Committee Reports

President Cecilia Arango reviewed recent media coverage of Metro members, including a Forbes article that spotlighted Cari Phelps’ Salacia Salts and reporting on the grand opening of Habitat for Humanity Savannah’s new executive offices, which featured photos of CEO Zerik Samples and fellow Metro members. If you spot a Metrotarian in the news, email a link to metrosavannahrotary@gmail.com

Program Committee

The Sept. 21 lunch meeting will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 520 Washington Ave. The featured speaker is District Governor Ed Presnell of the Rotary Club of Augusta.

 

The September Social is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Castaways in Sandfly.

 

Service Committee 

A family-friendly Tybee Island Beach Clean-up will be held on Sunday Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. in observation of International Coastal Clean-up. We will meet at the Tybee Pier. Sign up here.

Georgia Rotary Student Program

Sofie Bohl, who is a student at Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus, gave the club an overview of her life in Sweden.

 

Featured Speaker: Dr. Sametria McFall

Dr. McFall is Interim Provost and Vice President at Savannah State University. She previously served as vice president for academic affairs at the university and has held numerous other roles at SSU. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Savannah State, and an additional master’s degree and a doctorate from Northeastern University. She provided an overview of the degree programs available at SSU.

 

 

Committee Reports

President Cecilia Arango announced Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta’s Each One Bring One membership initiative. Each member is urged to invite a prospective member to a club meeting. When thinking about who you would like to invite, be intentional and consider the following: Is the prospective member service oriented? Do they have the time and level of commitment necessary to be an active Metro member? Remember, there are many local Rotary Clubs.

Membership Committee

Membership Committee Chair Katie Joyner explained the "New Member Obi Belt Process." In related news, Derek Goldfarb has now reached yellow belt status in the new member program. She also described methods Metrotarians can employ to identify prospective members including participating in community events, mentioning Rotary when you are asked about your leadership skills, identifying a missing classification and developing a plan to fill it, and making prospective members feel important. 

 

Rotarian Reader

Reshma Shah Johnson directed members’ attention to Frank Bures’ article, “That’s What Friends Are For,” in the August issue of the Rotarian. The author notes a Paul Harris quote from the early 1990s, “There is no place like a city park on a Sunday afternoon to feel one’s loneliness. To me one essential was lacking, the presence of friends."Reshma shared information from the article that describes how friendships are established and how important they are. Loneliness is a health problem. Friendship is the cure, she said.

Program Committee

The Sept. 7 lunch meeting will be held at Savannah State University. Featured speakers are Dr. Semetria McFall, interirm provost and vice president at SSU, and Sofie Bohl, GRSP student. The Sept. 21 meeting will be held at First Presbyterian Church. District Governor Ed Presnell is the speaker.

Interact 

Sarah Smith, Interact liaison for Woodville-Tompkins High School, reported the club will not be meeting in person, but has a YouTube channel allowing speakers to interact with students. The sessions are archived so other students can view later. Contact Sarah for more details about how to get involved.

Georgia Rotary Student Program

Georgia Rotary Student Program Host Florence Slatinsky announced there are around 50 students in the program and for now they are interacting virtually instead of attending in-person events. GRSP Student Sofie Bohl will speak at our Sept. 7 meeting.

 

Metrotarians in the News

A Savannah Morning News article reported on Susan Kirk's work with the City of Tybee Island to investigate allegations of improprieties against a city official.

 

Guests

Ryan Smith was the guest of Liza Smith.

Melissa Harvey was the guest of Jordan Chase.

Kristen Baird was the guest of Cecilia Arango

Sofie Bohl was the guest of Florence Slatinsky

Featured Speaker: Tiffany Collins

Tiffany explained how teaching at a technical college helped her learn that she had a lot to learn from her students, a perspective she continues in her current role as executive director of Girls on the Run of Coastal Georgia and Lowcountry. Founded in 2006, Girls on the Run has programs in all 50 states, Mexico, and Canada — but each local council must support itself 100%, she explained.

 

Trained coaches lead small teams through a inclusive research based curricula, which includes dynamic discussions, problem solving, intentional decision making, and goal setting. The program serves around 1,400 girls with 50 teams each season, and two celebration runs per year. Some 70% of participants receive scholarships. GOTR is Metro's service partner for this year.

Late Breaking News: Updates from After the Meeting

Jessica Pedigo, immediate past president, shared this executive assistant job opening. Please share with people you think would be interested. 

 

 

 

Committee Reports

President Cecilia Arango convened the meeting.

 

 

Foundation 

Foundation Committee Chair Laura Lee Bocade announced Metro’s newest Paul Harris Fellows: Kelley Boyd (+1) and Denise McCoy. Jasmine Mills attended the meeting and we were able to present her with her Paul Harris Fellow certificate and pin.

 

Disaster Response 

Disaster Response Committee Chair Chelsea Sawyer invited members to join the committee after bribing everyone with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Contact her if you would like to get involved. As one of the tips offered to the club, she discussed her favorite (dripping in sarcasm) – the cone of uncertainty – and how misleading the cone can be.

 

Membership

Membership Committee Chair Katie Joyner reviewed the steps in the new member program process:

 

Prospective Member Responsibilities
 

1. Guests interested in joining must attend one service project and two meetings.
2. Then find two Metro Rotarians to serve as sponsors.
3. Submit an application and pay $200 new member fee to begin the New Member Program
4. Photo/bio are sent to communications committee to be featured twice in Rotary Repeats.
5. Fulfill the five step new member program. Pay prorated dues. Induction.

Metro Member and Sponsor Responsibilities
 

1. Identify the prospect’s two co-sponsors.
2. Invite prospect to meetings, service events, and socials until they become an official member.
3. Explain attendance requirements and types of meetings/schedule.
4. Explain to the prospect that they are not automatically guaranteed membership. Current members, for whatever reason — personally or professionally — do have the right to speak up if they are uncomfortable with the prospective member. No reason must be given, but if one is offered, it will remain confidential. Members should send communication to the president and membership chair.
5. Once a prospect’s application is approved and the $200 new member program fees have been paid, coordinate two group meetings and share the ABCs of Rotary.

 

Missed a meeting? Here are ways to get back on track:
 

1. Visit Rotary EClub One.
2. Attend another club’s meeting.
3. Donate $25 to our Girls on the Run fundraising committee.
4. Attend a munch.
5. Attend a Metro Board Meeting, every second Thursday at 8 a.m. at Corporate Environments, 2 E. Bryan St. Suite 1500B.

Program

Program Chair George Seaborough announced upcoming events:

 

Lunch Meetings

• Aug. 17: Tiffany Collins, executive director of Girls on the Run
• Sept. 7: Savannah State University Interim Provost and Vice President Dr. Semetria McFall. The meeting will be held on the SSU campus.
• Sept. 21: District Governor Ed Presnell. The meeting will be held at First Presbyterian Church.

Social: Aug. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Taste of India

 

Fifth Tuesday of the Month Special Social: Aug. 31, 5:30 at Starland Yard

 

Service

 

Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley reminded members to donate business clothing to the Interact Club at Woodville Tompkins. Donate two pieces of business wear and you’ll receive one service credit for a maximum of three credits. Contact Kristen to coordinate drop-off.

 

On Aug. 21 from 9 -11 a.m. Girls on the Run needs help packing snacks for the school year. The location will be announced soon. Contact Kristen for details.

 

It’s time to start planning the annual service fundraising party. Email Kristen and Cecilia to volunteer. And save the date for a Tybee Beach Clean-up to be held on Sept. 21.

 

Literary 

Literary Committee Chair Julie Wade has established a partnership with Hubert Middle School, where 30 incoming 6^th graders read at a pre-K level. An Amazon wish list will be created with required reading books to be sent directly to the school and volunteers will be needed to read to students. A volunteer training session will be scheduled soon, along with a writing and oratory contest in the spring, and an end of the year ice cream and pizza party to celebrate gains in literacy. To get involved, contact Julie.

 

Georgia Rotary Student Program

 

Georgia Rotary Student Program Host Florence Slatinsky announced that Sophie Bohl arrived on Aug. 2. Florence will let us know of future dates where we can meet Sophie.

 

Featured Speaker: Maryann Brickey, Live Oak Public Libraries

 

Brickey, senior library manager at Southwest Chatham Library, shared some snapshots from 2020-2021. During that time the libraries had 722,424 visitors and 117,119 account holders. She reported that 849,367 items were checked out and 107,588 e-resources were downloaded, during the same period. Community engagement activities undertaken by the library system include a community book donation program, Ready Readers at Mercer Middle School, and the Books on the Go homebound mail service.

 

Brickey also shared information on Live Oak’s early literacy, student success, access to technology, and economic empowerment support programs. In addition, she highlighted new innovation initiatives including Story Walk at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, Literary Scavenger Hunts with Bike Walk Savannah, and the Seed Library with Chatham County Extension, Islands Farmers Market, and Forsyth Farmers Market.

 

A donation to Girls on the Run in Brickey's name will be made by Metro. 

 

New Members Program Spotlight: Derek Goldfarb

 

Goldfarb is director of partnerships for the new 9,500-seat Savannah Arena scheduled to open in 2022. As a member of the Oak View Group Facilities team, which will manage and operate the new Savannah Arena, he will be responsible for securing a naming rights partner, creating founding partners, and developing advertising and promotional relationships.

 

Goldfarb is a nearly 20-year veteran of selling naming rights, sponsorship sales and premium seating for arenas and stadiums across the United States. He joins Oak View Group Facilities from the South Carolina Stingrays Hockey Team, an ECHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, where he served as chief revenue officer overseeing advertising sales and business development. A Native New Yorker, Goldfarb resides in Richmond Hill with his wife Sara, and their children, Connor and Noelle, and beagle Lemmie.

 

Late Breaking News: Updates from After the Meeting

 

Beginning with the Aug. 17 meeting, face coverings will be required inside the J.E.A. except when members, guests, and speakers are eating. 

 

 

 

 

Committee Reports

 

Immediate Past President Jessica Pedigo presided over the meeting on behalf of President Cecilia Arango and announced that Metro has received three District Governor 6920 Awards: The Governor’s Gold Award, The Governor’s Best of the Best Award, and The Governor’s Superior Leadership Award to Jessica.

 

She reminded members that they could earn meeting credits by attending Rotary EClub One meetings. Don’t forget to send your make-up info to metrosavannahrotary@gmail.com 

 

Foundation Committee Chair Laura Lee Bocade announced Metro’s newest Paul Harris Fellows: Ellen Harris, Elizabeth Summerell, Jamie Smith Arkins (+1), Spencer Burch, Jordan Chase (+1), Jasmine Mills, Cari Phelps (+1) and Patrick Phelps (+1).
 

 

Contact Program Chair George Seaborough for more information on these upcoming events: 

• July 27 — Social at 5:30 p.m. at Taca
• Aug. 3 — Lunch meeting with Maryann Brickey, children’s librarian and branch manager with Live Oak Public Libraries.
• Aug. 3 — Program Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at Taca
• Aug. 17 — Lunch meeting with Tiffany Collins, executive director of Girls on the Run
• Aug. 24  — Social at 5:30 p.m. at Taste of India

Looking for Service Committee opportunities? 1. Donate two pieces of business attire to the Interact Business Clothing Drive. Receive one service credits for every two items donated for a maximum of three credits. 2. A beautification project will be held at the Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision on Aug. 7. There will be one shift, held indoors, for 8-10 volunteers. Contact Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley for more information.

 

Sarah Bockel Smith, Interact liaison for Woodville-Tompkins High School, invited members to present to the club. You are not limited to talking about your career. You can also speak to the students about your involvement in the community and other topics. Contact Sarah for more details.

