Committee Reports

Featured Speaker: Zerik Samples

Zerik is the Chief Executive Officer of the Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity. He hails from Brunswick and has 9 years in non-profit under his belt. District Governer Mike Muldowney told Zerik to visit the Metro club and he's never looked back since!

 

Habitat for Humanity prides itself on bringing people together and hopes for a world where everyone deserves a decent place to live. With Habitat's focus on shelter, for more than 40 years Habitat has done just this: "Build Homes, Communities and Hope". Habitat wants to be part of a larger solution to help our county and region. In fact, Habitat partnered with Local Farmbag to help building a refrigerated container to store produce longer to keep them from rotting too quickly. 

 

Habitat is comprised of three major services: Contractors, Homeowner Services, and the ReStore. General Contractors and sight supervisors to teach you how to use the nail gun and do other building tasks. Homeowner services is homeowner education which contributes to building families by offering financial planning, first time homebuyer classes, and owners are required to put in 350 sweat equity hours. The ReStore is a conduit of resources from local furniture stores in which items are too expensive to ship back. 

 

Since COVID, Habitat has built 5 new homes. They are currently 8 partner families in the homeowner services program, and 5 mortgages were burned. Habitat hosted one CEO build and one women's build. There are developments in process on Darling St., Spivey St., and they received a two-acre donation of land in Garden City. Habitat is always look for volunteers! Mark your calendars for the following upcoming Habitat events and fundraiser: Sept. 27 - Hops for Habitat at Moodright's; Oct. 18 - Sips at the Station benefiting Habitat at Ardsley Station; Dec. 7 - Annual Home for the Holidays Gala 

 

 

Committee Reports

President Will Gruver opened the meeting by informing us that September is Rotary International's Basic Education and Literacy month and reminded us to 1) bring a guest, 2) participate in Service with Brightside, and 3) sign up and attend RLI! Rotary Leadership Institute registration for the September 10th session at GA Tech Savannah Campus. Click here to register: http://rlitraining.org

 

 

Our Annual Service Partner Brightside's newest Bright House on Wheaton St. is close to being ready to receive people in need of service. Our next service day is September 17th, 9:00am-12:00pm. Please contact Kristen Crawley and Chelsea Sawyer to help plan the ASP Fundraiser!

 

Sarah Smith announced that St. Andrew's School will be chartering a new Interact Club for middle school students! Member Kelly Waldron, Headmaster is spearheading this project with Metro's help.  

 

GRSP student Beatriz will be speaking to our club soon - her classes get out at 12:15pm. Oct. 14-16 will be GRSP Weekend here in Savannah.

 

Mark your calendars: Metro Holiday Party on Tuesday, November 30! 5th Tuesday celebration. Location and time to be announced. 

 

Guests

• Emily Doherty, Marketing Director with Great Oaks Banks - guest of Cecilia Arango
• Jason Usry, Marketing Director with WJCL and podcaster - guest of Sarah Smith
• Bill Kelso, VP of Mission Advancement with Goodwill Southeast Georgia - guest of Cecilia Arango
• Jason Marshall, COO with Goodwill Southeast Georgia - guest of Cecilia

Rotary Anniversaries

Derek Goldfarb celebrates one year in Metro in September!

Committee Reports

President Elect Jasmine Mills filled in as the pinch hitter for Will and called the meeting to order. She focused on membership and new club development month. Let's all follow her lead and go to bat bringing a guest to our next meeting! Rotary Leadership Institute registration for the September 10th session at GA Tech Savannah Campus. Click here to register: http://rlitraining.org

 

 

Our Annual Service Partner Brightside's newest Bright House on Wheaton St. is close to being ready to receive people in need of service. Our next service day is September 17th, 9:00am-12:00pm.

 

Guests

• Emily Doherty, Marketing Director with Great Oaks Banks, was guest of Cecilia Arango
• Paul Stevens, guest of George Seaborough

 

Featured Speaker: Bob Ohrablo

Bob is the president of the Savannah Ghost Pirates Hockey Team and is beyond excited about their presence in Savannah. He is a fellow Rotarian in Jacksonville, FL and is starting his 38th hockey season this fall. The ECHL has 28 teams and the newly formed Savannah team is affiliated with the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Henderson, NV Silver Knights. Opening Day for the Ghost Pirates is November 5th, 2022 and Girls on the Run of Coastal GA will the charity partner for that night. (GOTR was our Annual Service Partner last year.) Bob commended the Enmarket Arena as having the best ice and spoke about the expectation that the players will be engaged in our community on many levels. The mascot was named just after our meeting, after over 4000 naming entries, we official have ourselves Davy (Jones)! When asked about regional and national recruitment, we were told that they are tapping into non-traditional markets and pulling young men from regions that would not be expected, but showing lots of passion and talent (and a propensity for fighting at times...which is completely allowed in the sport of hockey.) At the end of the day, Bob says it's all about having the "hockey mind" which, he says, cannot be taught. It's instinct and a mindset that must be intrinsic to the athlete. 

