Meeting Recap: Senator Payne's UpdateLast week we had the honor of hearing from our own, State Senator Chuck Payne. Senator Payne has served our district diligently since January 2017. Since being under the golden dome, Payne has served on numerous committees, including serving as Chairman of the Senate Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committees, serving as Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, and aloes as Secretary of multiple committees. He was recently appointed to serve on the Joint Defense Commission, the Education Commission of the States, and the Southern States Energy Board.
Prior to being elected to the senate, Payne served in the Army and later began his career with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Payne jokingly noted that each job he has held required him to put his hand on the Bible and take an oath. He has thoroughly enjoyed each job he has held and serves passionately.
Senator Payne considers it an honor to continue to serve the residents of Whitfield, Murray, and Gordon Counties. Guided by a deep appreciation for history and civics, Payne is steadfast in his commitment to shaping a better future for generations to come. Every day, he embodies his personal motto of “being the difference”. His dedication to the people of Georgia is unwavering, particularly during the three months of the year the Senate is in session. Senator Payne begins his daily journey to the State Capitol in the early morning hours, which he considers his mission. During the latest session, Payne was the primary sponsor on five bills and the co-sponsor of 23 other bills that made it to the Governor’s desk.
Being our state senator has been the greatest honor of Payne’s life and one he does not take lightly. We are grateful to have Senator Payne represent our district.
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April 23rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Bowen, William C. III (BILL) |
29-Apr |
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| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
29-Apr |
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| Patterson, Frank W Jr. (FRANK) |
29-Apr |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Kelehear, Leon S.(SPARKY) |
Pat |
25-Apr |
38 |
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| Adcock, Don W.(DON) |
Diane |
28-Apr |
55 |
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| Tatum, Laurice A.(LAURICE) |
Sharon |
29-Apr |
52 |
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This Week: The Arrendale and Stubbs Awards
This week's meeting is one of our most special meetings each year as we recognize two of our club members for their outstanding contributions to our community and to their professions. This week, we will be presenting two of our members with Rotary District 6910's highest honors: the W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award and the Robert S. Stubbs II Guardian of Ethics Award.
The Arrendale Award is named for Lee Arrendale, a Rotarian from Habersham County who served as the chairman of Georgia's Board of Corrections and also was a leader in the state's poultry industry. The award is given to a nominee who has shown excellence in their vocation, achievements in the community, and academic excellence.
The Stubbs Award is named for Robert Stubbs, a member of the Rotary Club of Canton. It honors a Rotarian who has been with the club for at least three years and who has made outstanding contributions in their vocation while also strengthening and fostering the development of ethical practices by actions, writing, policies, and public pronouncements.
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April 23rd, 2024
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April 16th, 2024
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Meeting Recap: GRSP Student Andrea Fogtmann
GRSP student Andrea Fogtmann shared with Rotarians stories and photos of her adventures in the States since her arrival in August 2023. Her journey with GRSP began at Conclave in Macon, GA, where she connected with fellow students in the program. Among her initial experiences in Georgia was a visit to Buc-ee's, where she posed with the famous beaver mascot, despite her reservations about costumed characters.
Throughout the year, Andrea has joined Rotarians and their families for various outings, including hikes, holiday parties, social and sporting events, and excursions to Cardboard Hill in Chattanooga, Rock City Gardens, and Covington, GA to explore The Vampire Diaries filming locations. She also had the opportunity to visit the Georgia State Capitol with Leadership Dalton-Whitfield and enjoyed seeing how legislation differs from her home country of Denmark. She was fortunate to participate in GRSP student weekends in Savannah, Alpharetta and Columbus, and even ventured outside of Georgia with trips to Washington, D.C., Miami, New York during the Christmas season, Fort Lauderdale, and a Spring Break trip to Santa Rosa Beach. Despite facing challenges with food in America, Andrea discovered the exceptional Mexican cuisine in Dalton, developed a fondness for American hamburgers, and indulged in Chick-fil-A breakfasts (but not the chicken).
Andrea has thoroughly enjoyed her time as a student at Dalton State College and mentioned every time she stepped outside her dorm she was greeted with friendly hellos, which she found incredibly heartwarming. She especially loved her college homecoming experience saying it was "like a scene from a movie," filled with the excitement of trying on dresses and attending the Homecoming festivities. Throughout her time here, Andrea experienced ups and downs but forged lifelong friendships and cherished memories that she will keep forever. She emerged more independent and grateful for both her home comforts and the experiences she gained in the States.
It's been a pleasure having Andrea with us this year, and we send her our best wishes for the future and eagerly anticipate staying connected with her for years to come!
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This Week: State Senator Chuck PayneThis week, we're getting an update from under the golden dome in Atlanta on the state legislature's most recent session. Our speaker is one of our old friends, State Senator Chuck Payne. He'll get us up to date on anything that might be changing in state law after the latest session.
Senator Payne, a Republican, was first elected to serve as State Senator of the 54th Senate District in January of 2017. Senator Payne serves as Chairman of the Senate Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee, Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Vice-Chairman of Senate Committee on Education and Youth, Secretary of Senate Committee. He also serves as Ex-Officio of Senate Committees on Appropriations, Children and Youth, Public Safety and as a member of Senate Committee on Higher Education. Senator Payne also serves as Chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee’s General Welfare and Safety Sub-Committee.
Sen. Payne served four years (1984-1988) in the Army and the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Angie Sellers, and they were married in January of 1988. In that same year, they moved back to Dalton and Sen. Payne began his 30-year career of public service to troubled youth and their families with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Sen. Payne retired from the Department of Juvenile Justice with 30 years of service on October 31, 2016.
Sen. Payne has always maintained his affinity for working with youth. In his 30 years with the Department of Juvenile Justice, he helped a countless number of kids who found themselves on the wrong side of the law, and many give him credit for helping to turn their lives around. Sen. Payne has volunteered to coach little league sports for both boys and girls, having coached basketball, softball, baseball and football over the course of many years.
Sen. Payne has also been very involved in civic efforts over the past 37 years. He has served as Chairman of the Whitfield County Republican Party throughout the years of 1997-2005 and 2013-2016. He was also elected among his peers to serve as Vice-Chair of both the GA-9th Congressional District Republican Party (2009) and the GA-14th District Republican Party (2010-2013).
Throughout his twenty-eight years of volunteer effort, “Principle above politics” has maintained the focus of his efforts in building consensus of conservative ideals and principle across North Georgia, devoting the balance of his time to his family and services of his faith.
Sen. Payne and his wife, Angie, have two children – Son, Chaz Payne and Daughter In-law Tobey, as well as, his Daughter, Heather Johnson and Son In- law, Daniel Johnson, as well as three grandchildren, Jet, Jonah and Judah.
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April 16th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
18-Apr |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Srivastava, Vinai |
Srivastava, Archana |
16-Apr |
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| Bledsoe, Ginny |
Bledsoe, Jonathan L. |
21-Apr |
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| Brantley, Tray |
Brantley, Valerie K |
22-Apr |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Myers, Jeffrey Donald(JEFFREY) |
4/19/2005 |
19 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Kinard, Dixie(DIXIE) |
Bob |
19-Apr |
55 |
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| Kinard, Robert W(ROBERT) |
Dixie |
19-Apr |
55 |
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This Week: Our GRSP Student Speaks
This week, our GRSP student, Andrew Fogtmann, who is from Denmark, will be presenting her farewell program to our Club. She will be sharing with us the experiences she has had so far in Dalton and the United States. We will all be excited to hear her perspective and what she feels she has gained from the experience the Georgia Rotary Student Program has provided this year.
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Meeting Recap: Hanwha QcellsLast week our speaker was Lisa Nash of Hanwha Qcells. Serving as the Head of Human Resources and Environmental Health and Safety, Lisa shared the story of Qcells coming to Dalton and her own experiences leading the recruitment efforts of over 700 people to open the plant. Rotarian Carl Campbell introduced Lisa. Carl and others in our community had a vision for the potential of Carbondale Business Park, where Qcells now resides. Qcells originally committed to investing $130 million and hiring 525 people. Within ten months, they had exceeded those numbers, and hired 600 people, with Lisa leading the charge.
Qcells broke ground in July 2018 and by the end of January 2019 had begun making their first panels. Now, with over 2,000 people, Qcells continues to expand. They have since opened a plant in Cartersville which just began manufacturing last week. Now, Qcells has risen to be the largest solar panel project in the world, manufacturing 30,000 solar panels a day here in Whitfield County, and they are not done yet. Lisa shared that more than 80% of the world's solar sold is made in China. Their goal is to domesticate 100% of manufacturing here in the United States.
Lisa shared her motivation in her career and the fulfillment she finds in providing employment opportunities to thousands and the ability to share her career with her grandchildren. She expressed her gratitude to our community for their welcome and support of this project. Throughout Lisa’s 30-year career, her experience with Qcells in Whitfield County has by far been the best.
We enjoyed learning more about Qcells and the great work they are doing in our community and country.
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April 9th, 2024
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April 9th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
11-Apr |
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| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
11-Apr |
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| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
11-Apr |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Hefner, Blake |
Hefner, Abby T |
15-Apr |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Kenemer, Benjamin B(BEN) |
Bethany |
14-Apr |
17 |
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| Stewart, Robert T(ROBERT) |
Celeste |
15-Apr |
36 |
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This Week: Hanwha Q-Cells USA
This week, we're taking a look at the exciting expansion of the Hanwha Qcells operation here in Whitfield County. Our speaker is Lisa Nash, the Head of Human Resources and Environmental Health and Safety at Hanwha Qcells USA, Inc. She's leading the $560 million investment in Whitfield County that the company says is bringing 2,000 new jobs to the area. She is strong as a practitioner of talent management, organizational development, change management and workforce development.
Prior to joining Qcells, Lisa had an extensive career in manufacturing and aerospace in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas and North Carolina. Lisa is a graduate of Shorter University and resides in Rome, GA with husband Roger. When not working, Lisa enjoys traveling, reading a good book, golfing, and spending time with family.
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Meeting Recap: Chronicling The Carpet Industry With CRILast week, we got a look at the past, present, and future of our community and the Carpet and Rug Institute’s role in it. Our guest speaker, Russ DeLozier serves as the president of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI). Prior to joining the CRI, Russ helped establish the largest nationwide carpet recycling program at Shaw Industries. He is the past recipient of CARE’s Carpet Recycler of the Year and a two-time recipient of The Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI’s) distinguished Joseph J. Smrekar Memorial Award that recognizes individuals who show exemplary service to the carpet manufacturing industry.
Russ set the tone for the program with one of his favorite quotes from Terry Pratchett: “It is important that we know where we come from, because if you do not know where you come from, then you don’t know where you are, and if you don’t know where you are, you don’t know where you’re going. And if you don’t know where you’re going, you’re probably going wrong.” Whitfield County is the only county named after George Whitefield, an 18th century evangelist. Russ admires Whitefield’s significance and the impact he left on our community.
Diving into the history of the carpet and flooring industry, Russ shared a picture of the oldest known carpet rug, discovered in Russia and dating back to over 2,500 years. Throughout time, the flooring industry has progressed from dirt floors, to stone, to eventually embracing wood floors. The history of the Carpet and Rug Institute is much the same. Deriving from its roots as the Institute of Carpet Manufacturing (ICMA) in Washington DC. Over time, the CRI emerged and was headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, where they are still serving members today.
It was a fascinating time to learn the history of our county and of an industry that has played an important role in shaping our community into who we are today.
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April 2nd, 2024
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April 2nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Arroqui, Sebastian A (SEBASTIAN) |
4-Apr |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Hogshead, Carolyn |
Hogshead, Frank M. |
2-Apr |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Brunson, Kevin M.(KEVIN) |
Cindy |
8-Apr |
24 |
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This Week: The CRI - Past, Present, and Future
This week, we're getting a look at the Carpet and Rug Institute and its role in our community and in the flooring industry. Our speaker is Ross DeLozier, the CRI's president.
Russ graduated in 1989 from the GA Institute of Technology with a BS in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Polymer Science. He started his career with The Dow Chemical Company in Plaquemine, LA. The early portions of Russ’ experiences were in startup or operation of various plastic plants.
In 2002, Russ moved with his family to Dalton, GA where he served as the plant manager of Dow’s Styrofoam® plant.
In 2004, Russ left Dow to join Shaw Industries where he was the Director of Materials Reclamation. While at Shaw, Russ helped establish the largest nationwide carpet recycling program.
Russ is the past recipient of CARE’s Carpet Recycler of the Year and a two-time recipient of The Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI’s) distinguished Joseph J. Smrekar Memorial Award that recognizes individuals who show exemplary service to the carpet manufacturing industry.
In 2012, Russ joined the J+J Flooring Group as Director of Sustainability. In that capacity, Russ helped oversee all aspects of J+J’s corporate sustainability including environmental affairs, reclamation, product stewardship, recycling, recycled content, waste elimination, product transparency, landfill avoidance, energy conservation, renewable energy, and environmental certifications. Russ helped lead J+J to become the first in the industry to achieve 3rd party certification for Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL). In 2017, J+J was purchased by Engineered Floors where Russ continued in a similar role.
In late 2020, Russ left Engineered Floors and opened his own consulting firm, Regenerate Environmental and Sustainable Consulting, which focused on plastic recycling, waste reduction, flooring recycling, and overall sustainability issues.
In June of 2023, Russ joined The CRI as their President.
Russ has been actively involved for over 20 years in the Big Buddy program at a local high school. He lives in Dalton, GA, with his wife, Kirby and has three grown children. Russ enjoys golf, astrophotography, drone photography, and fishing.
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Meeting Recap: Dalton State College Virtual TourLast week our guest speaker, Dr. Jamie Connors took us on a virtual tour of Dalton State Colleges Gignilliat Hall. Introduced by one of her accounting students, Katie, Dr. Connors serves as the Associate Dean of the Wright School of Business. Connors oversees the VITA program, which is their volunteer income tax assistance program which allows accounting students the opportunity to have real life practices doing tax returns for community members. Katie believes that Dr. Connors is the best example of how a professor can impact students.
Gignilliat Hall has recently undergone renovations to better serve DSC's students. The goal of the renovations was to create an environment where students felt a sense of belonging and excitement for learning. Gignilliat Hall is home to the Wright School of Business, whose mission is to “provide innovative educational opportunities and create a knowledgeable, engaged graduate prepared to add value to an ever-changing business community”. The Wright School of Business holds a prestigious ASCSB accreditation, achieved by only 5% of business programs worldwide.
During our virtual tour, we were introduced to the “biz hub”, providing space for meetings, group collaborations, and more. Sprinkled throughout the building are quotes, hand-picked by Mr. Wright to inspire students. Finance students benefit from specialized classrooms equipped with a stock market ticker and a world clock, offering a global perspective alongside practical exposure. Dr. Connors transformed an unused classroom into a homework lab, providing students the space to seek help from their professors. The Wright School of Business prepares students for life beyond college by offering resume guidance, interview tips, etiquette workshops, and access to The Nest, a professional attire resource for students.
Our virtual tour was both enlightening and inspiring. Dalton State College and the Wright School of Business continue to be an incredible asset to our community. In appreciation of Dr. Connors’ presentation, a children’s book was donated in her honor to our local library.
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March 26th, 2024
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March 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
27-Mar |
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| Kenemer, Benjamin B (BEN) |
27-Mar |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Squillario, Alice |
Squillario, George Douglas |
28-Mar |
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| Caperton, Elizabeth (LIZZY) |
Caperton, Robert William Jr. |
1-Apr |
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| Ridley, Hope |
Ridley, Rusty |
1-Apr |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Brunson, Kevin M.(KEVIN) |
3/26/2013 |
11 |
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| Chappell, William J.(WILLIAM) |
3/30/2010 |
14 |
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| Partain, Jack(JACK) |
4/1/1989 |
35 |
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| Schwenn, John O.(JOHN) |
4/1/2008 |
16 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No anniversaries this period. |
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This Week: Dalton State College Business
This week, our speaker is Dr. Jamie Connors, an Associate Professor of Accounting and Associate Dean of the Lamar and Ann Wright School of Business. She has been teaching accounting at Dalton State College for twelve years after sixteen years of public accounting in the Chattanooga area. Last May, she completed her PhD at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Her dissertation topic addressed burnout in CPAs in the Southeast United States.
Jamie attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy and graduated with a bachelor of science in marine transportation, a third mate’s license, and a commission in the Navy. She served with the naval reserves for seven years while working the American Bureau of Shipping in New York City.
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This Week: Supply Chain Management
This week, our speaker is Dr. Marilyn M. Helms, who serves as the Dean and Sesquicentennial Endowed Chair and Professor of Supply Chain Management at Dalton State College’s C. Lamar and Ann Wright School of Business (WSOB).
As Dean, Dr. Helms led the WSOB through a successful AACSB Business Program Accreditation Continuous Improvement Review in 2019 and she and her faculty team are preparing for a re-accreditation visit in September 2023. In addition, she coordinated the $10 million renovation and expansion of Gignilliat Hall, located on the DSC Campus and home of the WSOB.
Dr. Helms joined the DSC faculty in 2000, works closely with the area's business community, and has served as dean since 2017. As Dean, she teaches the senior-level capstone course, Strategic Management, to graduating seniors. She also works with the junior-level Professional Development class and presents sessions on interviewing skills, business attire, and etiquette. Area business leaders assist the class with mock interviewing and participation during networking events.
Dr. Helms holds a Doctor of Business Administration Degree (and an M.B.A. and B.B.A.) from the University of Memphis (TN). She is a Certified Production and Inventory Management Fellow (CPIM-F), Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution Fellow (CLTD-F), a Certified Integrated Resources Manager (CIRM), and a Certified Supply Chain Professional Fellow (CSCP-F) of the Association for Supply Chain Management. Dr. Helms is a Certified Quality Manager/Organizational Excellence (CQM/OE) awarded by the American Society for Quality (ASQ).
Her husband, Lee Tubbs, is CEO of Enviroguard Pest Solutions, Inc. (www.egpest.com), home of the giant roadside mouse mascot at Exit 345 off I75. Dr. Helms holds pest control licenses in Georgia and Tennessee and assists Enviroguard Pest Solutions with strategic planning and policy. And, yes, her late mother was a 6th grade classmate of Elvis Presley.
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Meeting Recap: The Savoy MuseumLast week’s meeting was a fun one that left us all wanting to take a trip to the Savoy Automobile Museum! Car enthusiast, Mary Argusa joined us for our meeting. Mary's love for cars and drag racing dates back to her childhood. Now, as a research assistant and docent for Savoy, she gets to pursue her passion daily, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with visitors. Savoy is the newest addition to Georgia Museums, which also includes the Bartow History Museum, Booth Western Art Mussem, and the Tellus Science Museum. According to their website, “Savoy Automobile Museum connects people to the cultural diversity of the automobile. Through changing exhibits, educational programs, and engaging experiences, individuals have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty and history of these vehicles. Whether you are a serious car collector, a weekend car enthusiast, or simply a traveling motorist from Detroit to Daytona, Savoy Automobile Museum aims to educate and entertain. Through the Savoy Collection, as well as the rotating galleries Savoy showcases automobiles of different makes, models, and eras.”
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Savoy Automobile sprawls over 37 acres of former farmland in Cartersville, Georgia. Construction began in 2020, and despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the project moved forward. Today, Savoy has hosted celebrities, weddings, and has drawn thousands of visitors. Mary highlighted the impressive art collection displayed throughout the museum alongside the automobiles. Some art pieces she touched on include the main display which features a tasteful collage of everything that you can find in the museum, and an art piece that features a 1946 Mercury Woody made from 903 Rubik’s Cubes.
With five galleries to explore and rotating collections, Savoy offers a diverse experience for visitors. Monthly curated theme exhibits showcase cars from private and public collections across the country, ensuring there’s always something new and exciting to discover. We hope to all have the opportunity to visit Savoy and appreciate the art and automobile collection!
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March 19th, 2024
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March 19th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
20-Mar |
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| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
21-Mar |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Pangle, Belinda |
Pangle, William T |
24-Mar |
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| Stewart, Celeste |
Stewart, Robert T |
25-Mar |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Jones, Kelly McDonald(KELLY) |
Patrick |
25-Mar |
29 |
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Meeting Recap: The UGA SBDC
At the March 5th meeting, Rotarians had the privilege of hearing from Peter Matthews, the Area Director for the UGA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Rome, GA. The SBDC is committed to empowering business owners through personalized guidance and support. Through one-on-one consulting services, the SBDC assists entrepreneurs with challenges ranging from strategic management decisions to the intricacies of accounting systems and navigating funding opportunities. These consulting services are provided to clients at no cost, thanks to the backing of tax dollars that flow back into SBDC's operations. With 19 locations across the state and a team of approximately 60 dedicated consultants, the SBDC is well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of Georgia's entrepreneurial community. Since 2019, SBDC has contributed to Georgia's economic growth, boasting the addition of 2,100 new businesses, 14,000 jobs, $1.1 billion in loan and equity financing, and over $9.5 billion in sales, with clients growing at a rate of 21.1% compared to the state average of 4.4%.
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This Week: The Savoy Automobile Museum
This week's meeting will be a fun one for lovers of classic cars. Our speaker is Mary Agrusa, a research assistant at the Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville.
Mary grew up as an avid fan of cars and drag racing, and says she was "more infested in cars and building model cars as opposed to playing with dolls" as a child. A graduate of Clayton State University, Agrusa has an extensive background in graphic design, working with businesses here in Georgia and also in Florida and Massachusetts. She has worked with the Savoy museum for one year as the research assistant to curator Bruce Patton.
Rev your engines, it is going to be a great meeting!
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March 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Hefner, Abby T (ABBY THOMAS) |
16-Mar |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Griffin, Candy |
Griffin, Joseph Bryan |
12-Mar |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Ward, Barbara K.(BARBARA) |
3/12/2019 |
5 |
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| Tatum, Laurice A.(LAURICE) |
3/15/2016 |
8 |
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| Farrow, Stephen B(STEVE) |
3/15/2016 |
8 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Denson, Jason B(JASON) |
Andrea |
18-Mar |
18 |
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March 12th, 2024
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This Week: Small Business Development
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. This week, we'll take a look at how small businesses can grow and thrive even in tough economic times. Our speaker is Peter Matthews, the Area Director for the UGA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Rome. Peter has more than 14 years of experience working with business customers in credit administration, performing credit underwriting for commercial and mortgage credits including financial analysis, loan packaging, risk grading, and loan review of portfolio credits.
Peter also has experience in business consulting with 15 years of experience with the Georgia SBDC Network. His consulting expertise includes financial packaging, financial analysis, and business management. His background includes service as CFO and Operations Manager of a franchised automotive dealership, and he has experience in designing and implementing business plans, store layout, site selection and staffing in retail environments. He is a graduate of Emory University with a bachelor's degree in finance, and he earned his master's degree from Tulane University.
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Meeting Recap: Promoting Heart Health
Our club had the pleasure of hearing from Berenice Vasquez and Katherine Crump with the American Heart Association (AHA) at the February 27 meeting. Bernice and Katherine highlighted the most recent progress in promoting heart health and strategies for combating cardiovascular diseases. They also shared how AHA is creating healthier futures for students and families in our own community.
For 100 years, AHA has been fighting heart disease and stroke and helping families and communities thrive. Throughout the state of Georgia, AHA has seen the community impact work grow, including efforts around creating avenues for greater access to care, expanding healthy food access and education, building a network of first responders through CPR kits in schools, supporting blood pressure screenings and education, and educating on the dangers of tobacco and vaping.
AHA is committed to driving equitable health impact in Georgia through five priority areas: reducing risk in women, addressing community need, ending tobacco & vape use, controlling blood pressure, improving nutrition security and building health & well-being. One of AHA's newest programs — Healthy Pantry, Healthy Heart — helps tackle nutrition insecurity in our own community and all around the North Georgia region. This program establishes school-based food pantries that provide nutritious foods to students in our local schools and their families.
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March 5th, 2024
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March 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Henson, Paul E. Jr. (PAUL) |
10-Mar |
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| Metcalf, David W (DAVID) |
10-Mar |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bowen, Ann |
Bowen, William C. III |
5-Mar |
|
|
| Pierce, Lamar |
Pierce, Sara C. |
5-Mar |
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|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Anthony, Edward B(ED) |
3/8/2023 |
1 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
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This Week: The American Heart Association
This week, we're taking a look at your heart - or at least, the work that the American Heart Association is doing to keep all of our hearts healthier. Our speakers are Berenice Vasquez and Katherine Crump.
Berenice Vasquez is the Community Impact Director in Chattanooga and North Georgia. She is passionate about improving community health by reducing health disparities, improving access to care, and finding effective ways to address social determinants of health. Berenice holds a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from Reinhardt University. She enjoys being able to make a positive impact in the communities we live, work, and play in through the American Heart Association’s initiatives. She finds the work she does at the American Heart Association very rewarding as she has friends and family members who have been affected by cardiovascular disease. Berenice enjoys traveling, hiking, painting, and showing the world to her 2-year-old daughter, Maya.
Katherine is the AHA's Director of Development in Dalton and the North Georgia area. She is passionate about health equity and the amazing work that the American Heart Association is doing to create a healthier future for all. Katherine enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her adorable labradoodle, Wellington.”
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Meeting Recap: The Career AcademyLast week we had the distinct honor of welcoming David Moeller to our club. David serves our community as the CEO of the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy (NWGCCA) and as Director for Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) for Whitfield County Schools. Rotarian, Barbara Ward had the pleasure of assisting in David’s hiring during her service on the board at the NWGCCA. She describes David as “not afraid to make a change when one needs to be made”.
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The mission of the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy is to “develop a 21 st century workforce through world class career, technical, and agricultural education (CTAE)”. The career academy serves as a bridge between schools and the workforce. For students wanting to enter the workforce immediately after high school, the career academy prepares them through certifications or licenses, equipping them with the skills needed for their career path. For those students choosing to further their education, the career academy’s partnership with Georgia Northwestern Technical College, GNTC, enables students to pursue degree programs while still in high school. Half of the students participating in dual enrollment are working on both academic and career technical education.
David spoke about the eight different pathways available for students. These include automotive services, covering everything from correct usage of tools to performing oil changes; culinary arts where students learn food preparation, menu planning, sanitation, and have the opportunity to earn their ServSafe Food Handler Certification; information technology featuring a state-of-the-art lab for hands-on experience; healthcare science, NWGCCA works closely with Hamilton Health Care System to connect students with industry leaders; mechatronics and engineering, offering classes on mechanical systems to electric motors; manufacturing; law and justice; and the esteemed first responders academy, allowing students to attain Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications and graduate prepared for employment.
Thanks to grants and support from local entities, NWGCCA provides students with real-world experiences essential for developing both technical and soft skills, preparing them for the workforce or further education. Whitfield County is fortunate to have this wonderful resource in our backyard led by inspiring leaders.
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February 27th, 2024
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February 27th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Brooker, Janet |
Brooker, Robert H. |
27-Feb |
|
|
| Jones, Danielle |
Jones, J Sherwood III |
27-Feb |
|
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| Ward, Allen |
Ward, Barbara K. |
27-Feb |
|
|
| Norris, Calli |
Norris, Bradley B |
28-Feb |
|
|
| Johnson, Pat |
Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. |
1-Mar |
|
|
| Wright, Joanne |
Wright, Thomas L |
3-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Griffin, Ronald L(RON) |
3/1/1988 |
36 |
|
|
| Sutherland, George W.(GEORGE) |
3/1/1976 |
48 |
|
|
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
3/1/1975 |
49 |
|
|
| Pierce, Sara C.(SKEETER) |
3/1/1994 |
30 |
|
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr.(JUDSON) |
3/3/1964 |
60 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
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This Week: The NWGA Career AcademyThis week, we'll be taking a look at the work of the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy. Our guest speaker is David Moeller, the school's CEO and also the Director for Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) for Whitfield County's School System.
David is a native of New York City, served in the United States Air Force for 8 years. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Valdosta State University with an emphasis in city and county management. After his military service, he moved to Ringgold, Georgia. David was a Court Administrator in Whitfield County for the Conasauga Judicial Circuit. He has served on many committees in Whitfield/Murray Counties, and served on the Executive Board of Directors for the
Georgia Council of Court Administrators.
The Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy is designed to address the gap in workforce development affecting Northwest Georgia. As CEO, he has worked to develop critical partnerships with different industry partners in the Northwest Georgia region.
David is serving his 5th term representing district 4 as an elected school board member for Catoosa County Public Schools. He holds the position of Vice Chairman of the Board. In 2018 he was appointed to the State Charter Advisory Committee, and in 2023 was appointed to the state Career Tech Education Commission.
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Meeting Recap: The Thrive Regional Partnership
Last week, the club had the privilege of hearing from Bridgett Massengill, President & CEO of Thrive Regional Partnership. It's a nonprofit organization that inspires responsible growth through conversation, connection and collaboration across a 16-county, tri-state region. Thrive unites people across the region by addressing environmental challenges, the digital divide, and transportation and infrastructure needs.
Environmental Challenges
In partnership with The Open Space Institute, Thrive works alongside residents and industries to create nature-based solutions to address environmental challenges and enhance quality of life.
Digital Divide
To bridge the digital gap, Thrive's Regional Broadband Alliance connects residents across our tri-state area to reliable, affordable high-speed internet through the implementation of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Since 2022, over 25,000 individuals have enrolled in ACP, resulting in households collectively saving over $37 million.
Transportation and Infrastructure
To address transportation and infrastructure needs, Thrive developed the Thrive Regional Infrastructure Portal (TRIP) that integrates transportation data spanning Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. This tool is not only a valuable resource for area planners, industries and builders, it helps our local communities be better stewards of taxpayer dollars and benefit from various transportation and economic development efforts.
Thrive works to ensure that as our region grows in industry and population, we preserve the community and natural character for generations to come. Communities that partner with the organization are prepared for successful, responsible growth that expands the talent pool, brings new opportunities and celebrates the distinct character of the cities we call home. Thrive strives to harness every accessible and affordable resource to better our communities and ensure growth and prosperity.
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February 20th, 2024
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February 20th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| No birthdays this period. |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Kenemer, Bethany |
Kenemer, Benjamin B |
20-Feb |
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|
| Kiker, John |
Kiker, Janice F. |
24-Feb |
|
|
| Jolly, Becky |
Jolly, Hilliard R. |
25-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Elliott, Judy M.(JUDY) |
2/20/2007 |
17 |
|
|
| Maret, Charles D.(CHARLES) |
2/23/2016 |
8 |
|
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| Satterfield, Bruce A.(BRUCE) |
2/23/2010 |
14 |
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| Miller, Charles Dalton(CHARLES) |
2/23/2010 |
14 |
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| Dickson, Thomas S.(TOM) |
2/24/1998 |
26 |
|
|
| Ridley, Rusty(RUSTY) |
2/26/2019 |
5 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Chandler, Robert M.(ROBERT) |
Susan |
23-Feb |
50 |
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Meeting Recap: The Stories Of Influential GeorgiansLast week’s speaker, Neely Young, is a journalist who has covered news around Georgia for his entire career. A proud graduate of the University of Georgia, Neely has held positions at newspapers across the State, including the Valdosta Daily Times and the Dalton Daily Citizen. Prior to retirement, Nelly led Georgia Trend as publisher and editor-in-chief, a position that his son now holds.
Under Young’s leadership, Georgia Trend grew to be a nationally recognized magazine and since 2000 has won numerous national and regional awards. Following his retirement, Neely underwent operations to correct a benign cancer condition, which left him with the inability to speak or write. Through the dedicated assistance from his therapists, Neely worked hard to regain his communication skills.
Assigned by his therapist, Neely was challenged to write about a subject of his choosing. Drawing inspiration from his time at Georgia Trend, he began to tell the stories of the most influential Georgians in the 20th century. This led Neely to writing ‘Georgia Made’ which delves into the lives of pivotal figures such as former President, Jimmy Carter, Martha Berry, Martin Luther King Jr., Ted Turner, Eugene Talmadge, Margaret Mitchell, and Whitfield County native, Catherine Evans Whitener. These individuals, along with many others featured in the book, played a significant role in shaping not only Georgia’s history, but the nation as well.
Rotarians had the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of ‘Georgia Made’. As long-time supporters of the Salvation Army, proceeds from the books sales were donated to support the Salvation Army’s mission. Neely continues to leave a lasting impact through his work as a columnist and now an author.
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This Week: The Thrive Regional Partnership
This week, we're looking at planning and growth in greater Dalton and beyond. Our speaker is Bridgett Massengill who serves as President & CEO of Thrive Regional Partnership, an independent nonprofit corporation dedicated to inspiring responsible growth across a 16-county, tri-state region. She has been with Thrive since its inception in 2012 as the inaugural regional planning process, then called Thrive 2055, and stewarded it through the creation of a standalone entity as the Founding CEO in 2016 where she remains.
Her 25+ year career spans from serving as executive director of a downtown development authority in northeast Tennessee, to establishing her own consulting business and partnering with the National Main Street Center, to supporting the Tennessee General Assembly as a legislative budget analysis specialist for both the House and the Senate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and a master’s degree in public administration: planning & development from East TN State University. More recently, she is a proud Fellow of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership and economic development training program of the Appalachian Regional Commission, and holds a practitioners certificate in Strategic DoingTM from the Center for Learning and Professional Development at the University of North Alabama. She resides in Ooltewah, Tennessee with her husband Chris, twin daughters Madeline and Savannah, and their two rescue beagles Gus and Garth.
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February 13th, 2024
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February 13th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr. (ROBERT) |
15-Feb |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Henson, Jean |
Henson, Paul E. Jr. |
14-Feb |
|
|
| Denson, Andrea |
Denson, Jason B |
16-Feb |
|
|
| Chambliss, Alex |
Chambliss, Darla P |
18-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
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|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Arroqui, Sebastian A(SEBASTIAN) |
Nathalie |
17-Feb |
7 |
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This Week: Georgia Trends With Neely Young
This week, our speaker is a journalist who covered news around the state of Georgia for his entire career, beginning with his graduation from the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and culminating with his retirement in 2018 as the editor-in-chief and publisher of Georgia Trend magazine. In between, the Cedartown native held positions at newspapers around the state, rising from a photographer at the Valdosta Daily Times to editor and publisher positions. After his retirement, he wrote his first book, "Georgia Made" which tells the story of great Georgians and their role in making our state what it is today. He has served as president of the Georgia Press Association, Associated Press of Georgia, the Clayton County Rotary Club, and chaired the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. He is the former chairman of the Atlanta Region Salvation Army and serves on several other boards including UGA's Henry W. Grady School of Journalism, Georgia Press, UGA Board of Visitors, Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. In 2008 and 2012, he donated his papers to the Georgia Historical Society, making them available for scholarly research by future generations. Neely Young lives in Marietta with his wife Kathy.
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Meeting Recap: Powering GeorgiaLast week we had the pleasure of hearing from public servant and fellow Rotarian, Tricia Pridemore. Tricia serves as a commissioner on Georgia’s Public Service Commission where she works tirelessly to provide Georgians with fair and reliable utility services.
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Tricia enlightened us on Georgia’s role in the national and global in the energy and utilities sector. During Pridemore’s 2018 campaign she realized the lack of high-speed internet access in rural areas. Post-pandemic, federal funds have been used to provide citizens with reliable internet and empowering electric membership co-ops (EMC) to get into the broadband market, previously unavailable to them. The PSC remains dedicated to finding innovative solutions for internet access. As president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commission, Tricia connects with energy sector professionals nationwide. This collaboration has brought about a partnership with the Southern Company, which provides us access to various municipal providers and EMCs that guarantee the needs of Georgians are met.
Georgia boasts a well-diversified energy portfolio, incorporating solar, nuclear, natural gas, coal, and wind energy. Solar farms scattered across the state contribute to our electricity generation from the sun. We are still a state that uses coal. We operate off a clean coal variant which produces a low level of carbon monoxide into the air. While Georgia doesn't generate wind energy locally, we leverage production tax credits to acquire it from Oklahoma. In contrast to some states, Georgia strongly supports natural gas and aims to expand its usage across the state. Finally, the form of energy which is on track to make up 28% of our energy portfolio is nuclear. Currently, four operational units exist in the state, with two additional units set to open at Plant Vogtle. These nuclear plants continuously generate clean, carbon-free power, contributing to Georgia's commitment to a diverse and sustainable energy future.
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February 6th, 2024
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February 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
12-Feb |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| McKenzie, Jimmy |
McKenzie, Sandra D |
6-Feb |
|
|
| Adcock, Diane |
Adcock, Don W. |
7-Feb |
|
|
| Brunson, Cindy |
Brunson, Kevin M. |
8-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Metcalf, David W(DAVID) |
2/8/2022 |
2 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
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This Week: PSC Commissioner Tricia PridemoreThis week, we're excited to host a fellow Rotarian from Marietta and one of the commissioners from Georgia's Public Service Commission. Tricia Pridemore was elected to the PSC in 2018.
Pridemore serves on many boards in the energy industry, and works on constructive solutions to our nation’s electric transmission, pipeline safety and energy transition issues:
- 1st Vice President, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). She will serve as President of NARUC in 2024.
- Immediate Past Chair, Board of the Financial Research Institute (FRI) at the University of Missouri
- Member, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Advisory Board
- Member, Gas Technology Institute (GTI) Public Interest Advisory Council
- Member, New Mexico State University Center for Public Utilities Advisory Council
Pridemore was recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians in 2022 and 2023. She served on both the 2019 Transition Team of Gov. Brian Kemp and the 2011 Transition Team of Governor Nathan Deal. She co-chaired both of Governor Nathan Deal’s Inaugurals.
Pridemore is a member of the Rotary Club of Marietta. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University.
Tricia and her husband Michael reside in Marietta, Georgia and are members of Mount Paran Church in Atlanta, where Tricia serves on the Women’s Ministries Board.
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Meeting Recap: A Visit From The Secretary of State
Our members had the pleasure of hearing from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger at the January 23 meeting.
Secretary Raffensperger works to ensure secure, fair and accessible elections for all Georgians. Our state has earned recognition from both ends of the political spectrum. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative organization, ranks Georgia an impressive #2 nationwide for election integrity. Simultaneously, the Bipartisan Policy Institute has named Georgia the #1 state in the nation for its commitment to election integrity.
Recognizing the diverse schedules of hardworking Georgians, the state provides 17 days of early voting, with a notable 65% of citizens choosing this convenient option. Regardless of the method of voting — early, on election day, or via absentee ballots — Georgia mandates the use of photo identification, ensuring the integrity of the voting process. Further demonstrating a commitment to a transparent and accountable electoral system, Secretary Raffensperger's office is actively urging the General Assembly to pass a constitutional amendment to ensure that only American citizens are allowed to vote.
Georgia takes pride in maintaining the cleanest voter rolls in the country, attributable to several measures. Membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center, collaboration with the Department of Driver Services to verify citizenship and voter registration, and a commitment to keeping voter lines shorter than one hour all contribute to this success.
Beyond electoral matters, the Office of Georgia Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing corporations, licensing, business services and securities. The office registers corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships, and is actively working to reduce barriers for workers coming to Georgia and exploring reciprocal agreements with other states to streamline the licensing process.
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January 30th, 2024
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January 30th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
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| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Barnwell, Delle |
Barnwell, William L |
2-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| McClurg, Charles R.(RONNIE) |
2/1/1989 |
35 |
|
|
| Kinard, Dixie(DIXIE) |
2/1/1996 |
28 |
|
|
| Kinard, Robert W(ROBERT) |
2/1/1981 |
43 |
|
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| Adcock, Don W.(DON) |
2/1/1979 |
45 |
|
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| Cope, Don(DON) |
2/1/1996 |
28 |
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L(THOMAS) |
2/1/1972 |
52 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
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January 23rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
24-Jan |
|
|
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| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
27-Jan |
|
|
|
| Hartline, Amy R (AMY) |
26-Jan |
|
|
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
15-Jan |
|
|
|
| Shults, Stephen D (DOUG) |
25-Jan |
|
|
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
17-Jan |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Barkley, Debbie |
Barkley, Joseph F |
22-Jan |
|
|
| Chappell, Bennieta |
Chappell, William J. |
29-Jan |
|
|
| Smith, Rebecca |
Smith, Clark C. |
18-Jan |
|
|
| Tatum, Sharon |
Tatum, Laurice A. |
20-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Bowling, John(JOHN) |
1/23/2001 |
23 |
|
|
| Hawkins, Jim R.(JIM) |
1/27/2009 |
15 |
|
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason(JASON) |
1/18/2011 |
13 |
|
|
| Reed, Amanda(AMANDA) |
1/19/2010 |
14 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Maret, Charles D.(CHARLES) |
Sarah |
20-Jan |
56 |
|
| Mixer, Mark S(MARK) |
Kimberly |
19-Jan |
11 |
|
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This Week: GA Secretary of StateUnfortunately, our Economic Development Bus Tour last week had to be postponed due to the icy weather. Hopefully all of you have managed to stay warm and you're ready to get back on schedule this week! Our guest will be Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. He is Georgia’s 29th Secretary of State, first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.
Secretary Raffensperger is a lifelong conservative Republican. He moved to Georgia 40 years ago to raise a family and start a small business. As a licensed Professional Engineer and Structural Engineer licensed in 40 states, and licensed General Contractor in Georgia and other states, Raffensperger successfully founded Tendon Systems, a provider of high-strength steel for construction projects. Under Raffensperger’s ownership Tendon Systems grew to become the southeast’s largest post-tensioning specialist contractor with approximately 150 employees and projects in over 40 states. Brad also founded Trillium Structures, a structural design consulting firm with commercial mid-rise and high-rise projects throughout the southeast.
Raffensperger was elected to the City Council in Johns Creek, Georgia. Three years later he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives where he then served for two-terms, and in 2018 Georgia voters elected him Secretary of State.
Brad and his wife Tricia started out as high school sweethearts and have now been married for over forty-five years. They raised three sons and immensely enjoy spoiling their three grandchildren. They are members of North Point Community Church.
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January 23rd, 2024
.
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This Week: Economic Development Bus Tour
This week, we won't be having our usual meeting and instead we will be taking our economic development bus tour. Weather permitting, we will be meeting at 11:45 am at First Baptist Church and we'll be returning at 1:15 pm. Box lunches will be provided or everyone who is taking part. We do have some bad winter weather in the forecast, though, so if we need to cancel the trip and reschedule we will contact participants.
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Meeting Recap: Health and Wellness MethodsLast week, January 9th was our first meeting of the year, and it was packed with announcements and fellowship! President Lynn announced that we officially closed Ukraine donations by raising a total of $14,125. These funds will go towards building modular homes for those displaced by conflict. Ricky Roberston announced that we collected about $14,000 from our annual fundraiser with Jack’s Pawn Shop. Next, Bruce Satterfield announced that this year’s Ronnie McClurg track meet will be held on March 23rd. The meeting continued with a Rotary minute presented by our newly inducted member, Kristina Horsley. Cherri Robertson then awarded Kris her blue badge. Announcements concluded with President Lynn awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship pen to Judy Elliott, Judson Manly, Paul Henson, Frank Hogshead, and Lynn Laughter.
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We welcomed Stacy Welch and her daughter, McKenzie to our club. Stacy has been a registered nurse for 26 years. 22 of those years were spent in labor and delivery, while the rest were spent in emergency medicine, operating rooms, intensive care, and home health among other areas. Stacy's insight into the need for home IV fluids during her work with home health patients inspired her to establish an IV hydration clinic. She has successfully opened a clinic in Calhoun and offers services both at the clinic and remotely, catering to patients at their homes or at events. Stacy concluded with valuable health tips, emphasizing the importance of handwashing, and staying hydrated.
We are looking forward to another year of great programs!
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January 16th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
17-Jan |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Smith, Rebecca |
Smith, Clark C. |
18-Jan |
|
|
| Tatum, Sharon |
Tatum, Laurice A. |
20-Jan |
|
|
| Barkley, Debbie |
Barkley, Joseph F |
22-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason(JASON) |
1/18/2011 |
13 |
|
|
| Reed, Amanda(AMANDA) |
1/19/2010 |
14 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Mixer, Mark S(MARK) |
Kimberly |
19-Jan |
11 |
|
| Maret, Charles D.(CHARLES) |
Sarah |
20-Jan |
56 |
|
|
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January 16th, 2024
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This Week: Health and Wellness Methods
We are very excited to get back into our normal routine with our first Rotary meeting of 2024! It's the season of New Year's resolutions, and considering the fact that so many resolutions have to do with health or fitness, our topic for this week is a timely one: health and wellness methods. Our speaker will be Stacy Welch, a registered nurse who has worked in labor and delivery and also emergency medicine, operating rooms, intensive care, and home health among other areas. She'll be giving us some tips on staying healthy and improving our well-being as we embark on another year together.
Also, here's a friendly reminder that our January 16th meeting will be our economic development bus tour. We're meeting on the 16th at 11:45 am at First Baptist Church and we'll be returning at 1:15 pm and box lunches will be provided. We'll need a head count in advance, so if you haven't already please let us know today if you'll be attending.
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January 9th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
9-Jan |
|
|
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
15-Jan |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Minor, Charlsey |
Minor, John Thomas V |
11-Jan |
|
|
| Kelehear, Pat |
Kelehear, Leon S. |
12-Jan |
|
|
| Wright, Betty |
Wright, William B. Jr. |
14-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
Jean |
13-Jan |
62 |
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January 9th, 2024
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We wish you a merry and bright holiday season with your family, friends, and loved ones. The club will not be meeting on December 26th or January 2nd in observance of the Christmas holiday and New Year's, so we hope that you enjoy the next couple of weeks as we close out 2023 and head into 2024.
Our first meeting of the new year will be on Tuesday, January 9th. The topic will be a great one as many of us start to work on those New Year's resolutions: health and wellness methods. Our speaker will be Stacy Welch, a registered nurse who has worked in labor and delivery and also emergency medicine, operating rooms, intensive care, and home health among other areas. She'll be giving us some tips on staying healthy and improving our well being as we embark on another year together.
Also, keep in mind that our January 16th meeting will be our economic development bus tour. We're meeting that day at 11:45 am at First Baptist Church and we'll be returning at 1:15 pm and box lunches will be provided. We'll need a head count in advance, so please let us know by the January 9th meeting if you'll be attending.
We look forward to getting back together on the 9th, and until then we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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This Week: GRSP Student Update
We're returning to our usual schedule this week with our Tuesday afternoon luncheon at the Dalton Golf and Country Club. This week, our program will focus on our 2023 GRSP student Andrea Fogtmann from Denmark. We're looking forward to hearing about her experiences so far in Dalton!
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Meeting Recap: The FBC Men's EnsembleOur last meeting of the year was one filled with Christmas cheer. We were treated to joyful singing from the First Baptist Church Men’s Ensemble.
The Men’s Ensemble of First Baptist Dalton began in 1988 when the Tunnel Hill Methodist Church contacted Larry Flanagan to see if FBC had a men’s quartet that could provide music for a revival service. There was no standing group at the time, so Larry put together a men’s octet for the service. Following that event, the decision was made to make the Men’s Ensemble a permanent part of the music ministry at First Baptist. Four of the founding members remain active in the ensemble. The group is made up of four tenors and four basses with each section divided into first and second parts creating a close four-part harmony. The Men’s Ensemble does a wide variety of music from gospel to more formal styles. They have in recent years traveled to North Dakota and North Carolina, but their primary mission is worship leadership and community programs at home. After Larry’s retirement, the group came under the leadership of Susan Deal followed by Adam Cogliano. Mitch Huskison, Minster of Music at FBC, began directing the group in January of this year. Lynn Murphy, organist at FBC, serves as the pianist with assistance today from Jonathan Pinto, Minister of Senior Adults and Pianist at FBC.
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September 12th, 2023
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December 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
4-Jan |
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| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
7-Jan |
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| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
26-Dec |
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| Foster, Lindsey G (LINDSEY) |
29-Dec |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Blackman, Linda |
Blackman, Bill M |
1-Jan |
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| Burt, Roger |
Burt, Amanda |
5-Jan |
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| Schwenn, Judy |
Schwenn, John O. |
7-Jan |
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| McLeod, Carolyn (CAROL) |
McLeod, Robert S. |
27-Dec |
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| Sanders, Mary Etta |
Sanders, Drayton M II |
28-Dec |
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| Minter, Melissa |
Minter, B. Scott |
28-Dec |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Combs, William Dan(DAN) |
1/1/1986 |
38 |
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| Blackman, Bill M(BILL) |
1/1/1976 |
48 |
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| Smith, Clark C.(CLARK) |
12/31/1999 |
24 |
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| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
12/31/2002 |
21 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Payne, Charles F Jr.(CHUCK) |
Angelina |
2-Jan |
36 |
|
| Aft, David(DAVID) |
Pauline |
3-Jan |
10 |
|
| Brantley, Valerie K(VAL) |
Tray |
7-Jan |
18 |
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| Robertson, Cherri L(CHERRI) |
Ricky |
8-Jan |
24 |
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| Robertson, Ricky N(RICKY) |
Cherri (CHERRI) |
8-Jan |
24 |
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| Kirkman, Lowell D.(LOWELL) |
Lou |
26-Dec |
25 |
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| Hawkins, Jim R.(JIM) |
Nancy |
27-Dec |
50 |
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| Parrott, Rhett M(RHETT) |
Olivia |
28-Dec |
10 |
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| Jolly, Hilliard R.(HILLIARD) |
Becky |
29-Dec |
56 |
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September 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Minor, John Thomas V (JOHN) |
15-Sep |
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| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
16-Sep |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Arnold, Emilie |
Ware, Adam M |
15-Sep |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Brown, Alex C(ALEX) |
9/14/2017 |
6 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Tharpe, Henry C.(HENRY) |
Julie |
12-Sep |
52 |
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| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
Ann |
14-Sep |
49 |
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| Maton, Carla E(CARLA) |
Bobby |
16-Sep |
6 |
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| Ward, Barbara K.(BARBARA) |
Allen |
17-Sep |
56 |
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December 26th, 2023
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This Week: Gallant Goat Evening Social On Wednesday
This is a reminder that we will not be meeting for our usual Tuesday afternoon lunch at the Dalton Golf and Country Club this week. Instead, we'll be meeting on Wednesday evening, September 13th, at 5:30 pm for an evening social at The Gallant Goat. It's located in the Belk Gallant building on Hamilton Street in downtown Dalton. We look forward to seeing everyone there after hours!
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Meeting Recap: Christmas Stories With Dr. LindseyThe Christmas season is in full swing, and we celebrated with Reverend Dr. Robin Lindsey. Dr. Lindsey is the former senior pastor of Dalton First United Methodist Church. Lindsey shared with us a few short stories or vignettes to get us in the Christmas Spirit. Dr. Lindsey discovered these vignettes many years ago when he stumbled across a book full of Christmas stories. That purchase has brought him and others joyful cheer throughout the years.
The first vignette was ‘The True Story of Santy Clause’ which told of how Santa Clause came to be in the US. The story is that when Dutch settlers came to New Amsterdam, now known as New York, they celebrated St. Nicholas. Local children wanted to join the celebration and the name morphed into what we now know as, Santa Clause. The second vignette was ‘Christmas Bells’ written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In a whimsical tune, Lindsey recited the poem and told us of the history behind the piece.
Dr. Lindsey has a knack for storytelling which made for a joyous Christmas program!
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This Week: No Meeting
There is no meeting this week as we take an extra day or two to enjoy the Labor Day holiday and the unofficial kickoff of fall. Also, we remind you that we will also not be a lunch meeting next week (September 12th) and instead we will be meeting for an evening social event at the Gallant Goat downtown on Wednesday evening, September 13th) at 5:00 pm. We look forward to seeing you there! The Gallant Goat is located in the Belk Gallant building on Hamilton Street.
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This Week: The First Baptist Church Men's Ensemble
This week is our last meeting before the Christmas holiday, and we're getting into the spirit with a visit from the First Baptist Church Men's Ensemble.
The Men’s Ensemble of First Baptist Dalton began in 1988 when Tunnel Hill Methodist Church contacted Larry Flanagan to see if FBC had a men’s quartet that could provide music for a revival service. There was no standing group at the time, so Larry put together a men’s octet for the service. Following that event the decision was made to make the Men’s Ensemble a permanent part of the music ministry at First Baptist. Four of the founding members remain active in the ensemble. The group is made up of four tenors and four basses with each section divided in to first and second parts creating a close four part harmony. The Men’s Ensemble does a wide variety of music from gospel to more formal styles. They have in recent years travelled to North Dakota and North Carolina, but their primary mission is worship leadership and community programs at home. After Larry’s retirement, the group came under the leadership of Susan Deal followed by Adam Cogliano. Mitch Huskison, Minster of Music at FBC, began directing the group in January of this year. Lynn Murphy, organist at FBC, serves as the pianist with assistance today from Jonathan Pinto, Minister of Senior Adults and Pianist at FBC.
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September 5ht,. 2023
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December 19th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Finkell, Donald R Jr (DON) |
19-Dec |
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| Payne, Charles F Jr. (CHUCK) |
22-Dec |
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| Molina, Valeria P (VALERIA) |
24-Dec |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Ownby, Sandi |
Ownby, Jeff B |
22-Dec |
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| Maton, Bobby |
Maton, Carla E |
22-Dec |
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| Coker, James |
Coker, Allyson M |
22-Dec |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| McLeod, Robert S.(BOB) |
Carolyn (CAROL) |
21-Dec |
58 |
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| Adamson, Anna Y(ANNA) |
Zach |
22-Dec |
16 |
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| Cope, Don(DON) |
Laurie Lee |
24-Dec |
10 |
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| Squillario, George Douglas(DOUG) |
Alice |
25-Dec |
40 |
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September 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
9-Sep |
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| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. (ROY) |
10-Sep |
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| Maton, Carla E (CARLA) |
10-Sep |
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| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
7-Sep |
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| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
7-Sep |
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| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
5-Sep |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Adamson, Zach |
Adamson, Anna Y |
10-Sep |
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| Pennington, Pamela |
Pennington, David E. |
6-Sep |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Scott, Tim(TIM) |
9/11/2018 |
5 |
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| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
9/7/2022 |
1 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Ridley, Rusty(RUSTY) |
Hope |
7-Sep |
21 |
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| Townsend, Patrick J.(PAT) |
Teresa |
10-Sep |
46 |
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December 19th, 2023
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Meeting Recap: A Report On Human TraffickingLast week we had two very special guest speakers and multiple guests joining our meeting. We held a joint meeting at the County Club with the Carpet City Rotary Club and it was great mingling with other Rotarians. Our speakers for the week, Special Agent Taylor Dervish and Special Agent Melissa Ash gave an informative presentation about the dangers of human trafficking.
Special Agent Taylor Dervish has been a Special Agent with the FBI since June 2014 and is currently assigned to the Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) Squad in the FBI office in Atlanta, Georgia. The VCAC squad is responsible for investigating violent criminal offenses including the coercion, enticement, and commercial sexual exploitation of children and adults. The squad is also investigates offenses related to pornography involving child sexual abuse as well as abductions and international parental kidnappings. She has been the Task Force Coordinator of the Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (MATCH) since 2018. MATCH is the largest human trafficking task force in the country and is routinely responsible for over 100 juvenile recoveries in metro Atlanta each year. In 2022, Special Agent Dervish was selected to be on the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) Team, which provides investigative, technical, and resource assistance to FBI offices and state and local law enforcement during the most critical time period following the abduction of a child. Dervish spoke about her experience working these cases and provided helpful indicators to spot trafficking victims and what to do if you suspect someone is being trafficked.
Special Agent Melissa Ash started her career with the federal government in 2013 as a US Border Patrol Agent. That job took her to Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. In 2019, she moved to Dalton where she began her career with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Since then, she has led investigations involving child exploitation and drug trafficking. She has also assisted in investigations involving financial fraud, labor trafficking, and sex trafficking. Aside from her home state of Oregon, Ash says that Dalton is the best place she has lived so far. Ash talked to us about the difference between smuggling and human trafficking and gave examples of cases she has worked on.
Both ladies did a fantastic job delivering a very timely and important program. We enjoyed gathering with local law enforcement guests as well as the Carpet City Club.
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This Week: Rev. Dr. Robin Lindsey
This week, our speaker is Reverend Dr. Robin Lindsey, former Senior Pastor of Dalton First United Methodist Church.
Rev. Dr. Robin Lindsey and his wife, the former Kathy Freeman, graduated from Cave Spring High School. Robin graduated from Emory College, the Candler School of Theology and the McCormick School of Theology and served over 40 years in the North Georgia Conference. He retired in 2016 as Senior Pastor of Dalton First UMC. They have two sons, Christopher, married to Melanie, who is a Marietta Detective and Jonathan, married to Katie, who works for International Hotel Group. Jonathan and Katie also have two children, Isabel (3) and Jaden (1). Robin and Kathy reside in Rome.
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This Week: A Briefing On Human Trafficking
This week, we will begin our presentation promptly at 12:00 noon so that our speakers will have time to deliver their presentation on a very important topic. We will be hearing from two federal agents who are working to combat human trafficking in our region - and in our city. Special Agent Taylor Dervish from the FBI and Special Agent Melissa Ash from the Department of Homeland Security will tell us what we need to be on the lookout for.
Special Agent Dervish has been a Special Agent with the FBI since June 2014 and is currently assigned to the Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) Squad in the FBI office in Atlanta, Georgia. The VCAC squad has the responsibility of investigating violent federal criminal offenses including the coercion, enticement, and commercial sexual exploitation of children and adults, along with child sexual abuse material related offenses and abductions and International Parental Kidnappings. She has been the Task Force Coordinator of the Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (MATCH) since 2018. MATCH is the largest human trafficking task force in the country and is routinely responsible for over 100 juvenile recoveries in metro Atlanta each year. In 2022, Special Agent Dervish was selected to be on the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) Team, which provides investigative, technical, and resource assistance to FBI Offices and state and local law enforcement during the most critical time period following the abduction of a child.
Special Agent Melissa Ash started her career with the federal government in 2013 as a US Border Patrol Agent. That job took her to Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. In 2019, she moved to Dalton where she began her career with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Since then, she has led investigations involving child exploitation and drug trafficking. She has also assisted in investigations involving financial fraud, labor trafficking, and sex trafficking. Aside from her home state of Oregon, Dalton is the best place she has lived so far!
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Meeting Recap: Murray/Whitfield CASALast week we heard from Chelsea DeWaters, the program manager for Murray/Whitfield CASA. Chelsea’s journey with CASA began as a volunteer before transitioning to a staff role. CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, is a program of the Family Support Council. Our local CASA program is one of many across the United States.
Setting the scene for the program, Chelsea played a video made by a CASA program in Texas. The video portrayed a child who felt unsafe and unloved in their home. Emotions were high as the child began internalizing their mistreatment and believing they were at fault. Eventually the child was removed from the home and placed in foster care. This is where the crucial role of a CASA comes in. These volunteers are trained members of our community who come alongside children in the foster case system and advocate for them in court. Beyond mentorship, a CASA volunteer is like an “amateur detective”. Their duty involves diving deep into the case and its complexities in order to best serve the child. The CASA can then make recommendations to the juvenile court judge on what is best for the child. The ultimate goal in each case is for the child to be reunited with their family if it is safe to do so.
Chelsea’s vision is to help create a community where all children and families are safe, nurtured, and empowered to reach their full potential, built through an ongoing conversation where all of Dalton/Whitfield’s residents’ unique voices and experiences are represented and heard at the table. It was an inspiring program that left everyone moved. Thank you, Chelsea!
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August 29th, 2023
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December 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Parker, Paul Andrew (ANDREW) |
12-Dec |
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| Fuchko, John M III (JOHN) |
13-Dec |
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| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
14-Dec |
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| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. (MAURICE) |
17-Dec |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Poehlman, Sally |
Poehlman, John H. |
17-Dec |
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| Barnett, Tammy (TAMMY) |
Barnett, George S. |
18-Dec |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Parker, Paul Andrew(ANDREW) |
12/13/2022 |
1 |
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| Finkell, Donald R Jr(DON) |
12/13/2022 |
1 |
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| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
12/17/2013 |
10 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Wright, Thomas L(THOMAS) |
Joanne |
12-Dec |
64 |
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| Hefner, Abby T(ABBY THOMAS) |
Blake |
17-Dec |
1 |
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| Bailey, Philip Bates(BATES) |
Dell |
18-Dec |
52 |
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August 29th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Cope, Don (DON) |
1-Sep |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Aviles, Rudy |
Aviles, Yadira A |
2-Sep |
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| Hutcheson, Marilyn |
Hutcheson, John A. Jr. |
2-Sep |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
9/1/1969 |
54 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Metcalf, David W(DAVID) |
Alicia |
4-Sep |
19 |
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| Ware, Adam M(ADAM) |
Emilie |
1-Sep |
5 |
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December 12th, 2023
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Meeting Recap: Counting Down To KickoffLast week was our annual joint meeting with the Dalton Kiwanis Club to preview the upcoming high school football season. We also had the pleasure of welcoming this year’s GRSP student. Andrea comes to us from Denmark and will be studying at Dalton State College. We look forward to getting to know her over the next year.
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Rotarian and former Dalton High Coach Ronnie McClurg introduced the head coaches from each of the five local high schools. Each coach spoke briefly about their team and the projection for the 2023 season.
Southeast High School's Todd Murray is returning for his fourth year as head coach for the Raiders. Coach Murray was proud to say two players from last year's team earned college football scholarships. The Raiders' summer was spent working out and preparing for the upcoming season. Coach Murray is confident in his team’s ability and hopes to have a great season.
Dalton High School’s Coach Kit Carpenter is optimistic about his third year as head coach. He has been with Dalton High for 22 years. The Catamounts kicked off their season last week with a scrimmage. Coach Carpenter is especially proud of the team's senior class for creating a positive culture and leading by example.
Coach Josh Robinson of Northwest Whitfield High School is now in his thirteenth year as head coach. Coach Robinson noted that while winning games is their goal, the coaching staff also strives to walk alongside their players as they mature into grown men and become successful leaders and members of our community. The Bruins are especially excited to play their first season on their brand-new turf field.
Coahulla Creaek's Drew Carter is looking forward to leading the Colts in his first season as head coach. He has been on the Colts' coaching staff for several years. He is looking forward to investing in his community the same way he experienced and giving his players the best high school football experience. Last season, the Colts qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in school history. This season, Coach Carter hopes to build on last year’s success.
Christian Heritage is also starting the season with a new head coach as they welcome Coach Frank Barden to the Lions family. Coach Barden is excited to be in Dalton and continuing his coaching career with CHS.
We enjoy catching up with the coaches each year and supporting the players. Here’s to another successful year of high
school football!
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This Week: CASA In Our Community
This week, we'll be hearing about some very important work being done to serve children in our community. Our speaker will be Chelsea DeWaters, the program manager for Murray/Whitfield CASA, a program of the Family Support Council. The program recruits and trains community volunteers to become a CASA (a Court Appointed Special Advocate) for local foster children before the Murray and Whitfield County Juvenile Courts.
Chelsea is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Dalton-Whitfield, a member of the Murray County Child Fatality Review team, Whitfield County System of Care, Dalton Whitfield NAACP Unit 5246, and Georgia’s Region 1 Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan team, and is currently serving as a program directors’ representative on the Georgia CASA Board of Directors. Originally from North Carolina, Chelsea has been a member of the Family Support Council team since 2012, and has gotten to know Dalton since then, primarily through its world of social work, and through being an avid supporter of the growing downtown scene. When not working from the office or the kitchen, she’s most often found at Mariscos El Cuhhhmaron, D Food Collab, Native Kitchen or Casa del Café, and is almost never without a cup of decaf, an audiobook, and some musings on the nature and purpose of the child welfare system. In step with the mission of Family Support Council, Chelsea’s aim to help create a community where all children and families are safe, nurtured, and empowered to reach their full potential, built through an ongoing conversation where all of Dalton/Whitfield’s residents’ unique voices and experiences are represented and heard at the table.
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August 15th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
15-Aug |
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| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
16-Aug |
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| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
18-Aug |
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| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
18-Aug |
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| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
18-Aug |
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| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
19-Aug |
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| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
19-Aug |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Robertson, Ricky |
Robertson, Cherri L |
16-Aug |
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| Dobbins, Donna |
Dobbins, Chuck |
20-Aug |
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| Ewton, Tena |
Ewton, Michael F |
20-Aug |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Aviles, Yadira A(YADI) |
8/16/2022 |
1 |
|
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| Chambliss, Darla P(DARLA) |
8/18/2015 |
8 |
|
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| Minter, B. Scott(SCOTT) |
8/18/2015 |
8 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
Mary Etta |
16-Aug |
65 |
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| Laughter, R Lynette(LYNN) |
Ben (BEN) |
19-Aug |
51 |
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December 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Ewton, Michael F (MIKE) |
8-Dec |
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| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Dec |
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| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
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| Pangle, William T(TODD) |
12/6/2016 |
7 |
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| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
Alicia |
5-Dec |
31 |
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| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
Charlsey |
7-Dec |
4 |
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| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
Betty |
7-Dec |
55 |
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August 15th, 2023
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December 5th, 2023
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This Week: Dalton Is A Great Deal!
This week, we'll be taking a look at the City of Dalton and all the great benefits that residents, visitors, and those who work or do business in the City enjoy each day. Our speaker will be Annalee Harlan Sams.
Sams is a fourth-generation Daltonian and served on the Dalton City Council for the past six years. Sams has worked in the healthcare field for 20 years and remains a licensed paramedic. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryan College. She served both Whitfield and Murray counties as a paramedic before taking a position as a care coordinator at Hamilton Medical Center. As such, her focus was on the coordination of services for those with chronic illnesses. In 2017 she started a hospice company. North Georgia Community Hospice, LLC is a local and independent company striving to bring excellent care and comfort to both the patient and family during the challenging time of terminal diagnosis. She is married to Dalton native, Michael Sams.
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Meeting Recap: Rotary Foundation MonthNovember is recognized by Rotary International as Foundation Month to emphasize the importance of and need for Rotarian support of the Rotary Foundation. Since the Foundation was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects all over the world. In recognition of Foundation Month, District Governor, Brandy Swanson visited our club.
Brandy Swanson is a member of the Rotary Club of Gwinnett County and is serving as the 2023-2024 District Governor. As an active Rotarian for over 25 years, Brandy has served in any many capacities, including as a Rotary Leadership Institute Graduate (RLI), RLI Facilitator, Paul Harris Society Member (Benefactor), Will Watt Fellow, and Rotary Foundation Major Donor, in addition to her involvement in PETS.
Brandy put a fun spin on our normal programming and facilitated a game of Rotary Jeopardy. Members faced off in a friendly competition to guess the right answers in categories such as public image, Rotary history, guess that Rotarian, and Foundation facts. The club appreciated the laughs and good time this program brought. A children’s book was donated to the local library in honor of Brandy.
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Meeting Recap: Dalton's ACTLast week’s speaker was Kate Losh, who serves as the managing director of Dalton’s Artistic Civic Theater. Kate’s parents have been extremely involved with ACT and she has grown up in the theater. ACT was founded in 1992 on the belief that art is for everyone and the desire to bring the arts to Dalton. Since then, it is estimated that they have produced 500 productions and hosted 30,000 audience members. ACT’s mission is “to transform our community through accessible arts education and outstanding artistic experiences”. Their goal for the future is to expand their reach and to be a place where anyone can find something they love about the arts. Along with volunteers, cast members, production crew, and children’s programs there is a place at ACT for everyone.
The Artistic Civic Theatre has just wrapped up their 31st season with a production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. We had a special treat, as “Joseph” sang “Any Dream Will Do”. It was an amazing performance and we loved getting to hear some live entertainment. Kate’s mother, Jennifer described the play as “thrilling” and would put some of the actors up against any Broadway talent. Their 32nd season will kick off in September with a production of Charlotte’s Web. To learn more about the Artistic Civic Theater, visit www.artisticcivictheatre.com.
Our club always enjoys learning more about organizations in our community and ways to support them. It was a pleasure learning more about ACT from Kate.
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This Week: A Visit From Our District Governor
We hope that you had a wonderful week of Thanksgiving! This week, we are getting back into our normal Rotary schedule with a visit from Rotary District Governor Brandy Swanson. She has been a Rotarian for more than 25 years, serving as both a graduate and facilitator of the Rotary Leadership Institute, a Paul Harris Society Member (Benefactor), a Will Watt Fellow, and a Rotary Foundation Major Donor. She is also active in her Gwinnett County community, serving with Leadership-Glance Gwinnett, as a Stephens Minister, a treasurer for various non-profits, and a
Registered Mediator. She has volunteered with Covenant House of Georgia, 4Sarah, Rainbow Village, and several other organizations. She has also served on the board of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Professionally, she works in an accounting and advisory role for Smith & Howard.
She has been married to her high school sweetheart and best friend for over 30 years and has two children and a granddaughter.
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Please Make A Note! Arrive Early Next Week!
Next week, our featured topic will be an important one as agents from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security give a presentation on human trafficking. The City of Atlanta is a hub for such activity, and as our community is located along I-75 we have an opportunity here to help if we are vigilant and know what to look for. Because our speakers have requested 45 minutes for their presentation, we will be beginning our program at 12:00 pm sharp to make sure they have enough time. So, we encourage you to please arrive early if at all possible to get your lunch ahead of time so you can take part in this important presentation.
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November 28th, 2023
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August 22nd, 2023
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November 28th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
1-Dec |
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| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
1-Dec |
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| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
4-Dec |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Maret, Carla |
Maret, Michael S. |
3-Dec |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Wilson, John H(JOHN) |
11/28/2017 |
6 |
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| Blevins, Sheri H.(SHERI) |
11/29/2005 |
18 |
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| Jones, Kelly McDonald(KELLY) |
11/29/2005 |
18 |
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| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
11/29/2005 |
18 |
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| Dobbins, Chuck(CHUCK) |
11/29/2005 |
18 |
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| Laughter, R Lynette(LYNN) |
11/29/2005 |
18 |
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| Kirkman, Lowell D.(LOWELL) |
12/1/1972 |
51 |
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| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
12/1/1968 |
55 |
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| Brooker, Robert H.(BOB) |
12/1/1976 |
47 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Minter, B. Scott(SCOTT) |
Melissa |
29-Nov |
26 |
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| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
Danielle |
2-Dec |
28 |
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| Satterfield, Bruce A.(BRUCE) |
Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
3-Dec |
35 |
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August 22nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
26-Aug |
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| Jones, J Sherwood III (SHERWOOD) |
26-Aug |
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| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
27-Aug |
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| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
27-Aug |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Aft, Pauline |
Aft, David |
27-Aug |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Bowling, John(JOHN) |
Becky |
27-Aug |
57 |
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| Ewton, Michael F(MIKE) |
Tena |
28-Aug |
19 |
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Happy Thanksgiving!
There will be no meeting this week as we take a break to celebrate the festival of Thanksgiving. We hope that you and your family and friends are able to have great times together this week to celebrate all of our many blessings.
Next week, our featured speaker will be our Rotary District Governor Brandy Swanson. She has been a Rotarian for more than 25 years, serving as both a graduate and facilitator of the Rotary Leadership Institute, a Paul Harris Society Member (Benefactor), a Will Watt Fellow, and a Rotary Foundation Major Donor. She is also active in her Gwinnett Conty community, serving with Leadership-Glance Gwinnett, as a Stephens Minister, a treasurer for various non-profits, and a
Registered Mediator. She as volunteered with Covenant House of Georgia, 4Sarah, Rainbow Village, and several other organizations. I’ve also served on the board of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Professionally, she works in an accounting and advisory role for Smith & Howard.
She has been married to her high school sweetheart and best friend for over 30 years and has two children and a granddaughter.
We will see you next week!
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This Week: Dalton's Artistic Civic Theater
This week, we're taking a look at the local art scene with a presentation from Dalton's Artistic Civic Theatre. The ACT just wrapped up a run of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" over the weekend and they plan to perform two songs from the show for us. We'll be joined by Jennifer Phinney (who directed the show), Andrew Chauncey (who played Joseph), and Kate Losh, the managing director of the ACT.
Jennifer Phinney is a lifelong Daltonian and educator. She retired from her position as Director of Secondary with Dalton Public Schools in 2020 and now works as the Program Specialist for Dual Enrollment for the Georgia Department of Education. She has been an active volunteer at Artistic Civic Theatre since its founding in 1992, appearing on stage and directing. Jennifer also serves on the boards of Keep Dalton Whitfield Beautiful, Junior Achievement and the Creative Arts Guild. She and her husband Wes have been married for 32 years and are the proud parents of three amazing daughters!
Andrew Chauncey is no stranger to the ACT Mashburn stage. His first show at ACT was Oklahoma! (Will Parker). Since then, he has appeared in Little Shop of Horrors (Seymore), Pump Boys and Dinettes (L.M.) as well as multiple cabaret shows, including the recent 80’s Dance Party smash hit. Performances on other stages include: RENT (Angel), Hello Dolly (Cornelius) and The Producers (Carman Ghia). Music Direction credits include: Les Miserables (ACT), Hello Dolly (CTC), Tuck Everlasting (Chattanooga State-conductor) and Pirates of Penzance (EBCT). Andrew serves as the Director of Music for Signal Crest United Methodist Church. He thanks “Jenny” Phinney for giving him the chance to twirl the colored coat again and gives lots of love to Mitchell who endured being a theatre-widow for yet another summer.
Kate Losh started as the managing director for Artistic Civic Theatre in June of this year. She grew up at ACT and was involved in their children's productions during her elementary years, and later involved in their adult productions during high school and college. Kate has directed several shows at Artistic Civic Theater including The Importance of Being Earnest (2020), Something Rotten (2022), A Christmas Carol (2022), and Kate is currently directing ACT's production of Noises Off. Kate is currently facilitating renovations to the ACT facility, a new membership campaign for the theater, and series of fundraising events for the season, facility, and educational programs at ACT.
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Meeting Recap: Georgia Judiciary UpdateOur guest of honor for our last meeting before Thanksgiving was Dalton’s own, Justice Charlie Bethel. President Lynn welcomed Justice Bethel to the podium. Justice Bethel expressed his thankfulness to be with us and in Dalton on a Tuesday. He pointed out that he was wearing his grandfather’s Rotary pin and noted he would be proud to see him where he is today.
Justice Bethel first responded to the call to public service when he was twice elected to serve as an Alderman for the City of Dalton. He was then elected to serve four terms in the Georgia State Senate where he served and chaired numerous committees. He caught the eye of former Governor Nathan Deal and in 2018 was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia. Most recently, he was elected to a full, six-year term on the Supreme Court in 2020.
Bethel had originally planned to speak to the club on matters concerning judicial ethics and regulations. In the wake of the United States Supreme Court's formal announcement of an official code of ethics, Justice Bethel adjusted his presentation notes for Tuesday’s Rotary meeting to highlight key observations from the approximately nine-page document and shedding light on the challenges associated with these standards. The question was posed regarding whether incoming Supreme Court justices would be bound to the same ethics code. Justice Bethel’s opinion was that incoming justices will voluntarily choose to adhere to these ethical standards, though only time will tell.
Justice Bethel reiterated his commitment to study each case and strive to align with the principles set forth by the people of Georgia. In closing, Justice Bethel extended Thanksgiving wishes and shared his excitement for his son’s college friend, who will experience a true Thanksgiving meal with the Bethel family for the first time. As a token of appreciation to his service to Georgians, a children’s book was donated in Justice Bethel’s honor to the local library.
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August 1st, 2023
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November 21st, 2023
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August 1st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
2-Aug |
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| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
7-Aug |
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| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
2-Aug |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Chandler, Susan |
Chandler, Robert M. |
4-Aug |
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| Mock, Katie |
Mock, Jason T |
4-Aug |
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| Robertson, Cherri (CHERRI) |
Robertson, Ricky N |
2-Aug |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Didier, John M.(JOHN) |
8/1/1994 |
29 |
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| Kelehear, Leon S.(SPARKY) |
8/1/1988 |
35 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Chappell, William J.(WILLIAM) |
Bennieta |
6-Aug |
68 |
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| Pierce, Sara C.(SKEETER) |
Lamar |
7-Aug |
58 |
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November 21st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
23-Nov |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Wilson, Cynthia |
Wilson, John H |
21-Nov |
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| Jones, Mary Lynn |
Jones, Miller T. |
25-Nov |
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| Partain, Pam |
Partain, Jack |
26-Nov |
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| Underwood, Michelle |
Croft, Brian C |
26-Nov |
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| Tripp, Charlie |
Tripp, Larry E. |
26-Nov |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
11/22/2011 |
12 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Partain, Jack(JACK) |
Pam |
21-Nov |
37 |
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| Campbell, J Carl(CARL) |
Kristy |
21-Nov |
22 |
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| Ownby, Jeff B(JEFF) |
Sandi |
24-Nov |
15 |
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This Week: Dalton State's Interim President
This week, we'll get a chance to meet the next president of Dalton State College. Dr. John Fuchko III is the interim leader of the college following the retirement of Dr. Margaret Venable.
Dr. John Fuchko III began his tenure as interim president of Dalton State College, effective June 1, 2023. Prior to coming to Dalton State, he served as interim president of Columbus State University. A longtime professional with the University System of Georgia, Dr. Fuchko's most recent role as vice chancellor for organizational effectiveness built on his previous auditing responsibilities by adding oversight of enterprise risk management, campus consolidation, compliance and ethics, athletics oversight, strategic implementation, accreditation and various other administrative functions. Concurrently, Dr. Fuchko has devoted nearly two decades of service to the Georgia Army National Guard, currently serving as colonel and commander of the 122nd Regiment with two combat deployments and five command tours. A Georgia native, he earned degrees at Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, the National Intelligence University, and the U.S. Army War College – leading up to a doctorate in education from The University of Georgia. Amid his professional accomplishments, he actively serves his church and on several nonprofit organization boards, as well as devotes time to his wife Sherie and their 12 toddler- to college-aged children.
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Meeting Recap: A Travelogue From Cuba
We had the pleasure of hearing from President Lynn Laughter's husband, Ben Laughter, at the November 7 meeting. Mr. Laughter, a corporate attorney and college professor, spoke to Rotary about the trip he took in February 2023 to San Jose, Cuba.
The United States government only allows American citizens to travel to Cuba if they are traveling in support of non-governmental entities. Through a program hosted by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida and sponsored by Dalton State College, Mr. Laughter and a team of five others were able to travel to the small town of San Jose to supplement various educational and religious activities. Mr. Laughter was there to lead lectures on entrepreneurship and leadership skills; he led four lectures in a small, one-room church with enough space to seat approximately 60 people.
Each lecture began with a reading from scripture, followed by an instruction period, and closed with an exercise to demonstrate what participants had learned. The four lectures compressed a total 36 hours of college-level instruction into 12 hours (3 hours per lecture). Lecture topics included communication skills, contracts, time management, leadership skills, business startup best practices, and concepts of entrepreneurship. The lessons culminated with participants studying Randy Pausch's teaching about admirable leadership characteristics and then pondering how to embody those characteristics in their own lives. Participants were woodworkers, upholsterers, software engineers, and a few others with various vocations. Mr. Laughter showed us photos of the work of one entrepreneur in the class, a woodworker who used scrap pieces of wood to make picture frames and small pieces of furniture.
Of course, the trip was not all about academic rigor. The team of six was able to visit local attractions in and around San Jose. They were also able to visit Ernest Hemingway's mansion in Havana, the country's capital. Mr. Laughter even came back with a souvenir from the mansion — a piece of busted tile from Hemingway's patio.
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This Week: Dalton State's New President
This week, we'll get a chance to meet the next president of Dalton State College. Dr. John Fuchko III is the interim leader of the college following the retirement of Dr. Margaret Venable.
Dr. John Fuchko III began his tenure as interim president of Dalton State College, effective June 1, 2023. Prior to coming to Dalton State, he served as interim president of Columbus State University.
Dr. Fuchko’s higher education and state government service has spanned more than 20 years – all of which has been focused on operational and auditing roles within the University System of Georgia. As vice chancellor for organizational effectiveness at USG, he oversaw enterprise risk management, compliance and ethics, athletics oversight, strategic implementation, accreditation and various other administrative functions. Prior to that role, he served for seven years as USG’s chief audit officer and vice chancellor for internal audit, which included responsibility for 25 campus audit shops and 80 professional staff. He also oversaw three of the USG’s institutional consolidation efforts. Previously, Dr. Fuchko served in various audit and compliance positions with the Board of Regents and with the State Department of Audits and Accounts.
In addition to his professional civilian roles, Dr. Fuchko serves as a colonel in the Georgia Army National Guard. He is the commander of the 122nd Regiment (Regional Training Institute), and his two decades of service have also included roles such as Commander, 122nd TSD, G2 (intelligence Officer) for the Georgia Army National Guard, executive officer for the 78th Troop Command, and battalion commander for the 221st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion. He has deployed twice to the Middle East, has commanded five times, and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters.
A Georgia native, Dr. Fuchko holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Kennesaw State University, where he served as editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, student government president and Board of Regents' student advisory council chair. He earned an MBA at Georgia State University, a master of science degree in strategic intelligence at the National Intelligence University, a master’s in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a doctorate in education at The University of Georgia. He served as an officer and board member for several nonprofits and served as "first councilor” at Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church. Dr. Fuchko currently is the chair for the Center for Family Resources. He has served as president and/or chair of several nonprofits, include the 1,900-member Institute of Internal Auditors Atlanta Chapter and previously served as editor of the College and University Auditor journal of the Association of College University Auditors.
Dr. Fuchko has been featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle and regularly speaks on internal audit, governance and higher education topics. He is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Atlanta and a recipient of the “40 Under 40” recognition from both Georgia Trend and the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Dr. Fuchko has served as a convocation or commencement speaker at Atlanta Metropolitan State College (and a recipient of its Founder’s Day Award) and Kennesaw State University. He has taught at the doctoral level.
He is married to the former Sherie Michelle Lipham of Canton, Georgia, and they are blessed with 12 children. They live in Cumming, Georgia.
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November 14th, 2023
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It's Almost Time To Tee It Up
If you've driven by one of our area high schools in the past few weeks, you've likely seen football players breaking out their helmets and pads or the marching bands practicing their shows. Yes, it's almost time for high school football here in northwest Georgia and that means that it's time for one of our favorite meetings of the year: our annual joint meeting with the Kiwanis Club for our high school football preview! The head coaches of each high school squad in Whitfield County will be taking their turn at the podium to tell us about their teams. Dalton High, Christian Heritage, Northwest Whitfield, Southeast Whitfield, and Coahulla Creek each have exciting players ready to kick it off under the lights on Friday nights. We can't wait!
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November 13th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
14-Nov |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Dickson, Sherry |
Dickson, Thomas S. |
15-Nov |
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| Miller, Sara |
Miller, Charles Dalton |
15-Nov |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Srivastava, Archana(ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
11/20/2012 |
11 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No anniversaries this period. |
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Meeting Recap: Dr. Fuchko And Dalton State
Last week, we had the opportunity to meet the interim president of Dalton State College. Our fellow Rotarian and former DSC president Dr. Margaret Venable introduced us to her successor, Dr. John Fuchko, III. Dr. Venable compared passing the torch to a mother leaving her baby. She said that she could not be happier, though, to leave the college in Dr. Fuchko’s hands. Dr. Fuchko began his tenure as interim president of Dalton State College on June 1st. Before coming to Dalton State, he served as interim president of Columbus State University. He has an extensive background in higher education as well as military service.
Dr. Fuchko provided an update on Dalton State’s growth and statistics on students. DSC is proud to offer a college education at an affordable rate in a growing community. At Dalton State, students and their education are the highest priority. Dr. Fuchko shared three keys to a student’s success: attend class, get involved on campus, and recognize that failure is inevitable. Dalton State strives to prepare students with the keys to success and prepare them for the “real world”. By offering two years of core classes, students can get their feet wet and learn a multitude of soft and hard skills that they will take with them beyond graduation into their career and personal lives. Attending Dalton State will not only prepare students for their future, but it can also be done at an affordable rate. Today, the school's tuition fees are around $2,000 a semester. Because of this, about 76% of DSC students graduate with no student loan debt. That is an incredible statistic, especially when compared to the horror stories we hear of people owing thousands in student loan debt. Another figure that Dr. Fuchko is proud of is that 82% of students are employed in our region after graduating. That is ultimately helping boost our local economy and keep our workforce local. Dr. Fuchko thanked the Geortgia General Assembly as they have been very generous in helping with Dalton State’s budget and allowing them to move forward with improvements. Recently they have been able to add a simulation lab which allows nursing students the opportunity to get experience on a life-like mannequin and also make needed improvements to Gignilliat Memorial Hall and Peeples Hall.
The care for students and continuous improvements are what has helped Dalton State to rank consistently in the top three in retention rate among all nine state colleges in the university system. Our community is fortunate to have Dalton State College in our backyard and our club is always happy to support and be an advocate for the college. Thank you, Dr. Venable and Dr. Fuchko for your continued work.
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This Week: News From The Georgia Judicial BranchThis week, we'll be getting an update from Atlanta and the Georgia Supreme Court. Dalton's own Justice Charlie Bethel will be giving us a look at everything going on in the state's judiciary.
Justice Bethel was born in Athens and raised in Dalton, a place he and his family still call home. He is a 1994 graduate of Dalton High School and earned both his business (BBA 1998) and law (JD 2001) degrees from the University of Georgia. At the University, he was a member of the Arch Society, as well as several other clubs and societies, including UGA Blue Key.
Following his formal education, Justice Bethel served as a law clerk on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia for Justice Charles A. Pannell, Jr before returning home to Northwest Georgia. He practiced law in Dalton with Minor Bell & Neal (now “The Minor Firm”) and spent over a decade in the flooring industry in executive and legal capacities working for J&J Industries.
Responding to a call for public service, Justice Bethel was twice elected to serve as an Alderman for the City of Dalton. Thereafter, he was elected four times to serve in the Georgia State Senate. During his service in the Senate, he served as the Chair of both the Insurance & Labor Committee and the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee. Additionally, he served as an Administration Floor Leader, a Deputy Whip, and as Co-Chair of the Joint High School Athletics Overview Committee. Justice Bethel also served on the Appropriations, Judiciary, Judiciary Non-civil, Retirement, Government Oversight, and Special Judiciary committees during his service in the Senate. In the legislature, he carried legislation on a broad array of topics. Among the high points of his legislative service, Justice Bethel counts his successful carriage of comprehensive juvenile justice reform legislation and autism insurance reform (commonly referred to as “Ava’s Law”) legislation.
Justice Bethel was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia on September 4, 2018 by Governor Nathan Deal. He previously served on the Georgia Court of Appeals, the state’s intermediate appellate court. He was elected to a full, six-year term on the Supreme Court in 2020.
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August 8th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
8-Aug |
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| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
10-Aug |
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| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Aug |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Satterfield, Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
Satterfield, Bruce A. |
9-Aug |
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| Laughter, Ben (BEN) |
Laughter, R Lynette |
11-Aug |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Hartline, Amy R(AMY) |
8/9/2022 |
1 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Barnett, George S.(SMITTY) |
Tammy (TAMMY) |
10-Aug |
38 |
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| Schwenn, John O.(JOHN) |
Judy |
14-Aug |
52 |
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Meeting Recap: Helping Hands Ending HungerPast President Amanda Reed led the October 31 meeting in President Lynn Laughter's absence. Amanda introduced Carla Harward, founder, CEO and executive director of Helping Hands Ending Hunger (HHEH), as the speaker for the meeting.
HHEH is a nonprofit organization in Northwest Georgia dedicated to alleviating childhood food insecurity, reducing food waste by schools, creating better educational outcomes and creating a healthier world. The student-led food donation program takes uneaten, cold-storage and dry-packaged foods from school meals and repurposes them to nurture food insecure families in our communities. The organization's initiative, “Kids Helping Kids,” empowers student leaders to be catalysts for change, helping reduce the stigma of food insecurity, and as a result, changing school climates. The program was first piloted in Trion City Schools in 2016, and despite COVID-19 and school closures, has continued to grow. The program is now in over 120 schools around Georgia, with new schools joining every week.
HHEH has evolved to become bigger than many of the feeding programs available today and is designed to overcome the hurdles and logistical struggles many traditional programs face. Since 2016, 2.5 million pounds of food have been saved from landfills, which equates to 2 million meals provided to struggling families. In our community alone, HHEH has helped reuse over 70,000 pounds of food — that's 5,200 meals in the hands of our families.
Recently, HHEH signed a three-year commitment with the American Heart Association to help build capacity in northwest Georgia and provide more fresh produce to families. HHEH has also formed a partnership with Emory University to apply for a five-year grant with the CDC to study the impacts of school-based food banks in our communities. #TogetherWeCan
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August 8th, 2023
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November 7th, 2023
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Meeting Recap: Jackie Killings VisitsLast week’s meeting embodied the ideals of Rotary in every way. We were able to give back to those in our community as well as hear updates from our district and international levels. Past-President Smitty Barnett welcomed Anna La and her family to our club. Anna recently graduated from Dalton High School where she was president of their Interact Club. We had the privilege of supporting Anna and the DHS Interact Club through different service projects in recent years. Rotarian Larry Tripp presented Anna with a scholarship for her hard work and achievements. Anna will continue her education in the fall at Berry College where she hopes to start the first Rotaract club on campus. We are very proud of Anna and will continue to cheer her on as well as continue to support the DHS Interact Club.
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Our speaker for the week was Jackie Killings. Jackie is no stranger to our club. She is a member of the Carpet City Rotary Club, better known as the morning club. She has held several different leadership positions within her club as well as at the district level, including club president (twice) and has served on the district’s board of directors. She is currently Assistant Governor Area 1 for Rotary District 6910, serving the Rotary clubs of Calhoun, Carpet City and Dalton. Jackie presented Rotary International’s theme for the 2023-2024 year which is Create Hope in the World. Jackie also introduced us to our new District Governor, Brandy Swanson, whom we will get to hear from directly in the coming months.
As Rotarians we enjoy playing a part in change not only in our community, but also worldwide. Our club appreciates Jackie’s and the rest of the district’s hard work in ensuring we have another great Rotary year.
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November 7th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
8-Nov |
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| Parrott, Rhett M (RHETT) |
12-Nov |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Anthony, Ellen |
Anthony, Edward B |
11-Nov |
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| Campbell, Kristy |
Campbell, J Carl |
11-Nov |
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| Hawkins, Nancy |
Hawkins, Jim R. |
11-Nov |
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| Morehouse, Dianne |
Morehouse, Gordon C. |
12-Nov |
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| Cope, Laurie Lee |
Cope, Don |
13-Nov |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Elliott, Judy M.(JUDY) |
S. G. |
12-Nov |
35 |
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Meeting Recap: Sheriff ChitwoodLast week we welcomed a familiar face, Sheriff Scott Chitwood, as our speaker. President Lynn introduced Sheriff Chitwood as “one of her favorite people”. Chitwood began his career as a Whitfield County deputy in 1975 and eventually was elected as Sheriff in 1992. Throughout his tenure Sheriff Chitwood has collected many stories, some good, some bad, and some entertaining. During his program, he shared with us his “list” of humorous stories he has collected over his career. We all shared a laugh as Sheriff Chitwood shared his stories with us. Stories such as someone calling him at home asking him what the weather forecast was, looking for information on a crime that happened in another county, and many others! Sheriff Chitwood clarified that he enjoys these stories as much as anyone and in no way is criticizing any members of our community. We enjoyed sharing a laugh with Sheriff Chitwood!
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This Week: A Visit To Cuba
This week, we will be hearing from Ben Laughter about his trip to Cuba earlier this year. Ben is a seasoned corporate attorney. He graduated from the prestigious Georgetown University’s Law Center in Washington , D.C., in 1976 and worked in the Washington office of a major multinational company for two years before transferring to the headquarters office in Chicago.
Ten years later, Ben became Vice President and General Counsel of Shaw Industries, serving in that position for 15 years, until the company was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway. He subsequently became General Counsel for Bob Shaw’s new company, Engineered Floors.
Ben also taught Business Law and Leadership Skills at the Georgia Tech School of Business for three years and then joined the Wright School of Business at Dalton State College for sixteen years, where he taught Business Law and Business Ethics.
By his own count, Ben has closed over 70 corporate transactions where the amount involved was $90 million or more, including three transactions of over a billion dollars. Ben has been trying to retire since he turned age 70, but hasn’t quite made it there, yet.
In December of 2022, Ben was invited to lead classes in Entrepreneurship and Leadership Skills in a city near Havana, Cuba. That experience is the subject of his presentation today. He has already presented to the International Business students and the Senior Capstone class at Dalton State.
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July 25th, 2023
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October 31st, 2023
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July 25th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
29-Jul |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Smith, Logan |
Hartline, Amy R |
25-Jul |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Barnwell, William L(BILL) |
Delle |
28-Jul |
61 |
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October 31st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Coker, Allyson M (ALLYSON) |
31-Oct |
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| Dailey, Wiley H (WILEY) |
2-Nov |
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| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
6-Nov |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Richmond, Agnes (AGNES) |
Richmond, John D. |
2-Nov |
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| Kirkman, Lou |
Kirkman, Lowell D. |
4-Nov |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Jolly, Hilliard R.(HILLIARD) |
11/1/1989 |
34 |
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| Chandler, Robert M.(ROBERT) |
11/1/1978 |
45 |
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| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
11/1/1980 |
43 |
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| Stewart, Robert T(ROBERT) |
11/1/1981 |
42 |
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| Morehouse, Gordon C.(GORDON) |
11/1/1982 |
41 |
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| Pennington, David E.(DAVID) |
11/1/1985 |
38 |
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| Barnwell, William L(BILL) |
11/1/1972 |
51 |
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| Sivick, Robert J(BOB) |
11/2/2021 |
2 |
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| Campbell, J Carl(CARL) |
11/3/2015 |
8 |
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| Hefner, Abby T(ABBY THOMAS) |
11/5/2019 |
4 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No anniversaries this period. |
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This Week: AG's Visit
This week, we're honored by a visit from our district's Assistant Governor, Jackie Killings. Jackie is well known by many in Dalton and is a member of the Carpet City Rotary Club, perhaps better known as the Morning Rotary Club in Dalton. Jackie will be giving us an update on some of the missions that Rotary is engaged in this year and discuss a visit from our District Governor.
Jackie is a co-founder of K & M Technologies – a technology and innovation scouting firm that connects entrepreneurs and start-ups with established corporations. She is also the founder and President of Khensani – an organizational management and training firm that helps organizations unlock their potential and bring better value to their employees and customers.
Jackie is originally from Livingston, AL and came to Dalton in 2008 to work as an engineer in Research & Development for Mohawk Industries. She is passionate about serving her community and uses her problem-solving skills in her volunteer work with multiple organizations throughout Georgia and Alabama.
Jackie joined the Rotary Club of Carpet City in April 2011 after volunteering with the club at a local Special Olympics events. That volunteer opportunity and invitation to join have propelled her Rotary career beyond what she imagined. She has held multiple roles in her home club, including president twice, served on the district’s board of directors for 3 years and last year, was asked to attend a Zone 33/34 Emerging Leaders summit. She is currently the Assistant Governor Area 1 for Rotary District 6910, serving the Rotary clubs of Calhoun, Carpet City and Dalton.
Jackie lives in Dalton with her dogs Zeus and Dash and her nephew Jalon. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and being around people who make her world better.
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This Week: Fighting Hunger
This week, our speaker is Carla Harward from Helping Hands Ending Hunger (HHEH), a non-profit group here in northwest Georgia dedicated to alleviating childhood food insecurity, reducing food waste by schools, creating better educational outcomes, and creating a healthier world.
Mrs. Harward was born and raised in the "Research Triangle" area of North Carolina in Raleigh. She received a B.A. in English, summa cum laude with honorary distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1986. She obtained a juris doctor with highest honors from the Duke University School of Law in 1989. Carla practiced business law in Florida for almost 20 years, starting with a top 100 law firm, where she became the youngest female partner and head of litigation, and then establishing her own firm. She has been married to her husband John for 23 years and has one daughter, Sophie, who is in college and is the original student founder of Helping Hands.
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Meeting Recap: Passing the GavelLast week was an exciting meeting! We had the opportunity to induct three new members as well as the annual passing of the gavel to signify a new Rotary year. In one of Alex’s last acts as president, he along with Cherri Robertson inducted three new Rotarians to our club. These new members include Lindsey Foster, sponsored by Cherri Robertson, Allyson Coker, sponsored by Alex Brown, and Kristina Horsley, sponsored by Frank Hogshead. We are excited for these ladies to join our club and seeing how our club continues to grow.
As the Rotary year ends, past-president Alex reflected on his year as president. Alex could not be more pleased with the work our club has done over the past year. He continues to be pleased with the impact our club has on the youth in our community from the fifth-grade awards ceremony, the RYLA program, the high school scholarship program, and the partnership with GNTC for their GED program. Our club also had the opportunity to make a difference globally through the shelter boxes, donating to Mercer University’s efforts in Vietnam, and of course our district and international efforts in the fight against polio. Our club had the opportunity to learn from a variety of different programs featuring speakers from the State, local leaders in our community, as well as small business owners. Alex left us with a challenge to always be curious, ask questions, and continue to learn and grow each day. “It’s been my honor to serve as your president,” said Alex.
President Lynn Laughter took the podium and invited any attending past presidents to line up in the chronological order of their presidency. Sixteen past presidents dating back to 1976 each spoke on what was memorable from their year as president as they passed the gavel down the line until it reached President Lynn. Our club hopes to continue this ceremonious tradition as we welcome a new president each year. Lynn’s goals as president include continuing to provide engaging presentations, more community involvement, greater high school participation through Interact Clubs, recruit new members, and continue to support charitable efforts.
President Lynn rang the bell signifying the closing of her first official Rotary meeting as president. We look forward to being under Lynn’s leadership and enjoying another year of fellowship, membership, and connection. It’s a great day to be a Rotarian!
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Meeting Recap: New Members And Beautiful PlantsIt is always an exciting meeting when we get to welcome new members! We are proud to welcome Rhett Parrott, Wiley Dailey, Beau Patton, Alison Parker, Emily Jourdain, Joe Barkley, and John Fuchko to our club. We are ecstatic to see our club grow!
President Lynn introduced our speaker, Fiddleheads Garden Center owner, Sam Brown. Fiddleheads was opened in 2011 as a full service garden center with growing facilities, gifts, and a focus on design. Since opening, Fiddleheads has been on the Bulldog 100 list of fastest growing UGA alumni-owned businesses three times since 2017 and has been named the best garden center in the state of Georgia by the Georgia Business Journal each of the last two years. Sam has been named a 40 Under 40 member by Greenhouse Product News as one of the movers and shakers of the green industry and was also named as the Young Professional of the Year for the state of Georgia by the Georgia Green Industry Association.
Fiddleheads allows Sam to live out his passion for plants. Sam brought along some of his favorite fall plants for us to see. While the idea of planting is often associated with spring, it is worth noting that there are several plant varieties that thrive in the fall as well. Fall planting offers the advantage of allowing roots to establish and strengthen in preparation for the warmer seasons. As we transition to fall and winter, the landscape can sometimes appear dreary. However, having knowledge of plants that flourish in the fall can bring color and cheer to our lives.
All the plants that Sam showcased were perennials, which means they will last and come back each year. Among them, one of the more well-known varieties is the pansy. Pansies are great because they grow nicely in the fall and winter and then really bloom in the spring. Another favorite of Sam’s, the coral bells, is a beautiful leafy plant. Sam’s love for this plant caused him to have to scale back on the number he kept in his store. He found he couldn’t help himself from bringing in more and more until they started to run out of space! Other plants we learned about included the dusty miller, creeping jane, and the euphorbia. Sam enjoys being able to experiment with differently textured plants and create something beautiful.
We all enjoyed learning from Sam and being able to see the beautiful plants that Sam brought along with him. Fiddleheads is a great addition to Dalton and we are proud to support the business.
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July 18th, 2023
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This Week: Fiddleheads Owner Sam Brown
This week, our speaker is Fiddleheads Garden Center owner Sam Brown. Sam grew up in Chatsworth, GA and received his landscape architecture degree from the University of Georgia. Upon graduation, he worked in Atlanta designing various projects from high end residential to large scale municipal parks and urban trails. After 8 years of office life, he transitioned back to his true love of a more hands-on approach with plants. Fiddleheads Garden Center was born in Dalton in 2011 as a full service garden center with growing facilities, gifts, and a focus on design. Twelve years have passed and the store has grown by adding additional space and a more diverse plant palette. Fiddleheads has been on the Bulldog 100 of fastest growing UGA alumni businesses three times since 2017 and has won the best garden center in the state of Georgia by the Georgia Business Journal the last two years. Sam has been named a 40 Under 40 member by Greenhouse Product News as one of the movers and shakers of the green industry and was also named as the Young Professional of the Year for the state of Georgia by the Georgia Green Industry Association. Sam is a deacon at Fellowship Bible Church and a club soccer coach for Dalton FC in his spare time. Sam has a deep-seeded love for plants, trout fishing, coaching youth soccer, and everything Georgia Bulldawgs.
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July 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Hutcheson, John A. Jr. (JOHN) |
18-Jul |
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| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
19-Jul |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Bundros, Lara |
Bundros, Thomas A |
22-Jul |
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| Finkell, Emily |
Finkell, Donald R Jr |
22-Jul |
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| Tharpe, Julie |
Tharpe, Henry C. |
23-Jul |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Robertson, Cherri L(CHERRI) |
7/19/2016 |
7 |
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| Robertson, Ricky N(RICKY) |
7/19/2016 |
7 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Finkell, Donald R Jr(DON) |
Emily |
18-Jul |
8 |
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| Srivastava, Archana(ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
Vinai |
20-Jul |
47 |
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| Maret, Michael S.(MIKE) |
Carla |
21-Jul |
22 |
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Meeting Recap: Dalton's Economic DevelopmentLast week’s meeting was called to order by President Lynn Laughter and was attended by a multitude of guests. A special guest, Katheryne Fields recognized Rotarians for their support of the Georgia Student Rotary Program. In recognition of their dedication, she presented awards to Paul Alderman, John Minor, Archana Srivastava, Bill Wright, and Lynn Laughter for their contributions to GRSP.
Following announcements, President Lynn introduced our speaker, Rotarian Carl Campbell, who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority (JDA). Carl has resided in Dalton his entire life and considers it a privilege to work for the good of his hometown. He is quoted by saying “I don’t work for anybody, I work for everybody!”
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Carl and his team member, Ali, are dedicated to fostering economic growth and attracting businesses to the Greater Dalton area. The focus of the meeting was around housing and the strides they are making in expanding housing opportunities for Whitfield County residents. Believe Greater Dalton (BGD) has targeted housing as one of their six areas of focus for improving our community. The JDA, along with BGD have committed to providing housing opportunities to address the needs of all levels of the income spectrum. On a daily basis, an estimated 31,000 individuals travel from outside of Whitfield County to work here, while 19,799 Whitfield County residents leave daily for work elsewhere. The JDA strives to bring employment opportunities to our community while encouraging residents to both live and work here, as studies have shown that community engagement increases in such cases.
Believe Greater Dalton’s 2018 housing study indicated the immediate need for approximately 600 housing units to meet current demand, with an additional requirement of 100 to 125 annually going forward. Carl proudly announced that nearly 900 apartments will be introduced to Whitfield County in the next 18 months. These apartment complexes include The Township at Hammond Creek, Crow Valley apartments, the Lofts at Hamilton, Dalton Station, and Alta Dalton. However, this is only the beginning of their efforts. Carl is committed to working with the city to bring more housing opportunities to Dalton.
We are excited to continue to see Dalton flourish and grow. Thank you, Carl and all who have played a
role in bettering our community.
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This Week: Sheriff Scott Chitwood
This week our speaker is a familiar face for everyone in Whitfield County - Sheriff Scott Chitwood. Scott has been the Sheriff of Whitfield County for more than 30 years, with his first election to the position coming in 1992. His association with the agency goes back much further, though, as he first became a deputy with the office in 1975. In 1980, he moved into the private sector, working in security for West Point Pepperell and then later as corporate security director for Shaw Industries. In 1988, he returned to the Sheriff's Office as chief deputy. Needless to say, he's got plenty of stories to tell from his career in law enforcement!
His list of honors and accomplishments is extensive. Among them is his selection in 1996 by the Democratic Party as Public Official of the Year. His service to our community goes beyond his elected office, as he also serves on the boards of directors for the Cherokee Estates Sheriff Youth Homes, The GreenHouse, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. He is a member of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, the National Sheriffs' Association, the National Jail Association, and the Georgia Jail Association.
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October 23rd, 2023
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This Week: Passing of the Gavel
It's hard to believe, but it's time to wrap up one Club year and kick off another! It's time to pass the gavel off to a new Club president. It's been an honor to serve you all over the course of the past year and I look forward to handing the reins to President Lynn Laughter for another great Rotary year!
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October 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Aviles, Yadira A (YADI) |
25-Oct |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Mixer, Mark S(MARK) |
10/25/2016 |
7 |
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| Shults, Stephen D(DOUG) |
10/26/2021 |
2 |
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| Hogshead, Frank M.(FRANK) |
10/26/1999 |
24 |
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| Ewton, Michael F(MIKE) |
10/26/2021 |
2 |
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| Aft, David(DAVID) |
10/29/1996 |
27 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Anthony, Edward B(ED) |
Ellen |
25-Oct |
37 |
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| Hartline, Amy R(AMY) |
Logan |
27-Oct |
4 |
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| Burt, Amanda(AMANDA) |
Roger |
30-Oct |
24 |
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Meeting Recap: Phoenix High School & NWGA Career AcademyWhitfield County prides itself on offering a variety of different educational opportunities for local students. Last week we got to hear from two staff members as well as a recent graduate of Phoenix High School. Phoenix High School is part of the Whitfield County School System and offers students an alternative to traditional high school. The mission of Phoenix High School is to “provide quality instruction in an environment that inspires classroom success, individual excellence, and responsible citizenship”. To help us understand more about Phoenix and the opportunities available was Principal, Sherri Travisano, Graduation Coach Hayley Likovetz, and recent Phoenix alumna, Hannah Lloyd.
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Ms. Travisano has served as principal for the past seven years and has loved every second of her time at Phoenix. She began her presentation by reading a “flip the script” story. In the story the narrator tells of a troubled young man whose future is doomed. Ms. Travisano then flipped the script of the story, reading the same words as before but in the reverse order. This time, the story told of a young man who has a bright future. This exercise is what Phoenix strives to do with each of their students. They are a school of opportunities for Whitfield County students who prefer a less traditional high school experience. Students who meet the criteria may elect to attend Phoenix and will still receive a quality education, opportunities for professional development, and ultimately will receive the same high school diploma. Ms. Likovetz explained how Phoenix helps meet student’s goals and the career opportunities available to Phoenix students, as well as students from other schools in the county next door at the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy. We then got to hear Hannah’s experience and why she chose Phoenix.
Hannah proudly graduated from Phoenix High School in May of this year. This club meeting was not the first meeting Hannah has attended of ours. When she was in fifth grade, Hannah was recognized as her school’s Service Above Self scholarship representative. She credits that experience as sparking her interest in writing and speaking. Using that passion, she plans to study English at Dalton State College beginning in the fall (talk about a full circle moment)! When Hannah was in middle school her family moved and she had to move to a different school in the county. Not knowing anybody was difficult for Hannah and as she entered high school, she was having a very hard time. Thanks to a family member, Hannah learned about Phoenix and the opportunities available to her. Hannah began talking to the administrators at Phoenix and with their help began to build out a plan for herself. Ms. Travisano and the rest of the administration helped guide Hannah to her full potential, to which Hannah said, “that is what service above self is”. Phoenix provided Hannah with both educational and professional experiences and allowed her to graduate early and feel confident as she moves to the next phase of her life.
Sherri, Hayley, and Hannah all did a wonderful job explaining the alternatives available to Whitfield County Students. It was an inspiring presentation, and we are proud of our community and the commitment to education.
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An Opportunity To Engage With Our GRSP Student
We have an opportunity for members of our club to help show our GRSP student Andrew Fogtmann as much of Georgia and the US as possible while she's here. Andrea would like to experience as much as she can while here in Georgia and the US. We are interested in putting together a list of Rotarians who are willing to give her rides to different locations when able. She has a GRSP weekend in Alpharetta November 10-12th. Larry Winter is taking her but she needs to be picked up on Sunday. She will probably be in Cartersville so you would not have to drive all the way to Alpharetta. Also, we want to ask any of you who are doing special things with your families, please consider including Andrea in your plans. You can contact her at 762-432-6213. Please let us know if you are willing to have your name on a list for transportation!
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July 11th, 2023
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This Week: Developments In Economic DevelopmentThis week, our featured speaker is our friend Carl Campbell from the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority (JDA). Carl will be getting us up to speed on a few of the many exciting initiatives he and his team are working on to help our local economy continue to grow.
Carl is a northwest Georgia native and joined the JDA as Executive Director in April 2015. Before that, he served as the Regional Project Manager in the Northwest Georgia Region for the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) from 2011 until 2015.
In his previous position with the GDEcD, Campbell worked with communities, other state agencies, and utility partners to foster economic growth in our region by recruiting new industries to our area and assisting existing industries with expansion opportunities. Campbell has successfully assisted in landing numerous projects in North Georgia resulting in job growth and investment. These projects include Audia Group, Engineered Floors, Interroll, IVC US, Mannington, Mattex, Mohawk Industries, and Shaw Industries Inc.
As Executive Director, Carl works hard to create economic opportunities through retail, commercial, industrial, and housing growth, reducing the tax burden for Whitfield County citizens. His passion for the community is amplified through his messaging and his work to make Dalton the best place for investment. He does not come to "work" every day, he comes to do what he loves. He often says, " I don't work for anybody, I work for everybody!" Working to improve his hometown is a challenge and also a blessing.
Campbell has a Bachelor's of Business Administration from the University of Georgia. He has attended and instructed the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and completed the Georgia Tech Basic Economic Development course. Campbell is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) and serves on the GEDA board, as well as the board for the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy. He and his wife, Kristy, are the parents of John Grant, Riley and Karaline. Naturally, he closes his biography on the JDA website with a hearty "Go Dawgs!"
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July 11th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
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| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
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| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
14-Jul |
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| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
14-Jul |
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| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
14-Jul |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Kinard, Bob |
Kinard, Dixie |
13-Jul |
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| Townsend, Teresa |
Townsend, Patrick J. |
15-Jul |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Ownby, Jeff B(JEFF) |
7/12/2022 |
1 |
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| Maton, Carla E(CARLA) |
7/12/2022 |
1 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Combs, William Dan(DAN) |
Donna |
11-Jul |
53 |
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| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
Terri |
15-Jul |
51 |
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| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
Marilyn |
15-Jul |
56 |
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October 17th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
22-Oct |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Bowling, Becky |
Bowling, John |
20-Oct |
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| O'Neill, Lin |
O'Neill, Michael Paul |
19-Oct |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
10/22/2009 |
14 |
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| Maret, Michael S.(MIKE) |
10/21/2008 |
15 |
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| Winter, Larry E.(LARRY) |
10/18/2005 |
18 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Wilson, John H(JOHN) |
Cynthia |
17-Oct |
14 |
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Meeting Recap: First Responding HeroesLast week was our annual Vocational Service Excellence program. This award is designed to recognize an individual who surpasses expectations for exemplary vocational service. We had the honor of presenting these awards to six first responders for their dedication and willingness to serve our community on a daily basis.
Those honored were selected by their superiors and co-workers for their willingness to go above and beyond each day. On behalf of the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Scott Chitwood recognized Deputy Cory Spence. Sheriff Chitwood described Deputy Spence as “very knowledgeable and the officer that supervisors want on their shift and one that other officers want as their backup”. Whitfield County Fire Battalion Chief, Chris West recognized Engineer Michael Blair. Engineer Blair has dedicated his career to Whitfield County Fire and is very involved in serving our community also through blood drives, Miracle Field, and the department’s annual Christmas event. Next, Dalton City Fire Department Chief Todd Pangle commended Lieutenant Gary Stanley. Lieutenant Stanley was recently recognized by his peers as the 2023 City of Dalton Firefighter of the Year and awarded a certificate of commendation for his life saving efforts on a call. Director of Hamilton EMS, Scott Radeker recognized Lieutenant Eric Mantooth for his service. Lieutenant Mantooth has been a frontline paramedic for 30 years until recently being promoted to Lieutenant where he now has his own vehicle and can respond to any call. Lieutenant Mantooth has a heart of service and is a great asset to our community. Director of Emergency Service, David Metcalf, commended Christina Byrd for this award. Prior to joining the department, Christina was a part of the Community Emergency Response Team, CERT, where community members are trained to help in response to a disaster. She is now manager of the CERT team where she is very active in training other community members and organizations on how to prepare for a disaster as well as starting numerous other programs. Finally, Assistant Chief Chris Crossen with the Dalton Police Department commended Sergeant Michael Bowen for this year’s award. Sergeant Bowen has spent several years with the police department and is passionate about officer’s wellness. He has recently taken the lead on finding an app that helps connect police officers with mental health recourses.
Each man and woman recognized is committed to serving our community to the best of their ability and without hesitation runs toward a crisis that most of us would run away from. Whitfield County is blessed to have such great first responders and we cannot thank them enough for what they do.
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October 17th, 2023
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June 27th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Brown, Alex C (ALEX) |
27-Jun |
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| Ownby, Jeff B (JEFF) |
2-Jul |
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| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
3-Jul |
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| Anthony, Edward B (ED) |
4-Jul |
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| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
4-Jul |
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| Wright, William B. Jr. (WILLIAM) |
5-Jul |
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| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
7-Jul |
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| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
8-Jul |
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| Neal, John P. III (JOHN) |
9-Jul |
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| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
10-Jul |
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| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Maret, Sarah |
Maret, Charles D. |
1-Jul |
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| Alderman, Alicia |
Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. |
3-Jul |
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| Parker, Brittany |
Parker, Paul Andrew |
3-Jul |
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| Metcalf, Alicia |
Metcalf, David W |
10-Jul |
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| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
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| Burt, Amanda(AMANDA) |
6/30/2004 |
19 |
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| Mock, Jason T(JASON) |
7/1/2022 |
1 |
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| Thomas, Don R.(DON) |
7/1/1973 |
50 |
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| Denson, Jason B(JASON) |
7/1/2018 |
5 |
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| O'Neill, Michael Paul(MIKE) |
7/1/2010 |
13 |
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| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
7/1/1996 |
27 |
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| Norris, Bradley B(BRAD) |
7/1/2018 |
5 |
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| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
7/1/1980 |
43 |
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| Payne, Charles F Jr.(CHUCK) |
7/1/2017 |
6 |
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| Venable, Margaret H.(MARGARET) |
7/7/2015 |
8 |
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| McLeod, Robert S.(BOB) |
7/10/2007 |
16 |
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| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| O'Neill, Michael Paul(MIKE) |
Lin |
30-Jun |
39 |
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| Sutherland, George W.(GEORGE) |
Phyllis |
1-Jul |
56 |
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| Blackman, Bill M(BILL) |
Linda |
1-Jul |
56 |
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| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
Pat |
2-Jul |
57 |
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| Brooker, Robert H.(BOB) |
Janet |
5-Jul |
53 |
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Golf Tournament RecapThe 2023 Rotary Golf Tournament was held on October 10, 2023 at Dalton Golf and Country Club with seventy-six players in the field, up from fifty players last year. Proceeds from this annual event are used to provide merit-based college scholarship funds to graduating seniors of Whitfield County and Dalton City high schools. The projected revenue for the tournament is $23,000.
 