 

Sophie Bohl of Sweden, the area’s Georgia Rotary Student Program participant, will be arriving in Savannah Aug. 2. Contact Florence Slatinsky if you would like to help welcome her to Savannah.

 

Reshma Shah Johnson, The Rotarian Reader, directed the club's attention to Friends in Need from the July issue of The Rotarian. The article describes how an international relationship came full circle when clubs in India provided aid to Detroit in the early days of the pandemic.

Metrotarians in the Spotlight

Bret Bell presented at the Savannah Rotary Club's recent meeting and Julie Wade’s was included in the University of Georgia Alumni Association Bulldog 100 for Park Place Outreach Youth Emergency Services. The list recognizes the fastest growing businesses and organizations owned or operated by UGA alumni in 2021.

 

Membership Moment: Jamie Smith Arkins

 

Jamie works in human resources, but talked about what she likes to do outside of work, including her love for live music. She’s looking forward to seeing Hamilton, one of her bucket list items. Jamie grew up in Valdosta and will be visiting this weekend for the first time since 2014. She said her favorite thing about being a Metro member is, “I get to be me!”

Guests 

Nate Wayne, a loan officer with the Small Business Assistance Corporation, was the guest of Katie Joyner.
 
Brad Trower, vice president of development for St. Joseph's/Candler, attended along with Chase Cowart, manager of strategic planning at the hospital. Brad is a member of the Statesboro Rotary Club.

 
Featured Speaker: Georgia House District 163 Rep. Derek Mallow

 

Rep. Mallow — a native of Savannah who earned a bachelor's and a master's degree from Savannah State University — outlined the contours of his district, which includes both affluent areas of the city of Savannah, along with every public housing property.

 

He reviewed legislation he considers victories from the last session, including the overhaul of Georgia’s citizens arrest law; Senate Bill 85, which expands the definition of hazing; and a pair of bills which help victims of human trafficking, among others. He explained his main passions as a lawmaker are mental health, education, and criminal justice.

 

Late Breaking News: Updates from After the Meeting

Whitney Shephard directs our attention to this from Bill Gates: "Thanks to the commitment of Rotary and other partners, as well as the dedicated political leadership of polio-affected countries, I’m confident that we can create a world where no child will ever be paralyzed by polio again." Read more.

 

The Gates Foundation is matching our donations to Polio Plus two to one. 

 

Committee Reports

Michael said he was a little over 90 days into his role as CEO of Union Mission, but explained he has previously served as chair of the organization’s board of directors. Union Mission serves more than 700 people per year through its various departments, including individual programs that focused on women, women and children, men, special needs housing, permanent supportive housing, and mental health counseling.

Membership Moment: Cody Tharpe

Cody said Tharpe Engineering Group recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary. The structural engineering firm works on a wide range of commercial, industrial, preservation, and multi-family residential projects. When asked about his favorite Rotarian, Cody named Patton Dugas. Cody serves as Metro’s treasurer.

May 4 Announcements

Committee Reports 

Membership Committee Chair Cari Clark Phelps reported that four people are in the new member process: Katie Balthrop, Destiny Mojica-Taylor, Meagen Burrows, and John Rodman. All are nearing completion, except John, who just started the process.

 

If your attendance is under 40% please contact Cari immediately. If you need attendance credit you should attend an e-club meeting, attend another local club meeting, donate $25 to one of our service partners, attend a Munch, or attend a board meeting. If you have changed careers or job descriptions, please update your classification in ClubRunner.

 

 

President Jessica Pedigo said her car was broken into and many valuable items were taken, but miraculously the perpetrator had no use for the Rotary Robe. Also, if you are interested in helping plan the end of year party, email Jessica (even if you told her at the end of the meeting as she cannot retain anything from the meetings). This is a great way to get attendance credit if you are lacking! If you want to be on the steering committee for Metro’s Legacy Project, email her as well.

 

Service Committee Chair Jordan Chase thanked everyone who has done bicycle and pedestrian counts with Bike Walk Savannah and said it was a great way to get kids involved in a service project. Volunteer opportunities have been extended through May 15. Sign up on the Bike Walk Savannah website.

 

Guests

Derek Goldfarb was the guest of Cecilia Arango.

Emily Salzer and Alyssa Harvey were the guests of Jordan Chase.

 

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Featured Speaker Leslie Mattingly of the St. Simons Island Rotary Club

 

Leslie presented on the work Rotary has been doing in Puerto Rico with a Global Grant to encourage sustainable agriculture through a partnership with Para la Naturaleza, a nonprofit that focuses on conservation of natural ecosystems, and the San Juan and St. Simons Rotary Clubs. Because the majority of food consumed in Puerto Rico is imported, supplies were severely strained during natural disasters. The project trains local farmers and workers in associated industries on ways to supply restaurants and markets. Other education programs focus on teaching about nutrition and cooking with fresh ingredients. Metro was among the clubs that supported the program.

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Metro Mania Challenge Update

 

President Elect Cecilia Arango announced that the Mighty Mighty Bruised Bones are the April Metro Mania Champions. To earn points in the May challenge, contribute to Brags, Finds, and Whines at a club meeting, bring a guest to a meeting, attend a social or service event. If you do all three, email Cecilia.

 

April 20 Announcements 

Committee Reports 

Membership Committee Chair Cari Clark Phelps reminded the group that 50% attendance is required. She explained ways for members to boost their attendance, including online opportunities and supporting nonprofit organizations. Also, if your spouse is a club member, attendance is combined for your household. Still, we have a number of people who have dropped below 40%. We are offering assistance for people who are having financial hardships as well as a leave of absence option for members who cannot be involved at the moment, but who do not want to leave the club permanently. She invited members to contact her to discuss options, but stressed that many people want to become members and we want to offer them opportunities to become involved in the club without the club growing too large. She announced that John Rodman is entering the new members program. He is sponsored by Lee Perry and Ariana Berksteiner.

 

Service Committee Chair Jordan Chase thanked everyone who helped at the Make A Wish Foundation 5K on Skidaway Island on April 17, including Jason Summers, Chelsea Sawyer, Zerik Samples, Sam Carroll and George Seaborough. The next service project is participating in Bike Walk Savannah’s bicycle and pedestrian counts at locations around town. The counts collect data on biking and walking traffic, which is used to plan for bike lanes, sidewalks, and trails. You can sign up for a date, time, and location via the BWS website. The counts continue into May, but you must register for a date in April to get service credit for this month. The May service project will also be with Bike Walk Savannah. Stay tuned for details.

 

President Jessica Pedigo asked members to respond to a survey on preferences for meeting and social event formats. The survey also invites input on potential legacy projects the club could fund over several years.

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Guests

Chelsea Sawyer (New Members Program)

Katie Balthrop (New Members Program)

Destiny Mojica-Taylor (New Members Program)

Mary Francis was the guest of Erica Morrow

 

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Featured Speakers: Jessica Savage of WTOC-TV

Jessica moved to Savannah when she was in middle school and she graduated from Jenkins High School, but has worked in Texas for most of her career. She called working at WTOC, a station she grew up watching, an amazing opportunity. Jessica praised the station for investing in investigative journalism as it requires a lot of time and resources. She said investigative reporting can also help solve problems in the community.

 

As an example, she mentioned the recent sale of the Chatham Apartments building, which required residents to find new places to live. She was able to track down a resident who was having financial difficulties. After the story aired, someone called the newsroom offering to pay for her expenses. Later, Jessica did a follow-up story on the woman, who was able to find a place to call home at Live Oak Landing. She shared another story about how her reporting helped a resident find a long-term solution after trash and other debris was illegally dumped on his property. Jessica explained that this kind of reporting can have lasting, positive impacts in the community

 

 

Metro Mania Challenge UpdateU

 

Upcoming Meetings

Report any munch attendance to MetroSavannahRotary@gmail.com!

April 6 Announcements 

Committee Reports

 

Service Committee Chair Jordan Chase announced a service project with the Make A Wish Foundation 5K on Skidaway Island State Park on April 17. We will also be helping with Bike Walk Savannah’s annual bike and pedestrian counts.

 

Program Committee Chair Daniel Weiner announced Jessica Savage, an investigative reporter at WTOC-TV, would be the speaker at the April 20 meeting.

 

President Elect Cecilia Arango announced that Danny Chase is now a Paul Harris fellow.

 

Guests

Amy Johnson, of the Washington-Wilkes Rotary Club, was the guest of Jamie Smith Arkins.

Rick Battinger was the guest of Laura Lee Bocade.

John Rodman was the guest of Lee Perry.

Zerik Samples was the guest of Jessica Pedigo

Emily Salzer was the guest of Jordan Chase.

Chelsea Sawyer was a guest via Zoom.

Ann Shealy was the guest of Jamie Arkins.

Meagen Burrows and Katie Balthrop, who are in the new members program, attended the meeting

 

Classification Talk: Meagen Burrows

 

Meagen lived in Tulsa and attended Oklahoma State University. She moved to Seattle for Law school and started working for a firm that dissolved and eventually became GableGotwals, a full service firm where she became an associate in 2014 and a partner in 2018. She’s worked mainly in healthcare issues including day-to-day hospital legal issues and HIPAA. She is now focused on the provider side of the equation working with physicians, labs, and radiology groups. She also does corporate and human resources work, and thinks of herself as a utility player in the transactional world. She has a fantastic husband named Andrew and the best dog in the world, Zoey.

 

Featured Speaker: Bret Bell

Bret presented an update on the City of Savannah’s arena project. He explained it’s a multipurpose facility designed for concerts and sporting events. Construction began on Sept. 19, 2020 and is expected to be completed in February 2022. He explained the technology and configuration of arenas has changed dramatically since the current civic center was built in 1972, and now the trend is providing different kinds of spaces for people to use, and it’s no longer just about “sitting in your seat and watching what’s in front of you.”

 

Bret is particularly excited about the hockey team that will be playing in the arena. He said they have been meeting with the Savannah Bananas and talking about how to make the games entertaining. Bret expects about 150 nights of entertainment to be offered when the arena opens with about 25 concerts, 50 hockey games, and 75 other events.

 

The arena is located 1,200 feet away from the National Historic Landmark District, but there are wooded areas, former industrial properties, and canals in between. A lot of the master plan process looks at ways to bridge these divides and there has been a lot of interaction with stakeholders. However, the plan to connect the arena and westside neighborhoods with downtown is not fully funded and will have to be done in phases. The city remains fully committed to creating these connections so residents and visitors can safely move back and forth from the arena and surrounding neighborhoods to the historic district. The project also includes other stormwater and roadway improvements, and rehabilitation of the 19^th Century waterworks property.

 

 

Committee Reports 

 

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Featured Speaker: David Pratt

David began the presentation by announcing that he was stepping down from his position with the Savannah Music Festival to become chief executive officer at the Austin Symphony Orchestra. He explained how the Savannah festival  is different from others in that it does not focus on a single genre. Instead, it features performers from American roots music (blues, bluegrass, etc.) international music, jazz, and classical. Pratt said that in 2019, the festival resulted in $10.05 million in direct spending, $7.65 million in visitor spending, and $852,344 in sales and hotel tax revenue. The festival generated 8,916 room nights and 1,783 flights.

 

He described how festival staff worked to pivot to bring programs — especially educational programs —online so they could continue to reach participants during the pandemic. They also studied how outdoor concerts in Florida and Tennessee were able to be staged while maintaining Covid protocols. The plan for 2021 is to use the outdoor performance space at Trustees Garden at reduced capacity. Pratt said Coastal Health District Director Dr. Lawton Davis is a supporter of the festival and has offered consultation on how to maximize safety.