 

If you go, visit http://ghostpirateshockey.com:

• Weekday games: 7:00pm
• Friday/Saturday games: 7:30pm
• Sunday games: 3:00pm

Announcements/Committee Reports

President Will Gruver called the meeting to order. He announced the Board of Directors for 2022-2023. Will highlighted that Paul Harris was Rotary International's founder. Fun fact: the very first service project was installing public toilets outside of the Chicago City Hall a century ago. 

 

Our new GRSP student Beatriz Hashimoto is here after 28 hours of traveling in late July. Meagen Burrows and her husband are hosting and representing Metro of the four clubs hosting Beatriz. She has moved into the dorms at the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern University. 

 

Our Annual Service Partner Brightside's newest Bright House on Wheaton St. is close to being ready to receive people in need of service. Metro has helped over two service days on July 30 and Aug. 6 to paint and assemble furniture. There will be more projects coming from our Service Committee...stay tuned! 

 

Guests

Emily Doherty is the Marketing Director with Great Oaks Banks and was guest of Cecilia Arango

 

Featured Speaker: Whitney Shephard

Our own MetRotarian Whitney Shephard serves beyond our club as our Rotary District 6920 Assistant District Governor, serving the Area including Metro, Rotary Club of Savannah (Downtown), Sunrise Rotary, and Skidaway Island Rotary. 

 

She embodies the spirit of what being a Rotarian truly means. 6920 is being lead by a dynamic District Governor and great things are happening! Highlights from her remarks: 

 

• This year marks the first time Rotary International is being led by a female president, Jennifer E. Jones of Ontario, Canada.
• Jennifer worked with an Aboriginal artist to create this year's logo to capture the Imagine Rotary theme, with each dot around the circle representing the Seven Areas of Focus.
• District Governor (6920) Heather Kellen is a Physical Therapist from the Rotary Club of Perry. Her theme this year is to "Dream Big, Serve Big" and is challenging the District to raise a total of $1M roughly equivalent to $333 per member! Read more about these goals on the new District website here. 
• Kellen encourages D6920 Rotarians to "cast a line and not a net" to grow our membership. Be intentional in inviting guests and sponsoring members. Seek those who want to be Rotarians, not just members of a Rotary club. 
• Paul Harris Society, Bequest Society and the RI Foundation can be a part of your legacy as a Rotarian. 
• The newest 7th Area of Focus is Supporting the Environment in which Global Grants projects can support - the 2018-2019 RI President Barry Rassin from the Bahamas saw first-hand what hurricanes and climate change were doing to his beloved island country. 
• Rotary is proud to support girls from the local, national and international communities such as Girls on the Run (USA and Canada), Girl Scouts of the USA, and Happy Schools (India)
• When disaster happens and Ask yourself:
  • What is your purpose and your passion?
  • What is your Rotary dream?
  • How can we partner with other organizations in our community such as the Lions' Club 
• With 1.4 Millions members worldwide, 47 million volunteer hours, and $333 Million awarded in grants, we should be very proud to be Rotarians!
• Mark your calendars for two upcoming important dates:
  • Tues., Oct. 4th - District Governor Heather Kellen visiting Metro
  • April 27-30, 2023 - District Conference at Callaway Gardens (Metro is hosting the Friday night event)

Committee Reports

President Will Gruver called the meeting to order. This was his first meeting as president (Immediate Past President Cecilia Arango covered on July 5 when Will's flight was delayed). He showed the "not a walking stick" he received from the district governor at the Presidents Elect Training Seminar to do the "digging" and to do the work of Rotary. 

 

Campion Usry was inducted into the club. He is is vice president of Coastal Medical Billing and previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantryman and martial arts instructor. He earned a bachelor of science degree in finance from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from Charleston Southern University. He moved to Savannah 18 months ago and is married with two children. He was a charter board member and secretary of the Summerville Evening Rotary Club.

Guests

Mary Francis Kidd with Klarna (Swedish company) was the guest of Erika Morrow.
Jason Usry with WJCL (and a screenwriter) was the guest of Sarah Smith.
Jake Wood of the Rotary Club of Columbus, Ga, attended the meeting. He is in town aiding in implementing a new chapter of House of Heroes in Savannah (a non-profit founded in Columbus).

Rotary Anniversaries

Highlights: Jamie Arkins, Kristen Crawley, and Jeff Brady have been members for 10 years.