A total of nineteen teams were separated into two flights based on handicap. Taking First Place in Flight 1 was the team of our own Coach Ronnie McClurg, with a score to par of -18. The team of Rotarian Paul Alderman (Allchem) also scored -18 but took second place via scorecard playoff. Coming in third in flight 1 was the Textile Rubber team at 16 under par.
First Place in Flight 2 went to the team of Omega Parking, of Chattanooga, with a score to par of -9. Coming in second was the Mohawk #1 team at -8, and third place went to Alliant Health Plans at -7.
In addition to the players, the tournament was supported by many valued sponsors and individual Rotarians. Our thanks also go to the staff at Dalton Country Club who went above and beyond in hosting the event. The Rotary Golf committee worked diligently for several months to make this year's tournament a fun and successful event.
The tournament is traditionally held on the second Tuesday in October, and we are looking forward to next year, which will feature the tournament on October 8, 2024.
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June 27th, 2023
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Meeting Recap: Comedy With Jerry DryeDr. Margaret Venable introduced our speaker for the afternoon, Professor Jerry Drye. Jerry is an associate professor of communication at Dalton State College. He also loves making people laugh through his comedy! Dr. Venable praised Professor Drye for his professionalism and comedic relief. She noted that students love him, and he has a way of making students feel comfortable in class. Before coming to Dalton State in 2019, Jerry taught at Clemson University. Since being at DSC, he has twice been honored with the Dalton State College Foundation Award for Excellence, once in teaching and once in service.
Jerry shared some of his favorite jokes and kept us laughing the entire meeting. Jerry first fell in love with comedy when he was eight years old in a barbershop. He vividly remembers sitting in a barbershop with his father when he made a joke that had everyone in the shop laughing. This was a pivotal moment in his life because it was the first time he made people laugh on purpose. From that moment on, Jerry has loved the feeling of making people laugh.
They say laughter is the best medicine and we sure got our dose! It was a fantastic meeting. Jerry, thank you for the laughs!
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This Week: Phoenix High School
School may be out for summer, but our focus is still on education. This week, our speaker is Sherri Travisano, the principal of the Northwest Georgia Career Academy and Phoenix High School. She'll be telling us about the school, its mission in our community, and also introducing us to one of her students.
Mrs. Travisano joined Whitfield County Schools in 2007 as an elementary school principal. Since then she has served as a principal, district administrator, instructional coach, college professor, and teacher in her more than 30 years in education.
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October 10th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. (PAUL) |
11-Oct |
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| Squillario, George Douglas (DOUG) |
12-Oct |
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| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
16-Oct |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Sponcler, Betty |
Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. |
11-Oct |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Dickson, Thomas S.(TOM) |
Sherry |
10-Oct |
36 |
|
| Mock, Jason T(JASON) |
Katie |
11-Oct |
9 |
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| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
Betty |
14-Oct |
65 |
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June 20th, 2023
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October 10th, 2023
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June 20th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
21-Jun |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Combs, Donna |
Combs, William Dan |
24-Jun |
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| Neal, Terri |
Neal, John P. III |
24-Jun |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
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| Bledsoe, Jonathan L.(JONATHAN) |
6/20/2006 |
17 |
|
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| Croft, Brian C(BRIAN) |
6/25/2019 |
4 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Poehlman, John H.(JOHN) |
Sally |
23-Jun |
47 |
|
| Shults, Stephen D(DOUG) |
Denise |
24-Jun |
28 |
|
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L.(JONATHAN) |
Ginny |
25-Jun |
18 |
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton(CHARLES) |
Sara |
26-Jun |
27 |
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This Week: Rotary Golf Tournament
This week we will not have our usual meeting and instead we will be hosting our annual golf tournament. Each year, the golf committee works to line up sponsors and players to support our fundraising efforts. Proceeds collected will be used to fund scholarships for local students. It should be a beautiful day for a round of golf! In place of a regularly scheduled meeting, you are welcome to join the players for lunch at 11:30 at the Country Club before the round starts at 1:00. Thank you to all involved in the planning and participation!
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This Week: Honoring First Responders
You hope that you and your family never need the services of a first responder, but if you ever do you want them to be the absolute best of the best. Here in Dalton, we're blessed to be served by just that - the best public safety professionals in the business. The fire departments, emergency medical service, and law enforcement agencies that serve Whitfield County and each of the cities are staffed by top-notch individuals, and this week is our annual meeting to say thank you and honor some of their best. The annual Rotary Vocational Service Awards will honor first responders from each agency serving you and yours.
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This Week: "Drye" Wit
This week, we're taking a break from serious topics and getting a chance to laugh a little. Our speaker is Professor Jerry Drye from Dalton State College. Professor Drye is an associate professor of communication at Dalton State, and also a comedian. In fact, in addition to teaching public speaking and organizational communication, he also teaches a class called "Humor Communication."
Professor Drye earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Murray State University in organizational communication. He also holds a specalist's degree in adult education from the University of Georgia. He has twice been honored with the Dalton State College Foundation Award for Excellence, once in teaching and once in service.
We're looking forward to a fun presentation!
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Meeting Recap: Gym TimeLast week, we heard a fascinating program from Dalton native and gym owner, Josh Tatum. Josh and his wife own The Box gym where they encourage others to meet their health and fitness goals.
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October 3rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
7-Oct |
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| Aft, David (DAVID) |
9-Oct |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Sutherland, Phyllis |
Sutherland, George W. |
5-Oct |
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| Scott, Robyn |
Scott, Tim |
7-Oct |
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| Griffin, Brenda |
Griffin, Ronald L |
8-Oct |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Barnett, George S.(SMITTY) |
10/6/2015 |
8 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Norris, Bradley B(BRAD) |
Calli |
4-Oct |
9 |
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June 13th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Sanders, Drayton M II (DRAYTON) |
13-Jun |
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| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
14-Jun |
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| Pena, Arnaldo (ARNALDO) |
15-Jun |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Dobbins, Chuck(CHUCK) |
Donna |
16-Jun |
50 |
|
| Didier, John M.(JOHN) |
Cathy |
19-Jun |
41 |
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October 3rd, 2023
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June 13th, 2023Monday, June 12, 2023 By Alex C Brown .
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Meeting Recap: Believing In Greater DaltonPast President Alex Brown led the September 23 meeting in President Lynn Laughter's absence. Alex introduced Anna Adamson, fellow Rotarian and newly appointed executive director of the Flooring Capital Development Corporation (FCDC), as the speaker for the meeting.
Anna presented on behalf of Believe Greater Dalton (BGD) — or simply Believe — and the organization's efforts to encourage community involvement in the Believe 2023 community survey. She shared a video on the six strategic recommendations of the BGD plan that launched its first five-year phase in 2018. The plan focused on Housing, Education, Downtown, Entrepreneurship, Economic Development and Community Pride. Since the initiative began, Greater Dalton has seen improvement in all six strategic areas. To better meet the community's needs, the second phase of the plan will again focus on the same six strategies and include two new strategies, Revitalization and Engagement and Unity. Anna emphasized the improvements we've seen could not have been done without the feedback from the community and asked all Rotarians to participate in Believe's third community survey by visiting www.believegreaterdalton.com.
Anna also shared a current update on the Housing strategy and how it applies to what she is working on specifically with FCDC. The Housing strategy states that Greater Dalton "is looking to offer appealing and market-relevant housing that helps attract and retain workers, families and future generations." We took a look at the state of housing in our community compared to both the state and the nation, and found that our community and the state of Georgia is simply not building enough housing. The three biggest economic drivers in our community are manufacturing, healthcare and retail and Anna called attention to the need to have adequate housing for workers in these industries and their families. To move the needle, FCDC's mission is to encourage construction of high-quality, for-sale and rental housing properties at various price points; ensure an adequate supply of housing for the workforce in our community; and participate in the redevelopment of the existing housing stock and align housing initiatives with the new Revitalization strategy.
Thank you, Anna, for your work to make Greater Dalton a place all residents and future residents are proud to call home!
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Meeting Recap: City of Refuge UpdateLast week we got to hear from one of our own, Brian Croft. Brian currently serves as the director of operations at the City of Refuge. City of Refuge has been a part of the Dalton community for nearly 30 years, starting their work in 1995. Their goal is to help meet the basic needs of people in our community by equipping them to improve their current situations.
The City of Refuge offers services for all stages and walks of life including senior services, educational classes, women’s ministries, a food pantry, and more. Operating out of a gifted 200,000 square foot facility, the City of Refuge continues to meet people where they are. The facility is still in renovation mode with only 25-30% complete, however they can operate fully. Inside hosts a soccer field, a nursery, as well as opportunities for partner organizations. For Brian, one of the most rewarding programs includes the senior ministry which since the pandemic has shifted to delivering food to seniors that couldn’t get out. They are continuing this program and building relationships with seniors. With the current economic times they are seeing an uptick in their food pantry. Brian estimated that last week alone they gave out roughly 70 50-pound food boxes to residents in our community. Through partnerships with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and local churches, workplaces, and community organizations, they are able to help address food insecurity. It is estimated that they served over 250,000 meals last year. The City of Refuge team and volunteers continue to provide excellent services to our community. Thank you, Brian for your dedication!
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September 19th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
22-Sep |
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| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
22-Sep |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Payne, Angelina |
Payne, Charles F Jr. |
22-Sep |
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| Parker, April (APRIL) |
Parker, Hoyt Jason |
24-Sep |
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| Shults, Denise |
Shults, Stephen D |
25-Sep |
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| Mixer, Kimberly |
Mixer, Mark S |
25-Sep |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| McKenzie, Sandra D(SANDY) |
9/20/2016 |
7 |
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| Brantley, Valerie K(VAL) |
9/20/2016 |
7 |
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| Creswell, Catrina Celeste(CELESTE) |
9/20/2016 |
7 |
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| Tripp, Larry E.(LARRY) |
9/23/2014 |
9 |
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| Boyett, William T(BILLY) |
9/24/2013 |
10 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Kiker, Janice F.(JANICE) |
John |
23-Sep |
62 |
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This Week: Functional FitnessSummer is here, and while we'd all love to look great by the pool or on the beach, that's not the most important measurement of fitness. And the health benefits of being in good shape are too numerous to list here. This week, our speaker is local gym owner Josh Tatum. He'll be presenting a look at the functional fitness program that he's been working on since opening his business in 2012.
Josh Tatum is a Dalton native who attended Mississippi State College where he played baseball for 3 years before finishing his degree in the PTA program at Chattanooga State. Josh works as a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant at AOSM and as a clinician on the Acute Care Rehabilitation team for the Hamilton Health Care system. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Chattanooga State.
Josh and Ally started their gym in 2012 and still run it today. They have three wonderful boys who keep them both very busy. The formal education and more than a decade of experience has made their gym, The Box, very popular with members from all walks of life.
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December 6th, 2022
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November 21st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
23-Nov |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Underwood, Michelle |
Croft, Brian C |
26-Nov |
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| Jones, Mary Lynn |
Jones, Miller T. |
25-Nov |
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| Partain, Pam |
Partain, Jack |
26-Nov |
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| Tripp, Charlie |
Tripp, Larry E. |
26-Nov |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
11/22/2011 |
11 |
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| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
11/28/2017 |
5 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Ownby, Jeff B (JEFF) |
Sandi |
24-Nov |
14 |
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Meeting Recap: Hamilton HealthIt’s always a pleasure when we get the opportunity to hear from one of our own club members. Rotarian, Jeff Myers spoke to our club about the upgrades and growth Hamilton has had in recent years. Jeff has served as the President and CEO of Hamilton Health Care System and Hamilton Medical Center since 2010. He has also served as chairman of the board for Vizient Southern States and is also a member of the Georgia Hospital Association Board of Trustees, Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Board, HealthOne Alliance Board, Alliant Health Plans Board, and Georgia Health Select Board. Hamilton prides itself on being the only hospital in our region that is locally owned. That means local people taking care of local people and providing the best quality care.
Hamilton Health Care System is unique in the range of care options they provide. They can provide most all of the services a community hospital can, and they have recently started offering open heart care. After only two years of offering this, they have become the premier heart program in the Chattanooga Area. Other affiliates include Anna Shaw Children’s Institute, Peeple’s Cancer Institute, Whitfield Health Care Foundation, Royal Oaks Independent Living, Whitfield Place, Hamilton Long Term Care, Hamilton EMS, Hamilton Physician Group, Hamilton ASC, and the Bradley Wellness Center. Through all the different areas that make up the health care system, the goal is to serve with compassion. Myers shared “if you wake up every day and think “I get to serve someone today” you will never work a day in your life”. A sentiment we could all live by. The past several years have brought about tremendous growth in the hospital system. In the last decade they have grown from 2,100 associates to 2,800 and have recruited 70 new physicians since 2017. Additionally, they have undergone and continue to undergo renovations to their facilities. They have remodeled the emergency room waiting area, expanded the MICU, which was critical when COVID hit, renovated Bradley Wellness Center, updated all patient rooms, and constructed both the Peeple’s Cancer Institute and Anna Shaw Children’s Institute. With a goal to provide high quality care, HHCS has no plans of slowing down renovations or providing high quality care to our community.
We are so thankful to have the kind of health care available in our backyard. Thank you, Jeff, the leadership team, and everyone at Hamilton Health Care Systems for their efforts.
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November 8th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
8-Nov |
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| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
14-Nov |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Campbell, Kristy |
Campbell, J Carl |
11-Nov |
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| Hawkins, Nancy |
Hawkins, Jim R. |
11-Nov |
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| Morehouse, Dianne |
Morehouse, Gordon C. |
12-Nov |
|
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| Cope, Laurie Lee |
Cope, Don |
13-Nov |
|
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
S. G. |
12-Nov |
34 |
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This Week: The Georgia Rotary Student ProgramAt this week's meeting, we'll be hearing a little more about a program that's near and dear to our hearts: the Georgia Rotary Student Program. Our speaker is Katheryne Fields who serves as the inaugural Program Director for GRSP, a critical position that was identified by GRSP’s strategic plan. She spent the past year as the Marketing and Development Director. Katheryne brings more than 20 years of communications, management and nonprofit experience to her role at GRSP. She works closely with the GRSP Chair, officers, directors, trustees, staff, GRSP Foundation as well as Georgia Rotary Clubs and GRSP students promoting the cause of world peace through higher education by assisting students, speaking to clubs plus raising funds and awareness for the organization. Katheryne is a member of Daybreak Griffin Rotary Club in Griffin, where she and her husband Dale, an avid golfer, reside.
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This Week: Believe Greater Dalton
This week. our guest is Allyson Coker, who serves as Executive Director of Believe Greater Dalton, the community’s strategic plan championed by the Greater Dalton Chamber. She leads the collaborative implementation of the community and economic development strategy that is updated every five years.
Allyson is a native of Dalton with roots that run deep in this community. Her father, Jim Middleton, was a former Mayor of Dalton from 1988-2000 and previously served on the City Council and on various city boards and communities. Both of her parents graduated from Dalton High School in 1953 and she is also a graduate of the DHS class of 1987. She attended Florida State University and received a bachelor’s degree in Communication majoring in Political Communication and Political Science.
After college, she worked in the Washington D.C. office of US Senator Sam Nunn and later served in various roles in the administration of Michigan Governor John Engler and as scheduler and residence manager to First Lady Michelle Engler. In 1997, Allyson was one of the first five people to join the FIJI Water company and she helped launch that brand in large and small markets across the country. She later spent 12 years in the pharmaceutical industry with Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Merck followed by over four years serving as Matt Evans’ assistant at Rock Bridge Community Church.
In February of 2018, Allyson became the Project Manager for Believe Greater Dalton and has coordinated the work of all strategic focus areas and led the effort to update the strategic plan for our future.
Allyson and her husband James live in Dalton and have four children and one grandchild. Reaves and Mary Blythe Coker and daughter Olivia live in Dunwoody, and Newell and Morgan Coker Hicks live in Nashville. Daughter Susannah Tighe lives in New York City and son JP Tighe is getting his masters at Georgia Southern University on a baseball scholarship. Allyson enjoys traveling and spending time with family at the lake and watching baseball. She is honored to serve her community in this current role and believes Dalton’s brightest and best days are still to come.
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October 18th, 2022
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October 11th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. (PAUL) |
11-Oct |
|
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| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
16-Oct |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Sponcler, Betty |
Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. |
11-Oct |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Mock, Jason T (JASON) |
Katie |
11-Oct |
8 |
|
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
Betty |
14-Oct |
64 |
|
| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
Cynthia |
17-Oct |
13 |
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September 27th, 2022
.
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September 13th Birthdays and Anniveraries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
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| Minor, John Thomas V (JOHN) |
15-Sep |
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| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
16-Sep |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Arnold, Emilie |
Ware, Adam M |
15-Sep |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Brown, Alex C (ALEX) |
9/14/2017 |
5 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
Billie |
13-Sep |
69 |
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| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
Ann |
14-Sep |
48 |
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| Maton, Carla E (CARLA) |
Bobby |
16-Sep |
5 |
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| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
Allen |
17-Sep |
55 |
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August 30th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Cope, Don (DON) |
1-Sep |
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| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
5-Sep |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Hutcheson, Marilyn |
Hutcheson, John A. Jr. |
2-Sep |
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| Aviles, Rudy |
Aviles, Yadira A |
2-Sep |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
9/1/1969 |
53 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Pena, Arnaldo (ARNALDO) |
Niurka |
31-Aug |
21 |
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| Scott, Shaun E (SHAUN) |
Tonya |
31-Aug |
26 |
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| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
Emilie |
1-Sep |
4 |
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| Metcalf, David W (DAVID) |
Alicia |
4-Sep |
18 |
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August 23rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
26-Aug |
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| Jones, J Sherwood III (SHERWOOD) |
26-Aug |
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| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
27-Aug |
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| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
27-Aug |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Aft, Pauline |
Aft, David |
27-Aug |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
Becky |
27-Aug |
56 |
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| Ewton, Michael F (MIKE) |
Tena |
28-Aug |
18 |
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August 16th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
16-Aug |
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| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
18-Aug |
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| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
18-Aug |
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| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
18-Aug |
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| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
19-Aug |
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| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
19-Aug |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Robertson, Ricky |
Robertson, Cherri L |
16-Aug |
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| Blackman, Bill |
Blackman, Linda T. |
18-Aug |
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| Dobbins, Donna |
Dobbins, Chuck |
20-Aug |
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| Ewton, Tena |
Ewton, Michael F |
20-Aug |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
8/18/2015 |
7 |
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| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
8/18/2015 |
7 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
Mary Etta |
16-Aug |
64 |
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| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
Ben (BEN) |
19-Aug |
50 |
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Meeting Recap: The ACT TheaterThe GRSP program is special to our club, as we enjoy getting to know the students and learning about their home country. It is even more special when those past students come back to us years later. Last week we welcomed back our GRSP student from 2011, Alexandra Olsson. Alexandra reunited with her host family, Mel and Gretchen Abernathy and brought along her mother and brother. Alexandra is originally from Sweden and since her GRSP year has worked and lived in several other countries. She expressed her gratitude for her year with us and was pleased to be back in the States.
The program’s speaker was Rotarian, Chad Daniels. Chad serves as the Executive Director for the Artistic Civic Theater. Chad grew up in the arts, influenced by both his parents, and has had a passion for theater since the fourth grade. Chad does his best through the ACT to bring the arts and theater to Dalton. ACT put on their first production in 1992 and is celebrating their 30th season. Currently they are performing Something Rotten, which we had the privilege of hearing a musical number from two of the show’s actors. They sang a duet that is performed in the show and did a wonderful job! Chad spoke to the importance of the arts because they educate, entertain, and engage communities and audiences. The arts allow both the actors and the audience to experience something cathartic. Chad expressed gratitude for the support our community has shown the theater through the volunteers that give countless hours of their unpaid time to the corporate sponsorships and ticket sales. They also have the opportunity to give kids these experiences through ACT 2, which is the children’s wing of the theater. Last year they won many different awards in the Junior Theater Festival. ACT 2 is special to Chad because he gets to hear from his office as the children audition and gets to hear their lives being changed through the theater. The Artistic Civic Theater is a wonderful asset to our community.
Alex summed it up best when he opened the program with a quote, “the arts matter because art is meant to move people, either on an intellectual level or emotional level”. It was a pleasure hearing from Chad about his passion and how he is inspiring others in the theater and in the community.
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August 2nd, 2022
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July 26th, 2022
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July 5th, 2022
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July 5th, 2022
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June 28th, 2022
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This Week: The Future of SolarThis week, we'll be taking a look at solar energy. With the upcoming expansion of QCells' operations in our area, it's an exciting time for solar energy in Whitfield County. Our speaker will be James Marlow, the president of the Southface Institute, a non-profit organization that according to their website has been a leader in research, design, and implementation of a "regenerative" economy that gives back more than it uses. Part of that mission is work in environmentally friendly energy.
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Marlow is a graduate of Georgia Southern University. He spent his early career with Lotus Development, IBM, and Yahoo! before becoming CEO and co-founder of Radiance Solar, a start-up business that became an award-winning provider of solar panel installations across the country. From there he worked in solar solutions as a vice president with Velo Solar and most recently as CEO of Clean Energy Advisors developing consulting services for sustainability and clear technology before joining Southface earlier this year.
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June 14th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
14-Jun |
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| Pena, Arnaldo (ARNALDO) |
15-Jun |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
6/20/2006 |
16 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
Donna |
16-Jun |
49 |
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| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
Cathy |
19-Jun |
40 |
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Meeting Recap: Rotary ScholarshipsAfter a hiatus due to the pandemic, the annual Rotary Scholarship presentation was back last week. We had the privilege of recognizing students across our county for their hard work and determination. Rotarians Jonathan Bledsoe, Maurice Sponcler, Barbara Ward, John Hutcheson, Judson Manley, Mike Maret, and Anna Adamson serve on the scholarship committee and do a great job with this program.
Barbara Ward recognized the four students that will participate in this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Camp, RYLA. These four students will gather with others to learn valuable communication and leadership skills. The four students recognized were Bannon Phelan, Olivia Beavers, Eli Burt, and Caitlyn Robertson.
Next, we were able to award 26 local students with a scholarship to pursue their future endeavors. Students were also recognized in areas they excel in such as math/science, humanities, career technology, service, and overall outstanding student. The following students were recognized.
Outstanding Math/Science Students:
Luke Giles – Northwest
Elliot Green – Coahulla Creek
Michelle Garcia – Southeast
Jason Lin – Dalton
Micah Rowland – Christian Heritage
Outstanding Humanities Students:
Emily Hunt – Northwest
Kirsten Porter – Coahulla Creek
Brody Kinsey – Southeast
Nathan Haynes – Dalton
Sarah Grace Edgeman – Christian Heritage
Outstanding Career Technology Students:
Gustavo Montoya – Career Academy
Noah Crump – Coahulla Creek
Elanore Williams – Northwest
Kevin Rangel – Southeast
Monica Hernandez – Dalton
Outstanding Service Students:
Easton Gray – Northwest
Monserrat Rangel – Coahulla Creek
Destiny Singleton – Southeast
Emma Ferguson – Dalton
Will Brown – Christian Heritage
Yosdel Castaneda – Career Academy
Each of the five schools nominated one senior as an outstanding student. The scholarship committee asked each nominee to prepare a portfolio of their activities and accomplishments, including an essay describing the opportunities available in the greater Dalton area, and what contributions could be made to improve and strengthen our community. Each nominee received a $500 scholarship, and the winner received an additional $500. After a difficult decision, the committee named Ansley Nguyen as the winner. Ansley serves in many leadership roles at Dalton High School and has been recognized for many academic awards. Ansley plans to continue her education at Georgia Tech. Congratulations, Ansley and the rest of the nominees.
Outstanding Area Student Nominees:
Mia Gale – Northwest
Ansley Nguyen – Dalton
Pablo Avila – Southeast
Ben Griggs – Coahulla Creek
Erin Higgins – Christian Heritage
All students recognized are outstanding and we are proud to recognize their accomplishments. We are confident these students will achieve their goals and can’t wait to see where life takes them. Congratulations!
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This Week: Soccertown, USA
This week, we're saluting Dalton's soccer champions. The boys' soccer teams from Southeast Whitfield High School and the Dalton Academy both won the state championship in their respective classifications, adding to our community's reputation as "Soccertown, USA." We'll hear from the championship coaches about their teams and some stories from their championship seasons. But don't worry, even though we're talking soccer you'll still be allowed to use your hands to eat lunch!
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Meeting Recap: 5th Grade Service Above SelfThe 2022 Rotary 5th Grader Award Program began with President Smitty welcoming our guests which included student
winners, students' families and friends, and students' educators. Each year this program is special to Rotarians as we get
to honor students who unknowingly live out our motto, Service Above Self daily in their respective schools. President
Smitty took a moment to recognize the Service Above Self committee which includes Dr. Larry Tripp, Dr. Doug Shults,
Mr. Paul Alderman, and Smitty. Since 2010, each elementary school from Whitfield County Schools, Dalton Public
Schools, and Christian Heritage nominates a student who best portrays values contained in the Rotary motto “Service
Above Self” and the Rotary “4 Way Test”. The students are chosen for the service and respect they exhibit toward their
fellow classmates, teachers, and family rather than their academic standing or athletic ability. This award is for students
who deserve recognition but likely have had little, if any, in the past. Each student was recognized during the meeting
and awarded a framed certificate, a book, and a goody bag.
Whitfield County Superintendent, Dr. Mike Ewton congratulated students from his school district for their
accomplishments. Below are the award winners from Whitfield County Schools.
Antioch Elementary School: Alan Venegas
Alan’s favorite subject is math, and he wants to service his community as a police officer when he grows up. Alan was
nominated for this award by his teacher, Mrs. Torres because “he goes above and beyond to help out his peers and
anyone else around him. He always demonstrates kindness, respect, and service for others through his actions."
Beaverdale Elementary School: Ethan Boswell
Ethan enjoys science, playing basketball, baseball, football, and soccer. His teacher, Mr. Kittle nominated Ethan because “he demonstrates excellent character on a daily basis. His constant smile and encouragement to his peers is evident in the classroom and around the building”.
Cedar Ridge Elementary School: Landen Leming
Landen enjoys playing video games, football, and watching Netflix. Landon believes it is important to serve others
because “I know that one day they’ll help me. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you, is what I try to live
by.” Landen’s teacher, Mrs. Ruiz selected Landen for this award because, “he is always making sure that everyone is
included in the classroom. He always puts his peers, first”.
Cohutta Elementary School: Ruthie Rigsby
Ruthie feels it is important to help others because “it will always come back to you”. She was nominated by her teacher,
Ms. Henson because she is a “hard working, well-mannered and respectful young lady. Mrs. Henson also said that Ruthie is the perfect example of someone who is selfless, puts other first, and does not expect anything in return”.
Dawnville Elementary School: Kyra Palmer
Kyra believes it is important to serve others because “when I am helping others, I feel very happy and warm inside.
Seeing other people feel good about themselves always makes me feel that way, too”. She wants to be a kindergarten
teacher when she grows up. Kyra was nominated for this award because, “she is the kind of student who puts the needs
in others above her own. She is a true example of someone who shows kindness to all people, regardless of who they
are”.
Dug Gap Elementary School: Leylani Contreras
Leylani enjoys making bracelets, playing with her dogs, and math. She wants to be a nurse when she grows up. She was
nominated by her teacher, Ms. Steadman because “she is ALWAYS the first person to help someone out when they need
it”.
Eastside Elementary School: Gauge Parker
Gauge believes it is important to help others because “it demonstrates kindness, a very important character trait that
my mother taught me”. Gauge was nominated by his teacher, Mrs. King for this award because, “He sees the needs of
others, particularly students with special needs, and responds to them with great care and regard… Gauge is the perfect
example of service above self”.
New Hope Elementary School: Jace Hullender
Jace was nominated for this award by his teachers, Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Tapia because “he goes above and beyond in his service to others. He especially looks out for students who need extra support or have certain needs. He is always kind and respectful to his peers and teachers”. Jace enjoys playing sports and wants to be a baseball player when he grows up. Jace feels that “if you are kind, then you have friends, happiness, feel energized and feel better about yourself."
Pleasant Grove Elementary School: Aaron Nuno
Aaron serves others because he believes “that serving others is good and the right thing to do. If you help others, they
might learn from your example”. His teacher, Mrs. Callaway nominated Aaron for this award because “his daily life
exudes selflessness. The other 5 th grade teachers have observed him put others before himself to his peers as well as
adults”. Mrs. Callaway concludes that Aaron constantly doing things before he is asked and setting a good example for
others.
Tunnel Hill Elementary School: Jaxon Brown
Jaxon enjoys church, riding bikes, and playing football. He wants to be a firefighter when he grows up. Jaxon’s teacher,
Mrs. Murphree nominated Jaxon because, “he is a kind, responsible and conscientious young man. We can count on Jax
to do the right thing in all situations and be an example to others."
Valley Point Elementary School: Ashley Springer
Serving others is important to Ashley because, “it is important to serve others, because making other people happy for
the right reason is important”. Her teacher, Ms. Deloach nominated Ashley for this award because she, “cheerfully
demonstrates selfless service to her teachers, peers, and others. She is incredibly respectful and is one of the most
responsible students I have taught."
Varnell Elementary School: Aidan Brown
When not in school enjoying science or history, Aidan enjoys swinging, video games, and being outdoors. He was
nominated by his teacher, Mrs. Bartlett because he, “brightens each day, simply by being Aidan. Aidan is shy but will
offer a helping hand regardless of how it makes him feel. His honesty is commendable. Anyone who meets Aidan will
immediately appreciate his humbleness. He has no idea how great his is!"
Westside Elementary School: Hayden Massingill
Hayden enjoys building legos, playing video games, and watching superhero movies. When he grows up, he wants to be a Nascar driver. Hayden’s teacher, Mrs. Purcell nominated him because, “he has a servant heart. He is constantly finding ways to help his teachers and classmates. His everyday actions show evidence of his generous and loving spirit."
Dalton Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Tim Scott congratulated students from his school district for their
accomplishments. Below are the award winners from Dalton Public Schools.
Blue Ridge Elementary School: Leonardo Jarquin
Leonardo feels it is important to serve others because “it feels good to help others in need. I enjoy putting smiles on
other people’s face. It is the right thing to do”. Leonardo’s teacher, Mrs. Webster, nominated him for this award because
“he is a kind and compassionate student who truly exemplifies Service above Self. He is usually the first to volunteer to
help a struggling student and is a leader in the classroom.”
Brookwood Elementary School: Ryleigh Petty
When asked why it was important for her to serve others, Ryleigh said, “something I have learned in the last few years
of my life is how important giving to our community is. Even the smallest thing can help the community around us.
When I serve others, I feel that I am showing love just like I like to receive”. Mrs. Bellin nominated Ryleigh for this award because “she is by far the most selfless person I know. She is always very respectful and kind in class to me and others. She is very humble, always finding joy in the little things."
City Park Elementary School: Nataly Velazquez
Nataly would like to be a United Nations Representative or Lawyer when she grows up. Her teachers, Mrs. Chlebisch and Mrs. Rhyne nominated Nataly for this award because “she goes above & beyond when it comes to helping others."
Park Creek Elementary School: Christian Verdel
Christian’s interests include practicing the piano and designing structures in Minecraft. When he grows up, Christian
wants to be a teacher. Ms. Lopez nominated him for this award because “he shows integrity. He is honest, hardworking,
and caring for others."
Roan Elementary School: Jose Hurtado
Jose enjoys playing video games and being with his family. He wants to join the United States Army when he grows up.
Joes was nominated for this award by his teacher, Ms. Grant because, “Jose is incredibly polite, respectful, and kind to
everyone he meets. He is always the first to volunteer for any job and is the first to help out a classmate. He clearly puts
others first and continues to grow as an outstanding citizen."
Westwood Elementary School: Alvin Lin
Alvin feels it is important to serve others because “if there is a new student in class, it is important to help them with the schedule and making friends because it is the right thing to do. Also, they might help you when you need it in the
future”. Alvin was nominated by Mrs. Montijo because “he embodies all of the characteristics and values of this award.
Alvin comes to school every day with a positive attitude. He is always prepared, ready to work hard and ready to learn.
He is helpful, respectful, and caring to both staff and students."
Christian Heritage teacher Meagan Teems recognized their student nominee.
Christian Heritage School: Maddie Jane Caputi
Maddie’s favorite subject in school is bible and she wants to be a teacher or a pastor when she grows up. Mrs. Teems
nominated Maddie because she “puts her peers, teachers, and community before herself and own desires. She invests
her energy to meet the needs of others. For example, Maddie Jane packed food and other materials into care packages
for soldiers serving overseas."
After all students accepted their awards, President Smitty recognized the fifteen students who submitted an essay for
the Laws of Life essay contest. Each student who entered was presented a check for $25. Committee members read
each submission and selected one student as this year’s winner. This year’s Laws of Life essay winner is Ryleigh Petty
from Brookwood Elementary School. Ryleigh was presented a plaque and an additional check. Congratulations to each
student recognized during the program.
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May 10th, 2022
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Meeting Recap: Special HonorsLast week we had the honor of presenting the Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award and the Robert Stubbs Guardian of Ethics Award. Recipients of these awards each embody the ideals of Rotary and were chosen for these awards by their club members. President-Elect, Alex Brown presented the awards to two deserving Rotarians.
The Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award is presented annually to a Rotarian who has shown exemplary Vocational Service for upholding and furthering the principles and ideals of the Rotary Way of Life. This year's honoree is Mr. Bill Weaver. Mr. Weaver holds a B.S. from Ohio University, a Masters from Middle Tennessee State University, and EDS from the University of Georgia. After completing his undergraduate degree, Mr. Weaver began his career in education at the Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. While there he learned of a teacher that had applied for a job in Dalton. After doing research on the area, Mr. Weaver called the Dalton Superintendent and set up an interview. This job led him to meet his wife, Virginia, which he says marrying her was the single best decision he has ever made. Throughout his career, Mr. Weaver served as the interim Superintendent, assistant to the Superintendent, and the director of personnel. During his tenure, Bill oversaw the construction of Park Creek and Blue Ridge Elementary. In 1969, Mr. Weaver joined the Rotary Club of Dalton through which he has created lasting relationships. Bill has served his community in many ways over the years as the Eucharistic Minister at St. Mark’s, founder and director at Big Brother’s Big Sister’s, past Rotary president, and sitting on the Junior Achievement Board of Directors. Today he continues to serve our community by sitting on the Dalton Public Safety Commission’s panel, treasurer of the Jonas Board of Art, the Dalton Whitfield Murray Retired Teachers Organization, and the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia. Mr. Weaver has demonstrated vocational excellence throughout his career and service to our community, thus it is our privilege to present this year's Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award to Mr. Bill Weaver.
The Guardian of Ethics Award was established to encourage and promote ideals of ethics in all vocations. This award identifies a Rotarian who exemplifies the attributes and passion for ethics in his or her vocation, business, and personal life. The Rotary Club of Dalton presents this award to Judge Scott Minter. Judge Minter has decades of experience in the judicial system. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of Georgia as well as a JD, Juris Doctor. Prior to becoming a judge, Minter spent twenty years with the Conasauga D.A.’s Office as the Assistant DA and Chief Assistant DA. In 2016 Judge Minter won election to the Superior Court bench, where he still sits today. Outside of his professional career, Judge Minter serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Murray-Whitfield County Historical Society, Deacon, Trustee, and Finance Member of the Central Community Church. Members of the community such as first responders, defense attorneys, fellow judges, and Rotarians have all noted that Judge Minter’s ethics are exemplary. As Alex interviewed him, Judge Minter told a story which represents why he was selected for this award. In his early years as a prosecutor working on an arson case, Minter interviewed the alleged victim prior to trial to prepare. In this pre-interview, the alleged victim answered the questions as they were asked. At the time of trial, when asked the same questions on the stand, the alleged victim answered opposite of what was previously stated. At this moment, Judge Minter faced an ethical dilemma. He ultimately asked to approach the bench and asked for the case to be dismissed due to an unreliable testimony. This is the ultimate living example of living our 4 Way Test as he made the right decision, even though no one else would have ever known the difference. It is with great honor that this year’s Guardian of Ethics Award is awarded to Judge Scott Minter. Judge Minter accepted this award as his wife, parents, and in-laws proudly watched.
Both gentlemen represent the purest ideals of Rotary and are well deserving of these awards. Our club is proud to have such fantastic members.
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May 3rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
3-May |
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| Manly, William Judson Jr. (JUDSON) |
8-May |
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| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
9-May |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Jones, Patrick |
Jones, Kelly McDonald |
3-May |
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| Winter, Connie |
Winter, Larry E. |
4-May |
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| Bailey, Dell |
Bailey, Philip Bates |
4-May |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
5/9/2017 |
5 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
Belinda |
6-May |
27 |
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| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
Lara |
7-May |
28 |
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April 26th, 2022
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April 19th, 2022
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Meeting Recap: Dr. Sanders' Look At UkraineLast week we got to hear from one of our own, Dr. Drayton Sanders. Dr. Sanders served in the Air Force as a flight surgeon from 1962 to 1964. After serving, he moved to Dalton in 1968 and became a Rotarian in 1969. He worked for ten years as an Internal Medicine Physician with Dr. Jim Redfern and Dr. Sherwood Jones Senior. He is board certified to be a consultant to physicians for ventilatory support. In his retirement he continues to serve others as a volunteer with the DEO Clinic. Dr. Sanders has a heart for others and was honored in 2018 by the Dalton Daily Citizen as Citizen of the Week for his volunteer service.
Dr. Sanders has spent a lot of time visiting Ukraine wanted to speak on the history of the country and how we got to where we are today. He believes this is his opportunity to bring awareness and education to Ukraine and the wrongs they are suffering. Dr. Sanders visited Ukraine in 2010 and had the privilege of getting to know locals and learning their culture. He said that it was a happy place where people were enjoying their freedom and would greet you with a smile. A stark contrast he noted in comparison to the time he has spent in Russia. Dr. Sanders showed pictures that he took in Kiev and of the beautiful cathedrals and architecture. We also got to learn the history of Ukraine and the settlement of Kiev in the seventh century by the Solv’s. Dr. Sanders walked through the notable times in the country’s history and how it all unfortunately played a role in the crisis that is happening today. We were left with a quote, “Glory to the heroes and glory to Ukraine”.
There are 76 active Rotary Clubs in Ukraine and Rotarians across the world have stepped up to help in any way they can. The Rotary Foundation has set up the Disaster Response Fund as the main avenue for giving. To date, more than seven million dollars has been collected. For more information on ways Rotary is responding and to donate financial support, visit here: Rotary responds to Ukraine crisis | Rotary International. We are grateful for Dr. Sander’s heart and willingness to educate our club!
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April 5th, 2022
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Meeting Recap: Jonathan's House MinistriesLast week we had the privilege of hearing from Amanda Bartley with Jonathan’s House Ministries. Amanda and her husband, Craig are residents of Tunnel Hill and attend Tunnel Hill Baptist Church where they met. From the beginning of their relationship, they were passionate about helping those in need through foster care and adoption. After marrying in 2011, they began and would later win custody of Craig’s biological son. In 2015 they became foster parents to their now adopted twins and through that met the twin’s older sister, whom they also began to seek adoption of. Throughout all of this, Amanda and Craig found out they were pregnant and would give birth in November of 2016 and finalize the adoption of the three siblings in December 2016. A busy and exciting year for the Bartley family! Upon realizing their house was full, they began to seek other ways to serve foster care teens. That led to the development of Jonathan’s House Ministries and the start of their endeavors in serving a population that is defined as left behind.
Amanda began her presentation with a visualization. Imagine you are in a small village next to a river when you see children floating in the river screaming for help. In this situation, there are three types of people; those that immediately jump in the river and grab the children (foster care workers, attorneys, etc.), those that run to the village for help (CASA workers, school counselors), and the problem solvers that run back up the river to find out why the kids were in the river to begin with. In this scenario, Jonathan’s House identifies as the problem solvers. They want to break the cycle before it begins. Currently, there are approximately 450,000 kids in the foster care system nationwide. Of those 27,000 will turn eighteen each year and age out of the system with nowhere to go. Of the kids that age out, 40% have no plan and will become homeless, 50% will develop substance abuse problems, 70% of the women will become single mothers by 21, and 50% of the men will become incarcerated. Because of these alarming statics, Jonathan’s House mission is to “provide young adults that have aged out of foster care or at-risk families the best opportunities to become the best version of themselves that they can be by partnering with them to provide physical, emotional, and financial support to gain life skills that will aid them in becoming independent, productive members of our society”. With the help of community and board members, JHM provides residents with life skills and basic need programs. Programs offered include financial counseling, nutrition and grocery services, skills training, housing, mentorship, and workshops.
Amanda’s passion for these kids is evident in everything she does, and our community is blessed to have Jonathan’s House Ministries serving Northwest Georgia. For more information on JHM and ways to get involved or donate you can visit their website, HOME (jonathanshouseministries.org).
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This Week: East Morris Street Business BoomThis week we'll be taking a look at one of the hottest spots in Dalton: East Morris Street. The stretch of Morris Street to the east of Glenwood Avenue has become a booming and bustling area with new boutiques and coffee and food options. Carlos and Viviana Ramirez are two of the entrepreneurs leading the way in the East Morris business boom and they are our featured speakers this week. They are the owners of Eclectic 79 on East Morris Street. They have also reinvigorated the business district there on with several new businesses.
Viviana was born and raised in California. She moved to Dalton in 2006 and is the mother of 4 children. She is very involved with the Dalton community and serves on several different boards. She studied cosmetology and previously worked as a makeup artist.
Juan Carlos Ramirez was born in Mexico and has lived in Dalton for about 26 years. He has worked as a sales representative for several companies here in Dalton. He also serves on several different boards in our community.
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Meeting Recap: Georgia's Supreme CourtPresident Smitty opened the meeting with reminders of upcoming events. The annual Ronnie McClurg invitational track meet is on March 26th at Dalton High School, there is still time to sign up to volunteer. President Smitty and Dr. Richmond talked about this year’s district conference in Greenville, South Carolina. If you're reading this bulletin online, check out this video to learn more, Rotary District 6910 Go Greenville 2022 District Conference Promo - YouTube. Next week we will be taking a group picture to add to our club’s history! Don’t forget to wear your pin and get your smiles ready!
Our guest of honor was Justice Charlie Bethel. Justice Bethel was born in Athens and raised in Dalton, a place he and his family still call home. He is a 1994 graduate of Dalton High School and earned both his business and law degrees from the University of Georgia. Following his graduation, Bethel served as a law clerk on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. After returning home to Dalton, Bethel practiced law with Minor Bell & Neal (now The Minor Firm) and spent over a decade in the flooring industry in executive and legal capacities. His public service career began after being elected to the Dalton City Council and later serving in Atlanta as state senator. Bethel was then appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia on September 4th, 2018, by Governor Nathan Deal and in 2020 was elected to a full, six-year term on the supreme court. Bethel and his wife Lynsey have three children and attend First Baptist Church of Dalton. Charlie is active in the community having served in various leadership positions with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, United Way, the Dalton Rotary Club, and as a volunteer coach with the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department.
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Justice Bethel spoke to the history of the Georgia supreme court because he thinks it is important to understand how we got to where we are today. Beginning in 1776 when the colonies were first founded to 1845, a trial court was the highest court in Georgia. In the late seventeen hundreds a group of superior court judges began to meet informally to discuss harder cases, and in 1799 the General Assembly approved all superior court judges to meet about cases. However, lawyers didn’t like that they were not present when the decisions were being made and in 1801 the General Assembly prohibited those meetings. Later in 1835 Georgia passed a new constitution allowing for a supreme court, however it took until 1845 for the General Assembly to pass the law to create the court. In January of 1846 the first session of the supreme court was held. Initially it was believed that the supreme court would only be needed for about ten years and by then they would solve all the problems and lay clear guidelines for judges to follow. However, here we are today, and the supreme court in Georgia is as busy as ever with nine justices on court.
Bethel spoke to the impact Covid-19 has had on the court system. He noted that this was the first ever statewide judicial emergency declared in Georgia’s history. For that reason, the case backlog has grown extensively, and he predicts it will take several years to work through. The courts also were not able to have a trial jury for over a year. Bethel encouraged doing your due diligence and attending jury duty if you are called. Despite the adversities, Justice Bethel is proud of the resilience of the Georgia courts.
It was great to have Justice Charlie Bethel with our club again and we hope to welcome him back anytime. We are proud of Charlie for his service to our community and state.
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March 1st, 2022
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Upcoming Meetings: (2/15)
February 22nd - Justice Charlie Bethel, Georgia Supreme Court
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February 15th, 2022
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February 8th, 2022
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February 1st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
1-Feb |
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| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
1-Feb |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Weaver, Virginia |
Weaver, William B |
1-Feb |
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| Barnwell, Delle |
Barnwell, William L |
2-Feb |
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| McKenzie, Jimmy |
McKenzie, Sandra D |
6-Feb |
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| Adcock, Diane |
Adcock, Don W. |
7-Feb |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
2/1/1989 |
33 |
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| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
2/1/1996 |
26 |
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| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
2/1/1981 |
41 |
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| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
2/1/1979 |
43 |
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| Cope, Don (DON) |
2/1/1996 |
26 |
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| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2/1/1972 |
50 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No anniversaries this period. |
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This Week: Ross Woods
We were scheduled to hear about RossWoods adult day services a few weeks ago, but unfortunately our speaker needed to reschedule. So, we're looking forward to hearing from Carlene Mutter, executive director of the center, this week!
RossWoods, Inc. is a community supported non-profit corporation located in Dalton. The center has been in operation since 1997 as a department of Hamilton Medical Center. In October 2009, the organization officially became RossWoods Adult Day Services and then moved into a new building located on the same grounds.
RossWoods provides safety, nursing care, personal care services, and therapeutic activity programs during the day in a homelike setting. Each day participants enjoy socialization and life-enriching programs while being in a caring atmosphere.
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Meeting Recap: A Change of Plans
Sunday, January 16, 2022
By George S. Barnett
Last week’s meeting was a departure from the original plan due to our scheduled speaker needing to reschedule. We played catch up with some announcements. Anna La with the Dalton High Interact Club thanked us for our help with the blanket drive and volunteered her club to help with any service projects we had coming up. Bruce Satterfield reminded us of the Rotary Invitational Track Meet coming up on March 26th. He will begin sign-ups for volunteers soon. President Smitty informed us of a Rotary program, Rotary Means Business. This program is active in 48 countries and is a way to network with fellow Rotarians across the country via an app. Through this initiative members are encouraged to speak about their business for a few minutes at the end of meetings. This is to support our fellow Rotarians and encourage doing business through them. If you are interested in speaking, contact President Smitty. The program was then turned over to Frank to leave us with some jokes. We enjoyed our time catching up with each other.
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Happy New Year! Welcome to 2022! Our first meeting of the new year will look at the future of the Dalton/Whitfield County region. Our speaker will be Carl Campbell, the executive director of the Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority.
Carl is a native of Northwest Georgia and joined the Joint Development Authority as Executive Director in April 2015. Prior to this role, he served as the Regional Project Manager in the Northwest Georgia Region for the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) from 2011 until 2015.
Carl Campbell
In his previous position with the GDEcD, Campbell worked with communities, other state agencies and utility partners to foster economic growth in our region by recruiting new industry to our area and assisting existing industries with expansion opportunities. Campbell has successfully assisted in landing numerous projects in North Georgia resulting in job growth and investment. These projects include Audia Group, Engineered Floors, Interroll, IVC US, Mannington, Mattex, Mohawk Industries and Shaw Industries Inc.
Campbell has a Bachelor's of Business Administration from the University of Georgia. He has attended and instructed the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and completed the Georgia Tech Basic Economic Development course. Campbell is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA). He and his wife, Kristy, are the parents of John Grant, Riley and Karaline.
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November 30th, 2021
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Upcoming Meetings (11/8)
Tuesday, November 16th - Dr. Heidi Popham, President of Northwestern Georgia Technical College
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Thank You, SponsorsOur recent Rotary Golf Tournament was a success, thanks to all of your hard work and also thanks to the support of these generous sponsors:
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October 26th, 2021
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October 5th, 2021
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This Week: Skin Cancer PreventionSunscreen won't be needed inside our lunch meeting this week, but it's really important virtually anywhere else you go. Dr. Reginald Sherrill is our featured speaker this week at the Dalotn Golf and Country Club, and his topic is prevention of skin cancer. Most of us know that we need to protect our skin at the beach or by the pool in the summer time, but it might not be front of mind the rest of the year as the weather gets cooler and the sun feels less harsh. Dr. Sherrill will have plenty of tips for us to keep ourselves safe.
As usual, we're meeting at the Golf and Country Club for a great buffet lunch, but for those unable to attend we will also stream the meeting online. Here's the link: Click here to join the meeting
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September 19th, 2023
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June 6th, 2023
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Meeting Recap: Don FinkellWe had an absolutely amazing presentation to the Rotary Club of Dalton by our guest speaker and member of the club last week, Don Finkell. Don built and sold two companies that he later sold to the big flooring companies. His business model was to build facilities in prisons and pay the prisoners civilian wages. At his peak he had 8 facilities! Recidivism was reduced from 60 percent to less than 6 percent and the prisoners came out with employable skills and savings!
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May 9th, 2023
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May 2nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
3-May |
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| Chikundura, Makanakaishe "Maka" |
7-May |
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| Manly, William Judson Jr. (JUDSON) |
8-May |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Jones, Patrick |
Jones, Kelly McDonald |
3-May |
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| Winter, Connie |
Winter, Larry E. |
4-May |
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| Bailey, Dell |
Bailey, Philip Bates |
4-May |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Parker, Hoyt Jason(JASON) |
April (APRIL) |
2-May |
31 |
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| Pangle, William T(TODD) |
Belinda |
6-May |
28 |
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| Bundros, Thomas A(TOM) |
Lara |
7-May |
29 |
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April 25th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Patterson, Frank W Jr. (FRANK) |
29-Apr |
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| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
29-Apr |
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| Bowen, William C. III (BILL) |
29-Apr |
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| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
30-Apr |
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| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
1-May |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Holmes, Cathy |
Didier, John M. |
1-May |
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| Kinard, Dixie |
Kinard, Robert W |
1-May |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Tharpe, Henry C.(HENRY) |
5/1/1983 |
40 |
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| Poehlman, John H.(JOHN) |
5/1/1980 |
43 |
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| Bailey, Philip Bates(BATES) |
5/1/1984 |
39 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Kelehear, Leon S.(SPARKY) |
Pat |
25-Apr |
37 |
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| Adcock, Don W.(DON) |
Diane |
28-Apr |
54 |
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| Tatum, Laurice A.(LAURICE) |
Sharon |
29-Apr |
51 |
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This Week: A Farewell To Maka
This week will be a bittersweet meeting as we get ready to bid a fond farewell to Makanakaishe Chikundura - better known to us all as "Maka" - our GRSP student this year. She will be our featured speaker as she gives her farewell address, and we can't wait to hear all about the impact her time with us here in Dalton has had (and will have) on her life. It's always a little sad to say goodbyes to one of our GRSP kids, but we hope that her time with us has been fun and educational and we hope she'll come see us again someday and let us know what she's up to!
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Meeting Recap: Live4It In 2023 Those of us that were not celebrating the spring break holiday gathered last week to hear an inspiring presentation from fellow Rotarian, Amanda Reed Myers. Past President Bruce Satterfield led the program while President Alex was away.
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Amanda spoke to us about a topic she previously presented in 2019, Live4It. She began by asking the club if we had one wish what would it be? The choices were A) to live a longer, healthier, and happier life, B) to ensure our children’s children have long, healthier, and happier lives, or C) be the catalyst that changes our entire community. What a tough choice, but what if the answer could be "D) All of the above?” Some of us may think our lifespan is predetermined because of our family history and genetic makeup, but that isn’t the case. Studies have found that less than 30% of your lifespan is due to genetics and 70% or more is determined by lifestyle and environment. Through healthy behaviors and actions, you can have an impact on your longevity. Live4It helps you make simple, incremental changes to fulfill your health and wellness goals. Live4It is based upon four key concepts, each representing L-I-V-E.
L: Lifestyle and Environment includes physical activity, getting good quality sleep, controlling stress and anxiety, and having a strong spiritual connection.
I: Invest In One Another is investing in your family, friends, and volunteering. We do this each Tuesday as we gather in one room to fellowship and when we participate in service projects for our community.
V: Value Preventive Health is ensuring we stay up to date on our annual preventive exams and taking care of ourselves (i.e. maintain a healthy weight and reduce/stop tobacco use)
E: Eat, Drink and Be Merry is another behavior we enjoy each Tuesday during Rotary Club. This involves eating and drinking nutritiously and finding ways to laugh together.
These four key concepts make up the L-I-V-E of Live4It, but what about the rest? The answer to that question is another question: “What are YOU living for?” The answer (your “It”) is the prize that makes the health and wellness journey worthwhile. Our individual “It” is our motivator and inspires us to make healthy decisions or Live-4-It.
Live4It is the catalyst that hopes to change the trajectory of our entire community for the better. Through partnerships with schools, employers, civic organizations, and non-profits, Live4It is creating one goal and one message to provide opportunities to identify what is important to you. Live4It Community is a stand-alone 501(c)3 that was created to reach our community. Live4It Community participates in programs and events such as the Dalton Neighborhood Initiative, community resilience, and the Bill Gregory Health Care Classic. The Bill Gregory Health Care Classic has been a staple in the Dalton community and will celebrate the race’s 40th anniversary on April 29th at the Bradley Wellness Center. To learn more or to register/volunteer for the race, visit Live4ItCommunity.org.
Thank you, Amanda, for a fascinating presentation on something that we should all hold dearly – our longevity and our “It”!
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This Week: Spring Break and Amanda Myers
Happy Spring Break to those who celebrate! The schools may be out for the annual weeklong break, and even President Alex may be away, but Rotary is still right on schedule. This week, Past President Bruce Satterfield will be running the meeting and our featured speaker is Club member Amanda Myers who will presenting on a topic of her choice. We're looking forward to seeing all of you (who aren't sun tanning on a beach somewhere) there for lunch!
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This Week: Dr. Margaret VenableThis week, our speaker is Dr. Margaret Venable. This summer, she will retire as the fifth president of Dalton State College, a post that she has held since 2015. She's given more than 30 years of service to the University System of Georgia, and in her eight years leading Dalton State she has focused the college on providing broad access to high-quality education that transforms lives. Dalton State is ranked #23 nationally by Business Insider for Best Return on Investment and nearly two-thirds of graduates last fall completed their degrees without student loans.
She will be presenting this week on a topic of her choice and we look forward to her presentation!
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This Week: American History And Civics
Thomas Jefferson once said, "if a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never was and never will be."
Our featured presentation this week focuses on a lack of knowledge of America's history and the way our democracy works. Our speaker is author Randolph Russell, whose book American History In No Time is a quick and easily digestible way to learn key events, people, places, and principles from our American history. Russell notes that a recent study by the US Department of Education showed that only 12 percent of high school seniors were proficient in American history. The average grade of college seniors at 50 institutions on a similar test was an F. Indeed, a survey of American adults by the Freedom Forum Institute found that less than 1 percent of adults can name the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. In short, there's a critical lack of knowledge about US history and civics in our society. Mr. Russell has presented his talk on history and civics to more than 100 Rotary clubs across the country and has been greeted with rave reviews.
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March 7th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
7-Mar |
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| Metcalf, David W (DAVID) |
10-Mar |
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| Henson, Paul E. Jr. (PAUL) |
10-Mar |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Griffin, Candy |
Griffin, Joseph Bryan |
12-Mar |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No wedding anniversaries this period |
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February 21st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| No birthdays this period. |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Kiker, John |
Kiker, Janice F. |
24-Feb |
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| Jolly, Becky |
Jolly, Hilliard R. |
25-Feb |
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| Brooker, Janet |
Brooker, Robert H. |
27-Feb |
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| Jones, Danielle |
Jones, J Sherwood III |
27-Feb |
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| Ward, Allen |
Ward, Barbara K. |
27-Feb |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
2/23/2016 |
7 |
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| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
2/23/2010 |
13 |
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| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
2/23/2010 |
13 |
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| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
2/24/1998 |
25 |
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| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
2/26/2019 |
4 |
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| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
2/26/2019 |
4 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
Susan |
23-Feb |
49 |
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This Week: Growing Mushrooms
You don't need a green thumb to join us for this week's lunch meeting, but it might help! Our guest speakers this week are Emma Reigel and Gabriel Harrison of Gowin Valley Farms.
Emma co-founded her female-owned mushroom farm, Gowin Valley Farms at age 26 at the start of COVID. She is the CEO and head of sales, marketing, partnerships, finance. She also heads GVF’s business & gardening interns from Dalton State. Receiving a BA from Emory University and her MSc in Marketing from Clemson University, Emma learned how to create strategic partnerships with universities to harness her farm as a means to aid in institutional research as a citizen scientist. Emma is a part of the USDA and Georgia Dept. of Agriculture Specialty Crops Block Grant with Kennesaw State University and Cornell University. Her farm is 1 of 4 Georgia farms beta-testing KSU’s drop-in growing container, providing qualitative and quantitative data to the institutions to aid in their Research. Through this, she has carved partnerships with other local universities such as Dalton State and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) for research-based internships. Emma guest lectures at local universities for mycology lab classes and speaks at mycological conferences across the Southeast. She also enjoys working closely with the Mushroom Club of Georgia. From being Wild Food Safety Certified to cloning her own farm’s mushrooms to grow indoors, she is mesmerized by mycology. In her spare time, you can find her hiking with Gabe and her dog-child Rufuss, traveling and probably foraging in both cases.
Gabriel is co-founder of GVF. He is the Lead Mycologist overseeing commercial mushroom production and on-farm research initiatives. He also heads the UTC Research Interns. After attending Georgia State University, Gabriel began working in Atlanta, GA in tech startups quickly realizing that his true calling was in nature and not in corporate America. As an autodidactic citizen scientist and licensed forager Gabriel has immersed himself in both cultivated and wild fungal research. In 2020, GVF became partners with Kennesaw State University and Cornell University on a USDA & Georgia Dept. of Agriculture Specialty Crops Block Grant where the farm beta tests proprietary automated technologies for sterile indoor mushroom cultivation. Gabriel is passionate about expanding the portfolio of cultivated gourmet mushrooms not typically offered in the Southeast. His inquisitive, research-based approach offers GVF the ability to partner with local universities to provide undergraduate students at the University of Tennessee and Dalton State college the opportunity to work on a federal grant, while simultaneously gaining hands-on experience in mycoremediation research efforts at the farm. Gabriel also hosts hands on mycology seminars and guest lectures at universities and mycological conferences across the southeast. He encourages others through education in biology, permaculture and conservation. He strongly believes the problems we face in our world can be solved by making citizen science initiatives accessible to everyone.
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Meeting Recap: Mountain Man And Bull SnotLast week’s speaker was Vann Brown, CEO of Brown Ox Ventures. Vann has an extensive career history
filled with proven successes. In the spirit of entrepreneurship, Vann set out to create BullSnot, a line of
aerosol cleaning products for professional truck drivers. Starting with $0 in sales, he has now taken the
business to over $1 million in sales! He noted he would not be here without the help of the fantastic
small business resources Dalton offers as well as his friend, Mountain Man, who helped him start the
company.
Vann shared his recipe for success, which is knowing your target market. It’s no secret that starting a
small business is hard. Statistically, there are 31.7 million small businesses in the U.S. and of those, 50%
fail by the fifth year. However, small businesses are vital to our economy, employing 47.1% of the entire
U.S. workforce. Vann, a natural leader, believes in the power of small businesses and entrepreneurship.
Throughout his career, Vann has been a part of many product launches. One, in particular he shared, the
company paid millions of dollars to have a successful New York launch of their product. As part of a
measure of success, the CEO followed up after six months with reporters at the event. 60% of those
reporters remembered the name and product. All of the hard work and money for only 60% to
remember the product. Vann was motivated to do better and create a product you couldn’t forget.
Thus, eventually, the name BullSnot was created. Within six months of starting the company, Walmart
and Volkswagen of Chattanooga were his biggest customers and people across the U.S. were not
forgetting the name. He decided to turn his focus on the local community and approached Taylor Tires
and they agreed to give the product a try and support another small, local business. BullSnot started as a
tire lubricant, but Vann quickly realized he needed to expand his line of business. After talking to
truckers at conventions, he realized that customers didn’t value the product. He began to learn more
about his target audience and what they really wanted. His next product was inspired by truckers
commenting about a bug problem. That product also turned out to be a non-streak glass cleaner. Vann
went to retail with his products and quickly learned he needed to pivot again. He went to h2b in Dalton
and had a full brand makeover including consistent branding, promotional flyers, and more. Through
word of mouth and social media, more and more people began to learn about BullSnot. Then he realized
a website was needed. He turned to another local business, InventureIT to create a professional
website. Now, full circle, Vann’s products are used nationwide by truckers and sold in retail stores, and
he has used the skillset of Dalton’s small business community to help him along the way.
BullSnot now has 12 products, one of which we got to sample for ourselves. Vann gave us all a jar of
CureABull hand balm. Dalton has a long history of entrepreneurship and support of small businesses and
our community is a testament to Vann’s story.
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Meeting Recap: The Rising Cost Of HealthcareOur second meeting of the year was an informative one on an issue that impacts us all. Alan Greensmith joined us for the afternoon. Alan has an extensive background in healthcare and pharmaceutical sales. He is currently the managing director of Engedi, RX. Alan has worked with companies abroad and in the U.S. including companies such as Pfizer and Veracity RX. Alan spoke to us about the rising cost of medications and how the healthcare world has changed.
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Alan started his career in 1988 and recalls that the average person in America could usually afford any medication out of pocket on a monthly basis. The most expensive medication at that time was around $70 a month. Medication prices today total up to 35 million a year. Alan focused on four points in his presentation, to give a deeper understanding of drug companies, strategies that can be implemented to manage the cost, highlight key players, and answer any questions. The price of healthcare in America is a concern that most of us share, and for good reason. Alan shared that the U.S. pays double what the rest of the world pays for healthcare, but the average household income is not much different. Big Pharma is one of the wealthiest and most successful industry because of that statistic. Alan pointed out that in the evening when most of us are sitting down to watch tv, we can usually count on seeing a commercial for a medication. The goal of this advertisement is to entice consumers to ask their doctor. This certain medication is usually an expensive drug, whose cost is hidden with a copay card. That “hidden cost” is what is picked up usually by your employer, driving their spend up. Statistics show that a third of employer’s report healthcare costs as one of their biggest concerns. Alan gave his opinion on what can be done from an employer’s perspective, including looking into being self-insured, implement a generics first policy to keep cost under control, and have a do not cover list. From a consumer standpoint, Good RX is an app that lets you enter your zip code, and it will search local pharmacies for the lowest cost of your prescription. Alan’s goal in the presentation was to simply educate us on the importance of being aware and making conscious steps to controlling our healthcare costs, for us as individuals and employers.
Alan gave an excellent presentation on a topic that we should all be aware of.
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January 10th, 2023
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This Week: The Red Cross
This week's meeting will be our final meeting of 2022 as we prepare to celebrate the holidays. We wish all of you a safe and festive holiday season and a Happy New Year!
This week, we'll be hearing about our local Red Cross and how important it is when responding to emergencies both locally and regionally. Our speaker is Carla Maton. She became the Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Northwest Georgia (NWGA) on February 7, 2022. She oversees the Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors across 15 counties (Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Murray, Pickens, Polk, Walker, Whitfield, and Union). Advancing the mission of the Red Cross is Maton’s true passion and she enjoys building a network of community partners to accomplish their mutual goals. Under her leadership, more than 767,000 people benefit from Red Cross programs and services, including lifesaving blood; disaster preparedness, response, and recovery support; training in lifesaving skills; and emergency services for military and international families. Maton joined Georgia’s Red Cross in January 2016 as the Disaster Program Manager for NWGA and was promoted to a statewide role as Disaster Recovery Manager in 2019. In these positions, she worked with local and state partners to develop support for disaster clients with recovery needs. She also had the unique privilege to deploy to over 45 large-scale disasters nationwide to help connect communities to Red Cross services. As the External Relations Director on these operations, she worked closely with fundraising, public affairs, government, and community partnership liaisons. A native of Dalton, Georgia, Maton graduated from Dalton State College with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership. She and her husband, Bobby, are residents of Whitfield County. They share an amazing daughter and three active sons who keep them on their toes!
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December 13th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
14-Dec |
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| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. (MAURICE) |
17-Dec |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Poehlman, Sally |
Poehlman, John H. |
17-Dec |
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| Barnett, Tammy (TAMMY) |
Barnett, George S. |
18-Dec |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
12/17/2013 |
9 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
Dell |
18-Dec |
51 |
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November 29th, 2022
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Meeting Recap - GRSP StudentWe enjoyed hearing from our GRSP student Maka last week! Originally from Zimbabwe, Maka is enjoying her time in the states with her host family, Ben and Lynn Laughter. She spoke to us about her life back home and what she has experienced thus far. Her family back home includes her mother, father, brother, and two dogs. Maka shared with us some pictures of her life back home and some fun facts about Zimbabwe!
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Born and raised in the capital city, Harare, Maka noted that when most people think about Zimbabwe, they picture a rural area with not much around. She showed a picture of her grandparents’ house, which is in an undeveloped area, like what we may think. The capital city, however, is developed and looks much like a big city we would see in America. Maka shared with us the country’s flag and the symbolism that each color and element represent. One thing that Maka has enjoyed about the U.S. is the patriotism and the fact that there are flags everywhere. She said when she went to get her visa in Zambia, she didn’t see a single flag, unlike here where people have them in their yards, as stickers on a car and so on. Maka shared pictures of Victoria Falls, which is one of the seven wonders of the world. It attracts thousands of tourists to Zimbabwe to see the largest waterfall in the world. There you can bungee jump, zipline, and more! One thing that Maka would love to do is go to the “Devil’s Pool” where you sit behind the falls and are able to watch the water as it falls. Zimbabwe is also home to the world’s largest man-made dam. This is where more than 50% of Zimbabwe’s electricity comes from. Back home, Maka stayed busy while at her high school. She was the bridge captain and coach and the Model UN President. One thing that is near to her heart is mental health. She created an organization, Unfiltered Mind, to spread awareness. She later introduced the organization to her school and was able to get a school counselor, where they did not have one before. Her hobbies include mini golf, reading, and taking care of her dogs.
Maka’s connection to Rotary goes back years, as her father is a Rotarian and was president of his club, Harare Central Club, in 2013. Her brother also previously went through the GRSP program, and she got to see first-hand what his experience was like. She is grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity to meet students from all over the world and immerse herself in the American culture. One of the most common questions she has been asked is what she finds different or weird here. She finds American Girl dolls weird that they have come with a backstory and a “family”, she also finds flat sausages strange, why is it acceptable for strangers to give children candy on Halloween, but not any other day, and that we pump our own gas here. Maka has gotten to travel around the state to Tybee Island, Savannah, Ellijay for the Apple Festival, and Athens for a football game! She loved the atmosphere at the UGA game but can’t believe the trash talk that goes on between fan bases. Maka expressed again that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and she is thankful to experience it.
With about nine months left, Maka plans on making the most of it and experiencing as much as she can. She says Rotarians are the kindest people she has ever met and is thankful for each of us. We have enjoyed our time spent with Maka so far and look forward to more!
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This Week: GRSP Student Update
This week, our speaker is our GRSP student, Makanakaishe Chikundura! We'll be hearing about Maka's experiences so far as she pursues her studies at Dalton State College and also living here in Dalton. We're looking forward to hearing about all of her adventures.
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Meeting Recap: Allyson Coker and Believe Greater DaltonIt’s that time of year for our annual Mega Christmas Giveaway raffle with Jack’s Pawn & Gun! Help us raise money for scholarships by selling or purchasing tickets. Tickets are 1 for $35 or 3 for $100. Drawings will take place every day from December 1 – December 31, with the winning numbers being posted on our Facebook page. We hope for another successful raffle!
Last week’s speaker was Allyson Coker, Executive Director with Believe Greater Dalton. Allyson has a passion for our community and leads the implementation of the community and economic development strategy that is updated every five years. Believe Greater Dalton just wrapped up the first five years of the plan, and Allyson provided updates on where we were when we started and the progress that has been made. When this initiative was first starting, BGD sent out a community wide survey wanting to know the most important issues residents were facing. From the 2,200 responses, they narrowed down to six strategies: education, entrepreneurship, economic development, community pride, downtown district, and housing.
- Establish Downtown Dalton as a destination district: BGD worked with community partners such as the DDDA to develop an action plan to establish a vision for downtown Dalton. Burr Park has been a game changer for downtown. Since the opening of Burr Park, they have seen an increase from 33 events a year with around 16,000 attendees to over 65 events with over 165,000 attendees so far this year.
- Education: Along with experts in the education field, BGD created the Greater Dalton Education Leadership Council. They identified areas they could help on the cradle to career pipeline. The council focused on ages from kindergarten readiness up to postsecondary completion. They have seen measurable results with an increased graduation rate in both school districts.
- Entrepreneurship: The recommendation for this strategy was to create a physical hub for entrepreneurship in downtown. In the past five years, they were able to meet all of their goals and open the Dalton Innovation Accelerator. Each year the DIA hosts Pitch DIA where entrepreneurs can pitch their ideas, they also hold summer camps for school age children. Both of these events are well attended.
- Economic Development: The plan recommended that BGD maintain support of existing industry and helping local businesses thrive. They decided to take it a step further and diversify the local economy. Through the help of co-chairs, they have seen multiple new businesses come to Dalton and create over 1,000 new jobs and generate $700 million in investment.
- Community Pride: Establishing a sense of pride in our community is something that is a part of everything BGD does. From social media campaigns that reach thousands, to clean up events that collected over 2,000 pounds of litter, and more, BGD believes there is a greater sense of pride from residents.
- Housing: BGD turned to the experts to help create a housing study to identify current conditions, future demands, and next steps. They have created a nonprofit, Flooring Capital Development Corporation to work with developers to create more affordable housing in our area. Development on several sites is underway and they hope to see even more of an increase in the next five years.
The team at Believe Greater Dalton has worked tirelessly over the past five years to improve our community and we could not be more thankful. We are so excited to see where we are in the next five years!
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Meeting Recap: PSC Commissioner Tim EcholsLast week we welcomed Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols to our club! Commissioner Echols has a long history of public service that all started at a Rotary meeting when he was seventeen. At that meeting, Echols met Truett Cathy who would later give him a set of motivational tapes that Echols says changed his life forever.
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Commissioner Echols has been with PSC since 2010 when he was elected to the position. In his role, he mainly deals with energy regulation for the state of Georgia. He also helps to bring light to human trafficking and educate the public. During the program, Tim led us on an interactive game filled with some Dalton trivia, Georgia energy related questions, and general get to you know questions. Several of our club members were declared winners and go to choose from an assortment of prizes. You can keep up with Tim through his weekly radio show, Energy Matters.
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October 25th, 2022
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Meeting Recap: John King VisitsLast week we welcomed another state official to our meeting. Georgia's Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, John King spoke to us about his background, how he got into this role, and what his goals have been. Rotarian Jason Parker and Commissioner King have been colleagues since both of their police days and Jason had the privilege of introducing him to us.
Born and raised in Mexico, he holds the distinction of being the first Hispanic statewide official in Georgia history! After moving to Georgia when he was 18, King joined the Atlanta Police Department to help pay for college. He quickly realized his passion for public service. After seven and a half years in Atlanta, King made the move to the Doraville Police Department. In a diverse community, much like Dalton, King made it a priority to hire bilingual police officers, place multiple languages on police cars, and ensure effective translators and public defenders were employed at the City Courthouse. Then, he saw an opportunity to join the National Guard, where he is now a Major General and is in his 41st year of service. Through his service, King has won many awards for military and public services.
Then one day, King received a text from Governor Brian Kemp asking him to serve as Georgia's Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. King, with no background in insurance was hesitant but Kemp put his worries to rest. Now, Commissioner King has found a new way to serve others and is planning on running for re-election in this position. King understands we all need some sort of insurance and is focused on putting Georgian’s first and ensuring we all have access to fair and affordable insurance. He works closely with local partners to ensure that he learns what is the best for consumers. The same goes with his partnership with the fire chiefs. Commissioner King and his team work hard to provide fire departments with access to the equipment they need. A state elected official may not have been the career John King imagined himself in, but it is one he enjoys and does well at. Thank you, Commissioner King for being with our club!
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October 4th, 2022
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September 20th, 2022
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Meeting Recap: Social At FreyaLast week, we enjoyed a change of pace! Instead of our usual lunch meeting we instead had an after work social at Freya's Lounge on Morris Street. It was a great time to enjoy each other's company and we had a great turnout of about 30 of our fellow Rotarians to enjoy great food and service in a great venue.
Our exchange student Makanakaishe Chikundura joined President Alex and owners Yadira and Rudy for a picture.
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September 13th, 2022
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Rotary Golf Tournament Announced
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This Week: A Look At InvestingThis week, our speaker will be Jack Ablin, the chief investment officer for Cresset Capital Management who will be joining us remotely. As Chief Investment Officer, Jack Ablin is the leader of Cresset’s investment strategy and provides investment policy and philosophy guidelines to the firm’s advisor teams and clients. Jack joined the organization in 2018 and has three decades of experience in money management. Jack was formerly the Chief Investment Officer with BMO Harris Bank.
Jack is the author of Reading Minds and Markets: Minimizing Risk and Maximizing Returns in a Volatile Global Marketplace, published in July 2009 by F.T. Press; The Wall Street Journal best-seller list, 2009. Jack is a frequent contributor to CNBC, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s. Jack served as a Professor of Finance at Boston University, Graduate School of Management. He spent five years as a Money and Markets correspondent for the NBC affiliate in Jacksonville, Florida. Jack was named in CityWealth Magazine’s Leaders List in 2006, 2010-2021. Jack was also a finalist in the 2020 Family Wealth Report Awards in the category of “Outstanding Contribution to Wealth Management Thought Leadership”.¹
Jack earned an A.B. degree from Vassar College in New York, where he graduated with honors in Mathematics and Computer Science. A member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society, Jack received an M.B.A. with honors, and graduated cum laude from Boston University in Massachusetts. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation and is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago.
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August 9th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
10-Aug |
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| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Aug |
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| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
15-Aug |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Satterfield, Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
Satterfield, Bruce A. |
9-Aug |
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| Laughter, Ben (BEN) |
Laughter, R Lynette |
11-Aug |
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| Scott, Annelle |
Scott, Trammell |
15-Aug |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
Tammy (TAMMY) |
10-Aug |
37 |
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| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
Judy |
14-Aug |
51 |
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This Week: The ACT Theater
This week's meeting should be dramatic - in a good way! Our speaker is Chad Daniel, the executive director of the ACT Theatre in Dalton.
Chad grew up in the arts. His mother was a dance teacher and his father was a music producer in Nashville Tennessee. He started acting and singing in the fourth grade and has never looked back. Chad has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University, both in theater. He has acted and directed from one coast to the other with many places in-between. Chad came to Dalton as a full-time instructor at Dalton State college and has since moved on to running the Artistic Civic Theatre where he is the Executive Director while continuing to teach part-time at Dalton State. His eight-year-old son, Charlie Banks, and his dog, Ellie, both keep him running when he is not running the theatre.
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This Week: "Religion Of Fear"
This week's speaker is retired teacher and local author David Cady. He will be presenting and talking about his book, Religion of Fear: The True Story of the Church of God of the Union Assembly.
Religion of Fear reveals the story of how a Pentecostal sect, the Church of God of the Union Assembly, a small splinter group of the holiness Church of God movement, evolved into one of the largest and wealthiest cults in America. At its height in 1995, the Union Assembly included fifty-four churches spread across nineteen states. Spanning nearly a hundred years and three generations of family leadership and relying on hundreds of interviews with members and former members, David Cady's groundbreaking investigation begins in 1917, with the Church's illiterate but magnetic founder, Charlie (C. T.) Pratt, summoning a congregation of resilient followers with little more than a flair for spectacle. As power dynamics stir within the maturing Church, Cady turns to C. T.'s fourth son, Jesse, who conspires to wrest the Union Assembly from his five brothers and dismiss his own parents from the church they had created. Jesse dominated the Church with fear and a demand of total obedience from its nearly 15,000 members until his mysterious death at age fifty-six.
As Cady reveals, this event triggered a succession crisis in the Pratt-family ranks as Jesse's wife fostered her son Jesse Junior's rise to power and spurned other heirs presumptive to the Church. Jesse Junior turned out to be a tormented leader who drove his followers to the brink of poverty with an uncompromising demand that they give their all to God--and to him. The church's fortune squandered and its future under threat, Jesse Junior's mother was finally forced to have her favored son removed and defrocked. For all its troubling twists and turns, Cady's chronicle ends with a minor miracle, as Jesse's younger brother, Charlie T. Pratt III, takes over leadership and manages to expel the oppressive air of authoritarianism from the body of the Church and hold the community together in the process.
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This Week: State of the Club and Survey ResultsThis week's meeting will be the first with new President Alex Brown running the show. President Alex will be presenting his "State of the Union" speech for the club as we look ahead to the coming year. Also, he will be sharing the results of the club survey. We're looking forward to getting things off to a great start!
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Meeting Recap: Recapping The YearThe June 28th meeting was one of celebration and pride. We inducted Jason Mock as a member of our club. Jason is serving as the President with the Greater Dalton Chamber. We are confident that he will represent our club well. As the Rotary year closes, President Smitty took the time to reflect on his year as president. Joined by his family, Smitty stressed the important role they play in his life and how he would not be where he is today without their love and support.
Over the past year, our club has participated in numerous service projects and were able to donate to several great organizations. President Smitty went through a slide show of the projects we have completed.
- Annual Golf Tournament raising over $12,000 for scholarships for local students
- Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive donated a total of $4,500 back to the Salvation Army to help with their operations
- Jason Parker was instrumental in securing 20,000 M95 masks to donate to Whitfield County and Dalton City Schools
- The annual Mega Christmas Giveaway raised $8,200 for scholarships
- Assisted the Dalton High Interact Club in donating over 100 blankets to the homeless
- Raised $3,000 for the Ukrainian Disaster Relief Fund
- Awarded $13,500 in scholarships to local high school seniors
- Donated $3,600 to help GNTC students with the cost of GED testing
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Next Meeting: July 12th
We hope you had a great 4th of July celebration! As you know, we're taking the week off from meeting, but we are getting ready for new beginnings next week with the passing of the gavel to new President Alex Brown. President Alex will be giving his version of a State of the Union speech, so to speak, with his vision for the year to come for our Club. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Meeting Recap: Vocational Service ExcellenceAlex Brown and Brian Croft led the charge in this year’s Vocational Service Excellence program. This award is designed to recognize an individual who surpasses expectations for exemplary vocational service. We had the honor of presenting these awards to six first responders for their dedication and willingness to serve our community on a daily basis.
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Those honored were selected by their superiors and co-workers for their willingness to go above and beyond each day. On behalf of the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Scott Chitwood recognized Gerald Cooley. Deputy Cooley is serving Coahulla Creek High School as their school resource officer and is thought of so highly by students that they dedicated this year’s yearbook to him. Assistant Chief Chris Crossen with the Dalton Police Department commended Lieutenant Ricky Long on his 22 years of service. Lieutenant Long serves the community through his work as a training officer, as well as overseeing outreach programs such as the Special Olympics and the annual Shop with a Hero event. Whitfield County Fire Assistant Chief, Nathan Callaway recognized Engineer Keith Gray. Keith goes above and beyond in his service and assists in mentoring new members of the department and ensures they feel comfortable and know their role. Director of Emergency Service, David Metcalf commended Senior Telecommunicator Raina Hall for this award. Raina represents 911 for her leadership skills, positive attitude, and expert customer service. She is an excellent role model and mentor. Next, Scott Radeker, Director of Hamilton EMS recognized Paramedic Genevieve Cook for her service. Genevieve has worked for 15 years to provide expert, high quality care on all her calls. Finally, Chief Todd Pangle with the Dalton City Fire Department recognized Matt Asbell. Matt is a respected and knowledgeable asset to the fire department and responds without hesitation to anything he is called to do.
Each man and woman recognized is committed to serving our community to the best of their ability and without hesitation runs toward a crisis that most of us would run away from. Whitfield County is blessed to have such great first responders and we know they will always have our backs.
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This Week: Honoring Local Heroes
At this week's meeting, we'll be honoring some of the everyday people who step up for our community and answer the call in times of emergency. We're recognizing some of our community's outstanding first responders with our annual Public Safety Vocational Service Awards. We are fortunate to be served by model police departments, sheriff's offices, fire departments, and EMS in the Dalton area and this is our chance to say thanks to some of the best of the best.
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Meeting Recap: Soccertown, USAThe past few weeks we recognized students for their academic and service accomplishments. This week, we were able to recognize the incredible athletic accomplishments. For many, athletics are an escape from life’s stressors, or for some, a path to a greater future. The athletic ability in our community, not just in soccer, but all sports is unmatched. In recent years, however, soccer has been what we have really excelled at. Dalton has been dubbed ‘Soccer Town USA’ and has even been featured in the New York Times (In a Georgia Mill Town, Soccer Presents a New Opportunity - The New York Times (nytimes.com)). In the 2021-2022 season, four men’s soccer teams competed for a state championship. Two of those teams won – Southeast Whitfield and Dalton Academy. This year, these wins are just a little bit sweeter than normal. This win marked Southeast as back-to-back champions (winning in 2021 as well) and was also the first ever state championship appearance and win for the Dalton Academy. We were fortunate to hear from some of the coaches and staff from Southeast and Dalton Academy on their season.
Whitfield County Superintendent, Dr. Mike Ewton traveled to the class 4A state championship game in Macon, GA where he split his time cheering for Southeast and their opponent, Northwest Whitfield. He noted that the county was in a good position because they were guaranteed to bring a championship win home. The victor, being Southeast. Dr. Ewton introduced Assistant Coach Nick Finney, who was joined by the principal and athletic director from SHS, as well as two players, Pedro Morales and Nathan Villanueva. Coach Finney, a native of Dalton, expressed his gratitude for the support staff at Southeast. Coach Finney and the rest of the coaching staff have high expectations for their players both on and off the field. The road to the state championship was not an easy one. They dealt with injuries, the pressure of going for a back-to-back win, among other obstacles. But the goal was clear, and these young men accomplished that goal. The support from the community was outstanding and Nick expressed this gratitude for that.
Dr. Doug Shults introduced Dalton Academy principal, Dr. Matt Mederios and Coach Rury Alvarez. This was Dalton Academy’s first year open to students, which in itself came with challenges. Dr. Mederios noted that at the beginning of the year they weren’t even sure which sports they were going to be able to offer. Turning it over to Coach Alvarez, he stressed that the most important thing to him was education. He wants his athletes to not only be great athletes, but also respectful, and focused on their education. It was not easy to get to this state championship. They had to persevere through some tough situations. But the determination ultimately paid off and they walked away with a win. Coach Alvarez introduced senior, Yehia Hussein to say a few words. Yehia started by thanking his coaches and all teachers at the Dalton Academy. He said he would not be where he was today without them. Throughout the season, Coach Alvarez and Coach Griffith became his parents and he is blessed to have them as a mentor. Because of the support Yehia has been shown, he will continue to play soccer next year at Dalton State.
Both teams are special, and the bonds formed are ones that will never be forgotten. It was evident the care that both coaches have for their athletes and how they pour into their lives every day. Our club is excited to see the continued success of both programs, we know they are in good hands. Congratulations again to Southeast and Dalton Academy on their accomplishments!
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May 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
30-May |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Morris, Sarah (SARAH) |
Brown, Alex C |
30-May |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
5/25/1999 |
23 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
David |
24-May |
36 |
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| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
Carolyn |
24-May |
53 |
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This Week: Scholarship Presentations
This week we are sticking with the education theme for another week with another one of our favorite meetings of the year and certainly one of the most impactful - the presentation of our Rotary High School Scholarships. As always, our area is sending a group of exciting young leaders off to college and we're proud of the candidates who our Club is helping out on their college journey.
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Meeting Recap: Peeple's Cancer Institute
Last week we had our second off-site meeting of the year at Hamilton Medical Center. We had the privilege of hearing Dr. Eric Turner speak to us about his work as Medical Director at Peeple’s Cancer Institute. Since coming on board in February 2020, Dr. Turner and his team have persevered through a pandemic while continuing to provide top care for patients and continuing to expand opportunities for care. Taken from their website, “Peeples Cancer Institute houses both diagnostic and treatment services in one convenient location. This allows for Hamilton’s expert team of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, and clinical support staff to work collaboratively to provide state-of-the-art care in a healing, nurturing environment.”
Peeple’s Cancer Institute is transforming cancer care in our region. Since opening their doors in early 2020, they offer a smoking cessation program, a lymphedema clinic, a lung nodule clinic, and conduct NCI designated research clinical trials. In the future they would like to offer a mobile screening program and a gynecologic oncology surgery option. Currently, there has been a major focus on their breast cancer program and genetic testing options. They offer 3D mammography which can detect cancers earlier without an increased radiation dose when compared to 2D standard mammography. The cancer institute is also the only center in this region offering the Paxman Scalp Cooling System to patients. This service helps reduce or prevent hair loss for patients undergoing chemotherapy. In an interview about this new service, Dr. Turner stated, “chemotherapy-induced hair loss is one of the most traumatic side effects associated with cancer treatment … The hope with the Paxman System and cooling cap is that by diminishing or preventing hair loss, we can allow patients to look and feel more like themselves.” This is a tremendous addition to our community and one that will hopefully help ease some burden from patients.
To meet an unmet need in our community and region, PCI started a high-risk genetics program in August of 2021. The goal of this program is to provide patients and families the most up to date information about hereditary cancer risk and the guidelines for cancer screening and treatment options. This clinic was developed so that people who have hereditary genetic mutations or those without the mutation but are at a high risk for development of cancer can see a provider in person to discuss results. If a person has personal or a family history suggesting hereditary cancer, this program would be a great place to start. After registering, a telehealth genetics counselor will meet with you to ensure testing is appropriate. After testing, a patient would be able to meet with a PCI provider to discuss results. To date, they have screened approximately 2,500 patients with 24 patients found to have a positive mutation for hereditary cancer. Finding this out as early as possible can allow for the best results and treatment plan.
Dr. Turner and his staff’s work is changing our community and our region, and we could not be prouder. “Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.” - Hippocrates
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This Week: Off-Site Meeting At Hamilton Medical Center
This week, we're taking a field trip and meeting at the Hamilton Medical Center's Brown Conference Hall instead of the Country Club. Our speakers will be Dr. Eric Turner, the medical director for the Peeples Cancer Institute, and Sandy McKenzie, HMC's president of operations.
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Meeting Recap: Filip ForsbergPresident Smitty started the meeting by awarding Rotarian Lynn Laughter with a Paul Harris +1 award. He then turned to Larry Winter to introduce the speaker, GRSP Student Filip Forsberg. Larry and Connie Winter have been Filip’s host family while he has been in the States this year.
Filip shared with us some of the highlights and memories that he has made over the past year. While studying at Dalton State College he took classes in human anatomy, psychology, accounting, Spanish, and tennis. He also was involved in intramural sports such as basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. Fueling his love for travel, Filip has signed up to take a summer study abroad program through DSC where he will spend a month in India before heading back home to Sweden. While still an unusual GRSP year due to Covid, Filip and other GRSP students met in Peachtree City, GA where they volunteered with a dragon boat race. Filip noted that this was a cool experience and he enjoyed meeting other GRSP students for the first time. During one GRSP weekend in Dunwoody, they had a shark tank style program where the organizers chose one service project to fund financially. Filip’s group won the competition and they have decided to use most of the money, if not all to buy soap for a hospital in Hungary that a group member was aware of. As part of his project, Filip plans to donate his time to a children’s hospital in Stockholm.
Filip packed as much traveling as he could in this past year. He visited Florida with his host family, Chicago, Alabama, Nashville, New York City, New Orleans, Washington D.C., and Athens, GA. While on a trip to Fort Lauderdale he got to see his worlds collide when friends from Sweden made the trip to spend spring break with his friends from Dalton State. They are already all planning more trips to see each other. Of all these places he travelled to, he considers Dalton to be his favorite because of the connections that he has made. Filip was able to get the full cultural experience of the South by going dove shooting, learning about Nashville hot chicken and honky tonks, eating fried alligator, boiled peanuts, fried Oreo’s, and funnel cakes, and going to a rodeo in which he summed up in three words, “it was crazy”. He also got to attend the Peach Bowl Game and visit the Georgia State Capital where he got to learn about our state politics firsthand. One of Filip’s most cherished memories though came in the first week he was here when some friends stayed up until 2 am and took him to Waffle House. A cultural experience he will never forget. He has also picked up on southern slang such as “y’all” which we hope carries back with him.
Filip managed to make the most out of his time here and made memories that he will have forever. He was thankful for the hospitality of the American people and to Rotary for allowing him this opportunity. We could not be more grateful to have played a role in his story.
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April 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
27-Apr |
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| Bowen, William C. III (BILL) |
29-Apr |
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| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
29-Apr |
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| Patterson, Frank W Jr. (FRANK) |
29-Apr |
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| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
30-Apr |
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| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
1-May |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Holmes, Cathy |
Didier, John M. |
1-May |
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| Kinard, Dixie |
Kinard, Robert W |
1-May |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Scott, Shaun E (SHAUN) |
4/30/2019 |
3 |
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| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
5/1/1983 |
39 |
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| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
5/1/1980 |
42 |
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| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
5/1/1984 |
38 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
Diane |
28-Apr |
53 |
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| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
Sharon |
29-Apr |
50 |
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| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
April (APRIL) |
2-May |
30 |
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April 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
18-Apr |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Srivastava, Vinai |
Srivastava, Archana |
16-Apr |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
Celeste |
15-Apr |
34 |
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This Week: A Look At Ukraine
The unfolding war in Ukraine is one of the most important news stories of the year. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has dominated headlines for weeks and the repercussions of the war have impacted our economy. This week's speaker is Dr. Drayton Sanders, a retired physician from Dalton who has spent a lot of time in Ukraine. He'll speak on everything from the nation's historical significance to current events there.
Dr. Sanders specialized in pulmonology during his career. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Sanders also for many years volunteered one day out of each month at the DEO clinic at the Mack Gaston Community Center, treating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who weren't covered by medical insurance. In 2018, he was honored by the Dalton Daily Citizen News as Citizen of the Week for his volunteer service.
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This Week: The Inland Port
Our neighbors in Murray County may not have a beach, but they do have a very important port. The Appalachian Regional Port near Chatsworth began operating in 2018 and it's an important economic hub in our region. Our speaker this week is Wesley Barrell, the Regional Manager of Strategic Operations for Georgia's Ports Authority. He'll be telling us about the port and the impact it's having on our community and our region.
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Upcoming Meetings (3/14)
March 22nd - Wesley Barrell, Georgia Ports Authority
March 29th - Thrive
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March 8th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Metcalf, David W (DAVID) |
10-Mar |
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| Henson, Paul E. Jr. (PAUL) |
10-Mar |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Griffin, Candy |
Griffin, Joseph Bryan |
12-Mar |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
Virginia |
12-Mar |
56 |
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March 1st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
7-Mar |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Johnson, Pat |
Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. |
1-Mar |
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| Wright, Joanne |
Wright, Thomas L |
3-Mar |
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| Bowen, Ann |
Bowen, William C. III |
5-Mar |
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| Pierce, Lamar |
Pierce, Sara C. |
5-Mar |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
3/1/1988 |
34 |
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| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
3/1/1976 |
46 |
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| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
3/1/1975 |
47 |
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| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
3/1/1994 |
28 |
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| Manly, William Judson Jr.(JUDSON) |
3/3/1964 |
58 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No anniversaries this period. |
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| |
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February 22nd, 2022
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Meeting Recap: Arthritis And HealthLast week was an exciting week! We welcomed two new members to our club, Chad Daniels and David Metcalf! Chad and David represent the Rotary ideals both in their personal and professional lives and we are excited to welcome them into our club.
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Our speaker for the week was Dr. Elizabeth Simpson. Dr. Simpson is a native of Marietta, Georgia and received her undergraduate degree through the Honors program at Auburn University in Alabama. She attended Nova Southeastern Medical School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida graduating at the top of her class. She first came to Chattanooga for her Internal Medicine residency through the University of Tennessee Chattanooga at Erlanger program and served a year as Chief Resident. Her fellowship in rheumatology was completed in Augusta, Georgia. Dr. Simpson is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. Dr. Simpson joined Arthritis Associates in 2009. Dr. Simpson is a Fellow in the American College of Rheumatology as well as a member of the Tennessee Medical Association, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, Tennessee Rheumatology Society and United Rheumatology. Dr. Simpson is married with two children. She loves to spend time with family, is active in her church, and enjoys traveling.
Dr. Simpson has been a practicing rheumatologist at Arthritis Associates in Chattanooga for 13 years. In her opinion, the most exciting part of her job is seeing the “zebras” as they call them in medicine. This is when physicians and other specialists are not quite sure what is wrong with a patient, they often refer them to a rheumatologist. With over 100 types of arthritis, rheumatologists are often working to determine and treat different types of rheumatology issues as well as autoimmune diseases. Rheumatologists are arthritis doctors, however a lot of the diseases they treat affect the musculoskeletal system and the immune system. Dr. Simpson’s passion for rheumatology shined as she took us through a journey of the different ailments they treat. Some diseases she and her colleagues typically see include traditional osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, erosive osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosis spondylitis, lupus, polymyalgia rheumatica, and osteoporosis. Dr. Simpson’s goal with her talk was to educate and hopefully be of help if we know a loved one that may be suffering. When asked her advice on what we could do today to help with a better tomorrow she suggested good, healthy living. Movement and exercise is really important for protecting and strengthening our joints. Dr. Simpson left us with some resources to learn more about rheumatology such as www.rheumatology.org or www.arthritisassociateschatt.com.
Dr. Simpson gave a very insightful look into her daily life as a rheumatologist. We are grateful to have such wonderful physicians in our area. Thank you again, Dr. Simpson for taking the time to speak to our club!
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February 1st, 2022
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Meeting Recap: Services For SeniorsLast week’s speaker was Carlene Mutter. Carlene currently serves as the Executive Director for RossWoods Adult Day Services, where she has been for the past four years. Prior to RossWoods she served as the Whitfield County Family Connection Coordinator. In this role she worked with local school districts and area agencies to assist families in the community by coordinating kindergarten registration, Teen Maze, Sharing is Caring program, and assisted with the summer reading sites across the county.
Carlene Mutter
RossWoods Adult Day Services started with a group of community members who recognized a need for support for those loved ones that could no longer stay home alone. With the help of Hamilton Medical Center, RossWoods was formed. As time went on, they realized they would grow more if they were a non-profit. Since becoming a non-profit they can receive donations, federal supplies, grants, and provide better rates. This year they will celebrate 25 years of serving the community. They serve five counties including Whitfield, Murray, Walker, Gordon, and Fannin counties and have served 786 participants. Though partnerships with organizations such as United Way and the Veterans Administration they can provide care for a broader group.
RossWoods provides a safe, caring, and engaging environment for loved ones to be when they cannot safely be left at home. They have found they can extend the time a family has with a loved one before being placed in a permanent facility. Participants never have a dull moment! They keep busy through crafts, chair yoga, daily affirmations, songs, bible verses, games, gardening, and socializing. Participants feel a sense of purpose and enjoy their time. Since the pandemic, they had to shut down for about a year and a half. During that time, they communicated with families regularly and were able to send gifts, meals, and activity kits. They hope to be able to open their doors to volunteers again soon.
Carlene ended the presentation by showing some pictures of participants and events they participate in. Thank you, Carlene, for your heart and service!
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Meeting Recap: Dalton-Whitfield DevelopmentWe kicked off the first meeting of the year by hearing from one of own, Rotarian Carl Campbell. Carl is the Executive Director of the Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority where he works to create wealth in our community through better jobs, better investments, and by recruiting companies to come to our community. Prior to leading the Joint Development Authority effort, Carl worked for the Georgia Department of Economic Development as a Senior Project manager and served a 15-county area in Northwest Georgia. In his role with the state, he assisted numerous companies expand their business or locate a new business operation in the Northwest Georgia region. Carl grew up in Dalton and enjoys helping his hometown grow and prosper. Being a small part of the process that helps our citizens have job opportunities is very gratifying. Carl has been in this role for approximately 7 years.
Selling the Dalton-Whitfield County area to businesses large and small looking for their next investment location takes up a large part of his role. Carl spoke to us about the businesses that are new to Dalton or are planning on coming to Dalton. He works with both private property sellers and industrial land sales. The Joint Authority mainly focuses on industrial land, and they are very strategic about which businesses come to Dalton. Carl works hard to recruit companies that can add value to our community and can provide well-paying jobs for our citizens. Carl shared some projects he has worked on with us including Carbondale Business Park where businesses such as Q Cells and GEDIA are located. Q Cells began production of solar panels in 2019 and have hired 700 employees and invested 150 million into our community. Carl also helped facilitate GEDIA Automotive Group coming to Whitfield County. GEDIA specializes in making state-of-the-art automotive parts. GEDIA is currently in construction and plans to be up and running by April or May of this year. They intend to hire 204 jobs and invest 85 million. Carl and his team also work with private landowners looking to sell their land. A few years back they were approached by someone looking to put industrial buildings on their 100-acre farm. Carl worked with businesses looking for space and negotiated White Flyer, the largest target manufacturer in the world, to build a space. There are also three other spec projects being built on that property. By the end of March, they will have gone from 100 acres of farmland to now about 40 million worth of investment into our community and jobs to come with.
When asked what the challenges were of bringing new opportunities Carl replied that he often doesn’t have land big enough for companies to build on. There is also a challenge of convincing the companies that there is a skilled enough workforce willing to work. Carl noted that some in his position in other areas like to bring as many businesses to their area as they can, however he prefers to bring businesses that are prepared to offer north of $15 an hour, so that it will in turn benefit our citizens and economy. It is a well-known running “joke” that places such as Olive Garden and Publix are coming to Dalton. Carl confirmed that indeed Dalton is on their list, however Walnut Avenue is the only place currently that would fit their requirements to build and there is simply no room now to fit another business on Walnut Avenue. The Joint Authority is working closely with landowners, developers, and the city to revitalize Market Street to hopefully attract those brands as well as others. Maybe one day we will get an Olive Garden or Publix, but for now we should be grateful for the hard work that Carl and his team do each day to improve our community wealth.
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January 11th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
15-Jan |
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| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
17-Jan |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Minor, Charlsey |
Minor, John Thomas V |
11-Jan |
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| Kelehear, Pat |
Kelehear, Leon S. |
12-Jan |
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| Wright, Betty |
Wright, William B. Jr. |
14-Jan |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
Jean |
13-Jan |
60 |
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January 4th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
4-Jan |
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| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
7-Jan |
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| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
9-Jan |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Burt, Roger |
Burt, Amanda |
5-Jan |
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| Schwenn, Judy |
Schwenn, John O. |
7-Jan |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
Tray |
7-Jan |
16 |
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| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
Ricky |
8-Jan |
22 |
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| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
Cherri (CHERRI) |
8-Jan |
22 |
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Meeting Recap: The Georgia Center For Civic EngagementThe November 30th meeting began with announcements of ways to give back to our community. Bill Bowen and Arnaldo Pena have scheduled a week for Rotarians to ring the Salvation Army bell this year. That week is December 13th – 17th. We were reminded to bring blankets to the meetings now through December 14th for the Dalton High Interact Club.
Cherri Robertson introduced Dr. Randell Trammell as our speaker for the week. Trammell has a Bachelor of Religion (with a focus on education), Master of Business Administration, and a Doctorate of Education with a focus on organizational leadership and communication. Trammell served as the President and CEO of the State YMCA of Gorgia for twelve years, becoming the youngest serving YMCA CEO in the nation when he was hired. During his doctoral research, Trammell discovered that there was a deep void in resources for teachers and students in civic education in Georgia. From there his mission was born – and so was the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, now a 501(C)3 organization dedicated to civic education. Dr. Trammell is a self-described “civic busy body” and is a member of the Cartersville Rotary Club and serves on the President’s Advisory Council of Reinhardt University, Northwest Georgia Community Foundation Corporate Board, Advisory Board of the Matt Ryan ATL Foundation, Staff-Parish Relations Committee Chair at Sam Jones Memorial United Methodist Church, the Georgia Commission on Civics Education, the National CivX Now Coalition, and more. In 2020 he added published author to his list of accomplishments with the publication of two children’s books. Trammell was recognized by Georgia Business Trend as one of “Georgia’s 40 under 40” award recipients.
The Georgia Center for Civic Engagement exists to educate and equip students to become informed and active citizens. The Center aims to touch each middle and high school student to increase their understanding of civics. They have several different ways of accomplishing this goal through active clubs, which Whitfield County and Dalton Public Schools participate, democracy labs – where students can “try on government”, provide professional development to teachers, curriculum design and consultation, the Civic Diploma Seal for high school students, the Georgia Civic Engagement Honors Society, a Civic Coach Program, and a pathway to public service – a new career pathway within the CTAE framework. To get a better perspective of why civics is so important to instruct students, Dr. Trammell shared national statistics: 1 in 4 students do not know the three branches of government, eleven states do not require civics or government to graduate, 17% of young people do not trust the government, and 70% of high school seniors have not written a political opinion. Through his research, Dr. Trammell has developed what he calls the plus civic strategy: increased civic knowledge leads to increased civic identity and that leads to increased civic engagement. They have to a two-phase approach to increasing positive civic outcomes which includes supporting the teachers and providing opportunities for students. As noted earlier, the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement has a well thought out approach to accomplishing their goals.
Dr. Trammell says his motivation in life is to “serve others and leave the world better than I found it,” he is certainly doing that through his work. We should all be thankful for leaders such as Dr. Trammell who have taken their passion and are using it to better our state and our country.
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November 16th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Barlow, Jonathan L (JONATHAN) |
19-Nov |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Wilson, Cynthia |
Wilson, John H |
21-Nov |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
11/20/2001 |
20 |
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| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
11/20/2012 |
9 |
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| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
11/22/2011 |
10 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
Pam |
21-Nov |
35 |
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| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
Kristy |
21-Nov |
20 |
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Upcoming Meetings 10/25
Upcoming meetings (subject to change):
November 2nd: David Aft - Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia
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October 19th, 2021
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October 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
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Upcoming Meetings (9/20)
- September 28 - Dr. Reginald Sherrill, Skin Cancer Prevention.
- October 5th - JA Discovery Center site visit (Meeting at Hammond Creek Middle School)
- October 12th - Rotary Golf Tournament, Dalton Golf & CC (Turn in Registration Form ASAP)
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September 21st, 2021
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This Week: Believe Greater Dalton In 2023
This week, we're taking a look into the future of Dalton with an update on Believe Greater Dalton, the strategic plan for our community that has been developed and championed by the Chamber of Commerce. Our speaker is our friend Anna Adamson, who earlier this year became the first executive director of the Flooring Capital Development Corporation (FCDC),
The FCDC was established in 2019 to support economic development projects that impact community issues like housing and neighborhood revitalization in the Dalton area. The corporation's creation is part of Believe Greater Dalton focus on housing and revitalization solutions. The comprehensive housing strategy commissioned by Believe Greater Dalton in 2018 laid the groundwork for creating the FCDC. This strategy outlines a framework for the FCDC’s strategic focus to design and develop specific housing-related projects. The FCDC will work to meet the need for affordable housing, new construction and redevelopment.
We're looking forward to hearing more from Anna about her new role in building Dalton's future! And next week, we'll be entertained by Professor Jerry Drye from Dalton State College. He'll be performing comedy for us, so make sure you join us!
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June 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Croft, Brian C (BRIAN) |
9-Jun |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Tripp, Larry E.(LARRY) |
Charlie |
6-Jun |
31 |
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| Richmond, John D.(JOHN) |
Agnes (AGNES) |
7-Jun |
15 |
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| Griffin, Ronald L(RON) |
Brenda |
8-Jun |
60 |
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| McKenzie, Sandra D(SANDY) |
Jimmy |
8-Jun |
38 |
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| Parker, Paul Andrew(ANDREW) |
Brittany |
8-Jun |
10 |
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| Croft, Brian C(BRIAN) |
Michelle |
9-Jun |
5 |
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| Morehouse, Gordon C.(GORDON) |
Dianne |
10-Jun |
56 |
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| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
Elizabeth (LIZZY) |
11-Jun |
6 |
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| Pennington, David E.(DAVID) |
Pamela |
11-Jun |
46 |
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May 16th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
21-May |
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| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
17-May |
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| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
19-May |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Elliott, S. G. |
Elliott, Judy M. |
22-May |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No anniversaries this period. |
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May 9th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
9-May |
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| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
13-May |
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| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
14-May |
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| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
15-May |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Blevins, David |
Blevins, Sheri H. |
15-May |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Adamson, Anna Y(ANNA) |
5/9/2017 |
6 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
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This Week: 2023 5th Grade Awards
This week's meeting is one of the programs we look forward to most each year: the annual 5th Grade Awards. We're expecting a large gathering this week with 160 participants including 100 visitors and at least 60 Rotarians. We will have all the 5th grade honorees as well as their teachers and parents joining us as well. This is always one of the most rewarding and impactful programs of the year, and we're looking forward to meeting some of Dalton's future leaders.
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This Week: Managing Across Generations
Every generation tends to complain about how the next generation behaves, especially in the workplace. There are indeed some differences in the work habits of the different generations, and this week we'll be taking a look at some of those differences to understand what each generation might need from their managers in order to be their best. Our speaker is Mike O'Neill, and he'll be presenting about the five different generations who are currently working together.
For over 30 years, Mike has helped both small & Fortune 500 companies discover the root causes of the people problems that were slowing their company’s growth. He has found that the best solutions result from Executive Coaching, People Skills Training, and Improved Strategy Execution.
Before launching Bench Builders, Mike held senior HR roles at Shaw and Mohawk, both Fortune 500 companies.
Mike is a Certified Executive Coach. He holds a B.S., in Psychology from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and an M.Ed., in Human Resource Development from Vanderbilt University. He is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and Certified Compensation Professional (CCP). He is also certified to administer and facilitate DiSC® Profile Workshops and Assessments. Mike also serves as the President of the International Business Council.
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April 11th, 2023
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Meeting Recap: Dr. Venables and Dalton StateLast week we had the opportunity to hear from a fellow Rotarian, Dr. Margaret Venable. Dr. Venable is currently the President of Dalton State College and is planning to retire this year. Throughout her tenure, Dr. Venable has led Dalton State with confidence and has consistently put her students and staff first. Dalton State prides themselves on being one of the most affordable colleges in the nation and is ranked nationally for the best return on investment. The program allowed us to gain a better understanding of the value of higher education and how DSC compares to other institutions in the state.
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When Dr. Venable was first starting her career she recalls the public college she was at was growing so rapidly they couldn’t provide enough classes for the demand. Now, over the past decade it has been predicted that the United States population was expected to drop which would lead to fewer high school graduates and fewer students looking to begin college. Georgia is now seeing the effects of this, and the pandemic certainly did not help. A study conducted by the Public Agenda research organization found that the majority of Americans do not believe a college degree is a good investment. Dr. Venable believes that college, especially Dalton State, instills qualities and skills that young adults need to succeed in their future career paths. Research from the University System of Georgia found that those with a 2-year degree will earn $377,000 more over their lifetime than just a high school diploma and those with a 4-year degree will earn over 1 million dollars more over lifetime than those with just a high school diploma. Dalton State College believes in the power of education and providing our community with graduates ready to make a difference.
Dalton State College was recently ranked by Academic Influence as number ten for best public colleges in Georgia. They were also ranked number nineteen for best colleges and universities in Georgia among private and public colleges. Graduates from Dalton State graduate with little to no student loan debt, in fact, ¾ of graduates have no student loan debt after graduation. Their low tuition allows students to complete a four-year degree for approximately $18,000. After graduation, 82% of students took a job that was in this region and 91% of students were employed somewhere in Georgia. Each year Dalton State College is graduating students who are directly contributing to our local and state economy.
Our community should be very proud to have Dalton State College in our backyard. We are grateful for Dr. Venable’s leadership and wish the incoming President much success.
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Meeting Recap: The Savoy Automobile MuseumLast week’s meeting was a fun one that left us all wanting to take a trip to the Savoy Automobile Museum in Cartersville! Director of Development, Tom Shinall joined us for the lunch hour. Savoy is a part of Georgia Museums which includes the Booth Western Art Museum, Bartow History Museum, and the Tellus Science Museum. The 37-acre campus broke ground on the museum in March of 2020 and opened their doors in December of 2021. Since then, almost 115,000 people have visited, including Jay Leno!
When construction was going on they found an old car on the grounds that was mostly intact. That car was a 1954 Plymouth Savoy, which led to the naming of Savoy Automobile Museum. Today, they have that car displayed in front of the museum to tell its story. The belief of the Savoy Automobile Museum is that every car has a story and they want to tell that story. Throughout their museum you will see cars of all different body styles, time periods, and more. Through curated theme exhibits, the museum rotates exhibits monthly showcasing cars from all over the country, from private collections and public collections. Since opening, they have featured almost 15 different exhibition themes and over 200 cars showcased. Current exhibitions include Fabulous Spins, Locally Owned, Built for a Crisis, British Invasion, and the Savoy Collection. Each exhibit showcases cars from that time period. The Built for a Crisis exhibit features cars built for a crisis, aka the 1973 oil embargo crisis. Here you will see cars like the Pinto, the Vega, and the Gremlin Chevette. In addition to cars, the museum features art throughout and provides a unique architectural experience. In the museum you can visit a café which features a cool car wheel installation above you. Also in the space there is a 297-seat theater which has been used for weddings, fields trips, and other special events. Savoy is sure to provide something for everyone. It was a great, lively presentation that we all enjoyed!
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March 21st, 2023
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This Week: A Visit To The Recycling Center
Monday, March 13, 2023
By Alex C Brown
This week, we'll have a change of pace with an old-fashioned field trip to the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority's Materials Recovery Facility, better known as the Recycling Center. Thus, we will *not* be having a meeting this week at the Dalton Golf and Country Club. Instead, we will be meeting at the Recycling Center at 4305 Old Dixie Highway, Dalton, Ga, 30721. The phone number for the facility is 706-278-5001.
For those who wish to carpool, we will be meeting Tuesday, March 14th, between 11:15 am and 11:30 am at Providence Engineering, which is Frank Hogshead's company. The address is 220A North Pentz Street in Dalton, 30720. We'll have sandwiches from Honeybaked Ham, so please let us know if you're going to be there so we can have the right count.
We'll see you there!
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Last Week: The Aarondale and Stubbs AwardsLast week we had the honor of presenting the Lee Aarendale Vocational Excellence Award and the Robert Stubbs Guardian of Ethics Award. Recipients of these awards each embody the ideals of Rotary and were chosen for these awards by their club members. Brian Croft introduced the awards with President Alex Brown presenting the award to the recipients.
The Lee Aarendale Vocational Excellence Award is presented annually to a Rotarian who has shown exemplary Vocational Service for upholding and furthering the principles and ideals of the Rotary Way of Life. This year's honoree is Dr. Margaret Venable. Dr. Venable has had an impressive career in higher education where she exemplifies the ideals of Rotary every day. Brian noted that as he interviewed Dr. Venable for this award, she glowed as she reflected on her own career and her passion for education and students. Dr. Venable has served as President of Dalton State College since 2015. She has worked in the University System of Georgia for more than 30 years and has just recently announced her plans to retire this summer. Dr. Venable also serves her community through organization such as our Rotary Club, the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, Greater Dalton Chamber Executive Board, and as a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Dalton. It is with great pleasure to recognize Dr. Margaret Venable as this year’s Lee Aarendale Vocational Excellence Award.
The Guardian of Ethics Award was established to encourage and promote ideals of ethics in all vocations. This award identifies a Rotarian who exemplifies the attributes and passion for ethics in his or her vocation, business, and personal life. The Rotary Club of Dalton presents this award to Mr. Bruce Satterfield. Bruce has dedicated his career to the service of others. Bruce earned a degree as an emergency medical technician which turned into nearly a 40 year career in emergency public service. Bruce served as an EMT before joining the Dalton Fire Department. From there he climbed the ranks from a recruit to chief. Bruce served as the Chief of the Dalton Fire Department from 2009 to his retirement in 2017. Bruce holds ethics to the highest regard both personally and throughout his career thus it is our privilege to present this year’s Guardian of Ethics Award to Mr. Bruce Satterfield.
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Both Dr. Venable and Bruce represent the purest ideals of Rotary and are well deserving of these awards. Our club is proud to have such fantastic members.
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February 21st, 2023
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Meeting Recap: Mercer University
Last week’s meeting we welcomed Mr. William Underwood, president of Mercer University. We had several Mercer graduates visiting with us, proud to represent their alma mater. Dr. Drayton Sanders is a proud alumnus of Mercer University and so graciously invited his good friend to speak to our club about impressive work that Mercer students are doing to better the state of Georgia and across the globe! Since becoming president in 2006, Mercer has experienced tremendous growth with enrollment increasing by more than 25 percent, launching multiple new master’s and doctorate programs, and opening two new medical school campuses.
Mr. Underwood is proud of all Mercer alumnus, and mentioned the Mercer law school which has graduated four United States senators, 23 members of congress, 12 governors, and one US Attorney General. He focused his presentation on the work that biomedical engineering students are doing to help farmers in Vietnam. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien describes the Vietnam War and the millions of landmines that are still there today and still blow up. It is extremely difficult to locate these landmines and detonate before they hurt someone. To that end, each year an average of 1,000 farmers step on these land mines, often resulting in a loss of a foot or leg. Unfortunately, these farmers can usually not afford to pay $10,000 or $20,000 to have a prosthetic. A Vietnamese professor at Mercer recognized this and challenged his biomedical engineering students to find a solution that is less expensive. They were able to determine that most of the cost of prosthetics is the custom fitting. They created in the lab an artificial leg that can be adjusted very easily to fit the leg of almost any patient. The cost to produce these artificial legs are $75 a piece. A couple of times a year students travel to Vietnam to hold a clinic where they help farmers with the fitting. To date, they have now fit 18,000 farmers. He is particularly proud of this program and to see students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in real life.
Another growing Mercer program is their medical school. A mission of the medical school is to recruit and prepare doctors to serve in rural counties across the state. They now have three medical campuses in Savannah, Columbus, and Macon. The Nathan Deal Scholars Program was created to allow students in the program to go to medical school for free in exchange for a commitment to practice at least five years in a county that has 50,000 or fewer residents. They are also opening medical clinics across the state with the goal to one day be able to say that access to health care is not dependent on your zip code.
Mercer University values higher education and values the work their students are doing not only in the classroom, but outside. Frank proposed that our club purchase 25 of the prosthetic legs, which got a unanimous round of applause in agreement. Together with Mercer University, Rotary will make a difference in the lives of Vietnamese farmers. We are proud to be making a difference not only locally, but internationally as well.
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January 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
24-Jan |
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| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
27-Jan |
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| Hartline, Amy R (AMY) |
26-Jan |
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| Shults, Stephen D (DOUG) |
25-Jan |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Chappell, Bennieta |
Chappell, William J. |
29-Jan |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
1/27/2009 |
14 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No anniversaries this period. |
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This Week: Healthcare Costs And How To Handle Them
For our second meeting of 2023, we're going to hear about a topic that will likely be a topic of conversation and debate all year long: healthcare costs and what can be done bout them. Our speaker is Alan Greensmith, the managing director of Engedi, RX. He has 35 years of experience working in the healthcare industry including several stints working with some very well known firms. He lives in Roswell, Georgia and has spoken to several other Rotary Clubs in the past.
Mr. Greensmith is a graduate of the Universty of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has his MBA in pharmaceutical marketing from St. Joseph's University. His previous experience includes working 20 years with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, working as the senior director of US sales for Grifols USA, as well as working in director positions for Veracity RX and now Engedi RX. He is married to his wife Kitty and has two sons: Creigh is a retired US Naval officer who is now at Georgetown Law, and Brett is a captain in the US Army in the 101st Airborne.
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This Week: Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Our first meeting of 2023 will feature Mary Waters the Deputy Commissioner for International Trade at the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). She’s been in that role since 2015. She oversees the state’s International Trade program, which provides services that contribute to the expansion of Georgia’s exports, the creation and retention of jobs attributable to exports, and the continued internationalization of Georgia’s economy. Georgia’s international trade program helps export- focused companies and industries expand international sales through market intelligence, problem-solving consultations, and meaningful connections to key international opportunities. Under the leadership of Mrs. Waters, Georgia became a Top Ten Exporting State for the first time in 2020, and the International Trade Team earned an “E-Star Award” for Excellence in Export Services for an unprecedented fourth time from the U.S. Department of Commerce. During the 2021-2023 term, Mrs. Waters also serves as President of the State International Development Organizations, Inc. (SIDO), the premiere U.S. organization dedicated to supporting state international trade agencies and focuses exclusively on state international trade development.
Previously, Mrs. Waters served as Senior International Trade Manager with GDEcD’s Global Commerce Division, managing medical and biotech exports statewide, and helping small and medium-sized healthcare companies successfully export to international markets. As an International Account Manager with Guided Therapeutics, Inc., a medical device manufacturer and exporter located in Norcross, Georgia, Mary was responsible for the company’s business development initiatives in Latin America and Africa. A native Oregonian, Mary holds a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida and a dual Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and International Studies from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. She speaks Portuguese and fluent Spanish.
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Meeting Recap: The JA Discovery CenterLast week, it was a privilege to hear from one of our own, Rotarian Anna Adamson. Anna is the Director of Development for Junior Achievement of Northwest Georgia, along with her was her colleague, Caroline Frost. Caroline is the Director of Volunteer Partnerships. Junior Achievement has a long history of providing young people the tools they need to succeed. A worldwide program, Junior Achievement has served over 10 million students in over 100 countries. Locally, Anna and Caroline have the opportunity to make an impact on middle school students across ten school districts.
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The model of a JA Discovery Center is relatively new. After seeing a need in metro Atlanta, the first Discover Center in Georgia was constructed in 2013. Counties across the state began to see a need for a Discovery Center in their region. In fall of 2023 they have the potential to serve over 50% of students across the state and inching closer to their goal of serving 90% of students state-wide. It was in 2017 after touring the Mike and Lynn Cottrell Discovery Center in Forsyth County that leaders from our community began to see this as an opportunity for Dalton. In 2019, fundraising began in the Northwest Georgia area. Companies such as Starr Matthews, Shaw Industries, Chick-Fil-A, Hamilton Health Care System, Dalton State College, and more began to get on board. The JA Discovery Center of Greater Dalton opened in 2021 on the campus of Hammond Creek Middle School, offering 10,000 middle school students in Northwest Georgia the opportunities to experience JA Finance Park and JA BizTown. Caroline explained the experience that comes with Finance Park and BizTown. BizTown allows sixth graders the opportunity to see what running an economy is all about. They are given a “job” when they arrive and see what it takes to run a business for the day. Finance Park is geared towards seventh and eighth grade students and teaches them real world responsibilities. Students are assigned a life situation including a family, a job, debt, etc. and students are able to make decisions about what is best for their “family”. Volunteers are very important for these programs to succeed. Volunteers lead the students and guide them as they learn to navigate real world scenarios. Our club is signed up to volunteer on February 7th and we are looking forward to experiencing the Discovery Center firsthand. Junior Achievement also has a 3DE program for high school students, which the Dalton Academy launched this fall. Students have the opportunity to work with real companies like Truist Bank and Arby’s and solve case challenges. The JA Discovery Center prepares students in our community the opportunity to experience the real world and prepare them for success.
A community our size is fortunate to have a Discovery Center in our own backyard. Much of this wouldn’t be possible without Anna and her teams drive and passion as well as support from our community. We are looking forward to volunteering in February.
Also, it’s always a great day when we get to introduce new members to our club! Last week we welcomed Andrew Parker and Don Finkell to membership. We can’t wait to see what your growth in our club!
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December 20th, 2022
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December 13th, 2022
Monday, December 12, 2022
By Alex C Brown
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November 29th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Scott, Shaun E (SHAUN) |
30-Nov |
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| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
1-Dec |
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| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
1-Dec |
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| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
4-Dec |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Maret, Carla |
Maret, Michael S. |
3-Dec |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
11/29/2005 |
17 |
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| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
11/29/2005 |
17 |
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| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
11/29/2005 |
17 |
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| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
11/29/2005 |
17 |
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| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
11/29/2005 |
17 |
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| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
12/1/1972 |
50 |
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| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
12/1/1968 |
54 |
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| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
12/1/1976 |
46 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
Melissa |
29-Nov |
25 |
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| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
Danielle |
2-Dec |
27 |
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| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
3-Dec |
34 |
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| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
Alicia |
5-Dec |
30 |
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Happy Thanksgiving! - No Meeting This Week -
Happy Thanksgiving! As a reminder, there will be no meeting this week at the Dalton Golf and Country Club as we take the time to celebrate the holiday. We're thankful for this club and for our friendships we have with each of you. We'll be back next week!
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November 15th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| No birthdays this period. |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Miller, Sara |
Miller, Charles Dalton |
15-Nov |
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| Dickson, Sherry |
Dickson, Thomas S. |
15-Nov |
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| Wilson, Cynthia |
Wilson, John H |
21-Nov |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
11/20/2012 |
10 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
Pam |
21-Nov |
36 |
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| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
Kristy |
21-Nov |
21 |
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November 1st, 2022
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October 25th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Aviles, Yadira A (YADI) |
25-Oct |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
10/25/2016 |
6 |
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| Shults, Stephen D (DOUG) |
10/26/2021 |
1 |
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| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
10/26/1999 |
23 |
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| Ewton, Michael F (MIKE) |
10/26/2021 |
1 |
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| Aft, David (DAVID) |
10/29/1996 |
26 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Hartline, Amy R (AMY) |
Logan |
27-Oct |
3 |
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| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
Roger |
30-Oct |
23 |
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This Week: Teeing It Up
This week, we're hosting the annual Rotary Golf Tournament! We won't have our usual lunch with a speaker this week so that we can put on a great tournament for our golfers instead, but if any of you who aren't playing would like to come by and grab a hot dog or hamburger and say hello to the golfers, you're more than welcome!
Next week, we're back to our usual schedule on Ocotber 18th when we will welcome Georgia Public Service Commission Vice-Chairman Tim Echols to speak to our Club.
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Meeting Recap: Secretary of StateOur speaker last week was one that many of us probably know, Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger. Secretary Raffensperger is the CEO of Tendon Systems, LLC. Tendon is a specialty contracting and engineering design firm with nearly 200 employees. The firm has operated in 35 different states. Raffensperger also owns and operates specialty steel manufacturing plants based in Columbus, Georgia, and in Forsyth County. Additionally, he served two terms in the Georgia General Assembly from 2015-2019.
Secretary Raffensperger commended our organization on the values that we carry. He believes that the Rotary 4 Way Test could help solve most problems in America if members of Congress, and us as citizens asked ourselves those four questions daily. Raffensperger came to our club with the goal of talking about where we are with elections in Georgia and to help restore voter confidence. He began by explaining where we were when he first started in this role and where we are today. The number one issue Secretary Raffensperger wanted to tackle when he took office was the machines in which we used to vote. Four years ago, Georgia was still using old electronic machines without verifiable paper ballots. In what was the largest and fastest statewide implementation, they issued a new, verifiable paper ballot system. With this new system, they are able to audit any race from a county commissioner to a presidential race by doing a 100% hand count. This should give voters confidence in the process that their vote was counted correctly. Another goal of his was to make sure there was an efficient way of updating the voter rolls when a person moves. To do this, we joined an organization led by states that can better update when a person moves to a new state or county. This helps make sure that you are registered where you move and that you can vote in the next election in your new residence.
Secretary Raffensperger addressed the question on everybody’s mind, “what happened in 2020”? In the spirit of being as transparent as he can and to ensure that Georgia has fair and safe elections, Mr. Secretary addressed some of the rumors that were floating around after the 2020 presidential race. Such rumors included, that votes were turned in for deceased individuals, there were underage voters, unregistered voters, and felon voters. Through ongoing state investigations, they found that there was not substantial evidence to back these claims. Secretary Raffensperger did confirm however, that their investigations did find four ballots for deceased people, however it was not the 10,000 number rumor that was being pushed at the time. At the time these rumors were swirling, Secretary Raffensperger and his team invited the GBI and the FBI to do their own investigations, which they both did. Secretary Raffensperger saw this as a way to prove that Georgia was being fair to all candidates and to the voters that the could trust their vote.
Georgia has been recognized as one of the top tier states for election integrity and that is done in part through the State office but also through the work of our local election’s office. Assistant Governor, Jackie Killings commended our local election office for the excellent work they do and encouraged everyone to sign up to be a poll worker. We want to thank Secretary Raffensperger for taking the time for being with our club.
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This Week: A Vision For Our Community
This week we'll be hearing a little about the future of our community from two of the people charting that course. Our speakers will be City of Dalton Administrator Andrew Parker and Jason Mock, President of the Chamber of Commerce.
City Administrator Andrew Parker has served in the role since August 2021, but he has worked for the City of Dalton in various capacities for his entire professional career. He began as a summer employee of the Public Works Department before returning as a project engineer after college in 2010. He rose through the ranks there, ultimately becoming the Public Works Director in 2019. Parker is a graduate of Southern Polytechnic University with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Jason Mock came to Dalton earlier this year from Texas where he was the President and CEO of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce. He served in that role since 2016. He has roots in the Peach State, though. He is a native of Carrollton, graduating with his bachelor's degree from the University of West Georgia in 2006.
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Meeting Recap: Investing and Wealth ManagementLast week’s speaker joined us virtually from West Palm Beach, FL. Jack Ablin is the chief investment officer for Cresset Capital Management. As Chief Investment Officer, Jack Ablin is the leader of Cresset’s investment strategy and provides investment policy and philosophy guidelines to the firm’s advisor teams and clients. Jack joined the organization in 2018 and has three decades of experience in money management. Jack earned an A.B. degree from Vassar College in New York, where he graduated with honors in Mathematics and Computer Science. He later received an M.B.A. with honors and graduated cum laude from Boston University in Massachusetts. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago.
Jack enjoys sharing his expertise and is a frequent contributor to CNBC, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s. He has also served as a Professor of Finance at Boston University, Graduate School of Management. Jack is the author of Reading Minds and Markets: Minimizing Risk and Maximizing Returns in a Volatile Global Marketplace, published in July 2009 by F.T. Press. The book made the Wall Street Journal best-seller list in 2009. Jack’s hard work and success led to him being named in CityWealth Magazine’s Leaders List in 2006 and 2010 through 2021. Jack was also a finalist in the 2020 Family Wealth Report Awards in the category of “Outstanding Contribution to Wealth Management Thought Leadership.” With a long list of accolades, Jack came to our club to share about his company and what they do on a daily basis. Cresset Capital Management has offices across the United States, from Los Angeles to West Palm Beach. Their firm has consistently won awards from some of the most prestigious institutions, such as Forbes and Barron’s. Jack’s presentation gave us insight on the company and how they use the client’s goals to align cash flows with investments in order to maximize the clients benefit. He also spoke about market trends they are seeing, the current value of the US dollar, rising home costs, and what he hopes to be an eventual decrease of inflation. We appreciate jack being virtually with us.
Through technology, we are able to connect and learn from so many more experts, and that is something to be thankful for!
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This Week: Happy Labor Day!
We won't have a meeting this week as we observe an extended Labor Day holiday. But we're looking forward to seeing all of you again next week for our lunch social at Freya's Lounge on Morris Street! We'll see you all there. Until then, we hope you've had a safe and happy Labor Day weekend.
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Meeting Recap: The Supply ChainPast President Smitty filled in for Alex and introduced our speaker for the week as well as some club announcements. This year’s golf tournament is coming up on October 11th and there are spots open for registration and sponsorships. Funds raised will go towards the scholarships we award each year to local high school students. Moving to the program, we welcomed CEO and Founder of FreightWaves, Craig Fuller. FreightWaves is the leading provider of global supply chain market intelligence and news. Prior to FreightWaves, Craig was the founder of TransCard, a major provider of fleet fuel and debit cards. He is also the CEO of FLYING magazine, the world’s most widely read aviation magazine. Previously, Craig founded the Xpress Direct division of US Xpress, the leading provider of on-demand expedited truckload services. When work or his five kids are not keeping him busy, he enjoys flying as a private pilot!
Craig and his team have worked hard to become the most trusted provider of global supply chain market intelligence. They are constantly studying and monitoring trends in the global market. As an expert in his field, Craig has the opportunity to speak about their findings all over the country. After observing our club and overhearing some conversation, Craig pivoted from his original presentation and spoke to us about trends and threats they are seeing from their research. Craig noted that since the fall of the Berlin Wall our market system has been changed and has run fairly smooth. He thanked the U.S. Navy for much of this. Craig suggested, however, that we are headed back towards a pre-Cold War era in that we have global rivals that threaten the trade system. We have seen this play out with China and Russia in the recent months. Now, supply chain experts are having to calculate the geo-political risk of a military conflict breaking out while freight is in transit. Due to these potential threats, the research is showing that companies will begin to move production out of countries such as China and move to areas like Mexico where the potential threat is lower. In fact, Apple, whose customer base is primarily in the United States, has announced that they are moving all U.S. bound production out of China. It was also announced recently that production for the new iPhone will be in India, with Airpods and watches being produced in Vietnam. The global supply chain shift is one that could impact all of us and our businesses in different ways. Thankfully, we have experts like those at FreightWaves to study and keep us informed.
Craig delivered a very informative presentation and one that we can all learn from. It is a pleasure each week to hear from experts in their fields.
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Meeting Recap: A Packed House For The MayorWe had such a great turnout at last week’s meeting that we had to request an extra table be added! We welcomed several guests to our club and had the privilege of inducting a new member! We are excited for Yadi Aviles to be a part of our club. Yadi is the owner of Freya’s Lounge, where we will be having a member social on September 16th. We hope to see you all there and support local, Rotarian owned businesses.
President Alex introduced Rotarian and Mayor David Pennington. Mayor Pennington has been a member of our club for 37 years and is serving his third term as mayor of Dalton. When he is not overseeing the community’s success, he serves as the managing director of Advanced Insurance Strategies. Pennington is proud to be a third generation local and independent insurance agent. His son is continuing the insurance legacy, as well as paving his own way in Rotary. He is currently serving as President of the Carpet City Club, the Morning Club.
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Mayor Pennington addressed his views on the successes and areas to improve in the city. Pennington was quoted by saying “a community is like a person in that we all have issues and it’s how we handle those issues that determine our fate.” Mayor Pennington expressed his amazement at how much our community has grown, even since his first term started. He credits much of that success to what he believes are the three most important building blocks for any community: jobs and the economy, education, and healthcare. The carpet industry in Dalton plays a tremendous role in positively impacting our economy and making jobs available. Dalton has long been known as the “Carpet Capital of the World” and there are only plans to ramp up production. When speaking about education, Pennington noted the various educational opportunities our city has. Dalton offers both private and public education, with two school districts, as well as a career academy, and a college. Pennington posed the question, “how many communities our size have a college of 5,000 people?” On the healthcare side, we are fortunate to have Hamilton Medical Center, a leader in healthcare. Being locally owned and operated, Hamilton is run by those in our own community who have a heart for others. They are continuously seeking to add programs and facilities to advance their mission, such as open-heart surgeries, Peeple’s Cancer Institute, and the Anna Shaw Children’s Institute. Pennington again praised the progress the city has made, teaming up with organizations such as Believe Greater Dalton and the Downtown Development Authority. During his first terms as mayor from 2008-2014, he thought downtown was going to be a ghost town. He never could have imagined the popularity we are seeing today. Burr Park plays a huge role in contributing to that success, he never would have dreamed of the impact Burr Park has on our community. Every community, however, has its problems, and Dalton is not exempt. Mayor Pennington addressed challenges such as working with a difficult developer to upgrade the Walnut Avenue corridor. He hopes that they will be able to move past those difficulties and make some necessary upgrades. The city also has plans to beautify what already is by remodeling or removing old buildings, and with the help of the community, clean up the city. He hopes that residents take pride in where they live and work and treat the city as such. Mayor Pennington realizes that the future of our community and its success lies in the hands of those younger than him and he hopes that Dalton continues to be a place that is attractive for families and businesses alike.
We appreciate Mayor Pennington for speaking with our club and for representing Dalton the way he does. We cannot wait to see the continued success of our city. As always, it is a great day to be a Rotarian.
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This Week: A Visit from The Mayor
This week, we'll be taking a look at the future of Dalton with a presentation by fellow Rotarian David Pennington, who is of course the mayor of our city.
Five years after stepping down as mayor of Dalton to run for governor, David Pennington was again elected mayor in 2019 and is now in the third year of his third term. Pennington is the managing director of Advanced Insurance Strategies and is a third-generation, local independent insurance agent. He holds a BA in economics from the University of Georgia.
Mr. Pennington has been a member of the Rotary Club of Dalton for 37 years and is married to his spouse, Pamela. His son, David Pennington IV, works with him at their insurance agency. His daughter lives in Atlanta and works in the Arts/Dance. His son is also President of the Carpet City Club of Rotary, also known as “The Morning Club”.
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August 9th, 2022
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July 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
29-Jul |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
8/1/1994 |
28 |
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| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
8/1/1988 |
34 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
Delle |
28-Jul |
60 |
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Meeting Recap: Happy New Year In JulyLast week kicked off the start of a new, historic Rotary year! Serving our club this year as president is Alex Brown. Alex’s early views of Rotary came from his grandfather who was a Rotarian in Wisconsin. Alex knew little about the club until his stepson was recognized during one of the 5th grade ceremonies. That was, as Alex calls it his “Rotary moment”. The moment he realized who and what Rotary was all about and was motivated to join himself. Now serving as the 2022-2023 president, Alex hosted his first State of the Union meeting to give the club updates on his vision for this next year. Past President Smitty and President Alex exchanged pins marking their roles and an engraved gavel was presented to Smitty.
One of Alex’s first acts as president was welcoming two new members to our club, Jeff Ownby and Carla Maton. We are confident Jeff and Carla will carry out the ideals and principles set forth by Rotary. President Alex introduced this year’s Rotary International theme, Imagine Rotary, spearheaded by Rotary Internationals first female president, Jennifer Jones. You can read more about Jennifer here, 2022-23 President Jennifer Jones is eager to advance Rotary’s narrative | Rotary International.
Recently, members were given an opportunity to complete a survey providing feedback and suggestions to the board. President Alex compiled the results and presented them back to us with some goals and opportunities. You can expect more social gatherings with through mixers held at club member businesses, yearly service projects, and strengthening connections for both current and future members. We are looking forward to this year under Alex’s leadership and the opportunity to continue making a difference in our community.
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July 12th, 2022
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July 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
8-Jul |
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| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
7-Jul |
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| Neal, John P. III (JOHN) |
9-Jul |
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| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
10-Jul |
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| Wright, William B. Jr. (WILLIAM) |
5-Jul |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Metcalf, Alicia |
Metcalf, David W |
10-Jul |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
7/10/2007 |
15 |
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| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
7/7/2015 |
7 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
Janet |
5-Jul |
52 |
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| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
Donna |
11-Jul |
52 |
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| Parrott, V DeForrest III(DEFORREST) |
Eugenia |
6-Jul |
64 |
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June 21st. 2022
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June 14th, 2022
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June 7th, 2022
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May 31st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
1-Jun |
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| Sivick, Robert J (BOB) |
2-Jun |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Abernathy, Gretchen |
Abernathy, Melburn H. |
2-Jun |
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| Scott, Tonya |
Scott, Shaun E |
3-Jun |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
6/1/1985 |
37 |
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| Patterson, Frank W Jr.(FRANK) |
6/1/1995 |
27 |
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| Parrott, V DeForrest III(DEFORREST) |
6/1/1966 |
56 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
Connie |
2-Jun |
49 |
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| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
Rebecca |
2-Jun |
36 |
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| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
Mary Lynn |
5-Jun |
18 |
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| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
Charlie |
6-Jun |
30 |
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May 24th, 2022
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May 17th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
17-May |
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| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
19-May |
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| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
21-May |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Elliott, S. G. |
Elliott, Judy M. |
22-May |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
5/19/1998 |
24 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No anniversaries this period. |
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This Week: 5th Grade Awards
This week's meeting is one of our favorites each year as we get a chance to meet some of our community's future leaders. This week we will be joined by 5th graders from our area schools for the Rotary 5th Grade Service Above Self Awards program. We're looking forward to welcoming these bright students and hearing their stories.
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May 3rd, 2022
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This Week: Awards Show
This week's meeting will be a special one as we award special honors to two of our fellow club members. This week's program is an awards presentation for our Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational Excellence winner as well as our Robert Stubbs Guardian of Ethics Award winner. These two Rotarians are deserving of the honor and we are looking forward to celebrating with them!
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Meeting Recap: ESPLOST VILast week we heard an informational program led by our local Superintendents, Dr. Tim Scott and Dr. Mike Ewton. Together they educated us on the importance of the ESPLOST and the opportunities it provides to both Whitfield County and Dalton Public Schools. ESPLOST VI will be on the ballot in the May election. If passed, funds will be made available for capital projects from January 2023 to December 2028.
The ESPLOST or Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is a joint effort between the Dalton and Whitfield County boards of education. It is expected that the school systems will collect up to $140 million in sales tax revenue if passed. Funds can be used to provide technology equipment, safety and security upgrades, district buildings, improvements or replacements of HVAC systems, roofing, electrical, and plumbing needs, textbooks, and school buses and vehicles. Whitfield County has had an ESPLOST every year since 1997, except for 2012 during the recession. Using funds from ESPLOST V, Dalton Public Schools were able to build a regulation size soccer field at the Dalton Stadium, build the Dalton Academy, make improvements to City Park and Brookwood Elementary Schools, upgrade technology, and install intruder locks. Looking to the future, DPS plans to use ESPLOST VI to replace the HVAC systems at Roan Street and Park Creek elementary, continue to upgrade technology, renovate the press box, field house, and restrooms at Harmon Field, and begin to pay debt on the Hammond Creek School. Like DPS, Whitfield County is continuously looking for ways to better the experience for students and faculty. From ESPOLST V, WCS was able to build two brand new middle schools, Valley Point and North Whitfield, upgrade the gymnasium from the original at Westside Middle, and replace the roof and HVAC systems with minimal disruption at Southeast High School. Plans to use new funding include upgrading the athletic facilities at all three high schools, new technologies, make necessary accessibility upgrades, and make renovations to several elementary schools. All of these improvements mentioned would not be possible without the support from voters and the local community.
Dr. Scott and Dr. Ewton work everyday to ensure the students and staff in both school districts have the tools necessary to succeed. The kids in schools today are our future business owners, leaders, and community members and we hope that they will one day look back fondly on their education through Dalton Public Schools or Whitfield County Schools. Early voting begins May 2-20th, with Saturday voting times on May 7th and 14th, and May 24th is election day.
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April 12th, 2022
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Upcoming Meetings (4/4)
April 12th - Dr. Mike Ewton & Dr. Tim Scott - ESPLOST Presentation
April 19th - Philip Forsberg - GRSP Student, Final Presentation
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This Week: ThriveAt this week's meeting, we'll be hearing from Bridgett Massengill, the president and CEO of the Thrive Regional Partnership, an independent nonprofit organization working in the Chattanooga region to ignite responsible and inspired growth for the next forty years.
She began this work in 2012 as the project manager and executive director of Thrive 2055, then an inaugural program of the Chattanooga Chamber focused on creating a vision and action plan for the 16-county, tristate region that would make the most of the economic opportunities while preserving what is most loved about the region’s home communities. Upon completion, she led the creation of the Thrive Regional Partnership, Inc. to provide a long-term sustaining entity for the resulting action plan.
Bridgett holds a masters degree in public administration with a planning and development concentration from East Tennessee State University, and a bachelors degree in political science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She and her husband reside in Ooltewah, Tennessee with their twin daughters, Madeline and Savannah.
Her staff says she’s Leslie Knope come to life.
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March 22nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
27-Mar |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Pangle, Belinda |
Pangle, William T |
24-Mar |
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| Stewart, Celeste |
Stewart, Robert T |
25-Mar |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Barlow, Jonathan L (JONATHAN) |
3/28/2018 |
4 |
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| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
3/26/2013 |
9 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
Patrick |
25-Mar |
27 |
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March 15th, 2022
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This Week's Meeting (March 1st)
We are looking forward to seeing all of you for another great Tuesday lunch meeting this week. The details for the program aren't finalized, but we're looking forward to a special program and hope each of you will join us!
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February 22nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| No birthdays this period. |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Kiker, John |
Kiker, Janice F. |
24-Feb |
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| Jolly, Becky |
Jolly, Hilliard R. |
25-Feb |
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| Brooker, Janet |
Brooker, Robert H. |
27-Feb |
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| Jones, Danielle |
Jones, J Sherwood III |
27-Feb |
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| Ward, Allen |
Ward, Barbara K. |
27-Feb |
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| Norris, Calli |
Norris, Bradley B |
28-Feb |
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| Johnson, Pat |
Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. |
1-Mar |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
2/23/2016 |
6 |
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| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
2/23/2010 |
12 |
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| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
2/23/2010 |
12 |
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| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
2/23/2016 |
6 |
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| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
2/24/1998 |
24 |
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| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
2/26/2019 |
3 |
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| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
2/26/2019 |
3 |
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| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
3/1/1988 |
34 |
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| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
3/1/1976 |
46 |
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| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
3/1/1975 |
47 |
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| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
3/1/1994 |
28 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
Susan |
23-Feb |
48 |
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This Week - How's Your Health?This week we'll be talking a little about our health and specifically about arthritis. Our speaker is Dr. Elizabeth Simpson from Arthritis Associates in Hixson, Tennessee.
Dr. Simpson is a native of Marietta, Georgia and received her undergraduate degree through the Honors program at Auburn University in Alabama. She attended Nova Southeastern Medical School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida graduating at the top of her class. She first came to Chattanooga for her Internal Medicine residency through the University of Tennessee Chattanooga at Erlanger program and served a year as Chief Resident. Her fellowship in rheumatology was completed in Augusta, Georgia. Dr. Simpson is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. Dr. Simpson joined Arthritis Associates in 2009.
Dr. Simpson is a Fellow in the American College of Rheumatology as well as a member of the Tennessee Medical Association, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, Tennessee Rheumatology Society and United Rheumatology. Dr. Simpson is married with two children. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. Outside of work and raising her children, she likes to exercise, assist in local soccer and participate in church activities.
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January 25th, 2022
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This Week: Exciting Things Are Happening In DaltonThis week we will be hearing from City Administrator Andrew Parker. We were originally scheduled to hear from Mr. Parker a few weeks back, but he had a great reason for postponing his appearance: the birth of his second child! The Parker family is happy and healthy and Andrew is ready to make his rescheduled appearance.
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Andrew Parker is a graduate of Southern Polytechnic University with a degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he came to Dalton to work with the City of Dalton's Public Works Department in 2010. He rose through the ranks, ultimately becoming the department's director in November 2019. In August 2021 he was promoted to the role of city administrator.
There are a lot of exciting things happening in the City of Dalton, including a number of projects like a new aquatics center, a newly re-imagined Market Street and Walnut Avenue corridor, and much more than Andrew will be able to update us on.
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January 11th, 2022
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This week's meeting is our final one of the year. We'll take the next two weeks off to celebrate the holiday season before getting back together on Tuesday, January 4th to kick off 2022 with a presentation about the revitalization of the East Morris Street corridor. Our speakers will be Carlos and Viviana Ramirez, owners of the Eclectic 79 business there who have been among the leaders working to bring that area to new life.
We hope that you and yours have a merry and bright holiday season and a very happy and prosperous year in 2022!
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This Week: Jevin JensenThis week's meeting at the Dalton Golf and Country Club will feature a presentation by Jevin Jensen, the chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners.
Jevin is serving his first term as Chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners and, in that role, represents the entire county where he has lived for over 20 years. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. Jevin’s work experience includes twenty years in the local flooring industry leading a global team of professionals. For the last few years, he and his wife, Mae, have owned the local Ace Hardware near Varnell.
Jevin has served his community in various positions on nonprofit boards including the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center, Carter Hope Recovery Center, Cross Plains Community Partner, League of Women Voters and United Way.
Jevin and Mae have one daughter, Grace Zea, who attends Northwest Whitfield High School and is on the school’s swim team. They are members of Dalton First Methodist church where they volunteer with the Sunday Broadcast team.
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Meeting Recap: Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeThe November 16th meeting began with announcements of ways to give back to our community. Bill Bowen and Arnaldo Pena have scheduled a week for Rotarians to ring the Salvation Army bell this year. That week is December 13th – 17th. We also heard from Anna La; Anna is the President of the Dalton High Interact Club. Their club is collecting blankets for the homeless and is asking us to participate as well. Blankets are being accepted at the Rotary meetings now through December 14th. Alex Brown reminded us of the gun raffle going on. Tickets are on sale 1 for $35 or 3 for $100. The drawings start December 1st. We are encouraging everyone to sell tickets. Ticket sales go directly to fund scholarships for local high school seniors. Moving on with the program, President Smitty recognized Steve Farrow with a Will Watt Fellow award for his contributions to the Georgia Rotary Student Program.
President Smitty then introduced our speaker for the week, Dr. Heidi Popham. Dr. Popham serves as the President at Georgia Northwestern Technical College. Prior to her appointment as President, Dr. Popham served for 23 years in leadership roles within the organization. Dr. Popham holds a Doctor of Education degree from UGA and is active in the Rome Rotary Club.
GNTC is one of the 22 colleges in the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). TCSG offers world class training in 600 associate degree programs and diploma and certificate programs to students who are trained on state-of-the-art equipment by instructors who are experts in their fields. The system also houses Georgia’s Office of Adult Education, which promotes and provides adult literacy and education programs. GNTC serves the Northwest region of Georgia and serves counties all the way to the Tennessee line and as far west as the Alabama line. It offers six campus locations in Whitfield County, Catoosa County, Floyd County, Gordon County, Polk County, and Walker County. GNTC offers three different programs for students to choose from including associate degrees, technical diplomas, and technical certificates. Through TCSG they offer 200 programs including, aviation and industrial technologies, business technologies, health technologies, nursing technologies, and public service technologies.
In this fall semester of 2021, GNTC has 6,332 students across the six different campuses. Of those students 2,083 are high school students attending GNTC to earn college credit through the dual enrollment program offered at Whitfield County Schools and Dalton Public Schools. In 2020, 3,229 individuals went through either the adult education program or the economic development program. The economic development program has two different areas: continuing education and business and industry services. Through the business and industry services they will go into businesses and provide on-site trainings. Continuing education is open to all companies to come on-site and get the training needed. Through the adult education program, students are offered the GED or the HiSET, which is a high school equivalency exam. In 2020 they served 1,911 students through the adult education program, 382 of which completed their GED. Our Rotary Club has been a strong supporter of the adult education program by offering scholarships to those looking to take the GED. In the last academic year, our club paid for 36 tests. Five people completed their GED and five more passed a part of a test. Our support of this program falls directly in line with the Basic Education and Literacy pillar of Rotary’s 7 Areas of Focus. We are very appreciative of this wonderful facility in our community and throughout Northwest Georgia!
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November 16th, 2021
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Meeting Recap: David Aft And The Community FoundationPresident Smitty and President-Elect Alex Brown introduced the newest member of our club, Bob Sivick. Bob is the new Whitfield County Administrator and is transferring his membership from the Wautoma, Wisconsin Club where he served four years as the Club Administrator.
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President Smitty then introduced our speaker for the program, Rotarian David Aft. David serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, where he has served since 2003. He previously served as President of United Way of Northwest Georgia. David has worked in the non-profit field for over thirty-five years and has lived in the Northwest Georgia area since 1996. He is a graduate of the Florida State University School of Social Work where he earned a master’s in social work. David joined the Rotary Club in 1996 and served as the club president during the 2014-2015 year.
The Rotary Club strives to serve the Dalton community and as David mentioned “not one good thing happens in the community without a Rotarian being involved.” The Community Foundation was founded by community members, several of which were Rotarians and is overseen by a board of directors which several Rotarians serve on today. Established in 1998, the mission of the Foundation is to promote philanthropy and charitable giving by providing a financial framework that helps philanthropists, communities, and charities get the most out of their work. They manage endowments, funds, temporary and permanent, and special project opportunities. Since 1998 they have received 12,136 contributions and played a role in rewarding $63.7 million in grants. The first grants made in 1998 were to the United Way of Northwest Georgia and to the Dalton State College Foundation. To date, these two organizations remain the largest grant recipients. In 2020 the Foundation had 674 contributions totaling $7.16 million and awarded $4.2 million in grants. Today, they manage 226 funds, each with a different mission statement and purpose.
“Charity is not just what we do, but who we are” and “how we get things done.” In 2020, $471 billion was given to 501(c)(3) charities across the United States, 70% of that was given by individuals. After sharing nation-wide numbers, David shared with us some projects that our local Foundation is a part of. Since starting in 2003, David has been a part of thousands of projects, two of which he shared. In collaboration with Rotarian Bill Bowen, they are working to create a children’s youth fund somewhere north of $1 million to serve children and help with character building. Another project that we all may be familiar with is Burr Park. When Jeanne Burr first came to David wanting to make a difference, he brainstormed and presented ideas, none of which felt right to her. Through other avenues of work David was involved in creating semi-permanent improvements to an area of downtown Dalton. David saw an opportunity to do something bigger and proposed the idea of partnering with Jeanne and the City of Dalton to create a permanent park. That is how today, we have a beautiful park used for performances and festivals in our city. Work is still being done on improving the park and they are currently working to provide bathrooms, which should be completed by next spring’s concert series.
It was great to see the impact the Community Foundation is doing not only in our community, but throughout Northwest Georgia. David ended on the note that “it’s not just about the money, but the impact.”
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November 2nd, 2021
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This Week: A Visit From Our District GovernorThis week, we're honored to have a visit from our Rotary 6910 District Governor Mike Berg.
Mike Berg is a 38-year Rotarian starting with the South Gwinnett Club and President (1992- 1993) of the Snellville Club currently the Gwinnett Sunrise Club. He is a Major Donor, a GRSP Will Watt fellow, a Benefactor, a Paul Harris Society Member, an RLI graduate and an Area Four Assistant Governor (2017-2020).
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Mike grew up in South Atlanta. He graduated from Sylvan Hills High School and was a multisport varsity athlete. His first job was selling vegetables to neighbors at the age of 10. During his High School years, he worked at Rich’s downtown after hours filing transcripts. He Graduated from Georgia State University with a BBA in Management, Served in the Army and retiring as a Manager with the Georgia Power Company. He now is the principal for Mike Berg and Associates, Inc.; a government and business strategic planning company. He is also CFO for Marketing Incentives, his Wife’s company that sells promotional marketing incentives.
In addition to his Rotary life, he is Vice President of the Lake Lanier Association, Board Member of the Coosa N. Ga. State Water Planning Commission, Board Member of the Civic Foundation for the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, and Board Member of Drawdown Georgia (reduce carbon in Georgia).
Mike is a former President of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (2013- 2014), Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Dawson County (2005-2017), District 3 Gwinnett County Commissioner (1985-1989), Institute for Georgia Environmental leadership board (IGEL), Chairman of the Georgia State Public Defender Council, Board member of the State Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Founder and past Chairman of the Gwinnett United in Drug Education (GUIDE).
Mike is married to and works for his wife, Jane Berg. They have two adult children and three Grandchildren. They live on Lake Lanier in Dawson County.
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Meeting Recap: Preventing Skin CancerDr. Reginald Sherill is the medical director of Dalton Plastic Surgery. A graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1977, Dr. Sherrill went on to a General Surgery residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. After completing three years in General Surgery, he transferred to Wright State University Kettering Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio for his Plastic Surgery residency. He completed his training in 1982 and has been in solo practice ever since. Dr. Sherrill is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Georgia Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Southern Medical Association, the Medical Association of Georgia, and the Whitfield-Murray County Medical Society.
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Dr. Sherill spoke to us about the biggest organ in the body, the skin, and what we can do to protect it. On average the skin on a person’s body can weigh anywhere from 6-7 pounds. Learning to protect our skin from skin cancer is one of the most valuable lessons we can learn. Living in a southern state can mean that incidents of melanoma and skin cancer are twice as likely to happen than they are in northern states. The good news is that skin cancer almost always has a happy ending!
Dr. Sherill educated us on the types of skin cancer including the most common, basal cell carcinoma. This is the least aggressive of all cancers and has an extremely high cure rate. The squamous cell skin cancer is more serious than the basal cell but is generally not aggressive and has a high cure rate. The most serious of skin cancers is melanoma, however, when caught early it has a high cure rate. The causes of skin cancer can vary but the most common cause is over exposure to ultraviolet radiation either from the sun or a tanning bed. In Brazil and Australia, they have banned the use of tanning beds because of the harm they can do. Sunburns double the risk of melanoma, so taking precautions now can protect you in the long run. The areas most susceptible to sunburn are the nose, tops of the ears, and the scalp. Ways to protect yourself from skin cancer include wearing protective clothing and hats, wearing sunscreen (even in the winter), avoiding tanning beds, and having regular screenings with your physician.
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Meeting Recap: STEM at Dalton State and In Our CommunityLast week’s meeting opened with Dalton State College President, Dr. Margaret Venable introducing two of her colleagues. Speakers included Dr. Randall Griffus and Dr. John Lugthart. Dr. Griffus holds a Ph.D. from Auburn University and serves as the Dean for the School of Arts and Sciences at Dalton State. Dr. Griffus thanked Shaw Industries for the support the college has received throughout the 25 years he has been at DSC. Shaw and DSC both have a strong presence at community events and involve themselves as they see fit. With that in mind, the Shaw Industries Chair position was created to serve the community and promote STEM education. Dr. Lugthart was seen as the perfect fit for this chair position.
Dr. John Lugthart holds a B.S. in biology and environmental studies, a M.S. in biology, and a Ph.D. in Entomology. His area of expertise is the ecology of freshwater invertebrates. He has been a part of the biology faculty at DSC for over 30 years. In this new role John will work to provide awareness to careers within the STEM field, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. John noted that the Rotary mission statement of “together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves” aligns with the vision of Dalton State.
Dr. Lugthart shared with us some of the projects he is overseeing at Dalton State. One of them being the Conasauga River Clean Up. Coming up on the 27th year, the clean-up is aimed to raise awareness of the importance of protecting our water quality. Those involved in the project include Dalton State students and faculty, 4-H programs, boy scouts, girl scouts, and anyone else who would like to help. This years clean-up is October 23rd and they will have eight clean-up sites in Whitfield and Murray Counties and one site in Tennessee. In the 26 years that the clean-up has been happening, roughly 135 tons of trash have been removed from the Conasauga River. Another project that John is passionate about is the construction and maintenance of the hiking trails at Dalton State College. The Roadrunner Trail System, as they call it, has 3 miles of trails along the Rocky Face Ridge. They are currently working on building the Ridge Trail using hand tools and volunteers. A project that John has really enjoyed is restoring Lakeshore Park. This project began in 2010 when large amounts of dumping was discovered along the wetlands. Members of all areas of our community came together to fix this problem and to create an enjoyable area for Dalton. To do this, the group sought help from UGA’s Archway Partnership. Two UGA graduates took ideas from the group and created proposals for this project. With the passing of the 2015 SPLOST, they were able to use those funds to make the improvements needed. The park now has an outdoor classroom where DSC and Brookwood students can have hands on learning right here in Dalton. Due to their involvement with Lakeshore Park, Brookwood Elementary became the first school in Northwest Georgia to earn state STEM certification. The final project that John spoke to us about was the restoration project at Park Creek Elementary. The intent of this project is to improve native fish, plant and pollinator habitats while enhancing environmental learning at the elementary school.
Dalton State and our community is fortunate to have Dr. Griffus, Dr. Lugthart and other faculty who are passionate about preserving our diverse areas for generations to come. As Robert Baden-Powell says, “try and leave this world a little better than you found it”.
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September 14th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
16-Sep |
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| Minor, John Thomas V (JOHN) |
15-Sep |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Arnold, Emilie |
Ware, Adam M |
15-Sep |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
9/20/2016 |
5 |
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| Brown, Alex C (ALEX) |
9/14/2017 |
4 |
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| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
9/20/2016 |
5 |
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| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
9/20/2016 |
5 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
Ann |
14-Sep |
47 |
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| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
Allen |
17-Sep |
54 |
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Meeting Recap: GRSP Student Andrea FogtmannPresident Lynn Laughter began last week’s meeting by presenting Past-President Alex Brown with the 2022-2023 Rotary Citation Award from Rotary International. Alex then introduced us to our club’s GRSP student, Andrea Fogtmann. Alex and his family are Andrea’s host parents while she is attending Dalton State College.
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Andrea is from Denmark where she lives with her parents and sister. Her family lives about an hour from Copenhagen. Andrea shared with us fun facts about Denmark, her hobbies, and her bucket list while she is in the States. She enjoys soccer, hiking, shopping, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. Andrea fell in love with hiking and nature when she was participating in a Rotary Youth Exchange program in Canada. Her home country, Denmark, does not have many hiking opportunities, as the highest point is 558 feet. She is excited to be in the North Georgia mountains and wants to visit Amicalola Falls, Providence Canyon, Stone Mountain, Tallulah Gorge, and Ruby Falls. Her favorite hobby is soccer, she has been playing since she was four years old and has created a tradition of supporting Denmark’s national team at every home game with her father and sister. Her host parent even said he found her watching her team at 3:00 am the morning she arrived in the States. Talk about dedication! Andrea loves to travel and has been to thirty-six countries! She even speaks five languages, English, Spanish, German, Danish, and Norwegian.
Andrea then shared some fun facts about Denmark with us. Denmark has a population of 5.8 million, the country is so small that no matter where you are, you are never more than an hour from the ocean. We learned that their language has three extra letters in their alphabet, on average, it rains 170 days of the year, and their education is free. While at Dalton State, Andrea is studying accounting and wants to be an accountant back home in Denmark. Some places she wants to visit include Disney World, Universal, Covington, Georgia (where Vampire Diaries is filmed), New York City at Christmas time, Nashville, Chicago, New Orleans, Dollywood, and Memphis (to see Elvis’ house). She would also like to experience a UGA football game, a soccer game, shopping in Chattanooga, specifically Target and Costco, and hiking, of course!
We are looking forward to having Andrea in our club this year!
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This Week: City of Refuge
This week, our featured speaker is fellow Rotarian Brian Croft. He'll be presenting some updates on the important work that is being done by City of Refuge, where he is the director of operations. City of Refuge has been a part of the Dalton community for nearly 30 years, starting their work in 1995. Their goal is to help meet the basic needs of people in our community by equipping them to improve their current situations. They partner with local schools, businesses, churches, and individuals to offer a number of different outreaches including a food bank, clothing closet, education classes, transitional housing, women's outreach, and much more.
Brian is married to Shell Croft who teaches at Dalton Public Schools and they have four children: two sons and two daughters.
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May 23rd, 2023
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This Week: The Dignity Of Work
This week, our speaker will be one of our: Don Finkell. Don will be speaking about the DIgnity of Work. More specifically, he'll be giving us a look at an interesting partnership between prisons and businesses in the private sector.
Don is now retired but was formerly the CEO and founder of American OEM, a Tennessee-based wood flooring manufacturer operating inside a medium security prison in Only, Tennessee. The company utilized paid inmate labor as part of the PIE-CP voluntary program. This plant was the eighth prison plant built by Don and his team in 1996. He began in the flooring industry in 1984 and became president of Anderson Hardwood Floors in 1988. The industry has taken him on a worldwide adventure spanning five continents and multiple cultures.
Don holds a Bachelors in Architecture degree from the University of Tennessee and resides in Rocky Face, GA with his wife Emily and two dogs.
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Meeting Recap: AskForensics
Last week we took a look at the impact that artificial intelligence and machine learning can have on business sales with the help of our speaker Rick Reynolds. He's the co-founder and CEO of AskForensics, a company that was also co-founded by former Mohawk commercial division president Al Kabus. AskForensics provides companies with objective, rich insights into why they win and lose sales and the health of existing accounts. AskForensics ask the questions their customers can’t and get the answers they need to win, retain, and grow. Rick's presentation highlighted some interesting thoughts about account health, AI, and Machine Learning. Additionally, Rick shared the results he has seen with clients over the past 17 years.
Rick is the co-founder and CEO of AskForensics. He brings unrivaled expertise in business forensics to the team, having led thousands of investigations over a 25-year period for best-in-class Fortune 1000 corporations. Rick developed the model in the late 1980s when a venture capital firm asked him to evaluate the “lost prospects” of a company seeking additional investment. Following this initial project, Rick built a very successful business providing objective and in-depth lost sales, account, and prospect knowledge to major corporations like ADP, Bass Hotels, Hyatt, IBM, Promus, Randstadt, S.C. Johnson & Sons, Sodexo, Spherion, Sun Microsystems, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, and Xerox. The formation of AskForensics in 2004 took this process to a much higher and more strategic level. Rick’s expertise in sales, knowledge management, market research, and analysis has contributed toward building AskForensics into a world-class partner with major corporations to improve sales, retention, and financial results.
Rick is on the national board of the National Fragile X Foundation and served as a board member of Community Health Charities. He is also the Founder of the Reynolds Fragile X Fund at the Emory University School of Medicine. He holds an M.B.A. in Marketing from Georgia State University and a B.A. in Economics and History from Denison University
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April 25th, 2023
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April 11th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
11-Apr |
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| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
11-Apr |
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| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
11-Apr |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Hefner, Blake |
Hefner, Abby T |
15-Apr |
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| Srivastava, Vinai |
Srivastava, Archana |
16-Apr |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Stewart, Robert T(ROBERT) |
Celeste |
15-Apr |
35 |
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April 4th, 2023
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March 28th, 2023
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March 21st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
21-Mar |
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| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
27-Mar |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Pangle, Belinda |
Pangle, William T |
24-Mar |
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| Stewart, Celeste |
Stewart, Robert T |
25-Mar |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
3/26/2013 |
10 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
Patrick |
25-Mar |
28 |
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Meeting Recap: American History In No TimeLast week we were joined by author and professional musician, Randolph Russell. Russell’s book, American History in No Time, is a quick and easily digestible way to learn key events, people, places, and principles from American history. Randolph has spoken to over 100 different Rotary clubs about his book. In addition to his expertise in history, Randolph is also a professionally trained musician who has performed throughout the United States and Europe. Russell spoke to us about the inspiration behind his book and the importance of knowing our country's history.
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Thomas Jefferson once said, “if a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be”. Our founders believed our nation would be successful, only if we understood our history and the sacrifices made for our freedom. Russell cited a study by the US Department of Education that found only 12% of our high school seniors were proficient in American history. A similar study by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute gave a similar test to college seniors at institutions across the county, including Harvard and Yale. The average grade was a F. Aside from students, the general public does not seem to be more proficient. As part of an annual study, the Freedom Forum Institute found that less than 1% of adults can name the five freedoms guaranteed by the first amendment. Understanding our history can help us be better informed voters and be better citizens.
The idea of writing a book came when Randolph began to take note of events that his children didn’t know or didn’t learn about in school. While there are plenty of books detailing our history, they can be long and many of us wouldn’t care to sit and read them. Russell prides himself in his book, while shorter, covers the key events, people, places, and principles from before Columbus to the present. Russell believes that learning and understanding our history will bind us together and give us a deeper appreciation for our country today. “All of us want our children and grandchildren and everyone else we care about to love this country,” Russell said, “but you can’t love what you don’t know”.
Russell closed the program with an outstanding rendition of America the Beautiful on his saxophone.
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This Week: Awards Day
This week's meeting is one that we look forward to each year. We will be honoring two of our club members with two of Rotary's most prestigious awards: the W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award and the Robert S. Stubbs II Guardian of Ethics Award. The Arrendale Award is presented based on a Rotarian's excellence in their professional field, their achievements in the community, and their academic achievements. The Stubbs Award recognizes a Rotarian who has made outstanding contributions to foster the development of ethics, has made significant contributions to their vocational field, and who has by their actions, writing, policies, or public pronouncements strengthened and fostered the development of ethical practices. Truly, many of our Club members fit the bill for these awards and we look forward to honoring the recipients for their outstanding achievements as leaders for Dalton and beyond.
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This Week: A Special GRSP Update
"Where are they now?" We often hear that question asked about movie or TV stars from years gone by, but this week our Rotary lunch program will be answering it about some people a lot nearer and dearer to our hearts: our former GRSP students! We will have five former GRSP students participating in a video conference round table discussion via Microsoft Teams to discuss their recollections about their GRSP year and bring us up to date on what is going on in their lives now. And we'll also ask if their experiences with GRSP still influence their life today. The participants will be: Alexandra Olsson from Sweden, class of 2011-12; Elsa Hellsten of Sweden, class of 2013-14; Maryanne “Maisy” Murphy of Scotland, class of 2015-16; Clarissa Boeker of Germany, class of 2015-16; and Fredrik Mazur of Sweden, class of 2016-17. John Richmond will be pinch hitting for President Alex at the meeting.
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January 31st, 2023
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January 24th, 2023
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January 17th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, January 16, 2023 By Alex C Brown
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
17-Jan |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Smith, Rebecca |
Smith, Clark C. |
18-Jan |
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| Tatum, Sharon |
Tatum, Laurice A. |
20-Jan |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
1/18/2011 |
12 |
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| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
1/19/2010 |
13 |
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| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
1/23/2001 |
22 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
Kimberly |
19-Jan |
10 |
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| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
Sarah |
20-Jan |
55 |
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Meeting Recap: International TradeLast week was our first meeting of 2023 and we welcomed a packed house for Tuesday’s meeting. President Alex started the meeting with a few announcements. Our annual gun raffle was a success with us profiting over $8,000 that we will use to give back to students! Our club will be volunteering with the JA Center on February 7th, if anyone is interested in volunteering, please send Alex an email.
The speaker for the week was Mary Waters, who serves as the Deputy Commissioner for International Trade at the Georgia Department of Economic Development where she and her team help Georgia businesses trade on the international market. Under the leadership of Mrs. Waters, Georgia became a Top Ten Exporting State for the first time in 2020, and the International Trade Team earned an “E-Star Award” for Excellence in Export Services for an unprecedented fourth time from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mary has a passion for international trade, and it was evident through her presentation that Georgia has the right person for the job.
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International trade plays a huge role in our state’s economy and it’s the Department of Economic Development’s job to sell our state and to attract and retain industry. Georgia is the seventh largest trading state in the Union and does $166 billion in total trade with the world, including exports and imports. Exports from the state totals at $42 billion of product going to the global marketplace to more than 215 countries and territories. Georgia is unique in that we offer multiple different ways of getting product out, whether by air or sea from Savannah and Brunswick. Mary showed a slide of the top ten countries that Georgia exports to. In that includes countries like Canada, Singapore, the UK, Korea, India and more. Having a diverse range of countries is helpful so that we are reaching all regions of the world, in case of turmoil on the global market. It’s also important that the type of export is diverse for the same reason. The aviation and aerospace industry is Georgia’s largest export at around $10 billion a year. Other top exports include poultry, automotive manufacturing, and floor covering. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Georgia continued to export goods and services and found that exports declined much less than other states. That is the year we became a top ten exporting state, and it is Mary’s goal that we remain in the top ten.
Mary and her team of ten others work daily across the state with businesses of all sizes helping them get into the global market. Last year in Whitfield County more than a billion dollars of merchandise was exported, and almost $95 million in service exports going out. When asked what types of services we would be exporting, Mary would have to look closer at the data, but that the largest service is logistic services such as transportation. Our community is diversified, and we should all be proud that Whitfield County is contributing a significant amount to the overall trade amount that Georgia does annually. We are providing jobs and contributing to the economic success at a state level.
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January 10th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
1-Jan |
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| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
4-Jan |
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| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
7-Jan |
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| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
9-Jan |
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| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
15-Jan |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Blackman, Linda |
Blackman, Bill M |
1-Jan |
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| Burt, Roger |
Burt, Amanda |
5-Jan |
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| Schwenn, Judy |
Schwenn, John O. |
7-Jan |
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| Minor, Charlsey |
Minor, John Thomas V |
11-Jan |
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| Kelehear, Pat |
Kelehear, Leon S. |
12-Jan |
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| Wright, Betty |
Wright, William B. Jr. |
14-Jan |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
1/1/1986 |
37 |
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| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
1/1/1976 |
47 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Payne, Charles F Jr.(CHUCK) |
Angelina |
2-Jan |
35 |
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| Aft, David (DAVID) |
Pauline |
3-Jan |
9 |
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| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
Tray |
7-Jan |
17 |
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| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
Ricky |
8-Jan |
23 |
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| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
Cherri (CHERRI) |
8-Jan |
23 |
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| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
Jean |
13-Jan |
61 |
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December 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Ewton, Michael F (MIKE) |
8-Dec |
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| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Dec |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Parrott, Eugenia |
Parrott, V DeForrest III |
10-Dec |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
12/6/2016 |
6 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
Charlsey |
7-Dec |
3 |
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| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
Betty |
7-Dec |
54 |
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| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
Joanne |
12-Dec |
63 |
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This Week: Ethics and BipartisanshipThis week, we'll be hearing a presentation from our good friend Chuck Payne, who continues to serve us as our state senator. Senator Payne's presentation will focus on ethics and bipartisanship, a very worthwhile topic in our current times.
Senator Payne, a Republican, was first elected to serve as the State Senator for the 54th district in January 2017. Senator Payne serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, Ex-Officio of the Senate Public Safety Committee, Secretary of the Senate Finance Committee, Secretary of the Senate Higher Education Committee and Secretary of the Senate State Institutions and Property Committee. Senator Payne also serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance Sub-Committee on issues pertaining to Ad Valorem Taxes.
Sen. Payne served four years (1984-1988) in the Army and the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Angie Sellers, and they were married in January 1988. In that same year, they moved back to Dalton and Sen. Payne began his 30-year career of public service to troubled youth and their families with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Sen. Payne retired from the Department of Juvenile Justice with 30 years of service on October 31, 2016.
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November 15th, 2022
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November 8th, 2022
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November 1st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
6-Nov |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Richmond, Agnes (AGNES) |
Richmond, John D. |
2-Nov |
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| Kirkman, Lou |
Kirkman, Lowell D. |
4-Nov |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
11/1/1989 |
33 |
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| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
11/1/1978 |
44 |
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| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
11/1/1980 |
42 |
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| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
11/1/1981 |
41 |
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| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
11/1/1982 |
40 |
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| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
11/1/1985 |
37 |
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| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
11/1/1972 |
50 |
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| Sivick, Robert J (BOB) |
11/2/2021 |
1 |
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| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
11/3/2015 |
7 |
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| Thomas, Abby L (ABBY THOMAS) |
11/5/2019 |
3 |
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| Pena, Arnaldo (ARNALDO) |
11/5/2019 |
3 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No anniversaries this period. |
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This Week: PSC Commissioner Tim EcholsThis week, our guest is Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols. His history with Rotary goes all the way back to 1978 when he was named the Student of the Year by the Atlanta Airport Rotary Club. At that luncheon, he met Truett Cathy. After that meeting, Truett invited Tim to come by his Hapeville office and there gave him a set of motivational tapes and a challenge. Echols said the tapes changed his life and as a result of listening to Zig Ziglar and his teaching, Tim set a goal to be a statewide elected official.
 Shortly after graduating from UGA, Tim and his wife Windy founded TeenPact, a training experience for conservative high school students. The program began at the Georgia Capitol and now operates in all 50 states, having trained 60,000 students. After building TeenPact, Echols ran for and was elected to statewide office in 2010 serving as Public Service Commissioner.
The PSC's primary job is energy regulation. When Echols took office, Georgia was 34th in solar power. Now, the state is 9th in the nation for installed solar. In 2020, Conservatives for Clean Energy dubbed Echols the "Solar Architect of Georgia." Georgia will be 4th in installed solar by 2024.
Echols has also created the Clean Energy Roadshow that has traveled the state every summer for the last eleven years. This educational event travels to cities around the state helping commuters, businesses and municipal governments evaluate alternative fuel for their transportation and residential use.
Tim authored the December 2017 motion to keep Plant Vogtle moving forward. He believes carbon-free nuclear energy plus solar is the way forward for Georgia. He has represented the United States at the World Nuclear Exhibition for the last eight years.
Tim has tried to lead by example. He added solar hot water heating to his Athens home just before being sworn in. He bought a natural gas car, a propane van and now owns an electric car. Tim also led the effort to provide the Salvation Army and two other agencies with $5 million to help low income seniors in Atlanta with heating assistance. That program continues today. Tim created a pilot program to provide specially equipped IPADS to the hearing impaired to help them function more productively. Tim also led the PSC to increase the number of pediatric hearing aids in a program the PSC oversees.
Most recently, Tim rallied donors and the solar community to build and donate to the Hog Hammock Foundation a 16-panel solar pavilion for the community library on the remote island off Georgia’s coast. Sapelo is the home of one of the last remaining Gullah Geechee communities and this array provides free electricity to the library for the next 30 years. With help from YellaWood, Southern Current and EDF Renewables, Echols led the way to build this lasting asset.
Tim also has been at the forefront in fighting human sex trafficking. He created the "Unholy Tour" that helps policy makers see first-hand the harms of human trafficking. As a part of his efforts to educate the public about the harms of trafficking, Echols created the Wilberforce Fellowship that meets once per year at Jackson Lake in Newton County. Tim and Judge Tim Batten head up this effort.
Tim has a weekly radio show called Energy Matters airing on Cox Media Group and in four other Georgia media markets.
Tim most recently finished up a historical fiction book about the founding of the Jekyll Island Club entitled “Jean Marc of Jekyll.” The book is about the power of remarkable friendships.
Tim and his wife, Windy, have been married 39 years and they have seven children. He has 3 degrees from the University of Georgia and lives in Hoschton, Georgia.
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October 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
22-Oct |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| O'Neill, Lin |
O'Neill, Michael Paul |
19-Oct |
|
|
| Bowling, Becky |
Bowling, John |
20-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
10/18/2005 |
17 |
|
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
10/21/2008 |
14 |
|
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
10/22/2009 |
13 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
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This Week: Insurance and Safety Fire CommissionerThis week, we are proud to host another state official for our weekly meeting. We'll be hearing from John F. King, Georgia's Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. He holds the distinction of being the first Hispanic statewide official in Georgia history, and was sworn into office July 1, 2019.
Before becoming Doraville Chief of Police, Commissioner King served the Department in many capacities, including as a Detective and Deputy Chief over enforcement operations. Prior to that, Commissioner King was an Atlanta police officer beginning in 1985. While at the Atlanta Police Department, he worked various assignments including Red Dog, Organized Crime/Intelligence. Commissioner King’s career also includes assignments to both FBI and DEA as a Task Force Agent. In 1987, while at the Atlanta Police Department, King received the Chief’s Blue Star for being injured in the line of duty as a result of criminal attack with a firearm.
A native of Mexico, King made a meaningful impact by building bridges among Doraville’s diverse populations and implementing youth education and crime-prevention programs in his role as Chief of Police. Recognizing the international composition of Doraville’s community, King made it a priority to hire bilingual police officers, place multiple languages on police cars, and ensure effective translators and public defenders were employed at the City Courthouse. Commissioner King’s initiatives include Anti-Gang education programs for elementary school students and parents. He worked with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to establish an education program for prospective small business entrepreneurs and worked with state, county, and local leaders to implement a safety and speed reduction program targeted to Buford Highway to reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities. Commissioner King is also a member of Leadership DeKalb.
In addition to his former roles in the Atlanta and Doraville Police Departments, King serves as a Major General in the U.S. Army National Guard assigned to NORAD and U.S. Northern Command. King was the former Commander of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and has deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He served as the Military Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Interior for Security for Afghanistan, who oversaw an agency of over 96,000 police officers. Commissioner King has won many awards for military and public services, including the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal, and a NATO award for his service in both Bosnia and Afghanistan, among others. He also received the El Salvador gold medal for achievement in 2006.
King received his Bachelor’s of Arts degree in criminal justice and public administration from Brenau University and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Commissioner King was a graduate of class #229 in the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA, and a graduate of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange program to Israel (GILEE).
Commissioner King is also fluent in Spanish.
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Meeting Recap: The Chamber and The CityLast week was a busy meeting! Our annual golf tournament is coming up on October 11th, which should be perfect weather for golf! There are still spots open to sign up to play or to sponsor. Money raised will go towards funding scholarships for local students. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Jason Parker. Next up, we had a double header with two leaders in our community joining us, City Administrator, Andrew Parker and CEO of the Dalton Chamber of Commerce, Jason Mock.
Jason found his passion for politics while in college at West Georgia. That passion led him to being involved in multiple campaigns for senators, congressmen and secretary of states. That journey led him to working with the President and CEO of Forsyth County where he learned what a Chamber should really look like. Jason accepted a job with the San Marcos, Texas Chamber where he was for five and a half years before coming to Dalton. Jason and his family have not been in the Dalton area for very long, but already are seeing what a special place it is to live and to raise a family. With that, the mission of the chamber, summed up is to help grow our community and to show people that they can live, work, and play here for generations to come. The Dalton Chamber is a 5-star accredited chamber, which is the highest rating the organization can have, and an award that only twelve other chambers in the state of Georgia can claim. Jason has a great group of people working with him at the Chamber, as well as partners in the community. They have a great strategic plan and a passion for success. Through their efforts and the efforts of us as residents, we can continue to experience a re-birth of Dalton and see it be a place that families and businesses want to move to and stay in. Thank you, Jason!
Our next speaker is Dalton’s City Administrator, Andrew Parker. Andrew has worked for the City of Dalton since 2010 serving in various roles. Andrew’s goal, similar to Jason’s, is to make Dalton a premier city to live, work, and play. He and his team keep this goal in mind when planning projects for the city. A huge project for the city has been the Summer Concert Series held in Burr Park. The Downtown Development Authority estimates that over 60,000 people have come through Burr Park so far this year, with more events to come in the rest of the year. Other projects that Andrew is working on include the blight abatement program to demolish abandoned buildings, continuing vaccinations at the Convention Center, building multiple FIFA regulated soccer fields throughout Dalton, and building an aquatics center that can be used year-round. Andrew and his team are hard at work striving to achieve their goal of making Dalton better!
Both Jason and Andrew have a passion for our community and are trying to make a difference in all of our lives, whether we notice it or not. Dalton would not be where it is today with these two leaders, their staff, and our community members. It will take all of us coming together to truly make a difference. Thank you, Jason and Andrew for your leadership and for speaking to our club!
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This Week: Secretary of StateMonday, September 26, 2022 By Alex C Brown This week, we're excited to welcome Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger. He will be speaking to our club about the importance of voting and ethics. After the 2020 presidential election, his team hand counted more than 5 million votes. The vote count and audit confirmed the result that Joe Biden won the state of Georgia's electoral votes.
Secretary Raffensperger is the CEO and owner of Tendon Systems, LLC. Tendon is a specialty contracting and engineering design firm with nearly 150 employees. The firm has operated in 35 different states. Raffensperger also owns and operates a specialty steel manufacturing plant based in Forsyth County. Additionally, he served two terms in the Georgia General Assembly from 2015-2019.
Brad Raffensperger earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Western University and was awarded his MBA from Georgia State University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in over 30 states.
Brad and his wife, Tricia, have been married for 42 years and live in Johns Creek. Brad is a member of North Point Community Church.
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September 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
7-Sep |
|
|
|
| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
7-Sep |
|
|
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| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
9-Sep |
|
|
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. (ROY) |
10-Sep |
|
|
|
| Maton, Carla E (CARLA) |
10-Sep |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Pennington, Pamela |
Pennington, David E. |
6-Sep |
|
|
| Adamson, Zach |
Adamson, Anna Y |
10-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
9/11/2018 |
4 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
Hope |
7-Sep |
20 |
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
Teresa |
10-Sep |
45 |
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
Julie |
12-Sep |
51 |
|
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August 30th, 2022
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August 16th, 2022
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August 2nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
2-Aug |
|
|
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
2-Aug |
|
|
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
7-Aug |
|
|
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
8-Aug |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri (CHERRI) |
Robertson, Ricky N |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Chandler, Susan |
Chandler, Robert M. |
4-Aug |
|
|
| Mock, Katie |
Mock, Jason T |
4-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
Bennieta |
6-Aug |
67 |
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
Lamar |
7-Aug |
57 |
|
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
Gretchen |
8-Aug |
36 |
|
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Meeting Recap: Keeping Dalton-Whitfield BeautifulLast week’s speaker was Amy Hartline-Smith, Executive Director of Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful. Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is a non-profit dedicated to creating a vibrant community by empowering individuals to take greater responsibility for their local environment. Amy spoke to us on the work that KDWB is doing to empower Whitfield Country residents.
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The Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is a non-profit supported by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority. Amy is the only employee, where she works with a board of directors and volunteers. KDWB’s work is focused on four pillars: litter prevention, beautification, sustainability, and water protection. Their main focus is empowering residents to take action in these areas. Litter prevention can be the biggest resident facing issue. Heavily littered areas can decrease property value, decrease tourism and community pride, and in some cases show an increase in crime. Every few years, the KDWB hosts a litter enforcement workshop for the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office and Dalton City Police Department to teach them the practical use of litter laws and how to enforce them. Other programs include a litter grabber loaner program where you can use a litter grabber and a bag to collect trash, principal for a day challenge in the schools, and the adopt a mile program which businesses or families can commit to four times a year clean up along their adopted mile. There are 190 miles in Dalton and only 13 miles are currently adopted. Recently, the group has began to add banners to trash cans at local parks to try and attract people to trash cans. They did a litter study before and after implementation and found a 52% reduction in litter once the banners were added. Not only do we want our trash cans to be beautiful, as residents it is important to us that our community is beautiful as well. KDWB understands this and is why beautification is also one of their pillars. In beautified areas, you are more apt to spend time outdoors which can impact your physical and emotional health. Each month a homeowner is awarded the yard of the month award which includes a gift card to Fiddleheads. They also award beautification grants, clean graffiti, give away plant seeds, and try to plant native plants to attract pollination. It is also important that we are taking care of our environment for generations to come through sustainable actions. They provide information in English and Spanish on the benefits of recycling and what can be recycled, host composting classes, and have even built art structures out of reclaimed metal and recycled plastic. The final pillar that Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful focuses on is water protection. We are fortunate that the Conasauga River flows through parts of Whitfield and Murray County. This river is one of the most bio-diverse rivers in North America with hundreds of different animal species, including protected species. Litter and trash can hurt these animals and eventually can make its way down to the ocean. Each year they host a clean up of parts of the river. Members from our club have participated in these clean ups in the past. Through all of these great programs and initiatives, in 2021 alone they picked up over 15,000 pounds of litter, gave out 5 beautification grants, reclaimed 5,000 pounds of steel, and recycled almost 4,000 pounds of electronics!
As you can see, KDWB is making an impact in our community for today’s residents and future. If you are interested in getting involved, you can follow them on social media and be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities and other ways to help.
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July 19th, 2022
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This Week: Keep Dalton-Whitfield BeautifulWe can all agree that Dalton and Whitfield County are a beautiful place to live. This week, we're going to hear from one of the people who is in charge of keeping things clean, green, and beautiful in our community.