 

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Membership Moment: Jason Nielubowicz

Jason talked about his work in commercial and residential real estate at Judge Realty. As most people know, Jason is an avid live music fan and if not for the pandemic would be out seeing music every night.

 

He has had a large collection of vintage motorcycles, which once totaled 14 machines. Now he’s down to two BMWs. He said he's lucky to be alive, having been shocked with 7,620 volts of electricity from a downed power line in 2007.

Committee Reports 

 

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Guests

Zerik Samples was a guest at the meeting. He is CEO of Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity and, before moving to Savannah, he was a member of the Rotary Club of St. Simons.

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Featured Speaker: Jackson Evans

In a presentation featuring musical interludes, Jackson Evans talked about his work at Benedetto Guitars, which Bob Benedetto founded in 1968 to build archtop jazz guitars.

 

Jackson explained the mechanics of guitars and their evolution over the years, describing the design elements that allow louder volumes while still maintaining structural integrity. He demonstrated the features and acoustics of several guitars, including an instrument built in Chicago between 1886 and 1890.

 

Although archtops are often called jazz guitars, they are used in other genres. He cited Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family as a noted archtop player. Benedetto produces 80-100 guitars per year, with the highest end models costing $20-50,000.

 

 

 

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Membership Moment: Cynthia Mullally

Cindy said the highest profile event she’s managed in her role as an event planner was a 2012 event focusing on the nation’s economic recovery, featuring President Bill Clinton and President George Bush.

 

She is married to Matt Toole and her most famous relative is her cousin Tommy Norden, who played Bud Ricks on the television show, “Flipper.” Cindy also talked about how much she enjoys living in Gordonston.

 

Committee Reports 

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Guests

Chelsea Sawyer was the guest of Sarah Smith.

Featured Speaker: Wayne Ashford

Wayne Ashford of Ashford Tea Company explained how he built up his café business in Indianapolis. About 13 years ago he and his wife started talking about moving and created a list of the qualities they wanted in a community. Eventually they visited Savannah, explored the city, and started coming back every year — sometimes twice a year. They moved to Savannah almost three years ago.

 

He said tea has always been a constant in his life, but when he discovered loose tea, it changed his world. For the last 20 years he’s been teaching people about tea. Wayne described his business as being about a lifestyle, and not just a retail venture. He explained the health benefits of teas and said his shop on Oglethorpe Avenue now stocks more than 60 varieties.

 

 

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Membership Moment: Alfred McGuire

Alfred McGuire is principal at Woodville Tompkins High School. He offered some facts that people might not know about him: Alfred is really excited about this year’s Metro Mania theme as he attended WrestleMania when it came to Tampa.

 

He also loves running, but is not able to at this time because he is recovering from foot surgery. Alfred said his son often picks out a tie for him to wear each morning.

Committee Reports 

 

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Guests

Kylie Carrico was the guest of Julie Wade.

Fitz Hale was the guest of Jordan Chase.

Katie Balthrop is in the New Member Program and also attended the meeting.

Guest/Prospective Member Reminder

Metro Rotary welcomes all guests to club meetings, socials and service projects! Please introduce your guests and, if on Zoom, make sure they turn their cameras on so we can actually meet them. If your guest is interested in potential membership, please let Cari Phelps (Membership Chair) know as soon as possible. There is a vetting process for membership so everyone must go through the proper steps in order to be approved for the New Member Program. The process includes being listed in Rotary Repeats (including a headshot, preferably, their name, employer/job, and two sponsors), attending at least three meetings (including one Service Project) and submitting an application to the Membership Committee for approval. As a member of Metro, if you have a conflict with a potential new member, whether professional, personal, or otherwise, please notify the Membership Chair (Cari) or President (Jessica).

 

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Featured Speakers: Katrina Bostick, Kate Blair, and Julie Wade

 

Katrina Bostick of Family Promise, Kate Blair of CASA Savannah, and Julie Wade of Park Place Outreach talked about their work and the realities faced by people living in poverty. The three nonprofit leaders have been collaborating and working to improve conditions in the community in different capacities. Members were reminded that conversations about poverty in Savannah must include discussion of racial equity and generational wealth. In addition, the myth that people choose to live on public assistance and can do so comfortably is a myth rooted in racism. 

 

They talked about the struggles of families living at or below the poverty line, and how difficult it is for them to stay housed and cover other expenses while working at minimum wage jobs. The loss of employment will throw people into poverty and right now almost 36% of working families with full time jobs or multiple part time jobs are living under the poverty line. The situation is made worse by systemic and structural racism, predatory lending, people who are unbanked or underbanked, high housing costs, undiagnosed mental health issues, substance use disorders, high childcare costs, and low wages. 

 

Those interested donating to these organizations and others working to improve conditions should make unrestricted donations, which allow nonprofits to be more responsive to changing conditions. View their PowerPoint presentation for more information.

 

 

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Membership Moment: Patton Dugas

Patton shared things fellow members probably know about him and other facts they may not. Patton is market president for Truist Bank in Savannah. Before he moved to Savannah and became a banker, he founded an audio/video contracting business that allowed him to "hang out with a bunch of musicians and roadies." He described himself as a "reformed hippie" who had long hair and wore flip flops. He shared a story of attending an event shortly after arriving in Savannah and being mistaken for Robert McCorkle.

 

Committee Reports 

Service Committee Chair Jordan Chase announced those seeking November service opportunities should volunteer at Metro Mania Events. The December project will be collecting and refurbishing kids bikes for the annual Holiday Bike Drive conducted by Bike Walk Savannah and Loop it Up. If you or your friends have bikes that are collecting dust, but are still in good shape, please consider donating them. Bike Walk Savannah is also seeking businesses to serve as drop off locations.

 

Membership Chair Phelps Sarah Smith was inducted at today's meeting. Congratulations, Sarah! 

 

Foundation Chair Patrick Phelps announced that November is Foundation Month. Our current giving rate is 47.1 percent and 54 percent of our members are Paul Harris Fellows. 

 

Program Committee Chair Daniel Weiner reminded everyone to register for the in-person meeting at the JEA on Nov. 17— with speaker Dr. Marc Bailey — by 5 p.m. on Nov. 10. This will determine if we commit to the in-person meetings going forward. The following heath and Safety protocols will be in place at the JEA: 

• Separate Entrance
• Distant Tables
• Temperature Checks
• Hand Sanitizer
• Masks Worn Continuously During Meeting

You MUST register. If you would like to request lunch, do so in the comments.

 

 

President Jessica Pedigo reminded everyone to register for the remaining Metro Mania Showdown Series fundraising events and invite your friends buy their tickets. These events are not just for Metrotarians! Each person who attends an event will be entered to win a prize package worth more than $3,000. A complete list of remaining events and links to purchase tickets are available on our website. 

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Guests

Nicole Goggins was a guest of Leigh Acevedo.

Tom Kohler was a guest of Whitney Shephard.

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Membership Moment

Since George Seaborough has recently talked with us about his work with Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy, he decided to share facts about himself, including his full name: George Washington Seaborough III.  He has been married to his wife Connie for 14 years and they have a daughter. George earned an undergraduate degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration from Savannah State University. He enjoys playing billiards and pool, and working in his backyard and garden. He also enthusiastically encourages people to move to the Twickenham neighborhood. 

Featured Speaker

Marion Curry, assistant district governor for Area 9 (Ashburn, Fitzgerald, Ocilla, and Tifton), shared photos and videos from her work with Rotary in Uganda. Her focus has been primarily on water and school projects. Once clean water and schools are available, the next step is improving public health through medical clinics. Marion described programs that engage young people to promote health and healthy living among their peers. Her presentation included a video of wild car and motorcycle traffic in Kampala, a city of 1.7 million people, along with photos of the wildlife that can be seen in the countryside. She hopes to return to Uganda next year.

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Featured Speaker

Dave Lake, station manager at WRUU, was the speaker at the Oct. 20 meeting. He discussed how the all-volunteer community radio station has grown since it began broadcasting in 2017 and described WRUU's mix of music, public affairs, news, and cultural programming. In 2019 the station was selected as Best Local Radio Station and Best Talk Radio Station in the annual Connect Savannah Best of Savannah readers' poll. Because of the pandemic, the noncommercial station had to cancel its largest fundraising events and is now depending on donations from listeners to keep the station on the air. The station currently has more than 60 volunteers producing programs. Proposals for new shows can be submitted via the station's website.

Committee Reports 

Kelley Boyd announced that she is the proud owner of a mini Winnebago camper.

Jordan Chase reminded meeting attendees about the Emmaus House's Empty Bowl Fundraiser on Nov. 1. The online silent auction for handmade bowls is now underway.

Membership Moment: Sara Holton

Sara was Born in Springfield, Missouri, moved to Marietta when she was 9, then Savannah when she was 16 years old. She graduated from Savannah Christian, then went on to Georgia Southern. She has two children and has been married for 14 years. She has been working in the commercial furniture field since 2003. Her favorite aspects of her work are getting to know clients, identifying what they need, and determining how she can help them.

 

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The Junior League of Savannah was forced to cancel its annual Thrift Sale due to the ongoing pandemic, Elizabeth Summerell reported. Instead the League will be collecting donations to give to some of its community partners including Ronald McDonald House, Safe Shelter, Park Place, and Over the Moon Diaper Bank.

Jordan Chase reminded meeting attendees that tickets are still available for Emmaus House's Empty Bowl Fundraiser on Nov. 1. The online silent auction for handmade bowls begins Oct. 19. 

Whitney Shephard shared the story of how Josh Yates, who was trained an engineer, decided that he wanted to open a restaurant. A decade later, Green Truck Pub is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with a fundraiser for Loop It Up Savannah, a children's art contest, and giving gift cards to educators. 

George Seaborough announced he has launched a fundraising challenge for Chatham Savannah Citizen Advocacy.

News from the Sept. 15 Meeting

Membership Moment: Justin Hummel

Justin has moved back to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, a small university town. He had been running restaurant, but it has been closed since April. Now he's using the kitchen to produce four different kinds of pierogis that he and his wife sell at the farmers' market on weekends. Justin has been elected to the town council, serves on the library board, and is working on a plan to reopen the municipal pool.

 

 

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Committee Reports 

 

Service Committee Chair Jordan Chase reminded everyone to work on their Loop it Up "Something from Nothing" videos. Metro will help with a Victory Drive clean-up effort in conjunction with the City of Savannah's Great Savannah Cleanup on Oct. 24. Details to come. Through the end of the year, members who are concerned about participating in in-person events may make a $25 donation in lieu of attending.

 

Service Committee Chair Emeritus William McIntosh reported that Girls on the Run has not seen registration sufficient to continue as our service partner this year. As a result, we will shift to Bike Walk Savannah as the sole service partner for the year. We will still need volunteers to help with the Girls on the Run golf tournament on Oct. 15.

 

Membership Chair Cari Phelps reported that Sarah Smith is nearing completion of the new member intake process. Ellen Harris was inducted into Metro during the meeting. 

 

Foundation Chair Patrick Phelps announced we have reached the 50 percent mark on foundation giving. He encouraged members to check their Paul Harris Fellow progress. 

 

Family of Rotary: If you would like to earn additional points, you can help Jasmine Mills send out birthday and anniversary cards.

Other Announcements 

Alfred McGuire is sponsoring a Rotaract program at Woodville-Tompkins High School. He is looking for volunteers to participate in 15-minute virtual interviews in which they will share tips for success and insights to help the leaders of tomorrow.

 

The Grizzly Misfits are the current Metro Mania leaders.

 

Guests

Katie Balthrop attended as a guest of Daniel Weiner. 