 

Featured Speaker: Joe Marchese

Joe Marchese is the owner of Marchese Construction and co-founder of the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS). Highlights from his remarks: 

• He's an advocate for inclusion — he wears two different socks every day.
• 11 homeless vets will move into 35 tiny houses at 75 Dundee St. (Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless)
• Daughter Ella Marchese (16 years old) is an orange belt in karate and has down syndrome. She's now in a special needs cheerleading group.
• Dr. Ben Spitalnick encouraged Joe to start LDSS along with the Husseys, the Bogardis, and the Fields.
• He advocates for one person at a time
• LDSS Camp Buddy - directed by Molly Marchese at St. Andrews School this year
• LDSS Buddy Walk (founded by Marjorie Young, another strong Rotarian in our community) - usually every October
• LDSS Night of Champions - every May - to award differently abled individuals and their employers who employ them - very inspiration evening and no family can be turned away if they cannot afford to attend - save the day May 12, 2023 at Savannah Convention Center
• Our area needs a transportation company solely devoted to getting these devoted employees to their jobs every day
• He shared wonderful stories of Jason Thompson, who drives a sweeper scrubber, and Mikey Holton, who is a "para pro" at South Effingham Elementary School, and the difference they make at their jobs and in their co-workers 'and students' lives.

Committee Reports

She encouraged club members to look into the Rotary Leadership Institute as an avenue for learning how to be a better Rotarian through three sessions: The Rotarian, The Rotary Club, and the Rotary Journey. 

 

 

In the Metrotarians in the Spotlight segment, Cecilia noted coverage of TEDx Savannah, for which she served as emcee. Zerik Samples received Georgia Southern University's George & Lucy Armstrong Award. Kristin Crawley completed the Leadership Southeast Georgia program.

 

Ro Patrick and Lexi Henigman were inducted into the club and Whitney Shephard was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow + 6.

 

Program Committee Chair George Seaborough announced the next social will be July 26 at Vic’s on the River.

 

Classification Talk: Kristin King

After Kristin moved to Savannah from Michigan in 2004, she co-founded New Arts Ensembles with Ricardo Ochoa. The firm coordinates live music for more than 200 events throughout the year, including weddings, corporate functions, private parties, and more. She is also the marketing director for Sago Property Management, which specializes in long-term residential properties.

 

She is president of the Girls on the Run of Coastal Georgia and Lowcountry board and previously served on the board of America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia.

 

Guests

Emily Doherty was the guest of Cecilia Arango.

Kim Campbell was the guest of Ellen Harris

Sarah Smith’s guest was her daughter Nora.

 

Prospective Member Profile: Campion Usry

Campion Usry is vice president of Coastal Medical Billing and previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantryman and martial arts instructor. He earned a bachelor of science degree in finance from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from Charleston Southern University. He moved to Savannah 18 months ago and is married with two children. He was a charter board member and secretary of the Summerville Evening Rotary Club.

Featured Speaker: Conni Reynolds, Savannah Chamber of Commerce

Conni Reynolds is small business and events manager for the Savannah Area Chamber and is a Savannah native. She emphasized that Chamber is primarily composed of small businesses and has 2,200 members in total. She said her work focuses on connecting small businesses with the resources they need to succeed.

 

She organizes networking opportunities, ribbon-cuttings, and large events and helps members connect through service on councils and committees within the Chamber. 

Committee Reports

President Cecilia Arango reminded club members that June is Rotary Fellowships month. Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world and explore shared hobbies, professions, and interests. She also announced July 1 is the deadline to pay dues for the coming Rotary year.

 

Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley reminded members they can still volunteer for Bike Walk Savannah bicyclist and pedestrian counts.

 

Program Committee Chair George Seaborough said details on the June social will be announced soon. 

 

Annual Service Partner Committee Co-Charis Cari Phelps and Chelsea Sawyer announced that Brightside Child and Family Advocacy has been selected as this year’s service partner. Stay tuned for details on service opportunities.

 

Membership Committee Chair Katie Joyner announced Lexi Henigman and Campion Usry are moving through the projective member program.

 

 

Guests

Connor Buchanan was the guest of Cecilia Arango.

Charles Pace was the guest of Zerik Samples.

Lexi Henigman (Prospective Members Program) was the guest of Chelsea Sawyer.

Brendan West was the guest of Katie Joyner.

Aileen Gabbey was the guest of Sarah Smith.

Kelley Waldron’s guest was her son, Charlie.

Opollo Johnson was the guest of Kristen Crawley.