Amy Hartline-Smith is the executive director of Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, a non-profit supported by the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority. Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful is the local affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful program dedicated to creating a vibrant community by engaging all of us to take greater responsibility for our local environment. The organization's board members and volunteers all focus on activities to promote litter prevention, beautification, sustainability, and water protection. Amy is also a prospective member of our club, so let's give her a warm welcome!
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July 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
|
|
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
|
|
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| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
14-Jul |
|
|
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| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
14-Jul |
|
|
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| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
14-Jul |
|
|
|
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr. (JOHN) |
18-Jul |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Kinard, Bob |
Kinard, Dixie |
13-Jul |
|
|
| Townsend, Teresa |
Townsend, Patrick J. |
15-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
Terri |
15-Jul |
50 |
|
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
Marilyn |
15-Jul |
55 |
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
Annelle |
17-Jul |
22 |
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This Week: Passing The TorchIt's the final meeting of Smitty Barnett's term as our president, which means it's time to look back. In his final meeting in charge, President Smitty will present his thoughts on the year in review and also some thoughts on the years to come for our club.
There will be no meeting next week as the club will be closed on Tuesday, July 5th.
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This Week: Rotary Youth Leadership Academy
This week, we're hearing from some of our community's bright students about their experiences with the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy. Caitlyn Robertson (Southeast Whitfield), Olivia Beavers (Christian Heritage), Ayda Hernandez (Dalton Academy) will tell us about their time with the RYLA this year and the positive effect it's had to help with the development of their leadership skills.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
June 28: Smitty Barnett- Final Meeting as President- Rotary Year in Review- Where we've been and where we're headed.
July 5: No Meeting, Club closed
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June 7th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
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| Croft, Brian C (BRIAN) |
9-Jun |
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| Sanders, Drayton M II (DRAYTON) |
13-Jun |
|
|
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Little, Billie |
Little, William Norris Sr. |
13-Jun |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
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|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
Agnes (AGNES) |
7-Jun |
14 |
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
Brenda |
8-Jun |
59 |
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
Jimmy |
8-Jun |
37 |
|
| Croft, Brian C (BRIAN) |
Michelle |
9-Jun |
4 |
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
Dianne |
10-Jun |
55 |
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
Elizabeth (LIZZY) |
11-Jun |
5 |
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
Pamela |
11-Jun |
45 |
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May 31st, 2022
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May 17th, 2022
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May 10th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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|
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
12-May |
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|
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| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
13-May |
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|
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| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
14-May |
|
|
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| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
15-May |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Blevins, David |
Blevins, Sheri H. |
15-May |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
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|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
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Upcoming Meetings
May 10th - 5th Grade Service Above Self Program with selected elementary school students
May 17th - Rotary Club High School Scholarship Presentations
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This Week: GRSP Student - Final Presentation
This week we're continuing with a theme of education that we started last week with the ESPLOST presentation as we hear our final presentation from this year's GRSP student, Philip Forsberg. We're looking forward to hearing more about his experiences and what he's learned!
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Upcoming Meetings (3/28)
April 5th - Dr. Drayton Sanders - Retired physician on his time spent in Ukraine
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March 29th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
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|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Caperton, Elizabeth (LIZZY) |
Caperton, Robert William Jr. |
1-Apr |
|
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| Ridley, Hope |
Ridley, Rusty |
1-Apr |
|
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| Hogshead, Carolyn |
Hogshead, Frank M. |
2-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
3/30/2010 |
12 |
|
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| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
4/1/1989 |
33 |
|
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| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
4/1/2008 |
14 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
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March 22nd, 2022
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This Week: Jonathan's House MinistriesThis week's speaker will be Amanda Bartley, the president and program director for Jonathan's House Ministries. This important outreach is focused on helping young adults who have aged out of the foster care system and also at-risk families. The organization's mission statement is, "to provide young adults that have aged out of foster care or at-risk families the opportunity to become the best version of themselves that they can be by partnering with them to provide physical, emotional and Financial Support in gaining life skills that will aid them in becoming independent, productive members of our society."
Amanda Bartley
According to their website, jonathanshouseministries.org, the organization uses a screening process to identify young adults and families who have aged out of the system who are in need and then pairs them with families in the community who can help them in learning and growing while monitoring and incentivizing progress and hard work. We're looking forward to learning more about the important work Jonathan's House is doing in our community.
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March 8th, 2022
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Order In The Court! Our speaker this week is Georgia Supreme Court Justice Charlie Bethel. Justice Bethel is serving his first full six year term on the court, having been appointed to the state bench in 2018 and elected to a full term in 2020. He previously served on the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Justice Bethel is certainly a familiar face here in Dalton. Born in Athens, he was raised here in the Carpet Capital, graduating from Dalton High School in 1994. He then earned both his bachelor's in business and his law degree from the University of Georgia.
Justice Bethel served as a law clerk for Justice Charles A. Pannell, Jr. on the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia after school before returning home to Dalton. He practiced law with Minor Bell & Neal (now known as The Minor Firm) and spent a decade working in the flooring industry in executive and legal capacities with J&J Industries
Justice Bethel was elected to the Dalton City Council, and later served in Atlanta as our state senator. Among the high points of his legislative service, Justice Bethel counts his successful carriage of comprehensive juvenile justice reform legislation and autism insurance reform (commonly referred to as “Ava’s Law”) legislation.
Justice Bethel and his wife, Lynsey, have three children; Henry, Jeb, and Joanna. Lynsey earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia. The Bethel family attends the First Baptist Church of Dalton. Charlie is active in the community having served in various leadership positions with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, United Way, and the Dalton Rotary Club among others. Justice Bethel has served as a volunteer coach for many seasons in various youth sports for the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department. He and Lynsey are members of the 2013 class of Leadership Georgia.
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Meeting Recap: Fireside ChatLast week we were joined by author and speaker, Patrick Galvin, for a virtual fireside chat. Patrick is an accomplished presenter, TEDx speaker, author, and coach. He is the co-founder of The Galvanizing Group where he helps companies and teams grow bottom line results through better internal and external relationships. After graduating from Georgetown University, he received a Rotary International Scholarship for postgraduate studies, an opportunity that would begin his Rotary journey. Today, he is an active member of the Rotary Club of Portland, Oregon where he has served in various leadership positions, including the club’s Charitable Trust Board, Travel Fellowship and Membership Engagement Committees. Patrick was a featured speaker at the 2015 Rotary International Convention in São Paulo, Brazil.
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We were given copies of Patrick’s book, The Trusted Way, which was inspired by the Four-Way Test. Patrick shared where the inspiration for the book came from and why he thinks it is important for us all to be ambassadors of the Four-Way Test. Patrick shared with us the history of why the Four-Way Test was created. In 1932, Rotarian Herbert Taylor was asked to take charge of a company facing bankruptcy due to unethical decisions. Herbert realized if the company was going to survive, they needed an ethical standard to follow. The Four-Way Test we recite today is the same one that Herbert used to save his company in 1932. The Four-Way Test has stood the test of time and proves to be an invaluable resource to us. The question format of the Four-Way Test allows us to ask ourselves the questions when faced with an ethical dilemma to come to the right course of action. Patrick has a similar story of a time when he could have used the Four-Way Test to make a decision. Twenty years ago, when Patrick was first starting his business, he was approached by a company that was willing to give him a lot of money. The company supplied unethical studies about their product that didn’t sit right with Patrick. After thinking it over for longer than he’d like to admit, Patrick finally concluded it wasn’t the right decision to move forward. Had Patrick been familiar with the Four-Way Test at the time he could have applied that thinking and come to a much quicker decision.
By sharing his story, Patrick hopes to shine a new light on the Four-Way Test. He believes this ethical standard is imperative not only for Rotarians to live by but would be beneficial for our society today. By each of us being an ambassador for the Four-Way test we can begin to lead by example and apply these standards to all aspects of our lives.
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February 8th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
12-Feb |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Brunson, Cindy |
Brunson, Kevin M. |
8-Feb |
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| Henson, Jean |
Henson, Paul E. Jr. |
14-Feb |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
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This Week: Ross Woods
This week, we're going to hear about RossWoods adult day services. Our speaker will be Carlene Mutter, who is executive director of the center.
According to their website, RossWoods, Inc. is a community supported non-profit corporation located in Dalton. The center has been in operation since 1997 as a department of Hamilton Medical Center. In October 2009, the organization officially became RossWoods Adult Day Services and then moved into a new building located on the same grounds.
RossWoods provides safety, nursing care, personal care services, and therapeutic activity programs during the day in a homelike setting. Each day participants enjoy socialization and life-enriching programs while being in a caring atmosphere.
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January 4th, 2021
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December 13th, 2021
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December 14th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
14-Dec |
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| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. (MAURICE) |
17-Dec |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Poehlman, Sally |
Poehlman, John H. |
17-Dec |
|
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| Barnett, Tammy |
Barnett, George S. |
18-Dec |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
12/17/2013 |
8 |
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|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
Dell |
18-Dec |
50 |
|
|
Meeting Recap: Jevin Jensen and County BusinessPresident Smitty opened the meeting and introduced Jevin Jensen as the week's speaker. Jevin and his wife, Mae, have lived in Whitfield County for over 21 years and they own the Ace Hardware in Varnell. Thanks to amazing customers and dedicated employees, sales have grown by over 300% since remodeling the original store four years ago. Jevin serves as Vice President of Research for IDC, where he conducts research and publishes his findings to clients such as Google, IBM, Amazon, Dell, and Microsoft. He also advises venture capital firms on mergers and acquisitions. Jevin is Whitfield County's Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, where he was sworn in on January 1st.
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Jevin shared with us the Commissioners’ vision, strategy and the progress made this year towards those goals. In planning for 2021 he and his fellow Commissioners adopted the mission statement, "provide quality service at a cost our citizens can afford." They also came up with five strategic objectives for 2021: upgrade Commissioner’s meeting and make it easier for citizens to attend, modernize government, renew focus on better paying jobs, lower residential property tax, and improve the city and county relationship.
It takes participation and ownership from all citizens of the county to achieve this mission statement and objectives. Jevin shared with us what he calls the “feedback loop.” Citizens provide their opinions and it’s the Commissioners job to determine the vision and make decisions on what to do, then of course they cannot do anything without the help of the county employees making it all happen. Jevin related his work on the Board to his store and the importance of providing great customer service. To help employee satisfaction and engagement, they helped employees set goals and had regular performance reviews, negotiated the prescription drug program, and started training programs for first responders to earn better pay.
Coming to the end of the year, Jevin gave some updates on how they have done on these five goals and the projects they are looking to wrap up and/or start in 2022. They were successful in upgrading the Commissioners meetings through moving to a new facility and providing each Commissioner with a microphone. With these changes they were able to increase their viewers by 60-70 to an average of 100 views via Facebook each meeting. A modern government is a continuous project, however they implemented new video systems for the judges and sheriffs, continuing to work on digitizing documents with the courthouse so they can be looked up 24/7 online, and continuing to work with public defenders to digitize their cases. The city and county relationship is ongoing but they were able to work together this year to provide Covid testing and vaccinations and are working together with fire and ambulances. In 2021 the county had four major construction projects that they are looking to wrap up in early 2022. These include Riverbend Park, adding restrooms to Rocky Face Ridge Park, Courthouse, and the animal shelter. Using part of the American Recovery Funds, they have improved sewers, upgraded HVAC systems to remove bacteria, improved broadband access, continue to work with the local library, and surveying employees to get their opinions on projects.
Whitfield County is lucky to have great leaders such as Jevin and the rest of the Commissioners. We hope all the improvements and projects will allow current and future residents and employees to realize just how special of a place Dalton, Georgia is. We cannot wait to see the growth in our county and city.
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This Week: Civics Education In GeorgiaWe hope that everyone had a happy and restful Thanksgiving holiday! We're back for our usual Tuesday afternoon lunch at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and our featured speaker will be discussing something very important in the modern day: civics education. Our speaker is Dr. Randell Trammell, the CEO of the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement.
Dr. Trammell has long been involved youth development. He holds an undergraduate degree in Religious Education as well as a Master in Business Administration from Reinhardt University. In 2014, he completed his Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in organizational leadership and communication. That same year, after seeing a dire need for resources and support in the area of civics education in Georgia, he developed the concept of the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement. In 2017, Dr. Trammell officially launched the Center as a 501c3 nonprofit becoming our founder and President & Chief Executive Officer.
In October 2021, Dr. Trammell was recognized as one of Georgia Business Trend's "40 Under 40" award, which honors the state’s best and brightest leaders.
Dr. Trammell is a visionary and passionate leader who is nationally recognized in youth civic education and development. He is also active as a volunteer with many organizations.
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This Week: Northwestern GA Technical CollegeThis week's guest is Dr. Heidi Popham, the president of Northwestern Georgia Technical College. Dr. Popham was promoted into that role in the summer of 2019 after serving the college for more than two decades. Her career at the college began when she was hired as the Executive Assistant to the President. Since then, Popham gained significant leadership experience having held positions as Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, and as Executive Vice President before taking over the top job.
Dr. Popham holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Covenant College, a Master of Education degree from the University of Georgia, and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Georgia.
As always we will be meeting at the Dalton Golf and Country Club for lunch, and for those unable to attend in person the meeting will be streamed online. To join us virtually, click here: Click here to join the meeting
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November 9th, 2021
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This Week: David Aft
At this week's lunch, we'll be hearing from David Aft, the president of the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia. The foundation is involved with a lot of important work in our community and David will tell us some of the things they're doing to make Dalton and Whitfield County an even greater place to live.
David has worked in the nonprofit field for over twenty five years and has lived in Northwest Georgia since 1996. Aft is a recognized resource and noted speaker on charitable enterprise, civics, fundraising strategy and community development. He is a graduate of the Florida State University School of Social Work where he earned a masters degree in social work in 1987.
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October 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
10/26/1999 |
22 |
|
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
10/29/1996 |
25 |
|
|
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
11/1/1989 |
32 |
|
|
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
11/1/1978 |
43 |
|
|
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
11/1/1980 |
41 |
|
|
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
11/1/1981 |
40 |
|
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
11/1/1982 |
39 |
|
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
11/1/1985 |
36 |
|
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
11/1/1972 |
49 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
Roger |
30-Oct |
22 |
|
|
October 19th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
22-Oct |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| O'Neill, Lin |
O'Neill, Michael Paul |
19-Oct |
|
|
| Bowling, Becky |
Bowling, John |
20-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
10/21/2008 |
13 |
|
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
10/22/2009 |
12 |
|
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
10/25/2016 |
5 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
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October 12th, 2021
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This Week: The JA Discovery Center
This week, we'll be meeting on the campus of the new Hammond Creek Middle School at the new Junior Achievement Discovery Center. This impressive facility is gives students in 13 school districts and 13,500 middle school students in Northwest Georgia the opportunity to learn about finances and business and experience their futures through simulations in the JA Finance Park and JA Biz Town. We'll get a chance to tour the facility and learn about everything they're doing to guide our youth.
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September 28th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
29-Sep |
|
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2-Oct |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
9/30/2014 |
7 |
|
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
9/30/2014 |
7 |
|
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
10/1/2013 |
8 |
|
|
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
10/1/2013 |
8 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
Alex |
28-Sep |
30 |
|
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
Calli |
4-Oct |
7 |
|
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This Week: STEM At Dalton State And Our CommunityThis week, we'll be looking at STEM education - that's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Our guests are the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Dalton State College, Dr. Randall Griffus and his colleague Dr. John Lugthart, the Shaw Industries Chair in STEM at Dalton State. They'll be discussing the college's efforts to promote STEM education in our community.
As usual, for those of you who are unable to join us in person at the Dalton Golf and Country Club, we'll be streaming the meeting online. Here's the link: Click here to join the meeting
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September 21st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
22-Sep |
|
|
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
22-Sep |
|
|
|
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
25-Sep |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Payne, Angelina |
Payne, Charles F Jr. |
22-Sep |
|
|
| Parker, April (APRIL) |
Parker, Hoyt Jason |
24-Sep |
|
|
| Mixer, Kimberly |
Mixer, Mark S |
25-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
9/23/2014 |
7 |
|
|
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
9/24/2013 |
8 |
|
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
9/27/2011 |
10 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
John |
23-Sep |
60 |
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
Robyn |
26-Sep |
14 |
|
|
|
September 14th, 2021
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September 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
29-Sep |
|
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2-Oct |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler(KATHRYN) |
9/27/2011 |
12 |
|
|
| Kiker, Janice F.(JANICE) |
9/30/2014 |
9 |
|
|
| Jones, Miller T.(MILLER) |
9/30/2014 |
9 |
|
|
| Bundros, Thomas A(TOM) |
10/1/2013 |
10 |
|
|
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan(BRYAN) |
10/1/2013 |
10 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Scott, Tim(TIM) |
Robyn |
26-Sep |
16 |
|
| Chambliss, Darla P(DARLA) |
Alex |
28-Sep |
32 |
|
|
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This Week: Antarctic Adventures
This week's presentation should be a fun one! We'll be hearing from fellow Rotarian John Richmond, our On-to-Conference Chair who will be presenting on his recent trip to Antarctica. We'll get a chance to live vicariously through his adventures without needing a coat and gloves.
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This Week: Rotary Scholarship Program
This week's meeting is another one of the special events that we look forward to as a club each year: the Rotary Scholarship Program. We are thrilled to recognize some of Dalton and Whitfield County's best and brightest students and get a chance to honor the future leaders of our community. Smitty Barnett will be in charge of the meeting this week as President Alex is tied up with a work conflict. We're looking forward to meeting with you to honor and encourage some bright young students!
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May 2nd, 2023
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This Week: AI And The Future Of SalesMonday, April 17, 2023 By Alex C Brown This week, we'll be taking a look at the impact that artificial intelligence and machine learning can have on business sales with the help of our speaker Ricky Reynolds. He's the co-founder and CEO of AskForensics, a company that was also co-founded by former Mohawk commercial division president Al Kabus. AskForensics provides companies with objective, rich insights into why they win and lose sales and the health of existing accounts. AskForensics ask the questions their customers can’t and get the answers they need to win, retain, and grow. Rick's presentation will highlight some interesting thoughts about account health, AI, and Machine Learning. Additionally, Rick will Share the results he has seen with clients over the past 17 years.
Rick is the co-founder and CEO of AskForensics. He brings unrivaled expertise in business forensics to the team, having led thousands of investigations over a 25-year period for best-in-class Fortune 1000 corporations. Rick developed the model in the late 1980s when a venture capital firm asked him to evaluate the “lost prospects” of a company seeking additional investment. Following this initial project, Rick built a very successful business providing objective and in-depth lost sales, account, and prospect knowledge to major corporations like ADP, Bass Hotels, Hyatt, IBM, Promus, Randstadt, S.C. Johnson & Sons, Sodexo, Spherion, Sun Microsystems, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, and Xerox. The formation of AskForensics in 2004 took this process to a much higher and more strategic level. Rick’s expertise in sales, knowledge management, market research, and analysis has contributed toward building AskForensics into a world-class partner with major corporations to improve sales, retention, and financial results.
Rick is on the national board of the National Fragile X Foundation and served as a board member of Community Health Charities. He is also the Founder of the Reynolds Fragile X Fund at the Emory University School of Medicine. He holds an M.B.A. in Marketing from Georgia State University and a B.A. in Economics and History from Denison University.
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April 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
18-Apr |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bledsoe, Ginny |
Bledsoe, Jonathan L. |
21-Apr |
|
|
| Brantley, Tray |
Brantley, Valerie K |
22-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Myers, Jeffrey Donald(JEFFREY) |
4/19/2005 |
18 |
|
|
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
4/24/2012 |
11 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Kinard, Dixie(DIXIE) |
Bob |
19-Apr |
54 |
|
| Kinard, Robert W(ROBERT) |
Dixie |
19-Apr |
54 |
|
|
April 4th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
Cindy |
8-Apr |
23 |
|
|
March 28th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Caperton, Elizabeth (LIZZY) |
Caperton, Robert William Jr. |
1-Apr |
|
|
| Ridley, Hope |
Ridley, Rusty |
1-Apr |
|
|
| Hogshead, Carolyn |
Hogshead, Frank M. |
2-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
3/30/2010 |
13 |
|
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
4/1/1989 |
34 |
|
|
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
4/1/2008 |
15 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
This Week: The Savoy Automobile MuseumYou'll definitely want to cruise in for our weekly Rotary Club lunch this week. Our speaker is Tom Shinall, the director of development for the Savoy Automobile Museum. The museum in Cartersville features rotating exhibits that showcase the beauty and history of the automobile. Visitors are greeted by works of art and an assortment of classic cars.
Tom is a sixth-generation Shinall to call Bartow County, Georgia home. Tom is a 2007 graduate of Kennesaw State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Communication. In 2002, Tom co-founded The TC Show, a DJ Service and Entertainment Group, which in 2012 was named the Cartersville-Bartow County Small Business of the Year. Beyond his entrepreneurial enterprise, Tom’s work background includes time as a special event coordinator for a local children's charity, a national sales executive, sports broadcasting, and a radio personality. In 2012, he earned the title of Director of Marketing at Booth Western Art Museum, and in 2018, he was named Director of Development at Savoy Automobile Museum. Tom enjoys cooking, sports, traveling, and working around the family farm in his spare time with his wife, Elizabeth, and two boys, Walter and Samuel.
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February 28th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Norris, Calli |
Norris, Bradley B |
28-Feb |
|
|
| Johnson, Pat |
Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. |
1-Mar |
|
|
| Wright, Joanne |
Wright, Thomas L |
3-Mar |
|
|
| Bowen, Ann |
Bowen, William C. III |
5-Mar |
|
|
| Pierce, Lamar |
Pierce, Sara C. |
5-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
3/1/1988 |
35 |
|
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
3/1/1976 |
47 |
|
|
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
3/1/1975 |
48 |
|
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
3/1/1994 |
29 |
|
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr.(JUDSON) |
3/3/1964 |
59 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
Meeting Recap: Gowin Valley FarmsLast week we were joined by entrepreneurs and owners of Gowin Valley Farms, Emma Reigel and Gabriel Harrison. Gowin Valley Farms is a gourmet mushroom farm that seeks to create easier access to local, fresh vegetables, fruits, and mushrooms to help their community have a healthier, more natural lifestyle. A Dalton native, Emma grew up on the land she and Gabe now farm together and is ecstatic to be carrying on the legacy of her grandparents. Growing up, Emma would tell her grandfather that she wanted to run the farm one day, which back then was a vegetable and horse farm. When the pandemic hit, both Emma and Gabe, living in Atlanta at the time, were faced with layoffs. Together, they decided to return to Dalton and run the farm. They unearthed a passion within themselves for farming mushrooms! Emma and Gabe did a fantastic presentation on where they started and where they are today.
Gowin Valley Farms naturally has golden chanterelle mushrooms, which Emma’s grandfather taught her about. These mushrooms are a delicacy in France and thrive in mossy areas of southern facing hills. Through her grandfather’s encouragement and learning more about mushrooms, Emma and Gabe became certified with mushrooms. After hearing from someone in the community, they decided to apply for a grant through Kennesaw State University for their USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant. Their farm was the fourth and final farm to be awarded this grant. They started out growing mushrooms in small tents and are now being beta testers for Kennesaw’s 40ft shipping container that is retrofitted with technology to allow mushrooms to thrive in a sterile environment. Currently they are growing between ten and twelve species of mushrooms in the shipping container.
Gabe cleared up some common misconceptions of mushrooms and gave examples of how to tell if a mushroom is safe for consumption or not. We also learned the nutritional value of mushrooms and that they are super vitamin and nutrient rich. A great combo to have in our diet! Emma has a passion for local farming and providing consumers with farm to table ingredients. Currently, in the U.S., a lot of mushrooms are imported from out of the country and 90% of mushrooms grown in the U.S. are grown in America. Gowin Valley Farms, along with their partnership with Kennesaw State University strive to change this pattern. They are able to source their mushrooms to restaurants in Dalton and Chattanooga to use in their dishes. Restaurants that have served their mushrooms include Real Food Co., restaurants at the Edwin Hotel, The Gallant Goat, and more! The farm continues to do research and development with the help of local interns with a passion for mycology.
Our club has heard time and time again that Dalton is a hub for entrepreneurs and today was yet another example of why that is true. Emma and Gabe are exploring their passion every day and a goal to educate and better our community through their farm! It was a great presentation and we look forward to hosting Emma and Gabe again soon – and trying their mushrooms!
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February 14th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr. (ROBERT) |
15-Feb |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Henson, Jean |
Henson, Paul E. Jr. |
14-Feb |
|
|
| Denson, Andrea |
Denson, Jason B |
16-Feb |
|
|
| Chambliss, Alex |
Chambliss, Darla P |
18-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
2/15/2000 |
23 |
|
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
2/20/2007 |
16 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
|
This Week: A Lunchtime BBQ
This week, we don't have a speaker scheduled for our meeting. Instead, we'll be having a backyard BBQ themed lunch with hot dogs and hamburgers and plenty of time to catch up with our Rotary friends. We'll see you at noon!
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February 7th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
12-Feb |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Adcock, Diane |
Adcock, Don W. |
7-Feb |
|
|
| Brunson, Cindy |
Brunson, Kevin M. |
8-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Metcalf, David W (DAVID) |
2/8/2022 |
1 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
January 31st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Weaver, Virginia |
Weaver, William B |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Barnwell, Delle |
Barnwell, William L |
2-Feb |
|
|
| McKenzie, Jimmy |
McKenzie, Sandra D |
6-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
2/1/1989 |
34 |
|
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
2/1/1996 |
27 |
|
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
2/1/1981 |
42 |
|
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
2/1/1979 |
44 |
|
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
2/1/1996 |
27 |
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2/1/1972 |
51 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
|
This Week: Mercer President William D. Underwood
This week's speaker is William D. Underwood, the president of Mercer University. Since he took office as Mercer's 18th president in 2006, the university has experienced a dynamic period of growth with enrollment increasing by more than 25 percent to more than 9,000 students. Mercer has launched second and third medical school campuses in Savannah and Columbus, and it has launched a master's-level physician assistant program and a doctoral-level physical therapy program. The school has also added Ph. D. programs in clinical psychology, nursing, counseling, community medicine, educational leadership, and curriculum and instruction.
U.S. News and World Report ranks Mercer today among the top tier of national research universities. In the past decade, the number of Ph. D. candidates at Mercer has increased sevenfold from fewer than 35 to more than 250. The school has seen increased levels of funding for research from nationally respected groups and it has been named among the 35 leading institutions nationally for undergraduate research. In 2015, Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious honor society, awarded Mercer a chapter which places the university in a cohort of the nation's most respected academic institutions.
Under Underwood's leadership, Mercer has also intensified its longstanding commitment to service based learning and community engagement. The school's College Hill Corridor initiative is revitalizing a two mile area between Mercer's campus and downtown Macon. It is supported by more than $7 million in funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and has won international awards for community redevelopment while leveraging more than $200 million in public-private investment. The school's Mercer on Mission program, launched in 2007, has been recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative. Mercer earned placement on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition for community engagement. Mercer is the first university in Georgia to receive the Carnegie Foundation's designation for "curricular engagement and outreach partnerships."
During Underwood's tenure as president, Mercer students have reached new levels of achievement. In the 2020-21 academic year, five students won prestigious Fulbright Scholarships, three engineering students were named Goldwater Scholars, and 12 students received appointments to the Peace Corps. 36 students were admitted to Phi Beta Kappa. One student was a finalist to be named a Rhodes Scholar, and another was a finalist for the Truman Scholarship. Nearly 75 percent of students entering in 2014 remained to graduate, one of the highest graduation retention rates in the southeast.
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This Week: Junior Achievement And Dalton's Future
This week's presentation will be from a familiar face to business leaders in Dalton. Anna Adamson, Junior Achievements' Director of Development for Northwest Georgia will join us to talk about the work that JA is doing in our community to prepare the leaders of tomorrow and also how they are expanding their programs. The new JA Discovery Center at Hammond Creek is an amazing asset for our community and they need volunteers to come help students find their way through Biz Town.
Anna will be joined by program associate Caroline Frost from Junior Achievement.
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Meeting Recap: An Update From Senator PayneLast week we had the honor of hearing from our own, Senator Chuck Payne. Senator Payne was first elected to serve as the State Senator for the 54th district in January 2017. Senator Payne serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, Ex-Officio of the Senate Public Safety Committee, Secretary of the Senate Finance Committee, Secretary of the Senate Higher Education Committee and Secretary of the Senate State Institutions and Property Committee. Senator Payne also serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance Sub-Committee on issues pertaining to Ad Valorem Taxes. Prior to being elected to the senate, Payne served in the Army and later began his career with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Nine days after his retirement in 2016, he got the call to run for the Georgia State Senate.
Senator Payne calls it an honor to continue to serve his community. His goal in the Senate is to always serve the people of Whitfield, Murray, and Gordon Counties and to serve freedom. The Rotary motto, Service Above Self is one that Payne holds dear in every decision he makes. His father taught him from a young age that its not what we have to gain for ourselves, but rather about what we leave behind. He learned a lot from his father and is ultimately what led him to serve in the juvenile system. There, Chuck was able to mentor and guide kids as his own and show them that someone cares for their wellbeing and wants them to succeed. As a young soldier, Chuck learned about freedom and that freedom comes when we leave our want behind and chase hope. When groups of students are touring the capital, Senator Payne takes the opportunity to pass on civic lessons he learned from his father and to teach them word “prosperity” and compare to “want”. Prosperity was used in all of the writings from America’s founders but has declined ever since. However, “want” has been on the rise for decades. That, in Senator Payne’s mind, is what is wrong with our nation. Payne believes that we could fix so many things in our nation if we all had a heart fix and focused less on our wants.
The three months that Senator Payne and others spend in session in Atlanta are filled with looking out for the people of Georgia. Senator Payne is proud to have worked on Senate Bill 288. After challenges and setbacks, Senator Payne worked with Democratic senators to update the language of a current bill that otherwise may not have passed to create Senate Bill 288, aimed at justice reform. After review from both parties, the bill was passed! It was a great day in the Senate and a great step forward to see Republicans and Democrats working together for the good of our State. The Georgia Justice Project presented Senator Payne with an award which he is very proud of. President Alex mentioned that Senator Payne was the only Republican in history to ever get an award from that group! It is comforting to know that we have Senators like Chuck Payne working for us daily.
Being our state senator has been the greatest honor of Payne’s life and one he does not take lightly. He is grateful to know that his grandchildren will always know their grandfather played a part in Georgia’s history. We are grateful to have Senator Payne represent our district and look forward to what is accomplished in the upcoming session.
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November 21st, 2022
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This Week: Hamilton Health Care SystemHow's your health (care)? In Dalton, it's very good! This week, our speaker is Jeff Myers, the president and CEO of Hamilton Health Care System and Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, Georgia and has served in this role since 2010. He has also served as chairman of the board for Vizient Southern States, and is also a member of the Georgia Hospital Association Board of Trustees, Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Board, HealthOne Alliance Board, Alliant Health Plans Board, and Georgia Health Select Board. Jeff serves with local groups including Believe Greater Dalton Economic Development and the Dalton Rotary Club.
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Over the past couple of years, he has overseen the opening of the hospital’s Peeples Cancer Institute, the Anna Shaw Children’s Institute, and the establishment of Hamilton’s Cardiovascular Institute and residency programs for internal medicine and family medicine. Prior to serving as CEO at Hamilton, he was the CEO of HealthOne Alliance/Alliant Health Plans where he began one of the first clinically integrated networks in the state. Prior to that, he was a principal at the consulting firm Health Resource Group, Chief Operations Officer for United Healthcare of Georgia, and Vice President of Managed Care at Memorial Health in Savannah, Georgia. His first role in hospital administration was at Washington Hospital in Culver City, California which was owned by 65 physicians.
Jeff is married to Amanda Reed Myers. He enjoys spending time with his family which includes his three sons, one daughter, and three grandsons.
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Reminder: MEGA Christmas Raffle
It isn't even Halloween yet, but our MEGA Christmas Giveaway Raffle has already begun! Tickets for the raffle are 1 for $35, or 3 for $100. All of the money we raise will go to our scholarship program for local students. Over the past two years, the program has raised thousands of dollars for deserving students in our area.
Please see Ricky, Cherri, Jason Parker, or Alex for tickets!
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October 11th, 2022
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October 3rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
7-Oct |
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| Aft, David (DAVID) |
9-Oct |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Sutherland, Phyllis |
Sutherland, George W. |
5-Oct |
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| Scott, Robyn |
Scott, Tim |
7-Oct |
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| Griffin, Brenda |
Griffin, Ronald L |
8-Oct |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
10/6/2015 |
7 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
Calli |
4-Oct |
8 |
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| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
Sherry |
10-Oct |
35 |
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September 27th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
29-Sep |
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| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2-Oct |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
10/1/2013 |
9 |
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| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
10/1/2013 |
9 |
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| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
9/30/2014 |
8 |
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| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
9/30/2014 |
8 |
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| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
9/27/2011 |
11 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
Alex |
28-Sep |
31 |
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September 20th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
22-Sep |
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| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
22-Sep |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Payne, Angelina |
Payne, Charles F Jr. |
22-Sep |
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| Parker, April (APRIL) |
Parker, Hoyt Jason |
24-Sep |
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| Shults, Denise |
Shults, Stephen D |
25-Sep |
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| Mixer, Kimberly |
Mixer, Mark S |
25-Sep |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
9/20/2016 |
6 |
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| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
9/20/2016 |
6 |
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| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
9/20/2016 |
6 |
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| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
9/23/2014 |
8 |
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| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
9/24/2013 |
9 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
John |
23-Sep |
61 |
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| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
Robyn |
26-Sep |
15 |
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September 6th, 2022
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August 23rd, 2022
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This Week: Making FreightWaves
This week, we'll be hearing from Craig Fuller, one of our neighbors in Chattanooga. Craig is is the founder and CEO of FreightWaves, the leading provider of global supply chain market intelligence and news. Prior to FreightWaves, Craig was the founder of TransCard, a major provider of fleet fuel and debit cards. He is also the CEO of FLYING Magazine, the world’s most widely read aviation magazine. Previously, Fuller founded the Xpress Direct division of US Xpress, the leading provider of on-demand expedited truckload services. He holds a BBA from Baylor University and is a private pilot. He lives with his wife and 5 kids in Chattanooga, TN.
Past President Smitty will be taking the gavel back this week and leading the meeting as President Alex is traveling all week for work.
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Meeting Recap: Governors' VisitLast week’s meeting was an exciting one as we welcomed Assistant Governor Jackie Killings and District Governor, Gerry Taylor. After reading Gerry’s entire bio to the morning club the day before, Jackie read off some of his most notable accomplishments. A lengthier bio is found on the district website. Gerry has a history of serving others, both professionally and personally. He retired from United Way, where he worked in various roles throughout the organization. Gerry has been a Rotarian since 1996 when he joined a club in Racine, Wisconsin. He is currently a member of the Classic City Club in Athens, Georgia. Throughout his Rotary career, he has served in roles such as past President, past Assistant Governor of District 6910, past District 6910 Training Vice Chair, past District 6910 Awards and Recognition Chair, a member of several District 6910 Conference Committees, and District 6910 Board Member.
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As this year’s District Governor for District 6910, Gerry is traveling to each club to better learn about the club and their goals. Gerry helped us initiate a new member to our club, Amy Hartline-Smith. It is always a special day when we get to induct a new member, made even more exciting with the District Governor visiting. Gerry provided us with some international and district level updates. This year’s international theme is Imagine Rotary and led by Jennifer Jones. Jennifer is the first woman to serve as Rotary International’s president in the 117-year history! Gerry is confident that Jennifer is the person to lead our organization, he noted that she has excellent leadership and communication skills. At the district level, under Gerry’s leadership, he hopes to continue our good work and increase membership. In his opinion, the Rotary Foundation is one of the best assets we have. Last year, we raised a record-breaking $620,000 for the annual fund! Gerry hopes this year we can pass that. Another district accomplishment is that District 6910, out of over 530 districts worldwide, was the number one donor to polio plus. Currently, there are only thirteen cases of polio, we hope in the next few years we can say the disease is eradicated. Traveling to different clubs has allowed Gerry to meet members, but it is also an opportunity to get us excited about the district conference, where we also will have the opportunity to meet members of other clubs. The next conference will be held in April 2023 in Chattanooga, Tennessee and should be a fun time. The theme for conference is “get on board the Rotary express”. Gerry presented President Alex with a pin signifying this.
We are appreciative of District Governor Gerry and Assistant Governor Jackie Killings for making time to visit our club. We look forward to seeing where this term takes us.
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This Week: District, Assistant Governors Visit
At this week's meeting, we're getting a visit from our district governor and our assistant governor! District Governor Gerry Taylor will be joined by Assistant Governor Jackie Killings of Dalton to provide an overview of what's going on in our district as well as other news from Rotary.
Gerry Taylor has worked with the United Way for more than 30 years, beginning in Lexington, Kentucky before other stops all across the country led him to Georgia in 2007. He's an alumnus of the University of Minnesota and also a graduate of a four year management program at the United Way's National Academy of Volunteerism. His Rotary resume is also extensive, including being the Past President of the Classic City Rotary Club in Athens, Georgia and a Past Assistant Governor of District 6910. Gerry is a Rotary Benefactor, a Bequest Society Member, a Rotary Foundation Major Donor, a Paul Harris Fellow and Paul Harris Society Member and a Will Watt Fellow. He is married to Lisa Landers Taylor, a retired special education teacher. They have two sons, Christopher (daughter-in-law Ashley) and Ryan.
Jackie Killings is a co-founder of K & M Technologies – a technology and innovation scouting firm that connects entrepreneurs and start-ups with established corporations. She is also the founder and President of Khensani – an organizational management and training firm that helps organizations unlock their potential and be better versions of themselves. She is originally from Livingston, AL and came to Dalton in 2008 to work as an engineer in Research & Development for Mohawk Industries. She has grown to love Dalton and is passionate about serving her community. She has always been active in the non-profit world and uses her problem-solving skills in her volunteer work with multiple organizations throughout GA and Alabama. Jackie joined the Carpet City Rotary Club in 2011 and has served on the Rotary District 6910 Board of Directors and is currently the Assistant Governor for Area 1. Jackie received her B.S. in chemical engineering from Auburn University and her MBA from Kennesaw State University.
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Meeting Recap: Author David CadyLast week’s speaker was retired teacher and local author, David Cady. David spoke about the years of research and time spent writing his book, Religion of Fear: The True Story of the Church of God of the Union Assembly. The book came about in 2011 when David was approached with an idea. David was immediately hooked and knew he had to tell this story. Through his five years of research, he was cautioned by his wife to stop, he took out insurance as a precaution, but he also learned the stories from former members and associates of the church. The book was released right before the pandemic hit. Five months after the first printing the book was sold out and they did a second printing. Then the pandemic hit, and all David’s speaking engagements were cancelled.
Religion of Fear reveals the story of how a Pentecostal sect, the Church of God of the Union Assembly, a small splinter group of the holiness Church of God movement, evolved into one of the largest and wealthiest cults in America. The Union Assembly was started in Dalton in 1921 by Charlie (C.T.) Pratt. By the 1940’s there were 21 churches in 12 states and at the height in the 1980’s there were 51 churches in 19 states. Across the country, there were over 15,000 members of the Union of Assembly. The church required total obedience and began rebuking members if they spoke what the church believed to be untrue. C.T.’s son, Jesse eventually became the leader of the church until his mysterious death. David ended his presentation with a video of interview clips of former members as well as a secretly recorded sermon from 1972. In the sermon you can hear Jesse Senior reproving members for not attending the sermon the night before. As David echoes time and time again, the organization was about control. Control of its members and every aspect of their lives.
David had a few books he brought for sale, all of which sold out within seconds! If you are interested in purchasing his book, it is available on Amazon. David gave a wonderful presentation, and it is fascinating to learn history that even as a resident you may not have known about.
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July 19th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
19-Jul |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Bundros, Lara |
Bundros, Thomas A |
22-Jul |
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| Tharpe, Julie |
Tharpe, Henry C. |
23-Jul |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
7/19/2016 |
6 |
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| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
7/19/2016 |
6 |
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| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
7/20/2021 |
1 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
Vinai |
20-Jul |
46 |
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| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
Carla |
21-Jul |
21 |
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June 28th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Little, William Norris Sr. (NORRIS) |
28-Jun |
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| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
3-Jul |
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| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
4-Jul |
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| Wright, William B. Jr. (WILLIAM) |
5-Jul |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Maret, Sarah |
Maret, Charles D. |
1-Jul |
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| Alderman, Alicia |
Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. |
3-Jul |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
6/30/2004 |
18 |
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| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
7/1/1969 |
53 |
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| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
7/1/1973 |
49 |
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| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
7/1/2018 |
4 |
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| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
7/1/2010 |
12 |
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| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
7/1/1996 |
26 |
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| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
7/1/2018 |
4 |
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| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
7/1/1980 |
42 |
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| Payne, Charles F Jr.(CHUCK) |
7/1/2017 |
5 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
Lin |
30-Jun |
38 |
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| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
Bill |
1-Jul |
55 |
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| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
Phyllis |
1-Jul |
55 |
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| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
Linda |
1-Jul |
55 |
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| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
Pat |
2-Jul |
56 |
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| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
Janet |
5-Jul |
52 |
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June 21st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
21-Jun |
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| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
21-Jun |
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| Brown, Alex C (ALEX) |
27-Jun |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Combs, Donna |
Combs, William Dan |
24-Jun |
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| Neal, Terri |
Neal, John P. III |
24-Jun |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Croft, Brian C (BRIAN) |
6/25/2019 |
3 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
Sally |
23-Jun |
46 |
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| Shults, Stephen D (DOUG) |
Denise |
24-Jun |
27 |
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| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
Ginny |
25-Jun |
17 |
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| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
Sara |
26-Jun |
26 |
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Meeting Recap: Bright Future For SolarLast week we heard a very educational program about clean energy from James Marlow. James has worked in this field for 15 years and currently serves as president and CEO of Southface Institute. He spent his early career with Lotus Development, IBM, and Yahoo! before becoming CEO and co-founder of Radiance Solar, a start-up business that became an award-winning provider of solar panel installations across the country. From there he worked in solar solutions as a vice president with Velo Solar and most recently as CEO of Clean Energy Advisors developing consulting services for sustainability and clear technology. He is passionate about sustainability and ensuring our world is better off for generations to come.
Southface Institute is a 40-year-old non-profit whose mission is to “promote sustainable homes, workplaces, and communities through education, research, advocacy, and technical assistance”. They have been a leader in the research, design, and implementation of a regenerative economy, one that gives back more than it uses. Southface works with workplaces, communities, and homes to advance their vision of a healthier environment. They have worked with organizations such as Shaw Industries, Adobe, Chick-Fil-A, and Georgia Tech. James showed pictures of different projects he has been apart of with Southface. They have installed solar panels on old landfills, on hundreds of acres of farmland, floating solar, and commercial projects like the IKEA building in Atlanta. James answered questions from the group about the regulations of solar energy, where he sees the future going, as well as other sources of renewable energy.
James and his team are passionate about leaving our world better than they found it, and we appreciate the work they are doing.
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This Week: No Meeting (Happy Memorial Day!)
We won't be meeting this week in an extended observation of the Memorial Day holiday. We hope that you all had a great celebration and took time to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.
Next week we'll be back at the Dalton Golf and Country Club for our annual Public Safety Vocational Service Awards, honoring outstanding public safety officers from the police departments, fire departments, and EMS services who serve our community. It's always a highlight of our calendar and we look forward to seeing all of you there!
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April 19th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Daniel, Charles M (CHAD) |
21-Apr |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Bledsoe, Ginny |
Bledsoe, Jonathan L. |
21-Apr |
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| Brantley, Tray |
Brantley, Valerie K |
22-Apr |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
4/19/2005 |
17 |
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| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
4/24/2012 |
10 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
Bob |
19-Apr |
53 |
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| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
Dixie |
19-Apr |
53 |
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| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
Pat |
25-Apr |
36 |
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This Week: The ESPLOST
For this week's meeting we'll be hearing from two familiar friends and leaders in our community. Dr. Mike Ewton and Dr. Tim Scott, the superintendents of the Whitfield County and Dalton Public Schools systems respectively, will be giving a presentation on the ESPLOST - the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax initiative.
Next Week's Meeting:
April 19th - Philip Forsberg - GRSP Student, Final Presentation
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Meeting Recap: Thrive Regional PartnershipLast week was the largest meeting since March of 2020! The last two years have been a whirlwind, but we are grateful for health and each other’s company. To start the meeting, President Smitty gave a shoutout to Bruce Satterfield for his hard work on the 49th Annual Ronnie McClurg Invitational Track Meet held last weekend. It was a windy day full of fun and athleticism. Track athlete and Northwest High School student, Silas Griffin expressed his gratitude to the club for holding the event. He enjoys getting to look back at previous years meets and reflect on the improvement he has made. Silas has committed to Lee University. President Smitty then presented a Paul Harris Fellow +1 pin to Mike Maret and a Paul Harris Fellow +2 pin to David Pennington.
Chuck Dobbins introduced our speaker for the week, Bridgett Massengill. Bridget is a wife and mother to two twin girls along with two beagles. She is a member of the Chattanooga Downtown Rotary Club and is a 25-year community driven career professional. She is President and CEO of Thrive Regional Partnership, where Chuck has the privilege of sitting on the board. As one of the founding members of Thrive, Chuck is thrilled to have Bridgett speak to us about the important work they are doing across our region.
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The mission of Thrive is to “inspire responsible growth through conversation, connection, and collaboration in the tri-state Chattanooga region”. Thrive works with 16 counties in our region throughout northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia, and southeast Tennessee to create responsible growth for our region for us today and for generations to come. The Thrive model works through three impact areas, community prosperity, natural treasures, and transportation and infrastructure. Our region has undergone tremendous growth in the last several years with no signs of slowing down. Thrive’s goal with the community prosperity impact area is to encourage industry expansion while still keeping the “small town charm” that so many of us know and love. Taken from Thrive’s website, “we equip communities with strategy development programs to leverage distinctive cultural assets to generate economic and community vibrancy”. The second impact area is natural treasures. In the beginning days of Thrive they began to ask people what it was that they loved most about the region. The endless outdoor opportunities was the continuous answer. Bridgett and her team got key partners together from Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee to brainstorm how to preserve these natural resources we are blessed with. Through their collaborative efforts these partners are now working off one blueprint and one goal. The final impact area that Thrive focuses on is transportation and infrastructure. They recognize that there is heavy truck traffic through our area and are working diligently to find solutions by bringing together stakeholders. Through a collaboration with Georgia Tech, Thrive launched the Greater Chattanooga Freight Hub. This partnership will provide public data to the 16 counties and more to help address the infrastructure challenges. This project will be the first of its kind.
Bridget’s passion for her work was evident through her presentation. In closing, Bridgett says “we are only as strong as those that sit at the table to help shape the future of this region for generations to come”.
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April 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
11-Apr |
|
|
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
11-Apr |
|
|
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
11-Apr |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
4/9/2013 |
9 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
Cindy |
8-Apr |
22 |
|
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Meeting Recap: Georgia's Ports And The Supply ChainLast week we got to learn about the work the Georgia Ports Authority is doing and their important role in the supply chain. The general manager of strategic operations, Wesley Barrell joined us. Prior to joining the Ports Authority in 2011, Wesley supported the US Armed Forces in Germany and USA, performing an equipment readiness program. Wesley also served as a Reconnaissance Soldier in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, stationed in Germany. Wesley came to the United States from the northeast of England in 2003. After meeting his now wife and realizing he needed to stay in the states, he was led to the Ports Authority. Prior to his current position, Wesley held positions in crane maintenance, container, and intermodal operations. Wesley is responsible for the oversight of the Appalachian Regional Port and strategic operations pertaining to inland intermodal locations served by the Georgia Ports Authority. Wesley is married to his wife Kelly, and they have five children. Together, they serve and are active members at Rockbridge Community Church.
Throughout his presentation, Wesley showed pictures of the various ports mentioned. Starting with one of the leading ports in the United States, the Savannah port is ranked 3rd in volume and ranked 1st at the largest and fastest growing ports in the U.S. The Garden City Terminal in Savannah is the main area where the freight comes in and out of on the east coast. They recently completed the harbor deepening project which will lead to being able to receive larger vessels. Using the mid-American arc strategy the Savannah port pushes product out into the U.S. to Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas to be able to get the freight closer to customers. Some challenges they find is being able to get customers to use rail transportation rather than truck. Through their partnerships with CSX and Norfolk Southern they are able to move larger quantities of freight and avoid road travel, in turn making it safer for the general public. They are also able to avoid the shortage of trucks and truck drivers that we are seeing right now. Regionally speaking, our neighbors in Murray County may not be the first thought when talking about ports and moving freight. However, in 2018, the Appalachian Regional Port opened in Crandall. This was built with the goal of growing business in and around each touch point, providing a solution, and creating a positive economic impact through income as well as employing personal from this region. The Appalachian Regional Part sits on 42 acres and is CSX served with routes directly from Crandall to Savannah with a touch point in Atlanta to switch off the crew. Due to the influx of freight from the Savannah port, they are opening up five additional pop-up locations statewide.
It is encouraging to be able to hear of the positive economic impact that the Ports Authority is having across our state and in our region. We are fortunate to hear from industry leaders each week. We also want to say congratulations to Dr. Doug Shults for receiving his blue badge at last week’s meeting!
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March 29th, 2022
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Meeting Recap: Eclectic 79 and the East Morris BoomLast week we had the privilege of hearing from Carlos and Viviana Ramirez. Carlos and Viviana are entrepreneurs leading the charge in reinvigorating the East Morris block. We got to hear their story and their passion for investing in others businesses as well as the Dalton community. Viviana was born and raised in California before moving to Dalton in 2006. Carlos was born in Mexico and has been living in Dalton for 26 years. Together they have four children, and both serve on several different community boards. About eight years ago after the birth of their daughter, Viviana needed to stay home, and they transitioned to only having one income source. Because of their financial and home situation, they knew they had to open their own business. Carlos came to Viviana with the idea to open a furniture store. A cautious Viviana knew the struggles of owning a furniture store from watching her own parents in California, but she was going to support him in whatever he wanted. Five years ago, the doors to the furniture store, Eclectic 79 opened in a building on Spencer Street. Because Spencer Street is not widely traveled, they relied on social media and word of mouth to get their name out there. After about a year of being there they were presented with the opportunity to move to the building they are in now, on East Morris Street.
Since moving to the East Morris location, Carlos and Viviana have played a huge role in reviving the block to what they now call Block 79. Block 79 is home to seven different businesses, with no signs of slowing down! Here, you can find something for everyone including a gym, a coffee shop, a clothing boutique, furniture store, a lounge, a custom balloon art store, and more! Looking towards the future, they hope to open a restaurant very soon, host a block party, and hold events for the community. Carlos could only describe what they have built as “family” and invited us all to come experience what all they have to offer. They thanked the City of Dalton for working with them to re-do the sidewalks, the community for their support, and of course the other business owners on the block. Viviana left us with some advice, acknowledging that we are all going to fall, but when you do, make sure to fall on your back so you are looking at the sky and ready to get right back up. We encourage you all to pay a visit to Block 79 and support local.
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March 15th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Thomas, Abby L (ABBY THOMAS) |
16-Mar |
|
|
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
20-Mar |
|
|
|
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
21-Mar |
|
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|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
3/15/2016 |
6 |
|
|
| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
3/15/2016 |
6 |
|
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
3/15/2016 |
6 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
Andrea |
18-Mar |
16 |
|
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Saluting Judson Manly - 58 Years As A Dalton RotarianThis week we are pleased to have a special program as we honor William Judson Manly on his 58th anniversary as a member of this club. Mr. Manly attended his first meeting with the Dalton Rotary on March 3rd, 1964 and he never stopped. He's had perfect attendance ever since, a true testament to his dedication to the principles of Rotary and to his friends here.
Please join us in congratulating Judson on his anniversary and celebrating his legacy with our club!
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This Week: Downtown Dalton Downtown Dalton is booming, and this week we're going to take a look at all the exciting changes happening in our downtown district. Our speaker will be Candace Eaton, the executive director of the Downtown Dalton Development Authority. Between new businesses moving into downtown, fun upcoming events like the return of the summer concert series in Burr Park, and more there's a lot to cover.
Eaton was born and raised here in Whitfield Co., where she was a graduate of 2002 class at Southeast Whitfield High school. After high school she attended Dalton State College and later attended Covenant College where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Organizational Management. After spending 10 years in the financial field she spent the last 7 with Hamilton Health Care system in the compliance and legal department.
Eaton was appointed Director by the DDDA Board of Directors in March 2021. She hopes to continue to assist the Board in increasing its resources and developing a long-term Master Plan.
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This Week: Book Club! This week we'll be hearing from an author and a fellow Rotarian about his new book which is based on the principles of Rotary. Author Patrick Galvin will be joining us virtually via Zoom to discuss his book, "THE TRUSTED WAY - A Story About Building a Life And Business Of Character."
Patrick Galvin
We will have limited copies of his book available at no charge for our fellow Rotarians who attend the meeting. Thanks and kudos to President-elect Alex Brown for setting up this presentation for us. We're calling it a "Fireside Chat" presentation and we're looking forward to it!
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Meeting Recap: City of Dalton UpdateLast week’s speaker was Andrew Parker, City Administrator for the City of Dalton. Andrew began his career city after graduating from Southern Polytechnic State University in 2010. First serving in the Dalton Public Works Department as the Special Projects Manager where he provided management and oversight of all roadway construction projects, maintenance projects, grant submittals, infrastructure contracts, and the city’s traffic systems network. In May of 2014, Parker was promoted to Assistant Public Works Director and after serving five years in that role, he was named Public Works Director in November of 2019. As the Public Works Director, Parker oversaw the daily operations of 75 employees who provide essential public works services to the city’s 33,000 residents. In July of 2021, Parker was appointed to serve as the Dalton City Administrator where he works with elected officials and department heads to carry out the business and operations of city government.
Andrew Parker
Andrew gave us an overview of the city’s strategic priorities for 2022 which include continuing the effort with blight abatement, supporting the community through the pandemic, completing the city’s leadership team, working on the city’s charter, and executing the capital projects list. Andrew’s background in civil engineering is what makes him excited to talk to us about the projects the city is working on. Through the newly created residential dangerous building abatement program the city (with permission from the property owner) mobilizes the public works crew to tear down dangerous buildings and the owner reimburses them for the cost. They have had several applications from property owners for this program. Recognizing a community need, the city, led by Councilwoman Annalee Harlan, worked to provide over 14,000 Covid-19 vaccines. Working towards the goal of completing the city’s leadership team, they recently hired a new Parks and Recreation Director and announced the sole finalist for the Director of Public Works department.
Andrew and the rest of the city are working on several different projects to improve the city. In early 2020 stakeholders began working with a consultant out of Atlanta to start the gateway corridor improvement plan. This project seeks to develop a plan for the two interstate interchanges in the city. Through the design and implementation work they hope to alleviate congestion, move the utilities underground, improve the landscape, and set design standards for future development. The project that has the most financial focus right now is the revitalization of Market Street. We heard some about this project from Carl Campbell with the Dalton Joint Development Authority a few weeks ago. Improvements to the parks and recreation facilities are also being worked on such as the construction of two FIFA regulation size soccer fields. Through the city’s efforts along with the county and city school system, Dalton will soon have four FIFA regulation size soccer fields. We are very proud of the fact that last year 3 out of the 4 local high schools won state championships in soccer and we hope these new fields will be a great asset to our community. Another asset to our community is the construction of a new aquatics center. All four local high schools have a swim program, and they are currently having to share practice time between the pool at Dalton High School and the outdoor pool at the recreation department. A project they are also looking to address is the storm water drainage system and flood mitigation.
We enjoyed getting to hear about the projects the city is working on and look forward to seeing the completion. Thank you to Andrew and his leadership in seeing these projects through!
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January 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
24-Jan |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Smith, Rebecca |
Smith, Clark C. |
18-Jan |
|
|
| Tatum, Sharon |
Tatum, Laurice A. |
20-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
1/18/2011 |
11 |
|
|
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
1/19/2010 |
12 |
|
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
1/23/2001 |
21 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
Kimberly |
19-Jan |
9 |
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
Sarah |
20-Jan |
54 |
|
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January 18th, 2021
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Meeting Recap: The Dalton AirportFor the last meeting of 2021, the room was full of holiday cheer and smiles. Announcements made were the following: Larry Winter encouraged us to sign up to be a GRSP host family and how impactful it can be, Bill Bowen reminded us of the kettle bell ringing and that a generous Rotarian agreed to match the amount collected! Dr. Doug Shults announced that the Interact Club collected almost 100 blankets for those in need. Later in the week, we heard the Interact Club was able to donate 105 blankets to the City of Refuge and Providence Ministries! They were very appreciative of our help. Moving into the program, President Smitty introduced Andrew Wiersma as the speaker.
The Blanket Drive
Andrew graduated from Christian Heritage high school and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Video. Inspired by Larry Winter’s son, Andrew began working for the Dalton Airport in 2002 as an entry level lineman. By 2010 he had worked his way up to FBO Manager. In 2014, he left the airport to live in the Philippines where he would meet his wife. Upon his return, the City of Dalton hired him as the Airport Manager, where he still serves today. He also serves as Vice President of the Georgia Airports Association. Inspired from his love of film, Andrew created a documentary of the history of the Dalton Airport, which can be found on YouTube by searching Dalton Municipal Airport.
Andrew Wiersma
Andrew began his presentation by giving us a history on the airport and how it has evolved. The first Dalton airport dates to the 1930’s and it was on the corner of Cleveland Highway and what is now the Dalton Bypass. On December 1st, 1944, the current Dalton airport location opened. Then, it was only a L-shaped grass strip. In 1963, Rollins Jolly, who was the Chairman of Dalton Chamber of Commerce pushed to have the runway paved at the Airport Road location. Later, the airport was named Jolly Field after him. In 1985 they added secondary corporate hangers, some of which are still there today. In the 1980’s the airport was a private business. Today, the airport is owned by the City of Dalton and spans 554 acres. The runway is just over a mile long and 100 feet wide. They have five city owned hangers, three corporate hangers and 48 based aircraft. Operations include corporate, military, law enforcement, fire patrol, power line and tree patrol, federal and state government, collegiate sports, flight training, and recreational flights.
The Dalton Airport is a huge economic engine for our community. According to a 2020 study from the Georgia Department of Transportation the airport generated 7.8 million dollars in economic activity for the state and local economy. That is $300,000 in property tax revenue that goes directly into our local economy and schools. Andrew went on to explain how the airport was funded. For the airfield itself, the primary funding comes from the federal government. Through the Airport Improvement Program, the federal government funds public airports at 90% with a 5% state match and a 5% local match. At a state level, the Georgia State Aviation provides the 5% match as well as discretionary funds for other projects. It is estimated that the airport will have a 5-year economic impact of 38.5 million. Because it is so profitable, the federal government is willing to provide that 90% funding. From 2009-2019, the Dalton airport has received 5.1 million in federal funds for safety and pavement projects. They just recently re-paved part of the runway and next year have been approved and plan to re-pave the remaining. Funding for daily operations such as building maintenance, vehicles, payroll, and insurances comes from fuel sales, hanger rentals, and ground leases. They estimate that 85,000 gallons of fuel is sold annually. Currently, they have a hanger waiting list of about 40, so they would like to build new hangers to hopefully increase their revenue. The last hangers were built in 2009.
Andrew wrapped up the program by showing some pictures of the various aircraft and blimps that frequent the airport as well as some events they participate in. Each year they like to participate in a USDA operation that flies around the country dropping rabies vaccines. They fly out of the Dalton airport, flying the state of Georgia and parts of Alabama and Tennessee dropping those vaccines to hopefully eradicate rabies. They like to offer field trips to the local schools and let the students see the airport and sometimes even fly a teacher up. Most recently, they had a historical visit from a then-sitting President Trump flying in on Marine One. We appreciate Andrew speaking to our club on the airport operations.
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This Week: The Dalton Airport
One of the best-kept secrets of Dalton and Whitfield County's success is the Dalton Municipal Airport. Many people might not know that Dalton even has an airport, and many of the people who do know about it might just assume it's just for private pilots to indulge their aviation hobby. But the airport is a powerful economic engine for our region, helping to drive industrial growth and innovation.
This week's speaker is Andrew Wiersma, the manager of the airport. He'll talk to us about the airport's role in our local economy and get us up to speed on what's going on around Dalton's airport.
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December 7th, 2021
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December 7th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Ewton, Michael F (MIKE) |
8-Dec |
|
|
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| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Dec |
|
|
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Parrott, Eugenia |
Parrott, V DeForrest III |
10-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
Charlsey |
7-Dec |
2 |
|
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
Betty |
7-Dec |
53 |
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
Joanne |
12-Dec |
62 |
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November 30th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Scott, Shaun E (SHAUN) |
30-Nov |
|
|
|
| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
1-Dec |
|
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| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
1-Dec |
|
|
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
4-Dec |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Maret, Carla |
Maret, Michael S. |
3-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
12/1/1972 |
49 |
|
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
12/1/1968 |
53 |
|
|
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
12/1/1976 |
45 |
|
|
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
12/6/2016 |
5 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
Danielle |
2-Dec |
26 |
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
3-Dec |
33 |
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
Alicia |
5-Dec |
29 |
|
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Meeting Recap: The Rotary FoundationPresident Smitty opened the meeting by going over a few announcements. Our club was notified that has been an excess of N95 masks donated that we could disperse. Jason Parker drove to Covington, Georgia to pick up 20,000 masks which we were able to donate to Whitfield County Schools and Dalton Public Schools! Thank you, Jason! Second, Alex Brown reminded us of the gun raffle going on. There is still plenty of time to buy tickets. Tickets are 1 for $35 or 3 for $100.
Our club's Foundation Chair, Darla Chambliss introduced this week’s speaker, Pete McDonald. Darla has worked closely with Pete in his role as the Director of District Grants for District 6910. Pete has been a Rotarian for 27 years and is with the Rome club where he serves as the Foundation Chair and member of club Board of Directors. He currently serves District 6910 by serving on the Board of Directors, Director of District Grants, member of the Training Team and Technology Team, District Director of the Rotary Leadership Institute Sunshine Division, Assistant Governor for Area 17 (2020-2023), and is a member of the District Conference committee. When not working for Rotary, Pete and his wife Jane enjoy traveling in their motorhome!
Pete congratulated our club on being a consistent donor to the Rotary Foundation. In the past three years we have donated $32,723 to the general fund. The Rotary Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the country and one of the most respected. Charity Navigators has ranked the Rotary Foundation as number one out of all the foundations in the Unites States. There are two major funds that make up the foundation: the annual fund, where most of the donations go, and the endowment fund. Last year $126 million was given to the annual fund and 1,403 global grants awarded, which are grants $30,000 and over. One of the biggest projects funded by a global grant is the Haiti National Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy or HANWASH. The goal with this is to provide a clean water system in Haiti. Pete shared pictures of projects other clubs are using their grant money for including building an outdoor music park, building wheelchair ramps, food distributions, and building little libraries. Our club currently uses our grant funding to support the local GED program.
One way our club gives to the Foundation is through EREY where Every Rotarian gives a gift to the Foundation Every Year. Pete mentioned other ways to give which can be found on the rotary.org website. Gifts of every size can make a huge impact and they provide a variety of different ways to give. Pete left us with “thank you for doing good in the world” which is the Foundation’s motto. Thank you, Pete, for speaking to our club and thank you to Darla for working diligently with the Foundation!
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November 9th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
14-Nov |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Campbell, Kristy |
Campbell, J Carl |
11-Nov |
|
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| Hawkins, Nancy |
Hawkins, Jim R. |
11-Nov |
|
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| Morehouse, Dianne |
Morehouse, Gordon C. |
12-Nov |
|
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| Cope, Laurie Lee |
Cope, Don |
13-Nov |
|
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| Miller, Sara |
Miller, Charles Dalton |
15-Nov |
|
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| Dickson, Sherry |
Dickson, Thomas S. |
15-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
11/10/2015 |
6 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
S. G. |
12-Nov |
33 |
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This Week: The Rotary FoundationAt this week's meeting, we'll be hearing about the important work being done by the Rotary Foundation with a presentation by Rotary Foundation Chair Darla Chambliss and Pete McDonald from Rotary Leadership International.
As always we'll be meeting for lunch at the Dalton Golf and Country Club, but for those unable to attend the meeting will also be streamed online. Those who wish to attend virtually can click here to join: Click here to join the meeting
read more
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November 2nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
6-Nov |
|
|
|
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
8-Nov |
|
|
|
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
8-Nov |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Richmond, Agnes |
Richmond, John D. |
2-Nov |
|
|
| Kirkman, Lou |
Kirkman, Lowell D. |
4-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
11/3/2015 |
6 |
|
|
| Thomas, Abby L (ABBY) |
11/5/2019 |
2 |
|
|
| Pena, Arnaldo (ARNALDO) |
11/5/2019 |
2 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
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Meeting Recap: A Change of Plans!
Last week's regularly scheduled program had to be rescheduled due to our expected speaker Andrew Parker and his wife instead welcoming their new baby! We had a full house, and several guests join us, including Dalton High School student, Anna La. Anna gave a brief overview of the work she is doing with the Dalton High Interact Club and noted the importance of her generation giving back because they are the future. Alex Brown reminded us of the gun raffle, tickets are on sale now for $35 each or 3 for $100. Sergeant in Arms, Mel Abernathy reflected on this year's golf tournament and the fun he and his team had. He expressed his appreciation to Jason Parker for organizing the event.
Frank Hogshead told a series of good-hearted jokes that left the club laughing and in good spirits. Joining in the fun, President Smitty led us though a game of “Name That Rotarian” where we looked at photos and guessed the Rotarian. While the meeting did not go as planned, we were able to pivot and enjoy our time together.
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This Week: City Administrator Andrew Parker
After taking a break last week with our Rotary R&R session and the golf tournament, our program schedule resumes this week with a presentation by Dalton's City Administrator Andrew Parker. He's been in that role for two months, but probably already feels like a veteran after two months filled with a lot of hurdles and changes, from a state of emergency surrounding the COVID epidemic to getting a number of capital projects which will shape the future of our community ready to put shovels in the ground. He'll give us an update on those projects and also discuss other aspects of his role with the City of Dalton.
Parker worked in various jobs with the City of Dalton while he was in high school in Murray County and then returned to the City's Public Works Department in May 2010 after earning his civil engineering degree from Southern Polytechnic State University. After beginning his career as a project manager, Parker was promoted to assistant director of the department in the summer of 2014. He was promoted to department director in November 2019. His rise through the ranks continued when he took over for retired City Administrator Jason Parker (no relation) in August.
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October 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Critides, Samuel D (SAM) |
15-Oct |
|
|
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
16-Oct |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
10/18/2005 |
16 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
Betty |
14-Oct |
63 |
|
| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
Cynthia |
17-Oct |
12 |
|
|
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This Week: Rotary Golf Tournament
This week we won't be meeting for our usual lunch. Instead, we're hitting the links for the annual Rotary Golf Tournament! We're looking forward to what will hopefully be a fun and beautiful day out on the golf course. We'll get back to our usual meetings next week.
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Upcoming Meetings (10/4)
- October 12th - Rotary Golf Tournament, Dalton Golf & CC
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Oct. 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
6-Oct |
|
|
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
7-Oct |
|
|
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
9-Oct |
|
|
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. (PAUL) |
11-Oct |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Sutherland, Phyllis |
Sutherland, George W. |
5-Oct |
|
|
| Scott, Robyn |
Scott, Tim |
7-Oct |
|
|
| Griffin, Brenda |
Griffin, Ronald L |
8-Oct |
|
|
| Sponcler, Betty |
Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. |
11-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
10/6/2015 |
6 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
Sherry |
10-Oct |
34 |
|
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Meeting Recap: Skin Cancer Prevention
Dr. Reginald Sherill is the medical director of Dalton Plastic Surgery. A graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1977, Dr. Sherrill went on to a General Surgery residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. After completing three years in General Surgery, he transferred to Wright State University Kettering Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio for his Plastic Surgery residency. He completed his training in 1982 and has been in solo practice ever since. Dr. Sherrill is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Georgia Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Southern Medical Association, the Medical Association of Georgia, and the Whitfield-Murray County Medical Society.
Dr. Sherill spoke to us about the biggest organ in the body, the skin, and what we can do to protect it. On average the skin on a person’s body can weigh anywhere from 6-7 pounds. Learning to protect our skin from skin cancer is one of the most valuable lessons we can learn. Living in a southern state can mean that incidents of melanoma and skin cancer are twice as likely to happen than they are in northern states. The good news is that skin cancer almost always has a happy ending!
Dr. Sherill educated us on the types of skin cancer including the most common, basal cell carcinoma. This is the least aggressive of all cancers and has an extremely high cure rate. The squamous cell skin cancer is more serious than the basal cell but is generally not aggressive and has a high cure rate. The most serious of skin cancers is melanoma, however, when caught early it has a high cure rate. The causes of skin cancer can vary but the most common cause is over exposure to ultraviolet radiation either from the sun or a tanning bed. In Brazil and Australia, they have banned the use of tanning beds because of the harm they can do. Sunburns double the risk of melanoma, so taking precautions now can protect you in the long run. The areas most susceptible to sunburn are the nose, tops of the ears, and the scalp. Ways to protect yourself from skin cancer include wearing protective clothing and hats, wearing sunscreen (even in the winter), avoiding tanning beds, and having regular screenings with your physician.
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September 28th, 2021
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Upcoming Meetings (9/27)
- October 5th - JA Discovery Center site visit (Meeting at Hammond Creek Middle School)
- October 12th - Rotary Golf Tournament, Dalton Golf & CC (Turn in Registration Form ASAP)
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This Week: An Update From Our GRSP StudentWe hope everyone had a happy and safe Labor Day weekend and enjoyed the week off last week. The Club is getting right back into our Rotary routine this week with an update from Filip Forsberg, our GRSP student. We'll hear from Filip and enjoy our usual lunch buffet at the Dalton Golf and Country Club. For those who are unable to join us in person, we've also got the option to stream the meeting online. Here's the link to join virtually:
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September 26th, 2023
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May 23rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| No birthdays this period. |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| McFarland, Frances M.(BITSY) |
5/25/1999 |
24 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Blevins, Sheri H.(SHERI) |
David |
24-May |
37 |
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| Hogshead, Frank M.(FRANK) |
Carolyn |
24-May |
54 |
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| Aviles, Yadira A(YADI) |
Rudy |
25-May |
10 |
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Meeting Recap: Rotary 5th Grade AwardsThe 2023 Rotary 5th Grader Award Program began with President Alex welcoming our guests which included student winners, student’s family and friends, and educators. Each year this program is special to Rotarians as we get to honor students who unknowingly live out our motto, Service Above Self daily. President Alex took a moment to recognize the Service Above Self committee which includes Dr. Larry Tripp, Dr. Doug Shults, Mr. Paul Alderman, and Mr. Smitty Barnett. Since 2010, each elementary school from Whitfield County Schools, Dalton Public Schools, and Christian Heritage recognizes one 5th grade student who practices Rotary’s guiding principle of service above self. These students are selected by the faculty and staff of their respective schools. Each student was recognized during the meeting and awarded a framed certificate, a book, and a goody bag.
Whitfield County Superintendent, Dr. Mike Ewton congratulated students from his school district for their accomplishments. Below are the award winners from Whitfield County Schools.
Antioch Elementary School: Arekxis Jimenez
Beaverdale Elementary School: Rosely Hamilton
Cedar Ridge Elementary School: Kaydence Kelly
Cohutta Elementary School: Patricia Burchfield
Dawnville Elementary School: Magaly Valdez
Dug Gap Elementary School: Elizabeth Torres
Eastside Elementary School: Caleb Rios
New Hope Elementary School: Lela Meaux
Pleasant Grove Elementary School: Ivan Perez
Tunnel Hill Elementary School: Malari Rider
Valley Point Elementary School: Ty Townsend
Varnell Elementary School: Estrella Herrada
Westside Elementary School: Trace Price
Dalton Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Tim Scott congratulated students from his school district for their accomplishments. Below are the award winners from Dalton Public Schools.
Blue Ridge Elementary School: Messy Triana
Brookwood Elementary School: Camila Rendon
City Park Elementary School: Abby Asbell
Park Creek Elementary School: Eder Torres
Roan Elementary School: Sayani Guijarro Luna
Westwood Elementary School: Eliana Torres
Dylan Dawson was the nominated to represent Christian Heritage, however he was unable to attend the program.
After all students accepted their awards, President Alex recognized the twelve students who submitted an essay for the Laws of Life essay contest. Each student who entered was presented with a check for $25. Committee members read each submission and selected one student as this year’s winner. This year’s Laws of Life essay winner is Lela Meaux from New Hope Elementary School! Lela’s heartfelt essay brought the room to tears as she described the adversity she has faced and her incredible strength.
Congratulations to each student recognized during the program!
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April 18th, 2023
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Meeting Recap: Farewell, Maka!We are back in the swing of things after the spring break holiday and enjoyed gathering for our Tuesday lunch! President Alex began the meeting by awarding Dr. John Richmond, Paul Alderman, and Margaret Venable with Paul Harris Fellow pins. A very special presentation followed with our very own, Maka, being awarded the Barbara and Donald Thomas Peace Award. As administrators of the award, a representative from the Roswell Rotary Club presented Maka with this scholarship. The Peace Award is a scholarship that is awarded annually to a GRSP student. The committee was very touched by Maka’s essay on mental health and her plans to raise awareness and help those in need in her home county. Congratulations, Maka! It was a very special day with both of these recognitions and also special because we got to her from Maka as her GRSP year is coming to an end.
Originally from Zimbabwe, Maka has been with us this past year as our GRSP student, staying with her host family, Ben and Lynn Laughter. Maka expressed that this has been the best year of her life and that it feels like yesterday she was standing in front of us giving her welcome presentation. Coming to the United States, Maka did not have too many expectations, but did have some assumptions on what it would be like. She began by telling us what she loves about America. Maka has loved how culturally diverse America is, the opportunities available, the freedom we have, and lastly, she has enjoyed getting to experience different places throughout the country. She was surprised to learn that no two places are the same and there is always something new to experience. She quickly learned also just how big the United States is! After an eleven-hour road trip to Washington D.C. Maka realized the travel time was much greater than she had been expecting. Not knowing what to expect when coming into this experience, Maka was pleasantly surprised with her time at Dalton State. While there, she met friends, joined a sorority, and went on a service trip to New Orleans over spring break. Her trip to New Orleans was very eye opening and humbling. As one could imagine, moving to a foreign country for a year can be a culture shock. Maka shared with us some expectations vs. realities she experienced over the last year including learning she has an accent, free refills at meals, taxes being to your bill at checkout, and how much bigger everything in America is compared to back home.
Maka ended her presentation by telling us her favorite part of her experience, the people she has met. She has had the opportunity to meet our club members and meet people through Dalton State where she is a peer tutor. She has enjoyed the chance to learn about our backgrounds and lifestyles which make us all unique. When asked “what’s next?” Maka plans to stay in the States and complete an internship this summer and completing her undergraduate studies. We have enjoyed spending the last year with Maka and look forward to seeing what she does next. We hope to re-connect one day through a virtual meeting with past GRSP students. Thank you, Maka!
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March 14th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Hefner, Abby T (ABBY THOMAS) |
16-Mar |
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| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
20-Mar |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| No Partner birthdays this period. |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
3/15/2016 |
7 |
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| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
3/15/2016 |
7 |
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| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
3/15/2016 |
7 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
Andrea |
18-Mar |
17 |
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March 14th, 2023
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March 7th, 2023
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February 28th, 2023
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Meeting Recap: Catching Up With Our GRSP StudentsLast week, thanks to technology, we got to catch up with five former GRSP students! With a heart for the GRSP program, Dr. Richmond organized a fantastic program. Joining us from across the world were: Alexandra Olsson from Sweden, class of 2011-12; Elsa Hellsten of Sweden, class of 2013-14; Maryanne “Maisy” Murphy of Scotland, class of 2015-16; Clarissa Boeker of Germany, class of 2015-16; and Fredrik Mazur of Sweden, class of 2016-17.
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Dr. Richmond conducted a roundtable discussion asking each participant to introduce themselves, tell us some of their fondest recollections of their GRSP year, what they are up to now and how their year in the States impacts them today. All five students reflected on the “Southern hospitality” they experienced. Each host family opened their home and treated their student like family, taking them to sports games, family traditions, and treats them as their own. Today, Elsa works and lives in Denmark where she uses lessons learned from her GRSP year to adapt to new cultures. While studying at Dalton State she learned she enjoys science and math much more than other subjects and today works at a pharmaceutical company in Denmark. In the twelve years since Alexandra has been a GRSP student she has earned her bachelors and masters degrees and now works at a private equity firm in Stockholm, Sweden. She also credits her time as being integral to finding her career and learning more English that has helped her. Fredrik, being the most recent student loved being in Georgia and experiencing sports games. Fredrik lives in Stockholm where he works as a development engineer. His experience gave him a fascination with different cultures and allows him to work more cohesively with his team of developers in his career. Maisy now lives in Dundee, Scotland where she is finishing her degree to teach high school. The GRSP program gave Maisy the confidence she know has to live and explore other places. The final student we heard from was Clarissa. Clarissa works as a business consult in Berlin, Germany. Since coming home, she has lived in Argentina and the Netherlands. She credits the GRSP program in giving her the bravery to explore new experiences. After watching Clarissa’s experience in Georgia, both of her younger sisters were inspired to also enroll in the program. A common sentiment from each student was how grateful they were to the GRSP program and how it shaped their lives for the future.
Our club is fortunate to participate in the GRSP program, which has over 3,500 alumni. We are grateful to this program that allows our club, the host family, and the student to all experience new cultures.
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February 14th, 2023
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February 7th, 2023
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This Week: Bull Snot
Yes, you read that correctly! This week, our speaker is Vann Brown, whose company Brown Ox Ventures is the manufacturer of "Bull Snot", a line of aerosol cleaning products for professional truck drivers and also other types of vehicles. Joining Mr. Brown will be some of the people who helped him start the company as well as "The Mountain Man" from "Duck Dynasty"!
In a career spanning more than 30 years, Vann Brown has established a successful career across multinational and
technology-based textile, plastic, and chemical companies. As a visionary leader who values his people, Vann believes that respect and trust are essential anchors to develop a committed and effective workforce. In turn, he has fostered positive relationships with all people he works with; while inspiring them and building strong relationships at all levels of an organization to accomplish the goals and ensure the organization’s strategic advantage. As a result, Vann successfully established Brown Ox Ventures, Inc., where he spearheads the development of advanced technologies and chemical concepts for aftermarket truck care, proudly serving the 3.5 million professional truck drivers who are the backbone of American.
Through his extensive experience, Vann has shown his commitment in attaining success, defining milestone, and leading cross-functional teams. His career path has given him an advantage to understand business needs, set proper priorities, and see how the corporate and client relationship management could be applied to create business opportunities and expand revenue. In turn, he has climbed up the corporate ladder, ranging from business development manager to vice president and president. Vann first exemplified his commendation-worthy performance at Mount Vernon Mills Inc. as a director of research and development where he contributed significant growth in the company in terms of comprehensive research and development. After 12 years of service in Mount Vernon Mills Inc., he joined other companies where he exemplified his expertise in developing new strategic plans and pioneering solutions in response to the companies’ predicaments.
As evidence of Vann’s operation management abilities, he assisted with the acquisition of Kurihara Textiles in Japan for
Marubeni Denim Inc. through extensive business analysis and technological reviews. In addition, his proven business
development acumen was reflected through the successful launch of polyactide (PLA) of NatureWorks LLC into the existing product lines for international and domestic markets. Also, he successfully led market penetration initiatives by reforming and implementing the vision of Outlast Technologies Inc.
As Vann assumed the role of global carpet business manager at Shell Chemicals and PTT PolyCanada, he strategically
instituted the commercialization of product applications and business development activities into a leading position. Shortly after, he lent his services at Mohawk Industries as the vice president of innovation and technology. In this role, he was recognized for assisting in the effective negotiations of the California Carpet Stewardship Bill (AB 2398) as a company and industry representative. Furthermore, as the past president of ArrowStar LLC, Vann progressively lead numerous ground-breaking initiatives by proactively interfacing with others to render assistance, create solutions, and accomplish pre-established goals.
Vann is an alumnus of Piedmont College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Louisiana State University where he earned his Master of Business Administration. He currently serves on the boards of the Roman Open Charities, Live4It Community Board, and Trucker Nation. His past board services are the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, NWGA College & Career Academy, Hamilton Healthcare Foundation, Piedmont College Board of Trustees, Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership, Piedmont College Alumni Association, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, and CARE (Carpet America Recovery Effort).
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January 17th, 2023
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December 20th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Payne, Charles F Jr. (CHUCK) |
22-Dec |
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| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
26-Dec |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Ownby, Sandi |
Ownby, Jeff B |
22-Dec |
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| Maton, Bobby |
Maton, Carla E |
22-Dec |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
Carolyn (CAROL) |
21-Dec |
57 |
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| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
Zach |
22-Dec |
15 |
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| Cope, Don (DON) |
Laurie Lee |
24-Dec |
9 |
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| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
Lou |
26-Dec |
24 |
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Meeting Recap: The Rotary Foundation's WorkPast President Ricky stepped in to lead the meeting last week. We got a refresher on the good work that the Rotary Foundation does and how we are making an impact globally with our giving. In the spirit of giving back, Bill Bowen has been leading the charge in the annual bell ringing for the Salvation Army. We have had several Rotarians volunteer to ring the bell! Our Mega Christmas Giveaway is still going on with Jack’s Pawn & Gun – it’s not too late to buy or sell tickets. Finally, for the announcements, Larry Winter presented a check on behalf of the GRSP program as part of their subsidy of our GRSP student.
The mission of the Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing sustainable projects. Polio eradication is Rotary’s top philanthropic priority. Since starting the PolioPlus program in 1985, more than 2.5 billion children have been immunized against polio and today, polio remains endemic in only two countries. The Rotary Foundation offers grants that support the seven areas of focus: basic education and literacy, community economic development, disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. These grants allow clubs to make an impact in their community as well as globally. Each year, our club uses grants to fund the Northwest Georgia Technical College GED program. We have had great success and are able to provide funding for those taking the GED exam. Our club has consistently been a Every Rotarian, Every Year club which means that 100% of our club members donate to the Rotary Foundation. Through our annual giving we are able to make an impact on our community as well as globally.
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This Week: The Rotary Foundation
This week, we'll be hearing (a lot) from our own Ricky Robertson. Not only will he be leading the meeting due to an unexpected oral surgery for President Alex, he will also be our featured speaker with a presentation on the Rotary Foundation.
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Meeting Recap: The GRSPIt’s that time of year for our annual Mega Christmas Giveaway raffle with Jack’s Pawn & Gun! Help us raise money for scholarships by selling or purchasing tickets. Tickets are 1 for $35 or 3 for $100. Drawings will take place every day from December 1 – December 31, with the winning numbers being posted on our Facebook page. We hope for another successful raffle!
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Our speaker for the week was Katheryne Fields, Program Director for the Georgia Rotary Student Program. Katheryne works closely with the GRSP Chair, officers, directors, trustees, staff, GRSP Foundation as well as Georgia Rotary Clubs and GRSP students promoting the cause of world peace through higher education by assisting students, speaking to clubs plus raising funds and awareness for the organization. Katheryne gave us an overview of the program and what they have accomplished in the programs 76-year history. The vision for the program has remained the same and that is to “develop leaders who would promote peace and understanding around the world”. Through the GRSP program, they have had 109 countries participate and 3,731 student alumni. This year’s class consists of 44 students representing 21 counties. This program is unique because students from all over the world have the opportunity to come to Georgia to attend college and immerse themselves in the culture. Students also have the opportunity to come together as a GRSP class and go on weekend getaways. These are valuable in that students have the chance to connect with others in the same situation. Fun fact: on one of these weekends, our student, Maka learned that another student in the program lived only two blocks away from her back home in Zimbabwe! This experience impacts students as well as host families for years to come. One student, even asked her “host father” to present her at her wedding! Our club loves supporting the GRSP program and hosting a student each year, it is a great opportunity for us to learn about other countries cultures too!
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This Week: Social At Freya's Lounge
This week we won't be having our usual lunch meeting, but instead we're getting together after hours! We are looking forward to seeing all of you at Freya's Lounge between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm for a social get-together. Freya's is located at 303 E. Morris Street.
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Meeting Recap: Judson Manly Day!Last week we celebrated Judson Manly Day! We successfully pulled off a surprise celebration to honor Judson’s 58-year Rotary anniversary. Judson joined the Rotary Club of Dalton on March 3rd, 1964 and has not missed a meeting since! For 58 years Judson has been a loyal Rotarian attending roughly 2,726 meetings. After graduating from Georgia Tech and serving in Japan during the Korean War, Judson joined the Rotary Club along with his father and uncle. Judson remarked that back then the club met at the Dalton Hotel before moving to the Elks Club a few years later. Special guests joining the celebration included Judson’s family, Assistant Governor Jackie Killings, and District Governor Mike Berg. President Smitty presented Judson with a trophy and a perfect attendance pin.
Assistant Governor Jackie Killings congratulated Judson on his years of service and dedication. She noted that she could only hope to one day find something that she could be as dedicated to as Judson is to Rotary. Jackie shared some notable events happening around the same time that Judson joined Rotary. In the 1963-1964 Rotary year the presidential theme was “meeting Rotary’s challenges in the space age”. In March 1964 the Atlanta mayor announced that a baseball team was moving to Atlanta, in 1964 the first Ford Mustang was produced, and most notably Judson Manly became a member of the Rotary Club of Dalton. Jackie introduced District Governor Mike Berg. Mike expressed his thankfulness for being with our club. He remarked at how many Rotarians came to the meeting to celebrate Judson and the legacy he has left on our club. In preparing to come to the meeting, Mike thought that it was fitting not just to celebrate Judson at the district level, but internationally as well. He made the call to Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta in India to tell him about the monumental celebration. Jackie and Mike presented Judson with a framed letter from Shekhar Mehta congratulating him on his dedication and perfect attendance.
Judson lives out the Rotary motto, “Service above Self” each day through his devotion to our club. We are inspired and blessed to be able to celebrate Judson. We all gathered for a club photo; you can check out all the pictures from this day on our Facebook Page.
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Meeting Recap: The DDDALast week we had the pleasure of hearing from Candace Eaton. Candace is the Executive Director with the Downtown Dalton Development Authority. She attended Dalton State College and later Covenant College where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management. After spending 10 years in the financial field, she spent 7 years with Hamilton Health Care System in the compliance and legal department. In March of 2021 Candace began working with the DDDA. A native of Whitfield County, Candace is passionate about the growth of downtown.
Candace touched on the history of the DDDA in Dalton, the structure, and her goals for downtown. The Downtown Development Authority was created by an act from the Georgia General Assembly in 1981 and was accepted by the City of Dalton’s charter in 1983. The mission of the DDDA is to lead and promote the preservation and revitalization of the downtown Dalton district. Their vision is that downtown is valued as an economic and cultural resource in the northwest Georgia region for those who seek to visit and remain for business or pleasure. The DDDA is made up of seven board members, one of which is an appointed council member, and the remaining six members are elected by the constituents of downtown.
The downtown district is main street accredited and they are currently in the classic city status. Candace hopes that within the next five years they will move to a gem status, which is the top tier of accreditation. The accreditation is determined through four different approaches, organization, economic vitality, design, and promotion. The organization approach looks at community and financial support, partnerships, and public education. Candace noted that the DDDA would not be where they are without the support from the city and partnerships with organizations such as Believe Greater Dalton, the Chamber, and the Creative Arts Guild, among many others. Economic vitality looks at economic diversity and financing. Candace and her team have been hard at work bringing new businesses and housing to the downtown area. The design approach includes improving streetscapes, historic preservation, and allows for façade grants. Promotion is Candace’s favorite area and perhaps the one we are most familiar with. They hold the Off the Rails summer concert series, the lighting of the Christmas tree, holiday open house, and the farmers market events each year. Candace expects that this year will hold even more events than we have seen in the more recent years.
The DDDA is certainly making strides to enhance the downtown area for those that reside or visit. We are so thankful for all that have had an impact on the growth, and we cannot wait to see our town flourish even more under Candace's leadership!
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February 15th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Caperton, Robert William Jr. (ROBERT) |
15-Feb |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Denson, Andrea |
Denson, Jason B |
16-Feb |
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| Chambliss, Alex |
Chambliss, Darla P |
18-Feb |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
2/15/2000 |
22 |
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| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
2/20/2007 |
15 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| No anniversaries this period. |
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Meeting Recap: GRSP Student Filip ForsbergPresident Smitty started the meeting by awarding Rotarian Don Cope with a Paul Harris +4 award. He then turned to Larry Winter to introduce the speaker, GRSP Student Filip Forsberg. Larry and Connie Winter are Filip’s host family while he is attending Dalton State College this year.
Filip is from the capital city of Stockholm, Sweden. Sweden has a similar population as the state of Georgia, despite Sweden being three times larger. Filip showed pictures of his grandparents, parents, and brother. His parents both grew up in the Northern region of Sweden before moving south. Filip and his family spent a lot of time visiting his grandparents in the North. During that time, he would go ice fishing, fight with his brother for the chance to mow his grandmother’s yard and learned how to make Swedish meatballs. Which he promised to make for his host family! In Sweden, despite where you lived you are taught to ice skate, swim, and ski from a young age.
Back home in Sweden, Filip attends the Royal Institute of Technology, located on the Royal Grounds. He is enrolled in a five-year engineering program where he will earn his bachelors and masters degrees. So far, he has completed three years of study. In his first year of study, he was undecided which area of engineering he was most interested in, so he enrolled in the open entrance program where he took more general engineering classes. Later he would find that computer science interested him and enrolled in that program. He was elected as Student Junior Council.
While at school, Filip found out about the GRSP program from another student who had gone through the program at the University of Georgia. He was immediately interested and contacted his nearest Rotary Club to begin the application process. Due to Covid he had to wait one year after being accepted before applying for his Visa. When the time finally came to go to the US Embassy it was closed so he had to go through another country. With no luck he tried going through Poland, Austria, Estonia, Mexico, and countless other countries. Undeterred, he reached out to the Embassy in Paris where he eventually was able to get his Visa and do some sight-seeing along the way! Finally, after two years of waiting he arrived in Atlanta to meet his host family and he could not be more excited for this year.
Opening the floor for questions, someone asked what stuck out to him as different about the United States to which he had two answers. The first was that he had always heard everything is bigger (just like we hear about Texas), but he never really expected it, especially how big the trucks can be. He also mentioned that it was different to him how common guns are. In Sweden he says only the police and the bad guys have guns. He went dove hunting where he was able to shoot a gun for the first time. In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his host family and spending time with other students at DSC. Larry interjected that he hopes to go to a college football game this fall, no matter the team. He also hopes to meet the other 41 GRSP students in person sometime soon.
Announcements:
- We are partnering with Jack’s Pawn & Gun to host this year’s gun raffle. Money raised will go to our scholarship funds. Tickets are on sale 1 for $35 and 3 for $100. The raffle runs from 12/1 to 12/31 and one ticket is eligible to win multiple times.
- Congratulations to Anna Adamson on her blue badge!
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Meeting Recap: Dr. Mike Ewton, Whitfield County SchoolsWhitfield County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Mike Ewton delivered a very timely and fascinating program last week. Dr. Ewton is in his eighteenth year as a district-level administrator at Whitfield County Schools and is in his first year as Superintendent. Prior to being named Superintendent, he held positions as the Director of Safety, Security and Transportation, Chief Operations Officer, and Assistant Superintendent for Operations and Student Services. He is a 1989 graduate of Northwest Whitfield High School and holds a doctorate in educational leadership, an educational specialist’s degree, a master’s of public administration, and a bachelor’s of science in organizational management. Except for four years of active military service, Dr. Ewton has lived in this area all his life.
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Dr. Mike Ewton
Dr. Ewton brought along two guests with him, Kristina Horsley, Communications Specialist for WCS, and Karey Williams, Deputy Superintendent. Dr. Ewton expressed his gratitude for Ms. Williams and the rest of his leadership team. The Whitfield County School District is the 28th largest system in Georgia with 24 schools, approximately 12,500 students, and 1,905 total staff, excluding contract staff. They are also proud of their Board of Education for being designated for seven years in a row as a GSBA Exemplary School Board.
In the recent years there have been brand new schools opening and renovations happening. The newly built Valley Point Middle School is in its second school year and North Whitfield Middle School is in its first year. Of course, there are always more renovations needed beyond new buildings. Other completed projects include a new gymnasium for Westside Middle School, a new roof, HVAC replacement, and electrical upgrades for Westside Elementary, Northwest gymnasium roof and HVAC system, Northwest, Tunnel Hill and Varnell sewer connections, and at New Hope Elementary and Southeast an upgraded sewer and road repair. WCS received three phases of federal funds from the ESSER CARES Act which will allow them to make necessarily upgrades for the next upcoming years. Dr. Ewton provided the districts plans for how these funds are expected to be used. Dr. Ewton then turned the program over to Ms. Williams to talk about the grants and community partnerships formed to achieve their goals. She spoke about three grants, an Innovative Fund Grant which will continue the Beyond the Classroom initiative for early literacy, the Literacy for Learning, Living and Leading Grant to improve student literacy learning, and the Innovative Education Fund Grant to expand the Summer Power Lunch program and help combat the summer slide in reading and comprehension. Partnering with Dalton State College and United Way the food services team delivers meals and books to students during the summertime. Dalton State and WCS has also worked together for the past three summers to offer Summer Literacy Camps for students to come in for two weeks to learn from DSC students, giving them field experience as well. They also partner with the Northwest Georgia Regional Library System, the Community Foundation, United Way, and Dalton Public Schools to host book blasts to encourage reading. Another community resource is the Whitfield Education Foundation, which President Smitty serves as the Executive Director. In 2021 the Education Foundation was able to award $80,337 of grant money to teachers and administrators to keep their projects alive.
The vision of Whitfield County Schools is “… a valued and dynamic school district that prepares students for success in a global community”. In 2020 Whitfield County had an average 86.83% graduation rate, higher than the Georgia average which is 83.8%. Dr. Ewton closed out the presentation by giving an overview of the three-year strategic plan which is made up of five goals: Goal 1 is Teaching and Learning, Goal 2 is Human Resources, Goal 3 is Finance, Goal 4 is Parent, Family, and Community Engagement, and Goal 5 is District Operations.
Announcements:
- The Rotary Golf Tournament is confirmed for October 12th at the Dalton Golf and Country Club. It is not too late to sign up as sponsors or a participant. Funds from the tournament go directly to fund scholarships for local seniors.
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September 7th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
7-Sep |
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|
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| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
7-Sep |
|
|
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| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
9-Sep |
|
|
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| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. (ROY) |
10-Sep |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Adamson, Zach |
Adamson, Anna Y |
10-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
9/11/2018 |
3 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
Hope |
7-Sep |
19 |
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
Teresa |
10-Sep |
44 |
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
Julie |
12-Sep |
50 |
|
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
Billie |
13-Sep |
68 |
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August 7th, 2021
.
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September 7th, 2021
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This Week: No Meeting (Happy Labor Day!) There will be no meeting this week, so enjoy a little extra after-Labor Day break! We'll be back next week on Tuesday, September 14th for our regularly scheduled meeting when we'll hear from Filip Forsberg, our GRSP student. Anyone who can't attend in person can join us online. To join this meeting use this link, Click here to join the meeting .
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Meeting Recap: Whitfield County SchoolsWhitfield County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Mike Ewton delivered a very timely and fascinating program last week. Dr. Ewton is in his eighteenth year as a district-level administrator at Whitfield County Schools and is in his first year as Superintendent. Prior to being named Superintendent, he held positions as the Director of Safety, Security and Transportation, Chief Operations Officer, and Assistant Superintendent for Operations and Student Services. He is a 1989 graduate of Northwest Whitfield High School and holds a doctorate in educational leadership, an educational specialist’s degree, a master’s of public administration, and a bachelor’s of science in organizational management. Except for four years of active military service, Dr. Ewton has lived in this area all his life.
Dr. Ewton brought along two guests with him, Kristina Horsley, Communications Specialist for WCS, and Karey Williams, Deputy Superintendent. Dr. Ewton expressed his gratitude for Ms. Williams and the rest of his leadership team. The Whitfield County School District is the 28th largest system in Georgia with 24 schools, approximately 12,500 students, and 1,905 total staff, excluding contract staff. They are also proud of their Board of Education for being designated for seven years in a row as a GSBA Exemplary School Board.
In the recent years there have been brand new schools opening and renovations happening. The newly built Valley Point Middle School is in its second school year and North Whitfield Middle School is in its first year. Of course, there are always more renovations needed beyond new buildings. Other completed projects include a new gymnasium for Westside Middle School, a new roof, HVAC replacement, and electrical upgrades for Westside Elementary, Northwest gymnasium roof and HVAC system, Northwest, Tunnel Hill and Varnell sewer connections, and at New Hope Elementary and Southeast an upgraded sewer and road repair. WCS received three phases of federal funds from the ESSER CARES Act which will allow them to make necessarily upgrades for the next upcoming years. Dr. Ewton provided the districts plans for how these funds are expected to be used. Dr. Ewton then turned the program over to Ms. Williams to talk about the grants and community partnerships formed to achieve their goals. She spoke about three grants, an Innovative Fund Grant which will continue the Beyond the Classroom initiative for early literacy, the Literacy for Learning, Living and Leading Grant to improve student literacy learning, and the Innovative Education Fund Grant to expand the Summer Power Lunch program and help combat the summer slide in reading and comprehension. Partnering with Dalton State College and United Way the food services team delivers meals and books to students during the summertime. Dalton State and WCS has also worked together for the past three summers to offer Summer Literacy Camps for students to come in for two weeks to learn from DSC students, giving them field experience as well. They also partner with the Northwest Georgia Regional Library System, the Community Foundation, United Way, and Dalton Public Schools to host book blasts to encourage reading. Another community resource is the Whitfield Education Foundation, which President Smitty serves as the Executive Director. In 2021 the Education Foundation was able to award $80,337 of grant money to teachers and administrators to keep their projects alive.
The vision of Whitfield County Schools is “… a valued and dynamic school district that prepares students for success in a global community”. In 2020 Whitfield County had an average 86.83% graduation rate, higher than the Georgia average which is 83.8%. Dr. Ewton closed out the presentation by giving an overview of the three-year strategic plan which is made up of five goals: Goal 1 is Teaching and Learning, Goal 2 is Human Resources, Goal 3 is Finance, Goal 4 is Parent, Family, and Community Engagement, and Goal 5 is District Operations.
Announcements:
- The Rotary Golf Tournament is confirmed for October 12th at the Dalton Golf and Country Club. It is not too late to sign up as sponsors or a participant. Funds from the tournament go directly to fund scholarships for local seniors.
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Meeting Recap: Pharmacy at Hamilton Medical CenterLast week's speaker was Dr. Greg Stinnett, Director of Pharmacy for Hamilton Medical Center. Greg is a graduate of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and has been with HMC since 1999, serving as the pharmacy director since 2014. With a highly trained staff of 29 pharmacists and 22 certified pharmacy technicians they can provide 24/7 care to those in need. Services of the pharmacy have greatly expanded over the years. They now have pharmacists and technicians in surgery, inpatient, oncology, intensive care units, the emergency department, long term care/rehab, retail, and clinical informatics. They have also played a huge role in providing Covid-19 vaccinations to associates and their families.
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At the heart of the pharmacy is patient safety, Greg noted that “patient safety is fundamental to all we do”. Part of ensuring the patients safety is ensuring the Five Rights of Medication Administration:
- The right patient gets
- The right drug in
- The right dose via
- The right route at
- The right time
Hamilton continues to be a leader in adding technology for the betterment of healthcare in Northwest Georgia. Greg shared some information and pictures with us on the technology the pharmacy uses. The carousel medication storage system which allows barcode scanning of drugs when they are entered into or taken out of the system. This helps to ensure accuracy, maintain inventory levels, and provides automatic reordering when it gets to a certain level. This technology also interacts with the automated dispensing cabinets. These are on each nursing floor and allow nurses to get their medications easier and quicker. For controlled substances they use a separate management system which allows them to track errors and discrepancies. The pharmacy has IV Compounding Clean Rooms that are USP standard certified to ensure that what they are mixing is free from contamination, as well as some negative pressure rooms that protect associates when mixing hazardous drugs. In October they underwent an upgrade to their electronic medical record system. The EMR allows electronic ordering of medications by physicians. Almost 100% of orders come through electronically now, which allows for fewer errors. Greg joked that some pharmacists took great pride in being able to decipher physician handwriting prior to the EMR being implemented.
For patients that cannot afford their medications the pharmacy offers different programs to make those drugs accessible. The programs include drug recovery, meds-to-go discharge prescriptions, and the 340B drug pricing program. Through the drug recovery program, they have a service that looks at all patient’s financial means and looks to connect them with manufacturer patient assistance programs or drug replacement programs. The meds-to-go program is available to all patients, no matter their financial situation, and allows a 30-day supply of discharge prescriptions filled. Dispensary of Hope is a nation-wide distribution network looking to prevent loss of unused medication. This program provides drugs free of cost to patients if they fall at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Over the past 12 months they have filled almost 1,500 prescriptions through the DOH. Since becoming an access site in 2016 they filled over 11,000 prescriptions. The final program talked about was the 340B program which is a federal program that allows Hamilton to purchase drugs at reduced prices.
President Smitty ended the meeting by thanking Dr. Stinnett and his staff for taking the measured steps for keeping our community safe. It was also noted that we encourage anyone that feels inclined to wear a mask to do so, as Covid-19 cases are on the rise in our community. One final encouragement of the day was to let everyone we encounter see us as a person of hope.
Announcements:
The Rotary Golf Tournament is confirmed for October 12th at the Dalton Golf and Country Club. It is not too late to sign up as sponsors or a participant. Funds from the tournament go directly to fund scholarships for local seniors.
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Upcoming Meetings (8/27)
Here's a look at what we've got scheduled for our next few meetings (the schedule could be subject to change if scheduling conflicts arise).
September 7th - NO MEETING - Club Closed
September 14th - GRSP Student Filip Forsberg
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This Week: Dr. Mike Ewton, Whitfield County SchoolsWe continue our look at our area schools this week with a presentation from Dr. Mike Ewton, the superintendent of the Whitfield County Schools System.
Dr. Ewton is a 1989 graduate of Northwest Whitfield High School and — with the exception of four years of military service — has lived in the area all his life. Mike has two daughters, Morgan and Chelsea, and has been married to his wife, Tena, for 17 years.
Dr. Ewton is beginning his eighteenth year as a district level administrator at Whitfield County Schools. Prior to being named Superintendent, he held positions as the Director of Safety, Security and Transportation, Chief Operations Officer, and Assistant Superintendent for Operations and Student Services.
We'll be meeting for our usual great lunch at the Dalton Golf and Country Club, and for anyone unable to attend in person the meeting is also being streamed online. Use this link to join us virtually:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
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August 27th, 2021
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August 31st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Cope, Don (DON) |
1-Sep |
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| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
5-Sep |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Hutcheson, Marilyn |
Hutcheson, John A. Jr. |
2-Sep |
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| Pennington, Pamela |
Pennington, David E. |
6-Sep |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
9/1/1969 |
52 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Pena, Arnaldo (ARNALDO) |
Niurka |
31-Aug |
20 |
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| Scott, Shaun E (SHAUN) |
Tonya |
31-Aug |
25 |
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| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
Emilie |
1-Sep |
3 |
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August 31st, 2021
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This Week: Dr. Greg Stinnett, Hamilton Medical Center Director of PharmacyThis week's guest is Dr. Greg Stinnett, the Director of Pharmacy for Hamilton Medical Center. Obviously, the hospital has been in the news a lot this week as has the COVID-19 pandemic, so it's good to have a member of the medical profession on hand to present to us. Dr. Stinnett is a graduate of the University of Georgia's College of Pharmacy and has been on the staff at HMC since 1999. In his 22 years there, he worked his way up from working as a staff pharmacist to being in charge of his department.
For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will be streamed online. You can join using this link:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
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Upcoming Meetings: (8/23)
Here's a look at what we've got scheduled for our next few meetings (the schedule could be subject to change if scheduling conflicts arise).
August 31st - Dr. Mike Ewton, Whitfield County Schools Superintendent
September 7th - TBA
September 14th - Mitchel & Jerome Hollis - Patterson Farm Complex - Cleveland Highway
September 21st - Jevin Jensen, Whitfield County Board of Commissioners
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August 24th, 2021
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August 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
26-Aug |
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| Jones, J Sherwood III (SHERWOOD) |
26-Aug |
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| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
27-Aug |
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| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
27-Aug |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Aft, Pauline |
Aft, David |
27-Aug |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
Becky |
27-Aug |
55 |
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Meeting Recap: Dalton Public SchoolsPresident Smitty introduced Dalton Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Tim Scott who gave a timely presentation to our club. Dr. Scott began his first term as Superintendent for DPS in March of 2018. He has worked in administration for 19 years and has worked his way up to superintendent from a football assistant. Dr. Scott holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Georgia College and State University, a specialist degree from Troy State University, and a doctorate from Argosy University. Being an administrator during a pandemic is certainly not easy and this was certainly acknowledged.
Dr. Scott opened the presentation by discussing the way DPS is working to keep their students and staff safe and healthy. Some ways they are doing this include upgrading HVAC systems to help kill pathogens, encouraging and providing masks, offering vaccine clinics at football games, providing a virtual option for students K-12, and cleaning and sanitizing schools frequently. Dr. Scott noted that he never imagined that we would still be dealing with this crisis 18 months later, likely a statement we can all agree with. The current enrollment across all schools in the district is 7,651 and the goal is to provide a safe environment for all to the best of their ability.
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Dr. Tim Scott
This year is unique for Dalton Public Schools as they have reconfigured the secondary schools with a goal to reduce the total number of students in these schools. As students move on from elementary school, they will now attend the newly built Hammond Creek School for 6th and 7th grade, Dalton Junior High for 8th and 9th grade, and then students will have the choice to attend Dalton High School or the Dalton Academy. This is the first school year that Hammond Creek is open. This project cost 43 million dollars with some addition 3 million received from the state. The vision of Dalton Public Schools is “world class learning that prepares students for success in college career and civic life”. Each school is unique in their approach to accomplish their mission. Currently Brookwood Elementary students are being offered a dual immersion program where students can spend half the day learning in English and the other half learning in a secondary language. It has been proven that students who speak multiple languages perform better than peers that don’t. They are working on getting this program to all grade levels in the other five elementary schools. Dalton Junior High tries to make curriculum relevant to what the student is interested in. They offer classes for world languages, student leadership, and career development. Dalton Academy seeks to provide equity in facilities, staffing, leadership, and academic programming. It takes three years to apply, but the plan for Dalton Academy is to be a nationally certified magnet school.
DPS is showing no signs of bettering the experience for their students and staff. DPS operates with four pillars as defined in their strategic plan, college, career and life readiness, recruitment and retention of quality professionals, operational excellence, and family and community engagement. Questions from the audience were taken to close out the program. We are wishing a great, safe year for our educators, students, and families!
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This Week: Dr. Tim Scott, Dalton Public SchoolsIt still might seem strange for it to be back to school time this early in August, but our local school kids are already in their second week of classes. That's why the school supplies aisles at most of the stores around town look like they've been ransacked! So our schools will be the focus of the next couple of meetings as we hear from the leaders of both school systems about what's new as our students get back to work. This week's guest speaker is Dr. Tim Scott, the superintendent of Dalton Public Schools.
Dr. Scott began his first term as Superintendent for Dalton Public Schools on Monday, March 19, 2018. He has 19 years in administration in both traditional high schools, non-traditional high schools and central office. He worked his way up through the ranks from varsity football assistant to his current position. Dr. Scott has been a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal and an assistant superintendent before coming to Dalton. After an incredibly challenging couple of school years, we're sure he's got a lot of interesting information to share with us!
For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will be streamed online. You can join using this link:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
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Upcoming Meetings (8/16)
Here's a look at what we've got scheduled for our next few meetings (the schedule could be subject to change if scheduling conflicts arise).
August 24th - Dr. Mike Ewton, Whitfield County Schools
August 31st - Filip Forsberg - GRSP Student
September 7th - TBA
September 14th - Mitchel & Jerome Hollis - Patterson Farm Complex - Cleveland Highway
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August 17th, 2021
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August 17th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
18-Aug |
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| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
18-Aug |
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| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
18-Aug |
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| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
19-Aug |
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| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
19-Aug |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Blackman, Bill |
Blackman, Linda T. |
18-Aug |
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| Dobbins, Donna |
Dobbins, Chuck |
20-Aug |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
8/18/2015 |
6 |
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| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
8/18/2015 |
6 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
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| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
Ben |
19-Aug |
49 |
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Meeting Recap: North GA Health District UpdateWe had a packed meeting and a packed agenda last week! The Rotary Initiative “Everyone Bring One” continues to be a theme in our meetings and our club is always excited to welcome guests. President Smitty encouraged members to think about who an ideal Rotary member would be and invite them to a meeting. We welcomed a special guest who we will continue to see at meetings, Filip Forsberg. Filip is this year’s GRSP student from Sweden. His host family, Larry Winter says he is adjusting great and loving Dalton State so far. Filip will be giving a presentation in a few weeks, as he settles into life in the United States.
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Filip Forsberg
President Smitty then introduced his neighbor, Sherry Gregory. Sherry is the Infectious Disease Director for the North Georgia Health District. The North Georgia Health District serves Whitfield, Murray, Cherokee, Pickens, Gilmer, and Fannin Counties and is located at 800 Professional Blvd. in Dalton. Sherry is passionate about the opportunities to work with communities and help educate and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. She introduced her colleague and right-hand man, Ashley Deverell, RN, BSN. Ashley is the Immunization Coordinator with the North Georgia Health District where she is responsible for all immunization activities and is the lead for the Covid response team within the schools.
Ashley gave an overview of the health department for those that are unfamiliar. The health department provides services for women’s health, vital records, Hepatitis C treatment, WIC program, and provides screenings and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. During the Hepatitis A outbreak in Dalton, they started a no-cost vaccination program that allowed them to make vaccinations free and accessible. Through this program they held events at homeless shelters, provided restaurants with the ability to stop any potential outbreaks, and provided the no-cost vaccination cards to the community. They also partnered with local jails in six counties and vaccinated inmates against Hepatitis A. This program helped the health department during the pandemic because they were then able to go into those jails and provide the Covid-19 vaccinations. They are still offering on site vaccination clinics to businesses for the flu and Covid-19.
To set the stage for the importance of vaccines, Ashley reminded us that one of our missions is to eradicate polio. Through Rotary’s efforts and partnerships, polio remains active in only two countries in the world and children are recommended to get the polio vaccine from a young age. However, all it takes is one international trip and an exposure to polio to bring the disease back to the US.
As we are seeing the third Covid spike due to the Delta variant, Ashley provided us with some statistics regarding Covid cases. The state of Georgia has seen roughly a 204% increase in cases and a 50% increase in hospitalizations in the last 14 days (as of the presentation). The health department in Dalton has given roughly 60,000 vaccines total and continues to encourage everyone eligible to get the vaccine. The Covid-19 vaccine is available at the health department without an appointment any day. As of August 1st, approximately 34% of Whitfield County residents have been fully vaccinated. The vaccine works with our bodies natural defenses to develop immunity and is crucial in ending the pandemic. We were reminded that this vaccine(s) has gone through the same routines and testing as other vaccines and they expect FDA approval in the coming months. The Covid-19 vaccine can protect yourself and others from this deadly disease. Let’s do our part in ending this pandemic.
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This Week: Immunizations In Northwest GeorgiaThis week's presenter has been on the schedule for several weeks, but this meeting seems especially timely given the latest news around the region, state, and nation regarding the COVID-19 epidemic. With reported infections once again rising not only in our area but also all across the country, we'll be hearing from Ashley Deverell, the immunization coordinator for the Northwest Georgia Health District of the state's Department of Public Health. This is a great chance to get information directly from an expert.
For those who can't join us in person, there's also an option to watch the meeting online. Just use this link:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
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Upcoming Meetings (8/9)
Here's a look at what we've got scheduled for our next few meetings (the schedule could be subject to change if scheduling conflicts arise).
August 17th - Dr. Tim Scott, Dalton City Schools (Rotary Board Meeting)
August 24th - Dr. Mike Ewton, Whitfield County Schools
August 31st - Filip Forsberg - GRSP Student
September 7th - TBA
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August 10th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
10-Aug |
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| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Aug |
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| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
15-Aug |
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| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
16-Aug |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Laugahter, Ben |
Laughter, R Lynette |
11-Aug |
|
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| Scott, Annelle |
Scott, Trammell |
15-Aug |
|
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| Robertson, Ricky |
Robertson, Cherri L |
16-Aug |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
Tammy |
10-Aug |
36 |
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| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
Judy |
14-Aug |
50 |
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| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
Mary Etta |
16-Aug |
63 |
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August 10th, 2021
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Meeting Recap: High School Football Preview
Each year the Dalton Kiwanis Club hosts a joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Dalton and the Carpet City Rotary Club at the Dalton Convention Center. Kiwanis President Heath Patterson opened the meeting and welcomed Rotarian and former Dalton High School Football Coach, Ronnie McClurg. Coach McClurg introduced the head coaches for five local high schools. Coach McClurg joked that each team is currently undefeated. Each coach spoke briefly about their team and the projection for the 2021 season.
Christian Heritage Coach, Jay Poag reminisced on last season having only lost one game, for a 9-1 season. They have lost 15 seniors, having either gone to college or began careers. With that, the motto for this season is "new team, new dream" and a goal to win them all in a classy manner. Coach Poag noted it won't be easy, but the players have had an active summer in hopes of bringing home some new hardware this year. Poag brought along two senior players to the meeting. We were all invited out to watch a game one Friday night saying, 'there is nothing quite like being in the den on a Friday night." Christian Heritage officially begins their season with a scrimmage Friday, August 6, with the season opener on August 20th.
Coahulla Creek High School's Coach Danny Wilson is returning as head coach for the second season. He has been with CCHS for five years, with two of those years being as head coach. Coach Wilson noted that you are only as good as the people around you and with that he has worked hard to bring on a coaching staff that he is proud of. Taken from their website, the mission of the CCHS Football program reads, "We are a player driven program. When a player comes through our program, we want them to develop into not only successful athletes, but more importantly great people who will contribute in the community, become great parents and husbands, and provide great leadership in the world we live in." Several kids are returning this season as they hope to have an older team and older starters. Coahulla Creek opens their season August 20th against local rival, Northwest Whitfield.
Coach Josh Robinson of Northwest Whitfield High School is now in his eleventh year as head coach. He reflected on the challenging 2020 year and how they adapted to social distancing challenges. He has been pleased with the participation in off season workouts and hopes to have a good season. The team has several retuning players, two of which he brought along with him. The motto this year remains the same, "better husbands and better fathers", Robinson and his coaching staff are trying to build these young men into leaders to better their future and help grow our community. Northwest will scrimmage Calhoun on August 6th and host Coahulla Creek on August 20th for the season opener.
Dalton High School's Kit Carpenter will be in his first year as head coach for the Catamounts. Carpenter has been with Dalton as an assistant coach prior to being named head coach. Dalton Public Schools are opening Hammond Creek middle school this year which has allowed them to put in a new weight room. This will allow them to begin training kids from a young age to be ready for the high school level. The Catamounts will play a scrimmage game on August 13th and travel to Calhoun for their season opener on August 20th.
Southeast High School's Todd Murray is returning for his second year as head coach for the Raiders. Coach Murray is optimistic for this season, and they are welcoming fourteen seniors back this year. The Raiders had a challenging 2020 season with many quarantines and as a result had to miss two games that they were not able to make up. The Raiders will welcome the Murray County Indians at home on August 20th.
Despite any loyalties to any one high school, we can all agree that we want to see these coaches and their players succeed on and off the field. Each year it is a pleasure to hear from these head coaches and we look forward to seeing what transpires this season.
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Meeting Recap: DSC Golf's National ChampionshipTo introduce the program, Jon Jaudon, the Executive Director of Athletics and External Relations for Dalton State College, shared some accomplishments that DSC athletics have accomplished in their 7 years of the athletic department. He also shared with us the Roadrunner way by which the athletics department operates: Compete Passionately, Accept Responsibility, Lead Courageously, Live Unselfishly.
Coach Ben Rickett is the Director for the Dalton State Golf program and serves as the head coach for the men's team. Ben is from Surrey, England and found himself in the States by way of golf. Before arriving at Dalton State, Rickett was a coach and student-athlete at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he helped build their program into a national power. While at UTC he was a four-year letter-winner playing 118 rounds in his four seasons with a 73.66 stroke average. In his senior year, Rickett posted a team-best four top ten finishes and eight top 20 finishes. He earned PING All-East Region honors along with being named an All-Southern Conference performer. In 2010 he was named a full-time assistant with the men's golf program at UTC.
Since coming to Dalton State in 2012 he has coached 4 Jack Nicklaus award winners, 18 All-Americans, 2 individual national champions, 5 SSAC players of the year, and many more. His coaching skills have been recognized 4 times as the SSAC coach of the year, the 2021 NAIA national coach of the year, and the 2021 Dave Williams national coach of the year. With the 2020 season cut short, athletes were given an extra year of eligibility and seniors had to decide if they would continue to play another year or graduate and move on. Ben told the story of one particular senior who decided to come back for his last year of play eligibility and with the last put helped his team win the 2021 national championship! Ben is especially proud of his team for overcoming adversity and remaining focused throughout the pandemic, and to the DSC administration for allowing athletes to practice in a safe and responsible manner. When asked if he has begun recruiting for the next season, Ben said yes and they had been working to recruit for the next several seasons. His goal is to bring players from all over to this community. Currently he has players from Florida, England, and Canada. The analogy of a puzzle was used to describe his success, without the support from the community or any of the other pieces, it won't work. Ben's love for the game and the relationships with the players is what makes coaching worth it to him. The Dalton State golf program is fortunate to have Coach Rickett and looking forward to many years ahead.
Announcements:
- The annual golf tournament will be on October 12th to raise funds for local students’ scholarships. There is still time to sign up as a team or individual.
- President Smitty presented a pin to Tom Dickson for being a Paul Harris Fellow +2.
- Dr. John Richmond reminded is of the opportunity for college students to study for six weeks at the University of Oslo in Norway as part of the Oslo Scholarship.
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This Week: High School Football PreviewTo introduce the program, Jon Jaudon, the Executive Director of Athletics and External Relations for Dalton State College, shared some accomplishments that DSC athletics have accomplished in their 7 years of the athletic department. He also shared with us the Roadrunner way by which the athletics department operates: Compete Passionately, Accept Responsibility, Lead Courageously, Live Unselfishly.
Coach Ben Rickett is the Director for the Dalton State Golf program and serves as the head coach for the men's team. Ben is from Surrey, England and found himself in the States by way of golf. Before arriving at Dalton State, Rickett was a coach and student-athlete at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he helped build their program into a national power. While at UTC he was a four-year letter-winner playing 118 rounds in his four seasons with a 73.66 stroke average. In his senior year, Rickett posted a team-best four top ten finishes and eight top 20 finishes. He earned PING All-East Region honors along with being named an All-Southern Conference performer. In 2010 he was named a full-time assistant with the men's golf program at UTC.
.jpg)
Coach Ben Rickett
Since coming to Dalton State in 2012 he has coached 4 Jack Nicklaus award winners, 18 All-Americans, 2 individual national champions, 5 SSAC players of the year, and many more. His coaching skills have been recognized 4 times as the SSAC coach of the year, the 2021 NAIA national coach of the year, and the 2021 Dave Williams national coach of the year. With the 2020 season cut short, athletes were given an extra year of eligibility and seniors had to decide if they would continue to play another year or graduate and move on. Ben told the story of one particular senior who decided to come back for his last year of play eligibility and with the last put helped his team win the 2021 national championship! Ben is especially proud of his team for overcoming adversity and remaining focused throughout the pandemic, and to the DSC administration for allowing athletes to practice in a safe and responsible manner. When asked if he has begun recruiting for the next season, Ben said yes and they had been working to recruit for the next several seasons. His goal is to bring players from all over to this community. Currently he has players from Florida, England, and Canada. The analogy of a puzzle was used to describe his success, without the support from the community or any of the other pieces, it won't work. Ben's love for the game and the relationships with the players is what makes coaching worth it to him. The Dalton State golf program is fortunate to have Coach Rickett and looking forward to many years ahead.
Announcements:
- The annual golf tournament will be on October 12th to raise funds for local students’ scholarships. There is still time to sign up as a team or individual.
- President Smitty presented a pin to Tom Dickson for being a Paul Harris Fellow +2.
- Dr. John Richmond reminded is of the opportunity for college students to study for six weeks at the University of Oslo in Norway as part of the Oslo Scholarship.
.jpg)
Tom Dickson
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Meeting Recap: Dalton State College's National ChampsTo introduce the program, Jon Jaudon, the Executive Director of Athletics and External Relations for Dalton State College, shared some accomplishments that DSC athletics have accomplished in their 7 years of the athletic department. He also shared with us the Roadrunner way by which the athletics department operates: Compete Passionately, Accept Responsibility, Lead Courageously, Live Unselfishly.
Coach Ben Rickett is the Director for the Dalton State Golf program and serves as the head coach for the men's team. Ben is from Surrey, England and found himself in the States by way of golf. Before arriving at Dalton State, Rickett was a coach and student-athlete at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he helped build their program into a national power. While at UTC he was a four-year letter-winner playing 118 rounds in his four seasons with a 73.66 stroke average. In his senior year, Rickett posted a team-best four top ten finishes and eight top 20 finishes. He earned PING All-East Region honors along with being named an All-Southern Conference performer. In 2010 he was named a full-time assistant with the men's golf program at UTC.
.jpg)
Coach Ben Rickett
Since coming to Dalton State in 2012 he has coached 4 Jack Nicklaus award winners, 18 All-Americans, 2 individual national champions, 5 SSAC players of the year, and many more. His coaching skills have been recognized 4 times as the SSAC coach of the year, the 2021 NAIA national coach of the year, and the 2021 Dave Williams national coach of the year. With the 2020 season cut short, athletes were given an extra year of eligibility and seniors had to decide if they would continue to play another year or graduate and move on. Ben told the story of one particular senior who decided to come back for his last year of play eligibility and with the last put helped his team win the 2021 national championship! Ben is especially proud of his team for overcoming adversity and remaining focused throughout the pandemic, and to the DSC administration for allowing athletes to practice in a safe and responsible manner. When asked if he has begun recruiting for the next season, Ben said yes and they had been working to recruit for the next several seasons. His goal is to bring players from all over to this community. Currently he has players from Florida, England, and Canada. The analogy of a puzzle was used to describe his success, without the support from the community or any of the other pieces, it won't work. Ben's love for the game and the relationships with the players is what makes coaching worth it to him. The Dalton State golf program is fortunate to have Coach Rickett and looking forward to many years ahead.
Announcements:
- The annual golf tournament will be on October 12th to raise funds for local students’ scholarships. There is still time to sign up as a team or individual.
- President Smitty presented a pin to Tom Dickson for being a Paul Harris Fellow +2.
- Dr. John Richmond reminded is of the opportunity for college students to study for six weeks at the University of Oslo in Norway as part of the Oslo Scholarship.
.jpg)
Tom Dickson
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This Week: Monday Afternoon Football
Are you ready for some football? A Monday afternoon party? We're getting together this week at the Dalton Convention Center for our annual High School Football Preview. The head coaches of all our local programs will talk to us about their teams, their players, and what to expect when it's time to turn on the Friday Night Lights.
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August 2nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
8-Aug |
|
|
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
2-Aug |
|
|
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
7-Aug |
|
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
2-Aug |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Chandler, Susan |
Chandler, Robert M. |
4-Aug |
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri (CHERRI) |
Robertson, Ricky N |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Satterfield, Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
Satterfield, Bruce A. |
9-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
Gretchen |
8-Aug |
35 |
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
Bennieta |
6-Aug |
66 |
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
Lamar |
7-Aug |
56 |
|
|
|
August 2nd, 2021
.
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Upcoming Meetings (8/2)
Here's a look at what we've got scheduled for our next few meetings (the schedule could be subject to change if scheduling conflicts arise).
August 10th - Ashley Deverell, Immunization Coodinator of NW Ga Health District
August 17th - Dr. Tim Scott, Dalton City Schools (Rotary Board Meeting)
August 24th - Dr. Mike Ewton, Whitfield County Schools
August 31st - Filip Forsberg - GRSP Student
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This Week: Dalton State College's National Champion Golf TeamThe northwest Georgia area and Whitfield County in particular have no shortage of athletic talent and we've got plenty of trophies to prove it. Dalton State College brought another big one home in May when the Roadrunners won the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship. We'll celebrate the accomplishment this week with a visit from the Roadrunners' Head Coach Ben Rickett. He'll give us some stories from his team and let us know what's next for his squad.
We'll be enjoying our traditional buffet lunch together at the Dalton Golf and Country Club, but for any members who aren't able to join us, you can also watch online with this link:
This week’s meeting: Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
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Upcoming Meetings (7/26)
Here's a look at what we've got scheduled for our next few meetings (the schedule could be subject to change if scheduling conflicts arise).
August 2nd (MONDAY) - Area High School Coaches (Dalton Convention Center)
August 10th - Ashley Deverell, Immunization Coodinator of NW Ga Health District
August 17th - Dr. Tim Scott, Dalton City Schools (Rotary Board Meeting)
August 24th - Dr. Mike Ewton, Whitfield County Schools
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July 27th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
29-Jul |
|
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
2-Aug |
|
|
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
2-Aug |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri (CHERRI) |
Robertson, Ricky N |
2-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
8/1/1994 |
27 |
|
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
8/1/1988 |
33 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
Delle |
28-Jul |
59 |
|
|
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July 27th, 2021
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Meeting Recap: Tuning In WTCI-TVLast week's meeting started with a presentation from Jackie Killings. Jackie is a member of the Carpet City Rotary Club and serves as the Assistant Governor for District 6910-Area 1. She presented our club with the 2021-2022 flag which includes this year's Rotary theme, Serve to Change Lives. We were also presented with our member pins for this year.
Jackie Killings
Dr. John Richmond then introduced our speaker, President and CEO of WTCI-TV, Bob Culkeen. A native of Massachusetts, Bob's work has taken him from Illinois, to Florida, and most recently, Chattanooga. WTCI is the Chattanooga area PBS station, providing 35 counties in the region with quality national and local programming. The station, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, reaches over 440,000 households in four states with programming that its website describes as "quality programs and services that educate, engage and inspire a lifetime of learning and exploration." 86% of households in the Tennessee valley are PBS watchers and they have been rated #1 in a trust survey for 18 years.
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Bob Culkeen
With a focus on serving the community through public media, WTCI recognized a need in 2020 and found new ways to serve. WTCI helped produce and air the Nutcracker with the Chattanooga Ballet and aired virtual concerts from the Hunter Museum. Through a partnership with Hamilton County Schools, WTCI has created a new channel that focuses on educational outreach by working with educators from Hamilton County. PBS now has four channels, PBS, PBS Kids, PBS creates, and the education channel. The vision of WTCI is to be "... A center of exploration for all ages… WTCI builds communities and strengthens families in Chattanooga, North Georgia, and the Tennessee Valley." We enjoyed getting to hear from Bob about how WTCI is making a different in the North Georgia and Tennessee Valley.
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Meeting Recap: WTCI-TV, PBS for the TN Valley
Last week's meeting started with a presentation from Jackie Killings. Jackie is a member of the Carpet City Rotary Club and serves as the Assistant Governor for District 6910-Area 1. She presented our club with the 2021-2022 flag which includes this year's Rotary theme, Serve to Change Lives. We were also presented with our member pins for this year.
Dr. John Richmond then introduced our speaker, President and CEO of WTCI-TV, Bob Culkeen. A native of Massachusetts, Bob's work has taken him from Illinois, to Florida, and most recently, Chattanooga. WTCI is the Chattanooga area PBS station, providing 35 counties in the region with quality national and local programming. The station, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, reaches over 440,000 households in four states with programming that its website describes as "quality programs and services that educate, engage and inspire a lifetime of learning and exploration." 86% of households in the Tennessee valley are PBS watchers and they have been rated #1 in a trust survey for 18 years.
With a focus on serving the community through public media, WTCI recognized a need in 2020 and found new ways to serve. WTCI helped produce and air the Nutcracker with the Chattanooga Ballet and aired virtual concerts from the Hunter Museum. Through a partnership with Hamilton County Schools, WTCI has created a new channel that focuses on educational outreach by working with educators from Hamilton County. PBS now has four channels, PBS, PBS Kids, PBS creates, and the education channel. The vision of WTCI is to be "... A center of exploration for all ages… WTCI builds communities and strengthens families in Chattanooga, North Georgia, and the Tennessee Valley." We enjoyed getting to hear from Bob about how WTCI is making a different in the North Georgia and Tennessee Valley.
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Meeting Recap: The Bandy Heritage Center of Northwest Georgia
We had a great turn out last week - 48 members! The most we've seen since the Pandemic started. As we transition back to meeting together each week, let us forget how fortunate we are for our club's resilience through the Pandemic. Our club is truly making a difference in our community, and we got to hear about that impact last week. President Smitty Barnett read a thank you note written by one of our scholarship recipients. She thanked us for our investment in her future and mentioned that she aligned well with our mission - maybe we have a future Rotarian! Coach McClurg then presented a plaque on behalf of the Dalton High track team to Bruce Satterfield and our club in appreciation of hosting the track meet each year. It's such a privilege to pour into these student's lives, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. President Smitty then introduced Rotarian and Dr. Adam Ware who gave us an update on the Bandy Heritage Center of Northwest Georgia.
Dr. Ware holds a doctorate in American religious history and museum studies from Florida State University. Adam served as a historian and research librarian at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando. Since returning home to Dalton in 2018, Adam serves as the Director for the Bandy Heritage Center of Northwest Georgia named after the late Jack Bandy. The heritage center is located on the campus of Dalton State College and serves as a research archive and artifact collection, a heritage resource for communities, businesses, and organizations across NW GA, and has a teaching lab for DSC students. Under Adam's leadership the archival collection has grown from 2,000 items to over 27,000 items, that is a 1,300% growth rate in 36 months. Adam has worked hard to ensure that the heritage center offers the people of NWGA a preservation opportunity to the standards you would get at a national archive in D.C. without materials ever leaving the area. The center received a grant from Georgia Humanities to install the regions first climate care system for archival care. That makes them the only facility in the region capable of adhering to the national archive standards for cold storage. This grant helps tremendously in preserving items, for example, photographs can stay in their current condition for about 700 years.
In March of 2020, the heritage center was set to start working on their portion of the federal veteran's history project with Library of Congress to collect stories and letters from veterans. One of the things that makes the Bandy Heritage Center so special is that the veterans that would be telling their stories could do so without their materials ever having to leave the region. Adam was excited to offer this opportunity to local veterans, however on the day they would begin work was the day that the Dalton State campus was shut down due to Covid-19. Since then, unfortunately two veterans they were going to interview have passed away. This project is still postponed, but they hope to one day revisit this project and preserve the stories and artifacts for generations to come.
Adam ended his presentation by sharing some photos that the collection has. These included a photograph of the construction of Brookwood Elementary School and a photo of the foundation of the post office in 1909 which is now the Chamber of Commerce downtown. In the photo none of the buildings are still there, it featured the original Hotel Dalton and the Dalton Opera House. The center collects materials ranging from audiovisual media, documents, paper records, oral histories, and artifacts and objects. The club was encouraged that nothing is insignificant in what the center is eager to preserve. He acknowledged that there may be hesitation to donate something but that the reason we want to keep our items is the same reason that he and the center want to preserve them forever. There is hope that there will be an opportunity to showcase some items in the collections at a grand opening soon.
This mission of Bandy Heritage Center is that it "… exists to collect, preserve, and interpret the material and cultural history of Northwest Georgia's many communities." Through his passion for history, Adam and his team undoubtedly accomplish this mission. To listen to the full presentation of the meeting, visit our YouTube channel by searching 'The Rotary Club of Dalton'.
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July 20th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bundros, Lara |
Bundros, Thomas A |
22-Jul |
|
|
| Tharpe, Julie |
Tharpe, Henry C. |
23-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
7/20/2021 |
0 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
Vinai |
20-Jul |
45 |
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
Carla |
21-Jul |
20 |
|
|
|
July 20th, 2021
..
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Upcoming Meetings
Here's a look at what we've got scheduled for our next few meetings (the schedule could be subject to change if scheduling conflicts arise).
July 27th - Ben Rickett - Dalton State College Golf Team, National Champions
August 2nd (MONDAY) - Area High School Coaches (Dalton Convention Center)
August 10th - Ashley Deverell, Immunization Coodinator of NW Ga Health District
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Join The Largest Rotary Meeting ... EVER! All Rotarians between Pennsylvania and South America (that's us!) are invited to participate in what organizers are calling The Largest Rotary Club Meeting EVER! The meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 21st at 1:00 PM EDT. Clubs from all around the glober are participating with PRID Stephanie Urchick as the speaker. Her topic, "Rotary Responds: Surviving and Thriving During the Pandemic and Beyond” is a timely subject as we transition to more in-person events, while learning lessons from the year behind us.
This virtual meeting is limited to 1000 participants, so don’t delay in signing up! You can register at https://tinyurl.com/largestrotarymeeting.
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This Week: A Look At WTCIThis week, our guest is Bob Culkeen, the president and CEO of WTCI-TV. For those of you who aren't up on your television station call letters, WTCI is the Chattanooga area PBS station, providing 35 counties in the region with quality national and also local programming.
The station, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, reaches over 440,000 households in four states with programming that its website describes as "quality programs and services that educate, engage and inspire a lifetime of learning and exploration."
Anyone who wishes to attend online instead of in person can use this link to join us virtually:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
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July 13th, 2021
..
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And We're Back! As was mentioned in last week's Club bulletin, today's meeting is a new start of sorts for us as we get back to having regularly scheduled lunch meetings at the Dalton Golf and Country Club each week. In addition to getting back to having a meeting each week, we're also getting back to having our traditional buffet-style lunch.
If that's not enough good news for you, we've got more with this week's featured speaker, Dr. Adam Ware from the Bandy Heritage Center of Northwest Georgia. Dr. Ware will tell us about all of the progress that's been made at the Bandy Center, which is housed at Dalton State College. The Center was founded through the generosity of the late Jack Bandy and is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the history and culture of Northwest Georgia. Dr. Ware will be sharing how the Bandy Heritage Center will benefit the people of Whitfield County and our region for years to come.
We hope to see you for there, but for those who are unable to join us in person, there's also an online option for the meeting. Those wishing to attend virtually can use this link:
Microsoft Teams meeting
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July 13th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
|
|
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
|
|
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| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
14-Jul |
|
|
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| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
14-Jul |
|
|
|
| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
14-Jul |
|
|
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| Hutcheson, John A. Jr. (JOHN) |
18-Jul |
|
|
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| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
19-Jul |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Kinard, Bob |
Kinard, Dixie |
13-Jul |
|
|
| Townsend, Teresa |
Townsend, Patrick J. |
15-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
7/19/2016 |
5 |
|
|
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
7/19/2016 |
5 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Conway, Deborah R (DEBORAH) |
John |
13-Jul |
36 |
|
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
Terri |
15-Jul |
49 |
|
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
Marilyn |
15-Jul |
54 |
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
Annelle |
17-Jul |
21 |
|
|
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July 6th, 2021
..
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A Job Well Done2020 was definitely a tough year to take over as President of our Club, and we all appreciate the hard work that our Immediate Past President Ricky Robertson did to keep the Club on course through a series of challenges. At last week's meeting, President Smitty Barnett presented Ricky with his Presidential Service Award after the passing of the gavel. Thank you for all of the hard work!
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Next Week: Back To Normal!
We hope that you all had a very happy and safe 4th of July weekend. There will be no meeting this week, but the good news is that this should be the last time we have to say that for quite some time! We're getting things back to normal for the Club starting with next week's meeting on July 13th. That means we're planning to get back to meeting in person on a weekly basis at the Dalton Golf and Country Club, and we're happy to announce that we're planning to bring back our traditional buffet-style lunches. The Club sincerely thanks all of you for bearing with us during the last year and a half as we navigated some very unfamiliar waters. We're optimistic and exciting for smoother sailing in the weeks and months to come as we return to normal in the next Club year.
Next week's meeting will be a fun one for history buffs. Our speaker will be Dr. Adam Ware, the Director of the Bandy Heritage Center of Northwest Georgia. The Bandy Center, which is housed at Dalton State College, was founded through the generosity of our late, great friend Jack Bandy and is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the history and culture of Northwest Georgia. The Center is still in its infancy and Dr. Ware will discuss what's new there and speak about how the Bandy Heritage Center will benefit the people of Whitfield County and our region for years to come. We hope to see you for there!
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July 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
7-Jul |
|
|
|
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
8-Jul |
|
|
|
| Gooding, Darby (DARBY) |
8-Jul |
|
|
|
| Neal, John P. III (JOHN) |
9-Jul |
|
|
|
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
10-Jul |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
Total |
| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
7/7/2015 |
6 |
|
|
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
7/10/2007 |
14 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Parrott, V DeForrest III(DEFORREST) |
Eugenia |
6-Jul |
63 |
|
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
Donna |
11-Jul |
51 |
|
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June 29th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
3-Jul |
|
|
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
4-Jul |
|
|
|
| Wright, William B. Jr. (WILLIAM) |
5-Jul |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Alderman, Alicia |
Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. |
3-Jul |
|
|
| Maret, Sarah |
Maret, Charles D. |
1-Jul |
|
|
| Walker, Jason |
Walker, Natima G |
30-Jun |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
6/30/2004 |
17 |
|
|
| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
7/1/2018 |
3 |
|
|
| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
7/1/1996 |
25 |
|
|
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
7/1/2018 |
3 |
|
|
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
7/1/2010 |
11 |
|
|
| Payne, Charles F Jr.(CHUCK) |
7/1/2017 |
4 |
|
|
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
7/1/1980 |
41 |
|
|
| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
7/1/1973 |
48 |
|
|
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
7/1/1969 |
52 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
Linda |
1-Jul |
54 |
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
Bill |
1-Jul |
54 |
|
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
Janet |
5-Jul |
51 |
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
Pat |
2-Jul |
55 |
|
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
Lin |
30-Jun |
37 |
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
Phyllis |
1-Jul |
54 |
|
|
Online Meeting LinkFor those who wish to join us online instead of in person, use this link:
Join on your computer or mobile app
|
|
June 29th, 2021
..
|
|
Big Brothers and Big Sisters
After a couple weeks off, we're back together this week at the Dalton Golf and Country Club to pass the gavel from President Ricky to incoming President Smitty Barnett. We'll also be hearing a presentation from Shawnessey Cargile with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Club about the great work they do with youth in our area.
Shawnessey Cargile grew up in Calhoun and has called Chattanooga home for most of the last 22 years. He strongly believes in the power of mentoring and is actively involved with local poets and musicians, through his weekly open mic night, and is involved with children’s ministry at his home church. Since graduating from Southern Adventist University in 2003, Shawnessey has served as an educator, coach, pastor, and disability advocate. He currently works with children and volunteers through Big Brothers Big Sisters in Chattanooga.
|
June 22nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Brown, Alex C (ALEX) |
27-Jun |
|
|
|
| Little, William Norris Sr. (NORRIS) |
28-Jun |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Combs, Donna |
Combs, William Dan |
24-Jun |
|
|
| Neal, Terri |
Neal, John P. III |
24-Jun |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Croft, Brian C (BRIAN) |
6/25/2019 |
2 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
Sally |
23-Jun |
45 |
|
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
Ginny |
25-Jun |
16 |
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
Sara |
26-Jun |
25 |
|
|
|
June 22nd, 2021
..
|
|
Mark Your Calendar: Meeting Next Week
There is no meeting this week, but we'll be getting back together at the Dalton Country Club next week on June 29th! That day we'll be hearing from a representative from the local Big Brothers Big Sisters program about the great work they do mentoring local youth. We'll also be passing the gavel to our next Club President Smitty Barnett so we hope all of you can be there to start his term!
|
|
June 15th, 2021
..
|
|
Next Meeting: June 29th
There will be no lunch meeting this week, but go ahead and mark your calendars to join us again on June 29th! That day we'll be hearing from a representative from the local Big Brothers Big Sisters program about the great work they do mentoring local youth. We'll also be passing the gavel to our next Club President Smitty Barnett! We hope to see all of you there!
|
June 15th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Pena, Arnaldo (ARNALDO) |
15-Jun |
|
|
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
21-Jun |
|
|
|
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
21-Jun |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
6/20/2006 |
15 |
|
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
Donna |
16-Jun |
48 |
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
Cathy |
19-Jun |
39 |
|
| Critides, Samuel D (SAM) |
Maricarmen |
20-Jun |
29 |
|
|
Honoring Our HeroesThis week's meeting is all about honoring the heroes who serve our community. We are lucky to have outstanding first responders at every agency serving our area .This week's program is our annual Rotary Service Awards ceremony. We hope you'll be able ot join us as we honor the brave police, firefighters, and EMS personnel who serve our community. As always, the lunch meeting will be at the Dalton Country Club, and it will also be streamed online for those who wish to attend the meeting virtually. The link is below:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Learn More | Meeting options
|
June 8th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
14-Jun |
|
|
|
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
1-Jun |
|
|
|
| Croft, Brian C (BRIAN) |
9-Jun |
|
|
|
| Sanders, Drayton M II (DRAYTON) |
13-Jun |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Barlow, Susan |
Barlow, Jonathan L |
11-Jun |
|
|
| Little, Billie |
Little, William Norris Sr. |
13-Jun |
|
|
| Scott, Tonya |
Scott, Shaun E |
3-Jun |
|
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Parrott, V DeForrest III(DEFORREST) |
6/1/66 |
55 |
|
|
| Patterson, Frank W Jr.(FRANK) |
6/1/95 |
26 |
|
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
6/1/85 |
36 |
|
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Croft, Brian C (BRIAN) |
Michelle |
9-Jun |
3 |
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
Brenda |
8-Jun |
58 |
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
Mary Lynn |
5-Jun |
17 |
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
Jimmy |
8-Jun |
36 |
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
Dianne |
10-Jun |
54 |
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
Pamela |
11-Jun |
44 |
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
Agnes (AGGIE) |
7-Jun |
13 |
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
Rebecca |
2-Jun |
35 |
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
Charlie |
6-Jun |
29 |
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
Connie |
2-Jun |
48 |
|
|
|
June 8th, 2021
.
|
June 1st, 2021 Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
1-Jun |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Scott, Tonya |
Scott, Shaun E |
3-Jun |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
6/1/1985 |
36 |
|
|
| Patterson, Frank W Jr.(FRANK) |
6/1/1995 |
26 |
|
|
| Parrott, V DeForrest III(DEFORREST) |
6/1/1966 |
55 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
Connie |
2-Jun |
48 |
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
Rebecca |
2-Jun |
35 |
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
Mary Lynn |
5-Jun |
17 |
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
Charlie |
6-Jun |
29 |
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
Agnes (AGGIE) |
7-Jun |
13 |
|
|
|
June 1st, 2021
.
|
Reminder: Next Week's Meeting (6/8)We hope that each of you had a happy Memorial Day weekend and had a chance to remember our fallen heroes. We are not meeting this week, but we'll back next week on Tuesday, June 8th for the annual Rotary Service Awards ceremony. We hope you'll be able ot join us as we honor the brave first responders who serve our community. As always, the lunch meeting will be at the Dalton Country Club, and it will also be streamed online for those who wish to attend the meeting virtually. The link is below:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Learn More | Meeting options
|
May 25th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
30-May |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Morris, Sarah |
Brown, Alex C |
30-May |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
5/25/1999 |
22 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Barlow, Jonathan L (JONATHAN) |
Susan |
26-May |
14 |
|
|
|
May 25th, 2021
.
|
Our Next Meeting - June 8thWe will not be meeting this week, and we'll also be taking a longer break for the Memorial Day holiday next week. But we'll be back together again on June 8th when we have our annual Rotary Service Awards ceremony to honor the brave first responders that serve our community. As always, the lunch meeting will be at the Dalton Country Club, and it will also be streamed online for those who wish to attend the meeting virtually. The link is below:
Microsoft Teams meeting
|
|
May 18th, 2021
.
|
This Week: Mental Health By Ricky N Robertson We are back this week at the Dalton Country Club for our usual Rotary lunch meeting, and this week our focus is on mental health. Michael Mullet is the Community Relations Director for Highland Rivers Health here in Dalton and he'll be giving a presenation on the services his organization has to offer for people in need here in Whitfield County.
As usual, we look forward to seeing all of you who can join us! Those who are unable to join us in person can join us instead online using this link:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Learn More | Meeting options
|
May 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
19-May |
|
|
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
21-May |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Elliott, S. G. |
Elliott, Judy M. |
22-May |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
5/19/1998 |
23 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
David |
24-May |
35 |
|
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
Carolyn |
24-May |
52 |
|
|
May 11th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
12-May |
|
|
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
13-May |
|
|
|
| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
14-May |
|
|
|
| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
15-May |
|
|
|
| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
17-May |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Mixer, Mark |
Mixer, Kimberly J |
13-May |
|
|
| Blevins, David |
Blevins, Sheri H. |
15-May |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
Avalee |
17-May |
7 |
|
|
|
May 11th,
By Ricky N Robertson
2021
|
Mark Your Calendar - Next Meeting, May 18thWe will not be meeting this week, but we've got an important presentation next week on May 18th. Michael Mullet, the Community Relations Director for Highland Rivers Health here in Dalton will be our featured speaker and he will be giving a presentation on the mental health services currently available for those in need in Whitfield County.
As usual, we will be meeting at the Dalton Country Club for lunch. Those who are unable to join us in person can join us instead online using this link:
Microsoft Teams meeting
|
Whitfield Educational FoundationWelcome to May! We are starting the month off with a meeting today, May 4th, at the Dalton Country Club. Our speaker for today is Smitty Barnett with a presentation about the important work being done by the Whitfield County Educational Foundation.
For those of you unable to attend in person, we will also be offering the meeting virtually. Here's the link to join us online:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Learn More | Meeting options
|
May 4th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr. (JUDSON) |
8-May |
|
|
|
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
9-May |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Winter, Connie |
Winter, Larry E. |
4-May |
|
|
| Bailey, Dell |
Bailey, Philip Bates |
4-May |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Walker, Natima G (NATIMA) |
5/8/2018 |
3 |
|
|
| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
5/9/2017 |
4 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
Belinda |
6-May |
26 |
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
Lara |
7-May |
27 |
|
|
|
May 4th,
2021
|
|
April 27th,
2021
|
April 27th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Patterson, Frank W Jr. (FRANK) |
29-Apr |
|
|
|
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
29-Apr |
|
|
|
| Bowen, William C. III (BILL) |
29-Apr |
|
|
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
30-Apr |
|
|
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
1-May |
|
|
|
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
3-May |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Holmes, Cathy |
Didier, John M. |
1-May |
|
|
| Kinard, Dixie |
Kinard, Robert W |
1-May |
|
|
| Jones, Patrick |
Jones, Kelly McDonald |
3-May |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Critides, Samuel D (SAM) |
4/30/2019 |
2 |
|
|
| Scott, Shaun E (SHAUN) |
4/30/2019 |
2 |
|
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
5/1/1983 |
38 |
|
|
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
5/1/1980 |
41 |
|
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
5/1/1984 |
37 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
Diane |
28-Apr |
52 |
|
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
Sharon |
29-Apr |
49 |
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
April (APRIL) |
2-May |
29 |
|
|
|
Mark Your Calendar - Next Meeting May 4th
We won't be meeting this week, but we'll be starting the month of May off with a meeting on Tuesday, May 4th at the Dalton Country Club. Smitty Barnett will be our featured speaker with a presentation about the important work being done by the Whitfield County Educational Foundation. Make plans to join us for lunch and to learn what's being done to help our county's next generation of young leaders!
|
|
Rotary R&R
Welcome! Today's meeting is a chance to get reaquainted after a year spent mostly apart. We're having some Rotary R&R to reconnect and enjoy some lunch and fellowship. Enjoy!
|
April 20th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bledsoe, Ginny |
Bledsoe, Jonathan L. |
21-Apr |
|
|
| Brantley, Tray |
Brantley, Valerie K |
22-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
4/24/2012 |
9 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
Pat |
25-Apr |
35 |
|
|
|
March 23rd,
2021
|
Mark Your Calendars - Next Meeting, April 6thGreetings! We won't be meeting this week, but we're looking forward to having the club get together again for lunch at the Country Club on April 6th. We'll be hearing from Brian Croft about the Crisis Hotline and the services they provide for callers in their hour of need. For those of you who can't join us in person, the meeting will be streamed online so you can join us virtually. The meeting login information is as follows:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Learn More | Meeting options
|
|
April 20th,
2021
|
|
April 13th,
2021
|
March 30th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Ridley, Hope |
Ridley, Rusty |
1-Apr |
|
|
| Hogshead, Carolyn |
Hogshead, Frank M. |
2-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
3/30/2010 |
11 |
|
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
4/1/1989 |
32 |
|
|
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
4/1/2008 |
13 |
|
|
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
4/1/1978 |
43 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
|
March 30th
2021
|
April 13th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
18-Apr |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Srivastava, Vinai |
Srivastava, Archana |
16-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
4/19/2005 |
16 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
Celeste |
15-Apr |
33 |
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
Bob |
19-Apr |
52 |
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
Dixie |
19-Apr |
52 |
|
|
|
Our Next Meeting: April 20th
We will not be meeting this week, but on April 20th we'll be taking the opportunity to get together at the Dalton Golf and Country Club for a little Rotary R&R session to catch up and reconnect with each other after the crazy and difficult year we've had. There will be no formal program, just a chance to spend some time together and enjoy some fellowship after the year apart. Because we won't be featuring a speaker, there will be no online streaming for the meeting. For those of you who are able to attend, we're looking forward to seeing you!
|
Now that all of the April Fool's pranks have played out, it's safe to come out again and enjoy the spring weather. We're back meeting at the Country Club this week as usual, and our guest speaker is Brian Croft with a presentation about the Crisis Hotline and the services that are provided to those who are in their hour of need. As usual, the presentation will be streamed online for those who wish to attend virtually. The log in information is below:
Microsoft Teams meeting
|
|
April 6th,
2021
|
April 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
11-Apr |
|
|
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
11-Apr |
|
|
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
11-Apr |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
4/9/2013 |
8 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
Cindy |
8-Apr |
21 |
|
|
Today's Meeting - The Crisis HotlineNow that all of the April Fool's pranks have played out, it's safe to come out again and enjoy the spring weather. We're back meeting at the Country Club this week as usual, and our guest speaker is Brian Croft with a presentation about the Crisis Hotline and the services that are provided to those who are in their hour of need. As usual, the presentation will be streamed online for those who wish to attend virtually. The log in information is below:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Learn More | Meeting options
|
Our Next Meeting - April 6thWe hope that you're enjoying the first tastes of spring weather as things are starting to warm up a little bit around Dalton. We will be taking the next two weeks off from meetings before resuming on April 6th at the Country Club with a presentation from Brian Croft about the Crisis Hotline and the services that are provided to those who are in their hour of need. As usual, the presentation will be streamed online for those who wish to attend virtually. The log in information is below:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
|
March 23rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
27-Mar |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Pangle, Belinda |
Pangle, William T |
24-Mar |
|
|
| Stewart, Celeste |
Stewart, Robert T |
25-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
3/26/2013 |
8 |
|
|
| Barlow, Jonathan L (JONATHAN) |
3/28/2018 |
3 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
Patrick |
25-Mar |
26 |
|
|
March 9th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr. (PAUL) |
10-Mar |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Griffin, Candy |
Griffin, Joseph Bryan |
12-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
3/15/2016 |
5 |
|
|
| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
3/15/2016 |
5 |
|
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
3/15/2016 |
5 |
|
|
| Conway, Deborah R (DEBORAH) |
3/15/2016 |
5 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
Virginia |
12-Mar |
55 |
|
|
|
March 9th,
2021
|
This Week: Enjoying The Great Outdoors In Whitfield's Newest Park Spring is right around the corner and today we're going to hear about the newest place in the area to get outside and enjoy warmer, nicer weather. Our guest today is Parks and Recreation Director Brian Chastain. He'll be telling us all about Whitfield County's new Riverbend Park and all of its amenities.
As usual, we are meeting in person at the country club, but for those who wish to attend virtually we will also be streaming online. The meeting can be found here:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Learn More | Meeting options
|
|
March 16th,
2021
|
|
March 16th Birthdays and Anniversaries
|
March 16th, 2021 Birthdays and Annviersaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Thomas, Abby L (ABBY) |
16-Mar |
|
|
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
20-Mar |
|
|
|
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
21-Mar |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Temples, Noel |
Temples, Coy H |
16-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Gooding, Darby (DARBY) |
3/20/2018 |
3 |
|
|
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
3/20/2018 |
3 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
Andrea |
18-Mar |
15 |
|
|
Next Meeting: March 16thWe will not be meeting this week, but we'll be getting back together at the Dalton Golf and Country Club next week on March 16th to hear about the next addition to the great places to enjoy the great outdoors in our area: Whitfield County's Riverbend Park. Brian Chastain, the Whitfield County Parks and Recreation Director, will be our featured speaker to tell us all about the new park and all of its amenities.
As usual, the meeting will be in person at the country club, but for those who wish to attend virtually we will also be streaming online. The meeting can be found here:
Microsoft Teams meeting
|
|
March 2nd,
2021
|
This Week: Helping Victims Of AbuseThis week, we are meeting at the Dalton Golf and Country Club for lunch and a presentation from fellow Rotarian and GreenHouse executive director Natima Walker. The GreenHouse is a non-profit organization serving the needs of child victims of abuse and also survivors of sexual assault. One of our communities hidden gems, the GreenHouse does important work to protect some of our most vulnerable neighbors.
As usual, this week's meeting will also be streamed online for those who wish to attend virtually. The login information is below:
Microsoft Teams meeting
|
March 2nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
7-Mar |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Wright, Joanne |
Wright, Thomas L |
3-Mar |
|
|
| Bowen, Ann |
Bowen, William C. III |
5-Mar |
|
|
| Pierce, Lamar |
Pierce, Sara C. |
5-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr.(JUDSON) |
3/3/1964 |
57 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
February 23rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Walker, Natima G (NATIMA) |
26-Feb |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Kiker, John |
Kiker, Janice F. |
24-Feb |
|
|
| Jolly, Becky |
Jolly, Hilliard R. |
25-Feb |
|
|
| Brooker, Janet |
Brooker, Robert H. |
27-Feb |
|
|
| Jones, Danielle |
Jones, J Sherwood III |
27-Feb |
|
|
| Ward, Allen |
Ward, Barbara K. |
27-Feb |
|
|
| Norris, Calli |
Norris, Bradley B |
28-Feb |
|
|
| Johnson, Pat |
Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. |
1-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
2/23/2016 |
5 |
|
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
2/23/2010 |
11 |
|
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
2/23/2010 |
11 |
|
|
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
2/23/2016 |
5 |
|
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
2/24/1998 |
23 |
|
|
| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
2/26/2019 |
2 |
|
|
| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
2/26/2019 |
2 |
|
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
3/1/1988 |
33 |
|
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
3/1/1976 |
45 |
|
|
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
3/1/1975 |
46 |
|
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
3/1/1994 |
27 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
Susan |
23-Feb |
47 |
|
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
Bobby |
27-Feb |
22 |
|
|
|
February 23rd, 2021
|
|
Our Next Meeting: March 2nd
We won't have a meeting this week, but we'll be back together in person and online March 2nd for a presentation by Natima Walker, the executive director of the GreenHouse children's advocacy and sexual assault center. The GreenHouse is a non-profit organization serving the needs of child victims of abuse and also survivors of sexual assault.
We'll be meeting in person as usual at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and the meeting will also be available online for those who wish to join us virtually.
|
This Week: Helping Families Affected By Domestic ViolenceThis week, our speaker is Katora Printup, the Executive Director of the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center. She will be telling us about the work she and her staff are doing to serve those who are affected by domestic violence to get back onto their feet and back to living safer and healthier lives.
The Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center serves all victims of domestic violence. The agency serves Whitfield, Gordon and Murray counties. The mission of the Crisis Center is to end violence in the home by providing shelter, advocacy, and support to the victims while working in the community to change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.
Katora graduated from Gordon Central High School in 1993, received her Bachelors of Science degree in 1997 and her Masters of Public Administration in 2000 from Jacksonville State University. She worked with the Department and Family and Children Services in Gordon County for eight and a half years before becoming the Assistant Director of the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center in 2007. Two years later, she became the Center's Executive Director.
For those who wish to join us virtually on February 16th instead of attending in person, the login information is below:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Learn More | Meeting options
|
February 16th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Denson, Andrea |
Denson, Jason B |
16-Feb |
|
|
| Chambliss, Alex |
Chambliss, Darla P |
18-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
2/20/2007 |
14 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
|
February 16th, 2021
|
|
February 9th, 2021
|
Next Meeting: February 16thOur next meeting will be on February 16th with a presentation on the important work being done at the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center. Our speaker will be Katora Printup. She is the Executive Director of the Center.
The Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center serves all victims of domestic violence. The agency serves Whitfield, Gordon and Murray counties. The mission of the Crisis Center is to end violence in the home by providing shelter, advocacy, and support to the victims while working in the community to change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.
Katora graduated from Gordon Central High School in 1993, received her Bachelors of Science degree in 1997 and her Masters of Public Administration in 2000 from Jacksonville State University. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, vacationing and being involved in community activities. She also enjoys working in the Social Service field and feeling like she can make a positive difference in someone’s life.
Katora worked with the Department and Family and Children Services in Gordon County for eight and a half years. In 2007 Katora became the Assistant Director of the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center. In 2009 she became the Executive Director of the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center.
We will be meeting in person at the Dalton Golf and Country Club as usual, and we will also be streaming the meeting online for those who prefer to attend virtually. The login information for the meeting is available below:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Learn More | Meeting options
|
February 9th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
12-Feb |
|
|
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr. (ROBERT) |
15-Feb |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Henson, Jean |
Henson, Paul E. Jr. |
14-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
2/15/2000 |
21 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
Today's Meeting - A Visit With Our GRSP AlumniToday, we're getting together for lunch with some of our former GRSP students to hear about their experiences. Elsa Hellsten, Adam Tee, Krystal Tee, and Isabel Vinterblad will be our speakers. We'll be meeting in person at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and we'll also be streaming the meeting online for those who wish to join us virtually instead. Here's the link for those who wish to meet online:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+1 229-302-4006,,518282187# United States, Albany
(844) 598-1770,,518282187# United States (Toll-free)
Phone Conference ID: 518 282 187#
Find a local number | Reset PIN
Learn More | Meeting options
|
|
February 2nd, 2021
|
February 2nd Birthdays and Annicversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Barnwell, Delle |
Barnwell, William L |
2-Feb |
|
|
| McKenzie, Jimmy |
McKenzie, Sandra D |
6-Feb |
|
|
| DeLay, Avalee |
DeLay, Scott G |
6-Feb |
|
|
| Adcock, Diane |
Adcock, Don W. |
7-Feb |
|
|
| Brunson, Cindy |
Brunson, Kevin M. |
8-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
2/3/2015 |
6 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
|
January 26th, 2021
|
|
Our Next Meeting - Feb. 2nd w/GRSP Alumni!
Our next meeting will be held both in person at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and also online via live streaming for those who wish to attend virtually. We'll be hearing from some old young friends as former GRSP students Elsa Hellsten, Krystal Tee, and Isabel Vinterbladh join us to talk about their experiences. We can't wait to see you!
|
January 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
27-Jan |
|
|
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Chappell, Bennieta |
Chappell, William J. |
29-Jan |
|
|
| Critides, Maricarmen |
Critides, Samuel D |
29-Jan |
|
|
| Weaver, Virginia |
Weaver, William B |
1-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
1/27/2009 |
12 |
|
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
2/1/1989 |
32 |
|
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
2/1/1996 |
25 |
|
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
2/1/1981 |
40 |
|
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
2/1/1979 |
42 |
|
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
2/1/1996 |
25 |
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2/1/1972 |
49 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
Abuse of Vulnerable Adults In GeorgiaJanuary 12th - Leading a hybrid meeting of ten Rotarians at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and ten virtual participants via Microsoft Teams, President Ricky recognized several Paul Harris Fellow achievements: Larry Winter, PHF+1; Bob Kinard, PHF+3; Thomas Dickson, PHF+2; Archana Srivastava, PHF+1; and Don Cope, PHF+4.
President Ricky reviewed the progress of the raffle the Club is conducting in partnership with Jack’s Pawn & Gun which will replace the cancelled Lusk Golf Tournament as the Club’s principal fund-raiser in 2020. He thanked everyone who bought or sold tickets, especially Smitty Barnett, Frank Hogshead, Bruce Satterfield, Alex Brown, and Kevin Brunson. The Club stands to make at least six or seven thousand dollars and perhaps as much as $9,300 if no one else has a winning ticket during the remainder of the event.
For a program on abuse of Georgia’s vulnerable adults, President Ricky introduced David Blake, a Financial Forensic Specialist with the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services Forensic Special Initiatives Unit. Before joining the DHS in 2010, David served with the DeKalb County Police Department and the DeKalb County District Attorney’s office as Chief Investigator over the White-Collar Crime Unit. He is a certified Fraud Examiner and an instructor in the state’s At-Risk Adult Crime Tactics Specialist Certification Course.
.JPG)
David Blake
After reviewing the missions of the DHS and its Division of Aging Services, David turned to the Forensic Special Initiatives Unit (FSIU), created in 2006 to support those who respond to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of at-risk adults—the only such agency in the United States. At-risk adults comprise anyone age 65 or older and persons age 18 or older who, by mental or physical incapacitation, Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, are substantially impaired in their ability to provide personal protection, provide personal necessities, carry out the activities of daily living, or manage their resources. In addition, the statute includes residents of long-term care facilities. In Georgia, 1 in 5 adults are classified as “at-risk,” of whom 1 in 10 are victims, but only 1 in 23 such cases are reported. Persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities are 4 to 10 times more likely to be victimized than the general population, over 70% of such adults say they have been abused, and more than 90% say that such abuse occurred on multiple occasions. Approximately 90% of abusers are adult children, spouses, or partners, and 97% to 99% are caregivers or trusted “friends.” The problem is all-inclusive, crossing distinctions of race, sex, gender, socioeconomic background, and sexual identity. Types of abuse may be physical, financial, neglect, emotional, and sexual, and David reviewed sub-types and indicators for each of these categories.
Under Georgia law, mandated reporting to an appropriate agency is required when there is reasonable cause for someone of ordinary intelligence to believe that abuse has occurred. If it has taken place in a private home or community setting, it is to be reported to local law enforcement and Adult Protective Services of the DHS; if it has occurred in a long-term care facility it must be reported to local law enforcement and the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division of the DHS. Reports should be as detailed as possible, and where appropriate, anonymity will always be protected.
Mandated reporters acting in good faith are immune from civil liability or criminal prosecution. Failure to report an observed crime is a misdemeanor, punishable by 12 months in jail and a fine up to $1,000. David provided contact information for relevant agencies, and he also described the Georgia Abuse Neglect Exploitation (GANE) app which provides full information about the law and its operation.
Responding to a question about the current number of cases in Georgia, David reported that there are probably about 1,200 to 1,300, adding that these numbers may be low because the Covid emergency has probably increased the number of occurrences while suppressing the rate of reporting, especially in nursing homes. Because of difficulties in meeting with clients, the pandemic has also created a heavy backlog of cases that remain to be investigated.
After thanking David for his presentation, President Ricky led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four Way Test, and he said that the next meeting is tentatively scheduled for February 2, 2021.
|
|
January 12th, 2021
|
January 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
15-Jan |
|
|
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
17-Jan |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Kelehear, Pat |
Kelehear, Leon S. |
12-Jan |
|
|
| Wright, Betty |
Wright, William B. Jr. |
14-Jan |
|
|
| Smith, Rebecca |
Smith, Clark C. |
18-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
1/18/2011 |
10 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
Hilda |
12-Jan |
46 |
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
Jean |
13-Jan |
59 |
|
|
|
Next Week's Meeting: February 2nd
Greetings! We hope that your new year is off to a great start in 2021 and that you had a wonderful holiday weekend as we remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We will not be meeting this week, and our next meeting is scheduled for February 2nd, 2021. That day, we'll be at the Country Club and we'll be reconnecting with some of our former GRSP students! We're looking forward to getting updates on what they've been up to, both in person at the club and also online for those who choose to attend virtually. We'll see you then!
|
January 19th, 2021 Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
24-Jan |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Tatum, Sharon |
Tatum, Laurice A. |
20-Jan |
|
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
1/23/2001 |
20 |
|
|
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
1/20/2015 |
6 |
|
|
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
1/20/2015 |
6 |
|
|
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
1/19/2010 |
11 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
Sarah |
20-Jan |
53 |
|
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
Mark |
19-Jan |
8 |
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
Kimberly |
19-Jan |
8 |
|
|
|
January 19th, 2021
|
This Week's Meeting - Elder AbuseThis week's meeting is focused on spotting the signs of elder abuse and what to do about it. Presenting will be David Blake from the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS).
Mr. Blake is a Financial Forensic Specialist with the DHS' Division of Aging Services Forensic Special Initiatives Unit (FSIU). Before joining DHS in 2010, Mr. Blake served with the DeKalb County Police Department and the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office as the chief investigator over the White-Collar Crime Unit. Mr. Blake is an ACFE Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), an NW3C Certified Economic Crimes Forensic Examiner (CECFE), a State of Georgia POST Certified Instructor, and is a co-developer of and a principal instructor for the Certified At-Risk Adult Crime Tactics Specialist certification course.
We'll be meeting in person at the Country Club as usual, but we will also be online for those who wish to attend virtually. Just use the link below:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+1 229-302-4006,,685207642# United States, Albany
(844) 598-1770,,685207642# United States (Toll-free)
Phone Conference ID: 685 207 642#
Find a local number | Reset PIN
Learn More | Meeting options
|
January 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
7-Jan |
|
|
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
9-Jan |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Burt, Roger |
Burt, Amanda |
5-Jan |
|
|
| Schwenn, Judy |
Schwenn, John O. |
7-Jan |
|
|
| Minor, Charlsey |
Minor, John Thomas V |
11-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
Tray |
7-Jan |
15 |
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
Ricky |
8-Jan |
21 |
|
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
Cherri (CHERRI) |
8-Jan |
21 |
|
|
|
Next Meeting: Elder Abuse
Our first Club meeting of 2021 is set for next week on January 12th. We'll be hearing a presentation on elder abuse from David Blake from the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS).
Mr. Blake is a Financial Forensic Specialist with the DHS' Division of Aging Services Forensic Special Initiatives Unit (FSIU). Before joining DHS in 2010, Mr. Blake served with the DeKalb County Police Department and the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office as the chief investigator over the White-Collar Crime Unit. Mr. Blake is an ACFE Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), an NW3C Certified Economic Crimes Forensic Examiner (CECFE), a State of Georgia POST Certified Instructor, and is a co-developer of and a principal instructor for the Certified At-Risk Adult Crime Tactics Specialist certification course.
As usual, we will be meeting in person at the Dalton Country Club and there will also be an online option for those who wish to attend virtually.
|
|
January 5th, 2021
|
December 29th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
1-Jan |
|
|
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
4-Jan |
|
|
|
| Parrott, V DeForrest III (DEFORREST) |
30-Dec |
|
|
|
| Conway, Deborah R (DEBORAH) |
30-Dec |
|
|
|
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
30-Dec |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Blackman, Linda |
Blackman, Bill M |
1-Jan |
|
|
| Farmer, Sierra |
Farmer, Joseph |
3-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
1/1/1986 |
35 |
|
|
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
1/1/1976 |
45 |
|
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
12/31/1999 |
21 |
|
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
12/31/2002 |
18 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Payne, Charles F Jr.(CHUCK) |
Angelina |
2-Jan |
33 |
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
Pauline |
3-Jan |
7 |
|
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
Becky |
29-Dec |
53 |
|
|
|
December 29th, 2020
Next Meeting:
January 12th, 2021
|
|
Happy New Year!
We hope that you and your family enjoyed a very safe and very happy holiday season and we're wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year in 2021! We're also looking forward to seeing all of you at our next meeting when we will be getting together in person at the Country Club and online on January 12th! We'll have more information on that meeting soon.
|
|
Merry Christmas!
We are sending you warm wishes for a very safe and very happy holiday season. We'll be resuming our meeting schedule in January, but until then we hope you and yours all have a very Merry Christmas!
|
|
December 22nd, 2020
|
December 22nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Payne, Charles F Jr. (CHUCK) |
22-Dec |
|
|
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
26-Dec |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| McLeod, Carolyn (CAROL) |
McLeod, Robert S. |
27-Dec |
|
|
| Sanders, Mary Etta |
Sanders, Drayton M II |
28-Dec |
|
|
| Minter, Melissa |
Minter, B. Scott |
28-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
Zach |
22-Dec |
13 |
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
Laurie Lee |
24-Dec |
7 |
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
Lou |
26-Dec |
22 |
|
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
Nancy |
27-Dec |
47 |
|
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December 15th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. (MAURICE) |
17-Dec |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Poehlman, Sally |
Poehlman, John H. |
17-Dec |
|
|
| Barnett, Tammy |
Barnett, George S. |
18-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
12/17/2013 |
7 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
Dell |
18-Dec |
49 |
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
Sierra |
20-Dec |
11 |
|
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
Carolyn (CAROL) |
21-Dec |
55 |
|
|
|
December 15th, 2020
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Recent News About The Rotary Foundationby John Hutcheson
Leading a hybrid meeting of eight Rotarians at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and eight virtual participants via Microsoft Teams, President Ricky announced several recognitions the Rotary Club of Dalton has recently received for 2019-2020: $100 per capita giving to the Rotary Foundation, a Gold Club Citation, an End Polio Award, and the District 6910 Silver Award. These accomplishments are testimony to Amanda Reed’s outstanding leadership of the Club during this highly unusual year.
President Ricky reviewed the structure and progress of the raffle the Club is conducting in partnership with Jack’s Pawn & Gun which will replace the cancelled Lusk Golf Tournament as the Club’s principal fund-raiser in 2020. To date more than 60 tickets have been sold, and President Ricky urged members to buy tickets and energetically sell them for $35 apiece or three for $100.
For a program on the Rotary Foundation President Ricky introduced District 6910 Past Governor Don Martin. Now devoting much his time to publicizing the work of the Foundation, Past Governor Don has been a member of the Jasper Rotary Club since 2007, serving as his club’s president in 2011-2012. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he holds degrees from the University of Memphis, Georgia State University, and Mercer University. In Rotary he has held positions at the District and Area levels, and in the Jasper community he has served on the Board of Directors for the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce, as President of the Pickens County Board of Realtors, and on numerous local charity boards. For 28 years he was on active and reserve duty with the U. S. Army, holding responsibilities in defense transportation services before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1998. Currently he is an Associate Broker with 515 Life Real Estate Company in Jasper, specializing in residential real estate. His wife, Regina, is a retired educator, a Rotarian, and like her husband, a past president of the Rotary Club of Jasper.
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Past District Governor Don Martin
Don began by noting that presentations on the work of the Foundation have recently been standardized across District 6910, and he showed a short video, emphasizing “Together we can accomplish great things.” With 92% of its funds applied directly to its work, the Rotary Foundation is consistently recognized for the quality of its management; it holds first place among Charity Navigator’s Top Charities Everyone’s Heard Of and is one of the top ten of CNBC’s Charities Changing the World. He thanked the Dalton club for its outstanding performance, later adding that over the years it has given the Foundation nearly $500,000. The Foundation, in turn, draws on its resources to support local clubs’ projects. In 2020-2021 it returned $144,863 to District 6910 clubs, spread over 58 local projects and including a grant of $1,600 to our Club for its work to encourage completion of GED requirements, while another $145,000 went to the District’s international projects.
The Foundation’s two vehicles for obtaining funds are the Annual Fund, the major funding source for receiving members’ gifts and putting them to work immediately, and the Endowment Fund, with a corpus which remains untouched. The work of the Foundation emphasizes action within Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus: Providing Clean Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; Supporting Education; Fighting Disease; Saving Mothers and Children; Promoting Peace; Growing Local Economies; and Supporting the Environment.
Foundation grants also fall into two categories. District Grants address local, regional, or worldwide needs. Grants work on larger scales over longer periods. Usually these are for at least $30,000, but one of the most notable, HANWASH, which will rebuild the entire water system of Haiti, may come to $30,000,000 and last for 10 to 15 years.
Foundation funds are collected from several sources. EREY—Every Rotarian Every Year—asks each Rotarian to contribute at least $25 per year, and in 2019-2020 this generated $126 million for the Annual Fund, with contributions of $25 or more from 31% of Rotarians. In District 6910, however, there were contributions from 94% of Rotarians, a world-class level of participation. Another source is from Paul Harris Fellows, each of whom has reached 1,000 points of credit through outright donations or through the transfer of credit from other Rotarians. At $10,000 one becomes a Major Donor, and those who give $1,000 per year become eligible for the Paul Harris Society, which now includes nearly 23,000 Rotarians and produces almost 18% of Annual Fund donations. The Dalton Rotary Club is considered a total Paul Harris Fund club and currently has 97 Paul Harris Fellows and one Major Donor.
Some Rotarians choose to contribute to the Endowment Fund, which now has a principal of 1.29 billion dollars and a goal of reaching $2.25 billion by 2025. Among the various ways to contribute, regular donations and stated bequests are prominent. Whatever the mode of giving to Rotary, clubs achieving 100% participation, whether through EREY, as Paul Harris Fellows, or Paul Harris Society members, will be given recognition, signified by appropriate banners. Gifts can often be magnified through corporate matching programs. Every gift, however, has an impact—for example, $15 buys a dose of polio vaccine.
Asked about the Foundation’s response to the Covid pandemic, Don said that many of its existing programs have the potential to help moderate the pandemic. Also, its polio tracing system can be used to help trace the spread of Covid, especially overseas, and it may aid distribution of vaccine when that becomes available.
President Ricky led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four Way Test, and he said that the next meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 12, 2021.
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December 8th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Dec |
|
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
14-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Parrott, Eugenia |
Parrott, V DeForrest III |
10-Dec |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
Joanne |
12-Dec |
|
|
|
December 8th, 2020
|
December 1st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
1-Dec |
|
|
|
| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
1-Dec |
|
|
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
4-Dec |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Maret, Carla |
Maret, Michael S. |
3-Dec |
|
|
| Mooney, Bobby |
Mooney, Patricia H |
5-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
12/1/1972 |
48 |
|
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
12/1/1968 |
52 |
|
|
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
12/1/1976 |
44 |
|
|
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
12/6/2016 |
4 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
Danielle |
2-Dec |
25 |
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
3-Dec |
32 |
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
Alicia |
5-Dec |
28 |
|
| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
Charlsey |
7-Dec |
1 |
|
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
Betty |
7-Dec |
52 |
|
|
Rotary RaffleAs you all know, we missed our primary fund raiser this year, the golf tournament. Even though we missed the fund raiser, we continued to provide the scholarships that are funded primarily by the golf tournament.
I am excited to announce a new fund raiser that we are kicking off today. We are partnering with Jacks Pawn & Gun and selling tickets for a chance to win a gun (or the equivalent value) each and every day between December 15, 2020 and January 14, 2021. Each ticket is eligible for all 31 drawings and can win multiple times! The cost for a ticket is $35 each or 3 for $100. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold.
The tickets are numbered 000 – 999. Each day's winning number is determined by the Georgia’s Cash 3 Midday Lottery drawing. For example, if you have ticket number 123 and the midday Georgia’s Cash 3 number on 12/15, 12/25, and 1/1 is 123, you win the prize for each of those days. Below is the front and back of a sample ticket. If you do not want a gun, the same value can be used for other merchandise sold at Jack’s Pawn & Gun. Official Terms and Conditions can be found on the Rotary of Dalton Facebook page.
We need each member to buy and sell these tickets. I look forward to seeing what good we can do with the money raised. Please let me know if you would like to buy or sell tickets.
Thank you all for your help!
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December 1st, 2020
Next Meeting:
January 12th, 2021
|
A Legislative Recap From Senator Chuck Payneby John Hutcheson
Leading a hybrid meeting of Rotarians at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and virtual participants via Microsoft Teams, President Ricky introduced State Senator Chuck Payne, one of our Club’s members, who was first elected in 2017 to represent the 54th Senate District following the appointment of his predecessor, Charlie Bethel, to the Georgia Court of Appeals. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, Ex-Officio of the Senate Public Safety Committee, Secretary of the Senate Finance Committee, Secretary of the Senate Higher Education Committee, and Secretary of the Senate State Institutions and Property Committee. He also serves as Chairman of the Finance Sub-Committee on issues pertaining to Ad Valorem Taxes. Chuck served four years (1984-1988) in the Army and the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Angie Sellers, and they were married in January of 1988. In that same year, they moved back to Dalton and Chuck began his 30-year career of public service to troubled youth and their families with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, from which he retired on October 31, 2016. Chuck served as Chairman of the Whitfield County Republican Party throughout the years of 1997-2005 and 2013-2016. He was also elected to serve as Vice-Chair of both the GA-9th Congressional District Republican Party (2009) and the GA-14th District Republican Party (2010-2013). Throughout his volunteer efforts, “principle above politics” has remained his focus in building a consensus of conservative ideals and principles across North Georgia.
Following President Ricky’s introduction, Chuck added that he is also now serving as Ex-Officio member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and he is pleased to have so many opportunities to serve and demonstrate that he is “a work horse rather than a show horse.”
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Senator Chuck Payne
Like so much else, the 2020 legislative session has been “a crazy year for everybody,” but from his love of history Chuck has learned that sustained hope will carry people through the tough times. This is the case now and has been ever since the Covid crisis arrived last spring.
On June 27, the day following the General Assembly’s adjournment, Chuck felt he had his first “day off” since the beginning of the year. The Session had been suspended indefinitely on March 13, pending the end of the Covid epidemic, and every day over the next eight weeks Chuck was in contact by telephone, text, email, or otherwise for as much as fourteen hours per day with political and civic leaders from throughout his district, as well as with ordinary constituents who were frequently angry, fearful, or both. During that time he also had to cope with a primary election challenge and a natural disaster arising from the tornadoes that struck Murray County on Easter night.
Governor Kemp’s decision to reopen the state’s businesses as early as possible was widely criticized across the country, but it eventually became a model for other states to follow. It proved commendable in several ways. It was critical for agriculture, Georgia’s largest industry, which was severely injured by the sudden disappearance of markets for its products. Reopening also helped workers dependent on hourly wages; between March and May the state spent 2.2 billion dollars on unemployment claims, an unsustainable rate and a deep cut into the “rainy day” reserves.
When the General Assembly resumed on June 15, its main business was to revise the 2021 Budget, which had been virtually complete--based on optimistic assumptions about the economy--when the Session was suspended in March. For the coming year, reductions were required from all state agencies, and General Assembly members took a pay cut of 10%. On a positive note, Chuck was glad to secure passage of SB 43, giving Dalton Utilities authority to issue bonds without obtaining prior approval through a public referendum. This concluded an effort extending over several years. He was also deeply gratified to arrange for passage of a measure that did not have his sponsorship but had his heavy influence on its content, whereby an initial misdemeanor can be expunged from a person’s record if there are no further charges during the following five years. This had been introduced in the House, but it had not been brought to the Senate, where the impending arrival of “cross-over day” made its introduction there impractical. In cooperation with Senator Tonya Anderson of Lithonia, an arrangement was made for her SB 288 to function as a “vehicle bill” in the Senate, incorporating the language of the House bill, and both chambers passed the final bill with only minor changes. Chuck pointed out that this bit of legislative maneuvering shows how politics ought to work, and it provides a useful example of a maxim which has guided him both in politics and in his personal life—“take account for your yesterdays before you can adequately navigate your tomorrows.”
Over the past year, Chuck’s most overriding concern has been for the restoration of families as the center of society. In a healthy family there is no selfishness; the primary interest is for its members’ future and the well-being of posterity. He used the example of the “Greatest Generation” and its experiences during the Great Depression and World War II to show how these values pass from families to the whole society. Like that generation, we must stay hopeful as we go forward, taking account of what we have and are thankful for, rather than what we merely want.
President Ricky closed by leading the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test, and he reminded members that the next Club meeting will be on November 24, when former District Governor Don Martin will speak about the Rotary Foundation.
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|
|
November 17th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Barlow, Jonathan L (JONATHAN) |
19-Nov |
|
|
|
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
23-Nov |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Wilson, Cynthia |
Wilson, John H |
21-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
11/20/2012 |
8 |
|
|
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
11/20/2001 |
19 |
|
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
11/20/2012 |
8 |
|
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
11/22/2011 |
9 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
Sandy |
20-Nov |
55 |
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
Pam |
21-Nov |
34 |
|
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
Kristy |
21-Nov |
19 |
|
|
|
November 17th, 2020
|
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November 24th, 2020
|
|
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November 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Scott, Shaun E (SHAUN) |
30-Nov |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Jones, Mary Lynn |
Jones, Miller T. |
25-Nov |
|
|
| Partain, Pam |
Partain, Jack |
26-Nov |
|
|
| Underwood, Michelle |
Croft, Brian C |
26-Nov |
|
|
| Tripp, Charlie |
Tripp, Larry E. |
26-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
11/28/2017 |
3 |
|
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
11/29/2005 |
15 |
|
|
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
11/29/2005 |
15 |
|
|
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
11/29/2005 |
15 |
|
|
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
11/29/2005 |
15 |
|
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
11/29/2005 |
15 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
Melissa |
29-Nov |
23 |
|
|
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Volunteers, Funds Needed For United We Stand
President Ricky introduced Marsha Whitner with United We Stand. Marsha explained that United We Stand is an organization that was started in 1991 during Operation Desert Shield. The organization was founded to promote patriotism in the community and to honor our fallen soldiers. United We Stand places flags at the Whitfield County Courthouse on Patriotic Holidays. Marsha informed the club that United We Stand is looking for volunteers to put up the flags during these holidays and for funds to replace some of the older cotton flags that are needing to be replaced. Marsha provided contact card for anyone needing additional information about United We Stand”.
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Junior Achievement In Georgia: New Opportunities In A New Centerby John Hutcheson
Leading a hybrid meeting of 17 participants at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and 13 virtual participants via Microsoft Teams, President Ricky called on Past President Bill Bowen for an announcement about the Club’s annual week-long commitment to ring the Salvation Army Christmas bell. Because of the Covid pandemic, the work this year will combine virtual and physical ringing, with the latter taking place from December 7 through December 11, again at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Bryman Plaza North.
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Anna Adamson and the JA Discovery Center
President Ricky introduced Anna Adamson, Director of Junior Achievement in Northwest Georgia. A former educator and currently mother of a sixth-grader and second-grader at Christian Heritage School, Anna has a passion for community development’s focus on education. Her dream is to connect business and education to strengthen the region’s economic growth while simultaneously changing the trajectories of students’ futures.
Anna stated that the primary goal of her presentation was to describe how the new JA Discovery Center will serve the 13 JA districts in Northwest Georgia and the 13,500 students who live in them. Since its beginnings 2½ years ago, the project has received great support from both the business community and the 13 school districts in the area. Like JA USA over the more than one hundred years of its existence—including 70 years in Georgia and 55 years regionally—JA locally has the development of financial literacy as the crux of its work. Discovery Centers enable a focus on middle school students, who often tend to leave behind the enthusiasm of their elementary years and disengage from learning in a school setting. Statewide, JA’s goal for the regional Discovery Centers is to reach 90% of Georgia’s middle school students; currently this is about one-third accomplished, and opening the new Northwest Georgia center and its access for 13,500 more students will be a very significant addition. Along with existing centers in Atlanta, Gwinnett County, and Gainesville/Cumming, a new center on the former Armstrong State College campus in Savannah is also about to open and will serve approximately 15,000 more students.
Within a center, there are two simulation programs, each with 12 sessions lasting 4 to 4½ hours each. JA Biztown is designed for sixth-graders, and by requiring them to build a new business it teaches them how to make money. Finance Park is intended for seventh- or eighth graders and teaches them how to spend their money wisely by developing the skills to manage their personal financial futures.
The Northwest Georgia Discovery Center will be located in Dalton, within an hour’s drive for students throughout its JA districts. Its free-standing structure on the campus of the new Hammond Creek Middle School will open in August, 2021, for sixth- and seventh-grade students, while eighth- and ninth-graders in a reconfigured Dalton Junior High School immediately opposite across the North Bypass can also be conveniently served. Using architectural illustrations, Anna gave a detailed description of the Center, which will use storefront simulations of the Greater Dalton business environment to maximize its impression on students. She also listed and specifically summarized the contributions of the large number of local and statewide business partners, and she appealed for individual volunteers who can make students’ experience in the Center truly “come alive.”
When completed, the Northwest Georgia Discovery Center will have cost slightly over $3,000,000, of which $2,750,000 has already been raised. The remaining expense largely covers various finishing touches, and meeting it offers a range of giving opportunities. In place of this year’s JA Hall of Fame event, there will be a Discovery Center grand opening, to be called “Discover the Experience,” on March 4, 2021, with the first students arriving a few weeks later.
Responding to a question, Anna noted that the Marcus Foundation of Atlanta, along with the City of Dalton, has sponsored a component of the JA curriculum which will enhance students’ knowledge of civics and the importance of informed voting. Asked about how JA’s work coordinates with the regular academic schedule and requirements, she pointed out that students participating in either Biztown or Financial Park must complete 17 classroom sessions of 45 minutes each before attending simulations in the Discovery Center and that this classroom work adheres to all state standards for excellence.
President Ricky announced that the next Club meeting will be on November 10 with State Senator Chuck Payne as speaker, followed by a meeting on November 24 when former District 6910 Governor Don Martin of Jasper will speak about the Rotary Foundation.
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November 3rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
6-Nov |
|
|
|
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
8-Nov |
|
|
|
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
8-Nov |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Kirkman, Lou |
Kirkman, Lowell D. |
4-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
11/3/2015 |
5 |
|
|
| Thomas, Abby L (ABBY) |
11/5/2019 |
1 |
|
|
| Pena, Arnaldo (ARNALDO) |
11/5/2019 |
1 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
|
November 3rd, 2020
|
|
|
|
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October 27th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Richmond, Agnes (AGGIE) |
Richmond, John D. |
2-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
10/29/1996 |
24 |
|
|
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
11/1/1989 |
31 |
|
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| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
11/1/1978 |
42 |
|
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| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
11/1/1980 |
40 |
|
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| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
11/1/1981 |
39 |
|
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
11/1/1982 |
38 |
|
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
11/1/1985 |
35 |
|
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
11/1/1972 |
48 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
Roger |
30-Oct |
21 |
|
|
|
October 27th, 2020
|
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October 20th, 2020
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A Prize-Winning Combo of Man and Dog; Deputy Thompson and Eddyby John Hutcheson
Leading a hybrid meeting of 22 participants at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and 8 virtual participants via Microsoft Teams, President Ricky welcomed Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood and introduced Deputy Sheriff Todd Thompson. Deputy Thompson grew up in southern Whitfield County, graduated from Southeast Whitfield High School in 1997, and is now enrolled in a management program through Columbus State University. He joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2003 and in 2016 was promoted to K-9 Deputy.
After briefly recounting the establishment of a K-9 unit in the Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Thompson recalled his decision—reached only after much thought, along with significant encouragement by his wife-- to apply to become its director. His success in doing so was immediately followed by three months of training in Alabama during which he met Eddy and began learning the fundamentals of K-9 work. Eddy was bred in the Czech Republic, and although he “knew nothing” when he was brought to the U.S., his long and impressive lineage of working dogs justified his price of $16,000. A half-and-half mixture of German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois, he is now five years old and weighs 72-73 pounds. Dogs used in police work are often renamed—typically along ominous lines such as “Killer,” “Savage,” and the like—but Todd decided to retain this dog’s original name of “Eddy” because it is less threatening and better suited to his basically friendly and docile nature.
 