 

 

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Commit to a committee! 

All Metro members are expected to serve on a committee. Contact the appropriate committee chair to volunteer:

 

Service: Jordan Chase

Rotary Foundation: Patrick Phelps

Membership: Cari Phelps

Communications: John Bennett

Family of Rotary: Jasmine Mills

Program: Daniel Weiner

 

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Featured Speaker: Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg 

 

Dr. Van Den Wymelenberg is director of the University of Oregon's Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory in Eugene and Portland, Oregon. He discussed the critical role buildings play in supporting public health, as indicated by the first thing we did after the pandemic began: We vacated buildings.

 

His research centers on microbiomes within buildings. Pathogens are detected using surface swabs, passive air settling in collection vessels, and collecting samples using active air pumps. Samples are sent through RNA sequencing to determine virus presence and concentrations. 

 

He said safer and healthier buildings can be designed with a blend of old and new technology. For example, they could feature windows that can be opened to improve ventilation along with viral monitoring technology.

News from the Sept. 1 Meeting

Membership Moment: Jasmine Mills

Jasmine shared her work over the last working as a fitness trainer/nutrition coach, and she led the meeting through some healthy stretching exercises while doing it. She is also studio manager at Salacia Salts. Born in Macon, she moved to Savannah five years ago.

 

Jasmine and her wife Brandi are now in the process of becoming foster parents. She reminded the meeting attendees that these days when we may be spending long days sitting in front of our screens, it's important to get up and move! 

 

 

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Committee Reports 

President Jessica Pedigo reminded members to complete the Munch Survey.

 

Service Committee Chair Jordan Chase announced that the September service project will be virtual. We'll work with Loop it Up on the organization's "Something from Nothing Challenge." Check your inbox for an email from Jordan with all the details.

 

At our next meeting, Prof. Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg will talk about how to manage office spaces during the pandemic. If you have ideas for future speakers, please contact Program Chair Daniel Weiner. 

 

Membership Chair Cari Phelps reported there are two members in the training program. 

 

Foundation Chair Patrick Phelps reminded members that a recurring foundation donation earns 10 Metro Mania points, a one time donation earns five. Wondering how to make a donation?  Watch this video. 

 

 

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Metro Mania standings updated

 

The Piledriver Posse is now leading the Metro Mania standings. Power up your team's points by: 

• Arranging an unofficial Munch with five other members 
• Sending a full body photo in wresting gear to Cecilia 
• Filling out the Munch survey

And enter those September points!
 

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Guests

Jeff Grant attended as a guest of Suzanne Kirk.

Armand Turner attended as a guest of Denise Grabowski.

 

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Commit to a committee! 

All Metro members are expected to serve on a committee. Contact the appropriate committee chair to volunteer:

 

Service: Jordan Chase

Rotary Foundation: Patrick Phelps

Membership: Cari Phelps

Communications: John Bennett

Family of Rotary: Jasmine Mills

Program: Daniel Weiner

 

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Featured Speaker: Beth Nelson of the Savannah Regional Film Commission 

 

Beth Nelson, executive director of the Savannah Regional Film Commission, was the speaker at the Sept. 1 meeting. Part of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, the commission works in three broad areas:

• Marketing the Savannah region as a premier filmmaking destination
• Recruiting, supporting, and retaining local film industry professionals
• Assisting with productions

Productions are looking for the best bang for their buck and SEDA has offered a number of incentives including a $25,000 bonus for hiring local crew members. The economic impact of local television and film production has grown from $18.1 million in 2014 to $125.6 million in 2019. Nelson noted MovieMaker Magazine has named Savannah the "best place to live and work as a film producer" and she said two developments that could further boost film production in Savannah include a purpose-built sound stage and direct flights between Savannah and Los Angeles. 

 

Jasmine Mills and her wife are in the process of becoming foster parents and needed to undertake some home improvement projects. She praised Daniel Weiner for doing a great job with the work and keeping her informed and on budget during the projects.

Denise Grabowski reminded everyone to complete the Census online if you have not already. 

Jamie Smith Arkins thanked Orlando Montoya for hosting another online trivia night. 

Ben Senger announced that Nexstar Media Group, which owns WSAV, launched  a new primetime national newscast on WGN America on Sept. 1. "News Nation" will air daily from 8 - 11 p.m. and will feature stores from local stations around the country, including WSAV.

Bret Bell will be performing in an online standup comedy show benefiting Performance Initiatives Savannah. He will share more details soon.

Cari Phelps announced the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force 2020 Wick Searcy Memorial Clay Shoot, which is scheduled for Sept. 25 at Forest City Gun Club. The event is named in memory of Amelia Harper's father, who was chairman of the board of the museum. For more information, email Amelia.

News from the Aug. 18 Meeting

Membership Moment: H. Lee Perry

Lee Perry talked about his work as business manager for the Savannah State University Foundation, where he oversees all the private and public ventures — he's also an SSU alumnus. Lee shared details of his family's deep roots in Savannah and talked about his previous work at Morgan Stanley, BB&T, and Carver State Bank. He's served on the board of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and is a past president of the 100 Black Men of Savannah. He continues to give back to the community by mentoring young people. 

 

 

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Classification Talk: Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith, director of digital content and marketing at WTOC-TV, shared how she works toward the goals of maintaining the station's digital dominance, discovering new audiences, and growing revenues. She explained the tools and tactics she uses in her work, including social media measurement. In addition to the field of broadcasting, she has also used her communications skills in the healthcare industry. She has lived in Savannah for 10 years.

 

 

 

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Service Partner Presentations

 

Caila Brown, executive director of Bike Walk Savannah, gave an overview of the organization's work to improve safety and mobility in Savannah neighborhoods that might not have received the attention they deserved in the past. Leah Kessler, executive director of Girls on the Run of Coastal Georgia and Low County, described how participation in GTR helps girls build confidence, and how she is adapting to the pandemic through virtual programming. Stay tuned to hear more about upcoming service projects.

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Guests

Jeff Grant attended as a guest of Suzanne Kirk.

Donna Pfendler attended as a guest of Mike Nadeau.

Rachel Cretella attended as a guest of Laura Lee Bocade.

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Recordings of Previous Infinite Possibilities Webinars Are Now Available

If you missed Dr. Sylvia Whitlock speaking about being the first female President in Rotary and how her club fought RI in court and went to the Supreme Court to allow females in Rotary, you can view it here.  

 

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Membership Moment: Erika Morrow

• Make sure to wear eye protection while working in the yard with power equipment.
• Wear UV protective eyewear if you're out in the sun.
• Eat plenty of greens. They are good for your eyeballs. 

Infinite Possibilities series celebrates women in Rotary 

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Classification Talk: Ellen Harris

Ellen talked about her work in historic preservation, including her service at the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission's Historic Preservation Department, teaching at the Savannah College of Art and Design, and launching her own consulting firm, Ethos.

 

The firm offers preservation planning, historic tax credit and tax freeze applications, grant writing, historic resources surveys,  historic structure reports, grant writing and more.  Ellen earned a bachelor's degree in medieval studies from the University of Birmingham and a master of fine arts degree in historic preservation from SCAD. 

 

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Know someone interested in becoming a Metro Savannah member?

Here's the summary of the New Member Process:

Guests interested in joining must attend one service project and two meetings, and find two Metro Rotarians to serve as sponsors. They must submit an application and pay the $200 New Member Program Fee to begin New Member Program, fulfill the 5 Step New Member Program, and pay prorated annual dues before induction.

New Member Program:

1. Learn about Rotary; read ABC's of Rotary

2. Prospective member attends Group Meeting No. 1: Orientation with a Membership Committee Member and Sponsors to provide background on Metro and Rotary International.

3. Prospective Member gives a Classification Talk.

4. Prospective Member attends Group Meeting No. 2 with representatives of Membership, Foundation, and a Past President to learn about a) ways to contribute to the Foundation and how the funds are used, b) Annual Service Project and c) Induction. 

5. Prospective Member serves as a greeter at two lunch meetings (in the future after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted).

Questions? Contact Cari Clark Phelps, membership chair.

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Metro Mania Standings 

The Mighty Mighty Bruised Bones are the current Metro Mania Champions, eeking out a slight lead over the Pile Driver Posse. Help your team claim the championship belt by participating in an August Munch, completing the membership survey, paying your dues, and updating your Metro Mania Points in the spreadsheet. 

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Featured Speaker: Ravi Vadlamadi 

Metro Inducts 2020/21 Board

We have a knack for P.A.C.K.

Let's get ready to rumble, Metro Maniacs!

Brags, Finds, and Whines

• Cari Clark Phelps announced that Salacia Salts has been in business for nine years!
• Erika Morrow was featured in Savannah Magazine
• Ariana Berksteiner  is featured in the United Way of the Coastal Empire's Women Who Rule campaign.
• Bret Bell the 2019/2020 club awards.
  • Best Attendance: Jamie Arkins
  • Best Volunteer: Daniel Weiner
  • Donna Shalala Making Rotary Awesome Award: Cari Clark Phelps
  • Sir Kenneth Fung Ping-Fan Award: Cody Tharpe
  • Rotarian of the Year: Sam Carroll

• Julie Wade and Jordan Chase invited Rotarians to a fundraising party to support fellow Metrotarians running for office - Denise Grabowski for District 1 school board and Lee Perry for County Tax Commissioner.  The event was Tues, March 3 from 5:30-7:00 at the Wade's residence and was limited to Metrotarians and spouses/partners. This was not an official Metro event. 
• Erika Morrow announced an event called What She Wants that will take place on April 4 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at ForSight. Local makers will be there and it's free to the public.
• Mike Nadeau announced it's race season!  Look forward to the Cure for Cancer Komen Race, Publix Women's Half (use code CECILIA10 for 10% discount off registration), and Make-a-Wish Trail Run.
• Jenny Woodruff gave a shout-out to Mike Nadeau and Fleet Feet for getting some new running shoes so she can chase her son around.
• Bret Bell gave a shout-out to Suzy Wallace for transporting our GRSP student around and connecting her to Darron Alvord for dental work.
• Cari Clark Phelps gave a shout-out to Patrick Phelps, Cody Tharpe, and Jason Somers for their project, Perry Lane Hotel, as the host hotel for the American Idol filming
• Jamie Arkins announced that Sarah Smith was on the cover of Ardsley Park Living
• Orlando Montoya is looking for a room to rent, ideally near Abercorn, ideally someone professional - perhaps a property management situation.  If you know of anything, please let him know!
• Orlando Montoya will present a message on themes of personal risk taking, starting anew, and personal transformation at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Savannah on Sunday, March 15 at 11 AM.
• Cecilia Arango is hosting Literary Leaders, a book club focusing on leadership skills.  The event takes place on April 2nd at Southbound Brewing from 5:00-7:00 PM. Grab a copy of Simon Sinek's "Start with Why" and join the discussion.