 

 

 

Featured Speaker: Dr. Amy Williams, Savannah Philharmonic

Executive Director Dr. Amy Williams described the changes the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus has undertaken to overcome barriers to participation so that all members of the community can attend concerts, including adjusting pricing, relaxing concert dress codes, and finding additional concert locations. She explained how programs such as Phil the Neighborhood, Phil the Park, Phil the Squares, the On the Road Series, and the Subscription series are aimed at making performances more accessible to communities in our region. Williams also talked about the education initiatives the Philharmonic has launched to build programming which provides all students at every school with equitable access to high-quality music education.

Committee Reports

Guests 

Annual Service Partner Presentations

Annual Service Partner Committee Co-Chairs Carri Clark and Chelsea Sawyer reported they received a total of 20 qualified applications. Five of these sere invited to present to the Service Committee, which selected the two finalists: Brightside Child & Family Advocacy and Elevate Savannah. Kate Blair of Brightside and Kendall Walker of Elevate each made presentations to the club. Each club member has received a link to vote on the Annual Service Partner via email.

Committee Reports

 

President Cecilia Arango announced that May is Youth Service Month. She reported that she, Will Gruver, Jessica Pedigo, and Meagen Burrows attended the District 6920 Conference in Augusta. Rotarians raised $20,250 for Ukraine relief and Metro was once again designated as a Gold Club. The Woodville Tompkins Interact Club also received a Zone 34 Citation. In the Metrotarians in the News segment, she directed members’ attention to a Savannah Morning News story on Josh Yates and Ghost City Pinball.

 

Membership Committee Chair Katie Joyner inducted Kristin King and Brad Patrick into the club.

 

 

On behalf of Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley, Jordan Chase thanked everyone who volunteered at the April service opportunities with Forsyth Farmers Market Picnic and Over the Moon Diaper Drive. Upcoming service projects include the May 19 Citizen Advocacy Picnic and the May 21 Beach Clean-Up with Rotary Club of Savannah East. Rotarians may also purchase books through the Loop it Up Savannah Book Drive to receive service credit.

 

Program Committee Chair George Seaborough announced upcoming events including the May 17 Club Meeting, where Annual Service Partner finalists will present, the fifth Tuesday social on May 31 in Greene Square, and a social with a date and location to be announced soon.

 

Mackie McIntosh spoke to the club about her experiences as a Chatham County poll worker for the last three years. She emphasized that election processes and equipment and secure and that election officials have developed contingency plans for every possibility. She said working at the polls has been a great experience and she is impressed with the training poll workers receive, the machines, and the expertise of the technicians who maintain the machines.

Guests 

Featured Speaker: Brad Raffensperger

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger talked about his work investigating reports of irregularities following the 2020 election. He talked about the Election Integrity act of 2022, including the photo ID requirements for absentee ballots. He described how he became involved in public service and his path to running for secretary of state. He also discussed his office’s role in professional licensing and emphasized a new law that expedites the issuance of licenses for military spouses who are new to the state.  

Committee Reports

 

President Cecilia Arango reminded members that April is Maternal and Child Health Month and encouraged them to read the story, Healing the Scars of War by Illuia Mendel. In addition, she said the Rotary District in Ukraine and designated Rotary Districts that border Ukraine may apply for grants up to $50,000 from the Disaster Response Fund used to provide relief to refugees. Contributions can be made to the fund here.

 

 

 

Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley announced two upcoming opportunities, the Diaper Drive for Over the Moon Diapers through April 28 and the Forsyth Farmers Market Farm Picnic on April 24. She also thanked everyone who volunteered at the March service project with Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision. Metro donated $10,000 to Girls on the Run of Coastal Georgia and Lowcountry, this year’s annual service partner.

 

Program Committee Chair George Seaborough previewed two upcoming events, GRSP Student Sofie Bohl’s presentation at the April 19 club meeting and the April 26 Social at Toole Sculpture Works at Roberds Dairy.

 

Service Committee Cochair Cari Clark Phelps reported that 21 Annual Service Partner applications had been received. The committee is now reviewing applications.

Member Minute

Guests 

Lexi Henigman is a California native, but lived in New York City for 15 years before coming to Savannah. She earned a B.F.A  in Film and Television from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and works as a video editor and director. Lexi is currently working as an editor on Right Over the Edge, a feature documentary about the extremely endangered North Pacific Right Whale. In New York, she was involved with Hour Children, a Queens-based non-profit that helps women and their families during and after incarceration and equips them with tools to build their futures. She lives in Savannah with her husband, Steve.

Featured Speaker: Jay Melder

Savannah City Manager Jay Melder talked about the large investments that have been made in the areas of sanitation, streets and sidewalks, drainage and stormwater, utility billing improvements, digital process improvements, and recruitment and personnel. He described these physical and process improvements as, “getting back to basics.” He said the city is also making a “historic” $19 million investment in initiatives to address homelessness and housing.