Deputy Todd Thompson and Eddy
After their work in Alabama, Todd and Eddy trained with the Chattanooga Police Department in more advanced techniques and procedures, taking advantage of the resources in that department’s large K-9 unit, which has 17 or 18 dogs. For a time they were also attached to the Chattanooga police in order to secure certification from the United States Police Canine Association. Although they first obtained this in 2017, it was with a low score, and Todd wanted to try for something higher. In 2018 he and Eddy participated in a regional competition in Rome, Georgia and came in first in a field of thirty dogs. They then went to a national competition in Huntsville, Alabama, again winning first place, and have also won events in Chattanooga and Albany, New York. In 2020 the Covid pandemic has disrupted the competition, and in addition, Eddy injured one of his legs, for a time making his further certification questionable. Nevertheless, he entered a competition in Madison, Alabama, and ended first in a field of 33.
Eddy’s distinguished record of three successive years of first-place finishes brought him to the attention of the A&E television network, who asked him to participate in their “America’s Top Dog” competition in Los Angeles for a prize of $15,000, of which $10,000 would go to the Sheriff’s Department and—by Todd’s decision--$5,000 to an organization in New York which provides specialized training for retired or handicapped dogs. Following Eddy and Todd’s first success with A&E, they were asked to compete in the program’s grand finals for $25,000. Doing so required Todd and his family to give up a long planned prepaid trip to Las Vegas, but in compensation A&E paid for his twelve-year-old daughter to accompany him and Eddy to Los Angeles, where filming of their episode coincided with her birthday.
Todd and Eddy’s experiences on A&E have generated good publicity for Whitfield County. For his part, Todd is grateful to Sheriff Chitwood and Major Gibson for their support, and most of all, to Eddy, a truly exceptional dog who, for all his training to be aggressive when necessary, is much like a pet and accordingly lives at home with Todd and his family.
Responding to questions, Todd said that Eddy’s training regime is essentially Pavlovian and requires a high level of patience from both dog and trainer. Eddy is used mainly for tracking and substance detection, but he is also trained to apprehend and is therefore classified as a biter. Such an animal’s working life is typically 7 to 7½ years. Todd closed by introducing Eddy to those present at the Country Club and reminded everyone of the old saying that “children and dogs are the best judges of character.”
After noting that the next Club meeting will be on October 27, President Ricky led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test.
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October 20th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
22-Oct |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bowling, Becky |
Bowling, John |
20-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
10/21/2008 |
12 |
|
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
10/22/2009 |
11 |
|
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
10/25/2016 |
4 |
|
|
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
10/26/1999 |
21 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
October 13th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2-Oct |
|
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
6-Oct |
|
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
7-Oct |
|
|
| Gilreath, Judy Ellen (JUDY) |
9-Oct |
|
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
9-Oct |
|
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. (PAUL) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| Critides, Samuel D (SAM) |
15-Oct |
|
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
16-Oct |
|
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
22-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Sutherland, Phyllis |
Sutherland, George W. |
5-Oct |
|
| Scott, Robyn |
Scott, Tim |
7-Oct |
|
| Griffin, Brenda |
Griffin, Ronald L |
8-Oct |
|
| Sponcler, Betty |
Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. |
11-Oct |
|
| O'Neill, Lin |
O'Neill, Michael Paul |
19-Oct |
|
| Bowling, Becky |
Bowling, John |
20-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
10/1/2013 |
7 |
|
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
10/1/2013 |
7 |
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
10/6/2015 |
5 |
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
10/18/2005 |
15 |
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
10/21/2008 |
12 |
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
10/22/2009 |
11 |
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
10/25/2016 |
4 |
|
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
10/26/1999 |
21 |
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
10/29/1996 |
24 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
Calli |
4-Oct |
6 |
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
Sherry |
10-Oct |
33 |
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
Betty |
14-Oct |
62 |
| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
Cynthia |
17-Oct |
11 |
| Walker, Natima G (NATIMA) |
Jason |
18-Oct |
17 |
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
Roger |
30-Oct |
21 |
|
|
|
|
October 13th, 2020
Today's Meeting:
WCSO Sgt. Todd Thompson
|
|
October 6th, 2020
|
Today's Meeting - Whitfield County's Top DogOur October 13th meeting will be held in person at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and also virtually online for those who wish to attend remotely.
Our guest is Whitfield County Sheriff's Office Deputy Todd Thompson who will talk about his career in law enforcement and his job as the agency's K-9 handler. He'll talk about his dog Eddy and their recent appearances on the A&E series "America's Top Dog."
For those wishing to join us virtually, here's the login info:
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
+1 229-302-4006 United States, Albany (Toll)
(844) 598-1770 United States (Toll-free)
Conference ID: 137 411 82#
Local numbers | Reset PIN | Learn more about Teams | Meeting options
|
A Report From Representative Kasey Carpenterby John Hutcheson
With President Ricky attending virtually because of possible exposure to the Covid-19 virus, Past President and Assistant District Governor Jason Parker led a hybrid event that included 15 members gathered for lunch at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and 19 members joining online via Microsoft Teams. After announcing that the next Club meeting would be a hybrid event on October 13, Jason introduced local entrepreneur, restauranteur, and celebrity Kasey Carpenter, who serves from District 4 in the Georgia House of Representatives. Kasey’s presentation focused on his work in the state House, his businesses in Dalton, and the Farmers to Families project which conveyed boxes of Georgia-grown produce to families needing high-quality food at the lowest possible prices.
Kasey Carpenter
State business, as usual in an election year, has been affected by the impending contests, with this cycle being especially intense. As a Republican and supporter of Governor Kemp, Kasey hopes the Republican majority in the General Assembly will continue, and he believes that the state’s response to the Covid pandemic has been relatively good when compared to that of other states. People have continued to move to Georgia, drawn by opportunities arising from a favorable business environment, and consequently the state’s revenue numbers may turn out better than originally expected. While Kasey has facilitated pro-business legislation, he has also worked on other matters of particular local concern, especially a successful effort to enable Dalton Utilities to issue bonds without securing prior consent through a public referendum. He has worked with the Department of Transportation in the hope of securing a chairmanship which could strengthen prospects for improved infrastructure in House District 4. With bipartisan support (and in the face of reservations by some in his own party), he has urged passage of a bill to allow DACA students to receive in-state tuition privileges at state colleges and universities—a measure which would allow some of Georgia’s brightest and most talented high school graduates to prepare themselves for meaningful contributions to the state’s well-being.
In Dalton, the recent Pumpnik Festival on Kasey’s property at Walnut Hill Farm drew more than 3,000 for a two-day event celebrating the arrival of fall. The number of visitors to Dalton is growing, and Kasey’s project to build a boutique hotel on Cuyler Street in the downtown area is progressing. He also hopes to buy the former Manly Steel building, a structure of considerable historical significance.
The produce box project last spring proved a great success for both producers and customers, and a similar undertaking is planned for this fall. Work is underway to spread it to other towns in Georgia, and a large cooler has been installed in a downtown Dalton building to provide expanded storage. Last spring 14,000 boxes were sold in Dalton, whereas only 3,000 were sold in Marietta, a community with almost twice the population of Dalton, where 500,000 lbs. of produce were moved in three weeks. Many farmers were thus enabled to have a successful spring harvest—the price of corn, for example, rose from $14 to $30 per case.
Responding to questions, Kasey said the projected downtown expansion of the produce box project is being carried out by him and his family, but he hopes to involve other civic organizations besides Rotary, especially as the work moves into other communities. Turning back to state and legislative affairs, he said that the situation created by the pandemic will almost surely lead to budget adjustments, but these are always subject to change as the year progresses. The same thing applies to budgetary provisions for Dalton State College, and Kasey noted that the whole University System is likely to see some reforms result from the growth of virtual teaching and experience gained during the pandemic. While the incidence of Covid in Dalton seems to have flattened out, we must not become complacent, especially as the annual flu season approaches.
Kasey closed with a broad overview of Dalton’s assets, ranging from the uniqueness of Dalton Utilities’ municipal relationship (not always understood by other legislators) to the town’s location and transportation facilities, its population’s work ethic, its excellent schools, and its cultural amenities. Other Georgia communities “would kill” to have even some of these things to attract newcomers. “It’s like we’re playing poker with the state of Georgia,” he said, “and we got dealt the best hand.”
|
October 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
6-Oct |
|
|
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
7-Oct |
|
|
|
| Gilreath, Judy Ellen (JUDY) |
9-Oct |
|
|
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
9-Oct |
|
|
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. (PAUL) |
11-Oct |
|
|
|
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
11-Oct |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Scott, Robyn |
Scott, Tim |
7-Oct |
|
|
| Griffin, Brenda |
Griffin, Ronald L |
8-Oct |
|
|
| Sponcler, Betty |
Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. |
11-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
10/6/2015 |
5 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
Sherry |
10-Oct |
33 |
|
|
|
September 29th, 2020
|
|
|
September 29th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
29-Sep |
|
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2-Oct |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Sutherland, Phyllis |
Sutherland, George W. |
5-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
9/30/2014 |
6 |
|
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
9/30/2014 |
6 |
|
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
10/1/2013 |
7 |
|
|
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
10/1/2013 |
7 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
Calli |
4-Oct |
6 |
|
| |
|
September 22nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
22-Sep |
|
|
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
22-Sep |
|
|
|
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
25-Sep |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Payne, Angelina |
Payne, Charles F Jr. |
22-Sep |
|
|
| Parker, April (APRIL) |
Parker, Hoyt Jason |
24-Sep |
|
|
| Mixer, Kimberly |
Mixer, Mark S |
25-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
9/23/2014 |
6 |
|
|
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
9/24/2013 |
7 |
|
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
9/27/2011 |
9 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
John |
23-Sep |
59 |
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
Robyn |
26-Sep |
13 |
|
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
Alex |
28-Sep |
29 |
|
|
|
September 22nd, 2020
|
A Hybrid Reunionby John Hutcheson
In the first physical meeting of Dalton Rotarians since March 10, 2020, President Ricky led a hybrid event that included 20 members gathered for lunch at the Dalton Golf and Country Club and 15 members joining online via Microsoft Teams. No formal program was planned; instead, attendees were invited to tell how they have been coping with the quarantine conditions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The vigorous conversation which followed generated many useful observations and revived some of the Club’s camaraderie and fellowship missing for the last six months.
Past President David Aft said he has been interested to watch how well schools, churches, charities, and other social agencies have adapted and focused their concerns less on the present than on the future, particularly what things may be like by the middle of 2021. Lynn Laughter, Chair of the Whitfield County Commission, noted that the Commission has been meeting physically, with face masks optional, and she related how she and her colleagues have encountered the heated public controversy about masks and whether their use should be mandated. She also expressed her pleasure at seeing how well the local school systems have coped.
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Speaking on behalf of the Whitfield County Board of Elections, Sparky Kelehear urged everyone to vote in the upcoming general election, and if voting by absentee ballot, to PLEASE follow the instructions to ensure that their ballot is counted. He also reminded members to “be nice” to poll workers and to remember that candidate advertising is not permitted in polling places.
Much discussion revolved around the advantages or disadvantages of working from home in contrast to the usual workplaces. Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead said that his work obligates him to go to his office on Pentz Street, and he described his observations of traffic volume in downtown Dalton since the beginning of quarantine conditions. In the early weeks, the area was almost a “ghost town,” but since April it has gradually increased to something quite close to normal. In Atlanta, however, according to Don Cope people have stayed away from their offices, a point echoed by President Ricky. There was widespread agreement that in general, routine tasks are often accomplished better from home, but that some things, such as planning, brainstorming, etc., are not conducive to electronic communication—much of the synergy arising from face-to-face contact and nonverbal cues is simply lost when work is done from remote locations. The experience of the schools has shown that the virtual format is generally a poor substitute for physical interaction, and while the teachers deserve enormous credit for adapting to a difficult situation, the main goal must always be to do what’s best for students.
President Ricky mentioned that the Club had not recently had a chance to hear a joke from Frank Hogshead. Always at the ready, Frank responded by describing a dyslexic, agnostic insomniac who lay awake at night wondering whether doG existed.
Before adjourning with the Pledge and the Four-Way Test, President Ricky displayed the Club’s entry for the beach blanket competition scheduled for the District Conference at Jekyll Island in April, 2021, and he thanked Tammy Barnett, wife of President-Elect Smitty Barnett, for having made it.
The Club’s next meeting will be in the hybrid format on September 29.
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September 15th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
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| Minor, John Thomas V (JOHN) |
15-Sep |
|
|
|
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
16-Sep |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Arnold, Emilie |
Ware, Adam M |
15-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
9/20/2016 |
4 |
|
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| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
9/20/2016 |
4 |
|
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| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
9/20/2016 |
4 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
Allen |
17-Sep |
53 |
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September 15th, 2020
|
Tuesday's MeetingWe're back! The meeting for Tuesday, September 15th is our first time being back together for our Rotary lunch meeting since March and we can't wait to see all of you. There will be no formal speaker for this meeting, instead we'll be using the time just to catch up a little. President Ricky will be leading an informal discussion about how the pandemic has affected our members.
Members who choose not to attend in person still have the option to attend virtually as well. Here's the login information for the meeting:
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
+1 229-302-4006 United States, Albany (Toll)
(844) 598-1770 United States (Toll-free)
Conference ID: 198 329 099#
Local numbers | Reset PIN | Learn more about Teams | Meeting options
|
|
Next Meeting, In Person!
Our next meeting will be at the Dalton Golf and Country Club at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, September 15th. More information on the meeting is coming soon to your email from the Board and President Ricky. We're looking forward to seeing you next week!
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September 8th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
9-Sep |
|
|
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| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. (ROY) |
10-Sep |
|
|
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| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
12-Sep |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Adamson, Zach |
Adamson, Anna Y |
10-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Fleming, Terry G (TERRY) |
9/10/2019 |
1 |
|
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
9/11/2018 |
2 |
|
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| Brown, Alex C (ALEX) |
9/14/2017 |
3 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
Teresa |
10-Sep |
43 |
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| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
Julie |
12-Sep |
49 |
|
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
Billie |
13-Sep |
67 |
|
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
Ann |
14-Sep |
46 |
|
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September 8th, 2020
|
COVID 19 In Whitfield Countyby John Hutcheson
Leading a virtual Club meeting comprising eighteen participants, President Ricky introduced Dr. Zachary Taylor, a former member of Dalton Rotary and the health director for the North Georgia Health District 1-2, which is based in Dalton and includes Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield Counties. Dr. Taylor is originally from LaGrange, where he graduated from LaGrange College with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and a Master of Science degree from the University of Maryland, completed an internship in internal medicine at the University of Kentucky, and fulfilled a residency in preventive medicine at the University of Maryland. Dr. Taylor served for thirty years as an Officer in the United States Public Health Service, including clinical practice with the Indian Health Service from 1983 to 1987 and public health practice with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other Health and Human Services agencies from 1989 to 2015. He retired with the rank of Assistant Surgeon General, relocated to Dalton from Colorado in July 2015, and he and his wife, Joanie, now live in Gainesville.
Dr. Zachary Taylor
Dr. Taylor gave a brief slide presentation showing data on the occurrence of COVID-19 in the state and in Whitfield and Murray Counties, along with the types, characteristics, and results of various testing procedures. As of the morning of August 31, there were 270,470 reported cases and 5,633 deaths in Georgia, 4,000 cases and 51 deaths in Whitfield County, and 713 and 3 deaths in Murray County. Whitfield had large increases in the number of reported cases from the beginning of June through the middle of July, but since July 15 the rate of increase has declined, with figures for deaths and hospitalizations following basically the same pattern. Although this is encouraging, it must be remembered that epidemics come in waves and further increases are possible and even likely. Moreover, the Labor Day holiday weekend is imminent and school reopenings are underway, both of which can contribute to more transmissions of the virus.
Turning to the subject of testing, Dr. Taylor pointed out that COVID-19 tests are administered free at the Whitfield County Health Department, using the most common and accurate type, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, which tests for coronavirus genetic material and thus determines current infection. Although hampered earlier by supply chain and laboratory capacity issues which delayed results, improvements have shortened the turnaround time from a week or more to 24 to 48 hours, and since March the Health Department has done more than 20,500 such tests. It must be understood that once a positive result has been returned for a symptomatic person, some remnants of genetic material can remain, generating repeated positives even after a period of isolation for which 10 days plus 24 hours is a minimum.
Antigen tests are a relatively new type which detects the presence of a specific viral antigen and are commonly used to diagnose respiratory pathogens such as influenza. They are relatively inexpensive and can be administered at the point of care, producing results in 15 minutes. These tests are much more accurate in symptomatic persons than in the asymptomatic, but because they have a high level of false negative results, symptomatic patients who test negative should also receive a PCR test.
Finally there are antibody tests, which test for the immune response to infection. Since antibodies don’t start developing until one to three weeks after infection, these tests are not used to diagnose acute infections. They can be inaccurate in populations with low prevalence of infection, and they are affected by unknown attributes of the virus such as whether a positive test indicates immunity to infection and if so, the duration of immunity following infection.
Dr. Taylor called on the audience for questions, of which the first concerned allegations in social media that the number of deaths caused by COVID has been greatly overstated, with perhaps as few as 6% of cases being directly tied to COVID. Dr. Taylor answered that when underlying conditions may be present, COVID can activate them into becoming immediate causes of death, so that information on death certificates may be misleading. Data can therefore be easily misconstrued, sometimes innocently and sometimes from malevolent motives or to fit false narratives. COVID’s relation to underlying conditions is illustrated by the fact that 40% of the 5,000+ deaths in Georgia have occurred in nursing homes, where such conditions are especially common. Generally speaking, wearing face masks, avoiding large gatherings, and maintaining social distancing are the most effective measures to prevent viral transmission. Asked about long-term or permanent complications arising from infection, Dr. Taylor said that severely ill persons who are put on ventilators are likely to have long-term pulmonary impairment and perhaps other conditions as well. There is still much to learn on this front, and in any event it is crucial to take the virus seriously and understand its dangers to public and personal health.
When asked about testing procedures, Dr. Taylor said that the PCR test and the antigen test are performed by nasal swab and the antibody test is done with drawn blood. A rapid genetic test has been developed by Abbott Laboratories, but its availability is currently very limited. Regarding the number of positive results in Whitfield County, he said that the rate at the Health Department is now about 6% to 10% of those tested as opposed to 15% in July, but ideally it should be below 2%. Part of this decline is attributable to the larger number of asymptomatic people now being tested. Answering another question, Dr. Taylor said that development is very likely underway on a clinically useful antibody test, with the goal of finding an antibody that will neutralize the COVID virus. He hopes the decline in the spread rate will continue, but the virus attacks in waves, as may be seen in Cherokee County, where the schools opened when infections were in the ascendant. In Whitfield the schools are opening on the downswing, but many factors are involved and another wave may be expected. Our guard should not be let down until a vaccine is available and widely deployed. Dr. Taylor will not be surprised to see a large increase at the national level as colleges resume operations, and college students who return home should be isolated from the rest of their families for at least the two-week quarantine period recommended by the CDC.
To a question about maintaining safeguards when receiving restaurant take-outs or having groceries delivered, Dr. Taylor said there is now less concern about transmission from surfaces than when the virus was first detected. Appropriate measures must not be neglected, but careful hand-washing should be sufficient to deal with this mode of viral transmission.
A group of questions dealt with prospects for an effective vaccine. One asked whether too many different vaccines were in development, with the risk of excessive haste in testing them. Dr. Taylor replied that this is a concern, but he trusts the work and oversight being done by the FDA and NIH. He advised against taking the highly publicized Russian vaccine, but he acknowledged that in the end there may be more than one useful vaccine. Much remains unknown—for instance, about the necessary frequency of administration—and great vigilance must be exercised over whatever is used. It may even be desirable to create a specialized vaccine for children, among whom the rate and severity of infection appears to be significantly lower than in adults. Herd immunity has been much discussed by some, but that ought to require at least 70% of a population to be vaccinated. The idea of allowing unrestricted infections to achieve herd immunity is foolish; doing so would require a long time and could entail as many as a million deaths.
Asked about the most desirable face masks, Dr. Taylor said that surgical masks are best, followed by cloth masks. Any mask must cover the nose and be tight around the cheeks. The worst thing—although better than nothing—is the scarf-like mask known as a gaiter. Requiring masks by offcial mandate is a political decision which will vary from place to place, although there should be mandates in specific locations such as schools. In general, avoidance of large social gatherings is likely to be equally effective.
|
September 1st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
1-Sep |
|
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
5-Sep |
|
|
| Fleming, Terry G (TERRY) |
5-Sep |
|
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
7-Sep |
|
|
| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
7-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Hutcheson, Marilyn |
Hutcheson, John A. Jr. |
2-Sep |
|
| Pennington, Pamela |
Pennington, David E. |
6-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Goodroe, Robert S. (ROBERT) |
9/1/1964 |
56 |
|
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
9/1/1969 |
51 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
Emilie |
1-Sep |
2 |
| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
Hope |
7-Sep |
18 |
|
|
September 1st, 2020
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A Talk With Dr. Zachary Taylor From The North Georgia Health DistrictOur meeting for September 1st will be a discussion with Dr. Zachary Taylor, the Health Director for the North Georgia Health Distric 1-2.
Dr. Taylor
Zachary Taylor, MD, MS, is the health director for North Georgia Health District, District 1-2, based in Dalton. District 1-2 includes Cherokee, Fannin,
Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties. Originally from LaGrange, Dr. Taylor graduated from LaGrange College with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and his Master of Science degree from
the University of Maryland. He completed an internship in internal medicine at the University of Kentucky and a residency in preventive medicine at the University of Maryland. Dr. Taylor served for 30 years as an Officer in the United States Public Health
Service, including clinical practice with the Indian Health Service from 1983 to 1987 and public health practice with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other Health and Human Services agencies from 1989 to 2015. Dr. Taylor recently retired
with the rank of Assistant Surgeon General. He and his wife, Joanie, relocated to Dalton from Colorado in July 2015, and they have two adult children and two grandchildren.
________________________________________________________________________________
Join
Microsoft Teams Meeting
+1 229-302-4006
United States, Albany (Toll)
(844) 598-1770
United States (Toll-free)
Conference ID:
769 544 906#
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|
August 24th, 2020
|
Understanding and Improving Your Cybersecurityby John Hutcheson
Leading a virtual Club meeting that brought together twenty participants, President Ricky introduced Marc Debrody, a Supervisory Special Agent in the United States Secret Service and a certified information security manager responsible for oversight of the Atlanta Field Office Cyber Fraud Task Force. A graduate of Florida State University with a degree in criminology, during almost 25 years with the Secret Service Marc has protected Presidents Clinton, Bush 43, and Obama at the White House and two Presidential Chiefs of Staff, and he holds a Presidential Distinguished Service Award from President George W. Bush. He grew up in Peachtree Corners, near Norcross, where he was introduced to Rotary through participation in an Interact Club. After serving in Washington, D.C., he returned to Atlanta in 2013 and has specialized in the detection and prevention of electronic crimes.
Marc Debrody
Marc began his presentation by noting that the Secret Service was originally established in 1865 to prevent counterfeiting. Since the assassination of President McKinley in 1901, its best-known mission has been protection of the President and subsequently of other national leaders. However, it is also responsible for safeguarding the payment and financial structures of the United States, and since 1984 this has included investigation of credit card and computer fraud, broadened by now into authority over violations throughout the country’s cyber infrastructure.
The two principal threats to cybersecurity in the Atlanta region and many other areas are compromising of business emails and victimization by ransomware. Business email compromise is ubiquitous, but Marc focused particularly on spearphishing, whereby phishing techniques are directed to specific, intelligent targets for the explicit purpose of securing a transfer of money. These offenses increased 600% just in February and March of this year, stimulated by fears and criminal opportunities arising from the COVID pandemic. There is a good chance of recovery if the Secret Service is notified within 72 hours, but after that time, any payment has probably been transferred abroad and is likely beyond reach. Contributing factors to business email compromises include the bad actor’s anonymity, no need to install malware, efficient low-level technology, and potentially high monetary rewards. Moreover, because of data breaches over the last ten years an enormous amount of information is now available on the “dark web,” facilitated by “digital exhaust”—what persons leave on the internet that enables personal identification—and widespread habits of reusing passwords or failing to employ two-factor identification. Office 365 is one of the most common vectors for criminals to start a phishing attack by using a fake log-in—these can be detected by hovering one’s cursor above a message’s “From” email address, as well as by such clues as font changes, grammatical errors, etc. “Bait emails” have become very popular among criminals, especially in relation to COVID, and these are often calculated to take advantage of curiosity or even the time of day such as early morning or late evening, when many persons systematically review their email or feel urgency about completing the day’s work. A somewhat different technique is “vishing” or “social engineering,” in which a cell phone account and an internet connection are hacked by a caller to obtain personal information—personal email addresses, PIN’s, Social Security numbers, financial data, etc.—and set up fictitious accounts with access to genuine ones. Any suspicious activity along these lines should be verified by a reliable telephone contact, and Marc pointed out that since any company is only as strong as its weakest link and criminal methods are constantly changing, all employees with responsibilities for digital procedures or policies should receive appropriate training at least quarterly.
Ransomware is malicious software or malware designed to deny access to a computer system or data until a ransom is paid, usually in bitcoin or other cryptocurrency. Ransomware damages exceeded $11 billion in 2019, with average payments of more than $11,000 and lost service time of 15 days. Recently there has been a significant increase in attacks on supply chains and managed service providers and a trend toward exfiltration of data for extortion, in which theft is often accompanied by threats of data publication. Protection is not easy, and complete immunity is almost impossible. Back-ups should be kept separate from vulnerable systems, infected systems should be isolated, and for forensic reasons compromised terminals must not be powered down. Law enforcement should be notified, and remediation will be done by trustworthy third parties. Payment of ransoms is not recommended, but each situation has to be judged on its own in the light of business reasons.
Cyber hygiene involves some obvious precautions:
- Strong passwords, using upper and lower case, symbols, numbers, etc. Phrases are good foundations for password development, but browser-built passwords should be avoided.
- Encryption should be used whenever possible.
- Patches and updates should always be installed promptly.
- Two-factor identification is becoming vital to more and more apps.
- BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP, using separate drives when possible, disconnected from main systems.
- Find, clean, and erase archived files that have become obsolete or useless.
- Be careful about downloading apps, and always look for HTTPS and the green lock symbolizing a secure connection.
- Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), especially on public systems such as those in airports.
- In the end, human error is the source of most problems.
Responding to questions, Marc addressed the practice of skimming, by which credit card information is stolen from a gas pump by use of an installed device that records information for later retrieval. One way to avoid or minimize this kind of victimization is to always avoid using a debit card, using instead a credit card with its greater security and loss recovery provisions. In regard to credit theft insurance, Marc noted that many of the same benefits can be gained by simply freezing one’s credit with the credit bureaus.
President Ricky closed the meeting by thanking Marc and the Secret Service for their work and leading participants in the Four-Way Test,
City of Dalton Citizens Government Academy
The City of Dalton's Citizens Government Academy starts on Tuesday, September 1st and seats are still available. This is a chance to get an up-close and behind the scenes at every aspect of the city's operations to learn how each department works to serve you. Participants will meet the city's elected officials and the staff leaders who chart the course for the community's future. The program has been modified for 2020 to provide for social distancing and adherence to public health guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic. The class will meet nine times on Tuesday evenings in September and October. To learn more and to apply to participate, visit daltonga.gov/govacad.
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August 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Jones, J Sherwood III (SHERWOOD) |
26-Aug |
|
|
| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
26-Aug |
|
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
27-Aug |
|
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
27-Aug |
|
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
1-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Aft, Pauline |
Aft, David |
27-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Goodroe, Robert S. (ROBERT) |
9/1/1964 |
56 |
|
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
9/1/1969 |
51 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
Carolyn |
26-Aug |
54 |
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
Becky |
27-Aug |
54 |
| Pena, Arnaldo (ARNALDO) |
Niurka |
31-Aug |
19 |
| Scott, Shaun E (SHAUN) |
Tonya |
31-Aug |
24 |
| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
Emilie |
1-Sep |
2 |
|
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August 18th, 2020
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August 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
19-Aug |
|
|
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
19-Aug |
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Blackman, Bill |
Blackman, Linda T. |
18-Aug |
|
| Turner, Carolyn |
Turner, Henry J |
20-Aug |
|
| Dobbins, Donna |
Dobbins, Chuck |
20-Aug |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
8/18/2015 |
5 |
|
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
8/18/2015 |
5 |
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
Ben |
19-Aug |
48 |
|
|
|
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Next Meeting: August 18th!
As a reminder, we will not be having a meeting today, August 11th. Our next meeting is set for Tuesday, August 18th when our topic will be cybersecurity with FBI Supervisory Special Agent Marc Debrody who will join us online via MS Teams. We hope you'll join us!
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|
August 11th
2020
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August 11th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Aug |
|
|
| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
15-Aug |
|
|
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Laugahter, Ben |
Laughter, R Lynette |
11-Aug |
|
| Scott, Annelle |
Scott, Trammell |
15-Aug |
|
| Robertson, Ricky |
Robertson, Cherri L |
16-Aug |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
Judy |
14-Aug |
49 |
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
Mary Etta |
16-Aug |
62 |
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August 4th
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Adam Tee's Report On His GRSP Yearby John Hutcheson
Leading a virtual Club meeting that brought together fifteen participants, President Ricky introduced Adam Tee of Kelana Jaya, Malaysia, a GRSP student sponsored during the past year by the Carpet City Rotary Club and the Rotary clubs of Ringgold, Summerville-Trion, and Calhoun. Although Adam’s GRSP activities were cut short by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the obstacles impeding international travel have compelled him to remain in the United States, making him, in President Ricky’s words, “the longest GRSP student ever.” Currently he is staying in Michigan with his sister, Krystal (herself a former GRSP student sponsored by our Club), awaiting the outcome of his fourth attempt to secure a homeward flight from Malaysia Airlines.
Adam Tee
Adam began his presentation by thanking his sponsoring clubs and several especially helpful individuals, including John Richmond for his familiarity with all things GRSP, the Anthony Cline family who had been his hosts, the Smitty Barnett family and Past President Bruce Satterfield for including him on outings with Dalton’s GRSP student Anna To, Drayton Sanders for the use of a bicycle, and also Jackie Killings and Amy Grammer for going out of their way to support him.
Using a video, Adam organized his report around four categories—food, Dalton State College, trips with his host family and others, and the planned weekends organized by GRSP. Among these, he readily admitted that food took the highest priority; mealtimes were always his favorite part of any day, and he soon realized that in Georgia food was often “a form of love.” Not surprisingly, he gained fifteen pounds during his first three months in Dalton. Among his favorites, he mentioned Chick-fil-A, ribs he ate in Blairsville, Willie’s Burger Shack in Dalton, and the buffets at Dalton Golf and Country Club when he attended Rotary meetings—there he found an abundance of good things from which he could eat his fill!
Dalton State became his favorite place to be. He loved the environment of a small college, where he could form close relationships with his professors, members of the college staff, and other students. His favorite professor was Christopher Manis, with whom he worked in SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction), a program designed to foster species rehabilitation.
Turning to trips with his host family and other GRSP supporters, while Adam emphasized that people are almost always the best part of any outing, he thoroughly enjoyed the various events and activities he was afforded. He was amazed by the central place sports have in American culture, and his favorite sporting event was an Atlanta United game he attended with Allison and Kyler Smith, members of the Barnett family. The Barnetts took him to a Braves game, but only after a couple of hours, with several uneventful innings, did the Braves start scoring so that play really became interesting to him, and Adam never did get fully clear about the rules. Other first-time experiences were bungee-jumping with Cherri Robertson and a visit to the State Capitol during the legislative session, arranged by John Richmond. He also enjoyed several trips to attractions in Chattanooga, especially rock-climbing at the High Point Climbing Gym. The GRSP weekends took him to Savannah. Atlanta (his favorite—he characterized himself as “a city boy”), Alpharetta, and Columbus, enabling him to interact with GRSP students from other parts of the state and the world, and he is grateful to other District 6910 clubs for facilitating these occasions. The Apple Festival in Ellijay and Thanksgiving and Christmas with the Barnetts and his hosts were also memorable, but overall, the best part of his GRSP experience was the set of friendships he formed with people who are now part of his life’s mainstream and with whom he plans to remain in touch for the rest of his days.
Adam said that the extended time he has had to spend in the U. S. has been “bittersweet”—he wants to go home, but he has been able to spend more time with his sister and travel around Michigan with her and her husband. He noted that whenever he does return to Malaysia, he will be quarantined and required to pay a fee to the government, and he thanked his Rotary friends in Dalton for helping with this expense.
Responding to questions, Adam said he was uncertain about when he would get to go home; presently he is again seeking permission from Malaysia Airlines to book a flight. Malaysia is much more restrictive than the U.S. regarding masks, temperatures, etc., and upon his arrival he will be quarantined for at least two weeks, or for much longer if his test is positive.
Asked how he thinks his GRSP experience will benefit him professionally as well as personally, Adam replied that he will be much more open to helpful ideas and practices from non-Asian cultures. Malaysian culture tends to be quite conservative, and his experience in the U.S. will help him break down some of his society’s provincialism. When he was asked what had surprised him most about America, Adam mentioned the widespread presence of trucks—all kinds, from pick-ups to heavy trailer rigs; in Malaysia most vehicles are sedans or small trucks. President-elect Smitty Barnett commented on how much his family had come to love Adam, who returned the sentiment and said he was glad to hear Smitty’s recent ankle surgery had gone well.
Before closing the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test, President Ricky reminded participants that because of pandemic precautions, our Club will not meet with the Kiwanis Club this year for the annual high school football preview, but individual Rotarians who’d like to attend should notify him so he can inform Kiwanis how many to expect.
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August 4th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
7-Aug |
|
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
8-Aug |
|
|
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
10-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Chandler, Susan |
Chandler, Robert M. |
4-Aug |
|
| Satterfield, Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
Satterfield, Bruce A. |
9-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
Bennieta |
6-Aug |
65 |
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
Lamar |
7-Aug |
55 |
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
Gretchen |
8-Aug |
34 |
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
Tammy |
10-Aug |
35 |
|
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Rest In Peace, Bruce Broadrick
We are saddened by the loss of our friend Bruce Broadrick, Sr. who passed away on July 15th. Bruce was a lifelong Daltonian, the third generation of medical professionals serving our community's health and wellness. Bruce took over ownership of Frank's Pharmacy from his late father, Frank Broadrick, and ran it for 35 years before its closing in 2009. Bruce was also a past president of the Georgia Pharmacy Association and was vice-chair of the Whitfield County Board of Health. He served as our State Representative from 2012 until 2017. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, particularly his wife Mary and their three children.
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Meet District Governor Tina Fischlinby John Hutcheson
In his first meeting as President, Ricky Robertson greeted nineteen participants in the Club’s second virtual gathering, which he opened by welcoming District 6910’s new Governor, Tina Fischlin. After offering a prayer and recognizing current birthdays and anniversaries, President Ricky displayed the 2020 RI banner lapel pins with the motto, “Rotary Opens Opportunities.” He also showed a special beach towel designed by Tammy Barnett, wife of President-Elect Smitty, for entry in the beach towel competition scheduled for the District Conference at Jekyll Island in April, 2021; the towel combines the Rotary logo with an image of a peacock denoting Dalton’s history in tufted textile manufacturing.
Past President and Assistant District Governor Jason Parker introduced District Governor Tina, who joined by remote connection. A native of Reidsville, Georgia, after graduation from Georgia Southern University she moved to Atlanta to continue her education and worked in the financial sector. She is a licensed real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty, and in addition, she owns and operates Barefoot Mountain Farms providing Fraser fir Christmas trees and greenery to schools and civic clubs throughout the Southeast. As an advocate for reforestation, she established the Davis-Hollcroft Family Forestry Scholarship at the University of Georgia, presented annually to a student at UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources.
District Governor Tina Fischlin
Tina’s volunteer work with organizations across the globe addresses the need for clean water, disease prevention, health care, and literacy projects. In 2008, she joined Alliance for Smiles, a volunteer-based nonprofit, mobilizing hundreds of medical and non-medical volunteers from all over the world to advance health care, train local medical professionals, and deliver surgical care in their communities for patients with cleft lip and cleft palate abnormalities.
She is a member of the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties, where she was Club President in 2011-2012 and currently serves as the club’s International Service Chair. Active at the District Level, Tina is a graduate of Rotary Leadership Institute and has served as Assistant Governor, team member on the finance committee, and International Service Chair. She has received Rotary’s highest honor, the “Service Above Self” international award, which annually recognizes fewer than 150 individuals for demonstrating their commitment to helping others. Her husband, Mike Fischlin, is a former Major League Baseball player who continues to live his passion as a sports agent with the Boras Corporation.
DG Tina began her remarks with some “housekeeping” notes. She pointed out that RI has added the environment as a seventh Area of Focus, and she hopes to see the clubs of District 6910 become involved in it. She looks forward to the work of the District’s new Rotoract Governor, Bob Alman. She described a new program called Farmers to Families, developed to help relieve difficulties arising from the current economic dislocations; over the next twelve weeks participating clubs will receive 2,000 boxes of produce for local distribution, for which a club will pay $1,000 and the District, using funds from a grant by RI, will pay an equal amount. On a statewide basis, Rotary will observe a Day of Peace on September 21, with activities based on the Four-Way Test, and October 24 will be the annual End Polio Day. Finally, she offered congratulation to Past President Amanda for her great job under trying conditions and to the Club as a whole for having achieved the status of Silver Club of the Year in 2019.
Turning to the year ahead, DG Tina asked everyone to remember the importance of Four C’s: Courage, Connectivity, Commitment, and Celebration. Rotarians must have the courage to adapt to change and think outside their boxes even as they continue to work for the community’s good. More than in the past, they should seek ways to cooperate with other civic organizations and also to expand their participation in online learning. Connectivity means enriching and expanding Rotary’s reach by staying in touch with existing members—especially during the pandemic quarantine—as well as robust recruitment of new members. Diversification of membership is important and may be furthered by revising dues structures; establishing associate, corporate, and even family membership categories; and cultivating future Rotarians through vigorous support of Rotoract, Interact, and Earlyact, a new initiative for children between ages five and thirteen, with special focus on fourth- and fifth-graders.
Commitment is vital if Rotarians are to have a significant impact in their communities, something the Dalton club historically has done very well. At a time when traditional events such as the Earl Lusk Golf Tournament and the Ronnie McClurg Track Meet aren’t feasible, the Club might consider organizing a Virtual Golf tournament. DG Tina mentioned the Peace and Equity event scheduled for September 21, and she applauded the Club’s support of the Rotary Foundation, adding that the grant of $1,600 the Club received to support its GED project represented a return on investment in the Foundation. She briefly described her own deep involvement with the Alliance for Smiles and its work to provide cleft lip and cleft palate surgery for poor children, especially in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Through such combinations of commitment and grants, Rotary changes lives, and stories of participation and engagement with Rotary will provide answers to the question of what Rotarians can gain professionally as well as personally.
Finally, when a task or project has been completed, celebration is warranted, whether locally or during events such as the “Fun in the Sun” District Conference to be held at Jekyll Island on April 22-25, 2021. At all times, we must remember that Rotarians are people of action, and DG Tina closed by citing an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”
President Ricky announced that the Club will make a donation to Alliance for Smiles in DG Tina’s honor, and he reminded members that at the next meeting GRSP student Adam Tee will report on his experiences in the U.S.
|
July 28th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
29-Jul |
|
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Robertson, Cherri |
Robertson, Ricky N |
2-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
8/1/1994 |
26 |
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
8/1/1988 |
32 |
|
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
8/1/1967 |
53 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
Delle |
28-Jul |
58 |
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
Noel |
30-Jul |
53 |
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July 21st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Bundros, Lara |
Bundros, Thomas A |
22-Jul |
|
| Tharpe, Julie |
Tharpe, Henry C. |
23-Jul |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
Carla |
21-Jul |
19 |
|
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July 21st, 2020
This Week:
District Governor's Visit (12:00 PM)
Board Meeting (11:00 AM)
|
Service Above Self: Rotary Student Awards For 5th Gradersby John Hutcheson and Amanda Reed
The Rotary “Charlie Bowen 5th Grader “Service above Self” Student Award Program was started in 2010 to recognize and honor 5th grade students in the elementary schools who practice Rotary’s guiding principle of service above self. This award is for students who deserve recognition but likely have had little, if any, in the past. Each student is selected by the faculty and staff of his or her respective school as one who best portrays the values contained in the Rotary motto “Service Above Self” and the Rotary “4 Way Test,” demonstrated in the service and respect exhibited toward fellow classmates, teachers, and family rather than by academic standing or athletic ability.
At one of its regular meetings, the Rotary Club of Dalton and the appropriate Superintendents or Headmaster will honor these students. Each student will be recognized individually and asked to come to the front with one or more Rotarian presenters who will provide information about the student, drawn from a short questionnaire completed in advance. Each student receives a book (Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul), a framed certificate, and give-aways from local merchants or businesses for items that a 5th grader would enjoy.
In its first year, the program was organized by Rotarian Tangela Johnson, but since 2011 it has been administered by Rotarian Amanda Reed, assisted by a small committee of Club members. In 2013, the Program was renamed the “Charlie Bowen 5th Grade Service Above Self Award” as Rotary recognized Mr. Bowen’s service to the community and to Rotary on the occasion of his 100th birthday. During 2020 Amanda managed the program even while she served as Club President, and her work was the more remarkable because Club meetings had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to use of a Facebook video party for recognition of that year’s selected students.
Here are the students chosen to receive the 2020 Rotary “Charlie Bowen 5th Grader “Service above Self” Student Awards:
ANTIOCH ELEMENTARY
- Brooklynn Hardin is 10 and attends Antioch Elementary. Her parents are Alice and Stephen Hardin. Brooklynn has one brother, Andy who is 3 years old. Brooklynn’s favorite subject is Math and she enjoys ballet. When she grows up, she wants to be a special education teacher. Her favorite foods are pizza and brownies. Ms. DeHaro nominated Brooklyn because she is new to the school and has gone above and beyond to demonstrate service above self. She constantly seeks opportunities to help classmates and teachers and is kind to others. Brooklynn believes it is important to serve others because she feels she could save someone who really needs the help, and everyone deserves to be served.
BEAVERDALE ELEMENTARY
- Waelyn Baliles is 12 and attends Beaverdale Elementary. His parents are Julie and Ben Baliles. He has three siblings, Wilson (8), Whitlee (5) and Wills (1). His favorite subject is Math and his favorite hobbies are playing basketball, football and poker with his friends (no betting ??). Waelyn’s favorite foods are grilled salmon and fries. He would like to graduate from Georgia Tech and become a mechanical engineer (may work for the Ferrari Club) when he grows up. Mr. Kittle nominated Waelyn for this award because he exudes passion and joy for life and learning, but also shows a strong moral compass in the way he treats others in his daily interactions. He welcomes new students into the classroom helping them find a place to belong. He also serves as a Wildcat Ambassador and greets visitors for special events as well as other various responsibilities. Waelyn believes it is important to serve others because others may not have as much as you. They might be going through a hard time and need your support.
CEDAR RIDGE ELEMENTARY
- Chloe Kelley is 10 years old and attends Cedar Ridge Elementary. Chloe’s parents are Carla & Bobby Maton. She has three brothers (Seth, 18; Ryan, 14; and Luke, 13) and one sister, Baylee (18). Her favorite subject is Science and her favorite foods are raspberries and mashed potatoes. She enjoys drawing, singing, ballet & journaling. Chloe would like to be an art teacher when she grows up. Ms. Woodring nominated her for this award because of her work with the Red Cross. She also works to make the school better for herself and her peers. Chloe believes it is important to serve others because sometimes people can’t afford things, or they were in some sort of natural disaster.
COHUTTA ELEMENTARY
- Hayden Akins is 11 years old and attends Cohutta Elementary. His parents are Rhonda and Marshon Akins and he has one brother, Hunter (20). His favorite subjects are Science & Social Studies and he enjoys riding his scooter, playing guitar, hunting and learning fun/unusual facts. His favorite foods are steak and lobster. He would like to be a scientist in cells and microorganisms when he grows up. Ms. Boruff nominated Hayden for this award because he is always willing to help others no matter the circumstances. Whether it be providing encouraging words to a classmate or walking his grandmother down the steps at school, Hayden uses his service to others as a way to display his faith. He is an all around great kid with a servant’s heart. Hayden feels it is important to help others because “it makes God happy, it makes the other person happy and it makes you happy. Sometimes people feel like they don’t have meaning in life, but they do. It just takes a little encouragement and love from you, and a big push from God to see that they have meaning in life and how awesome they are. God has called us to love and He works through us every day if we allow him to”.
DAWNVILLE ELEMENTARY
Nothing was submitted from Dawnville Elementary
DUG GAP ELEMENTARY (Name can’t be released on Social Media)
- Dug Gap Elementary - Nominated for this award because he is a kind and generous student. He is always the first one ready to help his classmates and teachers and always speaks politely. He believes it is important to serve others because they may need help and not be as lucky as some to have help and support. They may be having trouble and need someone to show kindness.
EASTSIDE ELEMENTARY
- Delaney Aguilar is 10 years old and attends Eastside Elementary. Her parents are Maria & Octavio Aguilar. She has three sisters, Britney (18), Maite (13) and Emery (5 months). Delaney’s favorite subject is Social Studies, her favorite foods are rice, corn dogs & lettuce salad and she enjoys painting. Delaney would like to be a farmer when she grows up. Ms. Weaver nominated Delaney for this award because she is a perfect example of a student who shows compassion, grace & kindness to others. She is a selfless leader always thinking of others before herself. Delaney believes it is important to help others because they are just like her and also it is nice to be kind to everyone.
NEW HOPE ELEMENTARY
- Colter Green is 11 years old and attends New Hope Elementary. His parents are Sara & Wesley Green. Colter has one sister, Henley (14) and one brother, Owen (5). His favorite subject is Social Studies, and he enjoys playing baseball. His favorite food is mac-n-cheese. Colter wants to be a major league baseball player when he grows up. Colter’s principal, Ms. Maret, nominated him for this award because he is very conscientious in everything he does. He is kind & compassionate to all his classmates, but also goes above & beyond to help students in adjoining counties. Colter feels it is important to serve others because God has given him everything he needs, and he wants to give back what he can to help others in need.
PLEASANT GROVE ELEMENTARY
- Maxi Castrejon is 11 years old and attends Pleasant Grove Elementary. His parents are Maria Carillo and Angel Castrejon. He has one sister, Sanjuana. His favorite subject is Math and he enjoys playing soccer. He wants to be a professional athlete or a chemist when he grows up. Porkchops are his favorite food. Ms. Bullion nominated Maxi for this award because he is a completely selfless individual. He comes to school every morning offering help to his teachers and constantly encourages his peers. Maxi thinks it’s important to serve others because if the person is struggling, I could help them. When I do, I make myself happy and them happy.
TUNNEL HILL ELEMENTARY
- Stephen Abrams is 11 years old and attends Tunnel Hill Elementary. He is joined today by his parents, Barbara & Robert Abrams. He has one brother, Zachary (16) and two sisters, Laura (15) and Bethany (14). He enjoys reading, archery, singing and helping others. His favorite foods are pasta, pizza and seafood and he would like to be an engineer when he grows up. The reason Ms. Murphree nominated him for this award is because he goes out of his way to assist students in the classroom. He is an excellent role model, friend and peer tutor. Stephen believes it’s important to serve others because it makes the person helped feel accomplished and that they have a friend who will help them with something they need help with or don’t understand. Helping others is very important to him.
VALLEY POINT ELEMENTARY
- Natalia Walker is 10 years old and attends Valley Point Elementary. Her parents are Mark & Cindy Walker and she has two brothers, Austin (22) and Carson (15). Natalia’s favorite subject is Math and she enjoys gymnastics and cheer. Her favorite foods are pizza and doughnuts. When she grows up, she wants to be a teacher or a veterinarian. Her teacher nominated her for this award because she is an excellent example of a student always looking out for others. She is always willing to partner with any student in class so that everyone feels welcome and included. She was elected to our leadership program at VPE and has been involved in numerous service projects this year around our school and in our community. When asked why serving others is important to her she said, “I feel like it is important because when you help others it makes everyone feel good for the rest of the day”.
VARNELL ELEMENTARY (Name can’t be released on Social Media)
- Varnell Elementary. Nominated because he displays kindness every day in the classroom. He is always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need and he always thinks of others before himself. When asked why he serves others, he said, “I feel it is important to serve others because it will help make their life better. If you are nice to them, then hopefully they will be nice to you.”
WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY
- Anthony Davis is 12 years old and attends Westside Elementary. His parents are Susan & Andy Davis. He has one brother, Matthew (10), and one sister, Emily (9). Anthony’s favorite subject is Social Studies and he enjoys Boy Scouts, reading and playing Pokemon. His favorite food is nachos. When he grows up, he would like to be a History Teacher. Ms. Edwards nominated Anthony because of the volunteering he does through his Boy Scout troop & his family. He goes above & beyond most average fifth grade students and serves others with a smile. When asked why it is important for her to serve others, Anthony replied, “I think people should help others when they are able. If we want to be a leader, we should lead by example and help everyone”.
BLUE RIDGE ELEMENTARY (Name can’t be released on Social Media)
- Blue Ridge Elementary. Nominated for this award because she truly thinks of others before herself and she is a hard-working, compassionate and responsible student. She is also devoted to her own learning and the learning of her peers. She feels it is important to serve others because “we need to help each other. Many people do not have others to help them when they need it. They might not get what they need, so it is important to help people when they need it.”
BROOKWOOD ELEMENTARY
- Georgia Claire Sanders is 11 years old and attends Brookwood Elementary. Her parents are Shauna and Sam Sanders and she has one sister, Henley (age 7). Her favorite subjects is Math. Her favorite hobbies include playing basketball, volleyball, golf and dance. She also loves art and loves to be creative. Her favorite foods are pancakes and pizza. When Georgia Claire grows up, she wants to be an artist or art teacher. Ms. Stacy nominated Georgia Claire for this award because she is a loving and compassionate young lady. She goes above and beyond to make sure all students are included, and that no child feels left out. She has a wonderful ability to see the needs of others and act on those needs. When asked why it was important for her to serve others, Georgia Claire said, “Serving others is important because not only does it make them feel good, but it makes you feel good too. You are always supposed to do the right thing, no matter what. Whether it’s as simple as opening the door for someone, or as time consuming as going on a mission trip, we all need to choose to spend time serving others.”
CITY PARK ELEMENTARY
- Jasmin Gutierriez-Rodriguez is 11 years old and attends City Park Elementary. Her parents are Veronica Rodriguez and Humberto Gutierriez. She has three sisters, Veronica (18), Nadia (16) and Adriana (9) and one brother, Humberto (5). Her favorite subject is Social Studies and she loves to draw. Her favorite food is pizza and she would like to be an Orthodontist when she grows up. Mr. Queen nominated Jasmin for this award because she goes above & beyond to assist her teachers and her classmates. She is a leader in all aspects of school, including the classroom, Student Council and Chess Club. Jasmin was the unanimous choice as a student who exemplifies service above self. Jasmin feels it is important to serve others because not everything is about any one specific person.
PARK CREEK ELEMENTARY
- Andrea Suarez is 10 years old and attends Park Creek Elementary. Her parents are Martha Mendez and Senen Suarez and she has one sister, Emily (7). Her favorite subject is Social Studies and her favorite foods are quesadillas, homemade food, French fries and ice cream. Andrea’s interests are basketball, running, arts & crafts and swimming in the Summertime. She likes to try new things. When she grows up, Andrea wants to be a teacher like Mrs. Bagley. Ms. Bagley nominated her for this award because time and time again, she has been an example of what student dedication, leadership and service represent in our student body and community. She has served as the Student Representative on the Dalton Public Schools Superintendent Council and on the Park Creek Leadership Team, among other things. When asked why she feels it’s important to serve others she said, “not only do you get to help them, but you get to feel good about yourself and what you’ve done.”
ROAN ELEMENTARY
- Khloe Valenciana is 10 years old and attends Roan Elementary. Her parents are Andrea & Hanss Lopez. Khloe has four sisters, Abigail (2), Makayla (4), Amairani (6) and Mia (9) and one brother, Jacob (8). Her favorite subject is Social Studies and her favorite hobbies are track & cheer. Khloe’s favorite food is barbecue and she wants to be a historian when she grows up. Ms. Edwards nominated Khloe for this award because she is an amazing student. She has a genuine interest in school and looks for ways to share her excitement with others. She always has a smile and kind words for everyone she meets. Khloe feels it is important to serve others because of teachers. Teachers help shape us into who we are and they give their all trying to serve us with knowledge. I believe in return we should serve and help others just like teachers help and serve us.
WESTWOOD ELEMENTARY (Name can’t be released on Social Media)
- Westwood Elementary. Nominated because she is the first to volunteer for any task in class. She has a great attitude, and she is respectful to teachers and peers. She helps others who need assistance with work or cleaning up/organizing. She feels it is important to serve others because it is helpful, and they may be going through something you’re not going through. It would be a kind thing to do to other people. It makes other people happy.
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Coping With The Pandemic: Learning About COVID-19 In Our First Virtual MeetingTuesday, July 7, 2020Having suspended or cancelled all regular Tuesday meetings and other Rotary functions since March 10, 2020 because of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus known as covid-19, on June 23 almost fifty Dalton Rotarians used online technology to participate in the Club’s first “virtual meeting.” The Microsoft Teams application enabled members to interact with each other visually and aurally and to enjoy an informative presentation by a physician specializing in infectious diseases, with a particular focus on management of the pandemic locally.
Dr, Lee Connor
President Amanda opened the meeting with an update on the work of the Board since mid-March. In virtual meetings held on April 14, April 21, April 28, May 12, May 26, June 9, and June 16, the Board continued to work on serving the community on the Club’s behalf. After setting aside $10,000 to address the deteriorating economic situation, the Board donated a total of $8,000 to several social service agencies most directly concerned with emerging needs. Since the most pressing of these was for food, the largest donations went to City of Refuge, Providence Ministries, Salvation Army, and the Northwest Georgia branch of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. In addition, $1,400 was spent to support efforts by the Dalton Public Schools and Whitfield County Schools to provide meals for families of underprivileged students; this was done by providing a breakfast for those preparing and distributing food under the school systems’ auspices. Beyond these actions, the Board also ensured that the Club’s annual program to recognize outstanding high school graduates and to award scholarships went forward as usual, and the Charlie Bowen Fifth Grade Service Above Self awards will soon be made during a Facebook Watch Party.
Amanda thanked the Board warmly for its work during these extraordinary times, and she noted (with just a hint of relief) that on June 30 the presidential gavel will pass to President-Elect Ricky Robertson. Turning to the announced program for the meeting, she introduced Sandy McKenzie, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Hamilton Health Care System, who then introduced Dr. Lee Connor, an infectious disease specialist employed by Hamilton since August, 2019. Amanda and Sandy both pointed out how unusual and fortunate it is for a town of Dalton’s size to have a physician with Dr. Connor’s expertise at hand, especially when his presence has coincided so propitiously with a completely unforeseen pandemic.
Dr. Connor noted that he is originally from Florida, where he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and attended medical school at Florida International University in Miami.. After completing a residency at the Wake Forest Medical Center in North Carolina, he studied infectious diseases at Washington University in St. Louis. As a lover of the outdoors and the mountains, he is happy to be in Dalton because it is so different from his native coastal environment, and he also has family connections in the Chattanooga area.
Following a summary of the origins of covid-19 in China and its spread to the U.S., Dr. Connor said that the possibility of a pandemic was discussed locally during the early months of 2020. Consequently, Hamilton formed a task force to prepare the hospital as much as possible ahead of time. With strong support from all sectors of the medical and general communities, the task force struck a balance between the capability to handle a covid-19 outbreak and the requirements arising from other infectious diseases such as the annual flu, etc. Such a balance has become all the more necessary in view of the recent uptick of infections and hospitalizations in Georgia and Tennessee as economic reopening goes on. Inasmuch as one case of covid-19 can propagate at least three to five other cases, it is very important to embrace and expand the preventive measures specified by the CDC, particularly the use of face masks and social distancing.
Hamilton has received much industry, community and government support, especially enabling acquisition of adequate ventilators and other necessary intensive care equipment, even though a basic goal is to prevent cases from progressing to respiratory failure. Through its own resources and also involvement with a Mayo Clinic study, Hamilton stands on the cutting edge of covid-19 prevention and treatment. Ultimately, of course, the best resolution will be development of an effective vaccine, but this is probably at least a year off. Meanwhile, there is also the prospect of achieving herd immunity, in which a large majority of the population acquires natural immunity to the virus through widespread exposure to it.
When asked to elaborate on the concept of herd immunity, Dr. Connor used the example of measles, in which individual cases may be severe but do not spread widely through a population because of collective exposure over time. Speaking realistically, the ideal proportion for herd immunity would be 80% to 90%, which would effectively control the spread of pathogens because of a shortage of hosts.
Another question concerned the number of beds allocated at Hamilton for covid-19 patients. Dr. Connor said there would be as many as needed. There is not a definite number of beds at this time, but some have been set aside, with specially trained staff, and one wing of the building has negative air pressure to deter spread of the virus from patients housed there.
To an inquiry about the number of covid-19 cases locally and how Dalton’s rate compares to that of Chattanooga, Dr. Connor said that local infections and hospitalizations peaked shortly after the highly publicized surges in New York and then declined, but the last couple of weeks have seen increases as businesses reopened, This pattern is comparable to Chattanooga’s, where a significant rise can probably also be attributed to social protest activities and neglect of social distancing. Responding to a point made by one Club member about the failure of many people to wear face masks, Dr. Connor concurred and reiterated that everyone should be vigilant about observing CDC guidelines. He also agreed that too little is known about the long-term consequences of covid-19 infection and damage the virus may cause to various body organs, especially the lungs.
President Amanda asked whether, during the last thirty years or so, medical schools have offered adequate preparation for dealing with pandemics. Dr. Connor replied that since the HIV epidemic of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s there has been a greater awareness of the importance of infectious disease training, but there is certainly a need for more. SARS and Ebola did not affect the U. S. strongly, whereas covid-19 has, without recent precedents. He is looking forward to teaching about infectious disease to the new group of residents about to begin training at Hamilton.
When asked what are the most important and alarming local covid-19 statistics, Dr. Connor pointed to the incidence of new cases. Local testing has been adequate, so the incidence number has strong validity, as does the number of hospitalizations. In response to a question about testing for antibodies, Dr. Connor noted that this type of testing is developing slowly and in any event it is not greatly significant in a clinical setting, where the need is to know who currently has the disease. It remains unclear whether antibodies confer immunity, but testing for them does help determine patterns of disease incidence.
Past President (and physician) John Richmond asked about the strength of evidence that the covid-19 virus originated in bats rather than in a Chinese laboratory. Dr. Connor said that the lab in Wuhan with which the virus has been most closely associated is well respected, and he seemed inclined to connect it with open food markets. The virus appears to occur in most mammals, and it can jump species easily. At any rate, the crucial factor in its spread is proximity.
In the absence of further questions, President Amanda closed the meeting by thanking Dr. Connor for his time and insights. As slides of the U. S. flag and Rotary logo appeared, she encouraged Club members to recommit themselves to the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test.
If you missed the virtual meeting and would like to view it online, you can visit our Rotary Facebook page (@RotaryClubofDalton) or watch via YouTube by clicking here.
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Anna To's Report On Her GRSP Yearby John Hutcheson
President-Elect Smitty Barnett introduced Anna To of Louth, England, whom he and his family hosted as the Club’s GRSP student for 2019-2020. He emphasized that they now love Anna as one of their own and described her as “the quintessential GRSP student” in the way she has benefitted from her time in the U.S. and her enthusiasm for sharing what she has learned here with her compatriots back in the U.K. During Anna’s stay, Smitty was partially impeded by foot surgery, and he expressed his thanks to Rotarians Bruce Satterfield and John Neal for helping ensure that Anna’s GRSP experience was all that it should be. He also said that whenever Anna gets married, he is counting on playing trumpet at her wedding.
Anna To and the Barnetts
Speaking from England, Anna presented a slideshow to illustrate the highlights of her time in America, which was unfortunately shortened by several weeks because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the necessity of returning home before the suspension of international travel. She began by thanking everyone who had made Dalton her home away from home, most specially, of course, the Barnetts. She had attended her first baseball game—the Braves vs. the Pirates—which fascinated her even though she never fully understood the rules. On the other hand, she was much more familiar with the proceedings at an Atlanta United soccer game, which in England would have been called football. She went to Athens, and although she did not see a game in Sanford Stadium, she was almost overwhelmed by its sheer size, and she later saw American football played at a Georgia Tech game in Atlanta.
Other highlights of the year included hiking the Disney Trail in Rocky Face, where the views were wonderful despite the heat and humidity, and rock climbing at the High Point Climbing Gym in Chattanooga. She spent Labor Day at Fort Mountain State Park, attended the Apple Festival in Ellijay, which was unlike anything she had ever seen, and went to Fall Creek Falls just before her departure from the U.S. In December her father visited—his first trip to the U.S.—and was greatly impressed with Dalton State College. The friends Anna made there contributed greatly to her cultural learning, among other things helping her celebrate her birthday and Valentine’s Day.
Anna’s travels outside Dalton took her into ten states, sometimes on a merely token basis but at other times for more extended visits. GRSP students enjoyed planned weekends in Savannah, Atlanta, Alpharetta, and Columbus—the last of these was Anna’s favorite, partly because it enabled her to go whitewater rafting on the Chattahoochee and also venture a short way into Alabama. While her father was in America, he and she skied in Colorado, comparing skiing experiences in the European Alps and what she called “the American Alps”—i.e., the Rockies. For a very different change of pace, they also visited Miami. Over the New Year’s holiday, she and a group of about twenty GRSP students went to Washington, D.C. and New York on what became her favorite trip in the U.S. In New York she ice skated for the first time and was in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, but she liked Washington better than New York. In some ways it reminded her of London, though she found the White House smaller than she expected when one thought in terms of Buckingham Palace. Her group also visited New Orleans, where she loved the French Quarter and, particularly, the beignets at the Café du Monde.
Looking back on her favorite moments, Anna mentioned kayaking at Fort Mountain on Labor Day—her first U.S. holiday—and Thanksgiving. The latter has no counterpart in the U.K, and she greatly appreciated how it prompts people to count their blessings and be grateful for those who give joy and meaning to the lives around them. She again recalled her weekend in Columbus, and she also pointed to the Whitfield County Education Foundation Celebrity Spelling Bee for the way it brought the community together for an important cause.
Anna closed her prepared remarks by again thanking the Barnetts, who overcame any and all of her worries from the moment they welcomed her upon her arrival in America. She noted that Adam Tee of Malaysia, another GRSP student who is sponsored by our club and other clubs in Northwest Georgia, remains in the U.S. because of obstacles to international travel, but he is now with his sister in Michigan and hopes to be home by Christmas.
When Margaret Venable asked Anna what were some surprises she experienced in the U.S., she referred to certain foods—grits, which she didn’t like, and banana pudding, which she loved. She was amazed at the amount of fast food available, especially on stretches such as West Walnut Avenue. Accustomed to driving in the left lane, she also had to get used to traffic lights indicating that she could turn right on red. Smitty Barnett asked Anna what she found most difficult in the way local people speak, to which she replied that certain words and phrases caught her aback, such as, “It’s neat.” Ricky Robertson said that both Anna and Adam were involved in the Club more than some other GRSP students had been in the past, and Anna agreed with his conclusion that she really enjoyed that involvement. President Amanda asked Anna for two or three words to describe the community or the Club. Admitting to difficulty in finding a few words to capture so rich an experience, Anna cited the general supportiveness that Club members extended to each other and their interest in what others are doing.
After saying that he found Anna to be very refreshing, Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead went on to remind members that this was Amanda’s last meeting as President and to thank her for her extraordinary leadership in extraordinary times, Amanda thanked Frank and stressed that Anna will always be one of us, whether she likes it or not. She then reminded members to send her pictures showing how they have occupied themselves during the pandemic quarantine, and she noted two coming occasions—President Ricky’s first Board meeting on July 7 and the Fifth Grade Awards watch party via Facebook at 6:00 p.m.on July 14 (to be subsequently available as well on the Club’s webpage). She also showed photos of the presidential gavel-passing on June 18 and her and President Ricky’s acquisition of the appropriate new badges. Finally, she warmly thanked the Club, and especially the Board members, for all their hard work during what has been a most unusual year. Following display of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test, President Ricky noted that District Governor Tina Fischlin will visit on July 21—our Board will meet that day at 11:00 a.m., and the D.G. will meet with both Dalton clubs jointly at noon. Finally, President Ricky once more extended profound thanks to Past President Amanda for all her work and commitment to the ideals of Rotary.
Announcements
In a virtual Club meeting, President Amanda recognized the most recent changes in the Club’s roster of Paul Harris Fellows. David Aft is now a Paul Harris Fellow Plus One, Chuck Dobbins and David Pennington are now Paul Harris Fellows Plus Two, and John Neal is now a Paul Harris Fellow Plus Three.
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July 14th, 2020
This Week:
6:00 PM Meeting
Charlie Bowen's 5th Grade Service Above Self Program
Facebook Watch Party
@RotaryClubOfDaltonGa
Next Week:
July 21st
District Governor's Visit (12:00 PM)
Board meeting (11:00 AM)
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July 14th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
14-Jul |
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| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
14-Jul |
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| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
14-Jul |
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| Hutcheson, John A. Jr. (JOHN) |
18-Jul |
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| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
19-Jul |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Townsend, Teresa |
Townsend, Patrick J. |
15-Jul |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Years(P) |
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
7/19/2016 |
4 |
0 |
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
7/19/2016 |
4 |
0 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
Carole |
15-Jul |
25 |
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
Terri |
15-Jul |
48 |
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
Marilyn |
15-Jul |
53 |
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
Annelle |
17-Jul |
20 |
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
Vinai |
20-Jul |
44 |
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Coping With The Pandemic - Learning About COVID-19Tuesday, July 7, 2020Dalton Rotary’s First Virtual Meeting
Having suspended or cancelled all regular Tuesday meetings and other Rotary functions since March 10, 2020 because of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus known as covid-19, on June 23 almost fifty Dalton Rotarians used online technology to participate in the Club’s first “virtual meeting.” The Microsoft Teams application enabled members to interact with each other visually and aurally and to enjoy an informative presentation by a physician specializing in infectious diseases, with a particular focus on management of the pandemic locally.
President Amanda opened the meeting with an update on the work of the Board since mid-March. In virtual meetings held on April 14, April 21, April 28, May 12, May 26, June 9, and June 16, the Board continued to work on serving the community on the Club’s behalf. After setting aside $10,000 to address the deteriorating economic situation, the Board donated a total of $8,000 to several social service agencies most directly concerned with emerging needs. Since the most pressing of these was for food, the largest donations went to City of Refuge, Providence Ministries, Salvation Army, and the Northwest Georgia branch of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. In addition, $1,400 was spent to support efforts by the Dalton Public Schools and Whitfield County Schools to provide meals for families of underprivileged students; this was done by providing a breakfast for those preparing and distributing food under the school systems’ auspices. Beyond these actions, the Board also ensured that the Club’s annual program to recognize outstanding high school graduates and to award scholarships went forward as usual, and the Charlie Bowen Fifth Grade Service Above Self awards will soon be made during a Facebook Watch Party.
Amanda thanked the Board warmly for its work during these extraordinary times, and she noted (with just a hint of relief) that on June 30 the presidential gavel will pass to President-Elect Ricky Robertson. Turning to the announced program for the meeting, she introduced Sandy McKenzie, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Hamilton Health Care System, who then introduced Dr. Lee Connor, an infectious disease specialist employed by Hamilton since August, 2019. Amanda and Sandy both pointed out how unusual and fortunate it is for a town of Dalton’s size to have a physician with Dr. Connor’s expertise at hand, especially when his presence has coincided so propitiously with a completely unforeseen pandemic.
Dr. Connor noted that he is originally from Florida, where he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and attended medical school at Florida International University in Miami.. After completing a residency at the Wake Forest Medical Center in North Carolina, he studied infectious diseases at Washington University in St. Louis. As a lover of the outdoors and the mountains, he is happy to be in Dalton because it is so different from his native coastal environment, and he also has family connections in the Chattanooga area.
Following a summary of the origins of covid-19 in China and its spread to the U.S., Dr. Connor said that the possibility of a pandemic was discussed locally during the early months of 2020. Consequently, Hamilton formed a task force to prepare the hospital as much as possible ahead of time. With strong support from all sectors of the medical and general communities, the task force struck a balance between the capability to handle a covid-19 outbreak and the requirements arising from other infectious diseases such as the annual flu, etc. Such a balance has become all the more necessary in view of the recent uptick of infections and hospitalizations in Georgia and Tennessee as economic reopening goes on. Inasmuch as one case of covid-19 can propagate at least three to five other cases, it is very important to embrace and expand the preventive measures specified by the CDC, particularly the use of face masks and social distancing.
Hamilton has received much industry, community and government support, especially enabling acquisition of adequate ventilators and other necessary intensive care equipment, even though a basic goal is to prevent cases from progressing to respiratory failure. Through its own resources and also involvement with a Mayo Clinic study, Hamilton stands on the cutting edge of covid-19 prevention and treatment. Ultimately, of course, the best resolution will be development of an effective vaccine, but this is probably at least a year off. Meanwhile, there is also the prospect of achieving herd immunity, in which a large majority of the population acquires natural immunity to the virus through widespread exposure to it.
When asked to elaborate on the concept of herd immunity, Dr. Connor used the example of measles, in which individual cases may be severe but do not spread widely through a population because of collective exposure over time. Speaking realistically, the ideal proportion for herd immunity would be 80% to 90%, which would effectively control the spread of pathogens because of a shortage of hosts.
Another question concerned the number of beds allocated at Hamilton for covid-19 patients. Dr. Connor said there would be as many as needed. There is not a definite number of beds at this time, but some have been set aside, with specially trained staff, and one wing of the building has negative air pressure to deter spread of the virus from patients housed there.
To an inquiry about the number of covid-19 cases locally and how Dalton’s rate compares to that of Chattanooga, Dr. Connor said that local infections and hospitalizations peaked shortly after the highly publicized surges in New York and then declined, but the last couple of weeks have seen increases as businesses reopened, This pattern is comparable to Chattanooga’s, where a significant rise can probably also be attributed to social protest activities and neglect of social distancing. Responding to a point made by one Club member about the failure of many people to wear face masks, Dr. Connor concurred and reiterated that everyone should be vigilant about observing CDC guidelines. He also agreed that too little is known about the long-term consequences of covid-19 infection and damage the virus may cause to various body organs, especially the lungs.
President Amanda asked whether, during the last thirty years or so, medical schools have offered adequate preparation for dealing with pandemics. Dr. Connor replied that since the HIV epidemic of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s there has been a greater awareness of the importance of infectious disease training, but there is certainly a need for more. SARS and Ebola did not affect the U. S. strongly, whereas covid-19 has, without recent precedents. He is looking forward to teaching about infectious disease to the new group of residents about to begin training at Hamilton.
When asked what are the most important and alarming local covid-19 statistics, Dr. Connor pointed to the incidence of new cases. Local testing has been adequate, so the incidence number has strong validity, as does the number of hospitalizations. In response to a question about testing for antibodies, Dr. Connor noted that this type of testing is developing slowly and in any event it is not greatly significant in a clinical setting, where the need is to know who currently has the disease. It remains unclear whether antibodies confer immunity, but testing for them does help determine patterns of disease incidence.
Past President (and physician) John Richmond asked about the strength of evidence that the covid-19 virus originated in bats rather than in a Chinese laboratory. Dr. Connor said that the lab in Wuhan with which the virus has been most closely associated is well respected, and he seemed inclined to connect it with open food markets. The virus appears to occur in most mammals, and it can jump species easily. At any rate, the crucial factor in its spread is proximity.
In the absence of further questions, President Amanda closed the meeting by thanking Dr. Connor for his time and insights. As slides of the U. S. flag and Rotary logo appeared, she encouraged Club members to recommit themselves to the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test.
If you missed the virtual meeting and would like to view it online, you can visit our Rotary Facebook page (@RotaryClubofDalton) or watch via YouTube by clicking here.
|
Coping With The Pandemic - Learning About COVID-19 In Our First Virtual MeetingMonday, July 6, 2020 By Amanda Reed Having suspended or cancelled all regular Tuesday meetings and other Rotary functions since March 10, 2020 because of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus known as covid-19, on June 23 more than fortyalmost fifty Dalton Rotarians used online technology to participate in the Club’s first “virtual meeting.” The Microsoft Teams application enabled members to interact with each other visually and aurally and to enjoy an informative presentation by a physician specializing in infectious diseases, with a particular focus on management of the pandemic locally.
President Amanda opened the meeting with an update on the work of the Board since mid-March. In virtual meetings held on April 14, April 21, April 28, May 12, May 26, June 9, and June 16, the Board continued to work on serving the community on the Club’s behalf. After setting aside $10,000 to address the deteriorating economic situation, the Board donated a total of $8,000 to several social service agencies most directly concerned with emerging needs. Since the most pressing of these was for food, the largest donations went to City of Refuge, Providence Ministries, Salvation Army, and the Northwest Georgia branch of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. In addition, $1,400 was spent to support efforts by the Dalton Public Schools and Whitfield County Schools to provide meals for families of underprivileged students; this was done by providing a breakfast for those preparing and distributing food under the school systems’ auspices. Beyond these actions, the Board also ensured that the Club’s annual program to recognize outstanding high school graduates and to award scholarships went forward as usual, and the Charlie Bowen Fifth Grade Service Above Self awards will soon be made during a Facebook Watch Party.
Amanda thanked the Board warmly for its work during these extraordinary times, and she noted (with just a hint of relief) that on June 30 the presidential gavel will pass to President-Elect Ricky Robertson. Turning to the announced program for the meeting, she introduced Sandy McKenzie, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Hamilton Health Care System, who then introduced Dr. Lee Connor, an infectious disease specialist employed by Hamilton since August, 2019. Amanda and Sandy both pointed out how unusual and fortunate it is for a town of Dalton’s size to have a physician with Dr. Connor’s expertise at hand, especially when his presence has coincided so propitiously with a completely unforeseen pandemic.
Dr. Connor noted that he is originally from Florida, where he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and attended medical school at the Florida International University in Miami.University of Miami After completing a residency at the Wake Forest Medical Center in North Carolina, he studied infectious diseases at Washington University in St. Louis. As a lover of the outdoors and the mountains, he is happy to be in Dalton because it is so different from his native coastal environment, and he also has family connections in the Chattanooga area.
Following a summary of the origins of covid-19 in China and its spread to the U. S., Dr. Connor said that the possibility of a pandemic was discussed locally during the early months of 2020. Consequently, Hamilton formed a task force to prepare the hospital as much as possible ahead of time. With strong support from all sectors of the medical and general communities, the task force struck a balance between the capability to handle a covid-19 outbreak and the requirements arising from other infectious diseases such as the annual flu, etc. Such a balance has become all the more necessary in view of the recent uptick of infections and hospitalizations in Georgia and Tennessee as economic reopening goes on. Inasmuch as one case of covid-19 can propagate at least three to five other cases, it is very important to embrace and expand the preventive measures specified by the CDC, particularly the use of face masks and social distancing.
Hamilton has received much industry, community and government support, especially enabling acquisition of adequate ventilators and other necessary intensive care equipment, even though a basic goal is to prevent cases from progressing to respiratory failure. Through its own resources and also involvement with a Mayo Clinic study, Hamilton stands on the cutting edge of covid-19 prevention and treatment. Ultimately, of course, the best resolution will be development of an effective vaccine, but this is probably at least a year off. Meanwhile, there is also the prospect of achieving herd immunity, in which a large majority of the population acquires natural immunity to the virus through widespread exposure to it.
When asked to elaborate on the concept of herd immunity, Dr. Connor used the example of measles, in which individual cases may be severe but do not spread widely through a population because of collective exposure over time. Speaking realistically, the ideal proportion for herd immunity would be 80% to 90%, which would effectively control the spread of pathogens because of a shortage of hosts.
Another question concerned the number of beds allocated at Hamilton for covid-19 patients. Dr. Connor said there would be as many as needed. There is not a definite number of beds at this time, but some have been set aside, with specially trained staff, and one wing of the building now has negative air pressure to deter spread of the virus from patients housed there.
To an inquiry about the number of covid-19 cases locally and how Dalton’s rate compares to that of Chattanooga, Dr. Connor said that local infections and hospitalizations peaked shortly after the highly publicized surges in New York and then declined, but the last couple of weeks have seen increases as businesses reopened, This pattern is comparable to Chattanooga’s, where a significant rise can probably also be attributed to social protest activities and neglect of social distancing. Responding to a point made by one Club member about the failure of many people to wear face masks, Dr. Connor concurred and reiterated that everyone should be vigilant about observing CDC guidelines. He also agreed that too little is known about the long-term consequences of covid-19 infection and damage the virus may cause to various body organs, especially the lungs.
President Amanda asked whether, during the last thirty years or so, medical schools have offered adequate preparation for dealing with pandemics. Dr. Connor replied that since the HIV epidemic of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s there has been a greater awareness of the importance of infectious disease training, but there is certainly a need for more. SARS and ebolaEbola did not affect the U. S. strongly, whereas covid-19 has, without recent precedents. He is looking forward to teaching about infectious disease to the new group of residents about to begin training at Hamilton.
When asked what are the most important and alarming local covid-19 statistics, Dr. Connor pointed to the incidence of new cases. Local testing has been adequate, so the incidence number has strong validity, as does the number of hospitalizations. In response to a question about testing for antibodies, Dr. Connor noted that this type of testing is developing slowly and in any event it is not greatly significant in a clinical setting, where the need is to know who currently has the disease. It remains unclear whether antibodies confer immunity, but testing for them does help determine patterns of disease incidence.
Past President (and physician) John Richmond asked about the strength of evidence that the covid-19 virus originated in bats rather than in a Chinese laboratory. Dr. Connor said that the lab in Wuhan with which the virus has been most closely associated is well respected, and he seemed inclined to connect it with open food markets. The virus appears to occur in most mammals, and it can jump species easily. At any rate, the crucial factor in its spread is proximity.
In the absence of further questions, President Amanda closed the meeting by thanking Dr. Connor for his time and insights. As slides of the U. S. flag and Rotary logo appeared, she encouraged Club members to recommit themselves to the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test.
If you missed the virtual meeting and would like to view it online, you can visit our Rotary Facebook page (@RotaryClubOfDalton) or on YouTube at the link (youtube.com/watch?v=Q_MCRWTI__k)
|
July 7th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, July 6, 2020 By Amanda Reed
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
7-Jul |
|
|
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
8-Jul |
|
|
| Gooding, Darby (DARBY) |
8-Jul |
|
|
| Neal, John P. III (JOHN) |
9-Jul |
|
|
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
10-Jul |
|
|
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
|
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Kinard, Bob |
Kinard, Dixie |
13-Jul |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
7/7/2015 |
5 |
|
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
7/10/2007 |
13 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
Donna |
11-Jul |
50 |
| Conway, Deborah R (DEBORAH) |
John |
13-Jul |
35 |
|
Online Meeting Tomorrow (Tuesday, June 23rd) At NoonDear Rotarians,
I am looking forward to our speaker tomorrow which will be joining us ONLINE. Dr. Lee Connor, infectious disease specialist from Hamilton Medical Center, attended medical school at Florida International University and undertook his residency at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. As an infectious disease physician, Dr. Connor specializes in the treatment of viral and bacterial conditions, and he has agreed to talk with the Rotary Club of Dalton about COVID-19. If you have questions for Dr. Connor, please send them to [email protected] before today’s close of business, and we will cover as many as possible during the meeting.
Dr. Lee Connor
If you are interested in joining our ONLINE meeting, please use the following meeting information:
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 (ONLINE)
Time: 12:00 pm (ONLINE)
Online Meeting: 2 ways to join the Teams Meeting
- Click this link if you are joining on-line: Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
- (If you are unable to click this link in the electronic newsletter, please note that I’m sending this information via pmail as well.)
- If you are joining via phone, please use this phone number and ID:
(844) 598-2519 United States (Toll-free)
Conference ID: 564 867 263#
If you are unable to attend the online meeting, please note a video will be posted on our Rotary Club of Dalton Facebook page and YouTube, and we will include a summary in our newsletter. (More details to come.)
As this very unusual Rotary year comes to a close, please consider emailing a picture that shows how you are spending free time during the pandemic. I would like to share your pictures with the Club and on our Facebook page, so that we can connect and share with one another. Please email your pictures to [email protected].
Here are this week's calls to action:
- Please mark your calendar for TOMORROW'S ONLINE meeting (Tuesday, June 23rd at 12:00 pm).
- If you have questions for Dr. Lee Connor, Hamilton's Infectious Disease physician, please send an email to [email protected] before the end of the day.
- Share a picture showing how you are spending your free time during the pandemic. Email your picture to [email protected]. (By emailing your picture, you are giving the Rotary Club of Dalton permission to use and reproduce the picture.)
Until we meet again,
Amanda
|
June 23rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Brown, Alex C (ALEX) |
27-Jun |
|
|
| Little, William Norris Sr. (NORRIS) |
28-Jun |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Combs, Donna |
Combs, William Dan |
24-Jun |
|
| Neal, Terri |
Neal, John P. III |
24-Jun |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Croft, Brian C (BRIAN) |
6/25/2019 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
Sally |
23-Jun |
44 |
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
Ginny |
25-Jun |
15 |
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
Sara |
26-Jun |
24 |
| Fleming, Terry G (TERRY) |
Carol |
28-Jun |
34 |
|
|
May 12th Update
|
Message From President AmandaDear Fellow Rotarians,
I hope this email finds you well. Your Board has certainly missed you, as I’m sure you have missed one another. As we have reached out to our membership over the past few weeks, we have been pleased to hear that most of you have been doing quite well. I should still note that you have experienced a few life events, a noteworthy amount of boredom, and a significant sense of longing for “normal” life. With that said, however, I am glad to hear that you have been staying safe and healthy.
Although we haven’t had an opportunity to meet weekly, I want to assure you that we remain active and have been serving in a capacity that will make you proud to be a Rotarian. As of Tuesday, we will have canceled 9 regularly scheduled Rotary meetings, but the Board has met 5 times. We have been staying abreast of the needs of our community and trying to meet those needs: we’ve donated $2,000 to the Salvation Army for their tornado relief fund in Murray County; $2,000 to Providence Ministries to help meet their mission to serve hot meals and shelter those in need; $2,000 to the City of Refuge as they have served 19,472 meals in the past 7 weeks; and $2,000 to the Dalton branch of the Chattanooga Food Bank. In addition, our Club has served those who are serving: we delivered breakfast and gift cards to the Dalton Public School and the Whitfield County School systems to encourage and thank the workers that have been preparing and distributing meals to children throughout our area.
 