• Sheri Dean
• Dare Dukes
• Connie Keller
• Jessica Messere
• Erika Morrow
• Laura Sparks 

• Whitney Shephard invited Rotarians to Sunday Funday on Feb 23rd at Green Truck Pub to benefit Savannah Tree Foundation. Suzanne Kirk gave the poutine 2 thumbs up!
• Jeff Brady bragged about an amazing trip that he had with 5th graders to Rock Eagle
• Cari Clark Phelps announced the opening of a second location for her store, Salacia Salts, at 148 Abercorn Street
• Denise Grabowski thanked everyone for supporting her in her campaign for a seat of the Savannah/Chatham County Public School Board
• Lee Perry announced that he's running for Chatham County Tax Commissioner
• Jordan Chase and Julie Wade is throwing a fundraising party to support fellow Metrotarians running for office - Denise Grabowski and Lee Perry (and anyone else who wants to  jump into a 2020 race).  The event takes place on Tues, March 3 from 5:30-7:00 at the Wade's residence on 3410 Abercorn Street (house is at 51st and Vetsburg - facing a park that faces Abercorn). The event is limited to Metrotarians and spouses/partners, but is not an official Metro event. Check your emails for more information. There are opportunities for host sponsorships. Contact Jordan and/or Julie.
• Bret Bell reminded us that political fundraisers is not a club-sponsored event and club resources are not being used for it.
• Cecilia Arango is hosting Literary Leaders, a book club focusing on leadership skills.  The event takes place on April 2nd at Southbound Brewing from 5:00-7:00 PM. Grab a copy of Simon Sinek's "Start with Why" and join the discussion.

• Megan Burrows
• Lori Cook
• Ellen Harris
• Erika Morrow
• George Seaborough
• Sarah Smith

• Homeschooling their 10-year old son, Liam.  Mackie focused on English, while William handled math.
• Experiencing Tour de France was awesome!
• Air B&Bs are the best. Know when to book and find good deals.
• They traveled via train a lot and did camper vans
• Poland was super cheap and any countries in the north were expensive
• France is the only country that didn't speak English. Also - don't go to France in June.
• They packed 28 suitcases
• Their best meal was in Portugal

• Josh McIntosh, guest of DJ Spisso
• Ellen Harris (Ethos Preservation), former Metrotarian and guest of Cari Clark Phelps

• DJ Spisso bragged about Savannah Spirit, the newest for-profit franchise to join the Women's Premier Soccer League.  The team will kick off its inaugural season in WPSL this coming May. They're currently looking for Game Day Ambassadors and sponsorships! Send DJ an email if you're interested.
• Jenny Woodruff bragged about Savannah Music Festival's new SMF Local Partner initiative.  For $150, you'll receive a decal to display at your business identifying you as a partner in the community. Local Partners may offer discounts or specials at their discretion to SMF patrons. When posting to social media, use #SMFLocalPartner and SMF will share your offers with their social media community too. In addition, you'll be listed in the printed version of the official festival program and on the SMF website. Do it by Feb 28th!
• Julie Wade came with checks ready to support our 2 Metrotarians running for local offices!  We know one is Denise Grabowski as she runs for Savannah-Chatham County School Board District 1 (taking over Julie's seat) and we're waiting for our other mystery Metrotarian to announce his/her running!  Julie urged everyone to donate financially to their campaigns for support as elections have become more contested and more expensive - so support your fellow Metrotarians!
• Cindy Mullaly bragged on SCAD's upcoming event on Valentine's Day - Feb 14, 4 PM at Arnold Hall Theater - Savannah Women of Vision, commemorating women of peerless valor, altruism, and intellect. This year, the honorees include Clermont Huger Lee (one of the first women to lead a landscape architecture practice in Georgia and was the foremost expert in recreating historic landscapes in mid-20th century Savannah) and Suzanne Shank (a lauded veteran of the investment banking industry and chairwoman, CEO, and founding owner of Siebert Williams Shank & Co.).  Check out these women and details on the event here.
• Cecilia Arango along with several of her peers in the A/E/C industry are starting a book club focusing on leadership called Literary Leaders.  The first book club discussion takes place on Thurs, April 2, 5 PM at Southbound Brewing.  Pick up a copy of Simon Sinek's Start With Why and join the discussion.
• Chris DeLeon bragged on the Southeastern District Georgia Dental Association's Give Kids a Smile event happening across GA! Dentists provided free dental care for children on Fri, Feb 7th at Savannah Tech's Eckburg Auditorium. The volunteer initiative takes place each February in conjunction with Children's Dental Health Month and provides dental screenings, treatment, and education at no charge to underserved children in GA. 
• Sarah Smith wants you to know about the 5th Annual Savannah Autism Conference as part of The Matthew Reardon Center for Autism that took place Feb 6-7.  
• Arianna Berksteiner bragged on everyone who donated and attended Ms. Freda's retirement party.  Ms. Freda had been with Emmaus House for 20 years. Please welcome new executive chef, Ms. Brandy to Emmaus House!
• Kelley Boyd is hiring! Savannah Yoga Center is hiring a General Manager position. This is an above industry paid full-time position. Please send all your amazing leads our way via the Indeed job posting! https://indeedhi.re/38w0Zjg

• Kristen Crawley wants you to know that she's no longer with Savannah Bee Company
• Cari Clark Phelps bragged about her new Marketing Manager for Clark Creative and it's Kristen Crawley!
• Lee Perry bragged about the upcoming Savannah State basketball game social coming up on Feb. 20th.  Price will be $10.  Look for an upcoming email with the link to purchase tickets. 
• Denise Grabowski is running for Julie Wade's old spot - District 1 - on the Savannah-Chatham County Public School Board of Education. Rock the vote!
• Ryan Smith is on Board Chair and invites you to the upcoming 4th Annual Girls on the Run Pacesetter Concert on Sun, Feb. 16th from 5-7 PM at the 45 Bistro featuring local artists, Laiken Williams (vocals), Kristin King (harp), Maggie Evans (bass and vocals), Susanna Kennedy (violin, guitar, vocals), and Britt Scott (vocals, guitar). Suggested donation is $150 (single)/$250 (couple). Liza is part of the host committee. RSVP to Chris Carpentino at chris.carpentino@girlsontherun.org
• Emmy Burch bragged about the RISE national conference, doubling the size of the event.  She's putting her doctorate to work!
• Bea Saba whined about resigning from Metro.  She's leaving Savannah and will be the new director of the Bryan College Station Public Library System in Texas.
• Jason Somers bragged on his oldest kid as he's going to be a SCAD Bee starting in January
• Julie Wade invites you to the Park Place Gala on Friday, Feb 7th from 7-9 PM at the Plantation Club at The Landings.  Tickets are $150 with table sponsorships available. More info here
• Erika Morrow invites you to lafont., an exclusive eyewear trunk show and styling event on Thurs, Feb 6th at 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM at ForSight (350 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd).  There'll be snacks, wine, beer, and great deals on eye glasses!

• Ryan Smith, guest (and husband) of Liza Smith
• Jonathan Lee, guest (and husband) of Ann Kuhlke Lee
• Laiken Williams, guest of Cari Clark Phelps

• Adopted Budget - millage rate
• SPLOST passage
• Arena groundbreaking
• Vacancies filled
• 5-Year Capital Improvements Plan development
• Federal Highway money for DeRenne project
• New Public Works Complex
• Municipal Complex to house all City services
• Homelessness initiatives
• Choice Neighborhood Grant

1. Put your name on the list (email Liza)
2. Munchmaker Liza will match you up with two or three others
3. Your crew will have one month to make Munch happen
4. Post a pic on FB and tag Metropolitan Savannah Rotary because #PicsOrItDidntHappen
5. Get an attendance credit

ASP - HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SERVICE!

Mark your calendar for 2 exciting events that we'll need all hands on deck for:

• Jan 25, 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM (2 shifts with shift change starting at 11:30) - The Big Move and presentation of the Big Check! Please make an effort to be at the ReStore at 11:30 during the shift change. This is when we'll present our big check to Habitat for $10,000.  Our District Governor will be in atteendance as well.
• Feb 1, 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM (2 shifts with shift change starting at 11:30) - Final clean, staging, and touch-up of the old office on 70th Street

NEXT METRO CLUB SOCIAL - MOODRIGHT'S

We'll see you on Jan 28 at 5:30 PM at Savannah's only Duckpin bowling bar.  If you want to get there earlier and jump on some Happy Hour bowling, it starts at 4 and ends at 6 PM for $3 per person. Did you guys know there's a Beggars Banquet on the menu?  For $20, you get a beer, a slushie, pack of cigs, and 2 games for $20?!  I know where my next munch date is!

 

IF YOUR NAME ISN'T...

Leigh Acevedo, Darron Alvord, Cecilia Arango, Jamie Arkins, Bret Bell, Kelley Boyd, Jeff Brady, Sam Carroll, Danny Chase, Jordan Chase, Chris Corey, Kristen Crawley, Patton Dugas, Denise Grabowski, Will Gruver, Jasmine Mills, Sara Holton, Justin Hummel - homeboy doesn't even live here, Reshma Johnson, Suzanne Kirk, Anna Kuhlke-Lee, Denise McCoy, William McIntosh, Orlando Montoya, Jason Nielubowicz, Cari Phelps, Patrick Phelps, Jeanine Roach, Ben Singer, Whitney Shephard, Florence Slatinsky, Liza Smith, Jason Somers, Julie Wade, Daniel Weiner, Josh Yates THEN

 

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION - EVERY ROTARIAN EVERY YEAR

 

We're currently at 52% and we need to be at 100%!  What does this mean? It means your deadline to contribute to the Foundation is FEBRUARY 29TH! What if we don't make EREY?

 

BRET SAYS, "NOT ON MY WATCH!"

 

As a Club, we've pledged 100% club participation to have Every Rotarian Every Year make a contribution of at least $100. The good news is that the Club has already gifted $50 to your contribution. Please see below on how to complete your part:

 

Go here: https://metrosavannahrotary.org/ and select "Foundation" in the blue menu bar:

Or, go directly to https://my.rotary.org/en/donate

 

Select your cause in which you'd like to support.

 

Donate a minimum of $50 in order to qualify for your every Rotarian every year contribution "EREY".   Consider selecting a recurring donation for automatic annual contributions.

 

Please do not forget to SIGN IN, if you've forgotten your password, create a new one. If you have not signed up to the website, do so. Recognition will only occur if you sign in.

 

If you'd prefer to pay by check.  Complete the form in the link below and mail your contribution to the address at the bottom of the form or bring a check (payable to Rotary Foundation) or bring cash to the next meeting!

 

https://my.rotary.org/en/document/contribution-form-rotary-foundation

• DJ Spisso announced a new women's soccer franchise coming soon to Savannah! The new Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) will have its inaugural season in Savannah! The Savannah Spirit Soccer Club will play its games at Memorial Stadium as part of the WPSL Carolina Conference, Southern Division and is looking to partner with non-profits to help with game day events, as well as give back to their organization. Additionally, the Club has sponsorship opportunities that include Match tickets and VIP events. Please contact DJ at 912-224-8218 (for a good time) and more information.
• Jamie Smith Arkins bragged on Dr. Morrow's grand opening of Eye Sight and won a pair of awesome polarized sunglasses!
• Kelley Waldron bragged on Laura Lee Bocade for assisting St. Andrew School with its strategic initiatives!
• Cari Clark Phelps is hiring a Marketing Manager for Clark Creative! Know any good people, please send them Cari's way!
• Florence Slatinsky bragged on SEDA's annual meeting!
• Jasmine Mills is now married!
• Whitney Shephard Yates is calling for Metro Readers!  Come grow our #CommunityReadingSquad and join us at Brock Elementary on Wednesdays at 10 AM. You can read once a month or more.  Email Whitney if you're interested. It's a small commitment with a BIG impact on our youngest community members!
• George Seaborough invites you for Oysters on the Bluff at the lovely Isle of Hope Marina on Sun, Jan 26 from 3-6 PM to benefit Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy. There'll be artwork by Brittany Curry with InkyBrittany. Come and enjoy oysters, chili, hot dogs, beer, wine, and music. Cost: $35 per person in advance rain or shine. $45 per person at the door. Children under 13 are free. Sponsors include Georgia Ports Authority, Port City Logistics, Isle of Hope Marina, Gerald's Pig and Shrimp on Tybee, Team Callahan at Keller Williams Realty, Bouhan Falligant LLP, FPC of Savannah, Jon and Kimberly Pannell, The Patel Law Firm, David Lock, Twinkle Jewelry in City Market, Bonitz of Georgia, Mahany Construction Company, Royal Restrooms, Engel & Völkers Savannah, Hughes Public Affairs, 3PL Worx Logistics, Quentin Marlin, Michael M. Dobbs & Associates Insurance, Simply Children's Dentistry, Carroll Construction Company, Empire Logistics, Huey's on the River, Bezilla Kinney Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors... and more sponsors to come! Call 912-236-5798 for sponsorship opportunities. 