 

Addressing homelessness is a major focus for the city along with workforce development, quality of life and cultural experiences, waterfront improvements, a transportation sales tax, jobs and poverty reduction, and critical infrastructure needs, Melder said.

Committee Reports

Guests 

Prospective Member Profiles

Kristin King is marketing director for Sago Property Management, a boutique firm specializing in long-term residential rentals. She’s also worked in hospitality, banking, public works, and at the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women & Children Job Resources Department. She was raised in Farmington Hills, MI and attended Loyola University of Chicago for her undergraduate degree as a concert harpist, majoring in music with minors in business and psychology. She moved to Savannah in 2004 to start New Arts Ensembles, a live music booking agency, which she co-owns with violinist Ricardo Ochoa. She remains an active/working concert harpist.

Rowena (Ro) Patrick works at the Ad Council, where she leads a cross-functional team, is part of the organization’s senior leadership team, and stewards more than $10 million annually in resources and budgets, while leading all facets of campaign development. As a college undergrad during the tech boom of the late 1990s, her dream was to move to Silicon Valley and work at a startup. Ro was born in Hong Kong and has lived in many different cities throughout her life, but she calls New York City her hometown. That’s where she’s lived the longest, found herself, and met her husband, Brad.  

Brad Patrick is the deputy chief of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he supervises other assistant U.S. attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and support staff. He grew up “on a dirt road 30 miles northwest of Charleston where everyone in my community knew each other, and most were somehow related to me.” After completing undergrad at the University of South Carolina and law school at Tulane University Law School, he moved to New York City to take a job as a lawyer for the City and met his wife, Ro.

Lexi Henigman is a California native, but lived in New York City for 15 years before coming to Savannah. She earned a B.F.A  in Film and Television from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and works as a video editor and director. Lexi is currently working as an editor on Right Over the Edge, a feature documentary about the extremely endangered North Pacific Right Whale. In New York, she was involved with Hour Children, a Queens-based non-profit that helps women and their families during and after incarceration and equips them with tools to build their futures. She lives in Savannah with her husband, Steve.

Featured Speakers: Kayla Lathan, Katerina Lee, and Taisha Johnson

Committee Reports

Guests

Membership Minute

Prospective Member Profiles

Kristin King is marketing director for Sago Property Management, a boutique firm specializing in long-term residential rentals. She’s also worked in hospitality, banking, public works, and at the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women & Children Job Resources Department. She was raised in Farmington Hills, MI and attended Loyola University of Chicago for her undergraduate degree as a concert harpist, majoring in music with minors in business and psychology. She moved to Savannah in 2004 to start New Arts Ensembles, a live music booking agency, which she co-owns with violinist Ricardo Ochoa. She remains an active/working concert harpist.

Rowena (Ro) Patrick works at the Ad Council, where she leads a cross-functional team, is part of the organization’s senior leadership team, and stewards more than $10 million annually in resources and budgets, while leading all facets of campaign development. As a college undergrad during the tech boom of the late 1990s, her dream was to move to Silicon Valley and work at a startup. Ro was born in Hong Kong and has lived in many different cities throughout her life, but she calls New York City her hometown. That’s where she’s lived the longest, found herself, and met her husband, Brad.  

Brad Patrick is the deputy chief of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he supervises other assistant U.S. attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and support staff. He grew up “on a dirt road 30 miles northwest of Charleston where everyone in my community knew each other, and most were somehow related to me.” After completing undergrad at the University of South Carolina and law school at Tulane University Law School, he moved to New York City to take a job as a lawyer for the City and met his wife, Ro.

Featured Speakers: Denise Grabowski and Ellen Harris

Committee Reports

President Cecilia Arango announced that February is Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Month. 

 

Membership Committee Chair Katie Joyner inducted Derek Goldfarb into the club.

 

Chris Corey reminded members that Roastary tickets are available for purchase on our website and he is actively seeking sponsors.

 

 

Emergency Preparedness Chair Chelsea Sawyer announced that February is Severe Weather Preparedness Month. She offered guidance on what to do during a tornado warning, including moving to an interior room and making sure everyone in the household has shoes on to prevent them from having to walk through broken glass in the wake of a storm.

 

Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley thanked everyone who came out to help with the Tide To Town Love Your Trail Day event at Police Memorial Trail.

Guests

Shannon McClure of Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School

Jennifer Graham of Shelter from the Rain, Inc.

Katie Cupp of Good Cause Marketing

 

Featured Speaker: Donna Williams

 

Donna Williams of Center Parc Credit Union talked about the organization and traced its origin back to the Atlanta Postal Credit Union, which was founded in 1925. Center Parc expanded to Chatham County in 2020 and also serves Bryan and Effingham counties. She described several of the credit union’s products and initiatives, including Renewal Checking Accounts and the Community Gardens Initiative.

