
- New Metro T-shirts available now! Reach out to Jasmine for more info on how to pick yours up.
- Check your attendance in ClubRunner. Is it accurate? Email if not: metrosavannahrotary@gmail.com
- Membership Committee - reaching out if not meeting 50% attendance to discuss options