• Ellen Harris (Ethos Preservation), former Metrotarian and guest of Cari Clark Phelps
• Julie Moore (Savannah Yoga Center), guest of Kelley Boyd
• Joey Odom (DIRTT), guest of Laura Lee Bocade
• John Rodman (CRM Attorneys), guest of Lee Perry
• David Slatinsky (USI Insurance), guest and husband of Florence Slatinsky

1. Put your name on the list (email Liza)
2. Matchmaker Liza will match you up with two or three others
3. Your crew will have one month to make Munch happen
4. Post a pic on FB and tag Metropolitan Savannah Rotary because #PicsOrItDidntHappen
5. Get an attendance credit

• Owns Fleet Feet Savannah, sells "the experience", and is opening a second location in Pooler
• Quit smoking on his 40th birthday and started running
• Was in the Air Force for almost 9 years and worked in Intelligence (tell him secrets and he won't spill the beans)
• Completed 3 ultra marathons, 4 Ironman competitions, and is currently training for another ultra marathon
• GO GATORS! (even named his bulldog "Gator")
• Worked in the beverage industry - Red Bull
• Sits on the Bike Walk Savannah, Savannah Sports Council, and a Racing Committee with the City
• Suffers from hair dyslexia (it took 18 months to grow his luscious beard)

• Sam Carroll wants to remind you to bring a $25 Kroger gift Card to Tuesday's Club Assembly for the Tiny Homes residents - you'll receive a Service Credit!  
• Erika Morrow is hosting a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 4-7 PM (with ribbon cutting starting at 5:30 PM) for the newly opened ForSight, located in a newly restored building at 350 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd - diagonal from the newly renovated Enmarket.  ForSight was restored and decorated using reclaimed materials from Emergent Structures and other local businesses, including Forsyth Metalworks, Miracle Method, Brooks Construction, and 18Loves. Raffle tickets will be sold at the door for $10 each or 5 for $40 for a chance to win an Apple Watch, $100 Visa Gift Card, prescription eyeglass lens vouchers, free frames, INVU & Maui Jim Sunglasses, and gift cards for local small businesses.. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision as they work on building a walking path. 
• Cindy Mullalyy bragged on her good experience working with Dr. Ericka Morrow at ForSight!
• Julie Wade bragged on Josh & Whitney Shephard Yates for hosting a fundraiser at Green Truck for Park Place Outreach!
• Lee Perry bragged that Savannah State University won the SIAC conference! Picked to finish late at SIAC Media Days, the Tigers football team used it as motivation and rolled over the number two team in the division, Fort Valley State, notching a 53-24 win in front of the home crowd, solidifying their spot atop the SIAC East.  Lee is working on putting together a social to watch an upcoming SSU basketball game.
• Liza Smith says for those who signed up for Munch, you'll be assigned a date soon!  She's trying to schedule them all out instead of doing it all at one time.
• Darron Alvord is participating in Interfaith Light the World and shared a gentle reminder for us all to bless others during this holiday season
• Leigh Acevedo shared that her house on 604 Johnston Street is lit up in Christmas lights.  Come drive by and see the Acevedo's festival of lights!
• Anne Kuhlke Lee bragged on Daniel Weiner for being awesome and helping her out with some construction work!

• Suzanne Ansley (Camp Sunshine), guest of DJ Spisso
• Stephanie Irwin (Camp Sunshine), guest of DJ Spisso
• Amber Bradshaw (Best Version Media), guest of Jeff Brady
• Allison Falkenberry (Otium), guest of Cindy Mullally
• Laura Sparks (Ashley Business Solutions), guest of Jordan Chase
• Erika Morrow (ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear)
• John Rodman (CRM Attorneys), guest of Lee Perry

• Cari Clark Phelps bragged on her donors for her Facebook birthday fundraiser that started at a goal of $300 and raised almost $1,000 for school children in India. She's going to research to see if it can be matched for a total of $2,000! As a note, when you donate to Facebook, there are no fees!
• Julie Wade wants you aware that November is National Runaway Prevention Month! She also gave a shout-out to Cecilia Arango for being accepted into Leadership Georgia (side note: Julie nominated Cecilia) and also gave a shout-out to Thomas & Hutton for its Jeans Day helping raise $1,000 for Park Place Outreach!
• DJ Spisso bragged on everyone who voted and then threw out Bret Bell for Mayor 2020!
• Florence Slatinsky bragged on Ariana Berksteiner and Emmaus House's Empty Bowl Fundraiser and everyone who came out to support! 
• Bret Bell bragged on the exciting Arena project and also the first phase of Tide to Town and gave a shout-out to Denise Grabowski on being part of the team with contractor, Perkins & Will.

• Tim Cone (Georgia Tech)
• Elaine Ceccacchi (Engel Volkers)
• Erika Morrow (ForSight Unique Eye Care & Eye Wear)

unch Much?

1. Put your name on the list (email Liza)
2. Matchmaker Liza will match you up with two or three others
3. Your crew will have one month to make Munch happen
4. Post a pic on FB because #PicsOrItDidntHappen
5. Get an attendance credit
6.  

Elizabeth Sommerll gave a Classification Talk.  Here's a little bit of what we learned:

 - She's a Wake Forest graduate (7-1 Woo!)

 - Moved to Savannah 4 years ago and is from Northern Virginia

 - Her family used to own and operate a winery in Virginia

 - Plays kickball for the Pooler Plantains team

 - Serves as Treasurer for a few local non-profits in town and serves as Finance Director for Junior League

 - As an auditor, she hasn't dealt with any shady dealings to report to any Board of Directors

 - DOES NOT DO TAXES!! 

 

Thank you to Alfred McGuire for sending us action shots of Laura Lee Bocade with DIRTT as a guest speaker for the Woodville Tompkins Interact Club!  

About DIRTT:  DIRTT is a building process powered by technology. They’re changing the face of construction with industry-leading software and advanced manufacturing. Complete interior spaces are built faster, cleaner and more sustainably. DIRTT removes the guesswork with the power of ICE technology.

 

Looping Literacy Together, a literacy reading project with Loop It Up Savannah and Otis Brock Elementary, kicks off now! Thanks to our Metrotarians who are volunteering an hour out of their day to help read to Pre-K and Kindergarten classes!

 

"Head"ed to the "Mills" - Congratulations to Jasmine Head, now Jasmine Mills, who married her partner for life, Brandi Mills. We wish you a lifetime of love, light, and laughter!

• Julie Wade, Whitney Shephard Yates, and Josh Yates (Savannah Morning News) collaborated on Park Place, Green Truck raising awareness of runaway prevention 
• Julie Wade and Park Place Outreach (Savannah Morning News) with Bank of America naming Park Place in its new community investment program
• Julie Wade (Savannah Morning News) won't seek re-election for the District 1 SCCPS board. If you're interested in running for District 1, come to Coffee Deli on Nov. 20th to learn more.

• Denise Grabowski on WTOC talking to Savannah City Council on master plan laying out the future of Savannah - "We are asking Council to recognize the legacy we have inherited here in Savannah, and to plan for the future legacy of for our community." - D. Grabowski
• Denise Grabowski on GPB's Political Rewind talking about the exciting connectivity project, Tide to Town
• Cari Clark Phelps awarded 2019 Savannah Magazine's Best of Savannah - Best Graphic Designer
• Cecilia Arango featured in Savannah Morning News for her selection as Chairman of the Girls on the Run Fall 2019 5K Committee

• MIke Muldowney, District 6920 Governor
• Elizabeth Summerell
• Kelli Weis
• Sara Smith
• Michael Johnson

• Lee Perry gave shout-outs and kudos to the planning team for a great House Party for Habitat fundraiser! Also, Go 49ers!!
• Kelley Boyd whined about having to miss the House Party for Habitat!  Some brags include her 4-month old shop, Ordinary Magic, is doing AWESOME! Come check it out on the corner of Bull & Anderson Street.  It's great for finding the perfect birthday, employee, hostess, boss gifts.  
• Leigh Acevedo has the perfect rental find for you!  She has a rental available - 3 BR/1.5 Bath house in Forrest Hills (Skidaway & DeRenne) for $1300/month. Pet(s) negotiable. Huge fenced-in backyard, updated kitchen, and nearby park - all in a quiet centrally located neighborhood.  Spread the word!
• Whitney Shephard is looking for Metro readers to join the #CommunityReadingSquad with Loop It Up! Molly Lieberman with Loop It Up is scheduling volunteers at Brock Elementary for our weekly reading (you'll only need to commit to once per month.  If you can swing twice a month, even better!) If you'd like to join the Squad, please fill out this form and you'll be contacted to read.
• Jessica Pedigo wants you to send her any sponsorship requests if you have them - don't forget to add your pitch!  Sterling Seacrest is taking a look at their budget now so if you want $$, send in your requests!
• Jamie Arkins announced that there'll be a Habitat for Humanity Women's Build Happy Hour Wine Event taking place on November 14th at the Savannah Wine Cellar from 5:30-7 PM.  RSVP to development@habitatsavannah.org if you plan to attend. They'll cover your first glass of wine.  Also, come out and support Sunrise Rotary's Trick or Trot 5K that will be happening on Sat, October 26th starting at the Islands YMCA at 8 AM.

• Whitney Shephard invites you to Deep in the Streets, a fall fiesta and fundraiser for the Deep Center, on Sat, Oct. 26th from 5-8 PM on Desoto Avenue next to Starland Yard.  Green Truck will be among the food caterers.
• Whitney Shephard held a fundraiser for Hurricane Dorian relief efforts on Mon, Sept 23. The restaurant donated 10% to Rotary's on-the-ground disaster recovery campaign run by local Rotarians in the affected areas. 
• Bret Bell bragged on the City of Savannah's groundbreaking for the $165 million arena project held on Sept. 13th
• Sam Caroll bragged on a successful "Wish List" drive for Habitat for Humanity. 14 of our members participated and Sam delivered $350 worth of supplies and gift cards to Habitat for Humanity. Harold and his Habitat were very appreciative. 
• Cecilia Arango brags on Orlando Montoya and Jamie Smith Arkins for all their help on gathering all the information for Rotary Repeats!

• Whitney Shephard is calling all her runner friends!  Who wants to be in a posse of 5K or 10K runners to support GRSP? Whitney's running the 10K for Savannah Sunrise Rotary's Trick or Trot event on Sat, Oct. 19th. There's already one metro team, but it'd be fun to have more! $35 for the 10K and $25 for the 5K. If enough people sign up, Whitney may be reviving the Hulk Hogan costume! Um...there may be burgers after the race. SIGN ME UP, brother! 
• Orlando Montoya celebrated his 20th Savannahversary on Fri, Aug 23rd at Edgar's Proof and Provision 
• Bret Bell announced a City of Savannah master plan workshop for the Canal District held on Thur, Aug 22 at the Coastal Georgia Center
• Jenny Woodruff is excited that she found child care!
• Cari Clark Phelps is excited about an upcoming trip to LaCoste France

• Jason Nielubowicz was recognized by Judge Realty as Top Producer for July 2019
• Robert McCorkle was recognized by Savannah Magazine with a feature on his house, formerly that of Johnny Mercer, in a recent issue

• Steven & Jessica Alford, new Savannah residents - Steven worked in PR in Texas and Jessica's joining WTOC as on-air reporter, Jessica Savage 
• Kelli Weis, Sotheby's International Realty
• Karen Terry, Memorial Health
• Laura Sparks, Ashley's Business Solutions
• Melinda Fradley, Savannah Children's Choir

 

NEW BOARD, WHO DIS?