 

 

Committee Reports

President Cecilia Arango presented “Metrotarians in the Spotlight, in which two club members whose accomplishments were recently covered in the media. Reshma Shah Johnson was inducted as 2022 president of the Savannah chapter of the American Institute of Architects, as reported by the Savannah Business Journal. Erika Morrow was featured on the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Optometry website.

 

 

Immediate Past President Jessica Pedigo announced that tickets and sponsorships are available for the 10^th Annual Roastary, to be held March 13 at Coach’s Corner, which is also Metro Savannah’s birthday!

 

Julie Wade was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow + 2.

 

Membership Committee Chair Katie Joyner shared some tips on catching up on attendance for members who have fallen below 50%:
 

• Attend program meetings, service projects and social events
• Attend committee meetings, Rotary Leadership Institute classes, district conferences, or assemblies
• Attend another club’s meetings or complete e-club webinars
• Make a $25 contribution to the Metropolitan Rotary Foundation

Emily Salzer was re-inducted as a Metro Rotarian. Welcome back!

 

Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley announced upcoming service opportunities:

• Jan. 29: Tide To Town Love Your Trail Day
• Feb. 19: Savannah Book Festival

Literacy Committee Chair Julie Wade reminded members they can receive service credit for purchasing test preparation materials for Future Minds Adult Education & Literacy Inc. and that we have something in the works to be announced soon.

 

Annual Service Partner News: The new co-chairs of the ASP committee are Cari Phelps and Chelsea Sawyer. Thank you to out-going chair William McIntosh for his service!

 

Member Minute: Sara Smith


 

Sarah is our Rotary Interact Liaison with Woodville-Tompkins Technical and Career High School. She lives with her husband, Solomon (History Professor at Georgia Southern University) and daughters, Abigail (7th grader at Garrison) and Nora (5th grader at Charles Ellis). She is the director of digital marketing and content for WTOC-TV.
 

Two things you may not know about Sarah is that she speaks French and comes from a multi-faith family that includes a Jewish father (who is a Buckhead Rotarian in Atlanta) and a Christian mother. What does she like about Metro Rotary? Sarah says, "I feel like Metro are 'my people' and my only regret is that I didn't consider the club earlier in the 11.5 years I've lived in Savannah!"

 

 

Guests

 

Kristin King - Sago Property Management

Jazmine Spicer - YMCA Habersham

 

Featured Speaker: Moncello Stewart

Moncello Stewart discussed the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce and its mission of strategic focus on economic development, advocacy, social and civic responsibility. The organization’s vision is to increase business and business growth and investment in the City of Savannah and surrounding areas

Committee Reports

 

President Cecilia Arango drew members attention to Rotary partner,  ShelterBox, a program which provides essential tools for rebuilding after disasters.

 

She said Foundation Chair Laura Lee Bocade would be contacting members soon about their Every Rotarian Every Year contributions.

 

On behalf of Membership Chair Katie Joyner, Cecilia reported that Derek Goldfarb and Emily Salzer are now ready for induction at the next meeting.

 

 

On behalf of Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley, Cecilia thanked members who volunteered with Loop It Up Savannah. Upcoming service projects include:

 

Jan. 16: Union Mission House Prep

Jan. 17: Girls on the Run Spring Season Pack Out

Jan. 21: Girls on the Run Spring Season Curriculum boxes

Jan. 29: Friends of Tide To Town Love Your Trail Day

 

Members may also purchase materials needed by Future Minds Adult Education and Literacy.

 

 

Cecilia urged members to become more involved in Rotary by enrolling in the Rotary Leadership Institute. For more information contact her.

 

 

Past President Jessica Pedigo said more details on the oyster roast will be released in the near future. In addition, Munches will resume and invitations will go out soon. Jessica also announced we will soon have a final figure on the money raised by the Blood, Sweat, and Beers fundraiser for Girls on the Run

 

Preparedness chair Chelsea Sawyer urged members to get ready for cold weather by planning to protect the four Ps: People, pets, plants, and pipes.

Metro Member Moment

Guests

Featured Speaker: Richard Sanders 

Attorney Richard Sanders talked about different approaches to conflict resolution including mediation, in which a dispute is resolved when two parties reach a compromise with the help of a neutral third party. He described arbitration as being like, “court without a judge.” Both sides have the opportunity to make their case before a neutral third party, who is a specialist in the area of dispute. Finally, litigation is the legal process in which a judge or jury makes the decision.