Dalton Middle School, Dalton Salvation Army Tornado Relief Fund
Although we look forward to the day when we can meet again, it will still be several weeks before this is a consideration. We continue to stay in close contact with the Dalton Golf & Country Club, as well as monitor the recommendations of the CDC and the Governor. At this time, we believe it may be mid-June before we can gather once again.
  
Each breakfast included a kind bar with the Rotary 4-Way Test on one side and a "kind" quote on the other
Until we can safely see one another, please know that you are missed and we are here to serve you and our community.
Yours in Service,
Amanda
|
March 17th, 2020This Week:
Meeting Postponed
(Corona Virus Precautions)
Upcoming Meetings:
March 24th:
Meeting Postponed
(Corona Virus Precautions)
|
March 17th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
20-Mar |
|
|
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
21-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Gooding, Darby (DARBY) |
3/20/2018 |
2 |
|
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
3/20/2018 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
Andrea |
18-Mar |
14 |
|
An Update On Meeting CancellationsThe health and wellness of our Club members is our highest priority and greatest concern. We believe that an abundance of caution will best serve our members and our community. Therefore, please note the following cancellations:
- We made the decision to cancel our Rotary meetings for the next two (2) weeks. This cancellation includes the meetings on March 17th and March 24th. Further cancellations may be required and will be communicated in the coming weeks.
- The Ronnie McClurg Invitational Track Meet is cancelled.
- The District Conference has been cancelled and may be replaced with a one day event.
|
The Moravian Mission At Springplaceby Abby Thomas and John Hutcheson
Rotarian John Hutcheson gave a presentation entitled “Mining for Souls on Diamond Hill: Moravians and the Springplace Mission.” John gave a brief history of the Moravian Church from its origins in Central Europe in the 1400’s and how its missionaries came to Northwest Georgia from North Carolina around 1800 to live among the Cherokees, ending up on the Vann plantation, Diamond Hill, at Springplace in Murray County. Chief James Vann was impressed by the Moravians and allowed them to operate a school to teach English and vocational skills such as carpentry, blacksmithing, tailoring, and modern agriculture. Because of similarities in their beliefs and a willingness to accept each other’s differences, the two cultures lived in harmony from the Moravians’ arrival until the expulsion of the Cherokees by the state of Georgia in the 1830’s, and much of what we know about Cherokee life during these years is found only in the Moravians’ records of their work.
John Hutcheson
Announcements
In the absence of President Amanda, who was ill, Past President Bruce Satterfield welcomed the return of Rotarian Smitty Barnett and Past President Bill Bowen from recent medical misadventures. Bruce also reminded members about the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament on April 14 at the Nob North Golf Course and the Club’s annual track meet at Dalton High School on March 21, for which volunteers are still needed for several of the field events. There are also several new volunteer opportunities which might be attractive to Rotarians who’d like to work inside since they will be located in the coaches’ hospitality room and in the new concessions facility.
Past President John Richmond presented a check to the Club for $2,275.87 from the GRSP Endowment Fund as a rebate for having contributed at least $50 per member to the GRSP in addition to sponsoring a GRSP student. He also encouraged members to bring their families to the District Conference in Asheville, NC, on April 23-25.
|
March 10th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr. (PAUL) |
10-Mar |
|
|
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
12-Mar |
|
|
| Thomas, Abby L (ABBY) |
16-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Griffin, Candy |
Griffin, Joseph Bryan |
12-Mar |
|
| Temples, Noel |
Temples, Coy H |
16-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
3/15/2016 |
4 |
|
| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
3/15/2016 |
4 |
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
3/15/2016 |
4 |
|
| Conway, Deborah R (DEBORAH) |
3/15/2016 |
4 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
Virginia |
12-Mar |
54 |
|
|
March 10th, 2020
This Week:
Providence Ministries
March 17th:
Rotary R&R
Track Meet Preview
March 21st (Saturday):
Rotary Track Meet
|
March 3rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
7-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Wright, Joanne |
Wright, Thomas L |
3-Mar |
|
| Bowen, Ann |
Bowen, William C. III |
5-Mar |
|
| Pierce, Lamar |
Pierce, Sara C. |
5-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr.(JUDSON) |
3/3/1964 |
56 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
March 3rd, 2020
Upcoming Meetings:
March 10th:
Providence Ministries
March 17th:
Rotary R&R
Track Meet Preview
March 21st (Saturday):
Rotary Track Meet
|
2020 Vocational Awards For First Respondersby John Hutcheson
Alex Brown, Vocational Service Chair, announced the 2020 Vocational Service Awards for First Responders, recognizing those who have gone above and beyond regular duty and are exemplary members of their professions, embodying the Rotary ideal of Service Before Self. Each award honors an individual who has excelled in his or her profession either through a single event or a career-long contribution of sustained, worthy performance. Moreover, said Alex, “we also as a club would like to thank and recognize each of the first responders’ family members,” acknowledging “that as spouses, parents, children, grandparents of our first responders you bear the brunt of an on-call spouse, who may work unlimited hours, under significant physical and psychological pressures.” In doing so, “you support our community by supporting them.”
Before calling up each honoree and his supervisor to the podium, Alex quoted from the book On Combat by Lt. Col. David Grossman:
“If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen; a sheep. If you have capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined a sociopath—a wolf. But what if you have capacity for violence and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheep dog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path.”
Although Lt. Col. Grossman’s reference was to military violence, his words apply as well to today’s award recipients, who have demonstrated their willingness to fight natural, civil, or accidental violence with all their training, skill, and judgement. Whether it be to rescue and revive the victim of a violent fire, to render harmless a violent criminal, or to work—often with great physical effort—to rescue a victim of an automobile accident, these first responders have demonstrated the highest ideals of their service agencies and their community.
This year’s recipients are as follows:
From Hamilton EMS, Captain Lee Duman presented Kerry Howell.
From the Dalton Fire Department, Chief Todd Pangle presented Justin Rishel, and from the Whitfield County Fire Department Chief Edward O’Brien presented Lt. Jeff Heatherly. On behalf of the Dalton Police Department, Chief Chris Crossen nominated Richard Cook III (Trey), who was absent due to his attendance at a training event. Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood presented Shawn Giles, and he also introduced the Club to K9 Eddy and his handler, Todd Thompson, noting that Eddy recently won a nationally televised competition to become a finalist for recognition as America’s Top Dog.
L to R: Justin Richel, Kerry Howell, Jeff Heatherly, Todd Thompson and K9 Eddy, Shawn Giles. [Not pictured: Richard Cook]
Alex concluded by thanking all the recipients “for living in the storm of life and choosing NOT to stay on shore but walking, running, and sometimes jumping in to save others.” President Amanda thanked all first responders as well as those the Club is honored to recognize today, declaring that “it’s a great day to be a Rotarian.”
Announcements
President Amanda asked the Club for thoughts and prayers on behalf of Past President Bill Bowen, who suffered a mild stroke on February 23. Past President Jason Parker reminded members about the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament on April 14 at the Nob North Golf Course; lunch will be available at 11:30 and the competition will begin at 1:00. Coach Ronnie McClurg noted that this year will be the 46th anniversary of the Club’s annual track meet and that volunteers are still needed for several of the field events. President Amanda welcomed District Governor Don Martin, who was attending the meeting informally and encouraged members to bring their families to the District Conference in Asheville, NC, on April 23-25.
|
Rotary Golf Tournament 2020.png)
|
|
February 25th, 2020
This Week:
First Responder Vocational Awards
Upcoming Meetings:
March 3rd:
To Be Announced
March 10th:
Providence Ministries
March 17th:
Rotary R&R
Track Meet Preview
March 21st (Saturday):
Rotary Track Meet
|
What Is Brexit?by John Hutcheson
President Amanda introduced Rotarian Lynn Laughter, who in turn introduced her son, Mark, a nuclear safeguards inspector employed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Mark graduated from MIT, where he was on the rowing team, with bachelor’s degrees in physics and nuclear engineering and a master’s degree in the latter. Having been in his current position for seven years, he looks for indicators that a country may have undeclared nuclear weapons systems. His work is shaped by the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1970, negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations and now embracing 191 countries. Among states known or suspected to have nuclear weapons, only India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel have not adhered to the treaty.
Mark Laughter
For the last three years Mark’s work has focused on the implications of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, a measure commonly known as Brexit. After reviewing the history of Britain’s relationship with the European community from 1973, when the UK became a member, through the referendum of 2013 calling for British withdrawal and its reaffirmation in the general election of 2019, Mark said that the situation is now one of transition, dominated by uncertainty regarding both a multitude of details and the broader implications for the future. In his own field, Brexit means that the UK is no longer bound by the rules of the European Atomic Energy Community, or Euratom. Mark’s workload is likely to double as the British now negotiate a host of new bilateral agreements in which inspection procedures will no longer be shared with those of the IAEA and Euratom. Moreover, the integrity of the UK itself has been called into question; Scotland and Northern Ireland favored remaining within the EU, and should either or both become independent, they will most likely be non-nuclear weapons states. Another set of complications concerns immigration issues, and beyond that, residency status for citizens of EU nations who are living in Britain.
Mark emphasized that no area of British life will be unaffected by Brexit, a point which he vividly reinforced by positing a hypothetical establishment of Georgia as a sovereign state, independent of the United States or any other entity. In the British case, the chances appear dim for a definitive settlement of the perplexities raised by Brexit within the eleven months allocated to transition.
New Developments in Robotic Surgery
In an unannounced addition to the day’s program, Rotarian Sam Critides, MD, presented a display and demonstration of procedures in stereotactic robotic surgery, a minimally invasive form of surgical intervention which uses a 3-D coordinate system to act on small areas inside the body. New technology available at Hamilton Medical Center has broadened usable frames of reference for locating and treating targets with sub-millimeter accuracy, so that stereotactic procedures can now be applied over a wider range than in the past. As an example, Dr. Critides and his assistants showed how it could be used to replace a traditional spinal fusion operation.
Announcements
Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead again appealed for CART contributions to be deposited in the buckets placed on each table. He noted that the total collected so far has fallen far short of District expectations, and by making a substantial donation of his own he hoped to motivate other members to participate significantly.
|
February 25th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Walker, Natima G (NATIMA) |
26-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Jolly, Becky |
Jolly, Hilliard R. |
25-Feb |
|
| Brooker, Janet |
Brooker, Robert H. |
27-Feb |
|
| Jones, Danielle |
Jones, J Sherwood III |
27-Feb |
|
| Ward, Allen |
Ward, Barbara K. |
27-Feb |
|
| Norris, Calli |
Norris, Bradley B |
28-Feb |
|
| Johnson, Pat |
Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. |
1-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
2/26/2019 |
1 |
|
| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
2/26/2019 |
1 |
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
3/1/1988 |
32 |
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
3/1/1976 |
44 |
|
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
3/1/1975 |
45 |
|
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
3/1/1975 |
45 |
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
3/1/1994 |
26 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
Bobby |
27-Feb |
21 |
|
February 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Chambliss, Alex |
Chambliss, Darla P |
18-Feb |
|
| Kiker, John |
Kiker, Janice F. |
24-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
2/20/2007 |
13 |
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
2/23/2016 |
4 |
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
2/23/2010 |
10 |
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
2/23/2010 |
10 |
|
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
2/23/2016 |
4 |
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
2/24/1998 |
22 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
Susan |
23-Feb |
46 |
|
|
February 18th, 2020
This Week:
"What Is Brexit?"
Mark D. Laughter
IAEA Nuclear Safeguards Inspector
|
Changes In Georgia's Elections For 2020by John Hutcheson
President Amanda introduced Rotarian Sparky Kelehear, Chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Elections for the past seven years, and Mary Hammontree, Registrar since 2013 and a thirty-year County employee with previous experience in the Clerk’s office and as a specialist in information technology.
Mary Hammontree and Sparky Kelehear
Sparky opened his presentation with a review of the mission and objectives of the Board of Elections, the dates of elections scheduled for the remainder of 2020, and the qualifications required of voters in Whitfield County, all of which can be found on the Whitfield County website. He pointed out that with voting now easier and more unimpeded than it has ever been, there is no excuse for not voting at every opportunity. Moreover, a voter can fail to vote for up to five years before being declared inactive and required to re-register. Presently Whitfield County has 17,829 registered voters spread across 23 precincts. The record turnout was 78%, reached in the Presidential election of November, 2016, but typical turnouts are much lower, often under 20%.
For 2020, the biggest and most obvious change will be the use of new ballot-marking equipment which will produce a written as well as electronic record of electoral activity. Each ballot-marking device will be attached to a printer, and the 221 ballot machines and their accompanying printers will be served by 138 specially trained poll workers.
The new technology is designed to protect the electoral process from hacking or other outside interference, and its first public use will be in the Presidential Preference Primary and Special Election on March 24, 2020. In preparation, Sparky and Mary recommended that voters watch a video entitled “Secure the Vote,” available on the County’s Facebook page, and with the voluntary assistance of Rotarian Mel Abernathy they demonstrated voting procedures using one of the new machines and a printer.
President Amanda closed the meeting by encouraging members to continue contributing loose change and other funds to the CART buckets, adding that these would remain on the tables for the rest of February.
Announcements
Past President John Richmond reminded members about the District 6910 Conference in Asheville, NC on April 23-26, and Past President Bruce Satterfield noted that sign-up sheets for assistance at the Ronnie McClurg Track Meet on March 28 will be available next week. President Amanda said that the “Thirsty Thursday” event on February 6 was a success in the Club’s ongoing effort to depict and implement “the changing face of Rotary” for younger members and potential recruits.
|
February 4th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
12-Feb |
|
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr. (ROBERT) |
15-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| McKenzie, Jimmy |
McKenzie, Sandra D |
6-Feb |
|
| DeLay, Avalee |
DeLay, Scott G |
6-Feb |
|
| Adcock, Diane |
Adcock, Don W. |
7-Feb |
|
| Brunson, Cindy |
Brunson, Kevin M. |
8-Feb |
|
| Henson, Jean |
Henson, Paul E. Jr. |
14-Feb |
|
| Denson, Andrea |
Denson, Jason B |
16-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
2/15/2000 |
20 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
February 11th, 2020
This Week:
New Voting Machines
Upcoming Meetings:
February 18th:
"What Is Brexit?"
Mark D. Laughter
IAEA Nuclear Safeguards Inspector
|
The Stubbs and Arrendale Awards: Our 2020 Nomineesby John Hutcheson
After thanking members for offering suggested candidates, Vocational Service Chair Alex Brown presided over announcement of the Club’s nominees for two of District 6910’s greatest annual honors, the Robert S. Stubbs Guardian of Ethics Award and the W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award. For 2020 the Rotary Club of Dalton nominates Probate Judge Sheri Blevins for the Stubbs Award and Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce President Rob Bradham for the Arrendale Award.
Judge Sheri Blevins and Rob Bradham
The Stubbs Award, named for Robert (Bob) Stubbs, a member of the Rotary Club of Canton, honors a person who has been a Rotarian for at least three years and has made outstanding contributions in his or her vocation while also strengthening and fostering the development of ethical practices by actions, writing, policies, and public pronouncements. By wide consensus in the community, Sheri Blevins enjoys profound respect as a model of what an ethical life should be, applying the Four Way Test at home, in her court, and in all aspects of her conduct. In the words of one of her associates, “Having known Sheri for some years professionally as well as personally, I can attest to her integrity. Having interacted with several of my clients while she was in private practice, Sheri interacted with folks to help them understand ‘in plain English’ the rules of law pertaining to wills and estate planning. As the Probate Judge, Sheri continues to interact with those who need her services in a caring, professional manner. She is an excellent example of the intent of the Stubbs Award.”
Sheri earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Oxford College at Emory University, with top honors as a Graduate with Highest Distinction. She also earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, served on the Georgia Law Review, and was admitted to the Order of the Coif, the top ten percent of students. Prior to becoming a judge, she worked as an associate with Strophel and Strophel, a Chattanooga law firm, with a focus on tax matters. She later joined the firm of Robert A. Whitlow, where her practice concentrated on wills, trusts, estate planning, and probate administration. In 2009 she became Probate Judge in Whitfield County, with jurisdiction over decedents’ estates, incapacitated adults and minors, traffic violations, DNR citations, weapons carry licenses, and marriage licenses. Other professional responsibilities include her work as an instructor for the Probate Judges’ Council, for whom she teaches probate law and ethics and serves as Vice Chair of the Weapons Carry License Committee.
In her court, Judge Blevins clearly demonstrates why she is truly a “Guardian of Ethics.” She takes great pains to protect the integrity of the court system and to assure that the law is administered fairly without regard for social or political status. She has led in work to prevent bonding companies from charging poor people for worthless bonds and to halt probation companies from using incarceration as a collection tool, while also taking steps to limit unnecessary continuances at defendants’ expense and to forestall abuses in the award of attorneys’ fees.
Beyond her professional capacity, Sheri serves her community through active work in her church, her Rotary Club, and numerous civic agencies such as the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, the Cherokee Estate Planning Council, the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center, and the Murray County Developmental Center. She and her husband, a local attorney, have three grown daughters and one grandchild. Upon receiving her award, Sheri spoke of her deep sense of honor in having it made by a group she holds in such high esteem.
The Arrendale Award recognizes Lee Arrendale, a Rotarian from Habersham County who was a recognized leader in the Georgia poultry industry and served his state as Chairman of the Georgia Board of Corrections. Guidelines for the award in his name require the nominee to show excellence in his or her vocation, achievements in the community, and academic excellence. In his introduction of Rob Bradham, Alex Brown pointed out that “there is often a significant difference between those who just ‘practice’ a vocation and those that pursue excellence. Excellence requires more. It requires sacrifice, commitment and an abiding openness to the growth and evolution inherent in building both vocation and a career. I’ve worked with Rob Bradham for a number of years and watched him exhibit the very traits that differentiate the simple practitioner from the one who displays vocational excellence.” He continued, “Those professionals who choose the path of excellence accept the toughest challenges and give it their all... Rob remains dedicated to the journey and understands that there is no finish line, only the next conversation.”
Rob holds a B.A. in history with a minor in political science from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and since graduating he has spent over twenty years serving the communities he lives in by working in various public and private sector capacities. In 1999, while studying at Old Dominion, he was encouraged by a professor to do an internship with the Virginia General Assembly. Reluctantly, he agreed and found he actually enjoyed the work, especially helping to pass long overdue HMO reform legislation. Having been bitten by the political bug, Rob went on to work in many different roles as a Campaign Field Coordinator, Government Relations Assistant, and Director of Governmental Affairs at a lobbying firm. Rising through the ranks as he learned more, he moved into a Vice President for Governmental Affairs position, where he worked tirelessly to build support and awareness for a new inpatient hospital in Virginia Beach.
In 2007 Rob began working for the Richmond Chamber of Commerce as the Senior Vice President of Business Development and Government Affairs. In that role, he led the charge to help secure funding for high-speed rail from Washington, DC to Richmond. Additionally, he was the principal contributor to the coalition that achieved a $24 million increase in state funding for early childhood development programs. He also recruited Fortune 1000 business executives, legislators, and community leaders to invest in Pre-K education.
In 2010 he joined the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, taking the position of Vice President of Public Strategies, in which his primary tasks included directing the Chamber’s education and workforce development strategies and overseeing the Chamber’s public policy program. A few key accomplishments in this role include raising $350,000 from the local business community to establish a STEM high school in Hamilton County, integrating the Young Professionals Association of Chattanooga into the Chamber, and creating Protégé Chattanooga, a non- traditional mentoring program for young professionals.
All this experience, across different and diverse geographies and roles, with increasing responsibility, have made Rob uniquely qualified to serve Dalton in his current role as President and CEO of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce. Not surprisingly, he hit the ground running here soon after officially taking the job in 2015 by creating the Believe Greater Dalton, a five-year vision and strategic plan, and getting buy-in from all stakeholders in the community. Additionally, he led the successful campaign to raise $1.9 million to fund the work of Believe Greater Dalton. As part of his work with the project, Rob forced the community to take a good hard look in the mirror. While Dalton has much to offer, the data made it clear that professionals, especially young professionals, might work here but were overwhelmingly commuting to Chattanooga. A deeper dive revealed some pressing issues for younger and middle-aged professionals, such as a public-school system undergoing significant change and a lack of middle and upper-middle-income housing. Since the findings, Rob has led the creation of the Flooring Capital Development Corporation, a nonprofit development corporation aimed at fostering redevelopment and creation of new housing in the Greater Dalton area. Additionally, he co-founded the Dalton Innovation Accelerator, which has brought the community together to support local entrepreneurs.
“Although Rob has only made his home in Dalton for half a decade,” Alex reflected, “I can say with certainty his work in our community has changed the direction of our community in immeasurable ways, for the better. I’d ask each of you to close your eyes and picture downtown five years ago; now picture downtown today. While Rob is not solely responsible for all the changes you see in your mind of our own downtown, I think it’s no exaggeration to say he has been has brought the community stakeholders together, asked the tough questions, analyzed the answers made and implemented a plan and vision that has pushed Dalton into a new chapter.”
Like Judge Blevins, Rob replied that it was a great honor to receive his award from this Club, and he extended thanks as well to the Chamber staff and Board and especially to Rotarian Chuck Dobbins, who was instrumental in bringing him to Dalton.
Following the Stubbs and Arrendale Awards, John Richmond recognized Rotarian Jonathan Bledsoe as the Club’s newest Will Watt Fellow in recognition of his contribution of $1,000 to the GRSP.
Jonathan Bledsoe
President Amanda closed the meeting by reminding members of the Open House at the Peeples Cancer Institute on February 1 where special accommodations will be made for Rotarians. This will be one of the two vocational tours the Club is expected to have each year, and consequently there will be no regular meeting the following Tuesday, February 4. On February 6, however, the Membership Committee will hold a “Thirsty Thursday” at a downtown restaurant for persons 45 years old and younger in hopes of increasing membership and incorporating younger Rotarians more fully into the work of the Club.
Announcements
President Amanda opened the meeting by inviting Stubbs Award designate Sheri Blevins and Arrendale Award designate Rob Bradham to introduce their special guests. She then called on Past President John Richmond to report on the recent GRSP Trustees meeting in Savannah and congratulated him on being elected Director of GRSP, with statewide responsibility for its operations. Turning to much sadder news, she noted the recent death of Rotarian Amanda Burt’s mother and the outrageous burglary of the Burt home during the time of the funeral, asking for members’ prayers on behalf of the Burt family. Finally, she reported that after many delays President-Elect Smitty Barnett has had successful foot surgery, but a prolonged convalescence will prevent him from attending PETS and meeting other obligations necessary for an incoming club president. Realizing this, Smitty asked Ricky Robertson to take his place as President-Elect and lead the Club during 2020-2021. Last week the Board approved submitting this proposal to the membership at today’s meeting, where it passed unanimously.
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Ricky Robertson
|
February 4th, 2020This Week:
NO MEETING
Upcoming Meetings:
February 6th (Thursday):
Thirsty Thursday w/ Members Under Age 45
(See Rob Bradham or Amanda Reed)
February 11th:
New Voting Machines
February 18th:
"What Is Brexit?"
Mark D. Laughter
IAEA Nuclear Safeguards Inspector
|
February 4th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| McKenzie, Jimmy |
McKenzie, Sandra D |
6-Feb |
|
| DeLay, Avalee |
DeLay, Scott G |
6-Feb |
|
| Adcock, Diane |
Adcock, Don W. |
7-Feb |
|
| Brunson, Cindy |
Brunson, Kevin M. |
8-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
January 28th, 2020This Week:
Vocational Service Awards
Alex Brown
Upcoming Meetings:
February 1st:
Peeples Cancer Center Open House
February 4th:
NO MEETING
February 6th:
Thirsty Thursday w/ Members Over Age 45
(See Rob Bradham or Amanda Reed)
February 11th:
New Voting Machines
February 18th:
"What Is Brexit?"
Mark D. Laughter
IAEA Nuclear Safeguards Inspector
|
A Hero's Returnby John Hutcheson
President Amanda introduced a true hero, MSG (Ret.) Mike Reynolds. Mike was a member of the fire and EMS service before he had even received his high school diploma, and his career as a firefighter and Army Flight Medic has spanned the globe. He spent almost four years as the flight medic for the 4th CST/WMD at Dobbins ARB in Atlanta before deploying in 2009 to head the emergency services in northern Iraq. After sustaining a significant traumatic brain injury, he returned to the U.S. for treatment. Following nearly two years of treatment, he was found "Unfit for Duty" just before he began his eighteenth year of military service and was forced to retire. Through multiple hospitalizations and years of cognitive, speech, vocational, physical, and rehabilitation therapy, he refused to give up. Mike continues his recovery in Calhoun, Georgia, through occupational and vocational therapy with the Wounded Warrior Independence Program. Realizing there were no employment opportunities to fight fire or be a paramedic, Mike found a new calling through helping train veterans in agriculture. He and his family operate Hero Cuts and specialize in producing honey, beef, pork, and solar power.
Mike Reynolds
Mike brought a miniature door, which he used to illustrate how quickly one’s life can change—in effect by being thrown from the ”right” side to the “wrong” side of the door. He had given the door the number 652, signifying the last minute before his vehicle in Iraq struck an IED at 6:53. By 6:54 his life’s door had shut behind him, leaving him on the “wrong” side with a severe brain injury. Only with the aid of a “locksmith” could he return to the “right” side, which itself might be very different from what it had previously been. This is a situation in which numerous veterans find themselves, but for many of them, as for Mike, agriculture has proven to be an effective “locksmith.” After years of therapy in a multitude of settings, Mike and his family now own an 82-acre farm near Calhoun, in addition to which they lease another 76 acres, own land in Chatsworth, and are about to start row farming on 256 acres near Resaca. When recovering from trauma it is important to have others to share with, to give and receive support, and to help find their own “locksmiths,” and to that end Mike uses his property for other veterans as a training ground in the basics of agriculture.
At the end of his presentation, Mike received a standing ovation in gratitude for his service and admiration for his return to the “right” side. President Amanda closed with a quotation from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of controversy and challenge.”
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Announcements
Rotarian Steve Farrow urged members to attend Artistic Civic Theatre’s production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, in which he is part of an exceptionally talented cast directed by Kate Phinney, granddaughter of Rick Martin. President Amanda reminded members to deposit loose change in the CART buckets on each table. She also previewed coming Rotary events, including the Service Awards program next week and the Open House at the Peeples Cancer Institute on February 1 where special accommodations will be made for s. This will be one of the two vocational tours the Club is expected to have each year, and consequently there will be no regular meeting the following Tuesday, February 4. On February 6, however, the Membership Committee will hold a “Thirsty Thursday” for persons 45 years old and younger in the hope of increasing membership and incorporating younger s more fully into the work of the Club.
|
January 28th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Carter, Teresa (TERESA) |
28-Jan |
|
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
3-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Chappell, Bennieta |
Chappell, William J. |
29-Jan |
|
| Critides, Maricarmen |
Critides, Samuel D |
29-Jan |
|
| Weaver, Virginia |
Weaver, William B |
1-Feb |
|
| Barnwell, Delle |
Barnwell, William L |
2-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
) |
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
2/1/1989 |
31 |
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
2/1/1996 |
24 |
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
2/1/1981 |
39 |
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
2/1/1979 |
41 |
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
2/1/1996 |
24 |
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2/1/1972 |
48 |
|
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
2/3/2015 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
|
|
January 21st, 2020
Today's Meeting:
"Which Side Of The Door Are You On?"
Mike Reynolds
Upcoming Meetings:
January 28th:
Service Awards
Alex Brown
Saturday, February 1st:
Vocational Tour At Peeples Cancer Institute (Open House)
February 4th:
No Meeting
|
GRSP: An Update And Preparations For 2020-2021by John Hutcheson
President Amanda called on Past President John Richmond, who is completing his term as a GRSP Trustee, to inform members about the present standing of the Georgia Rotary Student Program. John began his remarks by noting that he is also the Club’s “On to Conference” chair, and he urged everyone to consider attending the District 6910 Conference in Asheville in May. Turning to the GRSP, he briefly reviewed the program’s history since its founding by Rotarian Will Watt of Thomasville, Georgia, in 1946, noting along the way that Jonathan Bledsoe is our club’s most recent Will Watt Fellow for having contributed at least $1,000 to GRSP’s resources. The program is unique in all of Rotary and was the model for the Ambassadorial Program which operated for many years before its eclipse by the Rotary Peace Fellowships.
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John Richmond
Currently there are 3,692 GRSP alumni, including 41 enrolled for the 2019-2020 year, and it continues to be oriented toward development of leaders who will be guided by its Mission Statement:
Promote peace through understanding
Encourage the exchange of cultural and social experiences
Advance the ideals of Rotary
Create opportunities for friendship
Envision a world where peace is a reality
Twenty-sevcn of Georgia’s colleges and universities participate in the program, charging tuition at in-state or other favorable rates. In addition to tuition, scholarships pay the costs of room and board, books, and fees. A unique feature of the GRSP is its use of host families to enable students, who live in on-campus housing, to immerse themselves more fully in their local communities as well as in their academic environments. For the coming year, our club’s hosts will be Larry and Connie Winter, and Larry is scheduled to succeed John as a GRSP Trustee.
Funding comes from three sources: District annual assessments of $7.00 per member, club contributions toward the expenses of sponsored students, and proceeds from the GRSP Endowment. The Endowment corpus, which is never touched, now stands at $15.4 million; in the current year it has provided support of $5,500 per student and the goal is to increase this to $6,000 next year in order to lighten the burden on participating clubs. Administrative costs are minimal—primarily expenses of two paid employees at GRSP headquarters in Savannah—leaving 85% of Endowment returns for student support. There are numerous recognition levels for donors, some of which are Named Scholarships for gifts of $100,000 or more; the Ronnie Waller Fellowship for gifts of $10,000 or more; the Kendall Weisinger Fellowship for gifts of $5,000 or more; the Hue Thomas Fellowship for gifts of $2,500 or more, and the Will Watt Fellowship for gifts of $1,000 or more.
While information about the GRSP is circulated throughout Rotary, all Georgia Rotarians are encouraged to recruit for it whenever they travel abroad, and word-of-mouth has been the most effective vehicle for attracting applications. These usually run to around 225 per year, with the majority coming from Western Europe—promotion of the program is especially heavy in the British Isles and Scandinavia. This is reflected in the 2019-2020 student roster, which has 29 students coming from Europe, 9 from the Americas, 1 from Africa, and 1 from Asia. Of these, 16 are sponsored by clubs in District 6910. In recent years the number of sponsored students has declined from a maximum of 70+ as college costs have risen and the costs of sponsorship have increased for local clubs. One of the Endowment’s principal goals is generate enough proceeds to relieve the clubs of this burden.
The Rotary Club of Dalton is one of the GRSP’s greatest donors, contributing $6,900 in the current budget. Since joining in 1948, the Club has contributed over $280,000, and it administers the Carlton McCamy Scholarship, one of only two Named Scholarships in the state, held this year by Anna To. Students often form long-term relationships with their host families, which is one of the enduring benefits of the GRSP. Most importantly, GRSP students almost universally regard their year in Georgia as turning points in their lives, thus confirming the program’s effectiveness in promoting peace.
President Amanda closed the meeting with a reminder that Rotarians are invited to the grand opening of the new Peeples Cancer Center on Saturday, February 2.
Announcements
Past President Kevin Brunson reminded members about the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament, which will be held on April 14, 2020, at the Nob North Golf Course since the Dalton Country Club course will be closed for renovation. There will be a shotgun start around noon, and the planning committee, headed by Past President Jason Parker, will welcome volunteers. Named in honor of a long-time Rotarian and past president of the Club, the tournament has been held since the mid-1990’s and is our only fundraiser, with all proceeds used to support our scholarship program.
President Amanda announced that the life of Sid Abernathy would be celebrated at First United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 11, with a visitation beginning at 1:30, followed by a service at 3:00.
Rotarian Judy Elliot spoke about her recent visit to the Kapaa Rotary Club on Kauai, Hawaii. The club is one of three on Kauai, and although small, with about fifteen members, it is very active. Its major project is directed toward beach clean-up, and a recent “Taste of Hawaii” fundraiser generated $150,000. Surprisingly, some of its members were familiar with our club, and Judy received the warmest of welcomes.
Kapua Rotary, Kauai, Hawaii
Since Service has been designated as our theme for January, President Amanda asked each Board member present to say a few words about their responsibilities. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead, who has held his position for sixteen years, handles all financial matters, and he took the opportunity to ask members to support CART, the Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, by depositing their loose change in the buckets placed on the tables. Cherri Robertson has been Membership Chair for three years and is always looking for ways to recruit new members. John Hutcheson, Public Image Chair, prepares reports of the weekly meetings and contributes to local media about special events and Club accomplishments. As Community Service Chair, John Wilson oversees the Club’s various outreach initiatives, and Alex Brown, Vocational Service Chair, organizes the Club’s recognition of professional and vocational excellence in the community. Archana Srivastava, International Service Chair, who is originally from India and has lived in the U. S. for 42 years, facilitates the Club’s participation in projects of international scope, such as the effort to reduce plastic waste. President Elect Smitty Barnett, Foundation Chair Darla Chambliss, and Youth Services Chair Ricky Robertson were absent and will be called on at a later time.
|
January 21st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
24-Jan |
|
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
27-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
1/23/2001 |
19 |
|
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
1/27/2009 |
11 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
The National Medal of Honor Heritage Centerby John Hutcheson
President Amanda introduced Keith Hardison, since 2018 the Executive Director of the new Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center which is scheduled to open in Chattanooga on February 22, 2020. Before joining the Medal of Honor Center, Mr. Hardison served as director of the North Carolina’s Division of State Historic Sites where he managed the day-to-day operations of 23 historic sites and led the effort to fund and construct the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center, which showcases the State’s largest historic Civil War artifact and related artifacts in a wide range of state-of-the-art exhibits.
Keith Hardison
Prior to this role, Keith served as the executive director of the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library, as the director of Education, Interpretation, and Visitors Services of the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, and as the division director of the Louisiana State Museum. He graduated from David Lipscomb University with a B.A. degree in History and earned a M.A. degree in Museum Science from Texas Tech University. Following his personal passion, he co-chaired the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources Civil War Sesquicentennial commemoration and served two terms on the Mississippi Civil War Battlefields Commission. He is a member of the American Alliance of Museums, the American Association for State and Local History, and the American Battlefield Trust.
Keith reminded members that the Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor. The mission of the Coolidge Center is to memorialize all of its recipients by tracing the award’s history and educating future generations of Americans about the six character traits associated with the recipients’ gallantry—Courage, Commitment, Sacrifice, Patriotism, Integrity, and Citizenship. Chattanooga is the most appropriate site for the Center because it was the birthplace of the Medal of Honor; the first ones to be awarded were associated with actions in the Chattanooga area, beginning in 1863 with 19 conferred on the Union’s “Andrews Raiders” who conducted the “Great Locomotive Chase” in 1862 and were captured near Ringgold, Georgia. An additional 33 awards were made to Union soldiers for actions in the Chattanooga Campaign during the fall of 1863. The Center’s name honors Technical Sergeant Charles H. Coolidge, a native of Signal Mountain and lifelong Chattanooga resident who, at the age of 98, is the oldest living Medal of Honor holder and one of the two remaining recipients—out of an original 473—for actions in World War II.
The Center’s first location was at a 1,000 sq. ft. site in Northgate Mall, but its new facility is in a 19,000 sq. ft. space at the center of the downtown tourist district, adjacent to the Tennessee Aquarium in what was originally intended to house the Chattanooga Regional History Center. The exhibition space will be organized chronologically, but it will also emphasize each of the six character traits and will feature numerous hi-tech interactive displays. Because the Center’s mission is essentially to educate rather than to serve as a museum or preservation facility, there will be relatively few artifacts, but each of the 3,314 Medal of Honor recipients over the nation’s history (two-thirds of whom received their awards posthumously) will be shown and honored individually. A special Hall of Valor will be dedicated to the 32 Tennessean recipients, and a 1,000 sq. ft. space will be reserved for changing exhibits. Special events will include an annual Celebration of Valor luncheon, scheduled this year for August 20, featuring a Medal of Honor recipient as guest speaker. A capital campaign is currently underway, with a goal of $6.25 million, and Keith invited Rotarians to contribute by buying memorial bricks for installation in the Center’s plaza.
President Amanda closed the meeting with an appropriate quotation from Abraham Lincoln: “Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.”
Announcements
President Amanda announced the death on January 6, 2020, of Rotarian Sid Abernathy, a long-time member of our Club, and asked for a moment of silence in his memory.
|
January 14th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
15-Jan |
|
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
17-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Wright, Betty |
Wright, William B. Jr. |
14-Jan |
|
| Smith, Rebecca |
Smith, Clark C. |
18-Jan |
|
| Tatum, Sharon |
Tatum, Laurice A. |
20-Jan |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Gazaway, Kristie (KRISTIE) |
1/17/2017 |
3 |
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
1/18/2011 |
9 |
|
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
1/19/2010 |
10 |
|
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
1/19/2010 |
10 |
|
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
1/20/2015 |
5 |
|
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
1/20/2015 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
Kimberly |
19-Jan |
7 |
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
Mark |
19-Jan |
7 |
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
Sarah |
20-Jan |
52 |
|
|
January 14th, 2020
This Week:
GRSP Trustee
Keith Hardison
Upcoming Meetings:
January 21st:
TBA
January 28th:
Vocational Awards
|
January 7th, 2020 Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
7-Jan |
|
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
9-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Schwenn, Judy |
Schwenn, John O. |
7-Jan |
|
| Minor, Charlsey |
Minor, John Thomas V |
11-Jan |
|
| Kelehear, Pat |
Kelehear, Leon S. |
12-Jan |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
Tray |
7-Jan |
14 |
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
Ricky |
8-Jan |
20 |
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
Cherri |
8-Jan |
20 |
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
Hilda |
12-Jan |
45 |
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
Jean |
13-Jan |
58 |
|
Christmas Music From The Creative Arts Guildby John Hutcheson
At the final club meeting of 2019, President Amanda introduced Amanda Michaels Brown, Executive Director of the Creative Arts Guild, who in turn introduced a trio composed of Lisa Elders, flutist and Director of Music at the Guild for the past twenty years; Paula Pasqua, violinist; and Joseph Lowe, cellist.
CAG Christmas Music Trio (L to R: Paula Pasqua, Joseph Lowe, Amanda Brown, Lisa Elders)
Lisa stated that although all have played in the orchestra for the Guild’s production of The Snow Queen, today was the first time they had played together as an ensemble, and she briefly provided information about the background for each piece in a set of well-known Christmas carols the group offered. These included “Jingle Bells,” “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring,” “Joy to the World,” “Deck the Halls,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “O Christmas Tree,” “What Child Is This,” “The First Nowell,” “Carol of the Bells,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and “Silent Night.” President Amanda closed the meeting with thanks to the trio and best wishes to all for a joyful holiday season.
Announcements
President Amanda reminded members that the Club will not meet during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s; the next regular meeting will be on January 7, 2020. Past John Richmond repeated his appeal for volunteers willing to serve as host family for next year’s GRSP student, emphasizing the growing urgency of this need and the benefits of lifelong friendships that hosting can generate—a point subsequently reiterated by Past President Bruce Satterfield. - Elect Smitty Barnett thanked everyone who attended the drop-in reception for Yee To, Anna To’s father, adding that Mr. To was greatly impressed by the Club’s care for his daughter.
On behalf of Providence Ministries, Brian Croft thanked the Club for supplying many toys for the Christmas Toy Drive. Past President Bill Bowen announced that the Salvation Army kettle at the Walmart Market collected $1,593 while Rotarians rang the bell there, and he extended special thanks to Barbara Ward and Kelly Jones for the extra time they gave as ringers.
|
|
January 7th, 2020
This Week:
National Medal of Honor Heritage Center
Keith Hardison
Upcoming Meetings:
January 1th:
GRSP Trustee
John Richmond
January 21st:
TBA
January 28th:
Vocational Awards
|
|
December 31st, 2019
This Week:
NO MEETING
Happy New Year!
|
Happy New Year!Happy New Year! We're wishing all of you a very happy and healthy year in 2020. We will see you next week for our first meeting of the new year on January 7th!
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|
December 31st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
1-Jan |
|
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
4-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Blackman, Linda |
Blackman, Bill M |
1-Jan |
|
| Farmer, Sierra |
Farmer, Joseph |
3-Jan |
|
| Burt, Roger |
Burt, Amanda |
5-Jan |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
1/1/1986 |
34 |
|
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
1/1/1976 |
44 |
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
12/31/1999 |
20 |
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
12/31/2002 |
17 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Payne, Charles F Jr.(CHUCK) |
Angelina |
2-Jan |
32 |
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
Pauline |
3-Jan |
6 |
| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
Mary |
31-Dec |
5 |
|
December 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
26-Dec |
|
|
| Parrott, V DeForrest III (DEFORREST) |
30-Dec |
|
|
| Conway, Deborah R (DEBORAH) |
30-Dec |
|
|
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
30-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| McLeod, Carolyn (CAROL) |
McLeod, Robert S. |
27-Dec |
|
| Sanders, Mary Etta |
Sanders, Drayton M II |
28-Dec |
|
| Minter, Melissa |
Minter, B. Scott |
28-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
12/31/1999 |
20 |
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
12/31/2002 |
17 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Cope, Don (DON) |
Laurie Lee |
24-Dec |
6 |
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
Lou |
26-Dec |
21 |
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
Nancy |
27-Dec |
46 |
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
Becky |
29-Dec |
52 |
| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
Mary |
31-Dec |
5 |
|
|
December 24th, 2019
This Week:
NO MEETING - Club Closed
(Merry Christmas!)
Upcoming Meetings:
December 31st:
NO MEETING - Club Closed
(Happy New Year!)
|
Merry Christmas! There's no meeting this week for the Christmas holiday, but Dalton Rotarians have already helped to make it a much more Merry Christmas for kids served by Providence Ministries. The picture below is just a portion of the toys raised in our three week toy drive for Providence, and many Rotarians also made monetary donations. Thank you for everything you've done this year to make Dalton a better place, and to make this toy drive in particular a success.
Merry Christmas!
|
Community Health and Wellness: Live4Itby John Hutcheson
President Amanda presented a program describing Live4It, an application which seeks to overcome the hurdles that impede individuals’ ability to attain the goal of living longer and healthier lives.
President Amanda
Live4It provides information about competitions, inspirations, social events, outreach opportunities, mental health tools, and other health resources to assist persons and communities in making the changes they want, at their own pace. Studies show only 30% of longevity is attributable to genetics, while 70% is traceable to lifestyle and environmental factors, and of the latter, only 10% is related to the physical environment. Therefore, a populations’ longevity and health are most strongly affected by cultural values and by other matters subject to personal choice and management, such as diet, exercise, stress levels, etc.
To promote change at the community level, Live4It embraces four foundational pillars:
Lifestyle (Mind, Body, Spirit)
Mind: Find ways to slow life’s pace and control stress—for example, through yoga, meditation, or deep breathing.
Body: Have regular physical activity, building slowly from a comfortable starting point.
Spirit: Attendance at religious services tends to promote longer life.
Invest in One Another (Family, Friends, Philanthropy)
Strong bonds between family and friends lead to a longer life, as do sharing habits with healthy friends and giving time to help others.
Value Preventive Health (Testing/Screening, Weight Watching, No Smoking)
Life can be extended by regular check-ups which can lead to early detection of disease and more effective treatment, and the same is true of a plan to achieve one’s healthiest weight. Avoiding or quitting smoking can add years to a lifespan.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (Eat Healthy, Drink Healthily, and Maintain Emotional Vitality and a Sense of Purpose)
Live4It does not set a diet, but it encourages attention to certain types of food—whole foods, less meat, and more fruits and vegetables. More water and alcohol in moderation are important, but most of all, one must keep a sense of humor and perspective, remembering Mark Twain’s words, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.”
Locally, Live4It had a kick-off event at Burr Park on September 14, 2019 for employees of Health One Alliance/Alliant Health Plans, Hamilton Health Care System, Physicians Health Services, and several other agencies. Using the LIVE precepts, one can better “live 4 it.” “It” is positioned at the end of the phrase because “It” is the end goal—the prize that makes the lifestyle and environment change worthwhile. “It” will look different from one person to the next, as are the changes each is willing to make in order to live a longer, healthier life. Amanda concluded by revealing her “It,” and she showed a video depicting those of other Club members, using pictures submitted in response to her recent request for photos of “the people in your life—or the things in your life—that you hold most dear.”
Announcements
President Amanda introduced Yee To, father of the Club’s GRSP student this year and a member of the Rotary Club of Louth, England. President Elect Smitty Barnett reminded members of a drop-in reception for Yee this evening from 5:30 to 7:00 at the Native Kitchen in Crown Mill. Yee thanked the Club for looking after Anna, emphasizing the warm welcome she has received from Smitty’s family as her hosts and from her new friends at Dalton State.
Yee To, Father of GRSP Student Anna To
Past President John Richmond pointed out that a host family is needed for next year’s student and that the time to identify one is growing short.
Past President Bill Bowen appealed for additional volunteers to serve as bell ringers for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. Community Service Chair John Wilson reminded members to bring toys for distribution by Providence Ministries.
|
December 17th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. (MAURICE) |
17-Dec |
|
|
| Payne, Charles F Jr (CHUCK) |
22-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Poehlman, Sally |
Poehlman, John H. |
17-Dec |
|
| Barnett, Tammy |
Barnett, George S. |
18-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
12/17/2013 |
6 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
|
18-Dec |
59 |
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
Dell |
18-Dec |
48 |
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
Sierra |
20-Dec |
10 |
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
Carolyn (CAROL) |
21-Dec |
54 |
| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
Zach |
22-Dec |
12 |
|
December 17th, 2019This Week:
Christmas Program
Upcoming Meetings:
December 24th:
NO MEETING
Merry Christmas!
December 31st:
NO MEETING
Happy New Year!
|
|
Toy Drive Success!
There's no meeting this week for the Christmas holiday, but Dalton Rotarians have already helped to make it a much more Merry Christmas for kids served by Providence Ministries. The picture below is just a portion of the toys raised in our three week toy drive for Providence, and many Rotarians also made monetary donations. Thank you for everything you've done this year to make Dalton a better place, and to make this toy drive in particular a success.
Merry Christmas!
|
Tips On Stress Managementby John Hutcheson
Noting that the Club’s program focus in December will be health and wellness, President Amanda introduced Rachel Houghton, Certified Employee Assistance Professional and a Life Coach in Employee Assistance Services at Hamilton Medical Center. Raised in Chattanooga and a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in Exercise Physiology, she has been employed in health care for more than twenty years and was formerly president of the Legacy EAP facility in Dalton.
Rachel Houghton
Rachel showed that stress is a physiological as well as mental condition. Although most commonly thought of in connection with high blood pressure, it is actually associated with 38 to 40 physical changes very similar to those induced by physical exercise. It grows out of the fight-or-flight instinct, and in modern society it is often intensified by demands for immediate response that arise from social media and other sources. Stress in some degree is necessary to provide motivation to action, and stressors can be positive, negative, or both simultaneously, but in normal life negative stress is most likely to result from an overload of obligations.
In practical terms, what is needed is a middle ground between the positive and the negative. To begin with, one must recognize the danger signs of stress, such as general irritability, a pounding heart rate, high blood pressure, impulsive behaviors, fatigue, dizziness, sweating, headaches, and lack of adequate sleep. To reduce physical stress, the best remedy is exercise, which can turn physiological changes from a negative to a positive basis. But stress also affects mental health, and in this context it is affecting younger and younger people—in Dalton, for example, four hundred children per month are being referred for stress counseling. It is very important to set aside time for one’s own well-being, to be spent in an appropriate environment and an appropriate activity such as exercise, reading, yoga or other form of mediation, journaling—whatever one may choose as most effective.
During the holidays we should try not to lose focus on what the holidays are actually about and what they mean for ourselves. Expectations must be kept realistic and clearly expressed—don’t assume that others already know what we may want. Turn off the television and social media, and don’t try to solve everybody’s problems. Carve out “down time” and prepare to set boundaries by knowing how to say “no.”
With the holidays can come the “holiday blues” or even depression. There’s nothing wrong with this; cultural expectations notwithstanding, it’s okay not to feel great all the time. Cope by seeking out positivity; go out on sunny days, try to stick to regular routines, help others, exercise and get enough sleep. Eat and drink in moderation, and if so inclined, talk to someone about how things are going.
President Amanda closed the meeting by reiterating a request she made in an email on November 25: To continue this season of gratitude and sharing, please email a picture of you and your most treasured friends, family, and/or activities to [email protected]. In an upcoming Rotary Meeting, I would like to recognize and honor the people in your life - or the things in your life – that you hold the most dear.
Announcements
President Amanda extended thanks to everyone who had helped make the Gratefull event in downtown Dalton on November 25 such a great success, especially the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, which was the initiating agency. On behalf of Judson Manly, she pointed out the Dolly Parton special on the Hallmark Channel this coming Sunday—Rotarians may recall Judson’s warm account a few weeks ago of how he met Dolly at the Georgia Tech-University of Miami football game in 1978. Community Service Chair John Wilson reminded members about the Christmas Toy Drive for Providence Ministries and asked everyone to bring a toy suitable for ages 2 to 12 to each of the Club meetings between now and Christmas. Past President John Richmond announced that GRSP student Anna To’s father will be visiting Dalton next week, and John hoped that members would take the opportunity to meet Mr. To, a fellow Rotarian, at a drop-in reception at the Native Kitchen in Crown Mill on Tuesday, December 3, from 5:30 to 7:00. Finally, Past President Bill Bowen—cunningly disguised as a Salvation Army Red Kettle—made his annual appeal for volunteers to serve as bell-ringers for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign. The Club has been assigned the week of December 9-14 at the Walmart Market in Bryman’s Plaza North, and a sign-up list is available, with hourly slots from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day except for Saturday, which will be fully covered by members of the Dalton High School Interact Club.
President Amanda and the Red Kettle
President Amanda awarded Dr. Drayton Sanders his pin for having qualified as a Paul Harris Fellow Plus Two.
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Dr. Drayton Sanders
|
|
December 10th, 2019
This Week:
Amanda Reed
Live4It
Upcoming Meetings:
December 17th:
Christmas Program
December 24th:
NO MEETING
Merry Christmas!
December 31st:
NO MEETING
Happy New Year!
|
December 10th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Dec |
|
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
14-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Parrott, Eugenia |
Parrott, V DeForrest III |
10-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
Joanne |
12-Dec |
60 |
|
December 3rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
4-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Maret, Carla |
Maret, Michael S. |
3-Dec |
|
| Mooney, Bobby |
Mooney, Patricia H |
5-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
12/6/2016 |
3 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
3-Dec |
31 |
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
Alicia |
5-Dec |
27 |
| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
Charlsey |
7-Dec |
0 |
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
Betty |
7-Dec |
51 |
|
|
December 3rd, 2019
This Week:
Rachel Houghton
Stress Management
Upcoming Meetings:
December 10th:
Amanda Reed
Live4It
December 17th:
Christmas Program
December 24th:
NO MEETING
Merry Christmas!
December 31st:
NO MEETING
Happy New Year!
|
Rotary Foundation: Doing Good In Our Worldby John Hutcheson
President-Elect Smitty introduced Darla Chambliss, Rotary Foundation Chair. A native of Chattanooga, Darla holds degrees from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the University of South Carolina. She has had a tireless and successful career in library management, and for the last five years she has been Director of the Northwest Georgia Library System, comprising libraries in Dalton, Chatsworth, and Calhoun.
Darla Chambliss
Darla noted that November is Rotary Foundation Month and that she is continuing to learn about the enormous scale of the Foundation’s work. As Rotary’s philanthropic arm, it is funded by two main sources—the Annual Fund-SHARE, composed of contributions made through their clubs by individual Rotarians, and proceeds generated by the Endowment Fund. These, in turn, support the PolioPlus grants, the Rotary Peace Fellowship, district and global grants, the Rotary Alumni Association, and additions to the corpus of the Endowment Fund.
According to Rotary’s Vision Statement, “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change—across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” Thus the Foundation’s mission is “to enable Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.” As we approach final success in our work to eradicate polio, it’s time to discern a new challenge, shaped by Rotary’s defining values of fellowship, integrity, diversity, service, and leadership. Over the next five years, therefore, the following four strategic priorities and objectives will direct the work of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation:
- Increase our impact by eradicating polio and leveraging the legacy, focusing our program and offerings, and improving our ability to achieve and measure impact.
- Expand our reach by growing and diversifying our membership and participation, creating new channels into Rotary, increasing Rotary’s openness and appeal, and building awareness of our impact and brand.
- Enhance participant engagement by supporting clubs to better engage their members, developing a participant-centered approach to deliver value, offering new opportunities for personal and professional connection, and providing leadership development and skills training.
- Increase our ability to adapt by building a culture of research, innovation, and willingness to take risks; streamlining governance, structure, and processes; and reviewing governance to foster more diverse perspectives in decision-making.
The job of each club’s Rotary Foundation Chair is to lead efforts to qualify the club for Foundation grants and to have members contribute regularly to the Annual Fund, whether as Sustaining members ($100 per year), Paul Harris Fellows (a cumulative gift of $1,000), or Paul Harris Society members ($1,000 per year). Gifts may be made as one-time contributions or on a recurring basis, but in any event, every club should strive to achieve EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) standing. Our Club attained EREY status in 2010, and under the leadership of last year’s Foundation Chair, Smitty Barnett, we became 100% Paul Harris Fellows. Our next goal should be 100% Paul Harris Society members, and contributions could be conveniently made through monthly invoice.
President Amanda noted that the programming theme for December will be Health and Wellness, emphsizing disease prevention and treatment. She closed the meeting with a quote from Mother Teresa, for which she thanked Past President Bill Bowen: “If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.”
Announcements
President Amanda reminded members that there will be no Club meeting on Tuesday, November 26. Instead, everyone is encouraged to come to the community-wide Gratefull event in downtown Dalton on Monday, November 25, for which the Club is one of the sponsors. A Rotary check-in desk will be located near the intersection of Crawford and Hamilton Streets.
Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead announced that the Club responded to the appeal for support of the Uganda Clean Water Project, made in a program presented in October, 2018, by Marion Curry of the Rotary Club of Tifton, with a contribution of $6,240 to The Rotary Foundation’s Global Grants fund—the largest single contribution made for this purpose.
Past President Bill Bowen announced that the time has again arrived for members to serve as bell-ringers for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign. The Club has been assigned the week of December 9-14 at the Walmart Market in Bryman’s Plaza North, and a sign-up list will be available next week with hourly slots from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day.
President-Elect Smitty Barnett thanked the Club for its support of the Whitfield Education Foundation’s recent Spelling Bee, which was won by Rotarian Dr. Sam Critides—the fourth time in the event’s seven-year history that a Club member has won it.
|
November 25th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Scott, Shaun E (SHAUN) |
30-Nov |
|
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
1-Dec |
|
|
| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
1-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Partain, Pam |
Partain, Jack |
26-Nov |
|
| Underwood, Michelle |
Croft, Brian C |
26-Nov |
|
| Tripp, Charlie |
Tripp, Larry E. |
26-Nov |
|
| Maret, Carla |
Maret, Michael S. |
3-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
11/28/2017 |
2 |
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
11/29/2005 |
14 |
|
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
11/29/2005 |
14 |
|
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
11/29/2005 |
14 |
|
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
11/29/2005 |
14 |
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
11/29/2005 |
14 |
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
12/1/1972 |
47 |
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
12/1/1968 |
51 |
|
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
12/1/1976 |
43 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
Melissa |
29-Nov |
22 |
| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
Danielle |
2-Dec |
24 |
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
3-Dec |
31 |
|
|
November 25th, 2019
This Week:
Gratefull Event
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Meet GRSP Student Adam TeePast President John Richmond introduced Adam Tee, GRSP student from Malaysia and a standing guest of our Club, who is being sponsored by the Carpet City Rotary Club and clubs in Calhoun, Summerville-Trion, and Ringgold. Adam is 21 years old and his home sponsor in Malaysia is the Rotary Club of Kelana Jaya, located in a city near the capital, Kuala Lumpur. Coming from a tropical climate, he doesn’t like cold weather. He is very church-oriented, and he loves swimming, gymnastics, and golf, He also loves to cook, drawing from Malaysia’s rich cultural diversity dishes such as nasi lemak (“fat rice”), butter chicken, and maggi goreng (“fried noodles”) which are often topped with an Indian curry. His father is an interior designer and his mother, who is fluent in Mandarin, is a translator for Warner Music. He has a married sister living in Detroit, where she works for Roush Industries.
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Adam Tee
Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy with thirteen states, three federal territories, and a population of about thirty million. The monarch is a largely ceremonial figure and most of the governing is done by the Prime Minister and state governments. The four principal ethnic groups include Malays, Orang Asli (aboriginal people), Malaysian Chinese, and Malaysian Indians, The Rotary Club of Kelana Jaya, is small, with about sixteen members, but it is very active. In addition to sponsoring local Interact and Rotaract clubs, it supports a program to arrange free local healthcare and Sight for Life, which provides free eyeglasses to children. It contributes to the Rotary Education Fund and holds an annual lunch and celebration for nursing home residents, with special concern for the elderly who are lonely because of little or no family interaction.
In the U.S., Adam has attended the opening GRSP conclave and three weekend outings. He believes GRSP is unique in the opportunities it affords participants to learn about new cultures and to form friendships and connections that otherwise would be highly unlikely.
Responding to a question about religion in Malaysia, Adam said that Islam is the leading religion. Supported by the government, it is highly restrictive, but its limitations apply only to Muslims, and other faiths—mainly Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and traditional Chinese religions—have religious freedom.
Adam speaks English fluently and he has studied Malay. His household is culturally Chinese, and he has learned both Cantonese and Mandarin. He wants to complete his degree in the U.S. with the goal of becoming a physical therapist, working specially with athletes, before returning to Malaysia. So far he has found his academic work here to be “a breeze,” with much of what he has taken being simply a review. U.S. history, however, has been “something of a challenge.” He noted that in Malaysia a student enters directly into their major or concentration and there is no emphasis on prerequisites.
Since arriving in Georgia he has attended two Braves games, but he still doesn’t completely understand baseball. Nor has he figured out football, although he went to a Georgia Tech game, but he wants to go to a UGA game since he gathers that would be “a big deal.” He is looking forward to the beginning of the NBA season and also to the chance to play more golf, where he has a 2 handicap. When asked what has become his favorite Southern food, he admitted it to be chicken tenders with honey mustard dip.
A Conversation on Membership
Since time remained following Adam’s presentation, President Amanda asked Club members to reflect on how we might grow our membership and reach segments of the community which may be unaware of what Rotary offers and the services it renders. She looked back at how members characterized the Club at the beginning of her presidency last summer, noting that “caring,” “welcoming,” and “friendly” were most frequently cited. Yet Rotary membership nationwide has plateaued, and this is true for our Club as well, where membership over the past year has declined slightly from 124 to 114. Most of this is natural attrition, but the questions remain about how these members can be replaced and total membership increased.
There are several reasons why new people may hesitate to join; these include inability to attend every Tuesday because of work obligations, financial concerns as more employers stop supporting employees’ dues, and a generational shift away from formal memberships in civic and other organizations—younger people now are less inclined to be joiners than their elders were. Regarding this last point, Rotarian Rob Bradham said that “if people have something purposeful to do,” they’ll show up, noting the extensive participation of millennials in the Believe Greater Dalton initiatives and asserting millennials’ need to see their work making a real difference. Others mentioned the possibility of having less formal meetings and a reduced dues structure.
As the discussion proceeded, it became clear that enhancing community awareness of what Rotary does is critical. Facebook and other social media are essential vehicles for doing this, as well as traditional information sources. Past President John Richmond suggested using billboards, perhaps with an emphasis on Rotary’s work toward eradication of polio, and President-Elect Smitty Barnett said that having members wear their Rotary pins might be a good way to attract attention and prompt conversations with non-Rotarians.
In the end, probably the most effective way to grow membership is through individual personal contacts. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead spoke about the need to “sell” Rotary, perhaps through a list of talking points emphasizing local projects. Past President David Aft agreed but stressed that we should focus our message and not “muddy the water” by talking about too many different things at once. Others noted that Rotary membership is one of the most effective ways to learn about what is happening in the area, partly because the Club includes so many of the community’s “movers and shakers.” Productive relationships with these people may be established in a Rotary setting, but it is important nevertheless to dispel the idea that becoming a Rotarian is merely an honor or personal recognition rather than an opportunity for real service. To accomplish that, millennials must be invited to join by using a message specifically tailored for them.
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Meet Adam Tee: GRSP Studentby John Hutcheson
Past President John Richmond introduced Adam Tee, GRSP student from Malaysia and a standing guest of our Club, who is being sponsored by the Carpet City Rotary Club and clubs in Calhoun, Summerville-Trion, and Ringgold. Adam is 21 years old and his home sponsor in Malaysia is the Rotary Club of Kelana Jaya, located in a city near the capital, Kuala Lumpur. Coming from a tropical climate, he doesn’t like cold weather. He is very church-oriented, and he loves swimming, gymnastics, and golf, He also loves to cook, drawing from Malaysia’s rich cultural diversity dishes such as nasi lemak (“fat rice”), butter chicken, and maggi goreng (“fried noodles”) which are often topped with an Indian curry. His father is an interior designer and his mother is a translator for Warner Music who is fluent in Mandarin. He has a married sister living in Detroit, where she works for Roush Industries.
Adam Tee
Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy with thirteen states, three federal territories, and a population of about thirty million. The monarch is a largely ceremonial figure and most of the governing is done by the Prime Minister and state governments. The four principal ethnic groups include Malays, Orang Asli (aboriginal people), Malaysian Chinese, and Malaysian Indians, The Rotary Club of Kelana Jaya, is small, with about sixteen members, but it is very active. In addition to sponsoring local Interact and Rotoract clubs, it supports a program to arrange free local healthcare and Sight for Life, which provides free eyeglasses to children. It contributes to the Rotary Education Fund and holds an annual lunch and celebration for nursing home residents, with special concern for the elderly who are lonely because of little or no family interaction.
In the U.S., Adam has attended the opening GRSP conclave and three weekend outings. He believes GRSP is unique in the opportunities it affords participants to learn about new cultures and to form friendships and connections that otherwise would be highly unlikely.
Responding to a question about religion in Malaysia, Adam said that Islam is the leading religion. Supported by the government, it is highly restrictive, but its limitations apply only to Muslims, and other faiths—mainly Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and traditional Chinese religions—have religious freedom.
Adam speaks English fluently and he has studied Malay. His household is culturally Chinese, and he has learned both Cantonese and Mandarin. He wants to complete his degree in the U.S. with the goal of becoming a physical therapist, working specially with athletes, before returning to Malaysia. So far he has found his academic work here to be “a breeze,” with much of what he has taken being simply a review. U.S. history, however, has been “something of a challenge.” He noted that in Malaysia a student enters directly into their major or concentration and there is no emphasis on prerequisites.
Since arriving in Georgia he has attended two Braves games, but he still doesn’t completely understand baseball. Nor has he figured out football, although he went to a Georgia Tech game, but he wants to go to a UGA game since he gathers that would be “a big deal.” He is looking forward to the beginning of the NBA season and also to the chance to play more golf, where he has a 2 handicap. When asked what has become his favorite Southern food, he admitted it to be chicken tenders with honey mustard dip.
A Conversation on Membership
Since time remained following Adam’s presentation, President Amanda asked Club members to reflect on how we might grow our membership and reach segments of the community which may be unaware of what Rotary offers and the services it renders. She looked back at how members characterized the Club at the beginning of her presidency last summer, noting that “caring,” “welcoming,” and “friendly” were most frequently cited. Yet Rotary membership nationwide has plateaued, and this is true for our Club as well, where membership over the past year has declined slightly from 124 to 114. Most of this is natural attrition, but the questions remain about how these members can be replaced and total membership increased.
There are several reasons why new people may hesitate to join; these include inability to attend every Tuesday because of work obligations, financial concerns as more employers stop supporting employees’ dues, and a generational shift away from formal memberships in civic and other organizations—younger people now are less inclined to be joiners than their elders were. Regarding this last point, Rotarian Rob Bradham said that “if people have something purposeful to do,” they’ll show up, noting the extensive participation of millennials in the Believe Greater Dalton initiatives and asserting millennials’ need to see their work making a real difference. Others mentioned the possibility of having less formal meetings and a reduced dues structure.
As the discussion proceeded, it became clear that enhancing community awareness of what Rotary does is critical. Facebook and other social media are essential vehicles for doing this, as well as traditional information sources. Past President John Richmond suggested using billboards, perhaps with an emphasis on Rotary’s work toward eradication of polio, and President-Elect Smitty Barnett said that having members wear their Rotary pins might be a good way to attract attention and prompt conversations with non-Rotarians.
In the end, probably the most effective way to grow membership is through individual personal contacts. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead spoke about the need to “sell” Rotary, perhaps through a list of talking points emphasizing local projects. Past President David Aft agreed but stressed that we should focus our message and not “muddy the water” by talking about too many different things at once. Others noted that Rotary membership is one of the most effective ways to learn about what is happening in the area, partly because the Club includes so many of the community’s “movers and shakers.” Productive relationships with these people may be established in a Rotary setting, but it is important nevertheless to dispel the idea that becoming a Rotarian is merely an honor or personal recognition rather than an opportunity for real service. To accomplish that, millennials must be invited to join by using a message specifically tailored for them.
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November 19th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Barlow, Jonathan L (JONATHAN) |
19-Nov |
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| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
23-Nov |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Wilson, Cynthia |
Wilson, John H |
21-Nov |
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| Jones, Mary Lynn |
Jones, Miller T. |
25-Nov |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
11/20/2012 |
7 |
|
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
11/20/2001 |
18 |
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| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
11/20/2012 |
7 |
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| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
11/22/2011 |
8 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
Sandy |
20-Nov |
54 |
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
Pam |
21-Nov |
33 |
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
Kristy |
21-Nov |
18 |
|
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November 19th, 2019
This Week:
Rotary Foundation
Darla Chambliss
Upcoming Meetings:
Monday, November 25th:
Gratefull Event
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A Visit From District Governor Don Martinby John Hutcheson
President Amanda called the meeting to order and recognized two students from the Wright School of Business at Dalton State who were attending as part of the requirements for their course in Professional Development. She then introduced Assistant District Governor and Dalton Rotary Past President Jason Parker, who in turn introduced District 6910 Governor Don Martin.
Governor Don has been a member of the Jasper Rotary Club since 2007, serving as his club’s president in 2011-2012. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he holds degrees from the University of Memphis, Georgia State University, and Mercer University. In Rotary he has held positions at the District and Area levels, and in the Jasper community he has served on the Board of Directors for the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce, as President of the Pickens County Board of Realtors, and on numerous local charity boards. For 28 years he was on active and reserve duty with the U. S. Army, holding responsibilities in defense transportation services before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1998. Currently he is an Associate Broker with 515 Life Real Estate Company in Jasper, specializing in residential real estate. His wife, Regina, is a retired educator, a Rotarian, and like her husband, a past president of the Rotary Club of Jasper.
District Governor Don Martin
The Governor began by reviewing Rotary International’s Vision Statement: “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change—across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” Pointing to this year’s RI theme, “Rotary Connects the World,” he urged Club members to merge these precepts with those of the Four-Way Test. Taken altogether, these mottos enable Rotary to transcend all kinds of boundaries better than any other organization.
Before moving into the main body of his remarks, Governor Don took care of what he called “Governor’s housekeeping” matters. He thanked Past President Jason for his three years of service as Assistant Governor and he presented a presidential pin to President Amanda in recognition of her special level of work on behalf of the Club. He then inducted two new members, Abby Thomas of Alliant Health, who was sponsored by President Amanda, and Arnaldo Pena of the Salvation Army, who was sponsored by Ricky Robertson. Reminding them that they were now the two newest Rotarians among the 3,300 in District 6910 and the 1.2 million Rotarians in 33,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide, he urged them to “Go Do Rotary.”
New member inductions
Governor Don commended Past President John Richmond for his work with Georgia Rotary Student Program and he also recognized this year’s local GRSP students, Anna To and Adam Tee. He encouraged all Rotarians to show special gratitude to their spouses for their support of Rotary’s activities. He then thanked the Club for its recent generosities of $2,500 in coins toward finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, $1,400 in coins toward the final eradication of polio, and a contribution of $14,500 to the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund.
Turning for a moment to the Rotary Foundation, Governor Don noted that President Amanda has become a Paul Harris Fellow Plus One, having twice made contributions of at least $1,000 to the Foundation.
He pointed out that the Foundation is unique in three ways: it consistently ranks as one of the world’s top charities, funds donated to it go directly where intended because they are funneled through local Rotary clubs whose members are best informed about specific needs, and money is often returned to clubs for application to discretionary projects—last year, for example, our Club received $1,750 from this source to help underwrite our GED project. District 6910, in fact, is one of the top giving districts in Rotary, and in 2018 it was the highest of all in receiving funds for polio eradication. Governor Don urged everyone to become Paul Harris Fellows—i.e. Sustaining Members—of the Foundation, of if already there, to become members of the Paul Harris Society and eventually to achieve the status of Major Donor. He also asked everyone to consider including Rotary in their estate planning.
“How Rotary Connects to the World” was the main point of Governor Don’s presentation. Borrowing an image from RI’s new president, Mark Maloney of Decatur, Alabama, he contrasted Rotary with the international terminal at JFK Airport in New York. Visitors to the terminal can be overwhelmed by the great cultural diversity of those passing through it, but the merger of their experiences in the terminal lasts only until they depart on their separate ways and re-enter their native cultures. Rotary, in contrast, respects the differing backgrounds of its members but also cultivates and preserves a sense of common enterprise in the knowledge that by working together, individuals can accomplish great things such as the near-eradication of polio.
This emphasis on common purpose will grow in importance as Rotary considers its course over the next fifteen years or so. With polio now known to exist only in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the World Health Organization suggesting it may be completely eliminated by 2025, what should Rotary focus on next? Post-polio syndrome appears to be a growing menace, and contaminated water has been polio’s principal means of transmission, in addition to the other dangers it carries. Either of these issues would be worthy of the energy Rotary can bring to bear. In any event, Rotary’s next major project will inevitably be something that fundamentally changes the world for the better.
Rotary itself needs to reach out and become more inclusive, reflecting more closely the communities it serves and drawing on the energies and resources of groups who are often overlooked but have much to give—not only women and younger people but others as well, such as retirees. With this in mind, RI President Mark has set out four goals for his year at the helm: 1) to increase Rotary’s membership beyond the sticking point of 1 million to 1.5 million where it has lagged for several years (significantly, District 6910 is growing in this regard); 2) to make Rotary more family-friendly; 3) to make leadership in Rotary more accessible, particularly for younger people who already have heavy demands on their time; and 4) to increase cooperation with agencies of the United Nations by enhancing what already exists and looking for new strategies.
At the district level, Governor Don wants to see each of District 6910’s 73 clubs become a better version of the best in each of its members, and he praised the great potential he sees in our Club. The District Conference in Asheville next May will be a distinctly family-friendly affair, with its schedule shaped by the concept of a family vacation offering a wide range of activities for both children and adults beyond those directly concerned with Rotary matters. The Governor closed by inviting everyone to sign an End Polio Now banner which he hopes to bring back when polio is completely eradicated.
President Amanda concluded the program with an appropriate quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta: I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.
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November 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
14-Nov |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Morehouse, Dianne |
Morehouse, Gordon C. |
12-Nov |
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| Cope, Laurie Lee |
Cope, Don |
13-Nov |
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| Miller, Sara |
Miller, Charles Dalton |
15-Nov |
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| Dickson, Sherry |
Dickson, Thomas S. |
15-Nov |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
S. G. |
12-Nov |
31 |
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November 12th, 2019This Week:
Adam Tee
GRSP Student
Upcoming Meetings:
November 19th:
Darla Chambliss
Rotary Foundation
November 25th:
Grateful Event
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November 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
6-Nov |
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| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
8-Nov |
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| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
8-Nov |
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Campbell, Kristy |
Campbell, J Carl |
11-Nov |
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| Hawkins, Nancy |
Hawkins, Jim R. |
11-Nov |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
11/10/2015 |
4 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
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The Place To Belong: Revitalizing The Dalton Golf And Country Clubby John Hutcheson
Rotarian Mel Abernathy introduced Scott Stuart, General Manager of the Dalton Golf and Country Club, meeting place for the Rotary Club of Dalton since the mid-1970’s. Scott noted that the DGCC is now 114 years old and at its maximum had about 900 members. Because of natural attrition and the lingering effects of the Great Recession, the present membership is between 740 and 750, but this is still far above the low point of 400 when Scott assumed his position ten years ago.
Scott Stuart
Today the DGCC has three goals: 1) to create a total environment to energize and enthuse its current membership, 2) to offer a variety of meaningful options to encourage old and new membership to grow and thrive now and in the future, and 3) to achieve Goals 1 and 2 in a sustainable and fiscally responsible manner. In fulfilment of its motto, “The Place to Belong,” DGCC will seek by demolition and rebuilding, rather than by mere renovation, to realize its vision statement “to be the premier private golf and country club in Northwest Georgia.”
Background research, based on a strategic plan and drawing on a member questionnaire, focus groups, benchmarking of a dozen similar country clubs within 75 miles, and studies of members’ exodus reasons and expectations, showed that the common denominator for successful country clubs is that they are family-centric, with golfers able to justify investment in private country club memberships when there are benefits for the entire family. Among other things, this reflects a decline in corporate memberships and an increase in dual-income families, with the golfer’s spouse being the final decision-maker. (Notably, in 2017, 205 golf facilities were closed nationwide and only 16 new ones were opened.) The three necessities for a successful club, therefore, are golf, dining (preferably casual, using as much outdoor space as possible), and health/fitness/child care facilities.
For DGCC, these conclusions indicate an urgent need for revitalization across the entire complex, where there have been few major changes for forty years or more—the clubhouse was last renovated in 1986, the golf course in the 1970’s, and the kitchen in the 1960’s. A new era will begin with a three-phase project extending from August, 2019 until September, 2021 and involving complete renovation of the golf course, a major renovation of the clubhouse, and construction of a new Family Activity Center. The golf course will receive upgraded irrigation and drainage systems; improvements in turf conditions, bunkers, and green complexes; and a more playable layout to attract members of all skill levels. The clubhouse will have relocated dining areas; expanded banquet facilities served by a kitchen separate from the à la carte kitchen; bathrooms designated for attenders of banquets and meetings; and redesigned men’s and women’s locker rooms, cardroom, and bar.
The most striking change will be a complete modernization and expansion of the tennis/pool complex in order to meet recreational demands DGCC has not previously addressed. In addition to renovation of the pool house, an entirely new structure, the Family Activities Center, will provide year-round options, including family and adult dining; a bar; child-minding and teen centers; fitness facilities for aerobics, volleyball, basketball, and pickleball; walking trails; a spa; and nutrition and wellness centers. Finally, the entrance to DGCC’s property from the south will be redeveloped and beautified by construction of a new gatehouse and improved signage and plantings.
In answer to a question, Scott stated that the projected cost of the entire renewal undertaking is $9 million, equally divided across the three phases which are scheduled as follows:
Family Activities Center - August 2019/May 2020
Golf Course - February 2020/October 2020
Clubhouse - January 2021/September 2021
He added that the clubhouse renovation will necessitate the Rotary Club’s use of an alternative meeting location but that inconvenience during the other phases should be minimal.
Announcements and a Correction
President Amanda called the meeting to order and President-Elect Smitty Barnett urged members to attend the Whitfield Education Foundation’s 7th Annual Celebrity Spelling Bee at the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center on November 14. Rotarian Rob Bradham reminded members about the annual Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce banquet on November 12, where the speaker will be local Marine veteran Joey Jones, who was disabled by an IED in Iraq, suffering the loss of both legs and severe arm injuries, and is now a commentator on the Fox News Channel.
Past President John Richmond presented a Will Watt Fellowship pin to President Amanda in recognition of her service to Rotary and contribution of a minimum of $1,000 to the Georgia Rotary Student Program.
John Richmond and Amanda Reed
CORRECTION: Last week’s report about Judson Manly’s attendance at the Georgia Tech-University of Miami football game in 1978 and his encounter with Dolly Parton erroneously stated that Tech had lost the game when in fact the opposite was the case; Tech beat Miami 24-19. Mortified apologies are hereby tendered to Judson and all other Yellow Jackets fans.
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November 5th
This Week:
District Governor's Visit
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PitchDIA 2019by John Hutcheson
President Amanda reviewed the mission and work of the Dalton Innovative Accelerator (DIA) and introduced Bob Caperton and
Barry Slaymaker of Barrett Properties who have been crucial in DIA’s establishment and operation. After reminding the audience that the second annual PitchDIA conpetition will be held this evening at Stage 123 in downtown Dalton, Bob pointed out that DIA emerged from a belief in entrepreneurship, which he described as the greatest invention in human history and the bedrock of Dalton’s development. Beginning with specialization brought about by the initial practice of agriculture around 12,000 BC and fostered by subsequent development of regularized trade and the creation of standardized currency, entrepreneurship has rested on innovation and individuals’ willingness to assume risk in pursuit of profit by reliance on it. Since the Renaissance it has generated a more widespread abundance and high standard of living than in any previous era.
DIA provides a safe place for new ideas, where new businesses can be nurtured to profitability. As a hub for entrepreneurship and a cheerleader for business, it works in partnership with a variety of local accounting and legal firms, marketing and business services, the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, and the Wright School of Business at Dalton State College to provide start-up assistance to the winner of the PitchDIA competition, which is modeled on ABC’s Shark Tank television show.
Bob introduced the five finalists who will compete this evening in the centerpiece of what is planned to be an entrepreneurial festival, with food, music, and a block party on Gordon Street featuring the top five finishers in Dalton Public Schools recent K-12 student innovation contest—one of these will be chosen by the audience through Facebook to win a prize of $1,000. The PitchDIA finalists include:
- Musicbük, a hyper-local app, founded in Atlanta by classically trained violinist DuMarkus Davis, which uses artificial intelligence to match music teachers with prospective students on mutually favorable terms;
- Critterbox, an IoT (Internet of Things) device invented by a Dalton couple, Brandon and Felicia Smith, which enables owners of pet reptiles to provide their animals with automated live bait feedings from remote locations via a mobile app;
- Elite Lineman Training, based in Tunnel Hill, which provides training for entry-level work positions in the electrical lineman industry;
- Scrap Sports, a sports scrapbooking media platform allowing easy storage, display, and sharing of sports memorabilia, designed for parents wishing to preserve records of their children’s sports activities; and
- Rugxite, a technology for sanitizing and deodorizing rugs, particularly in bathrooms where mold and bacteria often present special problems.
Dumarkus Davis, Bob Caperton, Barry Slaymaker
The Grand Prize winner will receive $5,000, rent-free office space in the Landmark Building for six months, and a wide array of business services. Second- and third-place prizes carry awards of $500 each and a more restricted range of services. Judges for the competition will be Santosh Sankar, founding partner of Dynamo Ventures, a Chattanooga-based venture capital firm, who was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2017; Jamie Hamilton, Managing Director of Atlanta Seed Company; Piet Dossche, President of USFloors and Executive Vice President for Hard Surfaces at Shaw Industries; and Dr, Marilyn Helms, Dean of the Wright School of Business at Dalton State College.
Bob strongly urged Rotarians to attend the Pitch event this evening. Responding to a question about the DIA/DSC partnership, he noted that this operates in several different ways to encourage interaction between students and business people, including an entrepreneurship course for DSC taught by Barry Slaymaker out of DIA. One audience member suggested that efforts be made to acquire television coverage for future Pitch competitions. Rob Bradham, President of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the Chamber’s pride in its partnership with DIA, stressing the need to build the next generation of entrepreneurs, and President Amanda closed the meeting by reminding everyone that the strength of its commitment to entrepreneurship is one of the things that makes Dalton exceptional.
A Memorial Recognition
Past President Bruce Satterfield recounted events associated with the annual National Fallen Firefighters Day weekend, noting particularly the recognition signified by flags flown at half-staff on Sunday, October 6. He paid tribute to three Dalton firefighters killed in the line of duty on March 30, 1964: Lt. Charles (“Chigger”) Joyce, Sr., Johnnie W. Wofford, and John Earle Ingle, and he also remembered Raymond “Shag” Phelps, who was seriously injured on the same occasion.
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Hamilton Healthcare System: Innovating Healthcare For Our Communityby John Hutcheson
President Amanda introduced Jeff Myers, President and CEO of Hamilton Healthcare System. A member of our Club, Jeff started working in healthcare at age seven in his father’s pharmacy, and in a little-known part of his work history, at age 20 he sold sausages from door to door. By the time he reached 22, however, he had become an administrator in the housekeeping department of a California hospital. He later worked in home health and specialty care and helped start an insurance company in Savannah. After working in Atlanta, in 2002 he came to Dalton, where he served as president and CEO of Alliant Health Plans and HealthOne Alliance before becoming CEO of Hamilton Healthcare in 2009.
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Jeff Myers, Hamilton Medical Center
In a wide-ranging presentation Jeff impressively demonstrated how Hamilton Healthcare System is far more than just a 282-bed hospital. It has become an integrated delivery service—one of very few in Georgia and Tennessee—providing a full continuum of care for its community, and this will continue to be its focus. In today’s healthcare environment, the System’s development as a regional center along these lines is all the more remarkable since Georgia, unlike many other states, requires a Certificate of Need, involving stringent protocols and approval from peer facilities, prior to adding major new services, and moreover, Hamilton Healthcare is an independent, non-profit entity rather than a unit within a for-profit network of facilities with a large corporate resource base.
Jeff pointed to many instances in which Hamilton has played a pioneering role, not only regionally but even nationally. For example, in 1962 the hospital created the first medical ICU in the state, and more recently Hamilton was the first in the country to use the PRISMAFLEX System to support recovery of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury through continuous renal replacement therapy rather than by intermittent hemodialysis or slow low efficiency dialysis. Hamilton was the first in Georgia to embrace the principle of Clinical Integration to coordinate complete patient compliance and care across conditions, providers, settings, and time. The System’s Catheterization Lab is state-of-the-art and the envy of the region. In other spheres, the Xenex robotic system is used to clean and disinfect patient rooms, and the simulation lab’s robot mimics all bodily functions for teaching purposes.
As Jeff showed in a rapid-fire summary which seemed to leave no opportunity for improvement unexplored, Hamilton Healthcare continues to grow on a multitude of fronts. A new multi-story parking deck has been welcomed by hospital associates, patients, and visitors alike. Campuses in Murray and Catoosa Counties provide urgent treatment and reduce the number of patients receiving primary care in the Emergency Room, where congestion has been further relieved by expanding the waiting area. In Gordon County, an expanded facility will begin offering some sub-specialties in the spring of 2020. The new Anna Shaw Children’s Institute has won a national award for architectural merit—one of only two facilities to do so. In the main hospital facility, a new Endoscopy Center just opened, serving more patients, with greater privacy, than previously, and renovations in the Cafeteria have been accompanied by dietary changes aimed at providing a healthier menu, drawing on Mediterranean principles.
Construction of the Peeples Cancer Center will be completed by the end of October and the first patients will be admitted in January, 2020, with an open house event scheduled for sometime in February. Reflecting forward planning, one entire floor of the building has been left vacant and reserved for future expansion. The Hamilton Physician Group will move into the former BASF building, and new surgical suites will open in the former gastrointestinal lab area. Open-heart surgery is now the only major service Hamilton does not provide, but a proposal to add it has been under discussion for the last two years. Prospects for approval are promising, appropriate surgeons have been lined up, and a new building will likely be needed, probably on the location of Dr. Sellers’s former office on the northwest corner of Memorial Drive and Broadrick Drive.
To attract and accommodate additional hospital staff, including residents associated with the medical school at Emory University, Hamilton has partnered with a Macon development firm which will build Lofts at Hamilton, a complex of Class A apartments to be located on land the System will continue to own, although the developer will assume all construction and management risks. The first phase will comprise 220 rental units, and a possible second phase may have as many as 200 condominiums. Another support facility would be a Child Learning Center, located near the Bradley Wellness Center; its 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. schedule would help alleviate the local shortage of day care options.
All of this growth will be animated by the Heart of Hamilton program, a culture of PRIDE—Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diligence, and Excellence—emphasizing service and safety to create a community facility with big-city capability.
Announcements
Past President John Richmond invited members to suggest candidates for the University of Oslo Rotary Scholarship, noting that each District may submit three names of students who are between 20 and 24 years old and have completed their sophomore year. He also asked to hear from anyone who might be interested in hosting the Club’s GRSP student during the 2020-2021 school year.
|
|
October 22nd, 2019
This Week:
World Polio Day
Amanda Reed
Upcoming Meetings:
October 29th:
Dalton Golf and Country Club's Renovation
Scott Stuart
November 4th:
District Governor's Visit
|
October 22nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
22-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Years(P) |
| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
10/22/2009 |
10 |
0 |
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
10/25/2016 |
3 |
0 |
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
10/26/1999 |
20 |
0 |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
October 22nd`October 22nd, 2019
This Week:
World Polio Day
Amanda Reed
Upcoming Meetings:
October 29th:
Dalton Golf and Country Club's Renovation
Scott Stuart
November 5th:
District Governor's Visit
|
One Day, One Focus: Ending Polioby John Hutcheson
President Amanda reminded members about World Polio Day on October 24 and the crucial role Rotary has played in bringing about the disease’s near-eradication. At each place on the tables, members would find one dollar in quarters which were to be placed in buckets as instructions were given, and Amanda noted that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will give the equivalent of two quarters for every one quarter the club donates toward polio’s demise. She pointed out that everyone had a card which was to be held against the forehead so that information on it faced outward and was unknown to the holder. For the first round, each card showed a Halloween costume the holder would be supposed to wear, and for a contribution to the bucket this could be traded with someone else. One could also pay not to dress at all, and despite much trading and hilarity, this course of action seemed to be taken universally. A second round proceeded similarly, centered this time on various Rotary responsibilities. The third round was different, with no trading allowed and focusing on the answers to three questions:
1) What age group is most susceptible to polio? Answer: those under age five; hence Rotary’s effort to have every child in the world vaccinated.
2) How is polio spread? Answer: through contaminated water; thus Rotary’s work to provide clean water everywhere.
3) How many in the room were born before 1988? Answer: a majority, many of whom, recalling polio scares during their childhoods and the arrival of an effective vaccine in the 1950’s, can appreciate the reduction of new polio cases by more than 99% since 1988.
Amanda then turned to an exercise called “Who Killed Margo Polio” through use of a needle injection. Applying the deductive method to a list of Rotarians in good standing, she first eliminated those who had joined the Club within the last ten years. Those fluent in more than one language—or who had a spouse with this qualification—were also eliminated, as were all who were not sports fans and those who have served as elected city or county officials. On the other hand, persons who attended college outside of Georgia remained under scrutiny, as did those born outside of Whitfield County. Finally, by narrowing the pool of suspects down to persons with three children who were also proficient with needles, she identified the killer as Past President John Richmond. Amid much laughter, many members contributed their loose change—and often more—to the collection buckets.
Before the meeting closed, Jeff Myers announced that shortly after his presentation last week on new developments at Hamilton Healthcare, he received notification that the System’s Certificate of Need for an open-heart surgery service had been accepted, so that plans for this project will proceed accordingly.
Announcements
President Amanda announced that Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead’s absence was due to an emergency appendectomy over the weekend, and everyone present wished him a speedy recovery.
Following up on his notification last week, Past President John Richmond again invited members to suggest candidates for the University of Oslo Rotary Scholarship. He noted that each District may submit three names of students who are between 20 and 24 years old and have completed their sophomore year, adding that the deadline for nominations is December 31, 2019. He also repeated his request to hear from anyone who might be interested in hosting the Club’s GRSP student during the 2020-2021 school year.
In view of Georgia Tech’s football victory last Saturday over the University of Miami, Rotarian Judson Manly reminisced about Tech’s game against the same opponent in 1978, which he was enabled to watch from a booth reserved for guests of Head Coach Pepper Rogers. Tech lost 24-19, but the day was redeemed for Judson by an opportunity to meet and share time with Dolly Parton, who had just been named Country Music Singer of the Year and was the only other guest in the booth. A photograph of Judson’s father and Dolly was published in Tech Topics, and he retains warm memories of her unpretentious and generous personality, which was recently demonstrated by her gifts of $1,000 per month for a six-month period to victims of the Gatlinburg wildfire in 2016.
|
October 29th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Richmond, Agnes (AGGIE) |
Richmond, John D. |
2-Nov |
|
| Kirkman, Lou |
Kirkman, Lowell D. |
4-Nov |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Years(P) |
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
10/29/1996 |
23 |
0 |
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
11/1/1977 |
42 |
0 |
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
11/1/1989 |
30 |
0 |
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
11/1/1978 |
41 |
0 |
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
11/1/1980 |
39 |
0 |
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
11/1/1981 |
38 |
0 |
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
11/1/1982 |
37 |
0 |
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
11/1/1985 |
34 |
0 |
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
11/1/1972 |
47 |
0 |
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
11/3/2015 |
4 |
0 |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
Roger |
30-Oct |
20 |
|
|
October 29th, 2019
This Week:
Dalton Golf and Country Club's Renovation
Scott Stuart
Upcoming Meetings:
November 5th:
District Governor's Visit
|
|
October 15th, 2019
This Week:
Hamilton Healthcare System's Innovation and Renovation
Jeff Myers
Upcoming Meetings:
October 22nd:
World Polio Day
Amanda Reed
October 29th:
Dalton Golf and Country Club's Renovation
Scott Stuart
November 4th:
District Governor's Visit
|
October 15th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Critides, Samuel D (SAM) |
15-Oct |
|
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
16-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| O'Neill, Lin |
O'Neill, Michael Paul |
19-Oct |
|
| Bowling, Becky |
Bowling, John |
20-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Years(P) |
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
10/18/2005 |
14 |
0 |
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
10/21/2008 |
11 |
0 |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
Cynthia |
17-Oct |
10 |
| Walker, Natima G (NATIMA) |
Jason |
18-Oct |
16 |
|
October 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Gilreath, Judy Ellen (JUDY) |
9-Oct |
|
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
9-Oct |
|
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. (PAUL) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| Watson, Richie P (RICHIE) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Griffin, Brenda |
Griffin, Ronald L |
8-Oct |
|
| Sponcler, Betty |
Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. |
11-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Years(P) |
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
Sherry |
10-Oct |
32 |
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
Betty |
14-Oct |
61 |
|
|
October 8th
This Week:
Bob Caperton
Dalton Innovation Accelerator
|
A Report From The State Board of Educationby John Hutcheson
Substituting for President Amanda, Past President Greg Dent introduced Rotarian Larry Winter, a member of the State Board of Education for the Fourteenth Congressional District since his initial appointment by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2006. Larry is a graduate of the University of Florida and a Certified Public Accountant and Managing Partner of Winter & Scoggins CPAs, and he holds board certification as a Certified Valuation Analyst, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Personal Financial Planning Specialist. On the State Board of Education he serves as Chairman of the Budget Committee and Liaison to Georgia’s Bright from the Start Pre-K Program. He received the Georgia Sheriffs Association Humanitarian Award in 1981 and was named a Hixon Fellow by Kiwanis International in 2000. He and his wife, Connie, are the parents of four children and were active in their local elementary school for fifteen consecutive years. Larry also served as Chair of the Dalton/Whitfield Education Revolution Alliance which focused on improving student achievement and adult literacy.
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Larry Winter
Entitling his presentation “Education in Georgia, 2006-2020: The Work of 4 Superintendents, 3 Governors, and all of Georgia’s Teachers,” Larry began by recalling that his introduction to the idea of membership on the State Board came through an unexpected telephone call from Governor Perdue, to whom he’d been recommended by State Senator Dr. Don Thomas—presumably, Larry said, because “they wanted a numbers guy.” He soon realized that while the life cycle of a General Assembly member is two years and a State School Superintendent’s is four years, that of a student in Georgia’s public schools from pre-K to graduation is fourteen years. Taken together, these differences mean there’s no quick fix for problems in education.
Nevertheless, Georgia’s progress in recent years is encouraging. In 2006 the state was ranked 46th in K-12 education by U.S. News & World Report; in 2019 it was rated 13th for K-12 achievement by Education Week’s Quality Counts Report. In 2018 Georgia’s public school graduates had the 6th highest pass rate in the nation, an average SAT score of 1054 compared to the national average of 1049, and an ACT composite score above the national average for the third year in a row, along with above-average ACT scores in English, reading, science, and math. Four-year graduation percentages rose from the low 50’s in 2006 through almost 70% in 2012 to 82% in 2019, partly as a result of the No Child Left Behind legislation enacted by Congress in 2001. Moreover, beginning in 2010 the State Board placed a new emphasis on career education, which is now supported along seventeen different pathways.
Since 2015 the State Board has focused on three goals: reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade, performing in math at grade level by the end of 5th grade, and classroom and student positive behavior. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP, also called the Nation’s Report Card), Georgia is rated 3rd in the nation for increased math and reading scores from 2003 to 2017. Reading at grade level rose from 69% in 2015 (the first year of Georgia’s assessment) to 73% in 2019. In math, results for proficient learners and above were 28/1% in 2015 and 41% in 2019; results for developing learners and above were 74.6% in 2015 and 76% in 2019.
Behavioral data may be gleaned from the multi-tiered Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS) network. In Georgia the number of schools trained in PBIS grew from 80 in 2008-2009 to 1,361 in 2017-2018. Georgia’s student enrollment increased by 1.7% from 2013-2014 to 2017-2018, but discipline incidents in PBIS schools during that time decreased by 17.1% and the count of students with multiple incidents fell by 10%. These numbers are the more striking in that many aspects of child-rearing are now increasingly left to the schools to handle; an example is conflict management, which is illustrated by twenty incidents of gun confiscation in Georgia elementary schools during the past year. From 2006 to 2019 education in Georgia grew 8.5%, from 1,629,157 students in 2,100 schools to 1,767,178 in 2,302 schools, but 60% of Georgia students qualify for free or reduced lunch—a standard indicator of poverty—and 38,906 students are homeless. Significantly, more than 50% of births in Georgia in 2019 have been to single mothers.
The Great Recession that began in 2008 was a virtual Apocalypse for Georgia education, imposing a decade of austerity combined with slow recovery. QBE funding, which was 100% in FY 2007, underwent Austerity Reductions from FY 2008 until FY 2018, augmented by Federal Recovery Funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY2011. K-12 spending comprised 41% of total state spending in 2006 and will be 44.87% of total spending in FY 2020, an increase due in part to the increased number of students. From FY 2006 to FY 2017, K-12 revenues grew from $12.3 billion to almost $16.5 billion reflecting an increase of 18.66% in revenues per pupil.
Since 2006-2007, development of the Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) has created a single, integrated data structure which provides districts, schools, and teachers with access to historical data concerning Assessments, Attendance, Enrollment, Courses, and Grades. Data-driven decisions can thus be made much more efficiently and effectively about individual students’ academic strengths and weaknesses, achievement levels, and real or potential impediments to learning. Usefulness of the SLDS is indicated by the increase in annual individual requests for information, which rose from 174,799 in 2010 to 58,699,964 in 2015 to 108,303,629 in 2018.
“Blindness separates us from things,” said Helen Keller, “but deafness separates us from people.” Building on this observation, Larry briefly described the state’s efforts to address these two unique disabilities in their educational context. In 2006 the Smokey Powell Center for Assistive Technology was established on the campus of the Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon; its mission is to increase academic achievement, improve graduation rates, and enhance post-secondary opportunities for blind or visually impaired students by providing low-vision evaluation clinics, loaning students hi- and low-tech assistive technology devices, and providing professional learning to teachers of the visually impaired. By offering these services free of cost, the Center has saved local school districts $2,309,620 since its opening. For the deaf or hearing impaired, similar services are provided, especially in rural areas, by the Mobile Audiology Program at a cost savings of approximately $116,000 per child when a hearing loss is detected early and intervention is timely.
Together the Smokey Powell Center and the Mobile Audiology Program serve about 500 students, coordinating their work with that of the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf (founded in 1972), the Georgia Academy for the Blind (founded in 1852), and the Georgia School for the Deaf (founded in 1846). Regardless of the setting, the key is early intervention, and by working to reach children as early as possible, all of these agencies are vital parts of public education in Georgia.
|
|
October 1st, 2019
This Week:
Larry Winter
State Board of Education
Upcoming Meetings:
October 8th:
Bob Caperton
Dalton Innovation Accelerator
|
Dalton Public Schools: State of the Schoolsby John Hutcheson
President Amanda opened the meeting by thanking Dr. Judy Gilreath for her excellent presentation last week on the work and accomplishments of the Whitfield County Schools. To continue the Club’s focus this month on education, she introduced Dr. Tim Scott, Superintendent of the Dalton Public Schools, who gave a similarly comprehensive report on his system.
Dr. Tim Scott
Appointed by the Dalton Board of Education in March, 2018, Dr. Scott is now in his second full year as Superintendent. He began his career in 1986, teaching science and physical education in Houston County, Georgia, and he later worked as principal at Northside-Warner Robins High, Dublin High, Lassiter High in Cobb County, and Douglas County High. In 2015 he became Assistant Superintendent of District Operations in Douglas County, from which he moved to his position in Dalton. He holds degrees from Georgia College and State University, Troy State University, and Argosy University, and schools under his leadership have won national recognition for excellence from the U. S. Department of Education, the Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, and the College Board.
Dr. Scott began his presentation by reviewing the DPS vision—“world-class learning that prepares students for success in college, career and civic life”—and the system’s mission, which is “to develop trusting relationships and provide quality work that engages students in profound learning.” To achieve this, DPS has set four goals: college, career and life readiness; recruitment and retention of quality professionals; operational excellence; and family and community engagement.
Demographically, the nine schools of the DPS system have 7,903 students from 43 countries, speaking 23 native languages, including 160 individuals who have transferred from other countries. Of the total enrollment, 74.7% are economically dis-advantaged, 22.9% are English language learners, 6.9% are homeless (comprising 540 students in the city alone), 12.6% are in special education programs, and 11.2% qualify as gifted.
Elaborating on each of the DPS goals, Dr. Scott spoke at greatest length about that of readying students for success in college, careers, and life through improved mastery of standards, improved student social and emotional learning competencies, and consistent engagement of students in work with high levels of cognitive demand. Vehicles for accomplishing these tasks include:
- a 21st Century Grant of $1.6 million over five years to establish a Community Learning Center in partnership with the Dalton City of Refuge to provide after-school and summer enrichment programs;
- the Blue Ridge Successful Start, a research-based kindergarten literacy initiative in partnership with Georgia State University;
- the Brookwood German Immersion program in which two classes in each grade from kindergarten through third have instruction equally divided between German and Englsh;
- Elementary Dual Language Spanish Classes at Park Creek,, Blue Ridge, and Westwood Schools; and
- a Middle Years IB Programme now planned to begin in August, 2021, preparing students in grades six through ten for the IB Diploma Programme.
In 2019 DPS had 10 IB Diploma graduates, 7 Georgia Scholars, 47 AP Scholars, 9 AP Scholars with Honor, 16 AP Scholars with Distinction, and 4 National AP Scholars. Dual Enrollments included 71 students taking courses at Dalton State College, 13 students doing so at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (of whom 8 were from Morris Innovative High School) and 1 student at Middle Georgia State University. From 2018 to 2019 Georgia Milestone Reading Scores for the District rose 5% at the third grade level and 9% at the fifth grade level, although they declined slightly, by 3%, at the eighth grade level. The four-year district graduation rate in 2018 was 78.94 %; the corresponding five-year rate was 85.64 %.
Dr. Scott addressed the goal of recruiting and retainng quality professionals by pointing to the addition of Instructional Coaches to support teachers, a robust mentorship program, the identification and nurturing of emerging leaders, a focus on keeping class sizes down, the provision of classroom resources, and development of a recognition program based on the “Dalton Difference.” The goal of operational excellence will be furthered by provision of state-of-the-art facilities, enhancement of school safety, and making the best use of financial resources. In connection with these ends, Dr. Scott noted the construction of the Hammond Creek Middle School which is expected to open in August, 2021; upgraded security measures funded by the state and the current ESPLOST; multi-million dollar repairs and renovations at City Park and Brookwood Schools, and system-wide improvements in technology and infrastructure totaling more than $11.1 million.
Finally, Dr. Scott summarized the goal of engaging families and the wider community through development of a base of key community influenciers, nurturing family support, and maintaining strong communications and partnerships. A key element will be Little Cats, a bilingual, two-generation program to educate parents and their three- and four-year-old children about learning, social, and physical skills in preparation for pre-school or kindergarten. A parent must be present with their child at each weekly session, which will be led by a trained Family Engagement Coordinator who will work closely with the involved families. Another important initiative is the Roan Resource Center, a component of the Dalton Neighborhood Initiative which brings together a variety of community groups to provide parents and children from birth through age 8 with resources for success in school and life.
In these and many other ways, Dalton Public Schools fosters a culture of curiosity, creativity, and perseverance because that is what its students deserve.
|
October 1st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2-Oct |
|
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
6-Oct |
|
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
7-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Sutherland, Phyllis |
Sutherland, George W. |
5-Oct |
|
| Scott, Robyn |
Scott, Tim |
7-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Years(P) |
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
10/1/2013 |
6 |
0 |
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
10/1/2013 |
6 |
0 |
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
10/6/2015 |
4 |
0 |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
Calli |
4-Oct |
5 |
|
September 24th BIrtdhay
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
25-Sep |
|
|
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
29-Sep |
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Parker, April |
Parker, Hoyt Jason |
24-Sep |
|
| Mixer, Kimberly |
Mixer, Mark S |
25-Sep |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
9/24/2013 |
6 |
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
9/27/2011 |
8 |
|
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
9/30/2014 |
5 |
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
9/30/2014 |
5 |
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
Robyn |
26-Sep |
12 |
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
Alex |
28-Sep |
28 |
|
|
September 24th, 2019
This Week:
Dr. Margaret Venable
Dalton State College
Upcoming Meetings:
October 1st:
Larry Winter
State Board of Education
October 8th:
Bob Caperton
Dalton Innovation Accelerator
|
September 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
25-Sep |
|
|
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
29-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Parker, April |
Parker, Hoyt Jason |
24-Sep |
|
| Mixer, Kimberly |
Mixer, Mark S |
25-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
9/24/2013 |
6 |
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
9/27/2011 |
8 |
|
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
9/30/2014 |
5 |
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
9/30/2014 |
5 |
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
10/1/2013 |
6 |
|
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
10/1/2013 |
6 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
Robyn |
26-Sep |
12 |
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
Alex |
28-Sep |
28 |
|
Experiential Learning At Dalton StateThree Successful Examples
by John Hutcheson
President Amanda introduced Dr. Margaret Venable, President of Dalton State College, who in turn introduced Dr. Adrian Epps, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Epps is “on loan” to DSC from Kennesaw State University, where he serves as Associate Dean in the College of Science and Mathematics and also holds the rank of Professor of Educational Leadership in the KSU College of Education. In addition to his work in higher education, he has experience as an educator and administrator in the Atlanta Public Schools, and in both the K-12 and post-secondary spheres he has concentrated on teacher preparation, education reform, and STEM initiatives. He holds undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Chemistry and Science Education respectively from Emory University and the doctorate in Educational Leadership from Clark Atlanta University.
After thanking Dalton for the welcome it has given him, Dr. Epps praised Dalton State as unique in its level of commitment to faculty and staff success as contributors to the growth and well-being of the local community. One important vehicle in this work is DSC’s adoption of High-Impact Educational Practices, a set of ways to engage and challenge students such as first-year programs, intensive writing, collaborative assignments, undergraduate research, and internships, which is promoted by LEAP (Liberal Education and America’s Promise), an initiative of the Association of American Colleges & Universities. Choosing to focus on the internship component, Dr. Epps recognized Mallory Safley, Assistant Director for Career and Professional Development in the Dean of Students office at DSC and coordinator of intern placements. He then introduced three students who would act as a panel as he asked a group of questions about their internship experiences. Leah Ellis is a senior in Respiratory Therapy who has worked in seven different hospitals, including Hamilton Medical Center. Santi Angel is completing a degree in marketing and has interned at the Dalton Innovation Accelerator. Cecelia Mejia, having earned an Associate degree from DSC, is now finishing a Bachelor’s in Chemistry and has interned at Textile Rubber & Chemical Company.
L to R: Dr. Margaret Venable, Cecelia Mejia, Leah Ellis, Santi Angel, Mallory Safley, Dr. Adrian Epps.]
Dr. Epps first asked the students what they had been looking for in an internship. Leah said she was grateful for the chance to work with both faculty and hospital staff who unhesitatingly went above and beyond what was expected. She also appreciated being able to learn the layouts of different hospitals and master their complexities. Santi said his work at the Accelerator enabled him to learn about how to start a small business, and Cecelia noted that her internship provided an opportunity to look for a mentor and to have the flexible scheduling she needs.
Dr. Epps’s second question concerned how the students’ intern experiences complemented their course work. Cecelia said she was glad for the opportunity to apply ideas in a real-world setting without having to worry about grades, and Santi observed how he applied marketing concepts he had learned in class to create a social media presence for the Accelerator. Leah described the College’s mock hospital and how her work there taught her what to look for in a real hospital.
The last question asked the students what had been the most valuable components of their internships and how those would affect their future careers. Leah said she now has a better knowledge of how to function in a real-world setting, Santi stated that he has learned to know “the people who make things happen in Dalton” and to begin building productive relationships, and Cecelia said she is now in position to advance in her career toward higher levels and greater responsibility.
When asked by an audience member about what was missing from their internships, Leah spoke movingly about needing more advice on coping with the emotional demands of working with patients, especially when treatments are unsuccessful. Cecelia would have liked more rotation through different areas of her company, and Santi would add more community involvement. Asked to define the differences between course work and the real world more sharply, Santi said that it was sometimes difficult to apply specific concepts appropriately, and Cecelia pointed to the need for specialization as preparation for going beyond the ordinary. Leah said that in her field, “the book shows the right numbers,” but patients are what really matter and one must be ready to deal with contingencies unaccounted for in textbooks. Finally, when asked what they do for fun, Santi said simply “sitting down,” Cecelia mentioned hiking, and Leah likes “bingeing Netflix.”
Dr. Epps noted that since all the students are married and have family obligations, spare time is likely at a premium. He emphasized the employability of DSC graduates, and he asked club members to consider taking on interns where feasible. Also, it is important to remember to make monetary contributions to the College; these help fund “gap scholarships” which can determine whether a student is financially able to complete a program or not.
Recognitions
As President Amanda awarded Blue Badges to Shawn Scott, Tim Scott, and Rusty Ridley, she asked the recipients what they had enjoyed most during their Red Badge periods. All three mentioned working the front desk prior to the Club’s weekly meetings; doing so enabled them to quickly become familiar with individual members. Tim and Rusty also enjoyed attending Board meetings, where they learned more not only about the operation of our club but also about Rotary itself.
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One Whitfield: A Report From Whitfield County Schoolsby John Hutcheson
Dr. Judy Gilreath
President Amanda introduced Dr. Judy Gilreath, Superintendent of the Whitfield County Schools since 2013 and a faithful and familiar member of our Club. In a comprehensive survey, Dr. Gilreath summarized her school system’s recent progress and its current standing as it faces demographic and other changes in the community it serves. With 24 schools and a total staff of 1,844 educating more than 13,000 students, WCS is the 28th largest system in the state, but it is 130th in per-pupil spending. Its students are 51.2% white, 43.1% Hispanic, and 5.7% other ethnicities. They present a range of economic and cultural challenges—70.9% qualify for free lunches, 17.3% are English language learners, and 13.2% have disabilities. On the positive side, 81% of the teachers have advanced degrees, with an average of 17 years’ experience and a 92% retention rate. In 2019 the Board of Education was recognized as a Distinguished School Board by the Georgia School Board Association.
Turning to finances and capital improvements, Dr. Gilreath reported that while voters approved WCS to sell $41 million worth of bonds to be financed by an ESPLOST, the system will only sell $14.7 million, thereby saving greatly on interest expenses. She reviewed a series of completed improvements and repairs at Tunnel Hill, Pleasant Grove, Northwest, Varnell. New Hope, and Southeast, and she described progress and expenses for constructing new middle schools at Valley Point and North Whitfield and a new gym at Westside Middle School. Priority needs include roof and HVAC replacements at Westside Elementary and Northwest and Southeast High Schools and electrical upgrades and sewer line extension at Westside Elementary. Substantial grants from various sources, totaling more than $4,8 million, will underwrite projects in computer coding, literacy, construction, and security.
Dr. Gilreath pointed out that education is not confined to 180 days a year, and consequently WCS has a large number of community partnerships to enhance student learning and teacher effectiveness, especially during summer. These involve corporations, philanthropic and social welfare organizations, the regional library system, and other educational institutions such as Dalton State College, Dalton Public Schools, and Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
Recent milestones for WCS show an improvement in reading at or above third grade level from 66% in 2018 to 78% in 2019 and maintenance of 75% at the eighth grade level during the same period; these compare with statewide rates of 73% and 74% respectively. The graduation rate, at 80.33%, is slightly below the state rate of 81.58%, but the system’s Destination Graduation program includes creation of a data wall, provision of graduation coaches, and use of Georgia HOPE to fight the mental health crisis. Student accolades include 62 AP scholars, 5 Governor’s Honors students, and 8 Georgia Scholars, along with special recognition for Eastbrook Middle School Robotics, a Governor’s Office of Student Achievement Case Study, the Southeast High School Drama Club, which won a statewide performance award, and the Valley Point Middle School Art program, which will decorate the state’s Christmas tree.
As the WCS Five-Year Strategic Plan for 2015-2020 draws to a close, the system will evaluate its performance in instruction and assessment, highly qualified personnel, finance, community involvement, operations, and technology, building on accomplishments in these areas to develop a new plan and come closer to realizing its motto of One Whitfield.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Amanda opened the meeting by requesting a moment of silence in honor of a distinguished Dalton Rotarian, Roger Williams, formerly a member of both houses of the Georgia General Assembly and of the State Transportation Board, who died on September 4 at the age of 85. Prayer Leader Janice Kiker offered a prayer in memory of those who died in the 9-11-01 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Sergeant-at-Arms Tom Bundros thanked Roger Williams for his many services to improve the infrastructure of Northwest Georgia, noting especially his influence on securing appropriate street lighting for Dalton’s I-75 interchanges. Amanda reminded everyone of the Rotary’s Got Talent event requested by District 6910 Governor Don Martin in connection with his visit to Dalton on November 5; some performers have already been engaged and others are planned (although they may not know it yet. . . .).
After the program, Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce President Rob Bradham reminded members of Believe Greater Dalton’s Education Baseline rollout scheduled for this evening at Stage 123, and President-Elect Smitty Barnett noted the upcoming Whitfield Education Foundation Spelling Bee on November 14—last year’s winner was Rotarian Adam Ware. Membership Chair Cherri Robertson inducted the Rev. Terry Fleming, Senior Pastor of Dalton’s First United Methodist Church, as the Club’s newest member, sponsored by Rotarians Judson Manly and Charles Merritt.
Terry Fleming induction
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September 17th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
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| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
17-Sep |
|
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
22-Sep |
|
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| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
22-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Payne, Angelina |
Payne, Charles F Jr |
22-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
9/20/2016 |
3 |
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| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
9/20/2016 |
3 |
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| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
9/20/2016 |
3 |
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| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
9/23/2014 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Gazaway, Kristie (KRISTIE) |
Johnnie |
17-Sep |
25 |
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
Allen |
17-Sep |
52 |
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
John |
23-Sep |
58 |
|
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September 17th, 2019
This Week:
Dr. Tim Scott
Dalton Public Schools
Upcoming Meetings;
September 24:
Dr. Margaret Venable
Dalton State College
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September 10th, 2019
This Week:
Dr. Judy Gilreath
Whitfield County Schools
Upcoming Meetings:
September 17:
Dr. Tim Scott
Dalton Public Schools
September 24:
Dr. Margaret Venable
Dalton State College
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Meet Anna To: GRSP Studentby John Hutcheson
Anna To
Anna began her remarks by thanking the club for giving her this opportunity. Her hometown is Louth, in Lincolnshire, England. Her father, Lee To, is a retired physics teacher who was born in Hong Kong and moved to England when he was still young. Her mother, Barbara, is originally from Lincolnshire, and she has a brother and sister from her mom’s first marriage along with two Chinese siblings who, like her, were adopted. Her dog, Tebby To, is a cockapoo whom she misses keenly.
Louth is a market town with a general market held three days a week and one of the last three cattle markets in the country, and Anna used slides to show some of its landmarks. She is a member of a Church of England parish in which the church, St. James, was built between 1430 and 1440 to replace an earlier 13th century building and where archaeological work recently discovered a stone cross dating from the 10th century. She attends King Edward VI Grammar School; with a history going back to 1276 it was refounded by Edward VI in 1551 (celebrated by Charter Day each year on September 6), and it only began enrolling girls in 1964. Among its notable former students are Captain John Smith of Jamestown Colony fame and the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (who hated his time there).
Touching on a miscellaneous variety of topics, Anna briefly described England’s tiered educational system (nursery school, primary school, secondary school, college/sixth form, and university), her customary foods (English and Chinese, although she herself is a vegetarian), Louth’s climate (rainy and cool, usually between 30° and 65° F), and national politics (three major parties and currently in great confusion over Brexit). This is her first visit to the United States, where she is looking forward to many outdoor activities, especially hiking. She never expected that her American sojourn would begin in Georgia, and while she wants to visit all fifty states, she’s especially eager to see California and New York as well as Washington, D.C. Among American foods, she has tried grits, which she did NOT like, and popcorn—the American kind is buttery and salty rather than sweet like that at home.
Anna concluded by presenting a banner from the Rotary Club of Louth and in turn received one of ours, distinguished by its being made of carpet.
Exchanging Banners
Several members responded to President Amanda’s opening request for advice to hosts, urging them to stay in close contact with their students after the GRSP year is over, to be sure and attend a University of Georgia football game, to explain that public transportation in the U.S. is different from elsewhere, and to point out that this country is much bigger than foreign visitors—especially Europeans—sometimes realize.
Before the meeting closed, Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce President Rob Bradham reminded members that Believe Greater Dalton’s Education Baseline Report will be rolled out at 6:00 p.m. on September 10 at Stage 123. This is the result of discussions about improvement of education at all levels in Dalton, and a full Annual Report will be made in April, 2020.
Announcements
Noting that today’s meeting focuses on the Georgia Rotary Student Program and our club’s sponsorship this year of Anna To from England, President Amanda asked Rotarians whose families had hosted GRSP students in the past for any advice they’d care to give to this year’s hosts and those who might considering hosting a student in the future. Past President John Richmond said that he has served as a GRSP Trustee for the last 5½ years and has greatly enjoyed doing so. In 2012-2013 he and his wife hosted a student from Sweden with whom they have stayed in touch and will soon meet again in Paris. He recognized Adam Tee of Malaysia, a standing guest of our club, who is being sponsored by the Carpet City Rotary Club and clubs in Calhoun, Summerville-Trion, and Ringgold. John pointed out that this year there are 41 GRSP students, backed by 180 Rotary clubs in 18 countries and bringing to 3,692 the total number of students in the GRSP since its inception in 1946. Of this year’s group, 17 are from District 6900, 16 are from District 6910, and 8 are from District 6920, with their support coming from 107 Rotary clubs in the three districts. The 14 males and 27 females will be attending 22 different colleges.
President-Elect Smitty Barnett, whose family will host Anna this year, said he became involved with GRSP two years ago through his association with Clare Ballentine of England, a GRSP student in 2017-2018, and decided to host this year. Before introducing Anna, he circulated copies of her Dalton State College and GRSP schedules and asked club members to invite her to appropriate events in their own families’ lives.
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September 10th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
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| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. (ROY) |
10-Sep |
|
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| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
12-Sep |
|
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| Gazaway, Kristie (KRISTIE) |
14-Sep |
|
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| Minor, John Thomas V (JOHN) |
15-Sep |
|
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| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
16-Sep |
|
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| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Adamson, Zach |
Adamson, Anna Y |
10-Sep |
|
| Ware, Emilie |
Ware, Adam M |
15-Sep |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
9/11/2018 |
1 |
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| Brown, Alex C (ALEX) |
9/14/2017 |
2 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
Teresa |
10-Sep |
42 |
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
Julie |
12-Sep |
48 |
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
Billie |
13-Sep |
66 |
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
Ann |
14-Sep |
45 |
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August 20th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
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| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
15-Aug |
|
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| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
16-Aug |
|
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| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
16-Aug |
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| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
18-Aug |
|
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| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
18-Aug |
|
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| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
18-Aug |
|
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| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
19-Aug |
|
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| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
19-Aug |
|
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| Jones, J Sherwood III (SHERWOOD) |
26-Aug |
|
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| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
26-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Scott, Annelle |
Scott, Trammell |
15-Aug |
|
| Robertson, Ricky |
Robertson, Cherri L |
16-Aug |
|
| Blackman, Bill |
Blackman, Linda T. |
18-Aug |
|
| Turner, Carolyn |
Turner, Henry J |
20-Aug |
|
| Dobbins, Donna |
Dobbins, Chuck |
20-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
8/18/2015 |
4 |
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| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
8/18/2015 |
4 |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
Judy |
14-Aug |
48 |
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
Mary Etta |
16-Aug |
61 |
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
Ben |
19-Aug |
47 |
| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
Mary Ann |
23-Aug |
44 |
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
Carolyn |
26-Aug |
53 |
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August 20th
2019
This Week:
Accountability Courts
Judges Minter, Morris, and Wilbanks
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August 20th, 2019
This Week:
Accountability Courts
Judges Minter, Morris, Wilbanks
Upcoming Meetings:
August 27th
GRSP Student
Anna To
September 3
NO MEETING
Club Closed For Labor Day
September 10
Dr. Judy Gilreath
Whitfield County Schools
September 17
Dr. Tim Scott
Dalton Public Schools
September 24
Dr. Margaret Venable
Dalton State College
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Whitfield County's Accountability Courtsby John Hutcheson
Conasauga Circuit Chief Judge Bill Boyett introduced the judges who preside over Whitfield County’s Accountability Courts—Judge Jim Wilbanks of the Drug Court (established by Judge Jack Partain in 2002 and now a model of its kind), Judge Cindy Morris of the Domestic Violence Court, and Judge Scott Minter of the Mental Health Court. He also recognized Jennifer Richardson, Treatment and Accountability Administrator, and Brad Butler, Court Administrator.
Accountability Court Judges
Judge Morris opened her remarks with praise for Judge Boyett, who is considered to be the “gold standard” for trial court judges in Georgia, and she said the same thing applies to now-retired Judge Partain in regard to accountability courts. Whitfield County’s Domestic Violence Court was started in 2014 because of a clear and present need for prevention and treatment. Although the Family Crisis Center had existed here for a number of years and long before similar agencies were established in other communities, many persons who began intervention programs did not complete them. Using standards linked to those which govern probation, the Domestic Violence Court enables the judicial system to impose sanctions on those who do not progress through the program satisfactorily. The Court has four goals: 1) a just result, 2) safety for the victim, 3) offender accountability, and 4) elimination of recidivism. Although it is modeled on other accountability courts and shares with them the purposes of alleviating stress in the prison system and targeting the core issues causing the participants to offend, Domestic Violence Court differs in that it has no graduation rituals or system of rewards. Also, most of those coming before the court are new offenders rather than relapsers; domestic violence is felonious and a learned behavior, which can be unlearned, rather than an addictive or innate condition. The court’s program emphasizes personal responsibility. Participants must take Family Violence Intervention Program classes through the RESOLV project, and a second offense will result in immediate expulsion and full prosecution. Currently the Conasauga Circuit is the only Superior Court in Georgia handling domestic violence in this way. The Domestic Violence Court receives no tax dollars and is supported by fees and fines, following the example of such courts in Florida. Efforts are underway, however, with the assistance of State Senator Chuck Payne to secure recognition from the state as an official accountability court and access to state funding, and the Georgia Commission on Family Violence is considering making the Conasauga Domestic Violence Court a model for the entire state.
Judge Wilbanks began by thanking Judge Partain for his extraordinary work with the Drug Court since its founding, and he also thanked the Whitfield County Commissioners for their support, especially the Court’s new facilities in County Administrative Building 1. For dealing with drug addiction, the Drug Court has three governing principles: 1) responsibility, 2) accountability, and 3) standards. A staff team will determine a prospective participant’s eligibility in consideration of addictive behavior and any pending felony charges, and if this is certified, Wilbanks will issue an invitation—not an order—to enter the court’s program. It is a demanding regimen, with five phases extending over 24 months, and most of those completing it attest that it was the most difficult thing they ever did. Participants must have completed the GED or its equivalent, and they must undergo weekly drug screenings, submit to random drug tests, and maintain a schedule of regular court appearances. Rewards and sanctions are applied as appropriate. Ultimately the Drug Court’s aim is to be proactive and to enable non-violent offenders to live personally fulfilling and socially productive lives.
Judge Minter said that he started his professional career working in a District Attorney’s office, where he saw how high levels of recidivism were closely involved with mental health and addictions. In view of this, he wanted to have something available akin to the Drug Court, and the need became much greater as many mental hospitals closed during the 1970’s. Jails were not appropriate places to house non-violent offenders who were mentally ill or addicted. Mental health courts already existed elsewhere by the time Minter was elected to the Superior Court in 2017, and in 2018 he established the local Mental Health Court along lines similar to those of the Drug Court, with which it has a natural affinity. Program participants are usually referred by law enforcement agencies. They must be at least 18, charged with a crime carrying a penalty of 24 months or more, and have a documented mental health condition. Regarding such people, the goals of the court are to ensure public safety, to reduce the cost of their care to taxpayers (the court receives no funding from taxation), and to help them learn how to manage (not cure, which is beyond the court’s scope) their mental illness. To these ends, the court insists on appropriate housing, provided through community resources; observance of a curfew; and regular drug testing on a random basis. Participants meet with the court coordinator and a case manager who can help with routine matters such as acquiring proof of identification, Social Security registration, opening a bank account, etc. They will meet regularly with treatment providers, typically for therapy at least three days per week and for monitoring of correct medications. Most importantly, they will come before the judge weekly for progress reports and immediate positive or negative reinforcement as may be desirable or necessary.
Summing up, Judge Minter pointed out that while the accountability courts are not legally required, there is no question that they work—lives are changed for the better. They have been embraced by employers, which is a vital support since participants in them must be employed. Senator Payne added that they demonstrate the importance of restorative justice, as opposed to punitive, within the Conasauga Circuit.
President Amanda closed the program with an anonymous but relevant quote: “To create more positive results in life, replace ‘if only’ with ‘next time.’”
Recognitions
President-Elect Smitty Barnett recognized GRSP students Anna To, who comes from Louth, England, and Adam Tee from Malaysia. President Amanda noted that Anna will present the program at the meeting on August 27 and will be welcomed at a subsequent social occasion. She also reminded members that the Club will not meet on September 3 because of the Labor Day holiday.
Anna To and Adam Tee
President Amanda presented his Blue Badge to Dr. Sam Critides.
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August 27th, 2019This Week:
GRSP Student
Anna To
Upcoming Meetings:
September 3rd:
NO MEETING
(Club Closed For Labor Day)
September 10th:
Dr. Judy Gilreath
Whitfield County Schools
September 17th:
Dr. Tim Scott
Dalton Public Schools
September 24th:
Dr. Margaret Venable
Dalton State College
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August 27th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
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| Cope, Don (DON) |
1-Sep |
|
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| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
9-Sep |
|
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| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
7-Sep |
|
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| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
27-Aug |
|
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| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
7-Sep |
|
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| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
27-Aug |
|
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| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
5-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Aft, Pauline |
Aft, David |
27-Aug |
|
| Hutcheson, Marilyn |
Hutcheson, John A. Jr. |
2-Sep |
|
| Pennington, Pamela |
Pennington, David E. |
6-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Goodroe, Robert S. (ROBERT) |
9/1/1964 |
55 |
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| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
9/1/1979 |
40 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
Becky |
27-Aug |
53 |
| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
Hope |
7-Sep |
17 |
| Scott, Shaun E (SHAUN) |
Tonya |
31-Aug |
23 |
| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
Emilie |
1-Sep |
1 |
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2019 High School Football Previewby John Hutcheson
On August 12th, incoming Dalton Kiwanis president Heath Patterson opened a joint meeting of the Rotary Club of Dalton and the Carpet City Rotary Club with the Dalton Kiwanis Club at the Dalton Convention Center. After welcoming remarks, he introduced Rotarian and former Dalton High School Football Head Coach Ronnie McClurg, who called on five local head coaches to assess the coming season and its prospects for their respective teams. This a great time of the year, he said, because at this point everyone is still undefeated!
Coach Sean Gray of Southeast Whitfield High School began by noting that his team has only four home games this year (as opposed to six last year when Southeast hosted an extra game because of renovations at the Murray County stadium) and they will open on August 16 against Armuchee. The senior class is very good, having come up from the second-best freshman class in the last eight years. The team’s numbers are a bit down, partly because of a cultural change that favors other sports and also rising apprehensions about the effects of concussions. They will run a spread offense and a 4-4 defense. The backfield has two very fast backs and an experienced and versatile quarterback in Adam Sowder, with an excellent running back and wingback as well. The offensive line is strong and experienced, but the team’s short roster means that there will be several freshman starters. With the first three games on the road, there will not be a home game until September 20, when they play Cedartown.
Coach Josh Robinson of Northwest Whitfield High School is now in his seventeenth year there and his ninth as Head Coach. He has a good group this year and was satisfied with the 7-7 scrimmage they had with Calhoun. There are seven returning starters this year, including three sets of brothers and three on the offensive line. They need to work on their defense in order to give the offense—where there are eight freshman starters, including the quarterback—time to grow and develop some leaders. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that the program’s mission is not simply to win, but to produce better men.
Coach Matt Land of Dalton High School, who has been in coaching for 27 years, including 10 as a head coach, concurred with Coach Robinson’s statement about the importance of producing better men. He pointed out that Dalton High has a simple formula: have the best defense, control the clock, and control the game. As the saying goes, plan the work and work the plan. This year the big job will be to replace Ivan Mora, a great player in every respect on the field and off, who has signed with Wake Forest. There will be seven returning starters on defense. On offense, Dalton will use a spread formation, even though that’s not really who they are, but for the first time, the offensive line will have five returning seniors. Jahmyr Gibbs is the No. 9 running back in the country—he has just committed to Georgia Tech. All the wide receivers aren’t yet dependable—they can throw but they don’t always catch. Sixty percent of this year’s team will be different from last year, partly due to drop-outs by players who lose confidence in their ability to meet high expectations, especially from super-critical parents. Last year’s loss and disappointing elimination from the playoffs was, however, due to lack of staff leadership, and in that light Dalton has held leadership courses for both coaches and players and will build a player-led team, emphasizing accountability.
Coach Caleb Bagley of Coahulla Creek High School believes that this will be the year his program turns the corner and becomes truly competitive. They have had a good summer and good scrimmages. Their numbers are up—they dressed out 76 for a scrimmage with perennially winner South Pittsburg, for which 85 tried out. The squad has more than thirty seniors, and of seventeen starters, all but one have played for three years. They have come a long way, but there’s still a long way to go. After graduating three starters, the defense lacks experience. On the other hand, there’s competition for open spots, and the offense is returning four of five starters. All of the long-time players have grown both physically and mentally, and the seniors, who’ve been through a lot, want to be the class that breaks away from the string of losing seasons.
Coach Jay Poag of Christian Heritage High School said that his school’s watchword is “excitement.” With the start of the school year a hundred new families have become part of its community. He and his staff stress that the important thing for these players is not the next four years but the next forty. Last year was a good one, especially since Christian Heritage is the smallest school in the state that plays intervarsity football. During the off-season they have done a lot of 7 on 7 scrimmaging, and they have continued their practice of taking the team to other cities to see different kinds of football—last week they went to Birmingham, and they also had a scrimmage with Baylor. This year they will have eighteen returning starters, nine on each side of the ball, but they will have to find new quarterbacks to replace those who graduated. He feels good about the offensive line, who have been together for three years and have grown physically. The defense also looks good, with nearly everyone coming back. And the team has one of the best kickers in the country; Joe Dixon has been ranked 99th nationally and among the top ten statewide. The team generally is in good shape, but they must not be complacent.
Heath Patterson thanked the coaches for their work which, as he reminded everyone, is done not for themselves but for their players and their schools.
Soccer at Dalton High School
At the August 6th meeting, Rotarian Larry Tripp introduced Matt Cheaves, Soccer Coach at Dalton High School, who has built his program over the last 25 years from scratch to a national championship. Coach Cheaves related that he grew up in Florida and attended Florida State University for a year before transferring to Clayton State College in Morrow, Georgia. Unsure that he and college were a match, he wanted to quit but was saved by a decision to play club soccer. Somewhat to his surprise he was named team captain, and at the end of the year he was asked to work in a summer sports program. After transferring to West Georgia and completing the teacher education requirements, he was invited to interview for a position at Dalton High, where he quickly saw the possibilities for building a great soccer program and where he has remained ever since.
Coach Matt Cheaves
Coach Cheaves pointed out that soccer differs from other sports in that club and high school coaches get along well rather than seeing each other as rivals in competition for good players. Also, soccer in the U.S. is a rapidly growing sport as more professional soccer teams are established and even minor league programs are organized. Moreover, soccer has the appeal of non-stop action; there are no time-outs and coaching decisions must be made in advance of play, thus requiring a keen sense of strategy.
At Dalton High, expectations are high and the coaching staff wants players to have all the opportunities they can get. This means that education must have the highest priority, and a positive attitude is demanded from everyone. The team’s motto is fourfold: Faith, Family, School, and Team. There must be a strong work ethic and superior physical conditioning—exhaustion is “the Beast,” a challenge to be tamed and overcome. Players are to remember that they represent Dalton High both on and off the field and that working with both sides of their brains—emotional and logical—is vital for effective competition.
Dalton High is distinguished from other schools in that it plays a traditional game, relying on a diamond defense rather than a straight-line, flat-back type. The team plays defensively, but its mantra is “attack,” which is much more fun to watch. As a community, Dalton has a long tradition of vigorous support for its sports programs, and Dalton High soccer has benefited from this. Notably, it was one of the first teams to be largely Hispanic in its composition.
Coach Cheaves summarized the program’s history for the 1978-2019 period, during which Dalton High compiled a record of 536-98-22 and made the state play-offs in 19 successive years. It made the quarter-finals in 15 of the last 19 years, achieved 20 region championships, and won five state championships—in 2003, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2019. Since 2013 its record has been 118-7-3, and it went undefeated from 2012-2013 to 2014-2015—the second longest winning streak in the country. In 2015 Dalton was ranked first in the country by the Soccer Coaches Association. The 2018-2019 season was truly outstanding, with an undefeated Dalton outscoring its opponents 118 to 48 and compiling 23 wins--more than any other Dalton High soccer team. It competed against three state champions and was ranked No. 1 nationally by USA Today and the TopDrawer organization. Among the many individual honors was that accorded to Omar Hernandez as National Player of the Year.
For 2019-2020, the team will be small but talented and competitive, and the focus will continue to be on attacking. All the local high schools have great players, which encourages everybody to strive for excellence. After Coach Cheaves finished, President Amanda quoted a reminder from legendary Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant: “It’s not the will to win that matters. Everybody has that. It’s the will to prepare to win.”
Announcements and a Recognition
A Correction: The Bulletin distributed on July 30 described Adam Tee as the Club’s GRSP student for the coming year and Anna To as sponsored by the Carpet City and several other clubs. This should be reversed; Anna is sponsored by our club and Adam will be supported by the Carpet City club and clubs in Calhoun, Summerville-Trion, and Ringgold. He will also be welcome to have lunch as our club’s guest whenever he chooses to visit us.
President-Elect Smitty Barnett requested volunteers to help give Anna a well-rounded experience of life in Dalton by inviting her to social and sports events, family gatherings, etc. during the coming year. Past President John Richmond asked for a list of people willing to provide Anna with rides and other routine assistance. President Amanda mentioned that Anna will present the program at the meeting on August 22 and will be welcomed at a social occasion, probably on August 29.
Past President Jason Parker introduced District 6910 Governor-Elect Tina Fischlein, a member of the Rotary Club of Putnam County, who was visiting as a guest.
|
August 6th2019
This Week:
Dalton Catamount Soccer
Coach Matt Cheaves
Upcoming Meetings:
August 12th (MONDAY)
Annual Football Program
(with Kiwanis)
Dalton Trade and Convention Center
August 20th:
Accountability Courts
Judges Minter, Morris, and Wilbanks
|
Healthcare ReformPartially or Completely Unconstitutional?
by John Hutcheson
President Amanda introduced Michele Madison, a leading healthcare attorney and partner in the Atlanta firm of Morris, Manning & Martin, where she provides general legal advice to health systems on various regulatory and business matters. She also works with information technology companies and has specific experience negotiating contractual agreements between healthcare providers and service vendors as well as advising clients on compliance with regulations and industry standards. Since 2013 she has been listed among The Best Lawyers in America as a top lawyer for Healthcare Law, and she holds many other professional accolades from state and national publications and ranking services. She graduated cum laude in business administration from the University of Georgia, where she also completed law school, and locally she is legal consultant to HealthOne Alliance and Alliant Health Plans.
Michelle Madison
Touching on a host of complex legal issues, Michele addressed constitutional questions raised by passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 and related court decisions since then, especially NFIB v. Sebelius (2012) in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Congress’s power to enact most provisions of the ACA. These included a requirement for nearly all Americans to have health insurance by 2014 (the so-called “individual mandate”), and this point has been the focus of subsequent arguments about healthcare reform. Key provisions of the ACA such as coverage of pre-existing conditions and of healthcare for dependents under age 26 were to be supported by universal premiums paid under the individual mandate. Because the Supreme Court ruled that the premiums functioned as a tax rather than a penalty, this part of the ACA was deemed constitutional, although another provision, requiring states to expand their Medicare programs, was not.
In 2017, the Trump Administration’s Tax Cut and Jobs Act removed the requirement that all Americans buy health insurance, reducing the penalty for not doing so to zero and thereby eliminating the tax determined by the Sebelius decision. In 2018, twenty states with Republican administrations sued the Federal government, claiming that since the tax no longer existed, neither did the basis for the ACA’s constitutionality. Democratic states intervened and contended that the individual mandate could be severed from the rest of the ACA. However, in December, 2018, a U S. District Court in Texas held that the individual mandate is not severable and the ACA is therefore unconstitutional in its entirety.
The Texas case has now gone to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, where it will be heard by a panel of three judges, composed of two Republican appointees and one Democrat, who must decide on three issues: (1) whether the parties have standing to appeal; (2) whether the individual mandate is constitutional; and (3) if the individual mandate is unconstitutional, whether it can be severed from the rest of the ACA or is the whole ACA unconstitutional. Currently the appeals judges appear to lean toward declaring the individual mandate unconstitutional, but the rest of the law is likely to be discussed in the light of Congressional intent. Does such intent apply to the whole ACA? If so, why was the law not simply repealed? If not, what parts would be allowed to remain in place? Whatever the Circuit Court’s decision, it could easily be appealed to a Supreme Court now composed differently from that of 2012, and it would arrive there in a highly charged political atmosphere just before or just after the general election of 2020. Until then, nothing is likely to change.
Announcements and Recognitions
Following a prayer offered by Darby Gooding, in an action postponed from last week President Amanda presented Darby with her Blue Badge. She also thanked Past President Bill Bowen for arranging the excellent program by Ed Tonores. President-Elect Smitty Barnett welcomed Adam Tee, the Club’s GRSP student for the coming academic year, whose sister, Krystal, was sponsored by the Club several years ago. Smitty noted that following today’s meeting he would leave for Atlanta to pick up Anna To, another GRSP student receiving Club support. Past President John Richmond announced that a reception for Adam and Anna will be held on Friday, August 2, at Los Pablos restaurant. Past President David Aft reported that last Friday’s Rotary concert at Burr Park had attracted over 1,000 people, many of whom also patronized downtown restaurants and other establishments. This week’s concert will feature entirely local talent and provide another chance to spotlight Greater Dalton as a premier music venue.
President Amanda reminded members that the Club will not meet on Tuesday, August 13, joining instead with the Kiwanis Club on Monday, August 12, for the annual high school football preview.
|
Healthcare Reform: Partially Or Completely Unconstitutional?by John Hutcheson
President Amanda introduced Michele Madison, a leading healthcare attorney and partner in the Atlanta firm of Morris, Manning & Martin, where she provides general legal advice to health systems on various regulatory and business matters. She also works with information technology companies and has specific experience negotiating contractual agreements between healthcare providers and service vendors as well as advising clients on compliance with regulations and industry standards. Since 2013 she has been listed among The Best Lawyers in America as a top lawyer for Healthcare Law, and she holds many other professional accolades from state and national publications and ranking services. She graduated cum laude in business administration from the University of Georgia, where she also completed law school, and locally she is legal consultant to HealthOne Alliance and Alliant Health Plans.
Touching on a host of complex legal issues, Michele addressed constitutional questions raised by passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 and related court decisions since then, especially NFIB v. Sebelius (2012) in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Congress’s power to enact most provisions of the ACA. These included a requirement for nearly all Americans to have health insurance by 2014 (the so-called “individual mandate”), and this point has been the focus of subsequent arguments about healthcare reform. Key provisions of the ACA such as coverage of pre-existing conditions and of healthcare for dependents under age 26 were to be supported by universal premiums paid under the individual mandate. Because the Supreme Court ruled that the premiums functioned as a tax rather than a penalty, this part of the ACA was deemed constitutional, although another provision, requiring states to expand their Medicare programs, was not.
In 2017, the Trump Administration’s Tax Cut and Jobs Act removed the requirement that all Americans buy health insurance, reducing the penalty for not doing so to zero and thereby eliminating the tax determined by the Sebelius decision. In 2018, twenty states with Republican administrations sued the Federal government, claiming that since the tax no longer existed, neither did the basis for the ACA’s constitutionality. Democratic states intervened and contended that the individual mandate could be severed from the rest of the ACA. However, in December, 2018, a U S. District Court in Texas held that the individual mandate is not severable and the ACA is therefore unconstitutional in its entirety.
The Texas case has now gone to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, where it will be heard by a panel of three judges, composed of two Republican appointees and one Democrat, who must decide on three issues: (1) whether the parties have standing to appeal; (2) whether the individual mandate is constitutional; and (3) if the individual mandate is unconstitutional, whether it can be severed from the rest of the ACA or is the whole ACA unconstitutional. Currently, the appeals judges appear to lean toward declaring the individual mandate unconstitutional, but the rest of the law is likely to be discussed in the light of Congressional intent. Does such intent apply to the whole ACA? If so, why was the law not simply repealed? If not, what parts would be allowed to remain in place? Whatever the Circuit Court’s decision, it could easily be appealed to a Supreme Court now composed differently from that of 2012, and it would arrive there in a highly charged political atmosphere just before or just after the general election of 2020. Until then, nothing is likely to change.
Announcements and Recognitions
Following a prayer offered by Darby Gooding, in an action postponed from last week President Amanda presented Darby with her Blue Badge. She also thanked Past President Bill Bowen for arranging the excellent program by Ed Tonores. President-Elect Smitty Barnett welcomed Adam Tee, the Club’s GRSP student for the coming academic year, whose sister, Krystal, was sponsored by the Club several years ago. Smitty noted that following today’s meeting he would leave for Atlanta to pick up Anna To, another GRSP student receiving Club support. Past President John Richmond announced that a reception for Adam and Anna will be held on Friday, August 2, at Los Pablos restaurant. Past President David Aft reported that last Friday’s Rotary concert at Burr Park had attracted over 1,000 people, many of whom also patronized downtown restaurants and other establishments. This week’s concert will feature entirely local talent and provide another chance to spotlight Greater Dalton as a premier music venue.
President Amanda reminded members that the Club will not meet on Tuesday, August 13, joining instead with the Kiwanis Club on Monday, August 12, for the annual high school football preview.
|
|
August 6th, 2019
This Week:
Dalton Catamount Soccer
Coach Matt Cheaves
Upcoming Meetings:
August 12th (MONDAY):
Annual Football Program
(With Kiwanis)
August 20th:
Accountability Courts
Judges Minter, Morris, and Wilbanks
|
August 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
7-Aug |
|
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
8-Aug |
|
|
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
10-Aug |
|
|
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Satterfield, Kayanne (KAYANNE) |
Satterfield, Bruce A. |
9-Aug |
|
| Smith, Sandra |
Smith, Ralph |
11-Aug |
|
| Laugahter, Ben |
Laughter, R Lynette |
11-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
Bennieta |
6-Aug |
64 |
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
Lamar |
7-Aug |
54 |
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
Gretchen |
8-Aug |
33 |
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
Tammy |
10-Aug |
34 |
|
The Greatest Fall Of AllLiving a Dream: An Odyssey Through The Greatest Fall of All
by John Hutcheson
Past President Bill Bowen introduced Ed Tonore of Fairhope, Alabama, who set out in 2017 to pay tribute to the 20th anniversary of his father’s death by attending the country’s highest rated college football game every weekend for an entire season. A native of Monroe, Louisiana, Ed grew up in Baton Rouge and is a passionate fan of Louisiana State University, although his undergraduate degree is from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond and his law degree is from Mississippi College. After practicing law in Jackson, Mississippi for seventeen years, in 1997 he retired to devote his full time to Southern Heritage, a fund-raising company he started in 1982 to provide products for schools and churches to sell as money-raisers and which now works with over 900 high schools, middle schools, and churches in all the southern states.
Ed Tonore
In 2018 Ed published The Greatest Fall of All, a book based on the blogs he wrote as he and his wife, Jennifer, worked their way through the top college games of the 2017 season. College, football, he believes, is rivaled only by international soccer in the intensity of fan devotion it generates, but it is unmatched in its pageantry, richness of school traditions, and totality of experience. Illustrating his remarks with numerous examples and stories, Ed recounted how his blog went from 35 to 5,000 followers, including some of the most prominent names in college football and its reporters. As his project became more widely known, he was interviewed by Sports Illustrated and a host of local radio stations. He was also welcomed by fans of all kinds, from whom he gathered a multitude of new friends and invitations to tailgate parties. In addition to attending games, he and his wife made it a point to visit the most popular restaurants in college towns, where he learned much about college traditions of which he’d previously been only vaguely aware or totally ignorant. Many of these establishments shared recipes for their signature dishes, some of which he later included as a bonus supplement in his book.
Although he pulled for the home team at any game he attended (unless they were playing LSU or the home team was Alabama) his loyalty to the Tigers remains undiluted—he has attended LSU games 62 years in a row. He has accumulated more than 800 books on college football, probably the world’s greatest library on the subject.
After summarizing several of the games he saw during his sojourn, including the Auburn-Alabama Iron Bowl, the Army-Navy game, the Rose Bowl with Georgia and Oklahoma, and the national championship contest in which Alabama edged Georgia in double overtime, Ed reflected on some superlatives. For most exciting game, there was a tie between the Iron Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the championship final.. Historically, the loudest stadium was consistently at LSU, where Tiger Stadium used to be one of the very few locations for night games and thus hosted crowds well lubricated by consumption of adult beverages during the previous day, but now the Iron Bowl is a strong contender for the distinction of noisiest venue. As for the best tailgating food, the Midwest and its apparent incapacity to offer anything but different kinds of bratwurst was easily eliminated. The food at games featuring Georgia, Auburn, or Alabama was good, but the best was at LSU games, where the glories of South Louisiana cuisine were not only abundant but were actually cooked on site. A special case involved the Penn State/ Michigan game at State College, Pennsylvania, where Ed became friends with Bill Kohl, owner of Greenwood Hospitality Group which manages high-end hotels and restaurants across the country; there he ended up with tailgate food fit for a gourmet along with premium lodging and game seats. His best weekend overall was that of the Notre Dame/North Carolina State game in South Bend, where the Notre Dame staff made Ed and his blog a prime attraction in its own right.
His incredible array of memories notwithstanding, for Ed the most important take-away from his Greatest Fall was a message of hope. Wherever he went, he met great people of all kinds, and despite the negativity of so much of the daily news, it’s important to remember that what makes a country is its people, and his experiences showed him that the United States is the greatest country because it has the greatest people. Moreover, everyone has a story and a unique perspective deserving to be heard. Finally, if you have a bucket list, dream list, wish list, or whatever—“just do it!” Take a leap of faith and trust that in the end, all will be well.
A Poll on Sports
Setting the mood for a meeting about sports, President Amanda conducted an electronic poll of members about their favorite college teams and other sporting matters. Among those present, the University of Georgia dominated by far, at 61%, followed significantly but distantly by Georgia Tech, Auburn University and the University of Alabama. When UGA was omitted from the mix, the greatest support went to Georgia Tech at 31% and Auburn and Alabama at 20% each. Somewhat surprisingly, baseball/softball tied with football as the favorite sport to watch or play. In any event, members indicated that parents, grandparents, and friends—but not siblings—were most influential in imparting a love of sports. Finally, as a lead-in to the announced program, members were asked whether they had made a list of dreams or goals to be fulfilled before the end of life—i.e., a “bucket list.” Only 29% had done so, leaving 71% who had not.
|
July 30th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| McDonald, David L (DAVID) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Robertson, Cherri |
Robertson, Ricky N |
2-Aug |
|
| Chandler, Susan |
Chandler, Robert M. |
4-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
8/1/1994 |
25 |
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
8/1/1988 |
31 |
|
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
8/1/1967 |
52 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
Noel |
30-Jul |
52 |
|
|
July 30th, 2019
This Week:
ACA & The Courts
Michele Madison
Upcoming Meetings:
August 6th:
Dalton Catamount Soccer
Coach Matt Cheaves
August 12th (MONDAY):
Annual Football Program
(With Kiwanis)
August 20th:
Accountability Courts
Judges Minter, Morris, and Wilbanks
|
July 23rd, 2019This Week:
The Greatest Fall Of All
Ed Tonore
Upcoming Meetings;
July 30th:
ACA & The Courts
Michele Madison
August 6th:
Dalton Catamount Soccer
Coach Matt Cheaves
August 12th (MONDAY)
Annual Football Program
(With Kiwanis)
August 20th:
Accountability Courts
Judges Minter, Morris, and Wilbanks
|
July 23rdThis Week:
The Greatest Fall Of All
Ed Tonore
Upcoming Meetings:
July 30th:
ACA & The Courts
Michele Madison
August 6th:
Dalton Catamount Soccer
Coach Matt Cheaves
August 12th (MONDAY):
Annual Football Program
(with the Kiwanis Club)
August 20th:
Accountability Courts
Judges Minter, Morris, and Wilbanks
|
Georgia's JudiciaryAn Overview with Supreme Court Justice Charles Bethel
by John Hutcheson
Observing that legal issues frequently come down to a matter of what is right vs. what is not, President Amanda noted that the appropriate color scheme for today’s program was black and white, but she also pointed out that the ultimate goal of the judicial system is to ensure that justice is done. As a reminder of this, each table had a folded card printed with the Latin motto engraved on the wall behind the bench of the Supreme Court of Georgia—“Fiat justitia ruat caelum”—and its English translation, “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.” She then called on Justice Charles Bethel—still “Charlie” to those who watched him grow up here in Dalton—and on behalf of the Club presented him with a T-shirt bearing a likeness of U. S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. To preserve Rotary’s policy of political neutrality, she then revealed that she was wearing a matching shirt with an image of the late Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice Ginsburg’s philosophical opposite but also one of her closest friends.
 