Check out our new 2019-2020 board!  Can you believe this photo shoot was organized in 2 days and everyone showed up?!  On top of that - in 100-degree weather?!  I secretly gave myself the Sally Field's "They Really Like Me" speech as I walked to my car drenched in sweat. Thanks for your cooperation, you beautiful people, you!

 

Metro's Board of Directors include:

• President - Bret Bell
• President Elect - Jessica Pedigo
• Immediate Past President - Whitney Shephard
• Treasurer - Cody Tharpe
• Secretary - Will Gruver
• Sergeant at Arms - Sara Holton
• Service Chair: Sam Carroll
• Foundation Chair: Patrick Phelps
• Membership Chair: Cari Phelps
• Communications Chair: Cecilia Arango
• Directors at Large: Jason Nielubowicz, Liza Smith, Jordan Chase

 

CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES!

With Bret now at the helm, he would like to enrich Metro with the following:

• Tacos
• Top 10 Lists for everything
• The 4-Way Test is now the 5-Way Test.  Repeat after me -  Of the things we think, say, or do,
  1. Is it the TRUTH?
  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
  4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
  5. **NEW** Will it be AWESOME?
• Metro in the News Spotlights
• Prezi please, let's make PPTs great again!
• Your Facebook photos will need to be set to private and hidden unless you want them shared via PPT 
• But seriously, Bret's goals include:
  • Increase the club size by 6 members
  • Add more networking opportunities
  • Every member does a service project
  • Enhance Metro's stature in Savannah
  • Make Metro More Awesome

 

EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY WITH LOOP IT UP

Rotary Area 1 clubs, including Metro, Sunrise, Savannah (Downtown),and Skidaway Island, will participate in early childhood literacy with Loop It Up as a sustained partnership with underserved schools.  This will be an extension of the book box project we did a few years ago. We'll be doing book drives, reading to classes, etc. and the program will be focused on Pre-K and Kindergarten.  If you're interested in helping, please contact Whitney Shephard!

• August 24 - Habitat for Humanity.  Two shifts available:  8:30 - 11:30 and 11:30 - 2:30 at 1106 E. 70th Street
  • Some of the work that needs to be done include repairs to the fence and stairs, tree trimming, pressure washing, and painting.  Please go online and sign waivers.  We are looking for tools, trucks, and chop saws.
• Fundraiser - come on out for Hops for Habitat at Coastal Empire Beer on Aug 24 from 7:00-9:00 PM to benefit Habitat for Humanity.  There'll be live music from SOAP and food from Big Bon Pizza! Tickets are $35.

• Almost (New) Members include Elizabeth Summerell and Reshma Johnson
• (Retired) Members include Jennifer Huskey (she is pursuing her endeavors in jewelry making), Josh Brooks (building an empire with Brooks Construction, but we'll see more of Josh as he chairs our ASP, Habitat for Humanity), and Jake Crawley (who is now working at Byrd Cookie Company)

• Stacy Cleveland, guest of Emily Burch
• Valerie Kirk, daughter/guest of Suzanne Kirk
• Sarah Smith, WTOC, guest of Jamie Smith Arkins
• Alexis Spisso, daughter/guest of DJ Spisso
• Karen Terry, Director of Operations at Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute, guest of Jordan Chase
• Hunt's Belly Hump, future child of Drew Hunt

• Julie Wade announced that Savannah/Chatham County Schools are back in session and thanked everyone who proudly says #wechoosepublicschool!
• Denise Grabowski announced that she's going to be on NPR's Political Rewind on Aug 19th!  Set your stations to the NPR Podcast and listen to the current political issues and hear from the decision makers.
• DJ Spisso announced his new position over at the National Guard!  Congrats!
• Cecilia Arango announced that tickets for HAIR, THE AMERICAN TRIBAL-LOVE ROCK MUSICAL are still available.  Thanks to Metrotarians, Jamie Smith Arkins and Daniel Weiner, who came out to support!  This weekend is the final run of the show.  Don't miss out! Check out this awesome review posted in Connect Savannah!
• Liza Smith announced the Girls on the Run Pace-Setter concert featuring local female powerhouse musicians that took place on Sun, Aug 11th to raise money for scholarships for Girls on the Run!
• Ann Kuhlke Lee announced her last day at SCAD!  She has opened up her own therapy business and it's located near Green Truck! 
• Ariana Berksteiner announced the Aug 30th benefit, Feeding the Soul: Comedy Fundraiser, for Emmaus House. Front Porch Improv will host the event at Ghost Coast Distillery and will feature comedy and storytelling mix starring some of Savannah's most brilliant storytellers and improvisers telling true stories and witty comedic scenes. 
• Emily Salzer announced that she is no longer with the YMCA and has taken over Roger Moss' former position over at the Savannah Children's Choir. Congrats!
• Leigh Acevedo announced that they are moving into a new house!

 

CHEERS TO WHITNEY SHEPHARD YATES!

This is the look of someone about to pass the gavel to the next Metro president! Here's a recap on how Metro (AKA Large Club of the Year) did this year with Whitney at the helm:

• We gave!
  • $296 per person to TRF
  • 80% sustaining members
  • 1 new Bequest Society member
  • 1 new Benefactor
• We worked!
  • 26 service projects and counting
  • 418 man hours of service and counting
• We grew! (+1 member net)
• We bragged!
  • Media stories
  • Newsletters, social media, and website

 

DISTRICT 6920 ANNOUNCEMENTS

District Governor, Margaret Jacob thanks you for your service, your support, and friendship and signs off with our District accomplishments for the year:

• Saving Lives Through Medicine
  • Opened its 5th clinic on June 13th in Augusta. Map International now supports 37 clinics due to Rotary's Inspiration
• Global Grants supported by 6920 Foundation giving has provided
  • American farmers in Puerto Rico the opportunity to grow their own food
  • A well for genocide survivors in Uganda
  • Wash stations for girls in India
  • Safe haven for women in Nepal
  • Water in every house in Haiti
  • Women's health support in Guatemala
• Feeding the Hungry throughout the District with the support of Back Pack Buddy, food banks, food drives, packing events, food baskets, and soup kitchens
• Tiny Houses for homeless vets first section opened in Savannah and plans drawn for Brunswick
• End Polio Now campaign has support
• Effective July 1st, Rotary International will have online Grants Training available for all Rotarians
• And support District Governor Elect, Mike, in his year with "Rotary Connects the World"

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR CHANGE IN MEETING DATE!

The first July meeting is July 9th (instead of July 2nd) due to the 4th of July holiday.  It's a new year with a new board and....TACOS! Feliz Ano Nuevo Metro!  Let's TACO about the different committees and how you can help! Also, Bret Bell sent everyone the Bylaws for new membership changes.  A vote is required for that so please take a look at it.  The budget for 19-20 will be also be sent out soon!

• June 29 - Loop It Up's A-Town MiniFest - there'll be 3 PM and later shifts
• July 11 - Emmaus House

• Jordan Chase bragged on this year's TEDx Savannah and how inspiring it was!  There were about 8 Metrotarians present at the event. You must check it out next year!  Don't forget that our our very own, Laura Lee Bocade, sits on the TEDx Board.
• Jamie Arkins bragged on Cari Clark Phelps for being named Savannah Chamber's 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year! Who knew you could be rewarded for being the "crazy" behind 3 businesses - Clark Creative Communications, Salacia Salts, and Faux Show Table Covers - as well as 2 community initiatives, Make Savannah and cSpot!
• Leigh Acevedo bragged on being Mother of the Year as she whined about finding her 18th month old chilling in the toilet! #littleshit
• Kelly Boyd wants you to know about Ordinary Magic, an offshoot of Savannah Yoga Center.  It had a soft opening this past Friday, June 21st, to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Come by and visit to pick up some skin, hair, and face small batch products that are all female owned companies from around the US and Canada.  The store will also carry medicinal herbal elixirs, adaptogen products, books, jewelry, rocks/minerals, tarot/oracle cards, and all your magical life needs!   
• Lee Beckmann brags on this year's Leadership Southeast Georgia program!  He congratulates our very own, Laura Lee Bocade, from graduating Class of 2019!  A big shout-out to Cecilia Arango who planned the Chatham County session on Health & Infrastructure; Suzanne Kirk as our site administrator; and tour guides and panelists, including Bret Bell, Whitney Shephard, and John Bennett.

• Laura Sparks, Sales Executive at Ashley Business Solutions, guest (and college roommate) of Jordan Chase
• Karen Terry, Director of Operations at Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute, guest of Jordan Chase

• Robyn Carroll, President of the Jewish Educational Alliance, guest (and wife) of Sam Carroll
• Laura Sparks, Sales Executive of Ashley Business Solutions, guest (and college roommate) of Jordan Chase

• Ann Kuhlke Lee is looking for a reasonably priced office space, ideally in mid-town or downtown to start a private practice.  Hit her up with any suggestions/leads you may have!
• Danny Chase bragged on the Tybee Tri team - Jordan Chase, Kristen Crawley, and Kathleen Anderson!
• Patton Dugas bragged on closing a deal thanks to Danny Chase!
• Kristen Crawley wants you to know about an upcoming World Trade Center's Quarterly Exporter Roundtable: Exporting Basics, 5 Things Every Exporter Should Know on Tues, June 25th. 
• Reshma Shah Johnson bragged about hosting 2 Savannah Bananas for the summer!  Keep a look out for #34 and #21!

• She was 1 of 42 GRSP students from all over the world based in Georgia
• THANKSGIVING!
• She learned programming as part of her job as an IT Student Technician
• TURKEY!
• She was involved in Rotaract as one of the coordinators and is excited that they're trying to start an Interact club here
• GIVING THANKS!
• She also served as an Event Coordinator for the International Student Organization and enjoyed learning the different cultures
• STUFFING/DRESSING!
• She had fun celebrating different holidays not observed in Brazil. Thanksgiving is her favorite and she also wants Savannahians to never compare Savannah's St. Patrick's Day to Brazil's Carnival.  "It's definitely not like Carnival."
• Cue Taylor Swift's "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22" because Vitoria did turn 22 in March!
• APPLE PIE!!
• What's next?  Vitoria plans on heading back to Brazil next month.  She'll graduate in 2 years and will try to get an internship here in the US, as well as her Masters.  She was diggin' Boston!
• Vitoria's advice to upcoming GRSP students?  "Be open to what comes.  Don't come with high expectations. Learn new things."