 

Sanders talked about the services available through the Mediation Center of Savannah. He suggested that conflict can be positive, as it can be a catalyst for creative energy. Groups can learn to navigate conflict, he said, and it can be used to benefit highly motivate teams.

Committee Reports

Membership Moment: Denise Grabowski

Guests

Featured speaker: Zelonia L. Williams

Zelonia described her background and education, and explained how it led her to found Future Minds Literacy and Adult Education. Future Minds invites students, free of charge, to participate in a learning community that allows them to work at their own pace, address barriers to learning, and identify their personal learning styles — so that they may earn their GEDs.

Committee Reports

Membership Moment

Guests

Ro and Brad Patrick were the guests of Whitney Shephard

Jordan Riles was the guest of Katie Joyner

Bill Horn was the guest of John Rodman

Featured Speaker: Laura Lee Bocade

Foundation Committee Chair Laura Lee Bocade reminded members that November is Foundation Month. The Foundation, she said, enables Rotarians to do much more in our areas of focus: Basic education and literacy; community economic development; disease prevention and treatment; maternal and child health; peace building; conflict prevention; and water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Committee Reports

Immediate Past President Jessica Pedigo called the meeting to order. She reminded members that Oct. 24 is World Polio Day.

 

 

Membership Chair Katie Joyner announced that Emily Salzer and Derek Goldfarb have earned their yellow/red belts.

 

Programs Chair George Seaborough encouraged members to attend the next social on Oct. 26, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Sey Hey’s, 2505 Bull St. He announced that Chatham County Commissioner Aaron Whitely will be the speaker at the Nov. 16 club meeting. Whitely will discuss funding available to the county through the American Recovery Act and Chatham County Teen Court.

 

Literacy Chair Julie Wade announced the club will be working with Future Minds Literacy and Adult Education, Inc., which provides adult education including GED preparation. Metrotarians may consider purchasing books for use by program participants.

 

Program Committee Chair Kristen Crawley thanked volunteers who helped with the Girls on the Run golf tournament. Upcoming volunteer opportunities include Friends of Tide to Town’s “Love Your Trail” clean-up day at the Truman Linear Park Trail on Oct. 23 and at Metro’s Blood, Sweat, and Beers fundraiser for Girls on the Run on Nov. 13.

 

Membership Moment: Sam Hubbard

Sam is a financial adviser who came back to Savannah from New York City, where he lived for 16 years after earning his undergraduate degree at Furman University. One of his specialties is guiding clients through financial decisions they will have to make if they enter divorce proceedings. His family includes his wife and two boys, ages 8 and 11. His favorite thing about Metro Rotary is “everyone in the room.”

Guests

J.J. Collins was the guest of Jasmine Mills.

 

Liz Giddens was the guest of Laura Lee Bocade.

 

Chase Cowart was the guest of Chris Corey.

 

Brad Patrick was the guest of Josh Yates.

 

Kristin King was the guest of Katie Joyner.

 

Lauren Grout was the guest of Katie Balthrop.

 

Cynthia Garrison and Joel deNeuf visited from the Rotary Club of Lawrenceville.

 

Featured Speaker: Malena Gauss

Gauss is the dynamic entrepreneur behind Savannah's first glass recycler. She described how Lammergeier Glass Recycling launched after her interior design/lighting business was hit hard by the pandemic.

 

At present, Chatham County municipalities and private waste haulers are not recycling glass. However, she countered the idea that there is no market for recycling. In fact, she said, Georgia is the second largest market for crushed glass.

 

She recently invested in new equipment that crushes glass into a larger size preferred by companies in the state. Gauss described the four step process of glass recycling: 1. Collection. 2. Transport to a material recovery facility. 3. Color sorting and cleaning. 4. Transport to a crushing facility. Lammergeier now has more than 700 residential customers. Gauss said she remains committed to her primary goal: Keeping glass out of landfills.

 

 

Help us raise money for Girls on the Run and have fun doing it! Become a fall fundraiser sponsor

• Empowerment Blood, Sweat & Beers $3,100 Sponsorship
  
   
• Goal Getter Blood, Sweat & Beers $2,000 Sponsor
   

Committee Reports

President Cecilia Arango made members aware of Rotary Works, an initiative provided for Rotarians within Zones 33 and 34 who are experiencing career transitions. This initiative is comprised of three distinct programs, providing education, networking, and/or financial resources for participants.

Our Blood, Sweat and Beers fall fundraiser for Girls on the Run is scheduled for Nov. 13. Sponsors are needed!

Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley reported Rotarians are invited to participate in the Tide To Town “Love Your Trail Day” on Oct. 23. Volunteers will clean up the Truman Linear Park Trail.