President Amanda and Justice Charlie Bethel
Charlie graduated from Dalton High School in 1994 and attended the University of Georgia, earning the BBA degree in 1998 and his JD law degree in 2001. Following his formal education, he served as a law clerk on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia for Justice Charles A. Pannell, Jr. before returning home to Northwest Georgia. He practiced law in Dalton with Minor Bell & Neal and then spent over a decade in the flooring industry in executive and legal capacities at J&J Industries.
Responding to a call for public service, Charlie was twice elected to serve as an Alderman for the City of Dalton. Thereafter, he was elected four times to serve in the Georgia State Senate, where he carried legislation on a broad array of topics. Among the high points of his legislative service he counts his successful carriage of comprehensive juvenile justice reform legislation and autism insurance reform legislation. On November 9, 2016, the day following election to his fourth Senate term. Charlie was appointed to be a Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals by Governor Nathan Deal, assuming the seat of Michael P. Boggs who was appointed to the Supreme Court, for a term that would have ended on December 31, 2018. On September 14, 2018, Governor Deal appointed Charlie to the Supreme Court to fill the seat vacated by the retirement of Harris Hines. He was sworn into office on October 2, 2018.
Charlie and his wife, Lynsey, have three children; Henry, Jeb, and Joanna. Lynsey earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia, and the Bethel family attends the First Baptist Church of Dalton. Charlie is active in the community, having served in various leadership positions with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, United Way, and the Dalton Rotary Club among others. He has also served as a volunteer coach for many seasons in various youth sports for the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department.
Charlie began by saying how glad he was to be back in Dalton, and he extended special thanks to local Judges Boyett, Partain, Minter, and Blevins, in whose courts, he said, most judicial work really gets done. He then went on to provide a “snapshot” of the judicial branch of Georgia’s government, which has a current budget of $27.2 million out of a total state budget of $22.8 billion. This is supplemented by local judicial budgets, with the lion’s share of the total going to the Superior Courts and prosecuting attorneys. On average the Superior Courts handle about 1,700 cases per year, with local courts having much heavier loads. The Court of Appeals has about 3,100 cases each year and the Supreme Court has about 300. (By contrast, the U. S. Supreme Court only considers about 70 cases per year.)
Prior to 1830, Georgia only had Superior Courts, organized in eight circuits. There was no uniformity until the establishment of a Supreme Court in 1845. In 1906 an intermediate Appeals Court was created, but without agreed procedures for determining what cases went where, much conflict existed between judges and lawyers, and the State Constitution was not a clear guide. Most of these problems were resolved by a reform of the appellate system in 2017, which stated among other things that cases involving equity or murder would have direct appeal.
The appellate courts function as a “replay booth” for the judicial system. There are no trials or juries; a panel of judges reviews actions of the lower courts, with each judge being responsible for guiding a quota of cases. To prevent inordinate delays, the Constitution requires that a case must be disposed within two court terms, or roughly eight months. In Charlie’s own office, cases are first quickly surveyed and then assigned to staff members for further study. An oral argument may be scheduled if necessary or requested, but oral arguments are not used in the appellate courts themselves.
Looking toward the future, there is a statewide trend toward the use of accountability courts to avoid appellate court delays, especially in cases involving dependent children—an area of intensifying urgency. In 2010 Georgia saw 12,000 children removed from homes by court order; by 2018 this had increased to 17,000. Over the same period, the number of children in foster care doubled from 7,000+ to 14,000+, aggravated by a great shortage of certified foster homes.
Replying to a question, Charlie noted that Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges are not appointed for life but are elected for six-year terms.
Announcements
President Amanda announced that Pat Chute has, with deep regret, resigned from the Club in order to return to her permanent home in Marietta and care for her husband, who has been seriously ill since the beginning of this year. She also extended the Club’s condolences to the family of Jeff Myers on the recent death of his father, which has come a short time after the passing of his mother. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead presented the Club budget for 2019-2020, previously accepted by the Board, for consideration by the general membership. The budget was unanimously approved by voice vote.
|
July 23rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
29-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
Virginia |
28-Jul |
63 |
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
Delle |
28-Jul |
57 |
|
Getting To Know OurselvesAnd Setting Goals for the Coming Year
by John Hutcheson
To lay foundations for the Club’s activities in 2019-2020 on the theme of “Rotary Connects the World,” President Amanda made an informative and entertaining use of polling software to ask everyone a series of questions about themselves and their values and to inform them about plans and goals for the upcoming year, Ice-breaking questions dealt with favorite athletic teams, unusual jobs once held but known to few others, and changes that might be made if one had more personal time in life. Concerning the Club, the poll asked for a one-word description; answers included “old,” “fun,” “awesome,” and “active,” with “caring,” “welcoming,” and “friendly,” having the strongest support. To the question of how a visitor might describe the Club in terms of dog types, the most popular response by far was as a golden retriever, connoting warmth and friendliness. When asked how they would like the Club to be described, members replied “young,” “diverse” (the most emphatic answer), “active,” “engaged,” “impactful.” “energetic,” “reliable,” “relevant,” and “inclusive.” Given the choice of one service project to stress, many members spoke in favor of the Wounded Warriors organization, but tutoring and mentoring youth, feeding the hungry, and building housing for the homeless also had much support. Asked a similar question about having the power to choose a disease to cure, most responders selected either Alzheimer’s or mental illness, although cancer wasn’t neglected.
Another series of questions asked whether it is better to be kind or right in particular situations, and members agreed that in general it is better to be kind, In sports, however, it is better to be right, and the same applies to judges in courts of law. Kindness should be extended to those asking for adoration of their baby, even when the child is less than attractive, and it also should shape audience response to a Rotary meeting speaker, whether actually deserved or not.
The Club’s goals for the next year will center on participation, public image expansion, and paving the way toward greater inclusiveness and commitment to Rotary. At the most basic level, participation entails regular attendance at meetings, but it can also involve planning and presenting programs and attendance at the annual District Conference. Expanding the Club’s public image means strengthening members’ Rotary identification in the wider community (Rotary-branded shirts and other Rotary “swag” would be useful in this respect), whether through direct service, attributed giving, or on social media. Finally, paving the way calls for continuing such activities as attending Rotary Leadership Institutes and encouraging youth development, but also for new initiatives such as Fifth Thursday functions directed toward targeted groups of potential recruits or others—spouses, for example—who are simply part of Rotary’s extended family.
President Amanda’s presentation ended with an overview of what to expect in next year’s program schedule, with each month focused on a specific theme while also maintaining our traditional events such as the high school football survey, the annual visit from the District Governor (set for November this year), honoring First Responders, and the fifth-grade student recognition and graduating seniors scholarship programs. By the request of numerous members there will be fewer programs about non-profit organizations; most of the local ones have been described to the Club fairly recently, and the month of February, with “Heart of Rotary” as its theme, has been set aside for NPO updates or new presentations rather than scattering them through the year..
Dixie Kinard has suggested presenting an inspirational quotation at each meeting, and as the meeting closed, she presented a quotation selected by President Amanda from President Woodrow Wilson which sums up Rotary’s mission:
“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”
A New Rotary Year Begins
After calling the meeting to order for her first time as Club President, Amanda Reed called on Judson Manly, who introduced the Rev. Terry Fleming, newly appointed Senior Minister of Dalton First United Methodist Church. She also extended the Club’s condolences to Scott Delay on the recent death of his grandfather. President-Elect Smitty Barnett recognized Deborah Conway and Richie Watson, who were unable to attend the induction program on June 18, as Paul Harris Fellows. He also gave special recognition to Past President John Richmond for his extraordinary contributions to Rotary, including achievement of Paul Harris + 4 standing.
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Paul Harris Fellows and John Richmond
President Amanda brought her predecessor, Greg Dent, to the podium, noting that he is now a Past President and thanking him for his service. She presented him with a Past President’s pin, badge, and plaque bearing his gavel. Members responded with a standing ovation.
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The Passing of the Gavel
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July 16th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Hutcheson, John A. Jr. (JOHN) |
18-Jul |
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| Ridley, Rusty (RUSTY) |
19-Jul |
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| Smith, Ralph (RALPH) |
20-Jul |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Tharpe, Julie |
Tharpe, Henry C. |
22-Jul |
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| Bundros, Laura |
Bundros, Thomas A |
22-Jul |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
7/19/2016 |
3 |
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| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
7/19/2016 |
3 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
Annelle |
17-Jul |
19 |
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
Vinai |
20-Jul |
43 |
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
Carla |
21-Jul |
18 |
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July 16th, 2019This Week:
Supreme Court of Georgia
Justice Charlie Bethel
Upcoming Meetings:
July 23rd
The Greatest Fall Of All
Ed Tonore
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July 16th
This Week:
Supreme Court of Geogia
Justice Charlie Bethel
July 23rd
The Greatest Fall Of All
Ed Tonore
July 30th
TBA
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July 8th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Neal, John P. III (JOHN) |
9-Jul |
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| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
10-Jul |
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| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
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| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
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| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
14-Jul |
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| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
14-Jul |
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| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
14-Jul |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Hunt, Dana |
Hunt, Russell T |
10-Jul |
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| Kinard, Bob |
Kinard, Dixie |
13-Jul |
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| Townsend, Teresa |
Townsend, Patrick J. |
15-Jul |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
7/10/2007 |
12 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
Donna |
11-Jul |
49 |
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
Carole |
15-Jul |
24 |
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
Terri |
15-Jul |
47 |
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
Marilyn |
15-Jul |
52 |
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July 8th, 2019
This Week:
New Rotary Year
Amanda Reed
Upcoming Meetings:
July 16th
Supreme Court of Georgia
Justice Charlie Bethel
July 23rd
The Greatest Fall Of All
Ed Tonore
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President Greg Looks Back At His Presidential Yearby John Hutcheson
Noting that the Club will not meet on July 2 because of the Country Club’s closure during the week of July Fourth, President Greg announced that he would pass the presidential pin and gavel to President-Elect Amanda Reed at the meeting on July 9. Before doing so, however, he wanted to look back briefly at his own term.
President Greg
He has thoroughly enjoyed serving, and he is gratified by the progress the Club has made toward the three goals he set out a year ago:
1. Achieving recognition from RI as a Gold Level Club. For this he is especially grateful to former member and Club Administration Chair Chris Cooke, who has since moved from the Dalton area, and for the supportive work of the entire Board, whom he introduced individually.
2. Focusing on the quality and diversity of our membership. . Currently the Club is 76% male and 24% female, with 50% of the membership over 60 years old and 26% on the roster for more than 20 years. While our recruitment efforts have intensified, we still have much to do if we are to incorporate upcoming community leaders and broaden our numbers beyond the older white men who still comprise the majority by inducting more women, Latinos, African-Americans, and others who will help the Club reflect the diversity of Dalton itself.
3. Having fun. As in the past, the track meet and golf tournament have served effectively as occasions for fellowship as well as for other purposes, and R & R events such as the Family of Rotary gatherings have a strong social dimension along with their use as recruiting tools. Our weekly programs have been good and, significantly, have almost all ended on time.
In addition, we have now become a 100% Paul Harris Club, thanks to the tireless work of Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett, and we achieved this without relying on a wealthy benefactor—a rare accomplishment.
Greg extended particularly hearty thanks to Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead, whom he called “the glue that holds the Club together.” He also expressed his gratitude to the Dalton Golf and Country Club, particularly Events Coordinator Baylee Cudd, and he asked members of the kitchen staff and servers to appear and be specially recognized. In closing, Greg asked each Rotarian to set their own personal Rotary goals for the coming year, whether that be better attendance, qualification as a Will Watt Fellow, expanded community service, or whatever might be most appropriate. At the end of his remarks he received a standing ovation.
An Historic Milestone: All Members Are Now Paul Harris Fellows
Culminating an effort extending over more than two years, the Rotary Club of Dalton has finally qualified as a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club, duly recognized by the Rotary Foundation. That announcement and recognitions of the Club's latest Paul Harris Fellows were made at the June 18th meeting. This means that everyone in the Club is credited with having contributed at least $1,000 to the Foundation, either directly or on their behalf by the Club or by members donating their own surplus qualifying points. Once made, the distinction is permanent, and new members will, of course, be encouraged to become Paul Harris Fellows as soon as possible following their initial year of Club membership.
Foundation Chair and Presidential Nominee Smitty Barnett demonstrated the Paul Harris Fellow program’s continuity of Rotary’s traditions of service to others and fulfilment of community needs by displaying the Paul Harris Certificate given in 1979 to Albert C. Farrow of the Rotary Club of Camden, New Jersey, whose son, Stephen Farrow, is becoming a Paul Harris Fellow today. After reviewing the history of the program and its relationship to the Rotary Foundation, Smitty then introduced the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellows, whom he divided into four groups for ease of presentation.
Our New Paul Harris Fellows
The first group included Anna Adamson, Valarie Brantley Alex Brown, Carl Campbell, and Scott Delay. Not present were Deborah Conway and Celeste Creswell.
Included in the second group were Jason Denson, Stephen Farrow, Kristie Gazaway, Darby Gooding, Miller Jones, Janice Kiker, Sandy McKenzie, and John Minor V. Not present was Scott Minter.
The third group included Kim Mixer, Mark Mixer, Patricia Mooney, Brad Norris, Todd Pangle, Chuck Payne, Rusty Ridley, and Cherri Robertson.
In the fourth group were Ricky Robertson, Tim Scott, Patrick Townsend, Larry Tripp, and Adam Ware. Not present were Clark Smith, Ralph Smith, and Richie Watson.
Smitty concluded by reading a letter of thanks from the Rotary Foundation and presenting President Greg with the 100% Membership banner.
President Greg called on Ricky Robertson, who read thank-you letters written to the Club by this year’s RYLA students, Reese Brown, Sarah Jane Halyak, Abbie Burt, and Alex Defalco.
At the June 25th meeting, President-Nominee Smitty Barnett recognized Pat Chute, Celeste Creswell, Vallarie Pratt, and Scott Minter, who were unable to attend the June 18th induction program.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Greg read a letter of thanks from Abby Crossen, this year’s Outstanding Humanities Student from Northwest Whitfield High School. Past President John Richmond announced that Kayanne and Bruce Satterfield have become the Club’s newest Will Watt Fellows in thanks for their service as hosts for the Club’s GRSP student, Gustav Dalsgaard-Hansen, during the past year.
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June 18th
2019
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June 18th, 2019This Week:
Paul Harris Fellows
Upcoming Meetings:
June 25th
Year-End Wrap Up
July 2
NO MEETING
Club Closed
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June 18, 2019
This Week:
Paul Harris Fellows
Upcoming Meetings:
June 25th:
Year-End Wrap Up
July 2nd:
NO MEETING
(Club Closed)
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June 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
21-Jun |
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| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
21-Jun |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Combs, Donna |
Combs, William Dan |
24-Jun |
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| Neal, Terri |
Neal, John P. III |
24-Jun |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
6/20/2006 |
13 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
Cathy |
19-Jun |
37 |
| Hunt, Russell T (RUSSELL) |
Dana |
19-Jun |
15 |
| Critides, Samuel D (SAM) |
Maricarmen |
20-Jun |
27 |
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
Melissa |
21-Jun |
16 |
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
Sally |
23-Jun |
43 |
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June 11th
2019
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Curricular Innovation at Northwest Georgia Collegeby John Hutcheson
David Moeller, CEO for Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy, spoke about recent modifications of his institution’s curriculum offerings, especially focusing on those which involve cybersecurity. With a mission centered on workforce development, NWGCCA continually reviews its array of more than 170 programs in the light of local needs and projections. Lately there has been an emphasis on courses of study in which successful completion is demonstrated by passage of a credentialing examination, leading directly to licensure, rather than by passage of a conventional final exam. As a result, during the last academic year over 270 students achieved licenses by this means, sometimes in multiple fields.
Although the health care and construction fields have had notable additions along these lines, some of the most striking and attractive expansion has been in the area of cybersecurity, where demand for qualified employees is exceptionally strong—during the coming year 313,000 cybersecurity openings are projected nationwide, with 1,700 in Georgia alone. At NWGCCA the success of the school’s robotics team in national competition has brought particular attention to the high quality of technological education available there.
David Moeller
One pillar of this excellence is a partnership with CyberPatriot, the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future. ?At the core of the program is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, the nation's largest cyber defense competition that puts high school and middle school students in charge of securing virtual networks. Participation helps make students hireable for building and maintaining networks for corporations and government agencies and protecting them from hacking. The program can work through any student organization whether concerned with cybernetics or not, and NWGCCA can provide coaches for local teams. (To attract more females into STEM fields, all-girl teams are exempted from entrance fees.) Competition is global in scope, using real-world scenarios and a scoring system based on the degree of security a team achieves. Teams are limited to six members each, and NWGCCA currently has five, with the nearest others located in Rome and Chattanooga.
David closed with a summary of NWGCCA’s partnerships with local secondary schools and Dalton State College, stressing the importance of starting workforce development during the high school or even middle school years; many European countries do so at age fifteen. In its cyber programs NWGCCA is working hard to stay ahead of the curve, aided by their expansion into a large space made available by removal of Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s programs to a new facility.
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Announcements and RecognitionsStanding in for President Greg, Past President Kevin Brunson called on Sandy McKenzie, Executive Vice President/COO for Hamilton Health Care System, who reminded the Club that next week’s meeting will be at the new Anna Sue Shaw Children’s Institute, with tours available from 12:00 to 1:00. Rotarians should arrive for lunch by 11:30, with parking available at the Brown Conference Center or in the lower parking lot.
Kevin mentioned that today’s meeting would be the last one attended by David Lightfoot, the Carpet City Rotary Club’s GRSP student, who will return to Scotland early next week. Rotarian Adam Ware, Director of the Bandy Heritage Center at Dalton State, noted that his facility is the official repository of the Club’s historical records, and he appealed for contributions of any relevant documents, photographs, or physical artifacts, especially those showing Rotary activities and projects. Adam was also presented with his Blue Badge by Past President Kevin.
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June 11th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Sanders, Drayton M II (DRAYTON) |
13-Jun |
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| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
14-Jun |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Barlow, Susan |
Barlow, Jonathan L |
11-Jun |
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| Little, Billie |
Little, William Norris Sr. |
13-Jun |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
Pamela |
11-Jun |
42 |
| McClure, Douglas E (DOUGLAS) |
Storm |
14-Jun |
16 |
| McDonald, David L (DAVID) |
Frances |
15-Jun |
50 |
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
Donna |
16-Jun |
46 |
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June 4th
2019
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Scholarship Awards Day 2019by John Hutcheson
One of the highlights of the Rotary year is the annual Scholarship Awards Day, when students selected by high schools in Dalton and Whitfield County are honored for their exceptional accomplishments in mathematics and the sciences, the humanities, career technology, and service. At this time the Club also recognizes students qualifying for its support to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp during the upcoming summer. Finally, a $500 scholarship is awarded to each participating school’s nominee as its outstanding student overall, and one of these is chosen by a committee of Club members to receive an additional $500 for truly superior achievement. This year’s scholarship committee consisted of Rotarians Jonathan Bledsoe (Chair), Rob Bradham, John Hutcheson, Douglas McClure, Judson Manley, Maurice Sponcler, and Barbara Ward.
The RYLA program provides a three-day leadership camp experience for rising high school juniors, held at the Tallulah Falls School in Northeast Georgia. The Rotary Club of Dalton sponsors scholarships for four students, and since other clubs were unable to fill their designated slots this year, the Dalton club will send an additional two alternate students. Presented by Barbara Ward, our 2019 RYLA participants include Sarah Jane Halyak from Dalton High School, Harmony Hammontree from Coahulla Creek High School, Alexandra Defalco from Coahulla Creek, Abbie Burt from Dalton, Reese Brown from Northwest Whitfield High School, and Gillian Vaughn from Northwest Whitfield.
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RYLA students
Jonathan opened the presentation of Outstanding Students by welcoming visiting family members and school personnel who were attending in support of their students, and he called on various committee members to announce the students and their schools.
Maurice Sponcler presented the Outstanding Math/Science Students:
Anna Grace Rann – Northwest Whitfield
Coda Blackwell – Coahulla Creek
Jasmin Herrara – Southeast Whitfield
Katherine Grace Anderson – Dalton
Katie Ray Jordan – Christian Heritage
John Hutcheson presented the Outstanding Humanities Students:
Abigail Crossen – Northwest Whitfield
Adam Sumilong – Coahulla Creek
Alex Garcia – Southeast Whitfield
Caroline Coleman – Dalton
Natalie Franklin – Christian Heritage
Rob Bradham presented the Outstanding Career Technology Students:
Brittany Adkins – Morris Innovative High School
Daisy Terrazas – Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy
Jordan Simmons – Northwest Whitfield
Leighann Summers – Southeast Whitfield
Paola Arredondo – Dalton
Douglas McClure presented the Outstanding Service Students:
Amanda Pratt – Coahulla Creek
Anayetzitl Avila – Morris Innovative High School
Catherine Duffy – Northwest Whitfield
Daniel Silverio – Southeast Whitfield
Jacqueline Bautista – Dalton
Rachel Lewis – Christian Heritage
Rosio Martinez – Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy
Jonathan Bledsoe returned to announce the nominees for overall Outstanding Area Student:
Will Duddleston – Christian Heritage
Olivia Mantooth – Coahulla Creek
Guadalupe Melgarejo – Southeast Whitfield
Anna Grace Rogers – Dalton
Anjelica Aguirre – Northwest Whitfield
Outstanding area students
From this highly competitive field Anna Grace Rogers was selected as the Rotary Outstanding Area Student for 2019. Plaques listing her and all other winners since the program’s beginning in 1989 will be displayed at Dalton High School during the coming year.
Anna Grace Rogers
Announcements
President Greg recognized Rotarian Doug McClure, who will be moving from Dalton to Augusta to assume a new posting with the Salvation Army, and he thanked Doug for his services to the Club and his inimitable sense of humor. Greg also announced that the Club would not meet on May 28 since the Dalton Country Club will be closed in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.
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June 4th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
30-May |
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| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
31-May |
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| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
1-Jun |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Morris, Sarah |
Brown, Alex C |
30-May |
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| Anderson, Adina |
Anderson, Michael S |
1-Jun |
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| Abernathy, Gretchen |
Abernathy, Melburn H. |
2-Jun |
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| Scott, Tonya |
Scott, Shaun E |
3-Jun |
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| Croft, Brian |
Croft, Michelle |
9-Jun |
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| Barlow, Susan |
Barlow, Jonathan L |
11-Jun |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
6/1/1985 |
34 |
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| Patterson, Frank W Jr.(FRANK) |
6/1/1995 |
24 |
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| Parrott, V DeForrest III(DEFORREST) |
6/1/1966 |
53 |
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| McDonald, David L (DAVID) |
6/7/2011 |
8 |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
Connie |
2-Jun |
46 |
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
Rebecca |
2-Jun |
33 |
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
Mary Lynn |
5-Jun |
15 |
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
Charlie |
6-Jun |
27 |
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
Agnes (AGGIE) |
7-Jun |
11 |
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
Brenda |
8-Jun |
56 |
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
Jimmy |
8-Jun |
34 |
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
Dianne |
10-Jun |
52 |
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
Pamela |
11-Jun |
42 |
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Upcoming Meetings - May 21Upcoming Meetings - May 21st
Upcoming Meetings - May 14
This Week:
May 21
Rotary Scholarships
Upcoming Meetings:
May 28
NO MEETING
(Club Closed)
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Upcoming Meetings This Week:
May 21
Rotary Scholarships
Upcoming:
May 28
NO MEETING
(Club Closed)
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Anna Shaw Institute TourIn lieu of its regular meeting on June 11, members of the Club were guests of the Hamilton Health Care System for lunch, after which they received a tour of the new Anna Shaw Children’s Institute. Dedicated to the memory of Anna Sue Shaw, the Institute is a regional leader of and an advocate for the care of children who experience the challenges of developmental delays. Built in the style of a treehouse and located in a serene environment adjacent to Hamilton Medical Center, in every detail the Institute has been carefully designed to provide an inviting, comfortable place for children and their families to receive diagnoses, treatment, therapy services, and support all under one roof.
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2019 Legislative Session Recapby John Hutcheson
Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce President Rob Bradham introduced State Senator Chuck Payne, noting that State Representative Kasey Carpenter could not be present because he was coordinating a lunch for 1.100 persons at a Hamilton Medical Center function. One of our Club’s members, Chuck was first elected in 2017 to represent the 54th Senate District following the appointment of his predecessor, Charlie Bethel, to the Georgia Court of Appeals. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, Ex-Officio of the Senate Public Safety Committee, Secretary of the Senate Finance Committee, Secretary of the Senate Higher Education Committee, and Secretary of the Senate State Institutions and Property Committee. He also serves as Chairman of the Finance Sub-Committee on issues pertaining to Ad Valorem Taxes. Chuck served four years (1984-1988) in the Army and the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Angie Sellers, and they were married in January of 1988. In that same year, they moved back to Dalton and Chuck began his 30-year career of public service to troubled youth and their families with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, from which he retired on October 31, 2016.
State Senator Chuck Payne
Chuck served as Chairman of the Whitfield County Republican Party throughout the years of 1997-2005 and 2013-2016. He was also elected to serve as Vice-Chair of both the GA-9th Congressional District Republican Party (2009) and the GA-14th District Republican Party (2010-2013). Throughout his volunteer efforts, “principle above politics” has remained his focus in building a consensus of conservative ideals and principles across North Georgia.
As Chuck and others predicted, working with a new Governor and new Lieutenant Governor meant that this year’s Session would be a time of adjustment, somewhat like a new marriage. Governor Kemp and Lt. Governor Duncan have proven to be directly approachable and very willing to hear all voices, thereby imparting a more open atmosphere than that of previous years. This began to be apparent even in the Special Session held in December, 2018 to provide assistance to areas in South and Central Georgia devastated by Hurricane Michael.
Touching on two of the most widely discussed issues of the regular Session, Chuck mentioned HB 481, the “heartbeat bill” prohibiting most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, for which both he and Representative Carpenter voted in favor. However, on HB 324, allowing in-state production of medical marijuana oil, Kasey voted in favor and Chuck voted in opposition because marijuana cultivation remains illegal under federal law and because he is still uncertain about the underlying science.
For Chuck the greatest highlight of the Session was his presentation of Senate Resolution 174, which recognized former Senator Dr. Don Thomas for his 58 years of public service. On that day Dr. Thomas was truly “the Hero of the Senate.”
Other measures of local significance included SB 43, which would have given Dalton Utilities and the City of Dalton authority to issue revenue bonds without holding a previous referendum on the matter. Although supported by both Chuck and Kasey, this failed in the House because of opposition from a local official, and in a subsequent response to a question Chuck reminded everyone that the State can only act when there is unanimous consent from affected county and/or city governments. Chuck and Kasey also supported appropriating funds to renovate Bandy Gymnasium, one of Dalton State’s oldest and least modernized facilities; while this did not make it into the Governor’s final budget, the amount of $800,000 was set aside for planning the project.
Chuck concluded by promising to remain approachable, and he sees the joy of service in being able to help people and communities. Fortunately, this constitutes about 70% of his work. The other 30% involves dealing with professional egos, but that’s often necessary to accomplish the first part.
In response to questions, Chuck said he doesn’t believe the “heartbeat bill” will cause the film industry to leave Georgia as some have feared; this hasn’t been the case in Florida. Regarding Medicare block grants, he noted that the General Assembly has given the Governor a great deal of leeway to work with federal officials. To a question about how the new abortion law might lead to an increase in the number of unwanted children who could become vulnerable to abuse, Chuck pointed to funding for mental health needs and to an awareness that foster care, now of epidemic proportions, needs to be reduced by establishing incentives which encourage adoption.
Tom Bundros, Dalton Utilities CEO, thanked Chuck for his leadership on the revenue bonds bill, promising to promote its reintroduction and passage in the 2020 Session.
Announcements and Recognitions
Sergeant-at-Arms Debra Conway proposed restoration of the Happy Dollars Jar, into which Club members will be invited to drop at least one dollar to call attention to special events, accomplishments, or other matters of personal significance. Funds collected in the jar will be donated to the Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust.
Acting on a Board proposal, President-Elect Amanda Reed nominated Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett as 2019-2020 President-Elect, to serve as President in 2020-2021. The nomination was unanimously approved by voice vote. Amanda also reminded members of the Family of Rotary event to be held on May 17 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the BB&T building, and she thanked BB&T and the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce for their help. Past President John Richmond reported briefly on the District 6910 Conference in Greenville, SC, where there were 422 registrants. The Richmonds were joined by Past Presidents Jason Parker and Bruce Satterfield and their wives, and our Club received Gold Level Certification. Past President Jason recognized Smitty Barnett for his work as Foundation Chair, pointing out that the Club’s giving now averages $100 per member and that over the years District 6910 has contributed more than $1.6 million to the Rotary Foundation.
Smitty Barnett and Jason Parker
Rotarian Adam Ware, Director of the Bandy Heritage Center at Dalton State College, announced that the Center is now the repository of record for the Rotary Club of Dalton, making it the primary recipient of the Club’s archives and other historical materials. He has already collected artifacts from Past Presidents Bill Weaver and Bill Bowen, including a group of old banners and awards and a Club roster for 1937, and he urged other members to donate any appropriate things they may have.
|
May 21st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
21-May |
|
|
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
23-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Elliott, S. G. |
Elliott, Judy M. |
22-May |
|
| Bradham, Melissa |
Bradham, Robert L. |
26-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
5/24/2016 |
3 |
|
| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
5/25/1999 |
20 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
David |
24-May |
33 |
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
Carolyn |
24-May |
50 |
| Barlow, Jonathan L (JONATHAN) |
Susan |
26-May |
12 |
|
Upcoming Meetings - May 21stUpcoming Meetings - May 14
This Week:
May 21
Rotary Scholarships
Upcoming Meetings:
May 28
NO MEETING
(Club Closed)
|
|
Upcoming Meetings - May 14th
|
Upcoming Meetings - May 14This Week:
May 14th
Legislative Recap
Sen. Chuck Payne
Rep. Kasey Carpenter
Upcoming Meetings:
May 21
Rotary Scholarships
May 28
NO MEETING
(Club Closed)
|
5th Grade Service Above Self Awardsby John Hutcheson, Darla Chambliss, and Thanh Nguyen
For the tenth year the Club held its annual Charlie Bowen 5th Grade Service Above Self Awards program for students who’ve been outstanding examples of Rotary’s motto during their elementary school years. Organized with the customary care and precision by President-Elect Amanda Reed, Rotarian Paul Alderman, and President Greg Dent, the event introduced Club members to a group of boys and girls whose accomplishments and commitment to the well-being of others are truly extraordinary for persons so young.
After a welcome and introduction from President Greg, Amanda explained the purpose and criteria for the awards in the upcoming ceremony. She thanked Paul Alderman, President Greg, the teachers, principals, parents, and all who helped make the day’s recognitions possible, emphasizing that these students were being honored not for their academic or athletic accomplishments, however important or impressive these might be, but rather for their heart and dedication—often in ways previously receiving little or no recognition—to Rotary’s ideal of “making a difference” through service to others,.
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Amanda Reed
Amanda introduced Dr. Judy Gilreath, Whitfield County Schools Superintendent, to congratulate the students from her system, who were then presented by Paul Alderman and Ricky Robertson. These included:
Bricia Manzanares, age 11, from Antioch Elementary; Jaidyn Fritz, age 11, from Beaverdale Elementary; Camden Machoka, age 11, from Cedar Ridge Elementary; Lexi Parker, age 11, from Cohutta Elementary; Annabelle Fowler, age 11, from Dawnville Elementary; Ayesha Sheikh, age 11, from Dug Gap Elementary; Emily Vargas, age 11, from Eastside Elementary; Henry Griffin, age 11, from New Hope Elementary; Delilah Plaza Hernandez, age 10, from Pleasant Grove Elementary; Sam Burge, age 10, from Tunnel Hill Elementary; Peyton Ramirez, age 10, from Valley Point Elementary; Edward Alvarez, age 10, from Varnell Elementary; and Ashley Deeter, age 11, from Westside Elementary.
Dr. Tim Scott, Superintendent of Dalton Public Schools, congratulated the following students from his system, who were presented by Cherri Robertson and Amanda Reed:
Donaji Pacheco, age 10, from Blue Ridge Elementary; Silas Owens, age 11, from Brookwood Elementary; Glendi Deleon Morales, age 11, from City Park Elementary; Olivia Bowen, age 10, from Park Creek Elementary; Victoria Amaro, age 10, from Roan Elementary; and Slade Swaney, age 11, from Westwood Elementary.
Amanda Reed congratulated and presented the Christian Heritage School’s honoree, Abigail Greer, age 11.
Each of the winning students received a copy of Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, a framed certificate, and a bag of give-aways appropriate for fifth-graders from local merchants and businesses.
Amanda then read brief passages from entries in the “Laws of Life” essay competition which was submitted by each winner from all three school systems. She also read excerpts from the third-place essay by Victoria Amaro of Roan Elementary, the second-place entry by Olivia Bowen of Park Creek Elementary, and the winning essay written by Emily Vargas of Eastside Elementary. The program closed with touching words from Amanda reminding everyone in the room that the fifth graders present are the future of not only our community, but the world, and that each of the Rotarians, principals, teachers, and parents are here to support them and pave their way to success.
2019 Service Above Self Award Winners
|
May 14th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
14-May |
|
|
| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
15-May |
|
|
| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
17-May |
|
|
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
19-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Blevins, David |
Blevins, Sheri H. |
15-May |
|
| Broadrick, Mary Ann |
Broadrick, Bruce L. |
15-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
5/19/1998 |
21 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Anderson, Michael S (MICHAEL) |
Adina |
14-May |
14 |
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
Avalee |
17-May |
5 |
|
Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership: An Updateby John Hutcheson
President Greg, who is CEO of the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership, opened a presentation to update the Club on the Partnership’s most recent and upcoming activities, summarizing his agency’s mission—to improve community health through collaboration, innovative ideas, and positive action—and its vision based on the partnership pillars of healthy lifestyles, access to healthcare, and disease management. Using an informative combination of PowerPoint and video, he described three of the Partnership’s most effective projects:
- the Bill Gregory Healthcare Classic, which is Dalton’s largest and oldest road race, with a heritage extending back to 1981, scheduled this year for May 11;
- the Healthy Babies program, operated in collaboration with Hamilton Medical Center, the Whitfield County Health Department, and Associates in Obstetrics and Gynecology—in 2018 this program treated 155 patients, was engaged in 95 successful deliveries with only 2% showing low birth weights, and had none of its clients admitted to the Natal Intensive Care Unit; and
- the Erwin Mitchell Community Heath Fair, held each October at the Mack Gaston Center to provide free healthcare screenings and affordable access to healthcare procedures.
.jpg) .jpg) 
Greg Dent, Stephanie Hogshead, Lindsey Coker
Greg introduced Stephanie Hogshead, NGHP’s Child Development/Early Learning Coordinator and a former elementary education teacher who has specialized in early reading intervention for first grade students. Stephanie described this year’s Readers 2 Leaders program and the special day-long Book Blast event scheduled for June 1 at Burr Park which will kick off the Summer Reading Program to get books into the hands of young readers and sustain literacy skills during the summer break. She was followed by Lindsey Coker, Director of Special Needs Services for NGHP and another veteran teacher whose work constitutes a new initiative for the Partnership. Using a three-pronged approach, Lindsey coordinates services directed at parents, including in-home visits; at teachers, administrators, and schools, for whom workshops and a variety of advisory vehicles are offered; and at community outreach by which businesses, organizations, and community leaders are taught how to be more understanding, accommodating, and inclusive of individuals with disabilities. Much of Lindsey’s recent work has focused on autism, including a regional conference at the Dalton Convention Center shortly she joined the Partnership in October, 2018.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Greg called on President-Elect Amanda Reed, who asked for appropriate giveaway items for the twenty children who will be recognized at the Fifth Grade Service Above Self program on May 7 and for volunteers to serve as greeters and ushers for the ninety or so expected guests. She also reminded members about the Family of Rotary event to be held on May 16 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 201 W, Waugh Street, where a celebration of downtown Dalton’s railroad system will be the theme and the entire building will be open for tours, with a Rotary Hospitality Suite available on the second floor. President Greg thanked Past Presidents John Richmond and Bruce Satterfield for substituting for him the last couple of weeks while he was under the weather. He noted that Rotary will have a booth at the Dalton Business Expo on May 1 which he encouraged members to drop by and help staff. He then called on David Lightfoot, a GRSP student sponsored by the Carpet City Rotary Club and several other clubs, who presented a banner from his home club in Scotland.
David Lightfood and Greg Dent
Membership Chair Cherri Robertson inducted Sean Scott, sponsored by Rotarian Todd Pangle, and Dr. Sam Critides, sponsored by Rotarian Tom Bundros, as new members. Past President John Richmond returned to the podium to introduce Dr. Jim Hawkins as the Club’s newest Will Watt Fellow in recognition of his having donated $1,000 to the GRSP Endowment.
 
Sean Scott, Dr. Sam Critides, Greg Dent; Greg Dent and Dr. Jim Hawkins
|
May 7th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr. (JUDSON) |
8-May |
|
|
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
9-May |
|
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
12-May |
|
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
13-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Mixer, Mark |
Mixer, Kimberly J |
13-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Walker, Natima G (NATIMA) |
5/8/2018 |
1 |
|
| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
5/9/2017 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
Laura |
7-May |
25 |
|
Upcoming Meetings - May 7th This Week:
May 7th
5th Grade Awards Program
Upcoming Meetings:
May 14th
Legislative Recap
Sen. Chuck Payne
Rep. Kasey Carpenter
May 21
Rotary Scholarships
May 28
NO MEETING
(Club Closed)
|
My GRSP Year: Gustav Dalsgaard-Hansenby John Hutcheson
Past President Bruce, whose family served as this year’s GRSP hosts, commented on how short the time seems since Gustav’s arrival from Denmark on August 5, 2018, and he recalled how pleased everyone was to welcome Gustav’s parents, sisters, and maternal grandmother for a visit in time to celebrate Gustav’s birthday in December.
Gustav Dalsgaard-Hansen
Looking back at his year at Dalton State, Gustav felt he had gotten a good taste of American college life. He was pleased that this had been at an institution small enough to enable him to fit in easily while also being large enough to offer a wide range of academic and other experiences he could not have had at home. Most of the ten courses he took here would not have been part of his curriculum in Denmark, and while he found them all enlightening, this was especially true of the courses in philosophy, U.S. history, and American government.
Overall, his experience of various aspects of American culture was the most interesting part of his time here. Like many other Europeans, he was particularly curious about the Thanksgiving holiday, which struck him as being less a matter of formally expressing gratitude, religiously or otherwise, than an occasion to eat an exceptionally large meal. He was fascinated by American football, which he never completely understood, and by baseball, which he found much easier to follow—the object seems simply to hit the ball with the bat. He also enjoyed the time he spent on a gun range.
Beyond Dalton, he greatly enjoyed his opportunities to travel. With this year’s other students, he attended the GSRP Conclave at Brasstown Bald, where everyone showed off their home cultures. Elsewhere in Georgia he loved Savannah, which reminded him of a Mediterranean city, and Tybee Island. Two weeks ago he and other students visited Camden County, where they saw alligators, armadillos, and wild horses in an environment which, for Gustav at least, was unlike anything in Denmark. In Atlanta he visited the CNN headquarters, the World of Coke, and the State Capitol during the legislative session—he was reminded of the Danish parliament but concluded the Georgia body meets in a nicer building. He considered Georgia’s politics fascinating, especially the race for a new governor.
Around the Southeast he went to Nashville; Huntsville, where his whole family enjoyed the space museum; and Miami for New Year’s Eve. He went on an airboat ride in the Everglades and he could hardly believe he was in 90° weather during the winter. In general he found Florida to be “a crazy place”—not at all like Georgia. He also went to New Orleans, a city which felt almost European to him and was filled with great food, though he was less taken by its people.
Gustav thanked the Club for sponsoring what had been the greatest year of his life, and he was especially grateful to John Richmond as a GRSP Trustee and to Bruce Satterfield’s family as his hosts. He closed by presenting a banner from the Rotary Club of Sæby, his hometown in northern Denmark.
Responding to questions, Gustav said that to him the most surprising thing about American culture was how little European football—i.e., soccer—is played in the U.S. Asked what he will miss most, he replied that it would be the people he’d encountered, who are much friendlier than would be the case in Denmark—Southern hospitality, he said, is a real thing. He’ll also miss certain foods, especially barbecue and Chick-fil-A. He hasn’t tried grits yet, but Past President Bruce assured the Club that this would be remedied before Gustav leaves Dalton and easy access to the Oakwood.
Gustav will fly home on May 21, but before then he will go to the District 6900 Conference in Sandestin, Florida, and the District 6910 Conference in Greenville, South Carolina, after which he will visit Washington, D.C. At home he has applied for university admission, but he will not know the results until late July. Although he has applied to the University of Copenhagen, he would prefer to attend another school about two hours from his home. Compared to Danish higher education, American college academics are more like those of later high school in Denmark, but there is a greater variety of subjects, which is appealing to him.
Announcements
Substituting for President Greg, Past President Bruce Satterfield reminded members that the collection of canned goods for the Salvation Army and the Family Crisis Center is ongoing, with more donations strongly encouraged. Especially needed are varieties of protein such as canned meats, with pop-top openers preferred. Also, the Club is to provide books for children ages five to eight which will be donated at the District 6910 Conference in Greenville, and in addition, home-made cookies are requested as supplements to the Conference’s refreshments. Rotarian Paul Alderman asked for appropriate giveaway items for the twenty children who will be recognized at the Fifth Grade Service Above Self program on May 7, for which President-Elect Amanda Reed called for volunteers to serve as greeters and ushers for the ninety or so expected guests.
|
April 30th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
30-Apr |
|
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
1-May |
|
|
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
3-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Holmes, Cathy |
Didier, John M. |
1-May |
|
| Kinard, Dixie |
Kinard, Robert W |
1-May |
|
| Jones, Patrick |
Jones, Kelly McDonald |
3-May |
|
| Winter, Connie |
Winter, Larry E. |
4-May |
|
| Bailey, Dell |
Bailey, Philip Bates |
4-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
5/1/1983 |
36 |
|
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
5/1/1980 |
39 |
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
5/1/1984 |
35 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
April |
2-May |
27 |
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
Belinda |
6-May |
24 |
|
|
Upcoming Meetings - April 30th
This Week:
April 30
Northwest GA Healthcare Partnership
Upcoming Meetings:
May 7th
5th Grade Awards Program
May 14th
Legislative Recap
Sen. Chuck Payne
Rep. Kasey Carpenter
May 21
Rotary Scholarships
May 28
NO MEETING
(Club Closed)
|
|
Upcoming Meetings - May 30th
This Week:
April 30
Northwest GA Healthcare Partnership
Upcoming Meetings:
May 7th
5th Grade Awards Program
May 14th
Legislative Recap
Sen. Chuck Payne
Rep. Kasey Carpenter
May 21
Rotary Scholarships
May 28
NO MEETING
(Club Closed)
|
|
Upcoming Meetings - April 23rd
This Week:
April 23rd
GRSP
Gustav & David
Upcoming Meetings:
April 30
Northwest GA Healthcare Partnership
May 7th
5th Grade Awards Program
May 14th
Legislative Recap
Sen. Chuck Payne
Rep. Kasey Carpenter
May 21
Rotary Scholarships
May 28
NO MEETING
(Club Closed)
|
Dalton Public Schools Early Learning Initiativesby John Hutcheson
Standing in for Superintendent Dr. Tim Scott, Dr. Larry Tripp, Work-Based Learning Coordinator for Dalton Public Schools, introduced Caroline Woodason, Director of Early Learning Initiatives, who began by thanking the Club for its sponsorship of the annual track meet, in which each of her three sons had been a champion pole vaulter.
.jpg)
Caroline Woodason
An employee of Dalton Public Schools for six years, Caroline previously served in the Whitfield County Schools and has dedicated her career to working with children in their early years, from birth to age eight. She pointed out that in comparison with Catoosa, Gordon, and Murray Counties, Whitfield County has relatively few sites for care and education of pre-kindergarten age children, a situation which has led to formation of the Dalton Neighborhood Initiative (DNI). Because public funds may be used only for K-12 instruction, DNI depends on donations, grants, and partnerships it has formed with Dalton Public Schools, Shaw Industries, Rock Bridge Community Church, and the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership.
Modeled on a project originally developed in Harlem which aims at breaking the poverty cycle one city block at a time, DNI focuses on the need to educate parents as well as children. For example, the importance of parents reading to their young children, whether in English or another language, is heavily stressed. In Dalton the project began in an area around Roan Street School, embracing forty families and 79 children. A leased building adjacent to the school is used for English and Spanish bilingual classes which currently enroll about fifteen students, and about twenty are enrolled in child development classes. Another objective is workforce development, furthered by bringing Georgia Northwestern Technical College classes to the Roan Street location. A state grant underwrites professional development for coordinators, which is also supported by Dalton State College, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, Whitfield County Schools, Shaw Industries, and several other entities. In answer to a question, Caroline noted that Whitfield County Schools Learning Academies are modeled on DNI.
Announcements
Substituting for President Greg, Past President John Richmond announced that the Club is to provide books for children ages one to five which will be donated at the District 6910 Conference in Greenville. In addition, those attending the Conference will give books suitable for ages five to eight. Locally, the collection of canned goods for the Salvation Army is ongoing, with more donations strongly encouraged. Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead noted that today is the last day to place loose change (or more) in the buckets on the tables to benefit the Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust campaign. Past President Jason Parker related that the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament on April 9 had gone well, and he thanked the planning committee and everyone else who helped. A final accounting is pending, as monies are still coming in. In the 50-50 Raffle, the winning ticket was held by two non-Rotarians, Jimmy Tope and Harrison Sharpe, who will split a prize of $175. President-Elect Amanda Reed reminded members about the Fifth Grade Service Above Self program on May 7, for which appropriate giveaway items are needed for twenty children, and she also noted the Friends of Rotary event scheduled for May 16.
|
April 23rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Goodroe, Robert S. (ROBERT) |
23-Apr |
|
|
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
27-Apr |
|
|
| Dent, Gregory J (GREG) |
27-Apr |
|
|
| Bowen, William C. III (BILL) |
29-Apr |
|
|
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
29-Apr |
|
|
| Patterson, Frank W Jr. (FRANK) |
29-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Hoskins, Carole |
Hoskins, Douglas H. |
23-Apr |
|
| Bestawros, Hilda |
Bestawros, Onsy A |
23-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
4/24/2012 |
7 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
Pat |
25-Apr |
33 |
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
Diane |
28-Apr |
50 |
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
Sharon |
29-Apr |
47 |
|
Golf Tournament RecapThe first place team on flight one, and lowest score of the tournament was posted by a team which included three Rotarians. With a score to par of 55, the team included Ronnie McClurg, Doug Hoskins, Lowell Kirkman and Will Morrow. First place in flight two was claimed by Mohawk Industries Team #1 with a score of 62, and included Mark Oliver, Bart Hill, Steve Rowenhurst and Andrew Nuckolls. A total of 47 golfers enjoyed the beautiful afternoon and fun and competition.
|
DPS Early Learning by John Hutcheson
Standing in for Superintendent Dr. Tim Scott, Dr. Larry Tripp, Work-Based Learning Coordinator for Dalton Public Schools, introduced Caroline Woodason, Director of Early Learning Initiatives, who began by thanking the Club for its sponsorship of the annual track meet, in which each of her three sons had been a champion pole vaulter.
Caroline Woodason
An employee of Dalton Public Schools for six years, Caroline previously served in the Whitfield County Schools and has dedicated her career to working with children in their early years, from birth to age eight. She pointed out that in comparison with Catoosa, Gordon, and Murray Counties, Whitfield County has relatively few sites for care and education of pre-kindergarten age children, a situation which has led to formation of the Dalton Neighborhood Initiative (DNI). Because public funds may be used only for K-12 instruction, DNI depends on donations, grants, and partnerships it has formed with Dalton Public Schools, Shaw Industries, Rock Bridge Community Church, and the North Georgia Healthcare Partnership.
Modeled on a project originally developed in Harlem which aims at breaking the poverty cycle one city block at a time, DNI focuses on the need to educate parents as well as children. For example, the importance of parents reading to their young children, whether in English or another language, is heavily stressed. In Dalton the project began in an area around Roan Street School, embracing forty families and 79 children. A leased building adjacent to the school is used for English and Spanish bilingual classes which currently enroll about fifteen students, and about twenty are enrolled in child development classes. Another objective is workforce development, furthered by bringing Georgia Northwestern Technical College classes to the Roan Street location. A state grant underwrites professional development for coordinators, which is also supported by Dalton State College, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, Whitfield County Schools, Shaw Industries, and several other entities. In answer to a question, Caroline noted that Whitfield County Schools Learning Academies are modeled on DNI.
Announcements
Substituting for President Greg, Past President John Richmond announced that the Club is to provide books for children ages one to five which will be donated at the District 6910 Conference in Greenville. In addition, those attending the Conference will give books suitable for ages five to eight. Locally, the collection of canned goods for the Salvation Army is ongoing, with more donations strongly encouraged. Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead noted that today is the last day to place loose change (or more) in the buckets on the tables to benefit the Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust campaign. Past President Jason Parker related that the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament on April 9 had gone well, and he thanked the planning committee and everyone else who helped. A final accounting is pending, as monies are still coming in. In the 50-50 Raffle, the winning ticket was held by two non-Rotarians, Jimmy Tope and Harrison Sharpe, who will split a prize of $175. President-Elect Amanda Reed reminded members about the Fifth Grade Service Above Self program on May 7, for which appropriate giveaway items are needed for twenty children, and she also noted the Friends of Rotary event scheduled for May 16.
|
April 16th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
18-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Dent, Marybeth |
Dent, Gregory J |
16-Apr |
|
| Srivastava, Vinai |
Srivastava, Archana |
16-Apr |
|
| Bledsoe, Ginny |
Bledsoe, Jonathan L. |
21-Apr |
|
| Brantley, Tray |
Brantley, Valerie K |
22-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
4/19/2005 |
14 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
Bob |
19-Apr |
50 |
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
Dixie |
19-Apr |
50 |
|
|
Upcoming Meetings - April 16th
This Week:
April 16th
Early Learning Initiatives
Dr. Tim Scott
Upcoming Meetings:
April 23rd
GRSP
Gustav & David
April 30
Northwest GA Healthcare Partnership
May 7th
5th Grade Awards Program
May 14th
Legislative Recap
Sen. Chuck Payne
Rep. Kasey Carpenter
May 21
Rotary Scholarships
May 28
NO MEETING
(Club Closed)
|
Volunteer United: A Message From United Way Of Northwest Georgiaby Darla Chambliss and John Hutcheson
Amanda Burt, President of the United Way of Northwest Georgia, stated that Volunteer United would be the theme of today’s program. Dr. Jim Hawkins, a member of the Executive Committee of the United Way Board of Directors, introduced Jessica Trivino, who has worked for the local United Way for six years and is currently Director of Donor Engagement and Strategy, and Summer Mosteller, a recent graduate of Kennesaw State University who has just begun her third week of employment at United Way.
Summer Mosteller and Jessice Trivino
With an emphasis on volunteerism, Jessica and Summer described several vehicles for realizing United Way’s Mission Statement, which focuses on Improving Lives, Inspiring Donors, and Uniting Community. Jessica explained the Leadership Circle, made up of those donating $1,000 to $9,999 annually; the Women’s Leadership Council, consisting of women who donate $1,000 or more during a year; the Young Leaders Society, for young volunteers who make an annual donation of $365 or more; and the Alexis de Tocqueville Society for those donating at least $10,000. Summer presented information on the Volunteer Vacation program held four times per year, during school breaks in the fall, at Thanksgiving, at mid-winter, and in the spring; students in it are taken to several United Way service agencies to learn about volunteer opportunities and the community served by each of the agencies. Service in these agencies can help students qualify for the Elbert Shaw Memorial Scholarship, a $5,000 award given by United Way in partnership with Shaw Industries to a high school student whose volunteer work shows extraordinary commitment to the ideals of the late Elbert Shaw and his passion for creating positive change in society. Similar experience can be acquired in goLEAD, a four-day program in the early summer designed to develop team-building, leadership, and service learning. Also, all students from ages 5 to 25 are eligible to be considered for Youth Presidential Service Awards, made at different levels according to the number of service hours required.
It’s notable that the United Way in Georgia leads the entire nation in per capita giving, and the United Way of Northwest Georgia holds third place in the state for total dollars raised.
An Introduction
Rotarian Tom Bundros introduced Dr. Samuel Critides, a neurosurgeon who has recently joined the staff at Hamilton Medical Center, noting their shared Greek heritage.
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Upcoming Meetings - April 9thThis Week:
April 9th
Early Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament
Upcoming Meetings:
April 16th
Early Learning Initiatives
Dr. Tim Scott
April 23rd
GRSP
Gustav & David
April 30
Northwest GA Healthcare Partnership
May 7th
5th Grade Awards Program
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April 9th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
11-Apr |
|
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
11-Apr |
|
|
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
11-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Abernathy, Virginia |
Abernathy, Sid G. |
13-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
4/9/2013 |
6 |
|
| Carter, Teresa (TERESA) |
4/9/2013 |
6 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Carter, Teresa (TERESA) |
Glen |
15-Apr |
2 |
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
Celeste |
15-Apr |
31 |
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Meetings - April 2ndUpcoming Meetings - April 2nd
This Week:
April 2nd
Volunteer United
Amanda Burt
Upcoming Meetings:
April 9th
Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament
April 16th
Early Learning Initiatives
Dr. Tim Scott
April 23rd
GRSP
Gustav & David
April 30
Northwest GA Healthcare Partnership
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Upcoming Meetings - April 2nd
This Week:
April 2nd
Volunteer United
Amanda Burt
Upcoming Meetings:
April 9th
Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament
April 16th
Early Learning Initiatives
Dr. Tim Scott
April 23rd
GRSP
Gustav & David
April 30
Northwest GA Healthcare Partnership
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Looking Backward: Glimpses of Rotary's 82 Years In Daltonby John Hutcheson
A member of the Rotary Club of Dalton since 1969, Past President Bill Weaver gave an enlightening and entertaining account of the Club’s history since June 29, 1937, when 27 young businessmen applied for a charter, which was issued under the sponsorship of the Atlanta Rotary Club on July 23, 1937 as Charter 4352. A week later, on July 30, the charter was formally presented at a gala dinner at the Hotel Dalton by District Governor Joel Chandler Harris, Jr., son of the famous author of the Uncle Remus stories. Among the Club’s membership today are sons of three of the charter members—Judson Manly, Jr, son of Judson Manly, Sr. (a member of the Manly family has been in the Club continuously since 1937); Bob Chandler, son of I. V. Chandler; and Tom Wright, son of Dewey Wright.
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Bill Weaver
Although the Club has lent its name to relatively few corporate projects over the years, from the earliest days its members have played leadership roles in every worthwhile activity in the community, consistently upholding the ideal of Service Above Self. The Club’s first civic project was to provide a blood bank for Hamilton Memorial Hospital, and later the Club purchased the hospital’s first X-ray machine, at a cost of $12,000, or about $250,000 in today’s dollars. Among many other undertakings since 1937, the Club has helped provide housing for local teachers, given thousands of dollars in various scholarships (now averaging between fourteen and sixteen thousand dollars per year), and collaborated with organizations such as the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, the Community Chest, United Way, the Family Crisis Center, and other civic clubs, It has also worked closely with public agencies such as the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department, the Juvenile Court, the city and county school systems, and Dalton State College—an institution for which Roger Joyce and other Rotarians in the 1960’s were critical in securing a location along I-75. In 1973 two Dalton Rotarians, Jack Proffitt and Jim Finney, spearheaded a drive to raise $15,000 to build the first regulation track in the community, located in Lakeshore Park; this became the site of the first of the annual track meets for regional high school athletes which are now one of the Club’s signature activities. In 2001, under the leadership of Scott Sellers, the Club raised and donated $40,000 to the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department for the right to name a pavilion at Heritage Point.
Consideration for membership in the Club was originally a secret affair, conducted without candidates’ knowledge and subject to black-balling—a process now long abandoned. Since about 1975 the Club’s regular meeting place has been the Dalton Country Club, but for many years previously the weekly meetings were at the Hotel Dalton, now the Landmark Building, where Johnny and Mary Metcalf catered the meals from the Oakwood for $1.00 each. Other meeting places have included the old Holiday Inn, the Elks Club, and several other locations. In the early days, meetings opened with five minutes or so of current news reports given by members from local broadcasting media, and until at least the early 1950’s a newspaper reporter attended every meeting. Sometimes movie stars and other celebrities also showed up—among these in the 1940’s and 1950’s were Lizabeth Scott, William Bendix, Broderick Crawford, Rory Calhoun, Ruth Roman, and world-famous violinist David Rubinoff, who played his $100,000 Stradivarius. “Ladies Night” events brought other notables, such as comedian Jerry Clower and the Wits’ End Players from Atlanta. For a time the meetings included group singing, to accompany which the Club purchased its own piano and recruited players from students at Dalton High School where Rotarian Orville Moffitt taught music. On one occasion, fourteen members of the Club decided to hold an impromptu make-up meeting aboard an airliner as it carried them to a carpet industry meeting in Las Vegas; despite minutes conscientiously recorded on the back of an airsickness bag, an attempt to secure official recognition of their efforts proved unsuccessful.
The Club has produced two District Governors, Carlton McCamy in 1951-1952 and Bates Thomas in 1988-1989, and shortly after the Supreme Court’s 1987 decision opening Rotary membership to women, Carole Jones became the Dalton club’s first female member, succeeding to its presidency about two years later. Dalton Rotary has sponsored the establishment of clubs in Chatsworth and Ellijay, as well as a second local group, the Carpet City Club which meets at the breakfast hour. Dalton has participated in the Georgia Rotary Student Program almost from its inception, and its sole sponsorship of a foreign student’s expenses for an entire academic year is unique in District 6910, where GRSP costs are typically shared between two or more clubs. In 1987-1988, shortly after RI launched the Polio Plus campaign, the Dalton club was given a goal of $30,077 as its allocated contribution. Pressing forward with his characteristic energy and determination, Club President Joe Tuggle saw to it that the Club raised $80,332.67, with member participation of 100%.
After many other anecdotes, Bill ended his presentation with a brief account of the development and meaning of Rotary’s cogwheel emblem and a reminder that Rotary is not just what the Club does, but what each of its members does to fulfill RI President Barry Rassin’s call to “Be the Inspiration”—or as Dalton’s own Joe Tuggle put it, “Do it because it is Rotary."
Announcements and Recognitions
President Greg announced that a New Member Orientation led by Membership Chair Mike Maret will take place following today’s meeting; attendance is required for transition from Red to Blue Badge standing. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead noted that today and for the next two weeks each table will have a bucket to collect small change for the annual Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust campaign. Our goal is to exceed the District Governor’s guideline of an average contribution of $20 per member.
In connection with upcoming events, Past President John Richmond reminded members that the March 31 deadline for discounted registration for the District 6910 Conference is rapidly approaching. Past President Jason Parker pointed out that the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament is only two weeks away and that items for eighty goody bags are still needed. Although there will be no formal meeting that day, lunch will be available for all Club members. Past President Bruce Satterfield thanked everyone who helped make the Ronnie McClurg Track Meet on March 23 a great success, and President-Elect Amanda Reed added her appreciation as well.
Coach McClurg
Amanda also noted that the Club’s annual Charlie Bowen 5th Grade Service Above Self Awards program will be on May 7; age-appropriate gift items are needed and can be given to Amanda or to Ricky Robertson. Also, a Family of Rotary event will take place on Thursday, May 16, for which details will be announced later. Community Service Chair John Wilson announced a canned food drive during April to benefit the Salvation Army and the Family Crisis Center; members are urged to bring canned goods for deposit in boxes near the front desk.
Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett presided over the recognition of seven new Paul Harris Fellows: William Boyett, Mel Abernathy, Thomas Bundros, Judy Gilreath, Joseph Farmer, Bob Caperton, and Rick Martin.
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New Paul Harris Fellows
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April 2nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Anderson, Michael S (MICHAEL) |
4-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Hogshead, Carolyn |
Hogshead, Frank M. |
2-Apr |
|
| McDonald, Frances |
McDonald, David L |
5-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Smith, Ralph (RALPH) |
Sandra |
7-Apr |
36 |
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
Cindy |
8-Apr |
19 |
|
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March 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
|
March 26th - Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
27-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Martin, Sandy |
Martin, Richard G. |
1-Apr |
|
| Ridley, Hope |
Ridley, Rusty |
1-Apr |
|
| Hogshead, Carolyn |
Hogshead, Frank M. |
2-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
3/26/2013 |
6 |
|
| Barlow, Jonathan L (JONATHAN) |
3/28/2018 |
1 |
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
3/30/2010 |
9 |
|
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
3/30/2010 |
9 |
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
4/1/1989 |
30 |
|
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
4/1/2008 |
11 |
|
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
4/1/1978 |
41 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
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The Arrendale and Stubbs Awards: Our Nomineesby John Hutcheson
Vocational Service Chair Alex Brown presided over announcement of the Club’s nominees for two of District 6910’s greatest annual honors, the W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award and the Robert S. Stubbs Guardian of Ethics Award.
The Arrendale Award recognizes Lee Arrendale, a Rotarian from Habersham County who was a recognized leader in the Georgia poultry industry and served his state as Chairman of the Georgia Board of Corrections. Guidelines for the award in his name require the nominee to show excellence in his or her vocation, achievements in the community, and academic excellence.
For 2018-2019 the Rotary Club of Dalton nominates Dr. Judy Gilreath for the Arrendale Award.
Judy Gilreath
Dr Gilreath is a pillar of her community, deeply committed to her own education and that of our children. Her son and two daughters are also very involved in serving their communities and families; Barry is a pastor, Melissa is a full time stay-at-home mom, and Leslie is a physician’s assistant.
Active in Rotary and her local church, Dr. Gilreath enjoys giving back. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, a Master’s in Elementary Education, and the Doctorate in Education in curriculum and instruction. Having now spent over thirty years serving the state of Georgia in education, she began her career teaching science in Chattooga County Schools and later taught for a number of years in Walker County before moving to Dalton where she worked as Principal at Pleasant Grove Elementary. From 2006 to 2013 Dr. Gilreath was Whitfield County Schools’ Assistant Superintendent, and since 2013 she has been Superintendent, with her contract unanimously renewed every three years by the Whitfield County School Board. In her current role she oversees a district made up of thirteen elementary schools, five middle schools, five high schools, and one alternative school, with 12,190 students and more than 1,500 employees, including 778 faculty members.
Similar to the work being done by Believe Greater Dalton, Dr. Gilreath took the proactive step of working diligently to survey all in the community about Whitfield County Schools in preparation for developing a comprehensive Strategic Plan. Through her commitment to transparency, she then shared her ideas for the county school system with the entire public by writing an op ed article in the Daily Citizen and News describing the importance of having a vision shared by all, focused squarely on the students. She argued that our students’ well-being extends beyond the walls of the school, positing that students do best when their mental health and physical safety have been met first. To that end, she hired new staff to support students both inside the school and once they graduate. Some of these staff members include graduation coaches, instruction coaches, and counselors.
Dr. Gilreath inherited a school district which had experienced very lean times, with many cuts in staff and resources prior to her becoming Superintendent. She has now helped attract over seven million dollars in grants, an achievement all the more impressive since the system had zero dollars in grants when she took over. Additionally, she has secured two raises for teachers during her tenure, both at 2%. Lastly, she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of budgeting by delivering “State of the System” speeches—widely appreciated by teachers, parents and community members—highlighting where additional monies could and should be allocated.
Dr. Judy Gilreath has been a true leader, committed to her vocation, employees, students, and her community for many years. Throughout it all, she has earned the trust of the community and the respect of her school board, and she has continued to increase high school graduation rates—the most widely acknowledged measure of a school system’s educational success.
The Stubbs Award, named for Robert (Bob) Stubbs, a member of the Rotary Club of Canton, honors a person who has been a Rotarian for at least three years and has made outstanding contributions in his or her vocation while also strengthening and fostering the development of ethical practices by actions, writing, policies, and public pronouncements. This year’s nominee from the Rotary Club of Dalton for the Stubbs Award is Bruce Broadrick.
Bruce Broadrick
Bruce was born and raised in Dalton, where his father, Frank, started Frank’s Pharmacy in 1959. Bruce graduated from high school in 1969 and attended the University of Georgia, graduating from its Pharmacy School in the mid 1970’s. He is married to Mary Mauldin Broadrick, who holds Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees from the University of Georgia in Physical Education. The family’s legacy continues; all three of Bruce’s children are in the healthcare field. Buckie is a Pharmacist/Counselor, Maggie is a Physical Therapist, and Emily is a Dietician. Bruce and Mary also have six wonderful grandchildren, all living nearby.
After returning from Athens, Bruce enjoyed working with his father at Frank’s Pharmacy for many years. Two things that stand out to Bruce’s son about his father during that time: lots of late night calls from patients, which his father never turned down, and a belief that patient care always comes first. After Bruce sold Frank’s Pharmacy to Walgreen’s around 2009, he continued to work for the new owners for two or three years before running successfully for the Georgia House of Representatives, representing Dalton as a moderate, pro-business Republican.
Bruce has always given back to Dalton. He served on the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership board and also was a member of the Whitfield County Board of Health. He was very active with our local community of pharmacists and was dedicated to protecting pharmacists and patients from bad laws and others who make decisions without stepping foot into the trenches of modern healthcare. From 1995 to 1997 he was President of the Georgia Pharmacy Association. Seeing first-hand the dangers of unintended consequences, prided himself on working for common sense rules and regulations. In the General Assembly, bills he sponsored included the Disabled Persons and Elder Persons Protection Act, a bill to make sure insurance companies use specific clinical data in their reviews of payments, and an Opiate Abuse Prevention Act, regulating opiate prescriptions. These measures truly reflect Rotary’s Four Way test, particularly truthfulness and fairness to all concerned.
A list of Bruce’s donors shows that many professional service and industry organizations not only respected him but felt he was committed to professional excellence in their causes in Atlanta. Some of the groups coming to Bruce for guidance included the Georgia Dental ssociation, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Georgia Pharmacy Association, the Georgia Optometric Association, and many others. As a committee member, he served on Appropriations; Game, Fish and Parks; Health and Human Services; Industry and Labor; and Intragovernmental Coordination.
When asked what stands out about his dad’s contributions to his industry and community, his son Buckie said that his dad ALWAYS said: put patients first: make them the center of care and the rest will fall into place. Whether we know him as a pharmacist, a Rotarian, a grandfather, a State Representative, or just as a friend, it’s clear to everyone that he is deeply committed to upholding the Four Way test in every facet of his life. One more thing is certain: Bruce’s unwavering commitment to ethics has directly protected our community and improved patient care.
Following these awards, Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett reported that he had gotten a good response to last week’s appeal for more members to qualify as Paul Harris Fellows, and President Greg mused on the meaning of Fourteen, which he revealed to be the number of meetings remaining in his presidency.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Greg announced that a New Member Orientation will take place following the March 26 meeting; attendance is required for transition from Red to Blue Badge standing. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead noted that today and for the next three weeks each table will have a bucket to collect small change which will go to the annual Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust campaign.
In connection with upcoming events, Past President John Richmond reminded members that the deadline for discounted registration for the District 6910 Conference is rapidly approaching. Since this year’s concluding banquet coincides with the Kentucky Derby, it will have a Derby theme, with plenty of opportunities to speculate on the outcome of the race. Rotarian Todd Pangle pointed out that the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament is only three weeks away and that 50-50 Raffle tickets will again be available at $10 apiece, with the winner receiving 50% of the funds raised by ticket sales. Past President Bruce Satterfield reported that sixteen teams have signed up for the Ronnie McClurg Track Meet on March 23 and that there are still spaces for Rotarians to help with particular events—everyone is encouraged to attend even if they aren’t signed up. The weather forecast looks very good, and those working at the morning field events need to arrive no later than 8:45 a.m.
President Greg returned to announce establishment of a new award unique to our Club. The J. Sherwood Jones Guardian of Ethics Award, honoring one of our longest-standing and most respected members who recently died, will go to a member of the local community who fully demonstrates Dr. Jones’s values, which themselves exemplified Rotary’s values. A selection process is being developed by the Board, and announcement of the first award is planned for this coming June.
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Upcoming Meetings - March 26th
This Week:
March 26th
Bill Weaver
Dalton Rotary History
Upcoming Meetings:
April 2nd
Volunteer United
Amanda Burt/
Gregory J Dent
Executive Director
NWGA Healthcare Partnership
April 9th
Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament
April 16th
Early Learning Initiatives
Dr. Tim Scott
April 23rd
GRSP
Gustav & David
April 30
Northwest GA Healthcare Partnership
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Upcoming Meetings March 19
This Week:
March 19th
Stubbs/Arendale Awards
Upcoming Meetings:
March 26th
Bill Weaver
Dalton Rotary History
April 2nd
TBA
April 9th
Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament
April 16th
Early Learning Initiatives
Dr. Tim Scott
April 23rd
GRSP
Gustav & David
April 30
Northwest GA Healthcare Partnership
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March 19th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
20-Mar |
|
|
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
21-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Pangle, Belinda |
Pangle, William T |
24-Mar |
|
| Gazaway, Johnnie |
Gazaway, Kristie |
24-Mar |
|
| Stewart, Celeste |
Stewart, Robert T |
25-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Gooding, Darby (DARBY) |
3/20/2018 |
1 |
|
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
3/20/2018 |
1 |
|
| Watson, Richie P (RICHIE) |
3/20/2018 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
Patrick |
25-Mar |
24 |
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Upcoming MeetingsThis Week:
March 12th
Rotary Foundation
Smitty Barnett
Upcoming Meetings:
March 19th
Stubbs/Arendale Awards
March 26th
Bill Weaver
Dalton Rotary History
April 2nd
TBA
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GRSP: A Quick Review And UpdatePrior to his announced presentation, Past President and GRSP Trustee John Richmond encouraged Club members to attend the annual District 6910 Conference in Greenville, SC, in May, pointing out that a discounted registration fee would be available until March 31 and that the Conference is a great opportunity for broadening one’s knowledge of Rotary and all it does.
Turning to the subject of the GRSP, John presented a check from the GRSP Endowment in the amount of $2,591.61 to President Greg, representing the Endowment’s support of our Club’s GRSP student for 2018-2019. As he did so, John pointed out that we are the only club in District 6910 to be solely responsible for sponsoring a GRSP student for an entire academic year; all other participating clubs do so in cooperation with at least one other club. That we are able to handle sponsorship expenses on our own is due to the low cost of quality education at Dalton State College.
GRSP Check Presentation
The GRSP was founded in 1946, in the aftermath of World War II, by Will Watt of Thomasville, Georgia, and since that time it has remained one-of-a-kind in the world of Rotary. Although a somewhat similar project, the Ambassadorial Program, was begun by Rotary International in 1950, this is presently on hold. The GRSP now has 3,651 alumni, and it continues to be oriented toward development of leaders who will be guided by its Mission Statement:
Promote peace through understanding
Encourage the exchange of cultural and social experiences
Advance the ideals of Rotary
Create opportunities for friendship
Envision a world where peace is a reality
Twenty-seven of Georgia’s colleges and universities participate in the program, charging tuition at in-state or other favorable rates. In addition to tuition, scholarships pay the costs of room and board, books, and fees. A unique feature of the GRSP is the use of host families to enable students, who live in on-campus housing, to immerse themselves more fully in their local communities as well as in their academic environments.
Funding comes from three sources: District annual assessments of $7.00 per member, club contributions toward the expenses of sponsored students, and proceeds from the GRSP Endowment. The Endowment corpus, which is never touched, now stands at $14.1 million, and in the current year it has generated $270,000, providing support for 47 students. Administrative costs are minimal—primarily expenses of two paid employees at GRSP headquarters in Savannah—leaving 85% of Endowment returns for student support. There are numerous recognition levels for donors, some of which are Named Scholarships for gifts of $100,000 or more; the Ronnie Waller Fellowship for gifts of 10,000 or more; the Kendall Weisinger Fellowship for gifts of $5,000 or more; the Hue Thomas Fellowship for gifts of $2,500 or more, and the Will Watt Fellowship for gifts of $1,000 or more.
While information about the GRSP is circulated throughout Rotary, all Georgia Rotarians are encouraged to recruit for it whenever they travel abroad, and word-of-mouth has been the most effective vehicle for attracting applications. These usually run to around 225 per year, with the majority coming from Western Europe—promotion of the program is especially heavy in the British Isles and Scandinavia. This is reflected in the 2018-2019 student roster, which has 30 students coming from Europe, 7 from South America, 6 from Africa, and 3 from Asia. Of these, 30 are females and 16 are male. In recent years the number of sponsored students has declined from a maximum of 70+ as college costs have risen and the costs of sponsorship have increased for local clubs. One of the Endowment’s principal goals is generate enough proceeds to relieve the clubs of this burden.
John Richmond
The Rotary Club of is one of the GRSP’s greatest donors. Since joining it in 1948, the Club has contributed nearly$275,000, and it administers the Carlton McCamy Scholarship, one of only two Named Scholarships in the state. For the 2019-2020 academic year, the Club will sponsor a student of Chinese extraction who comes from Louth, England. Smitty Barnett’s family will serve as hosts, and John pointed out that students often form long-term relationships with their host families.
After showing pictures of District 6910’s most recent GRSP students at their conclave in Braselton and other photos of the 2017 reunion of 150 former GRSP students from around the world, John concluded with accounts of three GRSP alumni who have gone on to notable career achievements. Eugene Agushkov of Russia was in the program in the early 1990’s and went into broadcasting. After returning to Russia he became the “Matt Lauer” of Russian television and later served on the staff of the Russian Embassy in Washington. Bjorn Lomberg, who came from Denmark in 1992, has emerged as one of his country’s leading advocates of gay rights and environmental issues. Kalev Kaana of Estonia was in the program in 1992-1993, graduated from the University of Georgia, became an executive for Coca-Cola in Estonia, and is now a leading economist, entrepreneur, and founder of a GRSP scholarship. All these, with many others, regard their GRSP years as turning points in their lives.
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March 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
12-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Griffin, Candy |
Griffin, Joseph Bryan |
12-Mar |
|
| Temples, Noel |
Temples, Coy H |
16-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Anderson, Michael S (MICHAEL) |
3/14/2017 |
2 |
|
| Conway, Deborah R (DEBORAH) |
3/15/2016 |
3 |
|
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
3/15/2016 |
3 |
|
| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
3/15/2016 |
3 |
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
3/15/2016 |
3 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
Virginia |
12-Mar |
53 |
| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
Andrea |
18-Mar |
13 |
|
The Four Way Test
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Upcoming MeetingsThis Week:
March 5th
GRSP
John Richmond
Upcoming Meetings:
March 12th
TBA
March 19th
TBA
March 26th
TBA
|
Transparency and the Proposed SPLOSTby John Hutcheson
As he did last week, President Greg noted that the Club strives to avoid overtly religious or political program presentations, carefully preserving a neutral stance on such matters. However, the community leaders who constitute the Club’s membership need to be fully informed about issues affecting the general public, and while the Club takes no position on the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) to be considered by Whitfield County voters on March 19, today’s program reviews data on which the SPLOST proposal is based and offers some alternative considerations to those set forth at last week’s meeting.
Rotarian John Didier introduced Chris Shiflett, a native of Cedartown who has lived in Whitfield County since 1995. Holder of degrees in finance and banking from Jacksonville State University and Louisiana State University, he served as commercial loan officer at several banks over a period of 25 years before becoming the founder and owner of Tranquility senior living facilities in Dalton and Cartersville.
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Chris Shiflett
Chris said he had never voted against a SPLOST, and while he did not intend to advocate voting one way or the other on this one, its size and some of its proposed uses distinguish it from its predecessors and make him unable to support it. Having friends on both sides of the issue, he asked his listeners to have open minds and to avoid an “us vs. them” mindset—in Whitfield County we’re all “us.”
Because Rob Bradham did a “great job” last week showing the various projects the proposed SPLOST would fund, Chris saw no need to review those. Instead, he wanted to focus on the underlying economic data voters should take into account as they consider their decision. Information gathered by the U. S. Census Bureau shows that among the 34,000 households in Whitfield County, the average median household income over the three years from 2014 to 2017 fell 6.6%, compared to an increase of 9.9% for Georgia in the same period. Turning to property tax millage rates, Chris stated that in 2008 the rate for both Whitfield County and the City of Dalton was 5.061, but by 2018 the rates had diverged, with the County at 12.750 and Dalton at 9.312. Since research by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia shows that every dollar of SPLOST income generates a 12% increase in operation spending, for a six year $100 million SPLOST this means total spending growth of $12 million or $2 million annually.
Chris asked whether the proposed projects were a good foundation for future economic growth. He noted that the proposed replacements for Administrative Buildings 1 and 2, renovations to the old section of the Courthouse, and other construction projects would consume nearly one-half of the total SPLOST return, and he questioned the need for adding 54,000 square feet beyond what presently exists. Six years is the longest legal allowance for a SPLOST, and during that time its $100 million revenue would be locked into the specified projects and could not be line-itemed or reallocated, even though new county leadership might emerge and have different priorities from the current group. Also, voter turnout for a March referendum is likely to be lower than for one associated with a general election in November, thus raising a question about the representative character of a March polling.
What might be an alternative path forward? Again referring to Census Bureau data, Chris showed the median household income in Whitfield County for 2017 to be $40,720, compared to $60,340 for the U.S. and $56,180 for Georgia. In Whitfield County this represents a one-year decline of 14.1%, contrasted with growth of over 2% at the national and state levels. While local unemployment is low and blue-collar wages are rising, taxes are high and middle-class housing is scarce. In unincorporated areas of the county, land that will perk is hard to find, limiting development that uses septic tanks and forcing people who do not have sufficient land for a septic system to move into Dalton. Rather than tying up so much money in new square footage in county buildings, a more productive course would be to expand sewer facilities (though not on a county-wide basis); this would enable builders to construct subdivisions with homes that could attract more affluent residents. Moreover, with technology accelerating change to warp speed, a six-year investment in bricks-and-mortar buildings becomes questionable.
Responding to a question about what could be done if new county buildings are not erected, Chris said that while the Courthouse renovations are a must, SPLOST revenues would not be necessary for that project. Administrative Building 1 can be made more serviceable at reasonable cost, and the few offices remaining in the deteriorated Administrative Building 2 can be moved elsewhere and the building itself replaced by parking space.
County Commission Chair Lynn Laughter said that since some county offices now in leased spaces would move into the Courthouse, where 30,000 square feet will become available if, as proposed, the offices of the tax assessor and tax commissioner are moved into a new administrative services building, the new construction would actually replace 72,000 square feet of office space. She also stated that the cost of maintaining existing space would be one-third greater than that of new construction.
Former Dalton Utilities CEO Don Cope said that the right kind of sewer expansion would prompt further development, but because of the local terrain any such expansion must be pressurized rather than gravity-driven, and this will add to the cost of new housing.
President Greg concluded the meeting by thanking everyone who had spoken to the Club about the SPLOST for exemplifying how civil discussion of a contentious issue should be conducted.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Greg called on Membership Chair Cherri Robertson, who inducted Rusty Ridley and Adam Ware as new members of the Club, sponsored by Margaret Venable.
New members Rusty Ridley and Adam Ware
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March 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Ware, Adam M (ADAM) |
7-Mar |
|
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr. (PAUL) |
10-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Bowen, Ann |
Bowen, William C. III |
5-Mar |
|
| Pierce, Lamar |
Pierce, Sara C. |
5-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
Upcoming Meetings - April 2nd
This Week:
April 2nd
Volunteer United
Amanda Burt/
Gregory J Dent
Executive Director
NWGA Healthcare Partnership
Upcoming Meetings:
April 9th
Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament
April 16th
Early Learning Initiatives
Dr. Tim Scott
April 23rd
GRSP
Gustav & David
April 30
Northwest GA Healthcare Partnership
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Projected Uses For Proposed SPLOST Revenueby John Hutcheson
President Greg noted that the Club strives to avoid overtly religious or political program presentations, carefully preserving a neutral stance on such matters. However, the community leaders who constitute the Club’s membership need to be fully informed about issues affecting the general public, and while the Club takes no position on the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) to be considered by Whitfield County voters on March 19, this week’s program addresses uses for which revenue raised by the proposed measure are projected.
Past President David Aft introduced Rotarian Rob Bradham, President of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, whom David described as “a true professional,” with a determination and clarity of vision clearly demonstrated by the record of his work in Virginia and Chattanooga.
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Rob Bradham
Rob emphasized that he had not come to advocate for the SPLOST but simply to explain what the proposal is. Early voting will begin on February 26, with the general referendum on March 19, and if passed, the funds generated will be used entirely for capital projects, not operations. Over the planned span of six years, a SPLOST of 1% is designed to raise a total of $100 million for Whitfield County, yielding $1.378 million per month. In comparison, an increase of one mill in the property tax would pay $2.7 million per year. Presently 156 of Georgia’s 159 counties have a SPLOST; only Fulton (Atlanta), Muscogee (Columbus) and Towns do not, and of these, Fulton and Muscogee impose special transportation taxes.
Who will pay the SPLOST? In addition to Whitfield County residents, the tax will also be collected from non-residents who purchase goods or services while working or visiting in the county. About 36,000 people per day commute from outside the county to jobs within it, and 76,000 vehicles per day pass through on I-75. Many of these stop in the county for meals, lodging, or shopping; exclusive of hotel taxes tourists pay $3.76 million per year in local taxes.
Turning to proposed uses for SPLOST revenue, Rob said that $38 million would be used to replace various county buildings, $19.2 million would go to repair roads and bridges; $15.8 million would fund park and library improvements, and $7.1 million would underwrite public safety improvements.
The greatest needs for county buildings are replacements for Administrative Building 1 (formerly First Presbyterian Church), which lacks handicap accessibility and requires roof repairs, and Administrative Building 2 (formerly First Christian Church) which was built in the early 1940’s, has serious structural faults, and is likely to be condemned in the near future. A recent architectural study shows that repair and renovation of these buildings would cost as much as replacing them. The proposed solution is to demolish both buildings, replacing No. 1 with a two-story structure housing Taxpayer Services at a cost of $5,710,045 and No. 2 with a four-story building holding all other county services apart from those related to the judicial system. The Courthouse would then be used exclusively for judicial functions by consolidating all courts in one place except for the Accountability Courts. In order to keep victims and offenders separated, these would move to the former Recreation Department facility on Gillespie Drive, which would be renovated at a cost of $1,535,362. Also, the amount of $983,000 would go to renovation of the county jail.
Other county projects would use $8.0 million for a new park and community center on county-owned land near Southeast Whitfield High School, $5.8 million for similar improvements at Westside Park, and $500,000 for structural repairs and an outdoor programming area at the Dalton-Whitfield Public Library-- money which, as Rotarian Kathryn Sellers later pointed out, could be leveraged to obtain an additional $2 million from the state for the Library’s use. Public safety uses to be funded by the SPLOST would include a new fire station on Riverbend Road, upgrades to other county fire stations, new fire trucks and Sheriff’s Department vehicles, and improvements to the Animal Shelter.
Among the county’s municipalities, Dalton would receive $20.6 million from the total SPLOST collection. Of this, $5.6 million would be spent on roads and bridges, $4.0 million to replace the John Davis Recreation Center, $3.0 million on downtown revitalization and safety (including $1 million to create a railroad “quiet zone”), $2.6 million on Fire Department pumpers and a ladder truck, $2 million on Heritage Park renovations, $1.5 million on a connection of Haig Mill Park to the Crown Mill area, and $1.5 million on Police Department vehicles. For urgently needed sewer improvements, new vehicles, and recreation, Tunnel Hill would receive $577,000, Cohutta would get $445,000, and Varnell would gain almost $1.2 million.
Responding to questions and comments, Rob pointed out that U.S. Census Bureau data show that Whitfield County’s median household income increased from $40,081 in 2014 to $43,871 in 2017, and while this is well below the 2017 national median of $61,372, it should be remembered that these numbers do not reflect the 62% of residents with incomes over $40,000 who work in Whitfield County but live elsewhere.
Concerning the proposed new construction, the replacement of 37,000 square feet of floor space with 96,000 square feet would represent an investment for the future. However, the SPLOST plan currently envisions hiring only two new full-time and two new part-time county employees, all of whom will be used to staff the new parks near Southeast High and at Westside.
Announcements and Recognition
Past President Bruce Satterfield announced that twenty teams have signed up for at the Ronnie McClurg Invitational Track Meet on March 23 and that opportunities for Rotarians to assist are still available.
Past President John Richmond described the Hugh Thomas Fellowship, a group of persons who have donated at least $5,000 to the endowment of the Georgia Rotary Student Program. Endowment proceeds currently support 47 students at $5,500 apiece. From our club this year’s Hugh Thomas Fellow is Dr. Bill Blackman, who received a standing ovation for his generosity.
Dr. Bill Blackman
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February 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Walker, Natima G (NATIMA) |
26-Feb |
|
|
| Chute, Patricia M (PAT) |
28-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Brooker, Janet |
Brooker, Robert H. |
27-Feb |
|
| Jones, Danielle |
Jones, J Sherwood III |
27-Feb |
|
| Ward, Allen |
Ward, Barbara K. |
27-Feb |
|
| Norris, Calli |
Norris, Bradley B |
28-Feb |
|
| Johnson, Pat |
Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. |
1-Mar |
|
| Wright, Joanne |
Wright, Thomas L |
3-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
3/1/1988 |
31 |
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
3/1/1976 |
43 |
|
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
3/1/1975 |
44 |
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr.(JUDSON) |
3/1/1964 |
55 |
|
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
3/1/1975 |
44 |
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
3/1/1994 |
25 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
Bobby |
27-Feb |
20 |
|
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Ronnie McClurg Rotary Invitational Track Meet
Save the Date!
Saturday, March 23, 2019
45th Ronnie McClurg Invitational Track Meet
Please sign up for events both before and after our meetings
Thank you for your Rotary service.
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Business Email Compromise: Prevention and Protectionby John Hutcheson
Youth Services Chair Ricky Robertson, who is Information and Corporate Security Office for Atlantic Capital Bank, cited several recent events at his employer as case studies of how a business’s email system can be compromised by cyber-thieves, He mentioned that his presentation, which he has made to his fellow employees and in other settings as well, was developed after one of Atlantic Capital’s customers nearly lost $1.8 million last year through deceptive email transactions.
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Ricky Robertson
Several common email frauds can be classified under the heading of Social Engineering. All are intended to create confidence, diminish suspicion, or exploit vulnerabilities among their victims, and all are designed to enable theft of money, valuable information, or other assets. These include:
- Phishing, the most commonly used, aimed at a broad audience
- Spear-phishing, customized for particular recipients and originating from a supposedly known source
- Smishing, which uses text messages directed to cell phones
- Vishing, similar to smishing but using voice messages
- Pretext calls, in the form of apparent warnings or demands
- Quid pro quo, which tries to recruit agency or company insiders by promising rewards
- Tailgating, or attempts to sneak into normally closed doors by closely following persons entering legitimately
- Fraudulent web pages or websites
Phishing frequently leads directly to Business Email Compromise (BEC) whereby a criminal enters a company’s email system, often through very slight URL variations, and plants malware which will hide in corporate accounts for prolonged periods, recording and exploiting business patterns and even infecting the company’s customers or clients.
Warning signs of BEC include:
- Something simply doesn’t look or feel right.
- Email refers to current news events, thus implying recent—and suspicious—creation.
- Email is poorly formatted, has bad grammar or spelling, or is otherwise poorly written.
- Messages don’t include recipients’ addresses in the To: or CC: lines.
- Email requests personal information or asks for updated names or passwords.
- The recipient did not initiate the action with which the email is concerned.
Measures for prevention include:
- Change the relevant password IMMEDIATELY if compromise is suspected.
- Use a variety of passwords.
- Use two-factor authentication procedures.
- Use different credentials for different actions.
- Don’t trust unverified or unexpected emails.
- Verify information requests by telephone.
- THINK before clicking.
- Undergo awareness training and be familiar with corporate policies and procedures. If these don’t exist or are inadequate, create or rectify them.
- Consider taking out cyber-security insurance.
- If damage occurs, consider hiring a forensic firm to determine its extent and to advise on recovery measures.
Announcements
President Greg introduced Anthony Billaroe, a guest of Past President Jason Parker, who spoke on behalf of Windstream to the effect that his company is now subsidizing new dedicated fiber connections for 1,500 businesses. Available for a flat fee which is determined on a case-by-case basis, these will run over both the internet and a company network.
President Greg also recognized two representatives of Hull Property Leasing Group, John Hudson and Chris Jackson, for an update on the renovation of the former Walnut Square Mall, which the Hull Group now owns. Chris pointed out that his firm specializes in downsizing and redeveloping outdated malls; referring to handouts distributed on each table, Chris remarked that the spaces once occupied by Sears and by the theaters have been demolished and that similar work is ongoing where Penney’s once stood. His company looks forward to a revitalization of the whole district around the mall, and he expressed gratitude for the cooperation extended by the City of Dalton and the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce. New tenants for currently empty spaces are being pursued, and construction of new entrances and other access points should be completed by the late summer of 2019.
Past President Bruce Satterfield reminded members that sign-up sheets to assist at the Ronnie McClurg Invitational Track Meet on March 23 are now available; this is one of the Club’s signature events and everyone is urged to help out. Jason Parker pointed out that sponsors are still needed for the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament on April 9, and he also encouraged members to consider service to District 6910 by offering to succeed him as Assistant District Governor when his term expires in 2020.
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February 19th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Kiker, John |
Kiker, Janice F. |
24-Feb |
|
| Jolly, Becky |
Jolly, Hilliard R. |
25-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
2/20/2007 |
12 |
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
2/23/2016 |
3 |
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
2/23/2010 |
9 |
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
2/23/2010 |
9 |
|
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
2/23/2016 |
3 |
|
| Smith, Ralph (RALPH) |
2/24/1998 |
21 |
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
2/24/1998 |
21 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
Susan |
23-Feb |
45 |
|
2019 Rotary Golf
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The Creative Arts Guild: New Musical Offerings In Daltonby John Hutcheson
Community Service Chair John Wilson introduced Charlsey Etheridge, Concert Director for the Creative Arts Guild and a noted singer and songwriter who has returned to her native Dalton after thirteen years in Nashville, where she worked with the Allman Brothers and other musical luminaries. A graduate of Southeast Whitfield High School, Charlsey earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Lee University and went on to live on Maui for a year and played with members of Fleetwood Mac. She returned to Dalton after a seventeen-absence because of health problems, but while in college she had taught at the CAG and was familiar with its work. After renewing that connection through Music Director Lisa Elders, she consulted with Executive Amanda Brown to make the Guild a more frequent performance venue by a revival of its earlier concert presentations. Under the new heading of InConcert Series: Stories & Song, this would have a mission to “provide a look inside the artist’s mind and creative process as each will share the stories behind the song.”
Charlsey Etheridge
With programs in Jonas Performance Hall on the third Friday evening of each month from October through May of 2017-2018, InConcert’s first season proved very successful, and a second series is now underway from January to May of 2019, supported by a grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia which enables engagement of artists from outside the immediate area. This season’s five events focus on songwriters and solo artists, including performances by Nashville singer and songwriter Amanda Colleen Williams, guitarist and songwriter Paul Childers of Nashville, jazz vocalist and ukulele artist Abigail Flowers from Nashville, Dalton songwriters Ben Honeycutt, Charlsey Etheridge, Earl Brackin, and Tiffany Beavers, and “songwriter’s songwriter” Nathan Bell of Chattanooga.
David Aft, President of the Community Foundation, spoke briefly about the Summer Music Series at Burr Park in downtown Dalton, which will run on Friday evenings from May 31 to August 2 with an encore show on September 27 when a major softball tournament will be underway in Dalton. Originated by the Dalton Convention and Visitors Bureau about eight years ago, the series is now supported by the CVB, the Burr Park Foundation, and Dalton Utilities. Its diverse offerings range from rock to big band sounds, and as one of at least five musical venues available to downtown visitors on summer Friday evenings, it does much to make Dalton a destination for good live music.
Announcements and Recognitions
Past President Bruce Satterfield announced that sign-up sheets to assist at the Ronnie McClurg Invitational Track Meet on March 23 are now available; this is one of the Club’s signature events and everyone is urged to help out. Past President John Richmond noted that there were flyers on each table showing the discounted rates for the District 6910 Conference in Greenville, SC on May 2-6. 2019, and added that Greenville has been rated one of the country’s nine best cities for weekend getaways. Past President David Aft reminded members about the presentation of Believe Dalton’s Downtown Master Plan at Stage 123 this evening at 6:00. President Greg advanced Rotarian Kimberly Mixer from red badge to blue badge standing. Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett recognized Bruce Satterfield as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow along with Bill Blackman and Lowell Kirkman, who have each become triple Paul Harris Fellows. Smitty alluded to the Club’s ongoing campaign to have 100% of its members become Paul Harris Fellows and he urged those having extra Paul Harris points to consider donating them to others who are only a short way from attaining their initial Paul Harris recognition.
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Paul Harris Pic
Paul Harris Fellows
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February 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
12-Feb |
|
|
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
14-Feb |
|
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr. (ROBERT) |
15-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Henson, Jean |
Henson, Paul E. Jr. |
14-Feb |
|
| Denson, Andrea |
Denson, Jason B |
16-Feb |
|
| Chambliss, Alex |
Chambliss, Darla P |
18-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
2/15/2000 |
19 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
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2019 Vocational Service Awards For First Respondersby John Hutcheson
Alex Brown, Vocational Service Chair, announced the 2019 Vocational Service Awards for First Responders, recognizing those who have gone above and beyond regular duty and are exemplary members of their professions, embodying the Rotary ideal of Service Before Self. Each award honors an individual who has excelled in his or her profession either through a single event or a career-long contribution of sustained, worthy performance. This year’s recipients and their presenters are as follows:
From the Dalton Fire Department, Chief Todd Pangle presented Engineer Dale Reed, a member of the Department since 2011 who was recognized by his peers as the 2019 Firefighter of the Year. Dale has shown unexcelled loyalty to the Department, in which he leads recruits in physical training sessions every morning during the fifteen-week program, and he imparts his desire to be physically fit by leading his assigned company in physical training during every shift. Outside his scheduled duties he is very engaged in preparing local candidates for the Georgia Smoke Diver program, and during the past year he was involved in two incidents which resulted in unit citations for exceptional performance.
Engineer Dale Reed
From the Dalton Police Department, Assistant Chief Chris Crossen presented Officer Bart Chandler, who joined the Department in 2013 and after service in the Patrol Division was assigned to Dalton High School as the School Resource Officer. On February 28, 2018 he managed police response to a possible Active Shooter incident at the school and persuaded a barricaded subject to surrender safely and without injury to anyone while the school was under evacuation. His careful building of relationships with coworkers enabled him to take control of a dangerous situation and end it peacefully.
Officer Bart Chandler
From Hamilton EMS, Director Scott Raedeker presented Lieutenant Randy Goodwin, who facilitated the recent designation of HEMS as an accredited ambulance service—one of only 300 in the U.S. and 8 in Georgia, where HEMS is the only one connected with a hospital. This entailed a very thorough three-day inspection, led by a notably rigorous evaluator, which ended without any negative citations. Randy is also part of the Heart of Hamilton Committee, an employee recognition program which focuses on providing the highest quality of patient care.
EMS Lt. Randy Goodwin
From the Whitfield County Fire Department, Battalion Chief Tim Stephens presented Firefighter Sam Hammontree, who started with the Department in September, 2008 as a volunteer, became a full-time member in October, 2012, and was selected as Firefighter of the Year for 2018. He has proven to be an excellent leader, ensuring that his men are well-trained, and he has become deeply involved in the driver-operator class. He consistently goes well above what’s expected of him and has engaged in much off-duty work such as Santa in Uniform and Teen Maze.
Firefigther Sam Hammontree
From the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Department, on behalf of Sheriff Scott Chitwood who had an obligation elsewhere, Captain Wes Lynch presented Deputy Jaime Haynes, who works in the Detention Division and supervises the inmate work crew. He has assisted with numerous tasks in support of local agencies, county projects, and other efforts to serve the community. Among these are helping the Board of Elections in setting up voting booths, moving equipment, mowing and grounds keeping around many county buildings, removing tons of trash from roadways, and refurbishing various county properties. For all of these he has won high praise for his dedication and attention to detail. He has provided inmates with opportunities to reform themselves while learning positive work ethics, and he has substantially reduced county costs on many major projects. Motivated by the ideal of servant leadership, he exemplifies Rotary’s values and goals.
Deputy Jaime Haynes
President Greg concluded the meeting with a statement of thanks to all First Responders as well as those being recognized today.
Announcements
Past President John Richmond noted that there were flyers on each table showing the discounted rates for the District 6910 Conference in Greenville, SC on May 2-6. 2019. As this will be the weekend of the Kentucky Derby, the Conference will be appropriately themed. He also asked Club members to look at the video about the origins and operations of the Georgia Rotary Student Program, which President Greg will make available online, prior to next week’s program on the GRSP.
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January 29th Birthdays and Annviersaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
3-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Chappell, Bennieta |
Chappell, William J. |
29-Jan |
|
| Weaver, Virginia |
Weaver, William B |
1-Feb |
|
| Barnwell, Delle |
Barnwell, William L |
2-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
2/1/1989 |
30 |
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
2/1/1996 |
23 |
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
2/1/1981 |
38 |
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
2/1/1979 |
40 |
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
2/1/1996 |
23 |
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2/1/1972 |
47 |
|
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
2/3/2015 |
4 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
February 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
24-Jan |
|
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
27-Jan |
|
|
| Carter, Teresa (TERESA) |
28-Jan |
|
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
3-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Chappell, Bennieta |
Chappell, William J. |
29-Jan |
|
| Weaver, Virginia |
Weaver, William B |
1-Feb |
|
| Barnwell, Delle |
Barnwell, William L |
2-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
1/23/2001 |
18 |
|
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
1/27/2009 |
10 |
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
2/1/1989 |
30 |
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
2/1/1996 |
23 |
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
2/1/1981 |
38 |
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
2/1/1979 |
40 |
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
2/1/1996 |
23 |
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2/1/1972 |
47 |
|
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
2/3/2015 |
4 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
Catamount Catabots: DHS Roboticsby John Hutcheson
President Greg introduced Dr. Larry Tripp, Work-Based Learning Coordinator for Dalton Public Schools, who in turn recognized four members of the Dalton High Catabots, along with Jessica Ashlock, engineering teacher at DHS, and Kelsey Pelham a mechanical engineer at Shaw Industries and one of the Catabots’ external mentors. He also introduced Jerome, the robot built by the DHS team for the 2018 FIRST Robotics (FRC) World Competition, held in Houston, Texas. With an event theme of “Power Up,” which involved weighing and placing boxes, this was the Catabots’ rookie competition, and Jerome placed 41st in a field of 61.
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Jerome and the Catabots
During a demonstration of Jerome’s capabilities, Catabots members noted that—contrary to gender-based stereotyping—32% of their team is female. Although strongly loyal to Dalton High, they work cooperatively with groups from Murray County and North Murray High Schools; these three teams are the only ones in the state from north of Atlanta. In competitions, each team has forty days to build their robot, which cannot exceed $5,000 in costs. To qualify for the World Competition, a team must also compete in at least two district-level qualification events, and if successful there, go on to qualify in the statewide competition. One of the local district qualification competitions will be held on March 7-9 at the Dalton Convention Center with 40 competitors, and the public is invited to attend. This year’s theme of “Deep Space” is being actively supported by NASA and will focus on tasks necessary for working in space.
Like other teams, the Catabots depend on individual and corporate contributions to cover the expenses of robot construction and travel to competitions; team participation in last year’s Houston event cost $18,000. Among local corporate sponsors were Shaw Industries, Mohawk Industries, Dalton Utilities, Alliance for Innovation and Sustainability (AIS), Densmore Machine, North Georgia EMC, Carstar Auto Body Repair Experts, Java Junction of Calhoun, Los Pablos, Bear Paper Tube, and JMW, Inc. of Dalton. Additional supporters will, of course, be warmly welcomed.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Greg reminded wearers of Red Badges about opportunities to achieve Blue Badge standing over the next quarter, and he again requested suggestions for the few program openings remaining during the first half of 2019. He also noted that next week’s program will consist of the annual Vocational Service Awards, showing off the Club’s recognition of leaders among our public servants.
|
January 22nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
24-Jan |
|
|
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
27-Jan |
|
|
|
| Carter, Teresa (TERESA) |
28-Jan |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Years(P) |
Total |
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
1/23/2001 |
18 |
0 |
18 |
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
1/27/2009 |
10 |
12 |
22 |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
The Future Of Rotary In Daltonby John Hutcheson
President Greg announced that the scheduled program had been unexpectedly cancelled, and in its place he asked for an open discussion about how to improve the Club and further its work in the Dalton/Whitfield community. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead recalled that his father was a Rotarian for many years and placed a high value on his membership—for him the noon hour on Tuesdays was nothing less than “sacred.” Since then, Rotary in Dalton has changed dramatically and may no longer warrant perception simply as “a group of white-haired old men.” Most obviously, females now comprise 35%-40% of current membership, and while Rotary’s central principle remains “service above self,” the Club needs to reinvent itself to be more effective within that ideal. Our membership is stable at about 125, but we need to grow it, particularly by attracting younger people in their 20’s and 30’s. The Club needs to reach out more directly and raise its profile in the community, perhaps by televising its meetings on social media or by establishing satellite clubs. In any event, ideas “outside the box” are eagerly solicited and will be warmly welcomed.
Past President Bill Bowen spoke briefly about his early days in the Club. Sponsored by Paul Henson, he entered when membership was much smaller, weekly attendance averaged around 80%, and nearly everyone was assigned an active role in the Club’s work. Future growth should focus on encouraging commitment as well as increasing numbers.
President Greg and Secretary-Treasurer Frank noted that Rotary International recognizes the changing nature of local clubs and the desirability of growing RI’s membership beyond the one-million mark around which it has hovered for many years. To that end, changes in the organization’s by-laws have led to greater flexibility in the definition of membership, attendance obligations, and other structural areas.
International Service Chair Archana Srivistava spoke to the need for raising the Club’s visibility through more innovative community projects. President-Elect Amanda Reed suggested that Club members might wear some sort of identifying clothing, at least when publicly engaged in Club work, and Margaret Venable indicated that it might be well for members to wear their Rotary pins during the day on Tuesdays, which could invite questions about Rotary from non-Rotarians. Hilliard Jolly called on the Club to enhance its visibility in downtown Dalton by forming partnerships with entities such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Dalton Downtown Development Authority, and President-Elect Amanda noted that along these lines on March 21 there will be a Family of Rotary open house at 201 S. Hamilton Street in coordination with the Chamber of Commerce, with vouchers available for use at several downtown restaurants. Judy Elliott urged the Club to continue its presence at the Chamber’s annual Business Expo, and President Greg called for more social activities and community programming through aid to non-profit organizations and other agencies needing Rotary’s help—a promising way to attract socially-minded younger members. President-Elect Amanda recommended specialized events such as a women’s gathering, and Youth Service Chair Ricky Robertson reiterated the necessity of using social media more extensively, including video clips of Rotary at work. President Greg mentioned opportunities for service on District 6910 committees. Potentially most helpful was Bill Blackman suggestion for a committee of younger Club members to generate ideas which might hold special appeal for their cohort and could serve as starting points for specific actions.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Greg extended condolences to the family of Dr. Sherwood Jones, a member of the Club for more than fifty years, who passed away on January 3. He also requested suggestions for the few program openings remaining during the first half of 2019 and announced a Board meeting following today’s lunch meeting. Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett recognized Rotarian Paul Alderman as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow.
 