• Susan Klein, Skidaway Island Rotary and GRSP Trustee for Vitoria Pagliaci

• "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die"  - Cersei "and you also take a day off work to recover" - Lee Perry.  He announced that it was his first day back to work after watching the series finale of Game of Thrones and after watching it, Lee signed the petition because "you know nothing, Jon Snow."
• Lee Perry also gave a shout-out to Amelia Harper, Cari Clark Phelps, and Jessica Pedigo for their hard work on putting together the Mighty 8th's 2019 Legacy Ball. 18 Metrotarians came out to support!  Way to go!
• Kristen Crawley bragged on Kathleen Anderson and Jordan Chase on getting her ready for her first sprint tri! Kristen had a #butdidyoudie moment and these girls got her through the mild panic attack!
• Something to write "ommmm" about - Kelley Boyd bragged about the lifestyles shop, Ordinary Magic (located at 1323 Bull Street - corner of Bull/Anderson), will be opening on June 1st! Carrying female-owned, small batch natural skin, body, and hair care, crystals, jewelry, adaptogens, herbs, and tonics, Ordinary Magic is an offshoot of Yoga Center.  Also, join the 30-day yoga challenge running June 1-30 at Savannah Yoga Center!  Community, accountability, strength, zen, and fun! Stay connected to your health and well-being goals with yoga!
• Ariana Berksteiner bragged that Theo turned 1 on Sunday! 
• Bea Saba wants you to know about NoveList Plus and NoveList K-8 Plus. These are free databases provided to all patrons of Live Oak Public Libraries to help you find books you'll want to read based on titles, authors, series, or genres. Find "Read-alikes" - books based on content or author. Search by title, author, series, etc. and you’ll find a list of similar Read-alikes on the right sidebar of the page.  Password cavern expires on 8/6/2019. To continue using that resource, be sure to obtain a library card to access new password after that date and by logging on here for the new password. For more information, visit your local community library or at www.liveoakpl.org. And don’t forget to sign your kids up for our Summer Reading Program. Happy Reading!

• Julie Wade wants you to know about Go South Summer where Yale student interns will be working with Savannah non-profits.  This year, they'll be working at Park Place, Deep Center, Step Up Savannah, and Inspiritus Refugee Resettlement (formerly Lutheran Family Services).  They are looking for 2 more hosts to provide housing for these amazing college students from June 3-July 28th.  If you're interested in hosting or know someone who might be, please get with Julie.  Julie served as a host last year and can answer any questions you may have!  

• Mike Nadeau, Owner/Manager of Fleet Feet Savannah - guest of Cecilia Arango

• Cecilia Arango bragged about trapping her man (husband) for 20 years! Happy anniversary!
• Jamie Smith Arkins announced that it's Katie Joyner's birthday! Happy birthday!
• Suzanne Kirk invites you to join her Komen Race for the Cure team, Kirk Krusaders!  Sign up here! Also, ladies (and dudes) come to the Pink Party upstairs at 40 Volume Salon on April 2nd for hair extensions and other services, pop-up shopping, and raffles!  Join the party here!  Save the date for April 11th for Hahas for Tatas, a comedy fundraiser starring "everyday comedians", including 2 of our own Metrotarians, Cecilia Arango and Bret Bell. Limited seating.  Laugh with us here!
• Jessica Pedigo announced that she and Cari Phelps are helping Amelia Harper chair the Might 8th Gala on May 11th.  Amelia's father asked her to chair the gala before he passed away.  He was very involved in the museum and was serving as chairman of the board when he passed. The Gala will be an open bar and seated dinner, with a silent and live auction - including raffle tickets for $50 for a trip to Napa! This year's theme is the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the event will also include a special tribute to Amelia's father. Get your tickets here!
• Kelley Boyd announced that Savannah Yoga Center is expanding the first floor of its current building and will be expanding current classes to include Healthy Aging Yoga classes, qigong, and a retail store called Ordinary Magic - all slated to open May 2019!
• Jessica Thomas bragged on Will Gruver's LLS Man of the Year All-Star campaign and announced the fundraiser Oyster Roast for a Cure on Sat, April 27 from 5-9 PM at the Dutch Island Pool.  $40 per person and you can pay cash, check, or Venmo to @Will-Gruver. There'll be oysters, BBQ, beer and wine, as well as live music by Patrick Connell.
• Leigh Acevedo bragged on the Rotary Read-In and gave kudos to all the Rotarians who participated in reading to our elementary schools!
• Jenny Woodruff bragged on the volunteers (Jamie Arkins, Sam Carroll, Chris Corey, and Jake Crawley) for volunteering at the Musical Explorers Fam Jam session!  Get excited because the Savannah Music Festival is here!

• Leigh Acevedo's find is the Ocar-winning documentary on the Pad Project in India.  The film is called "Period. End of Sentence" and it's on Netflix.  Highly recommend!  "A period should end a sentence, not a girl's education." www.thepadproject.org
• Cari Clark Phelps has a shout-out for her "banker on my back", Patton Dugas.  Patton and Robert McCorkle's team helped Cari secure and close a loan on her office building.
• Jamie Smith Arkins gave a shout-out to Will Gruver as one of LLS' All Stars.  Will originally ran locally in Savannah in 2014. With his 5-year campaign anniversary, Will decided to run NATIONALLY as an All-Star Candidate.  He's running against alumni from across the country.  His theme is music related - "Getting the Band Back Together".  The campaign is 10 weeks from Feb. 21 - May 3rd.  Check it out at 10weektour.com 
• Lee Perry gave a shout-out to Whitney and Josh for throwing a fun Metro Midway!  He's now working on his own man-cave.
• Ariana Berksteiner wants everyone to know that she WON the chili cook-off!

• It was our first meeting at the Knights of Columbus. DJ Spisso asked if we could open the bar. 
• Cecilia Arango wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year and donated some dolla bills she stole from her kids' lucky red envelopes.  Orlando Montoya taught us how to say "Happy New Year" in Vietnamese.
• Jamie Arkins Smith gave a shout-out to those who were able to attend The Grey's fundraiser for the staff of The Green Truck since it was temporarily closed due to a kitchen fire.  **Happy to announce that it's officially open as of Feb. 14th!  Happy Valentine's Day!
• Jenny Woodruff was excited to talk about the upcoming Savannah Music Festival starting March 28 - April 13. Tickets are available online now!  In addition, on March 9th, explore music and art with family and friends at this FREE event - Musical Explorers Family Jam - presented in partnership with last year's annual service partner, Loop It Up Savannah, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers - Savannah.  The concert starts at 11 AM and 1:30 PM.
• Lee Perry announced that he hates the Patriots.  Go 49ers!
• Julie Wade thanked Josh and Whitney Shephard Yates for helping non-profits while cleaning out their kitchen at The Green Truck.  
• Whitney Shephard wants to thank Savannah for all the love and support!  
• Bea Saba wants you to know that Live Oak Public Libraries is presenting Amazing Stories by Award-Winning Authors on Sat, Feb. 16th!  Jessica Kensky & Patrick Downes, survivors of the Boston Marathon, will be at Southwest Chatham Library at 2:00  PM and will present an engaging program about overcoming adversity.  Kwame Alexander & Randy Preston will be at the Bull Street Library at 2:30 PM and will present moving stories and beautiful photography from Ghana. These events are for all ages and are free and open to the public. 

1. A robot must not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the order given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

• Originally from Jacksonville, FL
• Grew up in Rotary with her father taking her to meetings as early as age 7 or 8 
• Went to Georgia Southern University
• Moved to Nashville where she met her husband and started her career with Whole Foods in 2013 there
• The opening of Whole Foods in Savannah brought them here
• Career change in 2015 - YMCA/SCCPSS partnership - Pryme Tyme after-school program - non-profit was a big change for her since she's a "spreadsheets and timelines" kind of person - very organized
• Pryme Tyme has been around for 30 years in 37 schools
• Husband, Jason, teaches at Georgia Southern University at Armstrong Campus and is a musician
• They have a 7-year old boy and two 3-year old twin boys
• Active members of First Presbyterian Church
• An only child and her parents relocated to Savannah and she likes having them nearby

• Denise Grabowski announced that
  • There's a new Bike Walk Savannah Initiative called Ardsley in Motion to keep street conditions safe.  Also, Bike Walk Savannah (was Savannah Bicycle Campaign) was a finalist for the #FundMyStreets community grant.  Their road safety idea was selected to win up to $50,000 to improve road safety in our local community. Denise asked for support on Twitter by retweeting the #FundMyStreets video link.  A panel of expert judges will award up to $50,000 to the finalist with the best plan and video.  
  • The Chatham Area Transit Authority is proud to announce its Let's Go! Designing Better Transit Together Initiative, which will result in a system-wide redesign of the community's fixed-route bus network. Residents were invited to learn and provide feedback at the first community open house on Jan 15th. An online webinar will be presented on Wed, Jan 23 from noon to 1 PM. To register, send an email to letsgo@catchacat.org.
• Jessica Pedigo's father agreed to build all 23 beds for the first phase of the Tiny House project and needs to have the beds complete by the end of January. For a good time and also if you're interested in volunteering, call Jessica (912-441-5822) as they will be getting together other days throughout the month.  There's still some priming to be finished and the actual building of the beds. 
• Ariana Berkstiner was fishing for sympathy and asking if anyone had a quiet room for her to catch some zzzz's since her 7-month old is teething and her 4-year old is having night terrors.  HALP!
• Leigh Acevedo celebrated the new year with her favorite people and stayed up til 1:30 AM! She gives a big shout-out to her mom for watching the baby!
• Kelley Boyd hosted a Free Yoga-Yoga Fest on Jan 19th at the Savannah Yoga Center.  Free 40 minute classes were offered on the hour from 9 AM to 4 PM!
• Laura Lee Bocade announced that the Banff Mountain Film Festival tickets are on sale now.  The event takes place on Fri, April 20th at the Lucas Theatre from 7 - 9 :30 PM.  Bike Walk Savannah will be raffling a mountain bike from Quality Bike Shop along with other exciting prizes. 
• Orlando Montoya mentioned
  • The Confucius Institute at Savannah State is offering free Mandarin classes.  Last year, they canceled classes because there wasn't enough attendance.  Email confuciusinstitute@savannahstate.edu for more information.
  • The final Day Trip involves cattle, ticks, and raptors - Feb 2 to Statesboro, GA.  This trip raises fund for our annual service partner, ORK, and our global grant project.  You'll be visiting Hunter Cattle, the US National Tick Collection and Raptor Center at Georgia Southern.
• Jamie Arkins gave a big shout-out to the volunteers who helped with our first Annual Service Partner project with Ogeechee Riverkeeper.  We were able to tag 16 storm drains.
• Justin Hummel and his fiance, Kim, moved back to PA.  We'll miss them for sure!  The good news is Patrick Phelps will be taking Justin's place as Foundation Chair.  Welcome Patrick!
• There's no place like home, said Kevin Klinkenberg as he and his family moved back to Kansas.  
• Thank you to Robert McCorkle for opening up your home and to the host committee for the incredible holiday oyster roast on Dec 16th!
• Emmy Burch is back!  She finished up her term with a 4.0!
• Jenny Woodruff is back after 6 months of practically missing from Rotary
• Jamie Arkins asked that we keep Clint Murphy and his family in our thoughts and prayers.  Clint's father,  Johnny Murphy, passed away on Dec. 19th.  

• Michael Solomon with Synovus Bank, guest of Suzanne Kirk
• Zach Thomas with Bergen & Bergen PC, guest of Jessica Pedigo
• Daislyn Garcon with City of Savannah Water & Sewer Department, guest of Jonas Subaar
• Cam Patterson, father and guest of Emily Salzer
• Tim Cone with GA Tech, guest of Leigh Acevedo

  

• Jessica Pedigo was named Rotarian of the Year. As Grants Chair, Jessica took the lead on many important initiatives, including the wildly successful Grand Prix for SBC tricycle races.
• Ben Barksdale was named Volunteer of the Year. Ben logged the most volunteer hours in the Club, and received a separate volunteer award from the Savannah Bicycle Campaign for his efforts.
• Special Club awards went to Secretary Bea Saba, who keeps track and follows through on all the things that would otherwise cause Metro to melt into a useless puddle; and Foundation Chair Jordan Chase, whose efforts secured EREY status for Metro.