Membership Moment: Chris Corey

Chris Corey is Metro’s sergeant-at-arms and the advertising director at Savannah Morning News & SavannahNow.com. Something you may not know about Chris: Years ago, the Savannah Sand Gnats brought in a stunt to help fill the ballpark. The gimmick was to have a stunt man run the bases while set on fire. They called Chris' name over the loudspeaker and asked if he wanted to light the stunt man on fire. Chris' first thought: "What if this guy gets hurt?" was outweighed by his second thought: "HELL YEAH! This is a unique experience." He went through with it and celebrated with the stunt man's family after the fact over some shots of Jack Daniels (not Jack Fire) and both made Sports Center a couple of days later.

Chris' interest in joining the Metro Rotary family was to meet like-minded people who want to give back to the community, while spending time with a diverse group of folks that would become friends.

Classification Talk: Derek Goldfarb

Derek Goldfarb presented a classification talk, describing his work as director of partnerships for the new Savannah arena, through Oak View Group Facilities. In this position he is responsible for securing a naming rights partner, creating founding partners, and developing advertising and promotional relationships.

When he arrived in Savannah he was eager to meet people so he sought out civic organizations, which brought him to Metro. A New York native, he says sports are in his genes. He lives in Richmond Hill with with his wife Sara, and their children, Connor and Noelle, and beagle Lemmie.

Guests 

Zoe Rinker was the guest of Ellen Harris.

Katrina Bostick was the guest of Julie Wade.

Featured Speaker: Erin Wessling

Wessling spoke to the club about the Give Change That Counts Program — a campaign supported by Chatham County, the City of Savannah, and several organizations that are dedicated to reducing panhandling throughout the area. Through fundraising and donations, the campaign aims to establish day centers in the area.

The day centers will at as safe welcoming locations where individuals who are experiencing homelessness can go during the day and access support services. Because most shelters close during daytime hours, the day centers will fill an important need. Wessling said those who wish to help can make donations or sponsor advertising, community connects, and business partnerships. All funds raised goes directly to day center operations.

Committee Reports

President Cecilia Arango announced that Elizabeth Summerell is president-elect of the Junior League of Savannah.

 

She also reminded members that Sept. 21 is International Day of Peace. Equality is both a fundamental human right and a necessity for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. Still, girls and women worldwide face inequities in areas including health and education, and they experience significant violence and disproportionate poverty, she said. 

 

Cecilia announced that Rotary has teamed up with Toastmasters to provide virtual professional development certifications in a variety of topics including building a welcoming community for people with disabilities, collaboration, developing inclusion plans, delivering speeches, leading teams, DEI resources, and resiliency. Find out more through the Rotary Learning Center.

 

Program Committee

Program Committee Chairman George Seaborough reminded everyone of the next Social at Castaways on Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m. Erin Wessling will talk about the Give Change That Counts initiative at the Oct. 5 meeting and Malena Gauss of Lammergeier Glass Recycling is the featured speaker at the Oct. 19 meeting.

Service Committee

Service Committee Chair Kristen Crawley reported there are 24 volunteer opportunities at the Girls on the Run Golf Tournament on Oct. 14. The fall fundraiser will be held on Nov. 13, so save the date!

Foundation Committee

Foundation Committee Chair Laura Lee Bocade announced Metro's latest Paul Harris fellows: Darron Alvord (+5), Kelley Boyd (+1), Spencer Burch, Ellen Harris, Cari Phelps (+1), Patrick Phelps (+1) and Josh Yates (+5).

 

Membership Committee 

Membership Committee Chair Katie Joyner reminded members of the Each One, Bring One campaign. She presented a yellow belt to Emily Salzer. 

 

Interact

Interact Club Liaison Sarah Smith invited members to talk with Woodville Tompkins students about their careers or work in the community. Mondays and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. are the best times. The presentations are made via YouTube and are archived so more students can view them. Contact Sarah for more information.

 

Guests

Kyle Redner was the guest of Laura Lee Bocade.  

Conni Reynolds was the guest of George Seaborough.

Emily Salzer (New Members Program)

Featured Speaker: Ed Presnell

District Governor Ed Presnell is a regional business executive with Peach State Federal Credit Union and a member of the Augusta Rotary Club. He shared his optimistic outlook on how Rotary has weathered the pandemic, noting that the district has experienced a net loss in membership of 170 people. This equates to an average of three members per club from the 61 clubs arrayed throughout our district. He encouraged everyone to take their Rotary involvement to the next level and to embrace the Each One, Bring One campaign. 

 

Ed described Rotarians as, "change makers," noting that our individual efforts to serve people in the community — and especially Girls on the Run participants — will have a multiplier effect, which will extend to their entire families. He also reminded Metro members about the importance of having fund while serving others.

 

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