Paul Alderman, Rotary Board Meeting
|
|
January 15th Birthdays and Anniversaries
|
Jan. 15th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
15-Jan |
|
|
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
17-Jan |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Smith, Rebecca |
Smith, Clark C. |
18-Jan |
|
|
| Tatum, Sharon |
Tatum, Laurice A. |
20-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Years(P) |
Total |
| Gazaway, Kristie (KRISTIE) |
1/17/2017 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
1/18/2011 |
8 |
0 |
8 |
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
1/19/2010 |
9 |
0 |
9 |
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
1/19/2010 |
9 |
0 |
9 |
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
1/20/2015 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
1/20/2015 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
Kimberly |
19-Jan |
6 |
|
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
Mark |
19-Jan |
6 |
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
Sarah |
20-Jan |
51 |
|
|
1/15 Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
15-Jan |
|
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
17-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Smith, Rebecca |
Smith, Clark C. |
18-Jan |
|
| Tatum, Sharon |
Tatum, Laurice A. |
20-Jan |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Gazaway, Kristie (KRISTIE) |
1/17/2017 |
2 |
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
1/18/2011 |
8 |
|
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
1/19/2010 |
9 |
|
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
1/19/2010 |
9 |
|
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
1/20/2015 |
4 |
|
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
1/20/2015 |
4 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
Kimberly |
19-Jan |
6 |
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
Mark |
19-Jan |
6 |
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
Sarah |
20-Jan |
51 |
|
DHS Roboticsby John Hutcheson
President Greg introduced Dr. Larry Tripp, Work-Based Learning Coordinator for Dalton Public Schools, who in turn recognized four members of the Dalton High Catabots, along with Jessica Ashlock, engineering teacher at DHS, and Kelsey Pelham a mechanical engineer at Shaw Industries and one of the Catabots’ external mentors. He also introduced Jerome, the robot built by the DHS team for the 2018 FIRST Robotics (FRC) World Competition, held in Houston, Texas. With an event theme of “Power Up,” which involved weighing and placing boxes, this was the Catabots’ rookie competition, and Jerome placed 41st in a field of 61.
DHS Catabots
During a demonstration of Jerome’s capabilities, Catabots members noted that—contrary to gender-based stereotyping—32% of their team is female. Although strongly loyal to Dalton High, they work cooperatively with groups from Murray County and North Murray High Schools; these three teams are the only ones in the state from north of Atlanta. In competitions, each team has forty days to build their robot, which cannot exceed $5,000 in costs. To qualify for the World Competition, a team must also compete in at least two district-level qualification events, and if successful there, go on to qualify in the statewide competition. One of the local district qualification competitions will be held on March 7-9 at the Dalton Convention Center with 40 competitors, and the public is invited to attend. This year’s theme of “Deep Space” is being actively supported by NASA and will focus on tasks necessary for working in space.
Like other teams, the Catabots depend on individual and corporate contributions to cover the expenses of robot construction and travel to competitions; team participation in last year’s Houston event cost $18,000. Among local corporate sponsors were Shaw Industries, Mohawk Industries, Dalton Utilities, Alliance for Innovation and Sustainability (AIS), Densmore Machine, North Georgia EMC, Carstar Auto Body Repair Experts, Java Junction of Calhoun, Los Pablos, Bear Paper Tube, and JMW, Inc. of Dalton. Additional supporters will, of course, be warmly welcomed.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Greg reminded wearers of Red Badges about opportunities to achieve Blue Badge standing over the next quarter, and he again requested suggestions for the few program openings remaining during the first half of 2019. He also noted that next week’s program will consist of the annual Vocational Service Awards, showing off the Club’s recognition of leaders among our public servants.
|
Christmas Music 2018by John Hutcheson
Rotarian Tommy Willingham, Senior Pastor of Dalton’s First United Methodist Church, introduced the day’s program, noting that the FUMC Children’s Choir, who presented Christmas music to the Club in 2017, was precluded from doing so this year by their school obligations. In their place, he engaged the Sounds of Joy, a group of singers from various Dalton churches who are led by Jeff Harbin, FUMC’s Director of Music. This group, which has existed for about 25 years, prepares four programs annually, each of which is performed four to six times in hospitals, nursing homes, senior centers, and other places where an infusion of uplift and joy is especially needed and appreciated.
The Sounds Of Joy
Under Jeff’s leadership, the Sounds of Joy presented a sequence of familiar Christmas carols in a sing-along format. President Greg closed by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, reminding members that the Club’s next meeting would be on January 8, 2019.
Announcements
President Greg welcomed the DSC basketball team as the Club’s guests as well as the members of the Sounds of Joy, presenters of today’s program. He also requested suggestions for the few program openings remaining during the first half of 2019. Past President Bill Bowen reported that the Club raised $1,549 for the Salvation Army by ringing the Christmas bell at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Bryman Plaza, exceeding the $1,515 raised there last year.
|
January 8th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
9-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Kelehear, Pat |
Kelehear, Leon S. |
12-Jan |
|
| Wright, Betty |
Wright, William B. Jr. |
14-Jan |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
Ricky |
8-Jan |
19 |
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
Cherri |
8-Jan |
19 |
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
Hilda |
12-Jan |
44 |
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
Jean |
13-Jan |
57 |
|
Recruiting New Industry To Dalton/Whitfieldby John Hutcheson
Rotarian Rob Bradham, President of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce, introduced Rotarian Carl Campbell, who has been Executive Director of the Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority since April 2015, and Ali Harp, Project Manager for the JDA since May 2017. As Executive Director, Carl’s responsibilities include project attraction and recruitment of new businesses, retention of existing businesses, and assistance to small businesses. Rob characterized him as the embodiment of Rotary’s Four-Way Test.
Carl Campbell
Carl began his presentation with an update on the new presence in Whitfield County of Hanwha Q Cells, a South Korean leader in global solar technology. By investing $130 million to manufacture photovoltaic modules in a 350,000-square-foot facility in Carbondale Business Park, the company is creating 525 new jobs. Construction began in June 2018, and test production is already underway on a 24/7 basis. Full production is scheduled to begin in January 2019—a rare example of meeting a very ambitious deadline.
Moving on to the broader matter of industry recruitment, Carl noted that Whitfield County’s population is 105,863, of whom 56,560 are employed, and the average wage is $15.31 per hour. Dalton is one of the few communities in Georgia with a growing manufacturing sector. Although it is the 28th largest city in the state, it is third in manufacturing, and the JDA’s mission is improve upon that. Diversification is a major need; while 37% of the county’s jobs are in manufacturing, 25% of these are in only three companies: Shaw Industries, with 6,593 jobs; Mohawk Industries, with 4,100; and Engineered Floors, with 3,100. Production now exceeds pre-recession levels, but jobs in carpet have declined since 2008, partly from labor-saving technological advances and partly from a shift in consumer preferences from carpet to hard-surface flooring which is likely to continue. However, none of Dalton’s three biggest flooring companies have developed hard-surface manufacturing facilities here. It’s notable that whereas eight years ago about 5,000 people lived in Dalton but worked elsewhere, now that figure is around 17,000. These include some of the community’s best and brightest, and they need to be brought home.
Looking ahead, Carl mentioned three companies planning to locate or expand in Dalton. Reagent Chemical and Research, whose White Flyer product makes it the world’s largest maker of clay shooting targets, will invest $11 million and create 38 jobs. Healthier Choice Flooring, a producer of frothed polyurethane foam cushions and carpets, will invest $13 million and create 25 jobs, and Core Scientific’s data center will bring in $43 million and create 60 jobs. In addition, three other companies, whose identities are presently confidential, are planning establishments in Dalton. Two of these—one large and one small—are already in town, and all will contribute to economic diversification.
Carl pointed to several disadvantages affecting JDA’s recruitment efforts, requiring it to pass up thirteen of the last fifteen opportunities for development. One of these is the lack of properties with direct rail service—currently the community has none, even though it lies astride two major railroads. Another is a shortage of satisfactory buildings or building sites which can appeal to companies considering a Dalton-Whitfield location. Right now there are no available buildings with less than 38,000 or more than 50,000 square feet. Many apparently vacant buildings are actually in use as storage, and most easily buildable sites, where land is flat and dry, are already occupied. The Carbondale Business Park has 175 acres still open, but most of this is in relatively small plots of five to ten acres.
Problems such as these are characteristic of maturity in both local industry and the town itself, but they do not negate opportunities for the JDA to promote improvements. One such area is housing, especially in multi-family formats, and another is retailing, for which there is more demand than many people realize. Under-utilized properties can be cleaned up or recycled with the support of brownfield grants, which the JDA can aid in obtaining. Similar help is available for compliance with existing obligations, a function consuming between 30% and 40% of JDA’s staff time. Besides the assistance this gives to local businesses, as an agency receiving financial support from the city and county JDA must hold companies accountable for savings secured from tax exemptions used in recruiting them to the area or encouraging their growth; if a company fails to fulfill agreed-upon goals or promises, they will be liable for the appropriate unpaid taxes.
The JDA can help newcomers by directing them to the proper authorities for obtaining requisite permits, by advising on cost savings to be gained through tax abatements, and by pursuing infrastructure grants. Through all this, however, it’s important to remember that most local growth comes through existing businesses and that every effort should be made to keep them here.
In answer to a question about the impact of the new Inland Port in Murray County, Carl said that it is a definite attraction for industrial prospects, and he noted that around 2,500 workers come to Dalton from Murray County. Responding to a question about the future of the former Walnut Square Mall, he likened the task to that of turning 15¢ into 35¢. The mall will never again be what it once was, but under its new owners it should stabilize and attract new merchants while also leaving more than twenty acres for future development.
Announcements
Past President Bill Bowen reminded members that the Club is responsible this week for ringing the Salvation Army Christmas bell at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Bryman Plaza. Sign-up sheets are next to the badge table and a few openings remain.
|
December 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
1-Jan |
|
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
4-Jan |
|
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
7-Jan |
|
|
| Payne, Charles F Jr (CHUCK) |
22-Dec |
|
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
26-Dec |
|
|
| Parrott, V DeForrest III (DEFORREST) |
30-Dec |
|
|
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
30-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Blackman, Linda |
Blackman, Bill M |
1-Jan |
|
| Farmer, Sierra |
Farmer, Joseph |
3-Jan |
|
| Burt, Roger |
Burt, Amanda |
5-Jan |
|
| Schwell, Judy |
Schwenn, John O. |
7-Jan |
|
| Barnett, Tammy |
Barnett, George S. |
18-Dec |
|
| Taylor, Joanie |
Taylor, Zachary |
24-Dec |
|
| McLeod, Carolyn (CAROL) |
McLeod, Robert S. |
27-Dec |
|
| Sanders, Mary Etta |
Sanders, Drayton M II |
28-Dec |
|
| Minter, Melissa |
Minter, B. Scott |
28-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
1/1/1986 |
33 |
|
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
1/1/1976 |
43 |
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
12/31/1999 |
19 |
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
12/31/2002 |
16 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Payne, Charles F Jr(CHUCK) |
Angelina |
2-Jan |
31 |
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
Pauline |
3-Jan |
5 |
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
Tray |
7-Jan |
13 |
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
|
18-Dec |
58 |
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
Dell |
18-Dec |
47 |
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
Sierra |
20-Dec |
9 |
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
Carolyn (CAROL) |
21-Dec |
53 |
| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
Zach |
22-Dec |
11 |
| Cope, Don (DON) |
Laurie Lee |
24-Dec |
5 |
| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
Mary |
25-Dec |
4 |
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
Lou |
26-Dec |
20 |
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
Nancy |
27-Dec |
45 |
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
Becky |
29-Dec |
51 |
| Sanford, Robert Mitchell (MITCH) |
Teresa |
30-Dec |
28 |
|
Growing Local Leadershipby John Hutcheson
President Greg introduced Rotarian Chris Cooke, noting regretfully that on December 11 Chris will begin a new job in Chattanooga which will remove him from the very active role he’s played in the Dalton community and the Rotary Club of Dalton
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Chris Cooke
Chris acknowledged that he hates to leave Dalton after 24 years here. He has been gratified to share his knowledge of this community through working with two programs sponsored by the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce—Leadership Dalton and the Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI). Of the two, Leadership Dalton is better known than ELI, which is much more than simply “baby Leadership Dalton” and deserves a wider familiarity than it currently has.
ELI focuses on building leaders and averting habits and practices that contribute to bad leadership. Working with young, energized people, it seeks to develop good leadership skills through understanding and action. A good illustration of its approach can be found in a book called Working for You Isn’t Working for Me by Katherine Crowley. As an example of bad leadership, Chris described the “sticky-note boss,” who ended each day by placing sticky notes on his employees’ desks in which he described their mistakes, flaws, or other negatives he had observed during the day while never giving any positive encouragement.
The ELI program comprises six day-long sessions over several months, typically between January and May. The curriculum includes the following:
Session 1: a one-day retreat devoted to orientation, team building, community demographics, and understanding community leadership. This is Chris’s favorite session, especially the component on demographics in which he points out generally overlooked facts about Dalton. For example, the largest foreign population in Dalton comes from Guatemala, not Mexico, and the four most commonly spoken languages are, in descending order, English, Spanish, Urdu, and Gujarati. He also emphasizes the importance of seeing people as people rather than simply as economic resources.
Session 2: Emotional intelligence and Effective Communication. Chris pointed out that one important element of emotional intelligence is a sense of humility, which he sees as frequently lacking in the 20- to 30-year-old cohort that’s one of ELI’s main target groups. Communication is critical to leadership. Senders and receivers each bear responsibility for it, as Chris demonstrated through a “snowflake” exercise in which Club members were asked to follow simple instructions to create a paper snowflake. (The results varied widely.)
Session 3: Group Problem Solving & Decision Making and Managing Conflict. Dealing with conflict—which inevitably arises in group situations—is something the young often have little experience in and need carefully designed training to deal with constructively.
Session 4: Group Dynamics and Understanding Generational Differences. Effective group work requires members to understand each other’s perceptions and approaches. This is frequently evident in generational relations, since younger persons are more likely than their elders to ask “why” about matters or issues usually taken as settled. At the same time, they may also need to learn accountability, which is a starting point for good leadership
Session 5: Valuing Community Diversity and Building communities through Partnerships and Collaboration. Working across organizational or other boundaries can generate broader and deeper understanding of a problem and prevent its being made more complicated than necessary.
Session 6: Volunteerism. ELI encourages its participants to take their leadership skills into the community as widely as they can.
While ELI is geared toward individuals in their 20’s and 30’s, there is no age limit on participation. Properly trained, anyone can become an effective leader, although it is true that some persons may have inborn characteristics which will make them particularly able to benefit from the training.
Announcements
Past President Bill Bowen reminded members that the Club will be responsible for ringing the Salvation Army Christmas bell at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Bryman Plaza from 10th to the 16th of December; sign-up sheets are next to the badge table. Those who prefer not to ring may contribute $10 in lieu of a one-hour shift, or they may commit to a Gold Kettle by pledging to match one day’s total intake at the Bryman Plaza site.
|
December 11th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Dec |
|
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
14-Dec |
|
|
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. (MAURICE) |
17-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| McClure, Storm |
McClure, Douglas E |
12-Dec |
|
| Pratt, Shaun |
Pratt, Vallarie D. |
12-Dec |
|
| Poehlman, Sally |
Poehlman, John H. |
17-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
12/17/2013 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
Joanne |
12-Dec |
59 |
|
December 4th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
4-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Mooney, Bobby |
Mooney, Patricia H |
5-Dec |
|
| Parrott, Eugenia |
Parrott, V DeForrest III |
10-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
12/6/2016 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
Alicia |
5-Dec |
26 |
| Willingham, Tommy G (TOMMY) |
Denise |
6-Dec |
43 |
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
Betty |
7-Dec |
50 |
|
Dalton Utilities Optilink: Video Reimagined Monday, December 3, 2018 By Gregory J Dent by John Hutcheson
Rotarian Tom Bundros, Dalton Utilities CEO, introduced Hank Blackwood, DU/OptiLink Chief Technical Services Officer. A graduate in civil engineering from Georgia Tech, Hank has been with DU for 26 years and has led the implementation of VidLink, OptiLink’s new video streaming service.
Hank Blackwood
OptiLink began in 1993, and while the ensuing fifteen years have seen great technological advances, these have been most apparent in OptiLink’s provision of Internet access. Periodic modifications and adjustments notwithstanding, the cable television service has lagged behind the system’s other offerings, even as equipment grows obsolete, replacement parts become difficult to obtain, and programming costs increase rapidly—one Chattanooga station, for example, which was formerly free now charges $4 per month per subscriber. High definition reception is becoming the normal expectation of more and more customers, who also dislike cumbersome set-top boxes and look for ways to watch television wherever they may be on whatever smart devices they have at hand.
VidLink is designed to meet these demands and others through wireless, Internet-based technology. Personalization allows up to five members of a household to customize their viewing preferences within a single application. All channels are in high definition where HD programming is available, with instantaneous, undelayed access. Internet delivery enables cloud-based technology to provide complete versatility and maximum security for DVR recording, restarting, and replaying functions, which may be managed remotely by an app for installation on smart phones.
VidLink will work on any television which has an HDML input or converter. For older sets not equipped with Apple or Android technology, Hank recommended using Amazon Fire Sticks, available at a modest cost.
Announcements
President-Elect Amanda Reed reported that about eighty Rotarians picked up catered dishes from the The Chop Shop on November 21 and that all remaining food was donated to the City of Refuge. The Club gave Amanda a round of applause for her conception, organization, and execution of this event.
Past President Bill Bowen announced that the Club will be responsible for ringing the Salvation Army Christmas bell at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Bryman Plaza from 10th to the 16th of December; sign-up sheets are next to the badge table. Those who prefer not to ring may contribute $10 in lieu of a one-hour shift, or they may commit to a Gold Kettle by pledging to match one day’s total intake at the Bryman Plaza site.
Past President John Richmond reminded members that discounted registration fees for the District 6910 Conference in Greenville, SC next May will be available, although at decreasing rates, through March 30, 2019.
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Fighting Poverty At Its Roots: The Salvation Army's Pathway of Hope initiative by John Hutcheson
Rotarian Doug McClure, Captain of the Salvation Army’s Dalton post, began his presentation by pointing out that many people whom the Salvation Army assists relapse into cycles of poverty which persist through multiple generations. To confront this problem, the national Salvation Army has undertaken its Pathway of Hope initiative, providing individualized services to families with children who desire to act to break the cycle of crisis and vulnerability that repeats generation after generation. Seeking to address the root causes of poverty in addition to the Army’s history of compassionate serving, it helps families overcome challenges such as unemployment, unstable housing, and lack of education, leading them down a path toward increased stability and, ultimately, self-sufficiency.
Doug McClure
Across the country the Pathway of Hope currently has four pilot projects, one of which is in Dalton where the Army has been present for seventy years. During that time some of the same families have returned repeatedly, clearly manifesting multi-generational dependence which ultimately leads nowhere. Although only seven families are presently enrolled in the Pathway of Hope program, it’s hoped that 75% of those now receiving assistance will be involved in it a year hence. To qualify, a family must have at least one child under age eighteen and demonstrate an intention to work toward achieving self-sufficiency.
As both cause and effect, poverty goes hand-in-hand with illiteracy, malnutrition, poor health, low-wage career paths, and chronic unemployment or underemployment. A crisis in one or more of these often leads to vulnerability which may be intensified by conditions such as educational failure, illness, addiction, or inadequate housing. From these circumstances the Pathway of Hope is designed to lead to increased stability, hopefulness based on self-confidence, and, finally, independence born of self-sufficiency. Pastoral care is available as an option; although not specifically established to evangelize, the program recognizes the importance of spiritual needs. Case management by Salvation Army personnel is based on client strengths. For example, a person with a job but lacking transportation to reach the workplace may have that provided. In another case, someone needing dental work to improve his or her personal appearance and build confidence about presenting for job interviews may be connected with a dentist who will perform the work free or at an affordable rate in cooperation with the Army—an instance of how the Pathway of Hope program can leverage the Army’s reputation and its wide network of partners.
Proof of the program’s effectiveness rests on several bases. Among participants, 59.75% felt more hopeful and 70.35% reported higher levels of self-sufficiency, to which increased earned income, stable housing, food security, educational perseverance (for adults as well as children), and affordable childcare were contributing factors. Seventy percent have developed personal action plans, and 45% have reduced the barriers impeding their progress toward self-sufficiency. Clients completing the entire program successfully show an average increase in annual income of $2,150 per family and non-cash benefits of $4,830 per family. Participation traditionally lasts for two years, but depending on the circumstances of each case, it may continue as long as needed. However, even if a family leaves prior to completion, they can still gain measurably from as little as three months’ involvement.
Nationwide, Pathway of Hope has reached 1,016 families, with more than 2,000 children. While this is a relatively small number, it reflects the program’s emphasis on quality rather than quantity of service. Locally, a budget of $40,000 was allocated to it, but this will only support participation by eight families. Last year the budget was $48,000, but program expenses reached $62,000. To its credit, Dalton has the second highest number of engaged families in Georgia, and the highest number of successful completions (five families) over the past three years. With 100% of currently engaged families having completed the first round of assessment, the future of Pathway of Hope in Dalton appears promising.
Announcements
In the absence of President Greg, Past President Kevin Brunson called on Club Administration Chair Chris Cooke, who reported that last week’s Over the Edge event at the Landmark Building and the concert by Yacht Rock Review which followed at Burr Park raised about $70,000 for the GreenHouse. President-Elect Amanda Reed reminded the Club about the Rotary Thanksgiving Coffee and Catering Event on Wednesday, November 21, when members are invited to come by The Chop Shop on Cuyler Street between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. for coffee and a catered dish to take home for Thanksgiving dinner.
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November 27th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
23-Nov |
|
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| Underwood, Michelle (SHELL) |
26-Nov |
|
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
1-Dec |
|
|
| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
1-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Wilson, Cynthia |
Wilson, John H |
21-Nov |
|
| Willingham, Denise |
Willingham, Tommy G |
22-Nov |
|
| Jones, Mary Lynn |
Jones, Miller T. |
25-Nov |
|
| Partain, Pam |
Partain, Jack |
26-Nov |
|
| Tripp, Charlie |
Tripp, Larry E. |
26-Nov |
|
| Chute, Bob |
Chute, Patricia M |
27-Nov |
|
| Maret, Carla |
Maret, Michael S. |
3-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
11/20/2012 |
6 |
|
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
11/20/2001 |
17 |
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
11/20/2012 |
6 |
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
11/22/2011 |
7 |
|
| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
11/28/2017 |
1 |
|
| Harlan, Annalee (ANNALEE) |
11/28/2017 |
1 |
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
11/29/2005 |
13 |
|
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
11/29/2005 |
13 |
|
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
11/29/2005 |
13 |
|
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
11/29/2005 |
13 |
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
11/29/2005 |
13 |
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
12/1/1972 |
46 |
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
12/1/1968 |
50 |
|
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
12/1/1976 |
42 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
Sandy |
20-Nov |
53 |
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
Pam |
21-Nov |
32 |
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
Kristy |
21-Nov |
17 |
| Jones, J. Sherwood Jr.(SHERWOOD) |
Jean |
23-Nov |
57 |
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
Melissa |
29-Nov |
21 |
| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
Danielle |
2-Dec |
23 |
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
Kayanne |
3-Dec |
30 |
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November 13th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, November 12, 2018 By Gregory J Dent
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
14-Nov |
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| Pratt, Vallarie D. (VALLARIE) |
16-Nov |
|
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| Barlow, Jonathan L (JONATHAN) |
19-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Cope, Laurie Lee |
Cope, Don |
13-Nov |
|
| Miller, Sara |
Miller, Charles Dalton |
15-Nov |
|
| Dickson, Sherry |
Dickson, Thomas S. |
15-Nov |
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| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
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| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
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The Rotary Foundation: Some RemindersMonday, November 12, 2018 By Gregory J Dent by John Hutcheson
Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett challenged all members to become involved with the Foundation, which is Rotary’s most convenient vehicle for enabling Rotarians to become people of action and follow the motto of “Doing Good in the World.” The Foundation has received the highest ratings from a wide range of charity evaluators, for both its stewardship of its assets and its use of them—91% of its funds are spent on programs—and in 2016 it was named the World’s Outstanding Foundation by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Smitty Barnett
The Foundation’s Annual Fund is the principal mechanism for distributing aid and assistance at all levels, from the local to the international. Its six causes include promoting peace, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, and fighting disease. Each of these offers opportunities for individual Rotarians to provide direct support; a good example is that of microloans to grow local self-sustenance in underdeveloped areas. The Fund Share System gives equal amounts to District Designated Funds, on the one hand, and the World Fund on the other. The Foundation’s Global Grants have had very large impacts, most notably the near-eradication of polio. It also helps victims of post-polio syndrome, which Smitty has seen first-hand in his own family. Notably, our Club recently gave $6,200 toward clean water in Africa, an amount eligible to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the District Designated Fund.
Rotary International’s “Every Rotarian Every Year” campaign, centered on growing the number of Paul Harris Fellows, generates a steady flow of support to the Foundation—in 2016 this brought 140.1 million dollars into the Annual Fund and 1,260 projects were approved for underwriting. In 2017-2018, humanitarian grants have totaled $111.5 million and countless lives have been changed, as exemplified in a video Smitty showed about an African polio survivor. Clubs supporting the campaign receive special banners indicating their levels of participation and contribution, and our own Club is striving to achieve a membership of 100% Paul Harris Fellows—currently, 83 of our 120 members have qualified. While a Paul Harris Fellowship requires a member to make cumulative gifts of at least $1,000 (sometimes achieved through the donation of recognition points accumulated by club members who wish to assist others toward qualification as Paul Harris Fellows), contributions of any size become significant when they are leveraged through the Foundation. In addition, the Paul Harris Society recognizes those who pledge at least $1,000 per year to the Foundation, and these gifts now constitute 16% of all annual donations.
Since its establishment in 1917, the Foundation has contributed more than three billion dollars to various projects—a long way from the contribution of $26.50 which established its initial corpus. Local projects partially supported by resources acquired from the Foundation include the Family Crisis Center, the GreenHouse, and the GED preparation program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, which received $3,700 from our Club. Since its beginning, the Club has given more than $461,000 to the Foundation.
Announcements
President Greg urged everyone to vote in today’s elections if they had not already done so, and he also emphasized that Rotary takes great care to remain non-partisan and secular; respect for its members’ diversity is one of its great strengths. Following the program, President-Elect Amanda Reed reminded the Club about the Rotary Thanksgiving Coffee and Catering Event, scheduled for Wednesday, November 21, when members are invited to come by The Chop Shop on Cuyler Street between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. for coffee and a catered dish to take home for Thanksgiving dinner. Also, Past President John Richmond encouraged early registration for the District 6910 Conference next May in Greenville, SC.
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November 6th Birthdays and Annivers
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
6-Nov |
|
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| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
8-Nov |
|
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| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
8-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Campbell, Kristy |
Campbell, J Carl |
11-Nov |
|
| Hawkins, Nancy |
Hawkins, Jim R. |
11-Nov |
|
| Morehouse, Dianne |
Morehouse, Gordon C. |
12-Nov |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
11/10/2015 |
3 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Venable, William M (WILLIAM) |
Ruth |
11-Nov |
2 |
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
S. G. |
12-Nov |
30 |
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Spotlight on Literacyby John Hutcheson
Rotarian Dr. Judy Gilreath, Superintendent of the Whitfield County Schools, emphasized the importance of community partnerships in fostering literacy beyond the classroom, and she introduced three persons who are deeply involved with this effort and have helped make Whitfield County a statewide leader in it. Michelle Caldwell is Elementary School Curriculum Director with the Whitfield County Schools; Suzanne Harbin of Whitfield Family Connection is a member of the Early Education Empowerment Zone (E3Z-North) Birth to Eight Leadership Team; and Stephanie Hogshead is Child Development and Learning Coordinator with the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership. A fourth important figure, Dr. Sharon Hixon, Dean of the School of Education at Dalton State College, was unable to be present.
Michelle spoke about the need to cultivate an appreciation of reading in children from birth to age four, prior to their arrival at school where teachers are already “incredibly busy” with their mandated tasks. Volunteers are urgently needed, and their work can go forward in the context of a large grant from the Governor’s office intended to improve literacy outcomes by focusing on families and promoting positive learning environments at home for students from birth to college. Much guidance comes from Get Georgia Reading, a collaboration of over 100 public and private partners begun by Governor and Mrs. Deal in 2013 in the light of studies showing that reading proficiently by the end of third grade is the leading predictor of high school graduation and that two-thirds of Georgia’s third graders do not meet this benchmark. The campaign’s common agenda consists of four pillars—Language Nutrition, Access, Positive Learning Climate, and Teacher Preparation and Effectiveness—which provide a new way of looking at early literacy and learning during the first eight years of life.
Suzanne said that in 2014 the state granted $203,000 to seven school systems in Northwest Georgia to strengthen childhood literacy programs, and she reemphasized the importance of collaboration. Along with the need to lay foundations for literacy in the preschool years, another challenge arises from the “summer slide,” during which student reading skills may regress as much as a grade level between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next. Dalton-Whitfield Public Library’s Summer Reading Program has been highly effective, and it now reaches out to families unable to come to the main Library by sending out mobile book carts to school libraries which have been opened to receive them—last year this undertaking generated 2,204 visits. Additional resources are also available through Get Georgia Reading, which has been highly successful in Whitfield County.
Stephanie stressed the need to “think outside the box,” citing the examples of the Readers 2 Leaders program and the “Power Lunches” it sponsors to provide distribution of free books at summer USDA feeding sites—another tool for fighting the “summer slide.” She also described the “Book Blasts” which a grant from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement supports at six schools.
Michelle returned to discuss the partnership whereby the Dalton State College School of Education assists Whitfield County Schools with its Learning Academy, an eight-week after-school literacy program that works especially with struggling students and involves all the family members in a student’s residence, using College personnel—faculty and students—to model how students should be supported. Recently the Learning Academy’s assessment of about 100 students showed improvement in attendees of 53% vs. 49% in non-attendees. The College’s “Boots on the Ground” program sends School of Education faculty and students into homes to see problems on site, and “Little Schools” bring College resources into homes during the summers. Family Focus Groups cultivate cooperation between parents and teachers and also contribute to literacy growth among adults—a vital need both in the local area and in the state as a whole, where one in six Georgians are illiterate.
Announcements
President Greg reminded everyone that early voting continues this week. He also noted that the Club has open program dates in March, April, and May, 2019, for which members may make proposals. President-Elect Amanda Reed announced a Rotary Thanksgiving Coffee and Catering Event, scheduled for Wednesday, November 21, when members are invited to come by The Chop Shop on Cuyler Street between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. for coffee and a catered dish to take home for Thanksgiving dinner. Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead reported that last week’s Dunkin’ Donuts “Purple Pinkie” program raised $292; when supplemented by pledges from Tennessee Rotary and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this amount will generate a contribution of $2,190 to Rotary International’s PolioPlus Fund.
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November 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
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Cataract Removal: America's Most Common Eye Surgeryby John Hutcheson
Rotarian Dr. Bill Blackman introduced Dr. Joshua Hendrix, the newest member of Professional Eye Associates. A product of West Virginia by upbringing and education, Josh grew up in Bluefield, and after earning his undergraduate degree summa cum laude and his medical degree from Marshall University in Huntington, he completed his ophthalmology training at the University of Oklahoma.
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Dr. Josh Hendrix
Cataract surgery is one of the most common, successful, and satisfying medical procedures available, and over the past several decades it has become one of the least disruptive to the lives of patients.
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens which scatters and diminishes light reaching the retina. A normal lens should be like clear water, whereas a lens affected by a cataract may be likened to muddy water. Symptoms include faded colors, blurry vision, halos or starbursts around bright lights, and deteriorating night vision. Age is a natural cause, as lens cells retained from childhood grow older, and the condition may be intensified by trauma, exposure to ultraviolet light (especially at high altitudes), smoking, diabetes, or alcohol.
Cataracts in animals can be treated with drops, but this therapy does not work in humans, for whom the only effective remedy is surgery to replace the affected lens, and this is indicated whenever vision deterioration becomes bothersome. Prior to the 1970’s, the procedure involved making a large incision to remove the lens in one piece, requiring general anesthesia with prolonged hospitalization and entailing considerable pain and discomfort. In the mid-1960’s, however, Dr. Charles Kelman of the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital in New York was influenced by his dentist’s use of an ultrasonic probe for cleaning teeth to develop a technique for cataract removal called phacoemulsification. An ultrasonic tip is introduced through a minute incision to break up the lens, allowing the pieces to then be suctioned out, and with limitations on some activities the great majority of patients can resume most normal routines within 24 hours. First applied in 1967 and followed shortly by Dr. Kelman’s development of artificial lenses, the revolutionary new procedure quickly became standard and is now performed more than a million times a year in the U. S. alone. Many lens options are available, and the surgery can also correct astigmatism.
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and at least eighteen million people are blind in both eyes from cataracts. There is an urgent need for more trained eye surgeons; while the U. S. has 10,000 eye surgeons per million population, in China and much of Africa such rates are extremely low—Swaziland, for example, has only one eye surgeon for an entire country with a population of over 1.35 million. Many American ophthalmologists go on what amount to “mission trips” to underserved countries, where their most effective work is to teach local physicians rather than to perform multiple surgeries.
Announcements
Rotarian Lynn Laughter reminded members of the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet this evening, where Governor Nathan Deal will speak. Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead noted that October 24 will be World Polio Day, and in its observance Dalton’s new Dunkin’ Donuts shop has instituted its “Purple Pinkie” program, coordinated by President-Elect Amanda Reed. Boxes of specially made donuts with purple and pink icing were on each table, and for every $2.00 donation Tennessee Rotary will donate $3.00 and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will donate $10.00 to Rotary International toward polio eradication, thus giving each $2.00 contribution from individual Rotarians the power of $15.00.
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October 30 Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Hunt, Russell T (RUSSELL) |
4-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Richmond, Agnes |
Richmond, John D. |
2-Nov |
|
| Kirkman, Lou |
Kirkman, Lowell D. |
4-Nov |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
11/1/1977 |
41 |
|
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
11/1/1989 |
29 |
|
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
11/1/1978 |
40 |
|
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
11/1/1980 |
38 |
|
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
11/1/1981 |
37 |
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
11/1/1982 |
36 |
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
11/1/1985 |
33 |
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
11/1/1972 |
46 |
|
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
11/3/2015 |
3 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
Roger |
30-Oct |
19 |
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Georgia Public Service Commission: Tricia Pridmore, District 5 CommissioerMonday, October 22, 2018 By Gregory J Dent by Betsy Powell and Thanh Nguyen
Rotarian Tom Bundros introduced Tricia Pridemore, Commissioner of the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) from the west Georgia region. She was appointed on February 21, 2018 and is running in the November 6, 2018 general election. With her background in technology, consulting, and workforce development, Pridemore successfully founded, built, and sold a software company with her husband, and she formerly served as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development, which encouraged careers in the energy, transportation, and construction trades throughout Georgia.
Tricia Pridemore
Tricia began by joking that Tom Bundros really wanted to call her “the biggest nerd in the room,” before talking about the goals and the history of the PSC. There are five commissioners on the board: Lauren McDonald representing north Georgia, Tim Echols representing east Georgia, Chuck Eaton representing Atlanta, Doug Everett representing south Georgia, and herself representing west Georgia. The PSC receives commissioners from different regions to ensure equal representation based on the varying needs of consumers.
As Georgia’s oldest state agency, the PSC has always worked to provide Georgia businesses and residents with reliable and affordable telecommunications, electricity, and natural gas. The Public Services Commission acts as the governing and regulatory body for controlling utilities; as a controlled state, Georgia utility companies are able to innovate rather than focusing on bidding out services. This innovation, combined with strong workforce development, encourages outside companies to bring their trade to the state.
Next year, the PSC will be going into detail about their Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The IRP will include a 30-year guidance roadmap on how the state should continue to develop our electric infrastructure, rate case with Georgia Power, and develop a capacity supply plan. Georgia benefits from being a diversified energy state, drawing our power from coal, natural gas, nuclear, as well as some biomass and solar generation. As the PSC looks to the future, they hope to continue to build upon that diverse foundation, allowing Georgia consumers to obtain the lowest cost-per-watt in ways that are more efficient.
Tricia spoke about the coal ash restrictions that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been putting into place in the past decade. Georgia has one of the most robust coal fleets in the nation and the PSC is working to stay ahead of the EPA’s restrictions by finding safe, useful ways to handle coal ash. Some coal ash is used in farming and in construction, and the waste is placed into ponds. Within ten years, the PSC will line and cap five coal ash ponds, creating garden-like spaces, and they will store the remaining ash in more suitable locations throughout the state. The Commission’s goal is “to work ahead of them and not to have to try and catch up with them” when it comes to federal regulations.
Governor Deal signed legislation that will allow the PSC to explore hydraulic fracking in the North Georgia Mountains in the coming years. There is speculation that there may be a sizeable amount of natural gas sitting below the mountains; and if natural gas is found, it will be interesting to see how it will change the costs of gas for the state. Even without fracking, our natural gas plants run with low costs and maximum efficiency.
Georgia is a pro-nuclear state, with 16% of the state’s baseload power being produced between four reactors. Plant Vogtle boasts the only new nuclear construction project in the nation. This construction is approximately two-thirds completed and employs 7,000 people. Tricia noted some of the safety precautions developed for our nuclear power: the units can withstand a direct hit from a 747 airplane; and should anything go wrong, the containers fill with water and drop 80 feet below ground. She compared the growth and low rates in Georgia with California’s renewable standards goal, which has California consumers paying 50% more for their electricity, even before the full implementation of the standards. California has to purchase coal and nuclear power from other states while Georgia is able to produce power.
Finally, Tricia addressed her recent trip to southwest Georgia after Hurricane Michael. She traveled through Colquitt, Donalsonville, Bainbridge, and more. At the height of the devastation, there were more than 400,000 Georgians without power in six counties. In Donalsonville, the majority of the homes are uninhabitable and electrical transmission yards are destroyed. Many pecan trees were wiped out and will require 20-30 years to become productive after being replanted while electric well pumps that provided water for livestock are currently not functioning. It will be a long time before the area is repaired. Currently, there are more than 22,000 people still without power. Tricia has asked Rotarians to pray for able-bodied people who can help with electrical repair, medical services, and help.
Addressing questions asked about Georgia using wind energy, Tricia said that we do not have the topography for power-generating windmills. We do purchase some from Oklahoma. Other questions were about the regulations for fracking and about the decommissioning of nuclear plants in Tennessee.
Announcements
Haig Mill Lake Park Grand Opening: Saturday, October 20th 2018 11am-3pm
Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett recognized Rotarian Norman McCoy for receiving his Paul Harris Fellow +2. Norman McCoy has been a Rotarian for over 51 years.
Norman McCoy
Membership Chair Cherri Robertson inducted new rotary members Russ Hunt and Dale Cruise.
Russ Hunt
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October 22nd Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, October 22, 2018 By Gregory J Dent
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Jones, J. Sherwood Jr. (SHERWOOD) |
29-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
10/25/2016 |
2 |
|
| McClure, Douglas E (DOUGLAS) |
10/25/2016 |
2 |
|
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
10/26/1999 |
19 |
|
| Taylor, Zachary (ZACH) |
10/27/2015 |
3 |
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
10/29/1996 |
22 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
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October 16th Birthdays and Anniversarie
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
16-Oct |
|
|
| Srivastava, Archana |
22-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Ryman, Mary |
Ryman, Milton J. Jr. |
17-Oct |
|
| O'Neill, Lin |
O'Neill, Michael Paul |
19-Oct |
|
| Bowling, Becky |
Bowling, John |
20-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
10/18/2005 |
13 |
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
10/21/2008 |
10 |
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
10/22/2009 |
9 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
Cynthia |
17-Oct |
9 |
| Walker, Natima G (NATIMA) |
Jason |
18-Oct |
15 |
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District Governor Bruce Azevedo Visitsby Thanh Nguyen and Annette Maier
Rotarian Jason Parker introduced Bruce Azevedo, District Governor at Rotary District 6910. Bruce has been President of the Madison County Rotary Club in both 2004 and 2009. He has also served as Assistant Governor, District Foundation Grants Service Chair, and District Global Grants Coordinator. Bruce has also been awarded The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service Award. Not only those, but he is also a retired Navy Supply Chief Warrant Officer with two sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren.
Bruce Azevedo
Bruce began his presentation by going over the details of the Rotary District 6910 conference: Rolling on the River. This conference takes place May 2-5, 2019 at the Hyatt located in Greenville, South Carolina.
Bruce and several of his colleagues recently came back from a trip to Puerto Rico to survey possible projects for Rotary International. They found out that most of Central and North Puerto Rico’s flora and fauna have been wiped out because of flooding from the streams that populate that part of the country. 80% of Puerto Rico’s farming has been wiped out because of the recent disasters. 3% of existing farmland is in operation. One of the main reasons that are preventing farming from returning to its former state is of lack of operational equipment.
Bruce presented three awards for the Rotary Club of Dalton: US$100 average giving with 100% member participation, US$100 per capita with 100% member participation, and a certificate for Financial Support of Ending Polio. Some statistics that Bruce presented: The Rotary Club of Dalton is one of the highest for foundation contributions and in retention of members.
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October 9th Birthdays and Anniversaries By Gregory J Dent
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Gilreath, Judy Ellen (JUDY) |
9-Oct |
|
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
9-Oct |
|
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. (PAUL) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| Watson, Richie P (RICHIE) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| McClure, Douglas E (DOUGLAS) |
15-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Sponcler, Betty |
Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. |
11-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Chute, Patricia M (PAT) |
Bob |
9-Oct |
37 |
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
Sherry |
10-Oct |
31 |
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
Betty |
14-Oct |
60 |
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Uganda: Rotarian Partnerships Making A DifferenceMonday, October 8, 2018by John Hutcheson
Rotarian Deborah Conway introduced Marion Curry, President of the Rotary Club of Tifton, Georgia, who has just returned from her second trip to Uganda as part of a team pursuing Rotary Global projects in rural areas of that country. Following her retirement after a 45-year career in human services working in innovative ways with both non-profit and state-funded agencies and in local and statewide settings, she continues to provide consultation about enabling adults with intellectual disabilities to become valued employees. Her experiences in Uganda have reinforced her belief in the value and strength of Rotary as well as reminding her that we as human beings are more alike than different.
Marion Curry
After conveying greetings from the Tifton Rotary Club, Marion said that her most recent trip to Uganda, from which she returned on September 22, had lasted three weeks and was a “program trip” to look at water projects, schools, and medical clinics in rural districts where needs are greatest.
Uganda is located in the center of East Africa, straddling the equator on the northern side of Lake Victoria, with a population of 39.5 million living in an area almost exactly the size of Georgia. The only big city is the capital, Kampala, with a population of about 1.5 million. While the official language is English, Swahili is also widely spoken, and with a total of 56 languages or dialects, most Ugandans are at least bilingual and many are multilingual—one village leader Marion met could speak fourteen languages. “Children are everywhere,” she said, and are extraordinarily polite and deferential.
Marion travelled as part of a four-member team, led by Larry Rhodes of the Eugene, Oregon Rotary Club, and the other members were also from Oregon, either Eugene or Portland. Ugandans gave each one an African name; on her first trip Marion’s meant “The Harvest,” connoting the happiness and fulfilment Ugandans saw in her personality, and on the second trip her name meant “The Sun” in reference to her nurturing warmth.
Wherever the team visited, local clergy provided guidance and information about the most urgent needs. In the village of Abur, its 6,500 people needed a larger water supply to support a medical clinic and developmental center. Ugandans believe that water, as a gift from God, should be free, but in practice local water boards, while not actually charging for water itself, collect small “maintenance fees” which can be burdensome in deeply poor areas.
Regarding education, Marion pointed out that schooling at all levels must be paid for, with fees increasing the farther one progresses. She showed a video in which a young Ugandan girl, Amusolo Phiona, thanked Rotary for having supported her from primary school through university. Marion’s team visited her family, who welcomed them profusely and insisted on giving them a chicken—an act of truly sacrificial generosity that is characteristic of many Ugandans.
At Aweki Para in the Gula district, during Marion’s first trip to Uganda the team’s visit was unexpected, but the whole village quickly assembled and extended a heartfelt welcome. In 2000, during the Ugandan civil war, the place was the scene of a massacre in which 54 villagers were killed by rebel forces, and the people there are still trying to recover from this tragedy. In a melodious and moving song they expressed their grief, but they also thanked the Rotarians for having come, thereby convincing Marion that she must return to Uganda. Their school was very primitive—little more than an open shelter with a dirt floor. Marion persuaded her club in Tifton to contribute toward its improvement, and they collected $300 for school supplies and textbooks. When she returned last month, Kids of Africa, a Swiss-led organization, had built seven new classrooms, but these still had no desks or supplies, and Marion is now working to raise money for desks.
Eighty kilometers away is the Adashar area, lying in a semi-desert environment. Its six villages, with 5,892 inhabitants, get their water from just two bore holes, requiring most people to walk from one to four kilometers each way to obtain their water, which is carried in heavy jerry cans holding slightly more than five gallons apiece. The Tifton Rotary Club has partnered with the Rotary Club of Soroti, Uganda, to rehabilitate one bore hole, drill two new ones, and provide the pumps, piping, and other equipment necessary to distribute water more widely. The project will cost $105,000 and is currently $55,000 short of its goal. When Marion appealed to our club to join in partnering, Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead announced that he was making a personal contribution immediately and invited others to do the same, with the understanding that the total of these donations would be matched by the Club from its own resources. The eager response was gratifying.
Answering questions, Marion noted that Uganda is a land of great mineral wealth, which the Chinese are widely and vigorously exploiting, often at the expense of the Ugandans themselves. The United States, on the other hand, has largely withdrawn from the region, probably to America’s disadvantage.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Greg reminded members of next week’s visit by District Governor Bruce Azevedo and that there will be a Board meeting prior to the Club’s regular meeting. He also noted an upcoming Rotary Leadership Institute meeting on October 20 which will be an excellent way to learn more about Rotary. Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett invited members to attend the Whitfield Education Foundation Celebrity Spelling Bee at the Dalton Convention Center on November 8, pointing out that several Club members, including Jonathan Barlow, Darby Gooding, Frank Hogshead, John Hutcheson, Douglas McClure, and Ricky Robertson, will be among the competitors.
Smitty also recognized Rotarians Rob Bradham and John Wilson as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellows.
New Paul Harris Fellows
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October 2nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2-Oct |
|
|
| Willingham, Tommy G (TOMMY) |
4-Oct |
|
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
6-Oct |
|
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
7-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Sutherland, Phyllis |
Sutherland, George W. |
5-Oct |
|
| Scott, Robyn |
Scott, Tim |
7-Oct |
|
| Griffin, Brenda |
Griffin, Ronald L |
8-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
10/6/2015 |
3 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
Calli |
4-Oct |
4 |
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Workplace Violenceby John Hutcheson
Club Youth Services Chair Ricky Robertson, Security Officer for the local office of Atlantic Capital Bank, was introduced by his wife, Club Membership Chair Cherri Robertson. After a career in law enforcement, in his current position Ricky is now responsible for a variety of workplace security matters, including training bank employees for dealing with active shooter and other violent events.
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Ricky Robertson
Ricky began by summarizing the three stages of disaster response psychology, which are Denial, Deliberation, and the Decisive Moment. In any disaster situation, it is vital to get from the first to the third stage as quickly as possible. Progress through the denial and deliberation stages is likely to be affected adversely by the physical symptoms of stress response, most notably a rapid rise in heart rate which will shorten reaction time. When the heart rate reaches 150 or more, a mental form of tunnel vision will set in, i.e, the mind panics and focuses on escape at any cost, to the exclusion of reasoned response. To illustrate this, showed part of a video taken during the Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island in 2003 which killed 100 persons. The video graphically showed the event passing from normal to absolute panic in less than three minutes as smoke and flames filled the room. The largest number of fatalities occurred near the narrow passage by which most people had entered the nightclub, and pointed out that one important lesson is the importance of knowing the location of all exits from any space.
When something happens, the first need is to calm oneself by detaching the emotions and shifting them to a “mental script” to guide thought about the best response. This will lead to the decisive moment when it is possible to think most effectively and ACT (a convenient acronym for Action Changes Things). Drawing an example from his deep interest in the Civil War, Ricky mentioned the achievement of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, USA, at the battle of Gettysburg. Following devastating losses while defending the Little Round Top, his quick decision to launch a surprise bayonet charge against attacking Confederates saved the position, the battle, and possibly the war, for the Union cause.
Turning more specifically to active shooter events, Ricky noted that during 2016-2017 there were 50 such incidents in 21 states, causing 943 casualties. Twenty of these involved mass killings, and of the fifty shooters, all were male. Nevertheless, it is not possible to define a standard mass shooter profile. While the stereotype may depict a mentally deficient or unstable person in a trench coat who acts without warning, the reality is that most shooters have an average mindset, and some may even give advance notice of their intentions. They do not fit into a particular demographic—ages, for instance, range from 14 up—and their mental health or rational capacity varies widely, as do their occupations, residential locations, or places of violent action. In any event, however, since the average arrival time for external responders is three minutes, it is important for potential victims to act immediately.
For such action the Department of Homeland Security recommends the formula RUN, HIDE, and FIGHT, in that order of preference. If escape is feasible, persons should run to safety. If immediate escape is impossible, they should hide behind whatever protective barriers may be practicable—locked doors, furniture barricades, etc. Fighting is the riskiest course and probably should be avoided without the possession of weapons. When law enforcement arrives (usually in teams of four), one should remain calm, follow instructions, put down anything in one’s hands, and keep the hands, palms facing outward, visible at all times.
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RYLA Camp: A Life-Changing ExperienceMonday, September 24, 2018 By Gregory J Dent by John Hutcheson
Dr. Larry Tripp, Work-Based Learning Coordinator for Dalton Public Schools, introduced three Dalton High School students—Austin Burt, Hayden Brock, and Sean Pye—who have attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) summer camp, a four-day event designed to build leadership skills which will be useful throughout campers’ lives and enable them to better serve their communities. This year’s students from District 6910 attended camp at the Tallulah Falls School in extreme northeast Georgia.
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Larry Tripp, Austin Burt, Sean Pye, and Hayden Brock
Austin, son of Rotarian Amanda Burt and a junior at DHS, said his favorite activity at camp was white-water rafting for four hours on the Chatooga River. While the first rapids were fun, they were not especially challenging, but the last set, involving a steep drop, was intimidating. The campers passed through them without an accident, but Austin learned a lesson to the effect that little bumps in life may be negotiated easily, but perseverance is necessary to overcome the bigger ones. Of the three evening speakers who addressed the campers, Austin found the first inspirational, the second a bit hard to understand, and the third—a hypnotist—a convincing demonstrator of the point that since one will always have others trying to exercise their influence, it is important to put oneself under the right kind of influences. After returning home, Austin signed up with the Dalton Area Project at his church, First United Methodist, and he has participated in its work to provide home repairs and maintenance for the elderly and disabled. His ultimate goal is to serve the Dalton community through leadership.
Hayden is also a junior at DHS. He declared the camp to be one of the best experiences of his life, with excellent leaders. His favorite activities were hiking and rafting. His best take-away was enrichment of leadership qualities which he will need when he goes into business.
Sean is a senior at DHS who attended RYLA camp two years ago and vividly remembers his leaders and the strenuous demands hiking made on him. He had come to DHS in his sophomore year as a very shy person, but his camping experience brought him out and enabled him to have a much more enjoyable junior year. At camp he got to know many different sorts of people, and he still keeps up with some of his fellow campers. RYLA truly changed his life.
Responding to questions, Larry Tripp noted that acceptance in the RYLA camp program is a competitive process in which forty to fifty boys and girls are selected from among rising high school sophomores and juniors. Each Rotary club in the District may nominate at least two prospective campers, and a club which has surplus nominations may allocate them to another club. In this way the Dalton club in 2018 was able to send six students to RYLA camp, two of whom were sponsored by other clubs.
Announcements
Rotarian Dr. Zach Taylor and his guest, Whitfield County Health Department staff member Shirelle Jones, announced that a Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinic will be in operation at the Dalton Convention Center on October 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead related that Rotarian Shell Underwood and her baby are progressing satisfactorily following extremely serious and life-threatening obstetrical complications.
Rotarian Deborah Conway invited members to attend the Leadercast Women conference to be held on October 12 at Stage 123 in downtown Dalton. Past President John Richmond conveyed an announcement from the GRSP central office concerning the Oslo Scholarship, a fully paid summer scholarship for six weeks in Oslo, Norway; candidates must be 20-24 years old and have completed their sophomore year in college. President Greg asked for volunteers to assist in Teen Maze, a program to encourage personal responsibility among teens by demonstrating the consequences of risky behaviors and life-style choices, and he also appealed for donations to other initiatives dedicated to local issues.
Rotarian Amanda Burt reminded members of the United Way Kickoff and CEO Trike Race scheduled for later today, and Past President and Assistant District Governor Jason Parker informed members about the Citizens Government Academy, a series of presentations on the functions and operations of Dalton’s government scheduled for every Tuesday evening in October. Finally, Rotarian Doug McClure asked for members’ prayers for his wife, who has been sent by the Salvation Army on hurricane relief service to the Myrtle Beach, SC area.
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September 25th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, September 24, 2018
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Mixer, Kimberly J (KIMBERLY) |
25-Sep |
|
|
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
29-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Mixer, Kimberly |
Mixer, Mark S |
25-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
9/27/2011 |
7 |
|
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
9/30/2014 |
4 |
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
9/30/2014 |
4 |
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
10/1/2013 |
5 |
|
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
10/1/2013 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Scott, Tim (TIM) |
Robyn |
26-Sep |
11 |
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
Alex |
28-Sep |
27 |
| Taylor, Zachary (ZACH) |
Joanie |
30-Sep |
23 |
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September 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
22-Sep |
|
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
22-Sep |
|
|
| Williams, Roger (ROGER) |
22-Sep |
|
|
| Cooke, Christopher M (CHRIS) |
24-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Payne, Angelina |
Payne, Charles F Jr |
22-Sep |
|
| Parker, April |
Parker, Hoyt Jason |
24-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
9/20/2016 |
2 |
|
| Chute, Patricia M (PAT) |
9/20/2016 |
2 |
|
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
9/20/2016 |
2 |
|
| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
9/20/2016 |
2 |
|
| Sanford, Robert Mitchell (MITCH) |
9/20/2011 |
7 |
|
| Scott, William M. (WILL) |
9/23/2014 |
4 |
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
9/23/2014 |
4 |
|
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
9/24/2013 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
John |
23-Sep |
57 |
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Greetings From Japan To Geogiaby John Hutcheson
Assistant District Governor and Past President Jason Parker introduced Takashi Shinozuka, who arrived in Atlanta as Consul General of Japan in January, 2016, after completing a prestigious assignment as Vice Grand Master of Ceremonies at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. A graduate of the University of Tokyo in law and political science, Mr. Shinozuka has served in diplomatic posts in Myanmar and the United States, and he first visited Atlanta in 1990 as part of the Japanese Prime Minister’s entourage prior to the G7 meeting in Houston. He is fluent in English and French, and in his Consul General’s position he oversees Japanese diplomatic and economic relations in Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, from which he presented a banner—an especially appropriate gesture since the Atlanta club sponsored the foundation of the Rotary Club of Dalton in 1937.
Takashi Shinozuka
Mr. Shinozuka met ADG Parker when he came to Dalton in June to visit local Japanese companies as part of his work with the Southeast U.S.-Japan Association created in 1976 by then-Georgia Governor George Busbee. On this, the seventeenth anniversary of the 9-ll attacks, he expressed Japan’s deep sympathy for a tragedy which the Japanese people followed very closely, and he noted that the Japanese government participated in support for the post-9-11 coalition of the U.S. and its allies.
Georgia has had an office in Tokyo for 45 years, originally established by Jimmy Carter during his gubernatorial tenure to foster trade and cultural exchanges. Presently there are good relations between Prime Minister Abe and President Trump, furthered by recent conversations between the U.S. and North Korea in Singapore during which the President raised the question of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese citizens as well as mitigating North Korean missile testing across Japanese airspace.
Mr. Shinozuka pointed out that Emperor Akihito will abdicate in April, 2019 and yield the imperial throne to his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, the first such event since 1817.
The U.S. is Japan’s second largest trading partner (after China), and the two countries are currently engaged in FFR (Free, Fair, Reciprocal) trade talks. These are shaped by the American decision to withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), to which Mr. Shinozuka is hopeful the U.S. will someday return. In Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas there are about 140,000 Japanese citizens, out of 800,000 across the entire U.S. In Georgia, over 640 Japanese companies have operations, employing 36,000 Georgians, and Dalton hosts about 100 Japanese, out of around 900 in the state. Having attended the recent opening of the Appalachian Regional Port, he is very optimistic that this impressive asset will open a bright future for international investment in the area.
Japanese companies seeking American locations look for state and local subsidies and incentives, but they are also concerned about the quality of life in prospective sites. Georgia and Japan have had strong cultural ties since the 1920, and these are evidenced today in the big cultural fair planned for next weekend in Gwinnett County and in the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) program—one the world’s largest English teaching programs.
Introductions and Recognitions
Rotarian Bob Caperton introduced Hamp Manning, Project Manager for Hull Property Group of Augusta, Georgia, a firm which works to revitalize distressed shopping malls. Hamp briefly summarized his company’s plans for Walnut Square Mall, which will entail demolition of the spaces formerly occupied by Sears and Penney’s and renovation and renaming of the remaining structure as Dalton Mall.
Past President Chuck Dobbins introduced Bridget Massengill, President and CEO of the Thrive Regional Partnership, a Chattanooga-based initiative for facilitating community growth and development across a sixteen-county tristate region.
Rotarian Doug McClure inducted new member Dr. Tim Scott, Dalton Public Schools Superintendent, who was sponsored by Dr. Jim Hawkins.
Dr. Tim Scott
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September 11th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, September 10, 2018 By Gregory J Dent
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
12-Sep |
|
|
| Gazaway, Kristie (KRISTIE) |
14-Sep |
|
|
| Minor, John Thomas V (JOHN) |
15-Sep |
|
|
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
16-Sep |
|
|
| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
17-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Venable, William M (WILLIAM) |
9/14/2017 |
1 |
|
| Brown, Alex C (ALEX) |
9/14/2017 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
Julie |
12-Sep |
47 |
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
Billie |
13-Sep |
65 |
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
Ann |
14-Sep |
44 |
| Gazaway, Kristie (KRISTIE) |
Johnnie |
17-Sep |
24 |
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
Allen |
17-Sep |
51 |
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News From The Bandy Heritage CenterMonday, September 10, 2018 By Gregory J Dent by John Hutcheson
Acting in Dalton State College President Margaret Venable’s place, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Pat Chute introduced Dr. Adam Ware, recently appointed Director of the Bandy Heritage Center at DSC. Adam is a sixth-generation native of Northwest Georgia, whose ancestral roots extend back to the 1840’s. He grew up in the Dug Gap area and graduated from Dalton High School in 2000. After completing a bachelor of science degree in psychology and a master of arts in religion at the University of Georgia, he earned his doctorate in American Religious History at Florida State University, where he wrote his dissertation on how country music stories are presented in museum settings. While serving for four years as historian and research librarian for the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando, Adam drove collections growth in previously underrepresented areas and facilitated public and research access to the Center’s collections, as well as assisting in the curation of exhibits. He also contributed to the OneOrlando Collection initiative, which collects artifacts and oral histories following the Pulse Nightclub massacre, and he earned the Leadership in History and History in Progress awards from the American Association for State and Local History. Before joining the History Center in 2014, he taught in the departments of religion at Florida State University and the University of Georgia.
Adam Ware
Having spent his first eighteen years in this area, Adam said he is delighted to return after a fifteen-year absence. In the meantime, he became fascinated by material history—“the stuff used by people everyday.” The Dalton area is so rich in this, but until now there has been no proper museum for displaying and telling it.
Adam’s wife is a curator, and she alerted him to the opening at Dalton State. The Bandy Center is a vehicle for the people of this area to find out who we are, and Adam sees his work here as the opportunity of a lifetime. Unlike many professional historians, he doesn’t intend to pursue his career by writing books but rather by collecting things, which fits perfectly with the Bandy Center’s vision of collection, preservation, and interpretation, focusing, as the Center’s founder, Jack Bandy, intended, on the Three C’s of local history—Cherokees, Civil War, and Carpet. To the surprise of many, Northwest Georgia has a good deal in common with the Orlando area; prior to the arrival of Disney and the other theme parks, Orange County was the world center of citrus production, much as Dalton became the “Carpet Capital.” Both areas experienced economic and social transformations which gave them distinctive but not completely dissimilar histories.
Adam’s real interest is the people who actually made history, in the most literal and material sense, and he wants to tell the story of all the people of Northwest Georgia. Doing so will be important for attracting new people to move to the area or to return to it. Within a seven-county area defined by Chatsworth, Cloudland Canyon, and Calhoun, the Bandy Center’s job is to become its collective memory, always bearing in mind that what is old and what is historic are often two different things and that “the past is a moving goalpost.”
At Dalton State, the Center is acquiring enlarged facilities, and by Thanksgiving it will occupy 4,000 square feet of space and include a preservation lab to care for donations with the assistance of student interns. It is becoming a repository for local business archives; recently it received the records of Finley’s Photography, a firm which closed in 2009 after more than a century in business, and it is attempting to track down the history of the Green Spot food market. Currently the Center is sponsoring “Threads of Home,” an exhibition of historic chenille coverlets and bedspreads collected by Sandra Mahs, a former Dalton resident, which will be on display at the Center’s Old Freight Depot
Gallery in downtown Dalton until September 30.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Greg announced that local District Attorney Bert Poston has been recognized as DA of the Year by the statewide DA association. He also reminded members that the Club will not meet on September 4 because of the Dalton Country Club’s regular post-Labor Day closure. Club Administration Chair Chris Cooke thanked everyone who assisted in cleaning the outdoor sculptures at the Creative Arts Guild, and he also appealed for persons to serve as Sergeants at Arms and on the front desk during October and November. Past President John Richmond gave the Carlton McCamy Scholar Award plaque to this year’s GRSP student, Gustav Dalsgaard-Hansen, thus continuing an annual practice for the Club’s GRSP students. After noting that members’ badges will be renumbered by the September 11 meeting, President Greg conferred the Blue Badge on Rotarian Jonathan Barlow.
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Meet Gustav Dalsgaard-Hansen, 2018-2019 GRSP Student by John Hutcheson
Subsituting for President Greg who was unable to attend, Past President Bruce Satterfield introduced Gustav Dalsgaard-Hansen of Denmark, the Club’s GRSP student for 2018-2019 for whom the Satterfields are serving as host family.
Gustav is nineteen years old and just graduated from Dronninglund Gymnasium, equivalent to an American high school. His father is a criminal justice attorney, his mother is an educator, and he is the oldest of five children, having two brothers and two sisters. His career interests lie in international relations and diplomacy, and his application for the GRSP was motivated by his desire to learn a new culture. He is a soccer fan, and he is enrolled at Dalton State, studying criminal justice.
Gustav Dalsgaard-Hansen
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Gustav gave a brief summary of his background and Danish affairs. He was born in Aarhus but grew up in Sæby, a small town near the northern tip of the Jutland peninsula. Although Denmark itself is about the size of Maryland, with a population of 5.5 million, it also owns the North Atlantic’s Faroe Islands and Greenland. The three principal parts of the country are Jutland and the islands of Funen and Zealand; Copenhagen, the capital, is located on Zealand and is a city of about one million. Sæby, with 8,800 residents, has an economy based on tourism and fishing. Its most notable landmark is a double-faced statue called The Lady from the Sea; one face overlooks the harbor, the other is turned toward the town, and her dress is set with more than 800 clay insets created by local schoolchildren. The Rotary Club of Sæby has about 42 members and sponsors programs for the benefit of children in its area and in India.
Turning to his country’s politics and culture, Gustav described Denmark’s constitutional monarchy, ruled since 1972 by Queen Margrethe II. A single-chamber parliament of 179 members includes representatives from thirteen parties; currently the prime minister is Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the leader of the Liberal Party. Danish social values are distinctly progressive; there is much emphasis on environmental protection and renewable energy. Women’s suffrage came relatively early, in 1915, and adult rights and privileges are conferred sooner than in the U.S.—the age of consent is fifteen and the drinking age is sixteen.
Along with progressivism, socialism strongly influences Denmark’s administrative practices, making the country a prominent example of a welfare state. Benefits such as free health care and free education from elementary to university levels are financed by high taxes—50% or more—on individual and corporate incomes. Although the culture is distinctly secular and many people are non-religious, Christianity continues to be a foundation of many Danish values. Three-quarters of the people are members of the Church of Denmark, a Lutheran body of which the Queen is the secular head, and many of its members voluntarily pay a church tax of 1% of their incomes. The major Christian holidays are observed, especially Christmas (celebrated on December 24) and Shrovetide in February. Denmark has no national day comparable to the American Fourth of July, but there are unofficial commemorations on Constitution Day (June 5) which honors the anniversary of the 1849 and 1953 constitutions, and Liberation Day (May 5, which celebrates the end of Nazi occupation in 1945. Among famous Danes, the most widely known is Hans Christian Andersen, but more recently the list would include Ole Kirk Christiansen, who invented Lego, and a number of actors and actresses in Danish film and television.
Answering a question about the Vikings, Gustav pointed out that they came not only from Denmark but from other parts of Scandinavia as well. Regarding the medical system, he said that the cost of treatment varies with the seriousness of the patient’s condition. There is also a private medical sector which is more expensive than the public one but often provides higher levels of care.
Past President John Richmond closed the program by noting that the 2018 GRSP conclave will take place this coming weekend at Brasstown Valley Resort, bringing together all 47 of this year’s students, who hail from six continents. He urged Club members to include Gustav--and also David Lightfoot of Scotland, who is being sponsored by the Carpet City club and five other area Rotary clubs—in their family, recreational, and entertainment activities to help give them a well-rounded picture of life in Georgia during the coming year.
|
August 28th Birthdays and Anniveraries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
1-Sep |
|
|
| Harlan, Annalee (ANNALEE) |
3-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Hutcheson, Marilyn |
Hutcheson, John A. Jr. |
2-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Goodroe, Robert S. (ROBERT) |
9/1/1964 |
54 |
|
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
9/1/1979 |
39 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
Building Awareness of Seizures and Epilepsyby John Hutcheson, Thanh Nguyen, and Annette Maier
Rotarian Chris Cooke introduced Shawnessey Cargile, Epilepsy Educator on the staff of the Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Tennessee with offices in Chattanooga.
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Shawnessey Cargile
After showing a video of an epileptic seizure, Shawnessey reviewed symptoms of a complex partial seizure, including fully dilated pupils, no talking in real interactions with others, and unintentional physical movements such as pacing or walking around. Seizures fall into forty types, but common indicators are impaired awareness, inability to verbalize or to do so clearly or rationally, and abnormal eye or body activity. A frequently occurring type is “absence seizures,” lasting from five to fifteen seconds. The fundamental phenomena are “brain storms,” in which multiple neurons fire simultaneously, causing area swelling which in turn causes seizures. Although anyone may have such an experience, more than one such seizure indicates the likely presence of a condition requiring treatment.
Statistics show that 1 in 50 persons has epilepsy; for Georgia and Tennessee the ratio is 1 in 80. The disorder most often develops and is seen in children under 5 and adults over 65. Persons with a history of neurological disorders are particularly susceptible, and while one-third of children with epilepsy are born with it, other cases may be linked to infections, high fevers, or severe physical or emotional trauma. It is important for caregivers to remain calm and reassuring.
Announcements
At the August 21 meeting, the program will be presented by this year’s GRSP student, Gustav Dalsgaard-Hansen of Denmark. On August 25, the Club will partner with the Creative Arts Guild to help to clean the sculptures in the Robert T. Webb Sculpture Garden in preparation for Festival in September. Finally, President Greg reiterated his appeal for a volunteer to assist with enhancement of the Club’s social media exposure.
|
August 21st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Sanford, Robert Mitchell (MITCH) |
25-Aug |
|
|
| Jones, J Sherwood III (SHERWOOD) |
26-Aug |
|
|
| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
26-Aug |
|
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
27-Aug |
|
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
27-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Aft, Pauline |
Aft, David |
27-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
Mary Ann |
23-Aug |
43 |
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
Carolyn |
26-Aug |
52 |
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
Becky |
27-Aug |
52 |
|
2018 High School Football Previewby John Hutcheson
Dalton Kiwanis president Chris Horton opened a joint meeting of the Rotary Club of Dalton and the Carpet City Rotary Club with the Dalton Kiwanis Club at the Dalton Convention Center. After welcoming remarks, he introduced Rotarian and former Dalton High School Football Coach Ronnie McClurg, who called on five local coaches to assess the coming season and introduce some of their most notable players.
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Coach McClurg
Coach Jay Poag of Christian Heritage High noted that his team is currently in the middle of summer football camp and two-a-day practices. Nearly all of last year’s roster will return this year, bringing a new depth of experience to the squad. He and his assistants have worked to build a culture of strength and speed as part of their everyday curriculum. The size of the program is increasing, with more than forty players on the high school team and a number in the mid-thirties in the middle school—a promise of growing depth and less need for players having to play both ways. On offense, nine starters are returning, and excellent quarterback leadership points toward a strong passing game. Defensive strategy will use a 3-5 approach, guided by the new defensive coach, Steve Sparks, who has forty years of high school football experience. A pool of talented ninth-graders—including three of this year’s starters—holds much future promise. Next week the team will travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, on a “Destination Trip” to strengthen players’ bonding, enable them to play a local prep school, and enjoy active support from the Cincinnati Bengals. The season opens on August 24 at Gordon Central in Calhoun.
Coach Taylor Bagley of Coahulla Creek High School is now in his second year at Coahulla Creek, and his efforts to rebuild the school’s program and supporting culture are encouraged by the presence of eight seniors on his team and its growth from about 50 last year to 72 this year. Their driving impetus will be to send the seniors out on a high note after their persistence through four difficult years. Although the school still lacks full facilities—most notably, a field house—the roster includes 33 returning players. The off-season has been great, and the Booster Club funded $6,000 in nutritional development, which is reflected in players’ average weight gain of 42 pounds. A great group of upcoming middle school players will move into the program in years to come, so that Coahulla Creek will enhance its growing competiveness within the region—significantly, the schedule this year includes only two non-region games. The season will open on August 17 against Northwest Whitfield, with a game against Southeast scheduled for the following week, and these intra-county contests should generate intense local interest.
Coach Matt Land of Dalton High School opened his remarks by observing that the good thing about the Dalton High program is that regardless of whatever happens, its core expectations don’t change, and the tradition sustained by Coaches Alf Anderson, Bill Chappell, and Ronnie McClurg remain intact. This year brings two new coaches and replacement of fifteen starters—on defense, only three starters are returning. But there is an outstanding group of offensive backs, and in one of any team’s most crucial positions, Dalton will have the third best kicker in the country. Ivan Mora, a senior, has a kicking range of 55 yards and an average punt of 63 yards—Coach Land called him the greatest player he has ever coached. He ended by reminding the audience that a football program is about more than just the game. At Dalton High, 75% of the players come from single-parent or no-parent homes, and for many of them, their best days are when the coaches have them. They, not the coaches, need the support of the fans.
Coach Josh Robinson is now in his ninth year at Northwest Whitfield High School, and this will be a year of rebuilding. The roster is nearing 100, but most of last year’s starters must be replaced; for example, only three have returned on defense. All the linebackers will be new, and the team will run a 3-4 defense rather than a 4-3 because it now has more linebackers than defensive linemen. On offense there is a new coach with much experience, but only five starters have returned and only one of these is on the offensive line. The kicker is also new.
Coach Sean Gray of Southeast Whitfield High School began by mentioning numerous players and their particular skills. They will run a 4-4 defense, and on offense they will be very fast. The opening game will be at home against Woodland High School, followed by two more home games, against Murray County and Coahulla Creek. Last year’s 7-3 season was the school’s best in 32 years, and a winning season this year will complete the first five-year winning run in Southeast’s history. Moreover, if they beat Woodland, it will be the program’s first victory over a 5-A school. Hopes are high!
|
August 14th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Wilson, John H (JOHN) |
15-Aug |
|
|
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| Ryman, Milton J. Jr. (MILTON) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
19-Aug |
|
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
19-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Scott, Annelle |
Scott, Trammell |
15-Aug |
|
| Robertson, Ricky |
Robertson, Cherri L |
16-Aug |
|
| Blackman, Bill |
Blackman, Linda T. |
18-Aug |
|
| Turner, Carolyn |
Turner, Henry J |
20-Aug |
|
| Dobbins, Donna |
Dobbins, Chuck |
20-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
8/18/2015 |
3 |
|
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
8/18/2015 |
3 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
Judy |
14-Aug |
47 |
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
Mary Etta |
16-Aug |
60 |
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
Ben |
19-Aug |
46 |
|
Homeland Security In Northwest Georgiaby Kathryn Sellers
Darren Webb, Homeland Security Director in this region started in law enforcement in Gainesville, Georgia. After working in the Secret Service in McAllen Texas, and Washington, DC, he moved to the Homeland Security Division called Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE. He emphasized that this division of Homeland Security is NOT the Enforcement and Removal (ERO) division that has been in the news lately with separated immigrants. His division handles trans-border criminal investigations, that is, any crime touching the border, including any internet activity. With five agents, his office handles any type of international criminal activity such as identity theft, credit card theft, human trafficking, child exploitation, narcotics enforcement, human smuggling, and work-site enforcement. They cover multiple counties in northwest Georgia.
Darren Webb
Darren said that our local law enforcement handles drug issues well and his office only handles large drug movement across the border – truck loads. They do handle any issues with the cartels and gangs, but most of this activity is in the large cities. Because of the sophistication of the drug cartels and the large amount of money they make in drug transporting, the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arm of ICE is able to intercept only about 20% of drugs crossing US borders. Most are transported by trucks and are hidden in shipments of vegetables and fruits or within heavy metal compartments that are difficult to find. Since our southern border is so “porous,” the volume of drugs is tremendous to meet “Americans’ huge appetite for drugs.” Much is even taken across the border in backpacks by swimming across the Rio Grande. When great quantities of cash are confiscated with drugs, each of the entities in the task force shares in the proceeds—one recent case produced 1.8 million dollars. Most drugs from China are coming in the mail, by UPS and FEDEX. ICE has many means to try to intercept these tactics as well.
Our local issues are predominantly child pornography and child exploitation, which is approaching epidemic proportions. HSI and local enforcement have made a big impact in this area. Most of the perpetrators have a following of users, and when one is apprehended, his or her 25+ followers are also apprehended.
When asked whether the proposed wall on the southern border would help with drug smuggling issues, Darren had several personal suggestions. He said the wall may help, but they also need more sensors, more informants, and more enforcement manpower (not military) that understands the area and the typical movements of the criminals. They need to improve detection with technology. There also needs to be more surveillance of marijuana coming in from Canada – an issue that has mushroomed in volume.
Concerning illegal immigrants, his personal opinion is that the whole immigration system needs to be overhauled. We need the workers, and the workers need a means to citizenship. There needs to be a better form of verification and a better system toward work visas. He commented that there is no tracking for the outgo of any people who enter the country.
Announcements
On August 25, the Rotary Club will partner with the Creative Arts Guild to help to clean the sculptures in the Robert T. Webb Sculpture Garden in preparation for Festival in September.
Next week, the meeting will be the “Football Day” on Monday with the Kiwanis Club at the Convention Center. There will be no Rotary meeting on Tuesday.
|
August 7th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
7-Aug |
|
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
8-Aug |
|
|
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
10-Aug |
|
|
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Satterfield, Kayanne |
Satterfield, Bruce A. |
9-Aug |
|
| Smith, Sandra |
Smith, Ralph |
11-Aug |
|
| Laugahter, Ben |
Laughter, R Lynette |
11-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
Lamar |
7-Aug |
53 |
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
Gretchen |
8-Aug |
32 |
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
Tammy |
10-Aug |
33 |
|
July 31st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Brunson, Kevin M. (KEVIN) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| McDonald, David L (DAVID) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Robertson, Cherri |
Robertson, Ricky N |
2-Aug |
|
| Chandler, Susan |
Chandler, Robert M. |
4-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
8/1/1994 |
24 |
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
8/1/1988 |
30 |
|
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
8/1/1967 |
51 |
|
| Underwood, Michelle (SHELL) |
8/2/2016 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
Bennieta |
6-Aug |
63 |
|
The Creative Arts Guild: An Update And Look Aheadby John Hutcheson
Rotarian John Wilson, President of the Creative Arts Guild Board of Directors, introduced Amanda Michaels Brown, the Guild’s Executive Director for the past three years. Recalling having spoken to the Club in January, 2017, Amanda restated her passion for the arts and how much the work of the Guild meant to her while she was growing up in Dalton.
Amanda Brown
Currently the Guild’s theme is “Capture the Power of the Arts,” and Amanda briefly reviewed the Guild’s mission, which was revised a few years ago and is simply “to cultivate and sustain the arts in Dalton, Georgia, and its surrounding counties.” This is done by providing education in visual and performing arts (much of which is facilitated by a partnership—now fifty years old—with the Oscar N. Jonas Foundation); by showcasing local art and culture through special events, exhibits, and performances; by providing support for established artists and nurturing emerging artists; by maintaining the permanent collection of the Robert T. Webb Sculpture Garden; and by emphasizing the importance of early and lifetime arts exposure. In everything it does, the Guild seeks to make the arts relevant and enjoyable to all sectors of the local population.
The Creative Arts Guild has a staff of thirteen full-and part-time employees and contracts with more than forty instructors in the performing and visual arts. Now 55 years strong, it is poised for new growth following a comprehensive top-to-bottom review and updating. A five-year strategic plan, originally formulated in 2014, has been adjusted to recognize changes taking place in the community and to position the Guild as a community arts partner through support and sponsorship of events, creation of public art, execution of a community marketing plan, and planning for long-term sustainability. While adhering to its core values, the Guild will explore opportunities outside its conventional walls, drawing on a positive, “say ‘yes’ first” attitude which seeks to stimulate conversations and promote relationships.
Some of the Guild’s new directions and connections include the Burr Performing Arts Park, Creative Connections (to foster enrichment of arts educators’ professional development), and outreach to the Hispanic community such as participation in Dio de las Muertas celebrations (to be held this year at the Guild’s Waugh Street facility on November 10). Also, a new series of culinary arts classes will use the recently updated and expanded kitchen at Waugh Street, where major exterior renovations are now underway as well. A new fund-raising program focuses on enlisting Sustaining Partners who will agree to make five-year financial pledges. Finally, replacing the concept of membership with one of friendship will help project an image of inclusiveness at all levels to prospective supporters and program participants. Amanda closed by touching on Guild events in the near future, including cleaning and refurbishment of the sculpture garden in August, Festival on September 14-16, and the performance with a live orchestra of The Snow Queen at Dalton High School on November 14-19.
Announcements
Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead noted that in 2016 the Rotary Clubs of Tennessee responded to the Gatlinburg fire disaster under the slogan “We’re Rotary. What Can We Do to Help?” Presently one of our own members, Rotarian Shell Underwood, urgently needs blood because of severe pregnancy difficulties, and Frank requested Dalton Rotarians to ask themselves “what can we do to help” in this situation and to answer by making immediate and plentiful blood donations to Blood Assurance on Shell’s behalf.
Rotarian Lynn Laughter reminded members of the upcoming meetings to obtain public input about projects which might be funded by the proposed SPLOST, and President Greg urged everyone to vote in today’s primary run-off elections. He also announced that on Monday, August 6, the Club will meet jointly with the Dalton Kiwanis Club at the Convention Center for the local high school football coaches’ annual season preview and thus there will be no Tuesday meeting that week.
President Greg also appealed for someone with competence in social media to replace Amy Messick, who has moved from the area, and assist in this sphere of the Club’s public information work.
|
July 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
29-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
Virginia |
28-Jul |
62 |
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
Delle |
28-Jul |
56 |
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
Noel |
30-Jul |
51 |
|
The GreenHouse: An Update And Look Aheadby John Hutcheson
Club Administration Chair Chris Cooke introduced Rotarian Natima Walker, Executive Director of The GreenHouse. A United Way agency which has received special support from our Club during the past year, The GreenHouse is a child advocacy center founded in 1995 which treats children who have suffered sexual or extreme physical abuse and also works with a limited number of adults as well.
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Natima Walker
After thanking Rotary profusely for its help, Natima provided some statistics to document her organization’s work. So far this year there have been 212 forensic interviews, a striking increase over the 171 interviews conducted by this point in 2017. During that year, 65 victims and their non-offending caregivers received therapy in the form of 1,272 therapy units, and nine adult female victims completed support groups. The GreenHouse is fully accredited by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia, an association of 46 centers across the state, and follows CACGA guidelines in its efforts to treat the entire families of its juvenile clients. As an example, Natima cited last year’s Christmas party at which she and her staff were able—thanks in considerable part to Rotarians’ financial contributions—to provide personalized gifts to children from more than twenty families, some of whom were very poor and would otherwise have had nothing for Christmas.
Turning to the near future, Natima described an upcoming fundraiser, the Rock and Rappel event set for November 3, a date which is also to be a Downtown Open House Day sponsored by the Downtown Dalton Development Authority. The coincidence of the two occasions is intentional; each event is likely to enhance the target audience for the other, and in the case of The GreenHouse the scheduling is a gesture of thanks to the DDDA for its support.
Rock and Rappel will be conducted in partnership with a rappelling organization called Over the Edge. Participants will be required to raise at least $1,000 for The GreenHouse, and after appropriate training they will rappel down the side of the Landmark Building. Natima announced that currently 61 prospective rappellers have registered. At this point Club Secretary Treasurer Frank Hogshead spontaneously promised to rappel himself if Club members raised $1,000—a challenge which evoked gasps, giggles, and guffaws around the room. Natima related that the day would end with a concert in Burr Park by Yacht Rock Review, a group known for their wide ranging musical repertoire. General admission for the concert will be $25; VIP admission, which includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine, will be $75, and ticket sales will begin on August 20. As the meeting was about to adjourn, Chris Cooke challenged Rotarian Todd Pangle to a money-raising competition in which the loser would (somehow) wear the costume seen below:
|
July 17th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr. (JOHN) |
18-Jul |
|
|
| Smith, Ralph (RALPH) |
20-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Scott, Catherine |
Scott, William M. |
17-Jul |
|
| Tharpe, Julie |
Tharpe, Henry C. |
22-Jul |
|
| Bundros, Laura |
Bundros, Thomas A |
22-Jul |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
7/19/2016 |
2 |
|
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
7/19/2016 |
2 |
|
| Cooke, Christopher M (CHRIS) |
7/19/2016 |
2 |
|
| Willingham, Tommy G (TOMMY) |
7/19/2016 |
2 |
|
| Pratt, Vallarie D. (VALLARIE) |
7/19/2016 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
Annelle |
17-Jul |
18 |
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
Vinai |
20-Jul |
42 |
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
Carla |
21-Jul |
17 |
| Schneller, April D (APRIL) |
Douglas |
23-Jul |
24 |
|
The Year Aheadby John Hutcheson
President Greg
President Greg introduced the Board for 2018-2019, and with an eye on 2019-2020 he inducted Amanda Reed as President-Elect. He gave heartfelt thanks to the Club for honoring him with its presidency for the current year. Greg came to Dalton in 2014 to head the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership, and his predecessor in that post (and Club Past President), Nancy Kennedy, immediately brought him into Rotary membership. He had visited the Club in 2011 for a presentation by Nathan Deal, who was then transitioning from Congress to the Governor’s Mansion, and although he and Governor Deal discussed health care, Greg’s most outstanding memory of that occasion was of the warm welcome he received from Club members and the sense that these were people who got things done in and for their community.
Turning to his aspirations for the coming year, Greg set out three goals. The first is to make our club a Gold Level Club, and while RI’s point system for doing so has become less stringent, we nevertheless need to tighten up on such matters as attendance at weekly meetings (including conscientious use of make-ups) and at District conferences—each table had flyers advertising the District 6910 Conference to be held at Greenville, SC on May 2-5, 2019.
Greg’s second goal is directed toward the quality and diversity of our membership. While he believes we could easily grow to 200 members, quantity is less important than quality, and our focus should be on recruiting upcoming community leaders and broadening our roster beyond the older white men who still comprise its majority by inducting more women, Latinos, African-Americans, and others who will help the Club reflect the diversity of Dalton itself. This effort connects easily with Greg’s third goal—to simply have fun, not only through regular R&R events but also by thinking creatively about different types of meetings that will attract new members.
Realizing these goals depends on individual commitments, and Greg urged each member to set one or more personal Rotary goals for the coming year, whether through achieving perfect attendance (putting make-ups as a priority), becoming a Paul Harris or Will Watt Fellow, serving on the Board or other committees, presenting a program, or in whatever way will strengthen the Club and its effectiveness in the community. He closed by once more thanking the Club for giving him the opportunity to serve.
Announcements and Recognitions
Club Administration Chair Chris Cooke encouraged members to offer suggestions for programs during 2018-2019. Rotarian Natima Walker described the upcoming fundraiser for the The GreenHouse, a project called Rock and Rappel; this will kick off on July 15 and will entail instruction in rappelling, culminating on November 3 with a rappelling competition on the Landmark Building and a rock concert. Rotarian Amanda Burt reminded members about the Summer Book Study being sponsored by the United Way.
|
July 10th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
10-Jul |
|
|
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
|
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
|
|
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
14-Jul |
|
|
| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
14-Jul |
|
|
| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
14-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Cruse, Amy |
Cruse, Lesley Dale |
11-Jul |
|
| Kinard, Bob |
Kinard, Dixie |
13-Jul |
|
| Townsend, Teresa |
Townsend, Patrick J. |
15-Jul |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
7/10/2007 |
11 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
Donna |
11-Jul |
48 |
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
Carole |
15-Jul |
23 |
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
Terri |
15-Jul |
46 |
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
Marilyn |
15-Jul |
51 |
|
Rotary and the GED at GNTC: An Updateby John Hutcheson
President Kevin reviewed how the Club sponsors scholarships at Georgia Northwestern Technical College for students pursuing the GED certification. This program, which began under Past President Bruce Satterfield and will continue under President Greg, provides matching grants to needy GNTC students for up to 25 full scholarships or a larger number of partial scholarships. The results are measurable, and they serve the community by enlarging the pool of qualified candidates from which local employers can draw.
Smitty Barnett followed President Kevin and related how Rotarians often help those in the community who have nowhere else to turn for help as they seek to improve their situations. The GED grant program is a fine example of this, and Smitty introduced Cindy Nelson, Adult Education Lead Teacher and Site Manager at GNTC’s Dalton Campus. With a degree in math from Georgia Tech, she worked at Crown Crafts and Mohawk before joining GNTC. As Lead Instructor in the GED program for the last four years, her teaching has focused foremost on people themselves, using English, social studies, and mathematics as her vehicles.
Cindy Nelson
Cindy began by thanking the Club for its help with the GED program. She said that the final test has four parts—English (reading and writing), math, science, and social studies—with each part costing the student $40. Rotary provides $3,700 in total assistance per year, for which students must complete at least forty hours of study to be eligible to share. Students’ ages in the GED program at GNTC range from sixteen to sixty, with the majority of those who receive aid using it for two parts of the test. Classes are available at no charge during the day, evening, and online. Approximately forty students will complete the test this year in Dalton, and Cindy noted that many ESOL students go on to enter the GED program. She also pointed out that employees from nine Northwest Georgia companies comprised the largest number of GED graduates of any area in the state last year.
Passing the Gavel 2018
Following Cindy’s presentation, President Kevin concluded his term by thanking the Club for having elected him and for all the support he has received during the past year—passing that along made the day a bittersweet occasion for him. He is proud of the Club’s achievements during his presidency, among which were continuation of the GED support program, the addition of twelve new Paul Harris Fellows and six new Will Watt Fellows, productive drives to benefit the GreenHouse and Red Cross, another year of bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, a successful Golf Tournament, recognition of outstanding fifth graders and awarding of scholarships to a truly extraordinary group of high school graduates, and a series of consistently informative and entertaining weekly programs. Members gave President Kevin a standing ovation for his service, after which he thanked the Board collectively and individually. He is grateful to all his fellow Rotarians for helping him grow personally, especially as a public speaker. He also thanked the staff of the Dalton Golf and Country Club for their food and service and called them out from the kitchen to be recognized.
As his last official act, President Kevin swore in President-Elect Greg Dent as President for 2018-2019 and passed the presidential pin and gavel to his custody. President Greg, in turn, thanked now Past President Kevin for his help in preparing him for his new responsibilities and presented him with a commemorative gavel and plaque.
 
Passing the Gavel
Announcements and Recognitions
President Kevin reminded members that there will be no meeting on July 3 and that Greg Dent’s first meeting as President will be on July 10. Past President John Richmond presented a plaque to Rotarian Zach Taylor and his wife, Joanie, in recognition of their service as GRSP hosts during the past year and announced that they would be recognized as the Club’s newest Will Watt Fellows.
New Will Watt Fellows
Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett introduced President-Elect Greg and Club Administration Chair Chris Cooke as the Club’s most recent Paul Harris Fellows; their inductions make a total of twelve new Paul Harris Fellows added to the Club’s roster during the 2017-2018 year.
Paul Harris Fellows
|
June 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Brown, Alex C (ALEX) |
27-Jun |
|
|
| Little, William Norris Sr. (NORRIS) |
28-Jun |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Walker, Jason |
Walker, Natima G |
30-Jun |
|
| Maret, Sarah |
Maret, Charles D. |
1-Jul |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
6/30/2004 |
14 |
|
| Dent, Gregory J (GREG) |
7/1/2014 |
4 |
|
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
7/1/1969 |
49 |
|
| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
7/1/1973 |
45 |
|
| Denson, Jason B (JASON) |
7/1/2018 |
0 |
|
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
7/1/2010 |
8 |
|
| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
7/1/1996 |
22 |
|
| Norris, Bradley B (BRAD) |
7/1/2018 |
0 |
|
| Gilreath, Judy Ellen (JUDY) |
7/1/2013 |
5 |
|
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
7/1/1980 |
38 |
|
| Payne, Charles F Jr(CHUCK) |
7/1/2017 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
Sara |
26-Jun |
22 |
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
Lin |
30-Jun |
34 |
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
Bill |
1-Jul |
51 |
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
Phyllis |
1-Jul |
51 |
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
Linda |
1-Jul |
51 |
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
Pat |
2-Jul |
52 |
|
Memories of the MastersMonday, June 25, 2018 By Kevin M. Brunson by John Hutcheson
President Kevin introduced Club member Doug Hoskins, who served as an Official Scorer at the Masters from 1969 to 1988. A native of Chatham, Ontario, in his early years Doug aspired to become a hockey player, but an injury prompted him to shift his main energies to golf. After winning two tournaments, he became a golf professional and in 1950 he began working with the Greater Greensboro Open. Eventually he earned a degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and was employed by Shaw Industries, from which he retired in 2000. While working for the Arthur Andersen accounting firm in Atlanta in the late 1960’s, he got an opportunity to help score the Masters, with whom Arthur Andersen had a contract, and this began a twenty-year run of witnessing and interacting with the world’s leading golfers. Doug is married to Carole, herself an accomplished golfer, and he has been a Rotarian for twelve years, eight of which were as a member of the Carpet City Club.
Doug Hoskins
Doug said that while much of the scoring work at the Masters is now done by computer, many of the procedures he followed still apply. Players record each other’s scores—no player records his own—on a hole-by-hole basis. Totals are calculated by Official Scorers using the Rule of Four, whereby each hole is nominally a par four, a method which simplifies determining who’s above or below par overall
During his work at the Masters, Doug saw plenty of ecstasy, agony, and everything in between, and he recounted a number of incidents involving world-famous players at moments of extreme emotional intensity. Turning to specific personalities, he briefly sketched some of the most legendary players golf has produced over the last fifty or sixty years, all but one of whom won the Masters at least once.
In Doug’s opinion, Sam Snead probably had the best golf swing of anyone. A colorful, bigger-than-life character, he was full of stories and a master of gamesmanship, known for such tricks as distracting his opponents while they were putting and other antics. Arnold Palmer, more than anyone, elevated the game to the standing it has today. Always a gentleman, he never said a bad word about anyone or any course and patiently filled every request for his autograph. He also had the largest hands and forearms Doug can remember seeing on any golfer.
Gary Player, a very competitive golfer and holder of many records, was the best bunker player Doug saw, and Fred Couples was a superb player who took great pride in his accomplishments. Billy Casper approached the game very seriously and was one of the greatest putters. Jack Nicklaus was the best clutch player of his time, extremely competitive and, because of color blindness, able to see only green and white. Lee Trevino never won the Masters, but he was a poor boy from Texas who hustled his way into the game’s top echelon while remaining a loose and comical player—it was said that he “dated the ball.” Ben Crenshaw, like Arnold Palmer, never complained and was liked by everyone—many thought of him as golf’s greatest ambassador.
Doug closed by emphasizing that the Masters is an extremely well-run tournament, and he considers it a great privilege to have been selected as a scorer. He directed members’ attention to a framed plaque holding the autographs of every Masters champion from the years when he served, commenting that while he had been offered as much as $5,000 for it, to him it was priceless.
Announcements and Inductions
President Kevin reminded members that he will pass the presidential gavel to President-Elect Greg Dent at the June 26 meeting, which will also have a program on students’ completion of GED requirements through the auspices of Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
After reviewing the mission and ideals of Rotary, Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead led the induction of new members Brad Norris, sponsored by Smitty Barnett, and Jason Denson, sponsored by Bob Brooker.
New inductees and sponsors
|
June 19 Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
21-Jun |
|
|
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
21-Jun |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Combs, Donna |
Combs, William Dan |
24-Jun |
|
| Neal, Terri |
Neal, John P. III |
24-Jun |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
6/20/2006 |
12 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
Cathy |
19-Jun |
36 |
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
Melissa |
21-Jun |
15 |
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
Sally |
23-Jun |
42 |
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
Ginny |
25-Jun |
13 |
|
Family Frameworks: They Reach The Heartby Darla Chambliss
Cherri Robertson, Membership Chair, introduced Katie Walker, Program Director for Family Frameworks. Family Frameworks is a non-profit organization supporting families. The mission statement explains the work of the group: We believe in transforming mindsets in such a way that it flows to the heart, becomes who we are, and changes our community. Katie is an Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with 7 years of experience working with children and families. It is her passion to support families by educating the community about healthy relationships and empowering couples to have strong healthy marriages.
Katie Walker
Family Frameworks was founded in 2004 by Executive Director Kathy Schleier. Kathy, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years of experience working with children and families, is stepping down from the Executive Director role to spend more time with her family.
Katie and Kathy share a healthy respect for values and family.
The Family Frameworks team has grown to include Rachel and Caleb Callahan, a married couple volunteering time to Family Frameworks as they feel the message is so necessary to our community. Mr. Callahan recently returned home to Dalton after traveling extensively due to career opportunities. His travels to Haiti and Angola prison convinced him that “morality was missing from the culture.” Mr. Callahan said, “we should not be so arrogant as to think this could not happen here [in the U.S.]” Caleb jumped onboard to help with Family Frameworks “because they reach the heart.” He said, “mindset matters, it controls the heart.”
Caleb Callahan
Popular Classes are the Healthy Choices Class, Divorcing Parents Classes and Marriage Rebuilding Classes.
The next fundraiser is Friday, August 3rd at Walnut Hill Farms with former University of Alabama football player John McIntosh. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Katie Walker at [email protected] or call 706-313-002
New Member Induction: Past President Bruce introduced our newest member Ms. Natima Walker, Executive Director of the GreenHouse. Chris Cooke, Club Administration Chair, is Natima’s sponsoring member. Natima comes to our club from the Rotary Club of Dalton. Ms. Walker has been a regular speaker and visitor at our club and we are delighted to have her as a member.
Natima Walker
|
May 22nd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
23-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Elliott, S. G. |
Elliott, Judy M. |
22-May |
|
| Bradham, Melissa |
Bradham, Robert L. |
26-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
5/24/2016 |
2 |
|
| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
5/25/1999 |
19 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
David |
24-May |
32 |
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
Carolyn |
24-May |
49 |
| Barlow, Jonathan L (JONATHAN) |
Susan |
26-May |
11 |
| Ryman, Milton J. Jr.(MILTON) |
Mary |
28-May |
69 |
|
Rotary Scholarship Awards Day 2018by John Hutcheson
One of the highlights of the Rotary year is the annual Scholarship Awards Day, when students selected by high schools in Dalton and Whitfield County are honored for their exceptional accomplishments in mathematics and the sciences, the humanities, career technology, and service. At this time the Club also recognizes students qualifying for its support to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp during the upcoming summer. Finally, a $500 scholarship is awarded to each participating school’s nominee as its outstanding student overall, and one of these is chosen by a committee of Club members to receive an additional $500 for truly superior achievement. This year’s scholarship committee consisted of Rotarians Jonathan Bledsoe (Chair), Rob Bradham, John Hutcheson, Douglas McClure, Judson Manley, Maurice Sponcler, and Barbara Ward.
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RYLA students
Jonathan Bledsoe presented this year’s RYLA participants. Garrett Hughes and Meg Gulledge from Coahulla Creek and Hayden Brock and Austin Burt from Dalton, all of whom will be sponsored by our club. Also recognized were AnnaMarie Ramsey and Savannah York from Southeast Whitfield, representing other Rotary clubs which underwrote sponsorships but allowed their RYLA spaces to be filled by the Dalton club.
Jonathan opened the presentation of Outstanding Students by welcoming visiting family members and school personnel who were attending in support of their students, and he called on various committee members to announce the students and their schools.
Maurice Sponcler presented the Outstanding Math/Science Students:
Harrison Hughes – Dalton
Henley Henderson – Northwest Whitfield
Joshua Herrera – Southeast Whitfield
Rodrigo Paramo – Coahulla Creek
Sydney Stafford – Christian Heritage
John Hutcheson presented the Outstanding Humanities Students:
Bianca Munguia – Dalton
Cassandra Trollinger – Northwest Whitfield
Escarlet Fernandez – Southeast Whitfield
Presley Sneed – Coahulla Creek
Wyatt Huggins – Christian Heritage
Jonathan Bledsoe presented the Outstanding Career Technology Students:
Ellie Downey – Northwest Whitfield
Jacob Hawkins – Coahulla Creek
Kelsey Hubbard – Southeast Whitfield
Linda Olivera – Dalton
Morrison Outlaw – Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
Nayeli Gutierrez – Morris Innovative
Douglas McClure presented the Outstanding Service Students:
Ashley Munoz – Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
Chloe Sirmans – Southeast Whitfield
Henley Henderson – Northwest Whitfield
Laura-Anne Jackson – Christian Heritage
Rachel Walker – Coahulla Creek
Samuel Stuart – Dalton
Yingrey Alvarado – Morris Innovative
Jonathan Bledsoe returned to announce the nominees for overall Outstanding Area Student:
Jolene Gale – Northwest Whitfield
Josiah Hastey – Southeast Whitfield
Leah Shelton – Dalton
Meghan Higgins – Christian Heritage
Meredith Barber – Coahulla Creek
Outstanding area students
From this unusually competitive field Meredith Barber was selected as the Rotary Outstanding Area Student for 2018. Plaques listing her and all other winners since the program’s beginning in 1989 will be displayed at Coahulla Creek High School during the coming year.
Meredith Barber
|
May 29th and June 5th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
30-May |
|
|
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
31-May |
|
|
| Venable, William M (WILLIAM) |
1-Jun |
|
|
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
1-Jun |
|
|
| Croft, Brian C (BRIAN) |
9-Jun |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Venable, Ruth |
Venable, William M |
29-May |
|
| Morris, Sarah (SASSY) |
Brown, Alex C |
30-May |
|
| Anderson, Adina |
Anderson, Michael S |
1-Jun |
|
| Abernathy, Gretchen |
Abernathy, Melburn H. |
2-Jun |
|
| Sanford, Teresa |
Sanford, Robert Mitchell |
5-Jun |
|
| Barlow, Susan |
Barlow, Jonathan L |
11-Jun |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
6/1/1985 |
33 |
|
| Patterson, Frank W Jr.(FRANK) |
6/1/1995 |
23 |
|
| Jones, J. Sherwood Jr.(SHERWOOD) |
6/1/1968 |
50 |
|
| Parrott, V DeForrest III(DEFORREST) |
6/1/1966 |
52 |
|
| Harris, Kevin W (KEVIN) |
6/5/2001 |
17 |
|
| McDonald, David L (DAVID) |
6/7/2011 |
7 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
Connie |
2-Jun |
45 |
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
Rebecca |
2-Jun |
32 |
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
Mary Lynn |
5-Jun |
14 |
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
Charlie |
6-Jun |
26 |
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
Agnes |
7-Jun |
10 |
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
Brenda |
8-Jun |
55 |
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
Jimmy |
8-Jun |
33 |
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
Dianne |
10-Jun |
51 |
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
Pamela |
11-Jun |
41 |
|
Dalton's City Government OperationsAn Update from the New City Administrator
by John Hutcheson
Club Past President and District 6910 Assistant District Governor Jason Parker was recently appointed Dalton’s City Administrator after serving many years as Chief of the Dalton Police Department. Acknowledging that his various positions are prompting some uncertainty about how he should be addressed, he indicated that “Jason” was perfectly appropriate.
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Jason Parker
Throughout more than three decades of service to the city, Jason has always been aware of the community’s high expectations for its employees, and these have aligned with his own high expectations for himself. As City Administrator he is the city’s principal budget officer, working with other municipal employees and elected officials to secure the highest value at the lowest cost to the public’s resources. He said he is fortunate to be able to work with “ the best possible department heads, bar none,” so that he never needs to worry about day-to-day competency, and he is especially grateful for the work of Ms. Kim Witherow, whose twenty years of experience as assistant to three successive Administrators is an invaluable asset. Using slides, Jason introduced the city’s elected officials—the Mayor and four Council members—and he urged attendance at the regular City Council meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month as one of the best ways to gain insight into the operations of Dalton’s government.
Turning to a selection of the city’s ten administrative units, he briefly described the work and recent accomplishments of the Airport, Fire, Public Works, Police, and Recreation Departments. Dalton’s airport is one of 105 municipal airports across the state and one of 15 not funded by the local city or county but instead by user fees. Its facilities include a mile-long runway and equipment for instrument landings, and presently all hangars are occupied, with a waiting list of eighteen.
The Dalton Fire Department serves five districts and has a Class 2 IOS rating on a scale having Class 1 as the highest possible. During the past year its average response time was 7.5 minutes. The Department of Public Works maintains 188 miles of city streets, 115 traffic signals, and 90 miles of storm drainage as well as handling ongoing traffic studies and engineering projects, and it also manages hazardous and non-hazardous waste through regularly scheduled curbside pick-ups and, upon request, special pick-ups of large objects such as discarded appliances. The Dalton Police Department is nationally accredited and averages 45,000 calls per year, or 1,800 per square mile of city territory. In Safehome’s ranking, Dalton is 12th among the top 25 safest communities in Georgia.
The Department of Parks and Recreation oversees 734 acres of recreational areas, including 13 parks, 26 athletic fields, 18 tennis courts, three centers, and the Nob North Golf Course. It will operate the Burr Performing Arts Park, opened last month in the middle of downtown Dalton, and the new Haig Mill Park, the fifth of five new projects funded by a SPLOST, which is scheduled to open in August with facilities for hiking, boating, and fishing. At Heritage Point Park, much of the park’s 115 acres remain undeveloped, and studies are underway to determine using some of that land for soccer fields.
Dalton’s government is eager to deepen a sense of community pride by encouraging citizens to have “skin in the game” of the city’s physical attractiveness and beautification. During the past year, 3,500 code violations were addressed, 50 dangerous buildings were destroyed, and more than 3,000 bags of litter were picked up by the Public Works Department. Operation Gateway organizes grass-roots efforts to improve the appearance of the main entryways into the city, using an ethic of “turn up, clean up.” Currently the most pressing clean-up concern is along Tampico Way near the I-75/US 41 interchange, where owners of a derelict motel may soon face a deadline for repairs or demolition.
Jason reminded the Club that in these and other undertakings, it’s important to remember that young people are watching the actions of their elders, and that while it’s well to be optimistic, there is always much to do. Whether now or for the next generation of Dalton’s citizens, attitude matters and will insure that success builds on success. For the moment, projects with immediate impact include the award-winning extension of Fields Avenue which has significantly relieved traffic on Glenwood Avenue; the new traffic management pattern at the southern end of College Drive; the Burr and Haig Mill Parks; and the Western and Atlantic Depot, recently offered for sale with marketing advice and assistance from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
Looking forward, Jason noted that city expenditures have declined in recent years, which is good, but that this comes partly from job vacancies left open because of difficulties in finding and keeping qualified people. Dalton needs to tell its story better, and the City Government Academy meetings, scheduled to begin on Tuesdays in October, may help. Also, a citizen survey could provide input for developing strategies and connecting operations to them.
Announcements
President Kevin reviewed the program line-up for June, and President-Elect Greg Dent requested suggestions for programs during the upcoming year. Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett reminded members that a list of the Club’s Paul Harris Fellows is now available and announced that ten Club members have met the Paul Harris qualifications during the past year.
|
June 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Sanders, Drayton M II (DRAYTON) |
13-Jun |
|
|
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
14-Jun |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Little, Billie |
Little, William Norris Sr. |
13-Jun |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| McClure, Douglas E (DOUGLAS) |
Storm |
14-Jun |
15 |
| McDonald, David L (DAVID) |
Frances |
15-Jun |
49 |
| Scott, William M. (WILL) |
Catherine |
16-Jun |
6 |
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
Donna |
16-Jun |
45 |
|
2018 Charlie Bowen 5th Grade Service Above Self Awardsby John Hutcheson
For the ninth year the Club held its annual Charlie Bowen 5th Grade Service Above Self Awards program for students who’ve been outstanding examples of Rotary’s motto during their elementary school years. Flawlessly organized by President-Nominee Amanda Reed, Rotarian Paul Alderman, and President Kevin, the event introduced Club members to a group of boys and girls whose accomplishments and commitment to the well-being of others are truly extraordinary for persons so young.
After a welcome and introduction from President Kevin, Amanda noted that it was “a great day to be a Rotarian” and explained the purpose and criteria for the awards. She thanked Paul Alderman, President Kevin, the teachers, principals, parents, and all who helped make the day’s recognitions possible, emphasizing that these students were being honored not for their academic or athletic accomplishments, however important or impressive these might be, but rather for their heart and dedication—often in ways previously receiving little or no recognition—to Rotary’s ideal of “making a difference” through service to others,.
Amanda introduced Dr. Judy Gilreath, Whitfield County Schools Superintendent, to congratulate the students from her system, who were then presented by Paul Alderman. These included:
Jizelle Adams, age 10, from Antioch Elementary; Allison Maldonado, age 11, from Beaverdale Elementary; Noely Hurtado, age 11, from Cedar Ridge Elementary; Kalynn Cameron, age 11, from Cohutta Elementary; Macie McClure, age 11, from Dawnville Elementary; Isaac Lopez, age 10, from Dug Gap Elementary; Delana Waters, age 11, from Eastside Elementary; Ava Brown, age 11, from New Hope Elementary; Deakon Edwards, age 10, from Pleasant Grove Elementary; Kylie Brown, age 10, from Tunnel Hill Elementary; Ansley Wheat, age 11, from Valley Point Elementary; Sury Bibian, age 11, from Varnell Elementary; and Kali Elrod, age 11, from Westside Elementary.
Whitfield County Schools winners
Dr. Tim Scott, Superintendent of Dalton Public Schools, congratualated the following students from that system, who were presented by Amanda Reed:
Maria Martin, age 10, from Blue Ridge Elementary; Taylor Valles, age 12, from Brookwood Elementary; Jabril Wahid, age 10, from City Park Elementary; Linda Isabel Burciaga, age 11, from Park Creek Elementary; Elyanna Quintero, age 11, from Roan Elementary; and Allee Phillips, age 10, from Westwood Elementary.
Dalton Public Schools winners
Kent Harrison, Headmaster of Christian Heritage School, congratulated his school’s honoree, Ava Grace Parkinson, age 11, who was presented by Amanda Reed.
Christian Heritage School winners
Each of the winning students received a copy of Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, a framed certificate, and a bag of give-aways appropriate for fifth-graders from local merchants and businesses.
Amanda then read brief passages from entries in the “Laws of Life” essay competition submitted by Jizelle Adams of Antioch, Taylor Valles of Brookwood, Noely Hurtado of Cedar Ridge, Macie McClure of Dawnville, Isaac Lopez of Dug Gap, Ava Brown of New Hope, Deakon Edwards of Pleasant Grove, Kiley Brown of Tunnel Hill, Jabril of City Park, Isabel of Park Creek, Elyanna of Roan, and Allee of Westwood. She also read excerpts from the third-place essay, entitled “Standing Tall,” by Sury Bibian of Varnell, and the second-place entry, “Even the Little Things Make a Difference,” by Ansley Wheat of Valley Point. The program closed with Amanda’s reading in its entirety of the winning essay, “Life is Limitless,” written by Kalynn Cameron of Cohutta Elementary.
|
May 15th Birthdays and Anniversariies
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
15-May |
|
|
| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
17-May |
|
|
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
19-May |
|
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
21-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Blevins, David |
Blevins, Sheri H. |
15-May |
|
| Broadrick, Mary Ann |
Broadrick, Bruce L. |
15-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
5/19/1998 |
20 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
Avalee |
17-May |
4 |
|
Georgia's Confederate Monumentsby John Hutcheson
Kathryn Sellers introduced Gould B. Hagler, Jr, author of Georgia’s Confederate Monuments: In Honor of a Fallen Nation (Mercer University Press, 2014). Holding degrees from Wake Forest University and Georgia State University, for thirty years Gould lobbied for the Georgian Independent Insurance Agents, which he also served as CEO. A native of Augusta now living in the Atlanta area, he has long been active in many historical societies, including the Atlanta Civil War Round Table, which he served as president in 2011-2012, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, in which he was commander of the John B. Gordon Camp 46 in 1996-1997.
Gould Hagler
Gould stated that monuments to the Confederate cause began to appear soon after the war ended and have continued to the present. In Georgia the first one was built in 1866, and the most recent, in Dahlonega, was placed in 2016. Using slides, Gould showed that monument designers employed a variety of architectural forms, with the most frequent being a soldier’s statue atop a column. Other designs included obelisks, which are common in cemeteries, or simple memorial stones, especially in smaller communities with limited resources. Occasionally one finds arches, and sometimes there are special symbolic sculptures, such as the wounded lion in Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery (modeled on Switzerland’s “Lion of Lucerne” monument to Swiss Guards massacred by French revolutionaries in 1792), or emblems of fraternal organizations commemorating members lost in the war. There are a few instances of fountains or other water features and many examples of plaques or tablets in courthouses or other public places, often giving the names of the dead from the local area. At least one Confederate memorial stained glass window exists, at Rhodes Hall in Atlanta, and two monuments honor Union as well as Confederate dead. Structures erected more recently often take the form of walls listing the dead from other conflicts, such as the World Wars, as well as from the Civil War.
Turning to their purposes, Gould asked what these monuments say to us. In the first place, they praised the dedication and bravery of the Confederacy’s troops, particularly the common soldiers, who were often barely beyond boyhood. Secondly, they were intended to defend the Southern cause, explaining not only why the soldiers fought but also why civilians endured the hardships of war with an invading force. Refusing to identify Confederates as rebels, they emphasized the right of local self-government set forth in the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and asserted the idea that since the states made the union, rather than the union making the states, any state retained the right to secede from the Union. Thirdly, they mourned the dead—around 277,000, excluding civilian casualties—and finally they often gave thanks for the return of peace. In this light, the recent vandalizing of Atlanta’s monument to peace and reconciliation in Piedmont Park is particularly deplorable.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Kevin reviewed the program line-up for May and reminded members that there will be no lunchtime meeting on May 8 because of the Friends of Rotary event from 6:00-8:00 that evening at 229 North Hamilton and no meeting at all on May 29 because of the Dalton Country Club’s closure that day. Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett announced that a list of the Club’s Paul Harris Fellows is now available. Rotarian Rob Bradham reminded members of the Pitch Dalton competition scheduled for May 15 at Stage 123. Rotarian Zach Taylor noted that today’s meeting will be the last for Linnea Neman and Clare Ballentine, this year’s GRSP students.
President Kevin awarded Alex Brown his Blue Badge, and Past President John Richmond introduced Rotarians Dixie Kinard, Kathryn Sellers, and Roy Johnson as the Club’s newest Will Watt Fellows in recognition of their contributions to the Georgia Rotary Student Program.
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Alex Brown, Dixie Kinard, Kathryn Sellers, Roy Johnson
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May 8th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr. (JUDSON) |
8-May |
|
|
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
9-May |
|
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
12-May |
|
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
13-May |
|
|
| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
14-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Sherwood, Jean |
Jones, J. Sherwood Jr. |
9-May |
|
| Mixer, Mark |
Mixer, Kimberly J |
13-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
5/9/2017 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Anderson, Michael S (MICHAEL) |
Adina |
14-May |
13 |
|
My GRSP Year: A Report From Linnea Nemanby John Hutcheson
Linnea Neman
Zach Taylor introduced Linnea Neman, the Club’s GRSP student for 2017-2018, emphasizing what a delight it has been to have her live with his family and to get to know her and other GRSP students.
Linnea remarked on how quickly the time has flown since her arrival in Georgia on August 1, 2017. Although the year has been like a roller coaster ride, it has definitely been one of the best years of her life. After enrolling at Dalton State, her first month was a time of adaptation to a different academic setting, new living arrangements, and American culture generally. She took twelve credit hours each semester and roomed with Clare Ballentine, a GRSP student from England sponsored by the Carpet City Rotary Club. At the outset she didn’t know what to expect, but she found DSC to be enjoyable, its small classes and relatively small size overall affording her many chances to meet others and to live in an environment she compared to that of living in a hotel. She was able to take courses not available at home, especially American government at the national, state, and local levels, in addition to English and Spanish courses which enriched her knowledge and competence in those languages.
Through the auspices of the GRSP she traveled widely around Georgia, enjoying monthly trips usually scheduled over weekends and hosted by local Rotary clubs. In addition to Atlanta, she also visited Athens, Savannah, Cumberland Island, and much of South Georgia. Outside the state, she traveled to Asheville and Biltmore, Huntsville, Nashville, New Orleans, Auburn, and Disney World. When her family came from Sweden, she went to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and she was also able to go to Washington, D.C. and New York City.
As for Dalton, she will remember it as a wonderful place, where she particularly enjoyed hiking in the beautiful scenery and meeting new people. During her year here she has gained a new degree of independence by being away from her family for so long, and she now feels more self-sufficient than she ever has. Her English has improved greatly (one New Yorker even said she had a Southern accent!), and she has learned much about the U.S. while also teaching others about Sweden (which led her to learn new things about her own country as well). She does remain perplexed about some American characteristics, such as drive-through facilities of all kinds, the size of parking lots, flags flying everywhere, huge portions in restaurants, and many other commonplaces virtually unknown in Europe.
In closing, Linnea thanked the Club for all its support and described the GRSP as “amazing,” fulfilling its purpose far more warmly and informatively than conventional foreign exchange programs do. She noted that this year’s GRSP class has expressed its appreciation by creating an illustrated booklet about their time in Georgia which is now available online. Responding to a question about her future plans, she said that after returning to Sweden she will probably take a year off before going to college, using the time to travel and process her own Georgia experiences before enrolling at the Copenhagen Business School.
Announcements
President Kevin reviewed the program line-up for May and reminded members that there will be no lunchtime meeting on May 8 because of the Friends of Rotary event that evening and no meeting at all on May 29 because of the Dalton Country Club’s closure that day. He then called on Past President Bill Bowen, who in turn introduced Rotarian Mike Maret as the Club’s newest Will Watt Fellow in recognition of Mike’s contributions to the Georgia Rotary Student Program. Will Watt Fellows have given a minimum of $1,000 to the GRSP, whose endowment fund now totals around $9,000,000, enabling a grant of about $5,000 per year to each GRSP student.
Bill Bowen and Mike Meret
President Kevin returned to the podium to read a letter from Joanie Taylor extending her thanks for the support she received this year from the Club, from her neighbors in the Windermere subdivision, and from other members of the GRSP Dalton host family. She was especially grateful to her husband, Rotarian Zach Taylor, who fulfilled several GRSP responsibilities on his own when circumstances limited or prevented Joanie’s presence.
|
May 1st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
1-May |
|
|
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
3-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Holmes, Cathy |
Didier, John M. |
1-May |
|
| Kinard, Dixie |
Kinard, Robert W |
1-May |
|
| Jones, Patrick |
Jones, Kelly McDonald |
3-May |
|
| Winter, Connie |
Winter, Larry E. |
4-May |
|
| Bronson, Erica |
Bronson, William III |
4-May |
|
| Bailey, Dell |
Bailey, Philip Bates |
4-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
5/1/1983 |
35 |
|
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
5/1/1980 |
38 |
|
| Ryman, Milton J. Jr.(MILTON) |
5/1/1989 |
29 |
|
| Williams, Roger (ROGER) |
5/1/1978 |
40 |
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
5/1/1984 |
34 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
April |
2-May |
26 |
| Williams, Roger (ROGER) |
Joann |
5-May |
62 |
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
Belinda |
6-May |
23 |
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
Laura |
7-May |
24 |
|
Visit From RI's Immediate Past Presidentby John Hutcheson
John Germ
President Kevin introduced John Germ of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, who served in 2016-2017 as President of Rotary International, and Debbie Scott, John’s daughter-in-law who facilitated John’s visit to Dalton.
Long an extraordinary leader in Chattanooga’s business and civic affairs, John graduated from the University of Tennessee and is now the president and chief executive officer of Campbell & Associates, Inc., consulting engineers. He joined Rotary in 1976 and served as President of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga in 1993-1994, as District 6780 Governor in 1996-1997, and as International Assembly Training Leader in 2000-2001. John served on the RI Board of Directors for 2003-2005 and was Vice President in 2004-2005. He has been a member of the International Assembly Committee and Chairman of the Council on Legislation, and Vice Chair - Rotary Centers Major Gift Initiative. He was Aide to President Wilf Wilkinson and Vice Chairman of the International Convention in 2012. In 2013, the White House honored John as one of twelve Rotary International members who are "Champions of Change". In the Chattanooga community, he has served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, of Junior Achievement, and of the Boy Scouts, and he was campaign chairman of United Way. He has also been president of the Tennessee Jaycees and is a recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award. John and his wife Judy are Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation, of which John has just been named a Trustee.
After noting that the RI Presidency is really a three-year process, entailing service as Presidential Nominee and President-Elect as well as the Presidential year itself, John focused his remarks on some of the more memorable moments from his time as RI President, during which he visited 35 states in the U.S. and 33 other countries. His term saw him spend no more than twenty days of it at RI headquarters in Evanston, Indiana, and equally few days at his home in Chattanooga. Over the years his service to Rotary has caused him to log two million miles on Delta Airlines alone, but despite his Rotary obligations, he has always insisted on being at home with his family for every Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday.
When a District Governor asked John to attend his installation, he declined because of concern that a multitude of other DG’s would expect him to be present at their installations as well, leaving him little time for anything else. After reflection, however, he established a policy whereby he would attend if the new governor demonstrated the ideals of Rotary by organizing and carrying out a project to benefit his or her community. One example of what resulted was in Jamaica, where 29 districts combined to provide an eye care clinic and also a school for abused girls. In Guatemala, Rotarians provided an X-ray machine to an extremely remote village located eight hours from the nearest hospital and then did the same thing for sixteen other villages. In Nigeria, Rotary’s work was crucial to the elimination of polio, as indeed it has been in the rest of the world; today there are only eight documented cases—seven in Afghanistan and one in Pakistan. John pointed out that polio surveillance continues in 72 countries, at a cost of $400,000 per year, and that the total cost of the worldwide eradication effort so far has reached $900,000,000. The Rotary Foundation has been the driving force behind this achievement, and John gave a brief review of the Foundation’s history since its establishment in 1917.with an initial contribution of $26.50. Over the following century it spent more than three billion dollars on projects to improve the human condition.
One of John’s most vivid memories from his Presidential year was of a visit to a Mexican bakery operated by individuals in various stages of rehabilitation from drug addictions, an enterprise which helped 200 persons a year. This was a particularly striking example of the wonderful things Rotary can accomplish. Yet for all that, Rotary’s worldwide membership has been stable for many years at around 1.2 million. The obvious question is why this is true, and the obvious need is to add members, especially from younger segments of the population. John closed with an appeal for vigorous recruitment of new members, inspired by a vision of what this could mean for Dalton and for the world.
Announcements
President Kevin thanked all those who worked to make last week’s Earl Lusk Golf Tournament a success. He also reminded members to use the buckets on the tables for contributions to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, and he appealed for contributions to the gift bags for the 5th Grade students who will be recognized next month. Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett reported that 74, or about 60%, of the Club’s members are now Paul Harris Fellows, but our goal remains 100%, and he again noted that members holding extra points can share them with others who are close to achieving the thousand-point minimum. Finally, Rotarian Rob Bradham urged members to attend the kickoff on April 23 at Stage 123 for the downtown planning component of the BELIEVE Dalton program.
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2018 Rotary Golf TournamentThe annual Earl Lusk Golf Tournament was held on April 10th.
The tournament is the Club’s only fund-raising event, with the proceeds used to underwrite scholarships awarded each year to outstanding area high school graduates. A few payments are still yet to be received for this year's tournament, but gross revenue is expected to be about $21,000. For the 4-person select shot tournament, a total of 55 players competed on 14 teams, with the golfers split into two flights based on scoring ability. The first place winners for each flight received $600 in gift certificates to the DGCC Pro Shop. The first place winner for Flight #1 was the Atlantic Capital team with a score of 53. For Flight #2, the winner was the Textile Rubber team with a score of 61. The tournament offered hole-in-one prizes for a 2018 Kia Sorento from Pye Kia on Hole #9; and a 2018 ATV from Kirk’s Cycle on Hole #14.
Prior to tee-off time, Club members and tournament participants enjoyed the traditional pre-tournament lunch of burgers and hot dogs.
|
April 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
27-Apr |
|
|
| Dent, Gregory J (GREG) |
27-Apr |
|
|
| Patterson, Frank W Jr. (FRANK) |
29-Apr |
|
|
| Bowen, William C. III (BILL) |
29-Apr |
|
|
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
29-Apr |
|
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
30-Apr |
|
|
| Scott, William M. (WILL) |
30-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
4/24/2012 |
6 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
Pat |
25-Apr |
32 |
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
Diane |
28-Apr |
49 |
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
Sharon |
29-Apr |
46 |
|
April 17th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
18-Apr |
|
|
| Messick, Amy R (AMY) |
21-Apr |
|
|
| Goodroe, Robert S. (ROBERT) |
23-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Bledsoe, Ginny |
Bledsoe, Jonathan L. |
21-Apr |
|
| Brantley, Tray |
Brantley, Valerie K |
22-Apr |
|
| Hoskins, Carole |
Hoskins, Douglas H. |
23-Apr |
|
| Bestawros, Hilda |
Bestawros, Onsy A |
23-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
4/19/2005 |
13 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
Bob |
19-Apr |
49 |
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
Dixie |
19-Apr |
49 |
|
Dalton State College Golfby John Hutcheson
President Kevin introduced Ben Rickett, Director of Dalton State College’s golf program and head coach for the men’s team. A native of Surrey, England, Ben is a former top 100 in the world as an amateur. He made match play at the 2006 and 2009 British Amateur as well as several English Amateurs, reaching the round of 16 in 2006.
Ben came to Dalton State in 2013 from his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. As both a coach and student-athlete, he helped build the Mocs’ program into a national power, becoming a four-year letter-winner for the Mocs by playing 118 rounds in his four seasons with a 73.66 stroke average. As a senior, Ben posted a team-best four top-ten finishes and eight top-twenty finishes. He earned PING All-East Region honors along with being named an All-Southern Conference performer. His best finish was a tie for second at the Aldila Scenic City Invitational, shooting a 205 (-11). Ben carded 16 rounds in the 60s for his career and 39 rounds of par or better. His Mocs teams were a fixture in the NCAA division I top 25 throughout his playing career, achieving a #1 ranking in 2008. In May 2010, he was named a full-time assistant with the men's golf program at UTC where he worked in all aspects of the program including recruiting, scheduling, practice and on-course coaching. He had previously served a year as a student-assistant while finishing his degree in psychology.
Ben Rickett
Ben caddied for 2012 U.S. Amateur Champion, Steven Fox, and helped Fox overcome a late deficit to win the title. This victory carried with it a prestigious invitation to compete in the 2013 Masters where Ben was again on the bag for Steven.
Married to a Daltonian and living in the Varnell area, Ben has long known that Dalton—either the College or the community—do not like losing, and his principal aspiration is to build and sustain an appropriately winning program at Dalton State. He noted that many of his recruits are pleasantly surprised when they visit Dalton, gaining strongly positive impressions of the natural and social environments, the quality of the local golf courses, and most importantly, the intensity of the community’s commitment to providing them with opportunities to excel.
Ben bragged on many of his players, a large number of whom have won awards and championships in both men’s and women’s competitions. The DSC golf program is the only one in the country to have top-three rankings in both the men’s and women’s divisions of the NAIA, and last year the men finished 4th in the national competition. Next week DSC will host the Roadrunner Classic, in which twelve NAIA championship teams will compete at The Farm and learn what Dalton has to offer. None of this would be possible without the immense community support the program enjoys.
In the course of his presentation Ben told many amusing stories about his experiences in professional golf. He hesitated to predict the outcome of the Masters, but he admitted his partiality for Tiger Woods, whom he described as his “idol” as a golfer.
Announcements
President-Elect Greg Dent announced that a Family & Friends of Rotary social event will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, at Gather 229 on North Hamilton Street and that the Club will not hold a noon meeting that day. He also informed the Club of the nomination of Amanda Reed, Chief Operating Officer of the Health One Alliance, to be President-Elect for 2018-2019 and President in 2019-2020, which members unanimously approved by acclamation.
President Kevin urged members to use the buckets on the tables for contributions to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, and he mentioned several upcoming events, including the Golf Tournament on April 10 (for which Club Administration Chair Chris Cooke noted that the sponsorship goal has almost been reached), a visit on April 17 from RI Past President John Germ of the Chattanooga Rotary Club, and presentations by this year’s GRSP students on April 24. Finally, Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett stated that while 71 of the Club’s members are now Paul Harris Fellows, our goal remains 100%, and he briefly outlined how members holding extra points can share them with others who are close to achieving the thousand-point minimum.
|
April 10th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
11-Apr |
|
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
11-Apr |
|
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
11-Apr |
|
|
| Harris, Kevin W (KEVIN) |
16-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Abernathy, Virginia |
Abernathy, Sid G. |
13-Apr |
|
| Dent, Marybeth |
Dent, Gregory J |
16-Apr |
|
| Srivastava, Vinai |
Srivastava, Archana |
16-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Carter, Teresa (TERESA) |
Glen |
15-Apr |
1 |
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
Celeste |
15-Apr |
30 |
|
April 3rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Anderson, Michael S (MICHAEL) |
4-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| McDonald, Frances |
McDonald, David L |
5-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Messick, Amy R (AMY) |
4/4/2017 |
1 |
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
4/9/2013 |
5 |
|
| Carter, Teresa (TERESA) |
4/9/2013 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Smith, Ralph (RALPH) |
Sandra |
7-Apr |
35 |
| Brunson, Kevin M (KEVIN) |
Cindy |
8-Apr |
18 |
|
|
Rome Braves
One of the annual rites of spring is the return of baseball to green fields around the country. The Atlanta Braves started their season last week with a winning series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Not to be outdone, their younger brothers in the team's farm system are getting ready to start their own season in Rome. Last week, Rome Braves team representatives Jim Jones and Jeff Fletcher visted our club to discuss the team's chances this year and also discuss some of the future Atlanta stars they expect to be playing in Rome this spring. They also discussed different ticket packages and options that are available for baseball fans who want to come see the future of the Braves. Information about the team and the schedule can be found online at www.romebraves.com.
Golf Tournament Reminder
The Rotary Golf Tournament is coming up on April 10th. Anyone interested in donating promotional items for goodie bags should contact Chris Cooke.
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A Day To Honor Our Ownby John Hutcheson
President Kevin opened the meeting by noting that buckets have been placed on each table to collect funds for the Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART), and he asked members for generous contributions from their pocket change. Past President Jason Parker appealed for more participation from sponsors and players in the Club’s Golf Tournament on April 10, and he also asked for items to fill the party bags given to all players.
Membership Chair Cherri Robertson presided over the induction of four new Rotarians: Darby Gooding, sponsored by the Club; Brian Croft, sponsored by Shell Underwood; Richie Watson, sponsored by Bob Caperton; and Kimberly Mixer, sponsored by Mark Mixer.
Our newest Rotarians
Vocational Service Chair Chris Cooke announced the Club’s nominees for two of District 6910’s greatest honors, the W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award and the Robert S. Stubbs II Guardian of Ethics Award. The selection was made by a committee made up of Chris, President Kevin Brunson, Past President Bruce Satterfield, President-Elect Greg Dent, and Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett.
The Arrendale Award recognizes Lee Arrendale, a Rotarian from Habersham County who was a recognized leader in the Georgia poultry industry and served his state as Chairman of the Georgia Board of Corrections. Guidelines for the award in his name require the nominee to show excellence in his or her vocation, achievements in the community, and academic excellence.
For the 2018-2019 Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award the Rotary Club of Dalton nominates Past President David Aft.
David Aft
David holds his undergraduate degree in Civic Work and Master’s in Social Work from Florida State University and moved to Dalton in 1996 to become president of the local United Way. He and his wife, Pauline, have two grown children, both of whom were Rotary Scholars and are graduates of the University of Georgia.
After serving at the United Way, David succeeded another Rotarian, Gordon Morehouse, as president of the Northwest Georgia Community Foundation, a position he continues to hold today. With locations in Dalton, Calhoun, and Cartersville, the Foundation’s mission is to promote and facilitate charitable giving through the management of funds and distribution of grants, and over the years it has managed 189 funds for individuals, families, and non-profit organizations, while distributing more than $44,000,000 in grants for the community. One of David’s most noteworthy achievements was to facilitate the move of the Chattanooga Food Bank into the Dalton area, thus allowing more access to food for struggling members of our population. More recently, he has spearheaded the creation of Burr Park, currently under construction and soon to become a focal point in central Dalton for entertainment events and easy access to downtown restaurants and other attractions.
As well as being an extremely active member of the Rotary Club of Dalton, where he was president in 2014-2015, David has served on numerous local boards and committees, and in 2016 he assumed a leadership role in BELIEVE Greater Dalton, a new initiative by the Dalton Chamber of Commerce. Acting as one of the project’s six sub-committee chairs, David is working to establish downtown Dalton as a destination district, even making a personal commitment by opening his own downtown business, Dave and Pauli’s Art Emporium. Greg Dent describes David as “a nonprofit professional that truly understands his role in the community. . . . When I think of community involvement, partnership, teamwork, facilitation, compassion for the community, and a genuine concern to make Dalton better every day, the first person that comes to mind is David Aft.”
The Stubbs Guardian of Ethics Award, named for Robert (Bob) Stubbs II, a member of the Rotary Club of Canton, honors a person who has been a Rotarian for at least three years and has made outstanding contributions in his or her vocation while also strengthening and fostering the development of ethical practices by actions, writing, policies, and public pronouncements. Ethics has many definitions, but Chris’s favorite comes from the Josephson Institute of Ethics: “Ethics is about how we meet the challenge of doing the right thing when that will cost more than we want to pay.”
This year’s nominee for the Stubbs Award from the Rotary Club of Dalton is Dr. John Richmond.
Dr. John Richmond
A graduate of West Virginia University, John completed medical school in 1974 and served his internship in Denver, Colorado, before joining the U.S. Navy as a flight surgeon and being assigned to the USS Nimitz on a Defense Cruise Mission in the Mediterranean. Following his discharge, he continued his education at the University of Virginia, specializing in nephrology, and after a brief return to his hometown of Beckley, West Virginia, he settled in Dalton in 1984, opening a practice in nephrology and hypertension. Although now semi-retired, he still works in his former office part-time and volunteers as needed at Mednow, a local clinic.
John’s commitment to the citizens of the community is unmatched. He has served as vice president of the Dalton Education Foundation, as a committee member of the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership, and as Committee Chairman of Credentialing for the Health One Alliance. He has been President of the Medical Staff of Hamilton Medical Center, a member of its Board of Directors, and President of the Whitfield-Murray Medical Society. In 1993 he was the first physician to be selected as the Chamber’s Professional of the Year. On a wider scale, John served as President of the Georgia Nephrology Society, and he has won numerous awards in his field across the Southeast and throughout the United States.
John joined Rotary in June, 1985, and quickly became active, participating on the Student Scholarship Committee and in the Rotary International Foundation. He is a four-time Paul Harris Fellow and was the Club’s president in 2010-2011. In recent years the majority of his Rotary work has been devoted to GRSP, in which he has been recognized as a Kendall Wiessenger Fellow. A tireless advocate foe GRSP, he is a District 6910 Trustee for the program and the GRSP Chair for the Planning Committee for the 2019 District Conference.
In 2013 John received the W. Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational Excellence, and he continues to be an advocate for Rotary in all his daily actions.
|
March 27th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
27-Mar |
|
|
| Schneller, April D (APRIL) |
1-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Martin, Sandy |
Martin, Richard G. |
1-Apr |
|
| Hogshead, Carolyn |
Hogshead, Frank M. |
2-Apr |
|
| Williams, Joann |
Williams, Roger |
2-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
3/30/2010 |
8 |
|
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
3/30/2010 |
8 |
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
4/1/1989 |
29 |
|
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
4/1/2008 |
10 |
|
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
4/1/1978 |
40 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
News From The Special OlympicsBy John Hutcheson
Club Administration Chair Chris Cooke stated that the recent Law Enforcement Polar Plunge raised $150,000 for the Special Olympics. On another subject, he also thanked everyone who helped in the response to the shooting incident at Dalton High School.
Chris introduced Lisa Hughey, who has been Coordinator of the Special Olympics for Whitfield County for the last seventeen years. Lisa said that there are 5.6 million Special Olympians worldwide, with 460 in Dalton and Whitfield County. In the near future, the major fund-raising event will be a track and field meet to be held on April 20 at Southeast Whitfield High School.
Lisa then introduced her son Tyler, who warmly thanked the Club for the opportunity to speak about what Special Olympics has meant to him.
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Tyler Hughey
He mentioned that the program was founded in 1958 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy. Tyler has been involved with it for fifteen years in bowling, tennis (his favorite sport), as well as other activities such as skiing and sailing. For him Special Olympics is very much a family affair, as his sister, both parents, and one of his grandfathers all take part in its operations. Competing with them and with new friends he’s been able to make, he’s come to regard the program itself as a second family, and through it he’s traveled to many places around the U.S. he probably would not have visited otherwise. He particularly enjoys taking part in unified sports, in which Special Olympians and regular athletes compete together.
Tyler emphasized that Special Olympics is more than just sports—it can be a life-changing project for communities as well as for individuals. It is vigorously working to eliminate one “r-word”—“retarded”—as a personal adjective and replace it with another—“respected.” It has also launched a vision-improvement initiative which has so far given away 110,000 pairs of glasses. Tyler concluded by noting that about fifty delegates from Georgia will attend (although not compete in) the Special Olympics in Seattle in July.
Announcements
Past President Bruce Satterfield urged everyone to support the track meet on March 10, adding that volunteers were still needed and that if weather conditions warrant cancellation, information will be sent by email the night before the meet. [Late News: Early in the afternoon of March 9, the meet was cancelled due to forecasts of cold rain.]
Past President Jason Parker reminded members about the golf tournament on April 10; funds raised will provide scholarships for sixteen to twenty students. There will also be a raffle for which the drawing will be on April 3, with half the proceeds going to the winner and half to the scholarship fund. President Kevin noted that the Club’s meeting on March 13 will be an R & R, with no formal program.
On behalf of the GRSP, Past President John Richmond presented President Kevin and Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead with a check for $1,860 in recognition of the Club’s participation in GRSP at an average rate of at least $50 per member.
GRSP Check Presentation
|
March 20th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
20-Mar |
|
|
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
21-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Pangle, Belinda |
Pangle, William T |
24-Mar |
|
| Gazaway, Johnnie |
Gazaway, Kristie |
24-Mar |
|
| Stewart, Celeste |
Stewart, Robert T |
25-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Brunson, Kevin M (KEVIN) |
3/26/2013 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
Patrick |
25-Mar |
23 |
|
March 13th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Harris, Lezlie |
Harris, Kevin W |
13-Mar |
|
| Temples, Noel |
Temples, Coy H |
16-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Anderson, Michael S (MICHAEL) |
3/14/2017 |
1 |
|
| Conway, Deborah R (DEBORAH) |
3/15/2016 |
2 |
|
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
3/15/2016 |
2 |
|
| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
3/15/2016 |
2 |
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
3/15/2016 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Pratt, Vallarie D. (VALLARIE) |
Shaun |
19-Mar |
24 |
|
A Look At The Lookoutsby John Hutcheson
President Kevin introduced Rich Mozingo, President and General Manager of the Chattanooga Lookouts. Rich holds a marketing degree from James Madison University and is now beginning his 25th year in professional baseball. In January 1993 he joined the Texas Rangers organization before taking a job with the Chattanooga Lookouts the following November as Director of Group Sales, and by 1999 he had risen to the position of General Manager for the Lookouts. In 2002 he moved to Columbia, South Carolina to become President and General Manager of the Capital City Bombers. After three years he moved that team and the franchise to Greenville, South Carolina, and in 2006 he went to Lakewood, New Jersey to work with the Lakewood BlueClaws, a Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2011 he returned to Chattanooga as President and General Manager of the Lookouts.
Rich Mozingo
After introducing Bob Bethel, a Daltonian who is one of the owners of the Lookouts franchise, Rich told a couple of amusing anecdotes about Tommy Lasorda, the legendary General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom the Lookouts were affiliated from 2009 to 2014. During a visit to Chattanooga, Lasorda regularly ate breakfast at the Blue Plate diner on Chestnut Street, where he would tell stories and hold court with visitors until lunchtime. Having a habit of ignoring his bill, eventually he acquired the nickname “Crime,” because, like crime, he didn’t pay. On one occasion he proceeded from the Blue Plate to the ballpark and berated a group of players at length for idling in the club house rather than practicing on the field, only to be told he was in the wrong room.
In 2017 the Lookouts seemed bound for a mediocre season—the roster was weak, there was a new General Manager, and the players seemed unimpressive when compared to those of the 2015 championship season. Nevertheless, the team won 91 of 141 games and shared the league championship with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. For 2018 the results remain to be seen, but as always, the franchise’s main object is for its patrons to have fun at the ballpark, regardless of the outcome of the games, which really can’t be controlled.
In 2017 a new high-definition video board was installed at AT&T Field, showing sponsored displays but no commercials. The team’s owners, the Hardball Capital Group, has developed a new array of ticketing plans, based on 7-, 14-, and 21-game packages. With picnic areas and facilities for group outings, the ballpark is a great place for parties, celebrations, and fund-raising functions—tickets bought for $3.00 may be resold for $5.00 for the benefit of charitable agencies which can then showcase themselves at games. The owners are eager for community involvement and have already participated in walks to benefit organizations fighting heart disease and hydrocephalus.
Upcoming events include Fun Fest on March 17, with tours of the ballpark and sales on Lookouts merchandise, and the 2018 Opening Day on April 5. This year the Lookouts will play 70 home games, but much work is done in the off-season as well, for the year has three components: planning, marketing, and playing. There will be eight fireworks shows, many giveaways of Lookouts gear, and a host of special observances such as Hispanic Heritage Night, Star Wars Night, Faith and Family Night, Used Car Night, College Football Night, and Super Hero Night (when team staff members and fans dress up as super heroes—this has sold out for the past two years). All of these require careful planning and effective marketing apart from the work involved with assembling, training, and fielding a worthwhile baseball team.
Responding to a question about conversations now underway regarding construction of a new, multi-use stadium in a redeveloped South Broad District, Rich said that the Lookouts are interested and are exploring partnership possibilities, but he noted that it would be viable only as the centerpiece of a larger project that includes office, commercial, and even residential spaces.
Announcements
President Kevin summarized upcoming programs for the next few weeks and said that a New Member Orientation would be led by Mike Maret. Past Presidents Bruce Satterfield and Jason Parker reminded members about the track meet on March 10 and the Golf Tournament in April, respectively.
|
March 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr. (PAUL) |
10-Mar |
|
|
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
12-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Griffin, Candy |
Griffin, Joseph Bryan |
12-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
Virginia |
12-Mar |
52 |
|
March 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr. (PAUL) |
10-Mar |
|
|
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
12-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Griffin, Candy |
Griffin, Joseph Bryan |
12-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
Virginia |
12-Mar |
52 |
|
The Dalton Innovation Acceleratorby John Hutcheson
Rotarian Pat Chute introduced Dr. Marilyn Helms, Dean of the C. Lamar and Ann Wright School of Business and Sesquicentennial Chair and Professor of Supply Chain Management at Dalton State College. With undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Memphis, Dr. Helms previously taught at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and with Kennesaw State University’s program on the Dalton State campus. She is internationally recognized in her field, has won numerous awards for her teaching in the U.S. and abroad, and has published and spoken in a wide range of academic and general public settings. A member of the Dalton State faculty since 2000, she is deeply involved in the local community through Junior Achievement and the Creative Arts Guild, and she was the leading fundraiser and winner of the 2016 Dancing Stars of North Georgia Competition to benefit Alzheimer’s research.
Marilyn Helms
Dr. Helms began by pointing out Dalton’s rich history of innovation in business and manufacturing, which it has an equally impressive record of operationalizing. The Dalton Innovation Accelerator (DIA), one of about 200 such projects across the country, has been organized to serve as a vehicle for pairing innovators with the community’s seasoned entrepreneurs by enabling them to compete for short-term mentorship, start-up space, and seed capital. Its long-term goals are to support new entrepreneurship in immediately effective ways and to encourage entrepreneurs to remain in the Dalton-Whitfield area.
DIA’s origins lie in the summer of 2017. In July, Investure IT, a Dalton-based technology company serving companies and governments across the Southeast, moved into the Landmark Building and approached the building’s owners, Barrett Properties, to discuss the potential for a start-up competition and business incubator/accelerator similar to those it had promoted elsewhere. This was formalized in August, and in September an Advisory Panel of representatives from Advanced Insurance Strategies, Barrett Properties, Believe Greater Dalton, the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, Luna Design, the Minor Firm, the Morehouse Group, and Dalton State formed and began holding bi-weekly meetings. Early in 2018 a competition called PitchDIA was launched, inviting applicants to participate in a competition modeled on ABC television’s Shark Tank reality show. Applications are due March 1, 2018, selected competitors will be announced on March 30, and the pitch event is scheduled for May 15. The first-place winner will receive a cash award of $5,000, over 500 sq. ft. of office space in the Landmark Building (where 1,800 sq. ft. have been set aside for DIA projects) rent-free for the first six months, staffing, and technology, legal, accounting, banking, branding, marketing, and mentoring services worth as much as $15,000. Second-place will win $500 in cash, over 250 sq. ft. of space, and a shorter list of services, while the third-place winner will receive $500 and technical, legal, and mentoring services.
Dr. Helms closed by noting that applications thus far have been encouraging, ranging from high- to low-tech. She is personally gratified by the interest shown by students at DSC, and she encouraged Rotarians to get involved with DIA and take advantage of what it will bring to the community.
Announcements
President Kevin opened the meeting by reading a letter from Devon Brooks, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Northwest Georgia, expressing deep gratitude for the Club’s financial assistance to the Society’s campaign to raise funds for construction of a new shelter facility.
A Rotary Minute with April Schneller
April Schneller, Director of Advancement at Christian Heritage School, is originally from Nashville but has lived in Dalton (which she considers a truly unique place) for 22 years. The youngest of seven children, her birth at dawn on April 1 determined her name. She is a graduate of Austen Peay State University, where she played volleyball and was also active in cycling and triathlon. She has been married to Doug for 24 years and has sixteen-year-old twin girls. In recent years she has returned to her farm upbringing—she and her family raise Angus cattle and now have a herd of about fifty head. This summer she will go on a medical mission trip to a destination yet to be decided.
April Schneller
|
February 27th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Chute, Patricia M (PAT) |
28-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Brooker, Janet |
Brooker, Robert H. |
27-Feb |
|
| Jones, Danielle |
Jones, J Sherwood III |
27-Feb |
|
| Ward, Allen |
Ward, Barbara K. |
27-Feb |
|
| Johnson, Pat |
Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. |
1-Mar |
|
| Wright, Joanne |
Wright, Thomas L |
3-Mar |
|
| Bowen, Ann |
Bowen, William C. III |
5-Mar |
|
| Pierce, Lamar |
Pierce, Sara C. |
5-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
3/1/1988 |
30 |
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
3/1/1976 |
42 |
|
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
3/1/1975 |
43 |
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr.(JUDSON) |
3/1/1964 |
54 |
|
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
3/1/1975 |
43 |
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
3/1/1994 |
24 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
Bobby |
27-Feb |
19 |
|
Rethinking Entrepreneurship For Small Businessby John Hutcheson
Community Service Chair Amy Messick introduced Rotarian Alex Brown, who shared his experience as a small business entrepreneur in diverse locations, ranging from large cities such as Seattle and Atlanta to smaller communities such as Dalton. A native of Colorado, Alex holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Colorado and a master’s from Auburn University, and he has also attended Northwestern University.
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Alex Brown
From his experiences and observations, Alex discerns three major trends in current entrepreneurship: (1) the empowerment of women, (2) the emergence of the gig- (i.e. digital) economy, and (3) the increasing drive to improve services. He noted that 43% of employees will soon effectively be independent contractors, able to work remotely from their headquarters. They can become “digital nomads,” living anywhere they may find congenial and have appropriate connectivity. Moreover, 47% of privately held firms are now led by female majorities among executives and directors. This applies as well to the professions; for instance, the majority of medical students is now composed of females. Significantly, 25% of all U.S. households are led by single breadwinners, of whom one-third, or 8%-9% of the total, are women—a huge potential market.
Alex gave several examples of small businesses involving him and his family which have experienced rapid, large-scale growth by recognizing and exploiting the changing nature of the marketplace. Preferhired, based in Tampa, Florida, is a crowd-sourced, referral-based platform providing online access for candidates and prospective employers to form ideal matches; since its establishment in January 2017 it has grown from one to 16,000 users. Draw My Hunt, headquartered in southwestern Colorado and an outgrowth of Alex’s deep love for his native state and its outdoors recreation, is an interactive portfolio management solution for simplifying species tag applications, centralizing license acquisitions, and organizing big game hunting opportunities. A similar company called Expedition Outside works to give hunters access to privately owned lands, especially in areas with little federally-owned land; doing so enables landowners to benefit from otherwise unprofitable property, and by bringing in hunters who frequently live in cities, it promotes better understanding between urban and rural residents. Finally, Alex pointed to Teaching Photography Online, which has 500,000 followers and is run by his wife, Sarah, and a partner in New York City, and to Bench Builders, a newly opened management consulting service in Dalton for which Rotarian Mike O’Neill is Managing Principal.
Bringing the perspective of a new arrival who has lived in many different places around the country, Alex offered four recommendations for Dalton/Whitfield: (1) getting more women into government at all levels, (2) building on the area’s powerful outdoor recreational potential, (3) embracing new manufacturing techniques required by the gig-economy, while being prepared for their disruptive impact, and (4) hiring local firms and talent—especially women.
A Rotary Minute with Jonathan Barlow
Jonathan Barlow became Senior Pastor of Dalton’s First Baptist Church in 2017. A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he graduated from Mississippi College and holds the Master of Divinity degree from Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta. After serving on the pastoral staff of Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta, he was appointed Pastor of First Baptist Church in Royston, Georgia, from which he came to Dalton, and he is currently finishing a Doctorate of Ministry through Duke University Divinity School. His wife Susan is the Media Specialist at Gladden Middle School in Murray County, and they have three young sons.
Jonathan Barlow
|
February 20th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Kiker, John |
Kiker, Janice F. |
24-Feb |
|
| Jolly, Becky |
Jolly, Hilliard R. |
25-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
2/20/2007 |
11 |
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
2/23/2016 |
2 |
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
2/23/2010 |
8 |
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
2/23/2010 |
8 |
|
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
2/23/2016 |
2 |
|
| Smith, Ralph (RALPH) |
2/24/1998 |
20 |
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
2/24/1998 |
20 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
Susan |
23-Feb |
44 |
|
The CASA Program In Northwest Georgiaby John Hutcheson
Rotarian Steve Farrow introduced Tammy Harmon, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator for the Murray/Whitfield Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), who in turn introduced Chelsea DeWaters, the agency’s Program Manager. CASA is an outreach of the Family Support Council, the area’s leading organization working on behalf of abused and neglected children and recipient of the local United Way’s largest single amount of assistance.
Chelsea DeWaters
Chelsea said that while CASA is a national program, it works entirely through locally recruited volunteers to serve local children whom the state has placed in foster care because of neglect or abuse. While a social necessity, foster care is often very difficult for everyone involved. Finding themselves in physical and psychological limbo and uncertain about their future, foster children can be acutely vulnerable, especially during the younger years that shape developmental patterns through adolescence and even into adulthood. Many, for example, may move multiple times from one foster home to another, often over great distances, requiring complex adjustments to changing domestic, educational, and social environments. Parents hoping to regain custody, and frequently grandparents and other family members as well, may need to learn or relearn fundamental responsibilities and practices of child-rearing.
Compounding these strains are demands placed upon the state’s understaffed Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFACS). Its aim is to restore children to their families within one year following intake—an aspiration currently realized in less than 20% of cases. Ideally, a DFACS social worker should have a client base of no more than twenty children, each of whom is to be seen at least twice per month, while at the same time parents are to be adequately engaged and served, receiving specific goals, with supervision exercised through the juvenile court system. Fulfilling these obligations may entail extensive travel, and workers also spend much time in court when cases are being litigated. These things, and others, impede formation of emotionally satisfactory relationships between workers and children.
As one of twelve Family Support Council programs advocating and working for the improvement of child welfare, CASA is a way to bring community involvement into the child welfare system beyond what professionals can provide. Volunteers come from widely diverse social, occupational, and educational backgrounds. Locally their ages run from 23 to 83, but a majority are retirees, mainly because they can more easily give the necessary time to the work. All volunteers are closely vetted and trained over a period of ten weeks, following which they are certified by a juvenile court and assigned to no more than two or three children at a time. The commitment to each child is flexible but intense, averaging fifteen hours per month. A volunteer is expected to cultivate a deep and personal relationship with each of his or her assigned children while also interacting with their parents, extended family members, and pertinent school and DFACS personnel, as well as with anyone else having direct influence over the conditions of a child’s existence. CASA volunteers’ experiences and observations supplement those of workers with DFACS and the juvenile courts, and they may constitute a basis for formal recommendations to the courts about case dispositions.
Chelsea closed by noting that the Murray/Whitfield CASA is currently expanding its services, adding new staff and seeking more volunteers. She encouraged Club members to consider applying, bearing in mind that even if they are necessarily in the state’s custody for the time being, the children CASA seeks to reach are not the state’s—they are ours, with needs the state is not well-equipped to meet.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Kevin reminded members to stop by the front desk and verify their email addresses in order to keep the Club directory up to date and communicate most efficiently. Past President Bruce Satterfield announced that the annual Rotary Track Meet will take place on March 10 and that volunteer sign-up sheets are posted in the lobby.
Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett presented Rotarians Tommy Willingham and Laurice Tatum as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellows.
Tommy Willingham, Laurice Tatum, Smitty Barnett
Past President John Richmond recognized Rotarian Paul Henson as a new Hugh Thomas Fellow in honor of his cumulative contribution of $2,500 to GRSP.
Paul Henson, John Richmond, Kevin Brunson
|
February 13th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
14-Feb |
|
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr. (ROBERT) |
15-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Henson, Jean |
Henson, Paul E. Jr. |
14-Feb |
|
| Chambliss, Alex |
Chambliss, Darla P |
18-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Bronson, William III(WILLIAM) |
2/13/2007 |
11 |
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
2/15/2000 |
18 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
February 6th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
12-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| McKenzie, Jimmy |
McKenzie, Sandra D |
6-Feb |
|
| DeLay, Avalee |
DeLay, Scott G |
6-Feb |
|
| Adcock, Diane |
Adcock, Don W. |
7-Feb |
|
| Brunson, Cindy |
Brunson, Kevin M |
8-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Cruse, Lesley Dale (DALE) |
Amy |
12-Feb |
36 |
|
Teaching and Learning Strategies at Dalton State Collegeby John Hutcheson
Rotarian Margaret Venable, President of Dalton State College, introduced Rotarian Dr. Patricia Chute, the College’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Pat came to DSC in July, 2016, after serving as a dean at two different institutions in New York, and she now oversees all academic matters at DSC. Holding a doctorate in audiology from Columbia University, with master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Hunter College, prior to her involvement in higher education administration she directed a nationally and internationally recognized program to investigate the use of cochlear implant technology in deaf children and adults—a field in which she has more than forty publications, including three books.
Dr. Patricia Chute
Pat began her presentation by pointing out how the high level of college dropouts indicates a need for more effective teaching and learning strategies. Today’s students are more diverse than ever before in their abilities, motivations, and preparedness for college. High Impact Practices (HIPs) are founded upon more direct teacher-student interaction than the traditional lecture-based format and have proven beneficial for student engagement and successful learning among students from many backgrounds. While demanding considerable time and effort from both students and faculty, HIPs strive to put a greater burden of learning upon the student, emphasizing action rather than mere memorization. Much HIP learning occurs outside the classroom, through meaningful interactions with faculty and peers and in collaboration with diverse others, all guided by frequent and substantial feedback from teachers. Curricula should be designed so that students engage in at least two HIPs courses during their undergraduate studies, one during their first year and one in their major area, and further HIP work would almost certainly be advantageous.
Pat gave many instances of how HIPs are being implemented at DSC, using strategies such as common intellectual experiences, learning communities, writing-intensive courses, collaborative assignments and projects, undergraduate research, diversity and global learning, ePortfolios, service and community-based learning, internships, and capstone courses and projects. First Year Seminars introduce students experientially to the fundamental demands of college life and successful ways to cope with its challenges. In the School of Liberal Arts, some students have conducted research into particular communication phenomena in the light of specific communication theories, while others participate in service learning through social media work with local businesses or taking theatrical productions into local elementary schools. Still others have served internships with Habitat for Humanity, Shaw Industries, and the Georgia Film Academy, and a group of history students have collaborated in a “Reacting to the Past” assignment by researching and playing roles connected with India’s independence movement against British rule.
HIPs in the School of Health Professions center on an elaborately equipped Simulation Laboratory, in which high fidelity manikins can replicate a vast array of medical situations and enable 100% of students in nursing, radiation technology, respiratory technology, and social work to have at least two HIP experiences. Students in the School of Science, Technology, and Mathematics have interned in chemistry and biology with more than half a dozen local companies, finding solutions to real-world problems. Others have performed ground-breaking research into local wetland ecosystems, fostered reproduction of an endangered turtle species rarely bred in captivity, and developed a linear algebra class transformed to IBL Open Source Online Learning in collaboration with the University of Toronto. In the School of Business, service learning requires students to spend ten hours in the community and to conduct mock interviews with area businesses, learn to draft memos and write resumés maintained in ePortfolios, and to consider a period of study abroad to experience small business development in other countries. Study abroad is also a HIP in both Teacher Education and Interprofessional Education, where opportunities to study schools and businesses respectively are available in Mexico, London, Paris, and Costa Rica.
Overall, 85% of DSC students in the liberal arts experience at least two HIPs, as do 100% of all students in bachelor degree programs. Not only do these students perform better and become more likely to graduate, but faculty engaging in HIPs report more satisfying and fulfilling teaching experiences as they provide mentorship and participate at a different level. The College’s Honors Program, now in the planning process, will incorporate HIPs into the curriculum still more fully.
Announcements and Recognitions
Community Service Chair Amy Messick reminded members to contribute items during February for the Salvation Army Food Drive. Past President Bruce Satterfield urged people to sign up to assist at the annual Rotary Track Meet on March 10 on the sheets posted in the lobby. Rotarian Shell Underwood stated that free family portraits will be taken this evening at the Modern Woodmen of America offices for those bringing an item for the food drive, and President Kevin gave a quick summary of upcoming programs.
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2018 Vocational Service Awards For First Respondersby John Hutcheson
Chris Cooke, Vocational Service Chair, announced the 2018 Vocational Service Awards for First Responders, recognizing those who have gone above and beyond regular duty and are exemplary members of their professions, embodying the Rotary ideal of Service Before Self. Award recipients and their presenters are as follows:
From the Whitfield County Fire Department, Battalion Chief Terry Warnix presented Lieutenant Nathan Callaway, who has set up a new computer system and won recognition as Whitfield County Firefighter of the Year.
From the Dalton Fire Department, Chief Todd Pangle presented Firefighter Brandon Elliott, who has shown outstanding initiative and the highest moral character and was officially commended for his actions in October, 2017, when he gave critical and limitless assistance to a neighbor whose father was in cardiac arrest.
From the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Department, on behalf of Sheriff Scott Chitwood, who had an obligation in Atlanta, Captain Steve Fields presented Sergeant Jeremy McMillan, who supervises all courtroom security arrangements and excels in all he does..
From the Dalton Police Department, Captain Chris Cooke presented Officer Chris Cochran, who became the Department’s first Code Enforcement Officer in 2013 and in 2015 was named Code Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Keep Georgia Beautiful organization.
From Hamilton EMS, Director Scott Raedeker presented Paramedic Chris Downey, who provided superior aid in “austere environments” existing after Hurricanes Irma and Matthew and more recently gave exceptional medical care in “sleeper” cardiac cases with patients showing no usual symptoms of cardiac distress but who would have died without Chris’s intervention.
Vocational Service Award winners
President Kevin concluded the meeting with a statement of thanks to all First Responders as well as those being recognized today.
Announcements and Recognition
President Kevin asked all members to stop by the front desk and verify their email addresses in order to keep the Club directory up to date and communicate most efficiently. He also noted that Believe Greater Dalton’s Community Pride focus group will meet today at First Baptist Church and invited all interested persons to attend
Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett presented Rotarian Jim Hawkins as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow.
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Jim Hawkins and Smitty Barnett
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January 30th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
3-Feb |
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Weaver, Virginia |
Weaver, William B |
1-Feb |
|
| Barnwell, Delle |
Barnwell, William L |
2-Feb |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
2/1/1989 |
29 |
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
2/1/1996 |
22 |
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
2/1/1981 |
37 |
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
2/1/1979 |
39 |
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
2/1/1996 |
22 |
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2/1/1972 |
46 |
|
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
2/3/2015 |
3 |
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
Junior Achievement in Northwest GeorgiaMonday, January 22, 2018by John Hutcheson
Rotarian Anna Adamson, director of Junior Achievement of Northwest Georgia, began her presentation with a Rotary Minute recounting her background. A native of Georgia, she attended the University of Georgia and Texas Christian University, earning degrees in early childhood education. While her husband was president of the Ringgold Rotary Club, she was drawn to Rotary herself through work with a GRSP student.
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Anna Adamson
Using an informative PowerPoint slide and video show, Anna related that the Junior Achievement (JA) program serves ten million students in 120 countries worldwide. Its purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed by spreading concepts and best practices of entrepreneurship which will narrow the gap between skill sets needed in a global economy and the preparation of students and their potential employers. To these ends, Junior Achievement is reimagining academic growth in relation to everyday learning needs by emphasizing relevance, authenticity, and experience. Research shows that many students begin disengaging from active learning during the middle school years, and beginning with that age cohort Junior Achievement has devised simulated economies in which students play all roles—employers, employees, suppliers, producers, taxpayers, consumers, etc.
For doing so, the principal vehicles are the JA Discovery Centers, of which two are currently operative in Georgia, in Atlanta and Lawrenceville, with a third scheduled to open in Cumming in August 2018. Development of these centers created a consortium of leaders from the business and education communities who believed that when students understand how academics apply to the real world, they are more motivated in the classroom and ultimately achieve higher academic and professional success. The JA Discovery Centers blend key components of JA to deliver state-of-the-art learning facilities where students apply concepts they learned in the classroom in authentic and immersive experience. Upon arrival, students escape into a simulated version of their hometown, otherwise known as JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. Here they work alongside their peers and volunteers as they discover a greater understanding of financial concepts, build 21st century skills, and foster the entrepreneurial spirit.
The JA Discovery Centers in Georgia are collective efforts from five school districts, including Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb County Schools, Fulton County Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools and Marietta City Schools, and more than seventy partners, such as Assurant, AT&T, Chick-fil-A, Cisco, Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, and SunTrust. Annually, more than 65,000 students visit the JA Discovery Centers to complete a one day simulation at JA BizTown or JA Finance Park.
The JA Northwest Georgia District is eager to build a Discovery Center in this area, for which Dalton would be the ideal location. Along with a physical structure of at least 25,000 sq.ft., the facility will need strong support from local governments and school systems as well as from private capital sources and an adequate corps of volunteers to engage, invest, and advocate.
Anna concluded by introducing Lee Highsmith of Gainesville, who is executive director of JA for the North Georgia District. She also reminded Club members about JA of Northwest Georgia’s 13th Annual Business Hall of Fame reception and dinner on March 8, 2018, which will honor Dalton industrialist and entrepreneur Bob Shaw as a “Rising Star.”
Announcements
President Kevin called on Community Service Chair Amy Messick, who announced the February food drive on behalf of the Salvation Army.
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January 23rd Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, January 22, 2018
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
24-Jan |
|
|
| Carter, Teresa (TERESA) |
28-Jan |
|
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
27-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Chappell, Bennieta |
Chappell, William J. |
29-Jan |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
1/23/2001 |
17 |
|
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
1/27/2009 |
9 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
The Appalachian Regional Commission and Northwest GeorgiaMonday, January 15, 2018Rotarian Celeste Creswell introduced Brittany Pittman, formerly Sole Commissioner for Murray County and now one of two Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Program Managers for Georgia.
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Celeste Creswell and Brittany Pittman
Brittany described the ARC as a federal-state partnership whose mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia. Representing a partnership of federal, state, and local government, it was established by an act of Congress in 1965 and is composed of the governors of the thirteen Appalachian states and a federal co-chair appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Local participation is provided through multi-county local development districts.
ARC invests in activities which address the five goals identified in the Commission's strategic plan:
1: Economic Opportunities Invest in entrepreneurial and business development strategies that strengthen Appalachia's economy.
2: Ready Workforce Increase the education, knowledge, skills, and health of residents to work and succeed in Appalachia.
3: Critical Infrastructure Invest in critical infrastructure—especially broadband; transportation, including the Appalachian Development Highway System; and water/wastewater systems.
4: Natural and Cultural Assets Strengthen Appalachia's community and economic development potential by leveraging the Region's natural and cultural heritage assets.
5: Leadership and Community Capacity Build the capacity and skills of current and next-generation leaders and organizations to innovate, collaborate, and advance community and economic development.
Each year ARC provides funding for several hundred investments in the Appalachian Region in areas such as business development, education and job training, telecommunications, infrastructure, community development, housing, and transportation. These projects create thousands of new jobs; improve local water and sewer systems; increase school readiness; expand access to health care; assist local communities with strategic planning; and provide technical and managerial assistance to emerging businesses.
In Georgia the work of the commission is administered through the state Department of Community Affairs in the 37 eligible counties, with special emphasis placed on rural development. Funding is on a quarterly cycle and is governed by federal regulations. The maximum investment for a particular project is $600,000, with support generally limited to two years after which the project is expected to be self-sustaining. Priority for awarding grants leans toward ready-to-go proposals. Depending on the availability of other resources, agencies and jurisdictions may be required to provide matching funds, but total underwriting is possible where it may be warranted.
Brittany summarized a variety of local projects which have received ARC support, Cultural grants have gone toward restoration of the historic Western & Atlantic Railroad Depot in Tunnel Hill, support for the Sautee Nacoochee Center in White County, renovation of Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden in Chatooga County, and operation of the Farmers’ Market at the Hartwell Deport in Hart County. Infrastructure initiatives include sewer expansion in Cohutta and Ringgold (the latter to accommodate the needs of Shaw Industries), water system improvements in Helen and Chatsworth, development of the Carbondale Business Park in Whitfield County, and creation of a wireless Hot Zone in Gainesville. In Cedartown, One Door Polk consolidates a variety of social and healthcare services focused on family and juvenile needs, and Primary Healthcare Centers receiving ARC support are scattered across the area under the Commission’s purview. ARC involvement with workforce development has led to partnerships with Georgia Northwestern Technical College and North Georgia Technical College, and its support of regional tourism is reflected in the construction of a pedestrian trail connecting the Summerville Depot with the local downtown area.
Brittany concluded with an overview of grant application procedures, which may be found online at https.//www.arc.gov.
Announcements
President Kevin opened the first meeting of 2018 by wishing everyone a happy new year. He also read a touching and heartfelt letter from Natima Walker of the GreenHouse thanking the Club for its support, especially the funds raised to ensure the 36 children in the GreenHouse’s care received personal Christmas gifts and a meal catered by the Oakwood Café
Smitty Barnett, Foundation Chair, outlined the procedures for becoming a Paul Harris Fellow and emphasized the Club’s ongoing effort to have 100% of its members become Paul Harris Fellows.
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January 16th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, January 15, 2018
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
17-Jan |
|
|
| Bronson, William III (WILLIAM) |
19-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Smith, Rebecca |
Smith, Clark C. |
18-Jan |
|
| Tatum, Sharon |
Tatum, Laurice A. |
20-Jan |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Gazaway, Kristie (KRISTIE) |
1/17/2017 |
1 |
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
1/18/2011 |
7 |
|
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
1/19/2010 |
8 |
|
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
1/19/2010 |
8 |
|
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
1/20/2015 |
3 |
|
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
1/20/2015 |
3 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
Kimberly |
19-Jan |
5 |
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
Sarah |
20-Jan |
50 |
|
Christmas MusicThursday, December 21, 2017by John Hutcheson
First United Methodist Church Children's Choir
Rotarian Tommy Willingham, Senior Pastor of Dalton First United Methodist Church, introduced a group of fourteen members of the church’s Children’s Choir, who presented a program of Christmas songs and carols under the direction of Ms. Nicole Harbin. Accompanied at the piano by Minister of Music Jeff Harbin, the choir sang their selections from memory, and Rotarians were charmed and inspired by their renditions of “O Christmas Tree,” “Good Christian Men Rejoice,” “The First Nowell.” “On Christmas A Long Time Ago,” “ It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,” “All Through the Night,” “A Very Special King Is Born Tonight,” “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”
Announcements and Recognitions
President Kevin reminded members that there will be no meetings on December 26 or January 2; the next meeting will be on January 9, and the next Board meeting will be on January 16. Past President Bill Bowen announced that Club members had collected more than $1,700 in the Salvation Army red kettles during the past week.
Community Service Chair Amy Messick was recognized as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow, receiving her award from Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett.
Smitty Barnett and Amy Messick
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December 26th and January 3rd BulletinThursday, December 21, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
1-Jan |
|
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
4-Jan |
|
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
7-Jan |
|
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
26-Dec |
|
|
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
30-Dec |
|
|
| Parrott, V DeForrest III (DEFORREST) |
30-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Blackman, Linda |
Blackman, Bill M |
1-Jan |
|
| Farmer, Sierra |
Farmer, Joseph |
3-Jan |
|
| Burt, Roger |
Burt, Amanda |
5-Jan |
|
| Schwell, Judy |
Schwenn, John O. |
7-Jan |
|
| McLeod, Carolyn (CAROL) |
McLeod, Robert S. |
27-Dec |
|
| Sanders, Mary Etta |
Sanders, Drayton M II |
28-Dec |
|
| Minter, Melissa |
Minter, B. Scott |
28-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
1/1/1986 |
32 |
|
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
1/1/1976 |
42 |
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
12/31/1999 |
18 |
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
12/31/2002 |
15 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Payne, Charles F Jr(CHUCK) |
Angelina |
2-Jan |
30 |
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
Pauline |
3-Jan |
4 |
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
Tray |
7-Jan |
12 |
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
Ricky |
8-Jan |
18 |
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
Cherri |
8-Jan |
18 |
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
Lou |
26-Dec |
19 |
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
Nancy |
27-Dec |
44 |
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
Becky |
29-Dec |
50 |
| Sanford, Robert Mitchell (MITCH) |
Teresa |
30-Dec |
27 |
|
Believe Greater DaltonMonday, December 18, 2017by John Hutcheson
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Rob Bradham
President Kevin introduced Rotarian Rob Bradham, President and CEO of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, for a presentation on the Believe Greater Dalton initiative, a five-year strategic plan to promote the community’s economic development and improve its quality of life. After an amusing video about his “vision” for Dalton based on artificial creation of a “river” though the middle of town, Rob related how the plan actually originated two years ago in conversations he had with a wide range of local citizens by way of getting to know his new home town after arriving from the Chattanooga Chamber. During these discussions three trends emerged, i.e., Dalton’s “heyday” ended with the onset of the Great Recession, the city is now poised for a new era, and a new strategic plan is needed. Under co-chairs Bryan Hair and Chuck Dobbins, a Steering Committee of 23 community leaders from Dalton’s public, private, and non-profit sectors engaged Market Street Services, a consulting firm which advised on the successful renewal of the downtown district in Rome, Georgia. Under Market Street’s guidance, a survey was conducted to ascertain what local citizens think of the community and how it might be improved, to which there were 2,220 responses. At the same time, a comparative study examined nine Southern communities similar in size to Dalton. This showed that while Dalton’s regulatory climate and tax structure generated the best business climate in the group, by other metrics such as downtown vibrancy, housing options, educational outcomes, and support for entrepreneurs, Dalton ranked at or near the bottom, with its economy excessively dependent on a single industry.
Perhaps the most startling finding was that 62% of workers in Dalton and Whitfield County who earn $40,000 or more per year live outside the area. This statistic reflects a talent drain to Atlanta and Chattanooga, which in turn contributes to a low tax base, an insufficient quality of place, and a poor community self-image. Especially distressing is the community’s low rate of educational attainment—among counties nationwide with populations exceeding 100,000, by this criterion Whitfield falls numerically within the bottom ten.
Reducing the 62% external residency figure is fundamental for the success of any plan for community improvement To that end, six strategies have been devised, each managed by a working group of Steering Committee members and volunteers and appropriately staffed through the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Dalton Development Authority, and the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority. These include Education, led by Brian Cooksey and Joe Yarbrough; Housing, led by Todd Harrison and Melanie Suggs; Downtown District, led by David Aft and John Davis; Economic Development, led by Kevin Harris and Jeff Myers; Entrepreneurship, led by Bryan Macon; and Community Pride, led by Deanna Mathis and Charlie Bethel. The budget for the entire project is $5.25 million, more than $2.2 million of which the public sector is already spending in areas covered by the six strategies. Commitment of an additional $1 million is being requested from the public sector, along with a commitment of $1.97 million from the private sector, and the project will officially launch on January 1, 2018, to end on December 31, 2024. Rob concluded with appeals for volunteers and for investment via the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia.
Complete information on the plan and its six strategies is available at www.believegreaterdalton.com .
Announcements
President Kevin read a letter of thanks from the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center for donations of personal and household goods contributed by Dalton Rotarians during September and October. Community Service Chair Amy Messick presented a check for $1,675 to Natima Walker of the Dalton GreenHouse for use in purchasing preferred Christmas gifts for the 36 children in the GreenHouse’s care.
Amy Messick and Natima Walker
Past President John Richmond asked Club members to include GRSP student Linnéa Neman in their social plans, and Past President Bill Bowen asked for a few more volunteers to ring a bell for the Salvation Army.
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December 19th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, December 18, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Payne, Charles F Jr (CHUCK) |
22-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Taylor, Joanie |
Taylor, Zachary |
24-Dec |
|
| Cooke, Cathy |
Cooke, Christopher M |
24-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
Sierra |
20-Dec |
8 |
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
Carolyn (CAROL) |
21-Dec |
52 |
| Adamson, Anna Y (ANNA) |
Zach |
22-Dec |
10 |
| Cope, Don (DON) |
Laurie Lee |
24-Dec |
4 |
| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
Mary |
25-Dec |
3 |
|
Entrepreneurship: Getting An Early StartMonday, December 11, 2017by John Hutcheson
Community Service Chair Amy Messick introduced Tripp Phillips, a twelve-year-old sixth-grade student at Dalton Middle School who has become quite possibly Dalton’s youngest entrepreneur and certainly one of its more successful. With the encouragement of his parents and teachers and the assistance of his ten-year-old sister, Tripp has developed, patented, and is now marketing a product called Leg-Glue, a non-permanent, water-soluble adhesive to prevent Lego constructions from easily shattering..
Tripp Phillips
Leg-Glue originated during Tripp’s fifth-grade year at Westwood Elementary School, when members of his Challenge class were assigned to create something helpful both to young people and to adults. Aided by his father, Lee Phillips, Tripp developed Leg-Glue, and his project won a regional competition.
From his peers’ comments as well as from his own experience, Tripp perceived a strong demand for Leg-Glue, and this led him to learn the fundamentals of starting and operating a business. Buying ingredients and materials, manufacturing, packaging, and marketing his product, and getting paid by purchasers all added up to hard work, even with his sister managing production and shipping. Attracting the interest of Amazon was a major achievement, and Amazon now moves 25 times more of his product than all of his other vehicles combined. In the meantime, packaging has shifted from jars, which were tedious to fill, to much more convenient squeeze-packs (a change which was Tripp’s idea). When the costs of using a supplier for these from the Atlanta area proved impractical, a far less expensive alternative vendor was found in China. Along the way, Tripp learned about other essential matters such as the need for a patent (expensive but necessary to protect his intellectual property), a product logo that does not invade the Lego copyright, and advertising—he showed Rotarians the company’s first commercial video, which will soon be available on the Internet.
To coordinate production with demand, Tripp has also grasped the importance of business forecasting. Last year he sold 7,000 units; this year he will probably sell about 9,000. Competition has emerged in the form of spray bottles from a concern called Spray ‘n’ Play (which he is watching carefully for legal infringement), and with the development of new sport packs, he is planning for direct retail sales. Responding to a question, Tripp said that while he returns part of his profits to his business, he has invested as well in BitCoin, and he is also saving to buy a car. In the spirit of the holiday season he announced that Leg-Glue will give each GreenHouse child a large bag of Legos as a Christmas present,
Tripp’s highly mature and articulate presentation of his enterprise gained enthusiastic applause from his audience.
Pie-faces for the GreenHouse
Amy Messick returned to the podium to reveal which prominent Rotarian would receive a pie in the face as the finale of the campaign to raise funds for the GreenHouse. Votes cast by Rotarians over the past several weeks determined the winner (?) to be Past President Bruce Satterfield, and Amy called on guest Lee Oliver, who is an experienced auctioneer, to auction the right to throw the pie. Lee opened the bidding at $10. Spirited competition took it to $70, offered by President Kevin Brunson who, it must be admitted, was somewhat tentative in his placement of the pie (key lime, Bruce’s stated preference) in his predecessor’s face.
Bruce Satterfield, post-pie
Amy then said that a second winner would also receive a pie in the face, and that this would go to Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead. Lee again opened an auction for pie-throwing privileges, which started this time at $70 and closed with a $75 bid by Judy Eliot. After noting that she had waited twenty years for this moment, Judy went at her target with great relish, enhancing her direct hit by a relentless twist of her ammunition. Never one to be caught up short, Frank thanked Judy with a smacking kiss, thereby leaving her face and hair decorated like his own with a generous amount of key lime pie filling.
 
Frank and Judy
Amidst these revels, Lee Oliver, who is Commander of the local American Legion Post 112, presented a check for $500 to the Club on behalf of the Legion. Lee stated that the principal sponsor of this donation was one of the Post’s members, Tim Rowe of Dalton Funeral Home, and that the funds could be used however the Rotary Club deemed appropriate.
Lee Oliver
Meanwhile, it was determined that the pie-in-the-face raffle had raised a total of $1,004. Combined with funds from the Rotary Foundation’s grant to our club and contributions from the Dalton and Chatsworth Police Departments, Dalton Rotarians will convey a total of $4,010 to the GreenHouse.
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Natima Walker, Amy Messick, Frank Hogshead, Bruce Satterfield
Announcements and Recognitions
Past President Bill Bowen reminded everyone to sign up for the Salvation Army bell-ringing during the week of December 11 to 16. There is now a “Gold Kettle” which would provide for a doubling of the receipts on one day; our club will consider participation. Vocational Service Chair Chris Cooke presented a check for $1,065 on behalf of the Dalton Police Department, generated by the Department’s November No-Shave campaign, to be donated to the GreenHouse, and he announced that an additional $400 contribution will come from a similar effort by the Chatsworth Police Department.
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Chris Cooke
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December 12th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, December 11, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
14-Dec |
|
|
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. (MAURICE) |
17-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| McClure, Storm |
McClure, Douglas E |
12-Dec |
|
| Pratt, Shaun |
Pratt, Vallarie D. |
12-Dec |
|
| Poehlman, Sally |
Poehlman, John H. |
17-Dec |
|
| Barnett, Tammy |
Barnett, George S. |
18-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
12/17/2013 |
4 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
Joanne |
12-Dec |
58 |
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
Barbara |
18-Dec |
57 |
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
Dell |
18-Dec |
46 |
|
Project ShareMonday, December 4, 2017by Kathryn Sellers
The program about Project Share was introduced by Tom Bundros of Dalton Utilities. Lori McDaniel and Doug McClure described the project as “neighbors helping neighbors.”
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Tom Bundros, Lori McDaniel, Doug McClure
Customers of Dalton Utilities may sign up for giving a certain amount each month on their bill. The bill can be rounded up to the next dollar (for no more than 99 cents/month) or a pledge can be a set amount each month. Dalton Utilities collects the money and it is sent to the Salvation Army each month. The Salvation Army vets needy people and provides help on their power bills with the receipts from “Project Share.” Doug suggested that this is a great way to help anonymously. He stated, “If not YOU, then who?” He said this effort grows out of their focus on “soup, soap, salvation” in which they recognize that a group cannot help someone spiritually if they are homeless or have nothing to eat. By helping people stay in their homes, this is “homeless prevention.” Folks are asked lots of questions to determine real need and coordination with other agencies such as DOC-UP to avoid duplication. If needed, they are provided with financial counseling.
The program was started in Dalton over 30 years ago, but the receipts have gone down in the last few years. Dalton Utilities is trying to increase the receipts in order to help more people. Lori McDaniel stated that they could do much more with each household giving just one dollar a month.
Doug suggested that the program does these items:
-Maintains the guests’ dignity
-Meets obvious and less obvious needs
-Maintains positive relationships with vendors (Dalton Utilities, Georgia Power, etc.)
-Cultivates new and donors and respects current donors
-Is more than a handout – part of a way out!
To sign up for Project Share on line: click www.dutil.com/sign-up-for-project-share and tell them to either “round up” to the next dollar or donate a set amount per month.
Announcements and Recognitions
Bill Bowen requested that everyone sign up for the Salvation Army bell ringing during the week of December 11 to 16. There is now a “Gold Kettle” which would provide for a doubling of the receipts on one day. Our club will consider participation.
Amy Messick announced that Past President Bruce Satterfield won the contest for being the person who gets a pie in his face at the next meeting! Receipts were $750 from our Rotary Foundation and $780 from club members! GreenHouse is very grateful. Next week, there will be an auction for the privilege of throwing the pie in Bruce’s face. Be ready to bid.
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Amy Messick and Bruce Satterfield
There was an induction of three new members of Rotary: Annalee Harlan, John Wilson, and Jonathan Barlowe. A big thank you goes out to the sponsors!
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New Members
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December 5th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, December 4, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Cruse, Lesley Dale (DALE) |
6-Dec |
|
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Mooney, Bobby |
Mooney, Patricia H |
5-Dec |
|
| Parrott, Eugenia |
Parrott, V DeForrest III |
10-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
12/6/2016 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
Alicia |
5-Dec |
25 |
| Willingham, Tommy G (TOMMY) |
Denise |
6-Dec |
42 |
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
Betty |
7-Dec |
49 |
|
The Salvation Army And Emergency Disaster ReliefMonday, November 27, 2017by John Hutcheson
Rotarian Doug McClure, Captain of the Salvation Army’s Dalton post, surveyed the Army’s work in disaster relief. During the aftermath of Hurricane Irma this past September, he was dispatched to southern Georgia, where he spent two weeks coordinating Emergency Disaster Services. Although many disasters originate naturally, some are caused by human action—Doug’s first disaster experience was as a counselor in New York City following the 9-11 terrorist attack in 2001.
Doug McClure
Like everything else the Salvation Army does, its disaster relief is grounded in Christian obligation, with special reference to the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well recounted in John 4: 4-15. On any specific occasion several factors will influence what is actually provided; these include the type of event, its severity and duration, the availability of financial resources, survivors’ needs, and assistance from other organizations. The fundamental mission is to meet immediate needs more than to give long-term support. The process is completely transparent fiscally, and there has never been any financial scandal.
The Salvation Army is a hierarchical, paramilitary organization, similar to police and fire departments, and this is reflected in its Incident Command Structure. With fifteen years of relief experience covering twelve separate disasters, Doug is the Georgia Incident Commander. On his recent deployment to South Georgia he led a team of 75 Salvationists, charged with providing spiritual and emotional care as well as food and other material necessities. Food delivery is the Army’s primary service in a disaster, supporting hydration, nourishment, and opportunities for rest. Using slides, Doug illustrated and described several types of mobile feeding units. These can cook or not, as needed, and range from food distribution vehicles serving hundreds of meals per day to mobile kitchens capable of serving two or three thousand meals per day, to tractor-trailer-sized field kitchens which can produce an average of 20,000 meals per day and even offer drive-by service. Currently the Army is feeding seven to eight thousand meals per day in Puerto Rico as the island struggles to recover from Hurricane Maria.
Local or short-term disasters will draw on local material and human resources; major disasters will mobilize support over appropriately wider Salvation Army jurisdictions and involve individual assignments of up to fourteen days. Personnel available for service must be approved by Army authorities and will be placed on stand-by, with 24-hour notice, until needed. The Army carefully manages deployments, handling travel and housing arrangements and providing timely relief with a keen awareness of the dangers of post-traumatic stress disorder. It offers excellent support for workers dealing with sadness, grief, and other negative reactions, checking within ten days after return from a deployment and again after a month.
“Bad things do happen in the world, like war, natural disasters, disease,” former CNN anchor Daryn Kagan has remarked. “But out of these situations always arise stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” Her observation aptly describes the work of the Salvation Army in disaster relief.
Announcements
President Kevin Brunson appealed to everyone to remember the significance of Veterans Day, and he recognized those members present who were veterans. He also noted that the November Board meeting has been cancelled, and the Club will not meet on November 21, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Vocational Service Chair Chris Cooke asked members to cast their votes at the front desk in the pie-in-the-face contest for the benefit of the GreenHouse, and Community Service Chair Amy Messick reminded the Club about the Whitfield Education Foundation Celebrity Spelling Bee to be held this evening.
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November 28th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, November 27, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
23-Nov |
|
|
| Underwood, Michelle (SHELL) |
26-Nov |
|
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
1-Dec |
|
|
| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
1-Dec |
|
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
4-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Willingham, Denise |
Willingham, Tommy G |
22-Nov |
|
| Jones, Mary Lynn |
Jones, Miller T. |
25-Nov |
|
| Partain, Pam |
Partain, Jack |
26-Nov |
|
| Tripp, Charlie |
Tripp, Larry E. |
26-Nov |
|
| Chute, Bob |
Chute, Patricia M |
27-Nov |
|
| Maret, Carla |
Maret, Michael S. |
3-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
11/20/2012 |
5 |
|
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
11/20/2001 |
16 |
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
11/20/2012 |
5 |
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
11/22/2011 |
6 |
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
11/29/2005 |
12 |
|
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
11/29/2005 |
12 |
|
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
11/29/2005 |
12 |
|
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
11/29/2005 |
12 |
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
11/29/2005 |
12 |
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
12/1/1972 |
45 |
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
12/1/1968 |
49 |
|
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
12/1/1976 |
41 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
Sandy |
20-Nov |
52 |
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
Pam |
21-Nov |
31 |
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
Kristy |
21-Nov |
16 |
| Jones, J. Sherwood Jr.(SHERWOOD) |
Jean |
23-Nov |
56 |
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
Melissa |
29-Nov |
20 |
| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
Danielle |
2-Dec |
22 |
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
Kayanne |
3-Dec |
29 |
|
Helping Others, Doing The Right Thing: The Work Of The Boy Scoutsby John Hutcheson
Community Service Chair Amy Messick introduced Brandon Kleimann, Senior District Executive for the Conasauga District of the Northwest Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Previously from North Carolina, Brandon has been involved with Scouting for more than twenty years, moving from Cub Scout membership to Eagle Scout to professional Scouting administrator. He in turn recognized Greg Epperson, Cubmaster of Pack 65 at Pleasant Grove Methodist Church, whose three sons are all Cubs and for whom Scouting is truly a family endeavor.
Brandon Kleimann
Brandon first focused his presentation on local Scouting. The Northwest Georgia Council delivers Scouting programs in the seven counties of Whitfield, Murray, Chattooga, Floyd, Polk, Gordon, and Bartow. Its Conasauga District, covering Whitfield and Murray Counties, includes 34 Scouting units which serve about 650 boys. In 2016 the district’s Scouts collected more than 10,400 pounds of food for delivery to the needy through the Scouting for Food program, and they participated in over 3,500 community service hours. Fifteen achieved their Eagle Scout rank (an accomplishment reached by only 2% of boys in the United States). Seventy-two attended the Merit Badge College at Dalton Middle School and 91 attended Summer Camp, traveled to a National High Adventures Base, or worked as staff in these facilities, while 168 Cubs attended Twilight Adventures Camp at the North Georgia Fairgrounds or Camp Sidney Dew, financing themselves through the sale of coupon cards. Camp Sidney Dew, founded in 1939 on 650+ acres in The Pocket in Floyd County, is the Northwest Georgia Council’s principal camping facility, providing area Scouts a full range of opportunities to learn teamwork and develop their personal character and skills.
Turning to Scouting generally, Brandon surveyed its seven programs: Lions, a kindergarten pilot program new to Northwest Georgia; Cub Scouts, for ages 6 to 10; Boy Scouts, for ages 11-17; Venture Crews and Sea Scout Ships, for ages 14 to 21 (ironically, the largest number of Sea Scouts is in Kansas); Explorer Posts, for ages 19-21; Learning for Life, for grades K through 12; and STEM Scouts, now in its pilot phase. Scouting offers 135 merit badge programs, and it operates several National High Adventure Bases: the Northern Tier, consisting of bases in Minnesota, Ontario, and Manitoba; the Florida Sea Base; Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, and The Summit in West Virginia. The Summit hosted the National Scout Jamboree in 2017 and it will be the location for the World Scout Jamboree in in 2019 which will attract 10,000 Scouts from the U.S. and 40,000 from the rest of the world.
Kleimann concluded with a review of the Boy Scouts of America’s Mission and Vision; the mission is “to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law,” and the vision sees the organization as “the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.” A study conducted among Philadelphia youth between 2012 and 2015 by Tufts University showed that Scouting works strongly to build the virtues it espouses and measurably cultivates teamwork, problem-solving, determination, and an ethic of helping others and doing the right thing.
Announcements
President Kevin Brunson appealed to everyone to be sure and vote in today’s elections, and he also noted that the Club will not meet on November 21, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Vocational Service Chair Chris Cooke reminded members to cast their votes at the front desk in the pie-in-the-face contest for the benefit of the GreenHouse.
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November 14th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
14-Nov |
|
|
| Pratt, Vallarie D. (VALLARIE) |
16-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Miller, Sara |
Miller, Charles Dalton |
15-Nov |
|
| Dickson, Sherry |
Dickson, Thomas S. |
15-Nov |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
11/20/2012 |
5 |
|
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
11/20/2001 |
16 |
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
11/20/2012 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
Sandy |
20-Nov |
52 |
|
Rotary Foundation Remindersby John Hutcheson
Smitty Barnett gave a presentation about the Rotary Foundation. He noted that District Governor “Coop” Cooper is strongly advocating Rotary service and has challenged all members to become involved with the Foundation, which is Rotary’s most convenient vehicle for enabling Rotarians to become people of action. The Foundation has received the highest ratings from a wide range of charity evaluators, for both its stewardship of its assets and its use of them—91% of its funds are spent on programs—and in 2016 it was named the World’s Outstanding Foundation by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
The Foundation’s Annual Fund is the principal mechanism for distributing aid and assistance at all levels, from the local to the international. Its six causes include promoting peace, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, and fighting disease. Each of these offers opportunities for individual Rotarians to provide direct support; a good example is that of microloans to grow local self-sustenance in underdeveloped areas. The Fund Share System gives equal amounts to District Designated Funds, on the one hand, and the World Fund on the other. The Foundation’s Global Grants have had very large impacts, most notably the near-eradication of polio. It also helps victims of post-polio syndrome, which Smitty has seen first-hand in his own family.
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Smitty Barnett
Rotary International is mounting the “Every Rotarian Every Year” campaign to generate a steady flow of support to the Foundation—in 2016 this brought 140 million dollars into the Annual Fund. Clubs supporting the campaign receive special banners indicating their levels of participation and contribution, and our own Club is striving to achieve a membership of 100% Paul Harris Fellows. Since its establishment in 1917, the Foundation has contributed more than three billion dollars to various projects—a long way from the contribution of $26.50 which established its initial corpus. While a Paul Harris Fellowship requires a member to make cumulative gifts of at least $1,000 (sometimes achieved through the donation of recognition points accumulated by club members who wish to assist others toward qualification as Paul Harris Fellows), contributions of any size become significant when they are leveraged through the Foundation. Local projects partially supported by resources acquired from the Foundation include the Family Crisis Center, the GreenHouse, the Tree Planting Project, and the Dalton Food Bank.
Smitty closed with an appeal to members to attend the Celebrity Spelling Bee on November 14, when a number of local luminaries, including Rotarians Pat Chute, Amy Messick, Chuck Payne, John Richmond, Archana Srivastava, and William Venable, will compete for the benefit of the Whitfield Education Foundation.
A Rotary Minute with Kristie Gazaway
Kristie Gazaway, who received her Blue Badge this past July, has been married to her husband Johnny for 23 years and has three children—two boys and a girl. A Dalton native, she deeply loves her community, but most of all her Savior, Jesus. Her parents founded Jarrett Business Machines in 1985, which is now JBM Office Solutions and remains a family-owned and operated business. She is thankful to God for their success and grateful for her family’s opportunity to both work together and live together on their property in the Beaverdale area.
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Kristie Gazaway
President Kevin presented his Blue Badge to State Senator Chuck Payne, and Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett introduced Rotarian Teresa Carter as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow.
 
Chuck Payne and Teresa Carter
Announcements and Recognitions
President Kevin Brunson called on Rotarian Zach Taylor, who said that Past President Bruce Satterfield will provide transportation for our GRSP students this coming weekend to the GRSP convocation in Atlanta but that someone is still needed to bring them back to Dalton on Sunday.
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November 7th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
8-Nov |
|
|
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
8-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Campbell, Kristy |
Campbell, J Carl |
11-Nov |
|
| Hawkins, Nancy |
Hawkins, Jim R. |
11-Nov |
|
| Morehouse, Dianne |
Morehouse, Gordon C. |
12-Nov |
|
| Cope, Laurie Lee |
Cope, Don |
13-Nov |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
11/10/2015 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Venable, William M (WILLIAM) |
Ruth |
11-Nov |
1 |
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
S. G. |
12-Nov |
29 |
|
A Visit From The ChancellorRotarian Dr. Margaret Venable, President of Dalton State College, introduced Dr. Steve Wrigley, since January 1, 2017, the 13th Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. Holder of an undergraduate degree from Georgia State University and a doctorate in history from Northwestern University, Dr. Wrigley was Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration for the University System prior to his appointment as Chancellor, having previously served at the University of Georgia as Senior Vice President for External Affairs, Vice President for Government Relations, and Director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Before entering academic administration he worked in state government, including five years as chief of staff for Governor Zell Miller during which he assisted in creation of the state lottery and the HOPE scholarship program. He is active in several wildlife organizations, including the Georgia Wildlife Federation and the Nature Conservancy of Georgia, and he is also on the board of the Georgia Humanities Council.
Chancellor Wrigley and Dr. Venable
Chancellor Wrigley began his remarks with praise for President Venable as a leader among the 28 presidents in the University System. Turning to the question of what the University System is about, he answered that it is to create, transfer, and apply knowledge. Its Board of Regents oversees 28 colleges and universities, the Georgia Public Library System, and the Georgia Archives, which altogether comprise 320,000 students, 48,000 faculty and staff, and a budget of $8.4 billion. Its economic impact exceeds $7 billion annually, and to achieve its purposes the System has three goals. The first is to raise educational attainment levels across the state, and it is gratifying to see that degree completion has risen 18% during the last five years. The second goal is to be affordable, and here again results are encouraging. Over the past five years tuition has risen only 2.2%, and efforts to hold fees and textbook costs down have shown success, especially through the expansion of online offerings using electronic teaching materials. A recent study at Rice University showed the University System of Georgia to be leading the nation in textbook savings.
Chancellor Wrigley
The third goal is to become more efficient. Consolidations have reduced the number of System institutions from 35 to 28, and two more mergers—Armstrong State with Georgia Southern and Bainbridge with Abraham Baldwin—are pending; eliminating program duplication and reducing administrative structures on these campuses promise a savings of $18 million over the next five years. Online courses have increased over the last six years from 1,500 to more than 7,000 and now include entire degree programs. Through Complete College Georgia, the System participates in Complete College America, by which the Gates Foundation assists students to carry full loads each term and avoid undue delays in graduation. Such progress is also served by changes in remedial education, which is now called co-requisite education; rather than being relegated to separate, non-credit courses, remedial work is built into regular credit courses, successful completion of which has risen from 18% to 70% or 80%. A technique based on the concept of “predictive analytics,” developed at Georgia State, encourages early determination of a major and tracks a student’s progress in it, intervening as necessary without waiting for the student to take the initiative in getting assistance—last year Georgia State saw 50,000 such interventions. A complementary strategy has led to the development of “meta-majors,” made up of courses applicable to a broad range of more specific majors.
Changes such as these have brought about more positive differences in the System’s educational outcomes over the last four or five years than in the preceding forty or fifty. It is now recognized that students want low barriers to the delivery of services, and through an initiative called Completion 25 a group is rethinking curriculum, support services, and other aspects of the System’s delivery structures. An outside consultant has been engaged to conduct a comprehensive program review over the next three years at both the System and institutional levels. All this matters because knowledge drives innovation, which in turn drives the economy, and without economic growth the quality of life in Georgia will stagnate or deteriorate.
Announcements
President Kevin Brunson reminded the Club that October 24 is World Polio Day, and that through the work of Rotary International and its partners, only twelve cases of polio are now known to exist all in Afghanistan and Pakistan, down from 350,000 worldwide when the eradication initiative began thirty years ago. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is hosting a celebration in Seattle and has pledged to match Rotary’s support on a 2:1 basis, thus adding $1.3 billion in financial resources to the $1.7 billion previously acquired. In addition, Rotary is giving $49.5 million in grants to support immunization work, with another $7.4 million going to particularly vulnerable countries.
Rotarian Zach Taylor invited club members to become better acquainted with this year’s GRSP student, Linnéa Neman, and he asked for volunteers to provide transportation for Linnéa and Clare Ballentine, the student sponsored by the Carpet City Rotary Club, to the upcoming GRSP convocation in Atlanta.
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October 31st Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
6-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Kirkman, Lou |
Kirkman, Lowell D. |
4-Nov |
|
| Richmond, Agnes |
Richmond, John D. |
2-Nov |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
11/1/1977 |
40 |
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
11/1/1972 |
45 |
|
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
11/3/2015 |
2 |
|
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
11/1/1978 |
39 |
|
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
11/1/1989 |
28 |
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
11/1/1982 |
35 |
|
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
11/1/1980 |
37 |
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
11/1/1985 |
32 |
|
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
11/1/1981 |
36 |
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
October 24th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Jones, J. Sherwood Jr. (SHERWOOD) |
29-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Schneller, April D (APRIL) |
10/25/2016 |
1 |
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
10/25/2016 |
1 |
|
| McClure, Douglas E (DOUGLAS) |
10/25/2016 |
1 |
|
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
10/26/1999 |
18 |
|
| Taylor, Zachary (ZACH) |
10/27/2015 |
2 |
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
10/29/1996 |
21 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
Roger |
30-Oct |
18 |
|
Heifer Internationalby John Hutcheson
For a program on Heifer International, which our Club has supported financially for several years as part of our international outreach, John Hutcheson introduced one of its most prominent local activists, Dr. Chris Stearns. Dr. Stearns is widely known in the Dalton-Whitfield area, where he has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 32 years, fourteen of which have been at Dalton Animal Care on South Hamilton Street. A 1985 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, he has supported his profession through service on several state and local boards, and he has a strong sense of community involvement, being active on the Dalton Tree Board, the Vestry of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and the state board for the Alzheimer’s Association. In November he will travel to Ethiopia to assist in research on the endangered red wolf.
Dr. Chris Stearns
Dr. Stearns began by pointing to Heifer International’s fundamental goal, which is the elimination of poverty and hunger by the provision of animals which can help their owners develop self-sufficiency. He noted that each recipient of a Heifer International animal must agree to pass on its first female offspring to someone else in their community, thereby expanding the effectiveness of a single donation.
Heifer International (HI) was founded by Dan West, a Midwestern farmer and member of the Church of the Brethren, in 1937 during the course of the Spanish Civil War. The first shipment of heifers went to Puerto Rico in 1947, and over the seventy years of its existence HI has operated in 125 countries, assisting thirty million families and more than a billion people. Locally, HI has worked through St. Mark’s Episcopal Church as a Christmas project for the congregation’s youth and as a mission trip to HI’s 1,200 acre ranch in Perryville, Arkansas. Visits to the ranch often give urban youth their first experience with animal care and crop cultivation, as well as acquainting them with sustainable solutions to poverty, environmental degradation, and conditions of life typical in much of the world.
In the beginning, HI took animals from the USA to host countries abroad, but now every effort is made to acquire animals in-country, working in partnership with governments in the US and locally. Animals can be purchased through Heifer Markets, and benchmark programs provide specific goals. Financial operations are scrupulously transparent, with 95% of received funds going toward the organization’s work. Such fiscal responsibility is attractive, and recently the Gates Foundation gave HI $45 million. Although it is best known for its work in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, HI also has projects in the US, notably in Appalachia and the Southwest.
Responding to questions, Dr. Stearns reminded members that donations can be in any amount—it’s not necessary to cover the entire cost of an animal—and he displayed a copy of the HI gift catalog from which purchases can be made as tributes in lieu of material gifts.
Announcements
President Kevin Brunson opened the meeting by recognizing Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett, who said that the Club meeting on October 31 will focus on the Paul Harris Fellowships as part of the drive to bring our Club to 100% Paul Harris membership. Smitty also noted that six Rotarians will participate in the Whitfield Education Foundation Celebrity Spelling Bee to be held on November 14; these include Pat Chute, Amy Messick, Chuck Payne, John Richmond, Archana Srivastava, and William Venable. Last year the top four or five spellers were all Rotarians, including the winner, Scott DeLay.
President Kevin reminded members about the program on the Appalachian Regional Port scheduled for October 19 at Dalton State and also about the presentation by the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce of the new Strategic Plan today at 5:30 at City Hall.
|
Hamilton Medical Center: Poised For ExpansionBy John Hutcheson
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Sandy McKenzie and Jeff Myers
President Kevin introduced Rotarian Sandy McKenzie, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Hamilton Health Care System, who welcomed the Club to the HHCS campus and introduced Rotarian Jeff Myers, HHCS President and CEO. While acknowledging that the focus of the program was to be on the new Peeples Cancer Institute, Jeff began with a survey of other projects pending or underway at Hamilton Medical Center. These include a Children’s Care Center which will be formally announced in a few weeks and on which construction should begin soon thereafter; a new 600-space parking structure to be started next month; an urgent care facility in Ringgold near I-75 Exit 348 which will house five sub-specialties and is projected for completion in January, 2018; a similar facility on the Cleveland Road north of Dalton, near the Tractor Supply location; and continued renovation of all patient rooms in the main hospital. In addition, the Gastrointestinal Laboratory will move to the present location of the Bandy Plaza parking area and will more than double in size, enabling it to accommodate six or seven physicians rather than the current three or four. Psychiatric care will expand to meet a growing public need and the arrival of four psychiatrists within the coming year, and arrangements are being made to start a residency program in internal medicine which promises to enhance both the quantity and quality of care in that specialty.
The centerpiece, however, of HHCS’s growth in the near future will be the Peeples Cancer Institute, for which ground was broken on September 21, 2017, with completion projected for the spring of 2019. Its location directly south of the hospital has entailed the permanent closure of Memorial Drive, allowing for creation of a beautifully landscaped space that will become the core and focal point of the HHCS campus. A Certificate of Need for expanded and fully integrated cancer care in the region was approved by State authorities in May, 2015, and as introduced the following October, the Institute’s original concept called for a facility of 38,000 square feet, costing $28,000,000 and housing about eighty employees—twice the existing number of oncology staff. To avoid having to transport patients between the hospital and the Institute by ambulance, or requiring staff to go outside when passing between the buildings, an enclosed connector was added to the design at the first-floor level. This in turn necessitated internal rearrangements which resulted in enlargement of the Institute from three to four stories, increasing its size to 59,000 square feet and the cost to $46,000,000. The fourth story will remain vacant for the time being, leaving plenty of space for future development. The name of the facility honors Shelby and Willena Peeples, whose significant legacy gift helped make the Institute a reality.
Following Jeff’s description of the Institute’s physical features, Sandy McKenzie summarized the programs it will offer. These include radiation oncology, medical oncology, infusion services, women’s imaging, patient navigation/support services, a research component (eventually to be associated with the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University), and clinical services. After brief comments about the qualifications of each of the Oncology Program’s leaders and physicians, Sandy turned to the Institute’s projected economic impact for Whitfield County. It will foster recruitment of the three or four new medical oncology providers needed in this area and will prompt the creation of numerous supporting jobs. Possible expansion into additional clinical areas, such as lung cancer and even open-heart care, could make it a regional referral center for oncology services and lead to still more research and trial programs beyond those presently envisioned.
Whatever the course of the Institute’s future evolution, it will always serve Hamilton Medical Center’s goal to treat the whole patient and Hamilton Health Care System’s adherence to its motto of One Vision, One Institute, One Community.
Announcements
President Kevin Brunson opened the meeting with thanks to the Hamilton Health Care System for hosting the meeting in the auditorium of the James Brown Conference Center. He also thanked those who had participated in the renovation work done at the Family Crisis Center on October 7.
|
October 17th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
22-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Ryman, Mary |
Ryman, Milton J. Jr. |
17-Oct |
|
| O'Neill, Lin |
O'Neill, Michael Paul |
19-Oct |
|
| Bowling, Becky |
Bowling, John |
20-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
10/18/2005 |
12 |
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
10/21/2008 |
9 |
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
10/22/2009 |
8 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
A Visit From The District GovernorBy John Hutcheson
Acting in his capacity as Assistant District Governor, Past President Jason returned to the podium to introduce District Governor Cooper. Born in Amarillo, TX, “Coop” still considers himself a Texan despite having spent most of his life in other states such as Missouri, Oklahoma, and Georgia. After attending Oklahoma Christian University on a track scholarship and graduating with a business management degree, he worked in the grocery business, but in 1980 he entered the aerial lift industry, in which he has remained ever since. In 1994 he founded his own company, Premier Platforms, Inc., which now has forty employees and three locations in Georgia. He joined the Rockdale County Rotary Club in 2006 and has since served in most of its offices and many others as well at the District level, where he won the Robert S. Stubbs Guardian of Ethics Award in 2014. A passionate hunter and outdoorsman, he is proud of having harvested an Alaskan trophy moose in 2014. He is married to the former Cheryl Whitehead, who is also a very active Rotarian, and they have two sons and two grandchildren.
District Governor Cooper
Governor Cooper began by thanking Jason and Kevin for their work as Club presidents and also John Richmond for his services to GRSP. They are examples of “Top Guns of Rotary,” whose power to “Make a Difference” will be the theme of the District Conference in 2018. The conference’s opening session will be held aboard the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point in Charleston Harbor, with an address by a winner of the Medal of Honor.
Noting that RI President Ian Riseley is putting particular emphasis on growing Rotary’s membership, Governor Cooper has asked each club president in District 6910 to personally bring in one new Rotarian during his or her term. As an example, he cited President Kevin, who had recruited Vallarie Pratt, now Club Administration Chair, and she in turn brought in State Senator Chuck Payne.
Award winners
While eradication of polio remains RI’s principal external goal, increased membership holds a comparable standing as its internal goal. For District 6910 the goal for 2017-2018 is a growth of 10%, or 305 new members, and Governor Cooper hopes the Dalton club will net an increase of at least fifteen of these. Currently the District’s growth is first in Zone 34 (Georgia, Florida, and the Caribbean) and sixth in the nation, where it is separated from the first by only six members. “Coop” recognized Alex Brown, our club’s newest member, and personally challenged him to find one more. New members must have “a heart for service,” and once inducted, they should be “engaged and connected” by appointing them to positions and assigning them to particular projects—“Coop” related that shortly after joining Rotary he was asked to help pick up roadside trash on a Saturday morning and found the task unexpectedly fulfilling. He mentioned the usefulness of R.O.C.K.—Rotary’s Own College of Knowledge—a new District program that engages members by asking them to speak about their careers. In this connection he also told about the District’s Speakers’ Bureau; local clubs are encouraged to forward information to it about especially interesting speakers which can then be a resource for clubs looking for program materials.
Pointing out again that “membership drives everything,” Governor Cooper asked everyone present to write his or her name and the name of a good Rotary prospect on a post-it slip; these were collected by the past presidents in attendance. To prompt further engagement, he urged everyone to become a RI Foundation Sustaining Member by contributing at least $100 per year toward the final elimination of polio. He also emphasized RI President Ian’s commitment to environmental improvement by having every local club plant a tree on behalf of each of its members during the period between July 1, 2017 and Earth Day on April 22, 2018. This year’s RI theme is “Making a Difference,” which is supported by District 6910’s stress on Rotarians as “People of Action.” The Governor suggested Club members might ask themselves what Dalton would be like without the Club and, alternatively, what it could be like with a 10% membership increase. The Rotary Club of Dalton can be proud of its impact over the years, and “Coop” challenged it to “go make that difference.”
President Kevin announced that the Club will donate $500 to a charity of Governor Cooper’s choice—he asked that it go to Rotary’s hurricane relief—and the meeting closed with a moment of silence on behalf of the victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting and their families.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Kevin Brunson opened the meeting by welcoming District 6910 Governor David “Coop” Cooper. He noted that the drive to gather supplies for the Family Crisis Center will end at today’s meeting, but Club members are requested to help with some light renovations at the Crisis Center on October 7, an undertaking in which the Club is partnering with the Walmart Neighborhood Market. Members are also invited to attend a presentation on the Appalachian Regional Port to be held on the Dalton State College campus at 3:00 p.m. on October 19, and Kevin also touched briefly on the District Conference to be held in Charleston, SC, on May 10-13, 2018. Finally, he reminded members that the Club’s October 10 meeting will be held in the James Brown Auditorium at Hamilton Medical Center for a program about oncology and the new cancer treatment center.
Past President Jason Parker recognized Amanda Reed as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow and William Bronson as its most recent Will Watt Fellow, with both awards being presented by District Governor Cooper and President Kevin.
 
Amanda Reed and William Bronson
Past President and GRSP Trustee John Richmond recognized the Club’s GRSP student, Linnea Neman, as the recipient of this year’s Carlton McCamy Scholarship Award, one of only two such named awards in the entire GRSP operation. Honoring Past President and District Governor McCamy, the award was established in 1994 at the initiative of his law partner, Joe Tuggle, himself a past president of the Club. Such awards require a contribution or bequest of at least $100,000 to the GRSP Foundation.
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Linnea Neman
|
October 10th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. (PAUL) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| McClure, Douglas E (DOUGLAS) |
15-Oct |
|
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
16-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Sponcler, Betty |
Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. |
11-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Cruse, Lesley Dale (DALE) |
10/12/2010 |
7 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
Sherry |
10-Oct |
30 |
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
Betty |
14-Oct |
59 |
|
Autism AwarenessCommunity Service Chair Amy Messick introduced Dwayne Smith, manager of Workout 24/7 in Chatsworth, who miraculously survived a supposedly totally disabling accident to become a professional wrestler, businessman, and passionate advocate for victims of autism.
Dwayne Smith
Dwayne recounted that his accident was in the form of a stroke, after which he was told he would never walk or talk again. He recovered nevertheless and still wrestles occasionally, often to raise support for research into autism.
Using a brief video, Dwayne showed that autism is a neurological disorder of unknown origin. Each case is different, with its own manifestations, but common features include poor or absent communication skills and repetitive behaviors. It can strike in any age group, but it is most frequently associated with children. In the U.S. and Australia, one in 68 children is autistic, and the rate in Europe is 62 in 1,000. Autistic celebrities include the inventor of Pokemon and the performers Cher and Eminem. Research is promoted by an organization called Fighting for Autism, founded 3½ years ago in Australia and now comprising 80,000 members worldwide, while education about the disorder is furthered through Ambassadors for Autism. In Dalton/Whitfield, Dwayne is working to bring kick-boxing therapy from Memphis and to match a donation of $3,000,000 from a local benefactor for construction of a 50,000 sq. ft. Autism Therapy Center, part of a larger goal to have at least one such center in each state.
In a moving conclusion to his presentation, Dwayne related that autism became centrally important to him when his son was diagnosed at age 3½. He had been non-verbal, but last year he told his mother on her birthday that he loved her, and he now has a vocabulary of about twenty words.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Kevin Brunson opened the meeting by congratulating Dalton State College on the celebration of its 50th anniversary. He reminded members about the ongoing drive to gather supplies for the Family Crisis Center, an undertaking in which the Club is also partnering with the Walmart Neighborhood Market. District Governor “Coop” Cooper will visit our Club on October 3 and will meet with the Board at 11:00 a.m. that day. On October 10 the Club will meet in the James Brown Auditorium at Hamilton Medical Center for a program about oncology and the new cancer treatment center.
|
October 3rd Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Willingham, Tommy G (TOMMY) |
4-Oct |
|
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
6-Oct |
|
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
7-Oct |
|
|
| Gilreath, Judy Ellen (JUDY) |
9-Oct |
|
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
9-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Sutherland, Phyllis |
Sutherland, George W. |
5-Oct |
|
| Griffin, Brenda |
Griffin, Ronald L |
8-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
10/6/2015 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Peterfreund, Allen David (ALLEN) |
Anna |
4-Oct |
14 |
| Chute, Patricia M (PAT) |
Bob |
9-Oct |
36 |
|
|
Volunteer Opportunity
Please note, the September 26th meeting is the last day to donate to the donation drive for the Crisis Center. As a reminder, the items needed for the drive include shaving cream, feminine hygience products, shampoo and conditioner, Q-tips, bar soap, baby soap, nail polish remover, deoderant, baby wipes, hair care products, wash cloths, towels, twin sheets, pillows, shower curtain liners, and pots and pans. For the hygiene products, please donate in trial size amounts. Donations will also be taken at the Police Services Center at 301 Jones Street until October 6th.
The Community Service Committee is partnering with one of our newest Rotary members, William Venable, and employees form the Walmart Neighborhood Market to spend (4) four hours on October 7th volunteering at the Crisis Center. We will be pressure washing and doing some light landscape work from 8:00am to 12:00pm. If you would like to help us with this worthy cause, please let Chris Cooke or Amy Messick know so we can properly plan for equipment and volunteers.
|
September 26th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
9/27/2011 |
6 |
|
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
9/30/2014 |
3 |
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
9/30/2014 |
3 |
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
10/1/2013 |
4 |
|
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
10/1/2013 |
4 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
Alex |
28-Sep |
26 |
| Taylor, Zachary (ZACH) |
Joanie |
30-Sep |
22 |
|
GRSP 2017by John Hutcheson
Valiantly stepping in at the last moment because of the District Governor’s postponement, Past President John Richmond presented a review and update of the Georgia Rotary Student Program as information for newer Club members and a refresher for those of longer standing.
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John Richmond
After introducing Linnéa Neman of Sweden and Clare Ballentine of England—the GRSP students being supported this year by the Dalton and Carpet City Rotary Clubs respectively—John showed a video recounting how GRSP began in 1946 in the aftermath of World War II, when Rotarian William A. Watt of Thomasville initiated a scholarship project to bring international students to Georgia to spend a year with American students and with each other, focusing on their similarities rather than on their cultural or national differences. Will Watt’s desire to “get the politics out” was inspired by hearing a story of the unselfish help a German youth gave an American student during a bicycling accident in pre-war Germany. The video used interviews with some of the sixty GRSP students who attended the 2014 GSRP Conclave in Columbus and several of the program’s Rotarian leaders to demonstrate how the students arrived as “ambassadors” from their homelands and left at the end of their year in the state as ambassadors for Georgia and the United States. No program like GSRP exists anywhere else in the world of Rotary.
By the end of the 2016-2017 school year, GRSP had sponsored more than 3,600 students since its origin. Scholarships are based on the costs of attending public colleges at in-state rates and currently run between $20,000 and $25,000 per student, including tuition, room and board, and books. Funding comes from annual assessments of $7.00 per member in each of the three Georgia Districts, support from club budgets, and members’ discretionary contributions of $25.00 per quarter to the GRSP Endowment. About one-third of the total annual amount is derived from each of these sources, with 85% going to the students and 15% to administrative costs. The Endowment corpus is never touched and presently stands at more than $13,700,000; its earnings are used to supplement contributions from the clubs and thus enable them to redirect their resources toward other youth-oriented programs. Currently the Endowment’s annual support stands at $5,250 per student. Although the students live on their campuses, each one is adopted by a host family so that they are immersed fully in the everyday culture of their local communities as well as in their academic environments.
GRSP is coordinated from an office in Savannah and typically receives 200 to 250 applications each year from around the world, with about 50 to 55 usually accepted. Historically most students have come from Europe, but efforts are underway to inform Rotary clubs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America of GRSP’s existence and to promote applications from those areas. In 2017-2018, there are 45 students enrolled, including 31 females and 14 males, who will attend 22 participating colleges with support from 113 Rotary clubs across the state. District 6910 has 16 students, receiving support from 55 clubs.
Locally, the Dalton club has contributed nearly $275,000 to GRSP over the years, and it administers the Carlton McCamy Scholarship, named in honor of a District Governor from our club who bequeathed $100,000 to GRSP in his will—there are only two other such club scholarships in the state. Rotarians who contribute at least $1,000 to GRSP are eligible for recognition as Will Watt Fellows; similar named fellowships are available at the $2,500, $5,000, $7,500, and $10,000 levels. Joined by Past President and long-time GRSP worker Bill Bowen, John ended the program by appealing for volunteers to assist in transporting, entertaining, and generally welcoming our current GRSP students, and he reminded the Club that a GRSP cookbook is now for sale, containing an international collection of recipes provided by members of the last three GRSP classes. Copies are $20 apiece, and the cost can be applied toward qualifying for a Paul Harris Fellowship.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Kevin Brunson announced that tropical storm conditions in the wake of Hurricane Irma caused District Governor David “Coop” Cooper to postpone his visit originally scheduled for today’s meeting until October 3. For the same reason, the United Way kickoff scheduled for yesterday evening will take place next week on September 19; Club members are encouraged to attend as the regular meeting that day will be replaced by a Rotary R & R event. On September 26 Dwayne Smith will present a program about autism.
Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead reminded members that Kroger will provide flu immunization shots at the September 26 meeting, for which a sign-up sheet is on the badge table. Rotarian Chris Cooke noted that the Family Crisis Center supply drive will be deferred until October in view of the need to provide support for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
President Kevin presented a check from the Club for $1,866 to President-Elect Greg Dent and Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett, who will head up an initiative in partnership with Georgia Northwestern Technical College to encourage GED completion.
Kevin Brunson, Greg Dent, and Smitty Barnett
In the absence of Membership Chair Cherri Robertson, Frank Hogshead presided over the induction of two new members of the Club, Alex Brown, sponsored by Kevin Brunson, and William Venable, sponsored by Chris Cooke.
 
Alex Brown and William Venable
|
September 19th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
22-Sep |
|
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
22-Sep |
|
|
| Williams, Roger (ROGER) |
22-Sep |
|
|
| Cooke, Christopher M (CHRIS) |
24-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Payne, Angelina |
Payne, Charles F Jr |
22-Sep |
|
| Parker, April |
Parker, Hoyt Jason |
24-Sep |
|
| Mixer, Kimberly |
Mixer, Mark S |
25-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
9/20/2016 |
1 |
|
| Chute, Patricia M (PAT) |
9/20/2016 |
1 |
|
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
9/20/2016 |
1 |
|
| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
9/20/2016 |
1 |
|
| Sanford, Robert Mitchell (MITCH) |
9/20/2011 |
6 |
|
| Scott, William M. (WILL) |
9/23/2014 |
3 |
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
9/23/2014 |
3 |
|
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
9/24/2013 |
4 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
John |
23-Sep |
56 |
|
September 12th Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
5-Sep |
|
|
| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
7-Sep |
|
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
7-Sep |
|
|
| Peterfreund, Allen David (ALLEN) |
8-Sep |
|
|
| Taylor, Zachary (ZACH) |
8-Sep |
|
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
9-Sep |
|
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. (ROY) |
10-Sep |
|
|
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
12-Sep |
|
|
| Gazaway, Kristie (KRISTIE) |
14-Sep |
|
|
| Minor, John Thomas V (JOHN) |
15-Sep |
|
|
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
16-Sep |
|
|
| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
17-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Pennington, Pamela |
Pennington, David E. |
6-Sep |
|
| Adamson, Zach |
Adamson, Anna Y |
10-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
Teresa |
10-Sep |
40 |
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
Julie |
12-Sep |
46 |
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
Billie |
13-Sep |
64 |
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
Ann |
14-Sep |
43 |
| Gazaway, Kristie (KRISTIE) |
Johnnie |
17-Sep |
23 |
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
Allen |
17-Sep |
50 |
|
Meet Linnea Neman: GRSP Student 2017-18Monday, September 4, 2017By John Hutcheson
Linnea Neman
Rotarian Zach Taylor introduced Linnéa Neman of Sweden, for whom the Taylors are serving as host family. Linnéa, or Linney, began by saying that although she carries a Swedish passport, she doesn’t really feel Swedish and dislikes national labels. She was born on June 16, 1997 in Luxembourg, where she lived for eight years and attended an international school where instruction was in French. She has two brothers, Eric, who is two years younger than she, and Axel, who is four years younger. When she was eight her family moved to Switzerland because of her father’s job and lived in Zurich—her favorite city—for the next nine years. She’s now twenty, but completion of her education has been delayed because she had to repeat a grade each time her family moved. Although her mother was a stay-at-home-mom for twenty years, both of her parents now work for banks. Her mother, Maria, is Swedish, as is her father, Peter, who was born in Malmö and grew up in the southernmost town in Sweden. They married in 1995. The family is very close, and they enjoy outdoor activities in both winter and summer—skiing, hiking, watersports, etc. At home they speak Swedish and moved to Sweden in 2014 after previously spending two or three months there each year. The country is about three times the size of Georgia, with a population of ten million. Linney’s family lives in Båstad/Torekov, in southern Sweden; Torekov is a fishing village of 800, well-known in Sweden as a summer resort, and Båstad was put on the map by tennis—since 1948 it has been the site of the Swedish Open tennis tournament. There are two Rotary clubs, and the newer one, founded in 2015, is sponsoring Linney.
Linney loves skiing and sailing, and in school she played soccer and tennis. Her educational focus is on science, but she is unsure of her future plans. She loves to travel and speaks five languages—Swedish, German, English, French, and Spanish. She thought about becoming a pediatrician, but her love for travel is inclining her toward business. During her year in America she hopes to better know both the United States and herself—it will be her first time away from her family. She is honored to be here and grateful to Rotary for the opportunity.
Announcements and Recognitions
Substituting for President Kevin Brunson, Past President David Aft called on Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead to present the Club budget for FY 2018, previously approved by the Club board. Although projected revenue of $155,400 is exceeded by anticipated expenses of $158,700, Frank believes the year will nevertheless end with a surplus. On a motion made and seconded by several members, the budget was adopted unanimously by voice vote.
Frank reminded members that Kroger will provide flu immunization shots at the September 26 meeting, for which a sign-up sheet is on the badge table. David noted that the Family Crisis Center supply drive will begin in September. There will be no meeting on September 5 because of the closure of the Country Club that day. The District Governor will join us on September 12, and the United Way kick-off will take place that evening.
Past President John Richmond brought a check for $5,258 as a refund from the GRSP office for overcharges due to the difference between the amount allocated for our GRSP student’s tuition at Dalton State College last year and the actual amount charged by the College—a striking testimony to the affordability of DSC. In October John will present a program about the GRSP Foundation, and he informed the Club that a GRSP cookbook is now available, containing an international collection of recipes provided by members of the last three GRSP classes. Copies are $20 apiece, and the cost can be applied toward qualifying for a Paul Harris Fellowship.
|
September 5th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, September 4, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
5-Sep |
|
|
| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
7-Sep |
|
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
7-Sep |
|
|
| Peterfreund, Allen David (ALLEN) |
8-Sep |
|
|
| Taylor, Zachary (ZACH) |
8-Sep |
|
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
9-Sep |
|
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. (ROY) |
10-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Pennington, Pamela |
Pennington, David E. |
6-Sep |
|
| Adamson, Zach |
Adamson, Anna Y |
10-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
Teresa |
10-Sep |
40 |
|
Early Cognitive Development and the Readers to Leaders ProgramMonday, August 28, 2017by Zach Taylor and John Hutcheson
Rotarian Zach Taylor began by speaking about early childhood development and the importance of language acquisition by 24 months of age. Children growing up in households with college educated parents with higher incomes hear 30 million more words on average than children growing up in households where the parents are on welfare. This word gap translates into less vocabulary development by age 3. There is a predictable cascade that follows. Vocabulary determines ability to read at level in the 3rd grade, which predicts academic achievement, which predicts economic level in adulthood. This is also a health issue, as better educated people tend to be healthier than less educated people. The importance of the human interaction with infants and toddlers was emphasized, including talking with babies and reading to children at an early age. Television, iPads, and other electronic media are not a substitute for the human-to-baby interaction that occurs with parents, family members and other care givers.
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Zach Taylor
[Insert President-elect Greg Dent spoke briefly about the North Georgia Healthcare Partnership and then introduced Stephanie Hogshead, who described their initiative in the community, Readers to Leaders. Readers to Leaders is a long term workforce development strategy to create a pipeline of well-prepared, educated talent. The effort was created after area employers voiced difficulties in finding qualified employees despite the area's aggressive unemployment rate. Through the support of the University of Georgia's Archway Partnership and the AmeriCorps VISTA program, Readers to Leaders has grown from a simple declaration to a maturing literacy effort.
- Examples of their work include:
- Power Lunches, a free book distribution and reading program at summer USDA feeding sites to mitigate loss of learning from "summer slide".
- Book Nooks, 21 fully stocked free-standing bookcases placed in public gathering places throughout Dalton and Whitfield County.
- A book distribution program implemented through area pediatrician offices where parents receive free books and instruction on developmental milestones to look for during well-child visits.
- Saturday Academy, a school readiness program that simulates a pre-school classroom for families on Saturday mornings.
- Ms. Frizzle School Visits, a volunteer-staffed effort in which Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus book series visits local schools to share science education literacy programming.
- Pre-K Registration, at which Readers to Leaders provides every child with a book and a fun literacy-themed reading area.
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Greg Dent and Stephanie Hogshead
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August 28th 2017 Birthdays and Anniversaries
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
1-Sep |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Hutcheson, Marilyn |
Hutcheson, John A. Jr. |
2-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Goodroe, Robert S. (ROBERT) |
9/1/1964 |
53 |
|
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
9/1/1979 |
38 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
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Georgia Film IndustryMonday, August 21, 2017By John Hutcheson
Noting that film-making and its ancillaries have become a major industry in Georgia, Rotarian Kathryn Sellers introduced Dalton native Mark Hannah, who became interested in movie production while in his teens and has since made it his life’s work. Mark is also the author of the popular “Town Crier” column which appears in each Sunday’s edition of the Dalton Citizen-News.
Mark Hannah
Mark began by telling how as teenagers he and his friends filmed home-made horror movies in their backyards on Super-88 mm film, eventually attracting modest financial support from the Creative Arts Guild. Some of those who joined him in the early days now work in Los Angeles, in New York, in advertising, or in feature film production. His own work has remained based in Dalton, focusing on corporate videos, but he has also assisted in producing several large-scale features for which significant shooting took place in the Dalton area. The first of these, made in the 1980’s, was From a Whisper to a Scream, starring Vincent Price (who never actually came to Dalton), and the 1990’s brought Island Girl, followed by Knuckle Sandwich and several other features. A project called Camera Ready searches for unique local features for use in location shots, and currently a film code-named “Fathom” and budgeted at $200 million, with a crew of 140, is being partially shot here, using the tunnel at Tunnel Hill.
In 2016 over one hundred major features were filmed in Georgia—the most in the world, exceeding even those made in the United Kingdom or Los Angeles. The biggest studio in Georgia, located just south of Atlanta, is a satellite of Pinewood Studios, the UK’s largest film producer. Georgia’s greatest attraction for film producers is a highly attractive array of tax rebates, which in 2016 totaled more than $600,000,000. Although this represented a large sacrifice of potential revenue for the state, film production generated $2.2 billion in taxes paid by Georgia businesses supplying necessary goods and services; one recent estimate of this trickle-through money approaches $7 billion. A local example of a beneficiary is Myers Carpet Company, which has become a major supplier of floor-covering used in building sets. Much of this is recycled and sold to the public at a discount after filming is completed. In addition to tax incentives, Georgia has far less bureaucracy and red tape for film-makers to cope with than California or other film centers; permits and security, for example, are much more easily arranged. Moreover, film production generates “clean money”—with little or no lasting pollution, it has a minimal impact on the physical environment.
Movie-making can also stimulate tourism, especially if a film does well at the box office or even if its subject simply has high public recognition. In this context, the most famous movie filmed in Georgia was not Gone With the Wind, which was made entirely in California, but Deliverance, followed by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil—the latter having far greater tourism power given the attraction and accessibility of Savannah in contrast to the mountains of Northeast Georgia.
A Rotary Minute with Dalton Fire Chief Todd Pangle
Rotarian Todd Pangle is the son of Pete and Paula Pangle, and he and his wife Belinda have a 21-year- old son, Preston, who is studying weather science at the University of Alabama. After working for several years in his father’s auto body shop, he joined the Dalton Fire Department in 1987, rising through the ranks until he was appointed Chief in 2017, succeeding Dalton Rotary Club Past President Bruce Satterfield. From 2002 until 2013 he also worked extensively with the youth program in his church.
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Todd Pangle
Announcements and Recognitions
In the wake of the recent disorders in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the suggestion of Past President David Aft and with the approval of the Board of Directors, President-Elect Greg Dent presented the following resolution on the Club’s behalf:
Whereas the Dalton Rotary Club exists as an organization committed to service above self - in practice, in faith and in our interactions with others, and
Whereas the Dalton Rotary Club remains committed to finding peaceful solutions to the challenges facing our communities, whether they be local, national or international, and
Whereas the Dalton Rotary Club affirms that organizations who advocate for violence, discrimination and hatred fail to meet all aspects of the Rotary Four-Way test, and further acknowledges that such groups exist as a direct threat to the civic and humanitarian aspirations of our community and the world community of Rotary,
Be it hereby resolved that the Dalton Rotary Club strongly condemns the violent actions of the extremists involved in Charlottesville, VA and will stand with those who advocate for peaceful and practical solutions and stand against those who wish to undermine our nation and its commitment to equality and the common good.
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Greg Dent
President Kevin related that he and Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett attended the District 6910 University at Lanier Technical College on August 12, where they went to breakout sessions about the Rotary Foundation to learn more about how to achieve 100% Paul Harris Fellowship status for club members. President Kevin also directed members’ attention to a flyer listing needed donations for the Family Crisis Center. Finally, he awarded Blue Badges to Rotarians Shell Underwood and Mark Mixer.
Shell Underwood and Mark Mixer
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August 22nd Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, August 21, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Sanford, Robert Mitchell (MITCH) |
25-Aug |
|
|
| Jones, J Sherwood III (SHERWOOD) |
26-Aug |
|
|
| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
26-Aug |
|
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
27-Aug |
|
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
27-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Aft, Pauline |
Aft, David |
27-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
Mary Ann |
23-Aug |
42 |
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
Carolyn |
26-Aug |
51 |
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
Becky |
27-Aug |
51 |
|
Four Way Test 2017Monday, May 8, 2017
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Four Way TestFriday, November 29, 2013
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2017 High School Football PreviewMonday, August 14, 2017by John Hutcheson
Rotarian and former Dalton High School Head Football Coach Ronnie McClurg opened the 2017 pre-season survey of local high school football prospects by introducing the coaches from Christian Heritage High, Coahulla Creek High, Dalton High, Northwest Whitfield High, and Southeast Whitfield High, and he urged everyone to support their favorite team.
Ronnie McClurg
From Christian Heritage, Athletic Director Chad Jordan spoke on behalf of Head Coach Jay Poag who was taking his son to enroll at Kenyon College. This year the Christian Heritage team will field about forty players, a remarkably high number since the school’s entire 9-12 student body totals only 154. It’s a young team, with seven seniors, six juniors, and the rest sophomores or freshmen. Returning starters include four on defense and five on offense, so many players will need to play on both sides of the ball, and there is also a new kicker. Although the team lacks experience, they will do what they have to do to be competitive, and they will always remember that it’s not who you play, but how you play.
Coach Caleb Bagley of Coahulla Creek is in his first year as head coach and also has a young team. With seven new staff members as well, he is treating the year as though it were a brand-new program. Of sixty players, only four are seniors (two of whom haven’t played in three years) and 27 are sophomores. The offense will be based on a running game, while the defense will be predicated on movement before and after the snap. The final starting line-up will be decided after this week’s scrimmage against Fannin County.
Coach Matt Land of Dalton High described his 2017 team with a phrase from Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities—it’s facing both the best of times and the worst of times. Much of the momentum remains from last year, notwithstanding that season’s severely disappointing end and the graduation of 27 seniors, including 18 starters. Land and his staff have advised the squad to enjoy this year and be prepared to go all the way in 2018. In the meantime, the defense, having graduated nine seniors, will need to start several sophomores, an unusual situation. The offense graduated eight starters and the new running backs haven’t yet been identified—here again it may be necessary to use sophomore starters, perhaps as many as three or four. Dalton’s greatest strength will be in its kicking game since the team’s kicker has been ranked as the 4 th best in the country, with an average kick of 48 yards. Overall, this year will be a test by fire, and the main goal will be to win the regional championship—anything beyond that will be extra. In any event, the Dalton High staff never forgets that their most important task is to raise young men rather than simply to win games. To that end, the key idea to be imparted to the team in 2017 will be that of civility, meaning respect, not merely agreement, extended to each other and to their opponents.
From Northwest Whitfield, Coach Josh Robinson related that things are going well, and he predicts a good season for the Bruins. While last year’s defense was disappointing, he believes this year will be better, with six seniors on the defensive line, which will be more physical than in the past and will be backed up by two good players in the secondary. On offense, play will revolve around Luke Chitwood, a truly superb quarterback, and the offensive line has four returning senior starters, as is the kicker also.
At Southeast Whitfield, Coach Sean Gray’s coaching philosophy is to concentrate on positives and to draw inspiration for his squad from the state championship won by Southeast’s soccer team as well as from the Raiders’ recent successes—last year they accomplished three shut-outs, the most since 1984. Reviewing his list of exceptional players, he noted that many of them are unusually tall and intelligent. The school’s training and playing facilities are excellent by any standard, this year featuring a new scoreboard and clock.
Coach McClurg concluded the program by paying tribute to the talent and commitment each of the coaches brings to his program and to the friendships between them, providing the community with fine examples of sportsmanship as well as a high caliber of football.
Special Recognitions
President Kevin welcomed members of the Dalton Kiwanis Club, who were joining us for the annual high school football preview. Rotarian Zach Taylor introduced this year’s GRSP students, Linnea Nemean of Sweden, sponsored by the Dalton Rotary Club, and Clare Ballentine of England, sponsored by the Carpet City Rotary Club. Rotarian Rob Bradham introduced Representative Tom Graves, who is visiting Dalton during the Congressional recess.
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August 15th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, August 14, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| Ryman, Milton J. Jr. (MILTON) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
19-Aug |
|
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
19-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Scott, Annelle |
Scott, Trammell |
15-Aug |
|
| Robertson, Ricky |
Robertson, Cherri L |
16-Aug |
|
| Blackman, Bill |
Blackman, Linda T. |
18-Aug |
|
| Turner, Carolyn |
Turner, Henry J |
20-Aug |
|
| Dobbins, Donna |
Dobbins, Chuck |
20-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
8/18/2015 |
2 |
|
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
8/18/2015 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
Mary Etta |
16-Aug |
59 |
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
Ben |
19-Aug |
45 |
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Dalton's GreenHouseMonday, August 7, 2017by John Hutcheson
Smitty Barnett introduced Natima Walker, Executive Director of the GreenHouse, a child advocacy and sexual assault center which, along with the Family Crisis Center and the Miracle Field, is one of this year’s partner agencies with the Rotary Club of Dalton. Natima, a Rotarian herself and the mother of a two-year-old son, began her presentation with a short video which gave startling statistics about local levels of child and sexual abuse—last year, for example, there were 2,740 child abuse victims in Whitfield County alone. A Child Advocacy Center such as the GreenHouse provides a child-friendly, neutral, safe place for children who have disclosed abuse and for their non-offending family members. The largest victim demographic is that of girls ages six to twelve, with the most common offenders being white men.
Natima Walker
The GreenHouse was founded by Rotarian Jack Partain during his tenure as Conasauga Circuit District Attorney and now has a trained staff of five. Its services include three principal components: forensic interviews to gather information from children about alleged abuse, advocacy to connect victims and their families to needed resources, and no-cost therapy by qualified professionals to enable clients to regain a sense of control after trauma. Typically the GreenHouse is involved by law enforcement or the Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS) when a child discloses abuse. Every effort is made to avoid subjecting children to multiple interviews with law enforcers, therapists, etc., which can often be as traumatic, if not more so, for the victim than the abuse itself as well as producing inconsistent accounts from one time to another. Services are also available to adults, especially those with special needs such as delayed cognitive development. GreenHouse staff members adhere to the highest professional standards, using a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) model which requires involvement by seven disciplines, i.e., DFCS workers, law enforcement, assistant district attorneys, nurses, mental health workers, forensic interviewers, and the juvenile justice court.
The need for the GreenHouse’s services is growing, partly from a greater willingness by victims to disclose abuse, which in turn may reflect expanded support from schools and other agencies. In 2015 the GreenHouse conducted 145 forensic interviews, from which 45 clients entered therapy, and in 2016 these numbers were 173 and 75 respectively. With a projected average increase of 20% to 25% per year, 2017 is likely to see at least 200 forensic interviews. The GreenHouse is a United Way 501c3 agency, funded by donors, accrediting agencies, and limited municipal support. Upcoming events include a tennis tournament and the annual Phantom Fundraiser (a direct solicitation of contributions in lieu of holding a formal social function). All monies remain in the service area since there are no outside organizations to support.
The GreenHouse is located in an actual house at 600 E. Morris Street which was donated by Mohawk Industries; although the agency’s work is clinical, its setting is intentionallynon-clinical. While the present location is satisfactory, a new facility there is to be greatly desired; this would provide spaces for medical examinations and expanded therapy services which cannot now be accommodated even with an addition to the existing structure. The staff will host a conference on human trafficking this fall, and plans are underway to launch a major educational initiative, ideally through the schools.
A growing body of research shows that many social problems, such as addictions, mental illness, and a wide range of criminality, can be traced to childhood trauma. Dalton is fortunate to have a child advocacy center of the caliber of the GreenHouse; many areas of Georgia have only rudimentary services, if any, of this kind, and some states, such as Florida, have none at all.
A Rotary Minute with Amy Messick
Community Service Chair Amy Messick has been marketing manager with Adhesive Technologies since 2015, after previously working as production manager for Niche Graphic Flooring. Although she started her career in 2002 as a worker on the plant floor and now holds five U.S. patents, she sees her greatest accomplishments as being mother to four boys and a servant for Jesus Christ.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Kevin reminded the Club that on August 8, the program will be the high school football coaches’ annual season preview, for which the Dalton Kiwanis Club will be joining us.
Rotarian Brian Griffin was recognized as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow, receiving his award from Foundation Chair Smitty Barnett.
Brian Griffin
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August 8th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, August 7, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
8-Aug |
|
|
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
10-Aug |
|
|
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Satterfield, Kayanne |
Satterfield, Bruce A. |
9-Aug |
|
| Smith, Sandra |
Smith, Ralph |
11-Aug |
|
| Laugahter, Ben |
Laughter, R Lynette |
11-Aug |
|
| Johnson, Kathy |
Johnson, Larry Alan |
13-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
Gretchen |
8-Aug |
31 |
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
Tammy |
10-Aug |
32 |
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
Judy |
14-Aug |
46 |
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Domestic Violence CourtMonday, July 31, 2017By Kathryn Sellers
Judge Cindy Morris, who been on the Superior Court since 2002, Attorney Susan Beck who has been with the District Attorney’s office for ten years, and Jim Sneary who is the Coordinator for the RESOLVE Project, a certified Family Violence Intervention Program, were introduced by Rotarian Celeste Creswell.
Judge Morris stated that a CDC study found that of over ten thousand female homicides between 2003 and 2014, over 55 percent were a result of domestic violence. Ninety three percent were killed by current or former intimate partners: boyfriends, husbands, and lovers. Mass shootings (four or more fatally shot) often involve domestic violence. Many could have been alleviated by some intervention. Still, the courts realized that what they were doing wasn’t working. They had to change their methods of intervening in the early eighties. The courts have now provided both advocates for victims and investigations to find the truths involved.
In Whitfield County in May 2011, an accountability partnership was created with law enforcement (police and sheriff departments), probation, drug court, mental health, DA office, and judges. They are the only court in the state that deals with both felonies and misdemeanors. Both male and female defendants are involved, but the males are the majority. In 2014 their monthly meetings increased to bi-weekly and the domestic violence court became mandatory – not a choice. Most perpetrators are sentenced to a 12-month RESOLVE program for accountability where they learn to avoid offenses. Compliance is essential to the program, so they also deal with alcohol and drug issues, partnering with the Drug Court. In the program, participants also learn to read and get a GED. Judge Morris stated that the program’s goal is to help these people get along with family, neighbors and work associates. “We just want to put people back on the right track.”
Susan Beck spoke about the lack of accurate reporting of injuries and incident facts, although 911 calls and officer video cams often provide accurate evidence. There is an advocate and a dedicated investigator to interview every defendant, to provide services, and to provide information for other professionals involved in the case. If not prosecuted, after the “honeymoon” or the time of the cooling down, the violence cycle starts again. The RESOLVE program is not an alternative like the Drug Court but is mandatory to avoid repetition of offenses.
Jim Sneary stated that our community is creative, offering these exceptional services. The RESOLVE program is 24 – 26 weeks long, creating what some call “therapeutic jurisprudence.” But he says this is accountability and is an educational process, not therapeutic, where they look at their own behavior and choices and see the consequences. The purpose is to make changes in this behavior.
What can we do to help? Judge Morris suggested that we can talk with our legislators to have this program included in the accountability court funding along with the Drug Court. With more funds they could enlarge the program and provide more services.
Announcements and Recognitions
The Family Crisis Center needs board members and youth volunteers. Rotarians are encouraged to consider this.
On August 8, the program will be the high school football coaches and the Kiwanis Club will be joining us.
Greg Dent was installed as the President Elect. Scott DeLay moved from blue badge to the permanent red badge.
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August 1st Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, July 31, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| McDonald, David L (DAVID) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Brunson, Kevin M (KEVIN) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
7-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Robertson, Cherri |
Robertson, Ricky N |
2-Aug |
|
| Chandler, Susan |
Chandler, Robert M. |
4-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
8/1/1994 |
23 |
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
8/1/1988 |
29 |
|
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
8/1/1967 |
50 |
|
| Underwood, Michelle (SHELL) |
8/2/2016 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Bronson, William III(WILLIAM) |
Erica |
5-Aug |
22 |
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
Bennieta |
6-Aug |
62 |
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
Lamar |
7-Aug |
52 |
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A Visit From The Civil Air PatrolMonday, July 24, 2017by John Hutcheson
Rotarian Scott Minter prefaced a presentation on the Civil Air Patrol and its local squadron, saying he had known little about the organization until his daughter became interested in it and greatly enjoyed her experience there. He then introduced Lt. Brian Givens and his nephew, Flight Lt. Officer Joseph Givens who is also an EMT and serves as a medic with the Air National Guard, stationed in Calhoun. Flight Lt. Officer Givens spoke on behalf of Squadron Leader Eric Rochelle, whose CAP obligations precluded his attendance.
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Joseph Givens
Beginning during World War II as a civilian extension of the National Guard to strengthen the country’s coastal defenses, particularly against enemy submarine activity, today the CAP is classified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, including nearly 1,500 squadrons and more than 60,000 volunteers in all 50 states. National Headquarters are at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, but while the CAP is an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and uses military customs and organization, it is not part of the official military establishment.
The CAP has three basic missions: emergency services, aerospace education, and cadet programs. Its emergency services conduct 90% of inland search and rescue missions in the U.S. as tasked by the Air Force and other agencies, saving an average of 80 lives per year. CAP aerospace education programs provide a wide range of resources for all educational levels in classroom, conference, and online settings, along with support for grants, awards, and scholarships. The cadet programs include more than 25,000 members from ages 12 to 20 and concentrate on the four main areas of leadership, aerospace science, fitness, and character development.
The local squadron serves Whitfield and Murray Counties and is now about two years old, with a membership of 19 seniors and 21 cadets—many of the adults being military veterans who delight in passing on their knowledge. Weekly meetings are held on Tuesday nights at the Dalton National Guard Armory. Annual membership dues are $60 for adults, who must pass an FBI background check, and $30 for members under age 18. Aircraft are based at Ellijay and Kennesaw, and there are many opportunities for flying. Planes may be rented to licensed pilots, and gliders are available as well. Extensive training is also provided in ground activities, especially rescue work.
With offerings available to virtually all ages, participation in the CAP is an excellent way to learn new skills, develop leadership abilities, and serve the country and the local community.
Some Musically Meaningful Beginnings
In addition to their usual recognition of visiting Rotarians and notices of birthdays, anniversaries, and make-ups, each month’s Sergeant-at-Arms is expected to offer a joke or anecdote to set the weekly meeting off on a congenial course. For the meetings of July 11 and July 18, however, Community Service Chair Amy Messick fulfilled this by relating the stories behind “Amazing Grace” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” respectively, gracing the former with a solo in her beautiful soprano voice and the latter by leading everyone present in singing the National Anthem. Special thanks are due to Amy for sharing her musical gift with the Club and her moving accounts of how these songs came to be.
A Rotary Minute with State Senator Chuck Payne
State Senator Chuck Payne related how he wanted to become a Rotarian after reading the Rotary Pledge and realizing that its ideals were the same as those which have guided him all his life. Following service in the U.S. Army, Chuck worked for thirty years in the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. He and his wife have two children, Heather, 27, and Chas, 20, and he moved to Dalton after his parents settled here. In 2017 he was elected to fill the vacancy in the State Senate created by the appointment of former Senator Charles Bethel to the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Announcements and Recognitions
Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead announced that the pharmacy at the Walnut Avenue Kroger has offered to provide flu and pneumonia shots for Club members on September 26, if at least forty or fifty persons sign up to receive them Past President John Richmond presented a banner from the Rotary Club of Winchester, England, on behalf of Torrin Hoynes, a former GRSP student sponsored by the Dalton Rotary Club. He noted that this year’s two students—one from England to be sponsored by the Carpet City Rotary Club and the other from Sweden to be sponsored by the Dalton Club—will arrive in Dalton in late July and early August. Rotarian Dan Combs recounted a recent visit to Oslo, where he had lunch with a Norwegian student whose GRSP year was supported by the Dalton Club.
Rotarian David Pennington IV, President of the Carpet City Rotary Club, was recognized as a new Paul Harris Fellow. The presentation was made by his father, David Pennington III, a member of the Dalton Club, and witnessed by his aunt, Mary Thelma Norris, a member of the Carpet City Club and former Assistant Governor for District 6910. The Carpet City Club now has a membership of 100% Paul Harris Fellows.
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July 25th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, July 24, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
29-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Woodward, Philip F. (PHIL) |
7/28/2015 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
Virginia |
28-Jul |
61 |
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
Delle |
28-Jul |
55 |
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
Noel |
30-Jul |
50 |
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The Year AheadMonday, July 17, 2017By John Hutcheson
President Kevin began his remarks with a description of newly installed RI president Ian Risley, an Australian accountant and Rotarian since 1978 who, among many other accomplishments, has won the Australian Peace Builder’s Award and a Regional Service Award from RI for his work against polio. President Kevin also noted that the new District 6910 Governor is David “Coop” Cooper from the Rotary Club of Rockdale County, who will visit our Club on September 12.
President Kevin
For the 2017-2018 year President Kevin listed several priorities at both the District and the Club levels. Heading the list in each of these contexts is membership growth by at least 10%, and in accordance with the wish of RI President Ian, who seeks to live organically, a tree is to be planted for each new member gained during the coming year. District 6910 will strive to become the highest in the world for the percentage of its members contributing to the Rotary Foundation and will work to achieve Presidential citations. A fundamental goal is to have fun while making a difference, and in that light President Kevin reminded members of the District 6910 conference scheduled for May 10-13, 2018, in Charleston, SC, and the RI Annual Conference to be held in Toronto, Canada, on June 27-27, 2018.
Coming closer to home, President Kevin introduced the Board members for 2017-2018 and stated our club’s goals for the coming year. These include a review of the Club’s Vision Statement, Mission Statement, and By-Laws to assure their alignment with RI policies; increasing our numbers and diversity by adding a minimum of ten new members; developing a Strategic Plan to become a 100% Paul Harris Fellows club as soon as possible; and focusing more intentionally on attendance and make-ups. At the same time, the Club will increase its exposure in local and social media and identify new community service projects to be pursued in partnership with local agencies—an example is the cooperative arrangement between the Club and Georgia Northwestern Technical College by which Rotarians offset testing costs for GED candidates. The Club will, of course, continue its normal service activities—the track meet, golf tournament, fifth grade recognition, and scholarships for outstanding high school students. President Kevin strongly encouraged every member to become personally involved in at least one kind of Club project, and he pledged a continuation of quality weekly programs to keep members informed of these and other service opportunities. He concluded by reading President Ian’s July message to Rotarians around the world.
2017-18 Rotary Board
Announcements and Recognitions
Past President Bill Bowen was recognized with a special award for his many years of work coordinating the Club’s participation in the GRSP program, and Blue Badges were presented to Rotarians Todd Pangle and Kristie Gazaway.
|
July 18th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, July 17, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr. (JOHN) |
18-Jul |
|
|
| Smith, Ralph (RALPH) |
20-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Tharpe, Julie |
Tharpe, Henry C. |
22-Jul |
|
| Bundros, Laura |
Bundros, Thomas A |
22-Jul |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
7/19/2016 |
1 |
|
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
7/19/2016 |
1 |
|
| Cooke, Christopher M (CHRIS) |
7/19/2016 |
1 |
|
| Willingham, Tommy G (TOMMY) |
7/19/2016 |
1 |
|
| Pratt, Vallarie D. (VALLARIE) |
7/19/2016 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA SRIVASTAVA) |
Vinai |
20-Jul |
41 |
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
Carla |
21-Jul |
16 |
| Schneller, April D (APRIL) |
Douglas |
23-Jul |
23 |
|
Passing the Gavel 2017Monday, July 10, 2017By John Hutcheson
President Bruce focused his final presidential remarks on observations about having attended the RI Convention in Atlanta from June 10 to June 14. More than 40,000 Rotarians from 178 countries were present, and it was easy to strike up conversations with Rotarians from around the world—President Bruce had some especially enjoyable exchanges with attendees from Uganda. Because of the crowd’s size, two opening ceremonies were necessary, one live and one by remote transmission. Bill Gates spoke on Monday, June 12, pointing out that the Gates Foundation has matched Rotary in the effort to eradicate polio. Although its original grant terminated in 2017, the Foundation will extend its support for another three years, to 2020, and RI has pledged an additional $50 million from its resources during this period. Today there are five known cases—two in Afghanistan, two in Pakistan, and one in Nigeria—and while vaccination still faces some political or religious opposition, there are more than 200 detection centers in these countries. To make up a $1.5 billion shortfall in anti-polio funding, the European Union has pledged $60 million, and large pledges have also come from the United States, Pakistan, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Canada.
President Bruce also reported on a session concerning human trafficking. Forty-six million people are known to be living in slavery, many of whom are children subject to sexual exploitation. One speaker was actor and entrepreneur Ashton Kutcher, who founded “Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children” in 2009 to combat child sexual abuse; another was Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, who has worked to get Congressional support for such efforts. The session also heard from Rebecca Bender, a victim of human trafficking who was held captive for seven years before escaping and has since trained more than 26,000 law enforcement officers to deal with this problem, and also from Andrew Young and the CEO of Coca-Cola.
The Atlanta RI Convention dramatically demonstrated that Rotary is a truly impressive worldwide network and that everyone working together will truly accomplish more and make a real difference, not only in the life of the community but in members’ individual lives as well. Next year’s convention will be in Toronto, and President Bruce expressed a hope that some Dalton Rotarians might be able to attend.
President Bruce concluded by thanking the Club for the support he received during the past year, and he individually recognized each member of the Board. He was gratified that during 2017 the Club maintained Silver Club status for the quality and quantity of its goals. Members gave President Bruce a prolonged standing ovation for his service.
As his last official act, President Bruce swore in President-Elect Kevin Brunson as President for 2017-2018 and passed the presidential pin and gavel to his custody. President Kevin, in turn, thanked now Past President Bruce for his help in preparing him for his new responsibilities and presented him with a plaque, noting that he had been the Club’s 80th president since its founding. He ended the meeting by recognizing all Past Presidents who were in attendance.
 
The Brunson Presidency Begins
Announcements and Recognitions
Past President John Richmond appealed for a family to agree to host the Club’s GRSP student during the 2018-2019 school year, and Rotarian Zach Taylor asked for volunteers to provide transportation to enable the 2017-2018 student to attend GRSP events and other extra-curricular activities. President Bruce announced that the Family of Rotary social on June 20 went well and was attended by several potential new members. He awarded Blue Badges to Rotarians Tommy Willingham, Laurice Tatum, and Amy Messick. Finally, he asked the Club to recognize the hard work of the Dalton Golf and Country Club staff for preparing and serving lunch at each week’s Dalton Rotary meeting, and the members responded with a standing ovation.
 
Blue Badge recipients and the DGCC kitchen staff
|
July 4th & 11th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, July 10, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
4-Jul |
|
|
| Wright, William B. Jr. (WILLIAM) |
5-Jul |
|
|
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
7-Jul |
|
|
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
8-Jul |
|
|
| Neal, John P. III (JOHN) |
9-Jul |
|
|
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
10-Jul |
|
|
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
|
|
| Clark, M Michael (MIKE) |
13-Jul |
|
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
13-Jul |
|
|
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
14-Jul |
|
|
| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
14-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Cruse, Amy |
Cruse, Lesley Dale |
11-Jul |
|
| Kinard, Bob |
Kinard, Dixie |
13-Jul |
|
| Townsend, Teresa |
Townsend, Patrick J. |
15-Jul |
|
| Smalley, Rachel |
Smalley, Robert H. |
16-Jul |
|
| Scott, Catherine |
Scott, William M. |
17-Jul |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
7/7/2015 |
2 |
|
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
7/10/2007 |
10 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
Janet |
5-Jul |
47 |
| Parrott, V DeForrest III(DEFORREST) |
Eugenia |
6-Jul |
59 |
| Dent, Gregory J (GREG) |
Marybeth |
7-Jul |
1 |
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
Donna |
11-Jul |
47 |
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
Carole |
15-Jul |
22 |
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
Terri |
15-Jul |
45 |
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
Marilyn |
15-Jul |
50 |
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
Annelle |
17-Jul |
17 |
|
|
An Evening Of Fun At The Family Of Rotary Social
Monday, June 26, 2017
Rotarians traded their lunch appointment for a dinner date last Tuesday, meeting after hours for the Family of Rotary Social.
The event was well attended by Rotarians and their spouses, as well as a number of potential new members who had a chance to learn about our club and our membership in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. President Bruce called the event a success, noting that it was a "a very fun and relaxing evening." In addition to getting a chance to meet some potential new Rotarians, our club members enjoyed sharing a club meeting with members of their family.
|
June 27th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, June 26, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Little, William Norris Sr. (NORRIS) |
28-Jun |
|
|
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
3-Jul |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Maret, Sarah |
Maret, Charles D. |
1-Jul |
|
| Alderman, Alicia |
Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. |
3-Jul |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
6/30/2004 |
13 |
|
| Johnson, Larry Alan (LARRY) |
7/1/2013 |
4 |
|
| Dent, Gregory J (GREG) |
7/1/2014 |
3 |
|
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
7/1/1969 |
48 |
|
| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
7/1/1973 |
44 |
|
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
7/1/2010 |
7 |
|
| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
7/1/1996 |
21 |
|
| Peterfreund, Allen David (ALLEN) |
7/1/2013 |
4 |
|
| Gilreath, Judy Ellen (JUDY) |
7/1/2013 |
4 |
|
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
7/1/1980 |
37 |
|
| Payne, Charles F Jr(CHUCK) |
7/1/2017 |
0 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
Lin |
30-Jun |
33 |
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
Bill |
1-Jul |
50 |
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
Phyllis |
1-Jul |
50 |
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
Linda |
1-Jul |
50 |
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
Pat |
2-Jul |
51 |
| Harris, Kevin W (KEVIN) |
Lezlie |
3-Jul |
35 |
|
Chattanooga Area Food BankMonday, June 19, 2017By John Hutcheson
Past President David Aft introduced Gina Crumbliss, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, which began working in Dalton during the Great Recession. Gina came to the Food Bank in 2016 after a very successful career in commercial banking, and she is also the Immediate Past President of the Hamilton Place Rotary Club.
Gina Crumbliss
After noting that she knew President-Elect Kevin from her work as a banker, Gina related how the Chattanooga Area Food Bank serves an area covering 7,000 square miles including twenty counties, of which nine are in Georgia. In Dalton alone the Food Bank works with thirty-one different partners, and monies given to the Food Bank from Dalton stay in Dalton. The Chattanooga agency is a member of Feeding America, which enables them to secure large-scale acquisitions of food.
In north Georgia one of every four children and one of every seven adults are food-insecure, and in Whitfield County 8.3% of the general population fall into this condition. Contrary to some assumptions, most of the needy are members of the working poor, with at least one paycheck in the family. Feeding America has chosen the Chattanooga Area Food Bank as one of three pilot groups in the nation for accelerated action, enabling it to double the size of its operation.
Food for distribution comes mainly from retail partners, such as supermarkets, and the Food Bank works with local agencies to assess needs. The Northwest Georgia Food Bank is a branch of Chattanooga’s Food Bank, operating a 10,000 square foot facility and currently in search of a Development Officer to manage it. While some distribution is made directly, most is done through the partner agencies. Funding is dependent on grants, donations, and revenues generated by direct mailing pieces, with 97¢ of every dollar going to the food programs. In Northwest Georgia, food investment alone was $8.5 million in 2016, out of a total agency budget of $36 million.
Announcements
Substituting for President Bruce, who was attending the RI Conference in Atlanta, Past President Jason Parker called on President-Elect Kevin Brunson for a reminder about the Family of Rotary Social Drop-In which will replace next week’s regular Club meeting, and he also recognized Rotarian Doug McClure for his recent promotion to Major in the Salvation Army. Membership Chair Cherri Robertson came forward for the induction of State Senator Chuck Payne as a new member, sponsored by Rotarian Vallarie Pratt.
Chuck Payne
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June 20th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, June 19, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
21-Jun |
|
|
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
21-Jun |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Combs, Donna |
Combs, William Dan |
24-Jun |
|
| Neal, Terri |
Neal, John P. III |
24-Jun |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
6/20/2006 |
11 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
Melissa |
21-Jun |
14 |
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
Sally |
23-Jun |
41 |
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
Ginny |
25-Jun |
12 |
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
Sara |
26-Jun |
21 |
|
Burr Park: So Cool You Have To Wear ShadesSunday, June 11, 2017By Darla Chambliss
Past President David introduced the presentation, an update on the Burr Performing Arts Park and Showalter Stage in downtown Dalton. The park is a philanthropic gift of the sunglasses-clad Jeanne Burr, made in the form of a $1 million donation to establish it and a permanent endowment to ensure its future.
David Aft
Designed by local architects Lowell and Nathan Kirkman, the park encompasses about 1.4 acres. The design plan includes a change in the topography to include earthen berms; specifically two seating berms and a sound berm. The sound berm will act to “roll” the sound back to the sloped lawn seating area – this should provide for some great performance sound.
The main performance site, The Showalter Stage, will accommodate large dance productions, while the smaller performance areas will enable local musicians and other artists to perform. David addressed the economic driver potential of the venue and noted the park is within walking distance of 25 restaurants and downtown shopping. The Showalter Stage is named in recognition of Anthony Johnson Showalter. Showalter is perhaps best known for writing the music and chorus of “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” published in 1887.
JEANNEFEST 2017 was a free concert drawing 600 folks with dogs and children in tow — it forecasts the popularity of the 2018 Summer Concert Series that is planned post construction. The Dalton Downtown Development Association will manage the property and booking. All interested in learning more are encouraged to visit www.communityfoundationnwga.org
President Bruce closed the meeting by thanking Past President David for the excellent program.
Announcements
April Schneller thanked the club on behalf of her daughters (Kelsey and Meghan Schneller) for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp scholarships. Her daughters wished to tell our club, “We had a blast! Thank you!” The Schnellers were RYLA camp scholarship recipients.
A Family of Rotary event will be held at the DGCC on Tuesday, June 20th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in place of the regular lunchtime meeting. This “drop-in” membership event is the perfect opportunity to bring a friend or colleague that you feel would make an excellent Rotarian. Contact President-elect Kevin Brunson for more information.
Former Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) students Isabel Vinterbladh and Kathrin Hennicke received a warm Dalton homecoming after extremely long flights. Isabel traveled from Sweden and Kathrin from Germany.
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June 13th Birthdays and Anniversaries Sunday, June 11, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Sanders, Drayton M II (DRAYTON) |
13-Jun |
|
|
| Bledsoe, Jonathan L. (JONATHAN) |
14-Jun |
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Little, Billie |
Little, William Norris Sr. |
13-Jun |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| McClure, Douglas E (DOUGLAS) |
Storm |
14-Jun |
14 |
| McDonald, David L (DAVID) |
Frances |
15-Jun |
48 |
| Scott, William M. (WILL) |
Catherine |
16-Jun |
5 |
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
Donna |
16-Jun |
44 |
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
Cathy |
19-Jun |
35 |
|
Melissa Cawood: Faith, Perseverance, and ServiceMonday, May 29, 2017By John Hutcheson
Past President Skeeter Pierce introduced Pam Partain, Director of Marketing and Communications at Dalton State College. After citing several recent instances of the College’s growth, Pam emphasized that the best indication of its success is the quality of its alumni. Among these, one of the very best examples is Melissa Cawood, a graduate of the DSC School of Education who is now in her seventh year of teaching and is currently a member of the faculty at City Park Elementary School.
Melissa Cawood
Following Pam’s introduction, Melissa began her remarks by commending the Club for recognizing outstanding fifth grade students and reinforcing the ideal of service which these awards instilled in them. Her own life has been guided by a belief in service, incorporating many of Rotary’s values and using her God-given gifts to make a positive difference in the life of others.
Much of her dedication to service grew out of Melissa’s experiences as a student at Northwest Whitfield High School and at Dalton State, where she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2010. Having grown up with her mother in a single-parent home, she had to finance her education herself, and for a time she worked a full-time job while also carrying a full academic load. Relief came when the DSC Foundation awarded her two need-based scholarships, one of which was endowed by Rotarians Dixie and Bob Kinard, who have since become her close friends. This assistance enabled her to transition from full-time work off campus to part-time jobs on campus, where she worked in various aspects of Student Affairs and eventually became one of the first five residence life counselors when DSC opened its own housing facilities in the former Wood Valley Apartments. At the same time, she involved herself deeply as a leader in numerous student organizations while also developing her passion for teaching through the training she received in the School of Education.
After graduation, Melissa’s first teaching experience was in Ethiopia, where she taught for three years at the Bingham Academy, an international Christian school in Addis Ababa. As at DSC, she was again obliged to pay her own way, and again she benefitted from the generosity of others who came forward to fulfill a need. After much prayerful consideration, in 2013 she felt called to return to the U.S., and upon coming back to Dalton she was contacted by Principal Rick Little of City Park Elementary School, where she had done her student teaching, about taking a position on his faculty. Now in her fourth year as a fifth-grade teacher, she clearly sees how her career has proceeded as part of God’s will. The Dalton Public Schools system has provided ample opportunity for her professional development, enabling her to go to graduate school and earn her master’s degree in reading instruction from Georgia State University.
Teaching at City Park is hard but rewarding, for its students’ needs are great, which Melissa demonstrated with a range of telling statistics—for example, 81% of City Park students qualify for free lunches, and 21% get English language support. Along with her work there, since 2014 Melissa has also volunteered at City of Refuge, where she is now Director of Educational Volunteers who address the physical and emotional needs of underprivileged students. She has successfully written a grant, and in partnership with the Dalton and Whitfield County school systems she established a summer reading program which served more than sixty students in the summer of 2016 and will expand to include mathematics this coming summer. She is also engaged in developing a survey of after-school needs in both Dalton and Whitfield County.
In closing, Melissa stressed that financial support for need-based scholarship must be seen as a powerful form of social investment, offering her own life experience as an example. Education is the best tool for escaping poverty, and she has dedicated her life to furthering this ideal, grounded by a firm faith in God’s providence and a readiness to assume leadership responsibilities. To illustrate the sort of reward that may result, she described her pride and gratification when one of her City of Refuge students was recognized last week among Rotary’s outstanding students.
Moved and inspired by Melissa’s account, Club members gave her the unusual tribute of a standing ovation.
Announcements
President Bruce thanked Rotarian Jonathan Bledsoe and the other members of the Scholarship Committee for their work in producing last week’s awards program, and he noted that there will be no meeting on May 30 since the Dalton Country Club will be closed. He then called on Rotarian Smitty Barnett, who reminded members about the patriotic program in honor of veterans which will be held at the Courthouse on Memorial Day at 10:00 a.m. President-Elect Kevin Brunson indicated that a few vacancies remain on the Board roster for 2017-2018 and he would welcome volunteers who might be interested in filling them. Past President John Richmond stated that Elsa Halsted of Sweden, one of our club’s former GRSP students, will attend the District 6910 social event to be held in Athens on June 20 in connection with the Atlanta RI Convention. Finally, Rotarian Judy Elliott told about having recently attended a Rotary meeting during a trip to Kaua’i, where she exchanged our club’s banner for one from the Kaua’i Rotary Club.
Banner From Kaua'i
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Rotary Scholarship Awards DayMonday, May 22, 2017By John Hutcheson
One of the highlights of the Rotary year is the annual Scholarship Awards Day, when students selected by high schools in Dalton and Whitfield County are honored for their exceptional accomplishments in mathematics and the sciences, the humanities, career technology, and service. At this time the Club also recognizes students qualifying for its support to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp during the upcoming summer. Finally, a $500 scholarship is awarded to each participating school’s nominee as its outstanding student overall, and one of these is chosen by a committee of Club members to receive an additional $500 for truly superior achievement. The awards for 2017 are especially significant because for the first time the nominees include students from Christian Heritage High School. This year’s scholarship committee consisted of Rotarians Jonathan Bledsoe (Chair), Rob Bradham, John Hutcheson, Douglas McClure, Judson Manley, John Minor, Scott Rhoden, Maurice Sponcler, and Barbara Ward.
Barbara Ward presented this year’s RYLA participants, who include Anna Hodges and Sean Pye from Dalton High School, and Kelsey Schneller and her twin sister, Meghan, from Christian Heritage School.
Jonathan Bledsoe opened the presentation of Outstanding Students by welcoming visiting family members and school personnel who were attending in support of their students, and he called on various committee members to announce the students and their schools.
Rob Bradham presented the Outstanding Math/Science Students:
Christa Sutton - Northwest Whitfield
Tyler Coker - Coahulla Creek
Darryn Pasqua - Christian Heritage
Taylor Kate Boyett - Dalton
Michael Jones - Southeast Whitfield
John Hutcheson presented the Outstanding Humanities Students:
Cassia Mugge - Christian Heritage
Damary Gutierrez-Hernandez - Coahulla Creek
Hannah Barry - Dalton
Dylon Graham - Southeast Whitfield
Thomas McMullen - Northwest Whitfield
Maurice Sponcler presented the Outstanding Career Technology Students:
Kaylub Kuhn - Morris Innovative
Sandra Garcia - Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
Andrew Johnston - Coahulla Creek
Shane Babb - Southeast Whitfield
Anna Dickie - Northwest Whitfield
Iosep Barcenas - Dalton
Scott Rhoden presented the Outstanding Service Students:
Simon Ngure - Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
Garbriela Barajas - Coahulla Creek
Megan Baker - Northwest Whitfield
Justin Volzer - Christian Heritage
Kevin Beard - Dalton
Bailey Palmer - Southeast Whitfield
Jonathan returned to announce the nominees for overall Outstanding Area Student:
Raul Garcia - Southeast Whitfield
Jacob Smith - Northwest Whitfield
Heath Hardaway - Christian Heritage
Laura Shaheen - Dalton
Bryce Jones - Coahulla Creek
From this extraordinarily competitive field Laura Shaheen was selected as the Rotary Outstanding Area Student for 2017, and plaques listing her and all the other winners since the program’s beginning in 1989 will be displayed at Dalton High School during the coming year.
Some of our oustanding area students
|
May 23rd Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, May 22, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
23-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Bradham, Melissa |
Bradham, Robert L. |
26-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
5/24/2016 |
1 |
|
| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
5/25/1999 |
18 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
David |
24-May |
31 |
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
Carolyn |
24-May |
48 |
| Ryman, Milton J. Jr.(MILTON) |
Mary |
28-May |
68 |
|
7 on 7 Football in DaltonMonday, May 15, 2017By John Hutcheson
Rotarian William Bronson presented a program focused on the Southeastern 7 on 7 Football Tournament to be held in Dalton on July 14th and 15th. This will be the sport’s seventh season in Dalton, where it has been sponsored by the Daily Citizen since the beginning. The game originated in Texas to provide an additional form of summer recreation for high school athletes, and it has spread widely, especially in the Southeast. Although it lacks linemen and tackling, with players wearing only helmets but no pads, this form of football provides excellent training for the conventional game and makes similar demands on strategy, ball handling, and other football skills. Teams consist of seven offensive and seven defensive players, and each game is timed at twenty minutes.
William Bronson
All local teams are automatically invited to the championship tournaments held in Dalton, which over the past seven years have attracted more than one hundred additional teams from fourteen states, who have played more than a thousand games. Various local turf fields are used, and the Dalton tournament is unique in that it is the only one which is a community-based event rather than a fund-raising device. It is an important stimulus to the local economy and attracts much support from businesses and merchants. Play is intense, and Dalton’s tournament compares very favorably with the one in Hoover, Alabama, which is considered the premier such competition.
President Bruce closed the meeting by noting that the Rotary booth at the recent Business Expo attracted several persons who may be interested in becoming members of the club.
Announcements and Recognitions
Sergeant-at-Arms Zack Taylor recognized visiting Rotarian Maggie Kruger, who was attending as the guest of Rotarian Amy Luffman and historically was only the third woman to become a Rotarian. President Bruce thanked those who organized and assisted with last week’s Fifth Grader Awards program, especially Amanda Reed, Scott Rhoden, and Paul Alderman, and he reminded members of the high school student awards to be announced next week. Rotarian Greg Dent drew attention to the Bill Gregory Healthcare Classic scheduled for May 13, and Past President David Aft did the same for the dedication of the new Jeanne Burr Park to be held in downtown Dalton later that day. Membership Chair Cherri Robertson inducted Anna Adamson, who was sponsored by Dixie Kinard.
Anna Adamson
Chamber Expo
President Bruce joined President-Elect Kevin Brunson and Jason Parker on May 3rd at the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo to promote membership in Rotary.
Expo Booth
FOUR WAY TEST
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May 16th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, May 15, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| McFarland, Frances M. (BITSY) |
17-May |
|
|
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
19-May |
|
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
21-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Peterefreund, Anna |
Peterfreund, Allen David |
19-May |
|
| Elliott, S. G. |
Elliott, Judy M. |
22-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
5/19/1998 |
19 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
Avalee |
17-May |
3 |
|
5th Grade Service AwardsMonday, May 8, 2017By John Hutcheson
For the seventh year the Club held its annual Charlie Bowen 5th Grade Service Above Self Awards program for students who’ve been outstanding examples of Rotary’s motto during their elementary school years. Perfectly organized by Rotarians Amanda Reed, Paul Alderman, and Scott Rhoden, the event introduced Club members to a group of boys and girls whose accomplishments and commitment to the well-being of others are truly extraordinary for persons so young.
After a welcome from President Bruce, Amanda explained the purpose and criteria for the awards and recounted her exposure to the ideals of Rotary from the time she began her first job, at age 16, in the office of then-District Attorney Jack Partain, a process which continued as she was introduced to Superior Court Judge Coy Temples and still later worked with former Dalton Mayor David Pennington. These and other Rotarians taught her the importance of always doing the right thing—the core of Rotary, which has shaped her life. Since becoming chair of the Fifth Grade Service Above Self Awards Committee in 2011, she has been delighted to put Rotary’s values before today’s fifth graders and to make them feel special for upholding them.
Amanda then introduced Dr. Judy Gilreath, Whitfield County Schools Superintendent, who congratulated and presented the following students from her system:
Hannah Lloyd, age 11, from Antioch Elementary; Jersey Poe, age 11, from Beaverdale Elementary; Tina Quintanilla, age 11, from Cedar Ridge Elementary; Camryn Parker, age 11, from Cohutta Elementary; Litzy Reyes, age 11, from Dawnville Elementary; Karen Garcia, age 11, from Dug Gap Elementary; Maria Agustina Maldanado Rodela, age 11, from Eastside Elementary; Leanne Climer, age 11, from New Hope Elementary; Jared Farias, age 10, from Pleasant Grove Elementary; Courtney Robbins, age 11, from Tunnel Hill Elementary; Alex Roberts, age 11, from Valley Point Elementary; Isaac Mantooth, age 11, from Varnell Elementary; and Taylor Wimpey, age 10, from Westside Elementary.
Dr. Jim Hawkins, Superintendent of Dalton Public Schools, recognized the following students from that system:
Jaiyin Ochoa, age 11, from Blue Ridge Elementary; Thomas Morris, age 11, from Brookwood Elementary; Soe Ramirez, age 12, from City Park Elementary; David Rivas, age 10, from Park Creek Elementary; Equinardo Gael Fraire, age 11, from Roan Elementary; and Autumn Johnson, age 11, from Westwood Elementary.
Award winners
Each of the winning students received a copy of Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, a framed certificate, and a bag of give-aways appropriate for fifth-graders from local merchants and businesses.
Amanda read brief passages from each of the entries in the Laws of Life essay competition, which included submissions from Thomas Morris of Brookwood, David Rivas of Park Creek, Gael Fraire of Roan, Autumn Johnson of Westwood, Camryn Parker of Cohutta, Karen Garcia of Dug Gap, Maria Rodela of Eastside, Jared Farias of Pleasant Grove, Alex Roberts of Valley Point, and Taylor Wimpey of Westside, along with Litzy Reyes of Dawnville and Courtney Robbins of Tunnel Hill who were co-runners-up in the competition. The program closed with Amanda’s reading of the winning essay, written by Hannah Lloyd of Antioch Elementary, in its entirety.
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May 9th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, May 8, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
9-May |
|
|
| Scott, Trammell (TRAMMELL) |
12-May |
|
|
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
13-May |
|
|
| Creswell, Catrina Celeste (CELESTE) |
15-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Sherwood, Jean |
Jones, J. Sherwood Jr. |
9-May |
|
| Blevins, David |
Blevins, Sheri H. |
15-May |
|
| Broadrick, Mary Ann |
Broadrick, Bruce L. |
15-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Anderson, Michael S (MICHAEL) |
Adina |
14-May |
12 |
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Providence Ministries Recovery ProgramMonday, May 1, 2017By John Hutcheson
Rotarian Judy Elliot began the program by recalling that she had recently served as emcee at a fashion show for women recovering from drug and alcohol addictions through Providence Ministries, and she introduced Rotarian Roy Johnson, Providence’s Founder and President. Roy noted that drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death in the U. S. He then introduced Kristina Cole, Director of Women’s Programs at Providence. Kristina told of having struggled for seventeen years with various addictions—eating, alcohol, and drugs—and by age twenty-seven she had passed through more than a dozen short-term recovery programs, never with more than temporary success. Although she had come from a prosperous home, she always felt herself to be an outsider. Finally giving her an ultimatum, her family sent her to Providence and she consented to go, even though she considered herself to be an atheist. At Providence, though, she became a Christian, and through its uniquely affordable long-term program she successfully changed her behavior. Based on faith with Christ at the forefront, Providence’s women’s program operates four houses accommodating up to thirty female clients, along with a transition house to facilitate their passage to independent living.
  
Roy Johnson, Kristina Cole, Brandon Townsend
Following Kristina, Brandon Townsend, Director of Men’s Programs at Providence, told his personal story of how God changed his life twice through Providence. The son of a social worker in the Calhoun schools, as a teenager he was active in movements against the use of drugs and alcohol. Following high school, he joined the Navy and was eventually sent to the officer training program at Auburn University. However, after breaking up with a girlfriend he began drinking and was eventually discharged from the Navy. He returned to Calhoun, where he got into drugs and began a downward spiral that led to legal troubles. He was sent to the Damascus Road Recovery Program in Covington, Georgia, but after completing it he was left homeless in Atlanta. Out of desperation he turned to God and found his way to Providence. He managed to get a good job and seemed on a stable path, but another breakup pushed him back toward addiction. Returning to Providence, he resolved to stay longer than previously, and he remains there today.
Roy closed the program by recognizing Providence’s Chief Operating Officer and Chaplain, Wesley Noland, and Kevin Harris, one of its board members.
Announcements and Recognitions
President Bruce announced that the Club has bought a Shelter Box, and he relayed thanks from Sarah Robinson of the Shelter Box organization. In her note, Ms. Robinson related that a Shelter Box team in Swaziland saw a Shelter Box tent being used as a café, along with blankets and other items having Rotary origins, and she hoped that the Shelter Box/Rotary partnership will continue indefinitely. President Bruce also reminded members of next week’s Fifth Grade Awards program and asked for volunteers to assist the many guests expected to attend.
Dr. Onsy Bestawros was recognized by President Bruce for having earned his blue badge, and President-Elect Kevin Brunson presented a District 6910 Sustaining Club banner for the 2015-2016 year to Past President Jason Parker in honor of his service during that year. President Bruce then recognized Rotarian Roger Williams for having earned his Paul Harris Plus One award.
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Dr. Onsy Bestawros, Jason Parker, and Roger Williams
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May 2nd Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, May 1, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
3-May |
|
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr. (JUDSON) |
8-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Jones, Patrick |
Jones, Kelly McDonald |
3-May |
|
| Winter, Connie |
Winter, Larry E. |
4-May |
|
| Bronson, Erica |
Bronson, William III |
4-May |
|
| Bailey, Dell |
Bailey, Philip Bates |
4-May |
|
| |
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
April |
2-May |
25 |
| Williams, Roger (ROGER) |
Joann |
5-May |
61 |
| Pangle, William T (TODD) |
Belinda |
6-May |
22 |
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
Laura |
7-May |
23 |
|
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Thoughts On Achieving Greatness
Monday, April 24, 2017
By John Hutcheson
Dalton Rotarians joined members of the Hamilton Business Alliance in a Forum held at the Hamilton Medical Center for a presentation entitled “How to Achieve Greatness at Work and in Life” by Dr. Kevin Elko. Dr. Elko holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Education, and Coaching from California University of Pennsylvania and two master’s degrees and the doctorate from West Virginia University. His work focuses on helping organizations improve in leadership, goal setting, vision creation, and many other motivational areas, and he has served as a consultant for a large number of prestigious corporations and collegiate and professional sports organizations. He is the author of five books, of which the most recent is The Sender, based on his involvement with Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano’s battle with cancer.
Dr. Elko is an extraordinarily dynamic and compelling speaker, and his remarks overflowed with amusing and catchy but deeply wise one-liners. He stressed the need for his audience to rid their minds of “mental clutter” which impedes living their most effective lives, and he pointed out that each person lives either in circumstance or in vision. It is crucially important to claim one’s own vision by developing a personal “script” to be used in the course of each day, always bearing in mind the formula of E + R = O—Event plus Response equals Outcome. Every task or obligation should be regarded from the standpoint of “I get to” rather than “I have to.” More than anything else, success is the result of “grit,” which is simply perseverance and follow-through. Success and adversity alike must be met with the forward-looking perspective of “so what, now what?” In relating to others, individuals should stop being interesting and instead be interested, just as they should stop looking for blessings in their lives in favor of being a blessing in someone else’s life.
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April 25th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, April 24, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Dent, Gregory J (GREG) |
27-Apr |
|
|
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
27-Apr |
|
|
| Bowen, William C. III (BILL) |
29-Apr |
|
|
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
29-Apr |
|
|
| Patterson, Frank W Jr. (FRANK) |
29-Apr |
|
|
| Scott, William M. (WILL) |
30-Apr |
|
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
30-Apr |
|
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
1-May |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Holmes, Cathy |
Didier, John M. |
1-May |
|
| Kinard, Dixie |
Kinard, Robert W |
1-May |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
5/1/1983 |
34 |
|
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
5/1/1980 |
37 |
|
| Ryman, Milton J. Jr.(MILTON) |
5/1/1989 |
28 |
|
| Williams, Roger (ROGER) |
5/1/1978 |
39 |
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
5/1/1984 |
33 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
Pat |
25-Apr |
31 |
| Luffman, Amy R (AMY) |
Timothy |
25-Apr |
2 |
| Cooke, Christopher M (CHRIS) |
Cathy |
27-Apr |
26 |
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
Diane |
28-Apr |
48 |
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
Sharon |
29-Apr |
45 |
|
|
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April 18th Birthdays and Anniversaries Monday, April 24, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
18-Apr |
|
|
| Luffman, Amy R (AMY) |
21-Apr |
|
|
| Goodroe, Robert S. (ROBERT) |
23-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Bledsoe, Ginny |
Bledsoe, Jonathan L. |
21-Apr |
|
| Brantley, Tray |
Brantley, Valerie K |
22-Apr |
|
| Hoskins, Carole |
Hoskins, Douglas H. |
23-Apr |
|
| Bestawros, Hilda |
Bestawros, Onsy A |
23-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
4/19/2005 |
12 |
|
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
4/24/2012 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
Bob |
19-Apr |
48 |
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
Dixie |
19-Apr |
48 |
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April 11th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, April 9, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Poehlman, John H. (JOHN) |
11-Apr |
|
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
11-Apr |
|
|
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
11-Apr |
|
|
| Harris, Kevin W (KEVIN) |
16-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Abernathy, Virginia |
Abernathy, Sid G. |
13-Apr |
|
| Dent, Marybeth |
Dent, Gregory J |
16-Apr |
|
| Srivastava, Vinai |
Srivastava, Archana |
16-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Stewart, Robert T (ROBERT) |
Celeste |
15-Apr |
29 |
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GRSP Student UpdateSunday, April 9, 2017By Ty Ross
The Club's current Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) student, Fredrik Mazur, could not say enough about the hospitality he experienced during his GRSP year with host Rotarian Larry Winter and his wife Connie. Together with the support of Rotarian John Richmond and his wife Agnes, the Club's GRSP program can boast another successful year.
Fredrik Mazur
First a bit about Fredrik. Fredrik is from Stockholm, Sweden and began his GRSP year in August when he enrolled at Dalton State College as a foreign exchange student. While at Dalton State, Fredrik particularly enjoyed his classes in American Government as well as the History of American Sports. What Fredrik enjoyed most about Dalton State and the Dalton/Whitfield Community in general was the strong sense of community and importance of relationships which were quite profound to him.
Reflecting on his year, Fredrik felt fortunate while studying American sports to experience many American sports in person. For example, he was able to attend an NCAA football game, an NFL game, an MLB game, as well as multiple NBA games. He found football to be the most exciting and found baseball to be a bit "slow" in his estimation.
Fredrik's GRSP experience also gave him ample opportunity to travel throughout Georgia and the USA. In Georgia he visited Savannah (twice), Atlanta, August and Valdosta. Farther out were visits to Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. What Fredrik enjoyed most about his travels, besides visiting historic sites and museums, was the opportunity to spend quality time with other GRSP students which were usually just a Facebook message away.
A major highlight of his year was being able to link up with his family, who came from Sweden to visit him. In Florida the Mazur family was able to catch a Miami Heat game together and while in Georgia they toured the Coke Museum, which Fredrik's father, a professional marketer, took a very keen interest in.
Fredrik said that top of mind for him will always be the holidays and weekends he was able to spend at the Winter household. He will never forget the feast shared at Thanksgiving and the shared American ritual of falling asleep watching football after Thanksgiving dinner.
After Fredrik wraps up his classes at Dalton State he will return to Sweden where he plans to attend University and study mechanical engineering.
Safe Travels, Fredrik. The Rotary Club of Dalton wishes nothing but the best for you and yours.
Last but not least, the Club extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Winter family for serving as Fredrik's host family as well as all the Club members who support this program.
Thanks to you all, especially Larry and Connie!
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February 28th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, February 27, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Chute, Patricia M (PAT) |
28-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Johnson, Pat |
Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr. |
1-Mar |
|
| Wright, Joanne |
Wright, Thomas L |
3-Mar |
|
| Bowen, Ann |
Bowen, William C. III |
5-Mar |
|
| Pierce, Lamar |
Pierce, Sara C. |
5-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
3/1/1988 |
29 |
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
3/1/1976 |
41 |
|
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
3/1/1975 |
42 |
|
| Manly, William Judson Jr.(JUDSON) |
3/1/1964 |
53 |
|
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
3/1/1975 |
42 |
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
3/1/1994 |
23 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
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Dalton Utilities: An Overview From The CEOFriday, February 17, 2017President Bruce introduced Rotarian Tom Bundros, Chief Executive Officer of Dalton Utilities. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration and finance, Tom worked as a financial analyst and was employed by the Southern Company for eighteen years before coming to Dalton Utilities in 1997 as Chief Financial Officer. In 2009 he joined Colonial Pipeline, but in 2012 he returned to his former position at Dalton Utilities and became CEO in 2016.
Tom Bundros
Tom began his presentation by thanking the residential, corporate, and industrial customers of Dalton Utilities since they are the basis for the company’s success. Operating in the areas of electricity, water, wastewater, natural gas, and broadband access, Dalton Utilities is greatly advantaged by its vertical integration, extending from original production to final distribution within a territory assigned under the Georgia General Assembly’s Territorial Electric Service Act of 1973. For example, in electricity, Dalton Utilities is a part owner of Plant Vogtle and holds interests in three other nuclear power plants as well. In natural gas it owns 261 miles of underground distribution across more than five counties. Its water treatment facilities process about 65 million gallons per day and it has a drought contingency storage capacity of 2.69 billion gallons in four reservoirs—enough to supply Dalton’s needs for 2.5 months. There are five wastewater treatment plants and a 9,800+ acre forested land application site which is the largest in the state and one of the largest in the nation. In information technology, Dalton Utilities owns the only 100% fiber optic system in Georgia, with over 400 miles of fiber network.
A SWOT analysis in 2016 led to formulation of a new strategic plan which includes a $35 million upgrade in infrastructure reliability, improved customer service (including remote meter reading), and a new emphasis on communication through social media. Within Dalton a conversion to LED lighting has begun, and a new reservoir management plan is being developed for Haig Mill Reservoir.
Since 2006 Dalton Utilities’ operating revenues have exceeded its expenditures without including subsidies from the investment portfolio. Total assets are now near $1 billion, and while the investment portfolio’s value has declined as income is used mainly for nuclear decommissioning, the company’s debt capitalization has fallen from $200 million in 1999 to zero today—an accomplishment unique among comparable utilities in Georgia—leaving a positive value of more than $800 million. Capital expenditures since 1997 total $900 million, and during that period the amount of $150 million was transferred to the City of Dalton at an average rate of $8 million per year. The balance of deferred capital expenditures is $174 million, some of which may be used in the future for debt financing.
Among the challenges facing Dalton Utilities are the need for a new water treatment facility at a cost of $85 million to replace one dating from the 1950’s, conformity with increasing regulatory requirements which consume more and more manpower, and the necessity for additional personnel (ideally drawn from a younger employee base to encourage continuity) and facilities to keep up with the area’s growing population. Opportunities include excess capacity which can attract new businesses, the community’s location in a headwaters area rather than one with potential downstream depletion concerns, a low rate structure that is highly competitive, and the capability to provide one-stop shopping for all utilities, from electricity and water to broadband.
Announcements
Rotarian Ricky Robertson reminded the Club about the track meet on March 11 as did Rotarian Chris Cooke regarding the golf tournament on April 11; both asked for additional assistance from members. President Bruce again emphasized the importance of recruiting new members to the Club. While the current roster lists six more than it did on July 1, 2016, we have not yet reached our goal of ten new members for the current year, and we’re especially eager to add more young persons and women.
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February 21st Birthdays and AnnversariesFriday, February 17, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| No birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Kiker, John |
Kiker, Janice F. |
24-Feb |
|
| Jolly, Becky |
Jolly, Hilliard R. |
25-Feb |
|
| Brooker, Janet |
Brooker, Robert H. |
27-Feb |
|
| Jones, Danielle |
Jones, J Sherwood III |
27-Feb |
|
| Ward, Allen |
Ward, Barbara K. |
27-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
2/23/2016 |
1 |
|
| Ross, James Tyson (TY) |
2/23/2010 |
7 |
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
2/23/2010 |
7 |
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
2/23/2010 |
7 |
|
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
2/23/2016 |
1 |
|
| Smith, Ralph (RALPH) |
2/24/1998 |
19 |
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
2/24/1998 |
19 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
Susan |
23-Feb |
43 |
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
Bobby |
27-Feb |
18 |
|
SPLOST Funds At Work: Updates From Local FirefightersMonday, February 13, 2017by John Hutcheson
Chief Bruce Satterfield of the Dalton Fire Department and Chief Ed O’Brien of the Whitfield County Fire Department presented an update on how funds received from the Special Local Option Sales Tax of 2015 have been used to enhance their departments’ firefighting effectiveness.
Now on the threshold of a much-deserved retirement, Chief Satterfield joined the Dalton department in 1980 and rose through the ranks to become chief in 2009. Chief O’Brien came to Whitfield County in 2014 after 28 years with the Dekalb County Fire Department and an impressive array of service with statewide firefighting and EMT agencies.
Chiefs Ed O'Brien and Bruce Satterfield
Chief Satterfield related that the Dalton Fire Department received $1.6 million from the SPLOST which was used to purchase three new units. Two of these were Class A pumpers, capable of pumping 2,000 gallons per minute, which replaced 1993 and 1997 models. With support equipment costing $123,000 for each of these vehicles, the total pumper contract came to $1,254,421. The trucks were delivered in October, 2016, and by using a long-time vendor the department got a discount which saved the City $29,000. In addition, the department purchased a mobile air and light truck for $338,900; its delivery in November, 2016 replaces a broken compressor with a much more effective unit and provides high-intensity lighting that can be used by police and other municipal agencies. After completion of these acquisitions an amount of $6,600 remains in the department’s SPLOST account.
Chief O’Brien pointed out that SPLOST funds enabled the Whitfield County Fire Department to play catch-up necessary for meeting urgent short-term needs. With $5.2 million available, it was able to buy four pumpers and two ladder trucks, replacing units having an average age of 28 years. It was also able to procure much protective equipment for its personnel—individual outfits cost $2,400 apiece and airpack/masks each cost $5,000. Chief among long-term needs is a new Cohutta station, a two-bay structure which will be designed by local architects and should be completed by the spring of 2018.
Future needs for the County department include more equipment replacement, additional staff, upgrades for existing stations, and a new station in the South Riverbend area. The overall goal is to secure lower ISO ratings which will justify lower insurance rates for County residents. Currently most of the County is ISO 5, but some areas, such as South Riverbend, are as high as ISO 10 because they lie five miles or more from a fire station.
A Rotary Minute with Steve Farrow
Rotarian Steve Farrow arrived in Dalton around 1960 when his father came to practice pediatrics with Dr. John Looper. After graduating from Dalton High School, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Georgia School of Law, he settled back in Dalton in 1982 and worked in the firm of Minor, Bell, and Neal for almost 25 years, mainly providing defensive representation for institutional clients. After serving two terms in the Georgia State Senate he was appointed by Governor Perdue to the State Ethics Commission, where he served for four years. In addition, he served on the Department of Transportation Board and for five years as a Workers Compensation Judge. His first exposure to Rotary was through his grandfather, and he competed in the first two track meets sponsored by the Dalton Club, of which he was later a member for 22 years, having joined on the day of the Club’s 50th anniversary. He resigned when his Workers Compensation duties obligated him to prolonged stays in Atlanta, but upon resuming his legal career in Dalton he hastened to rejoin.
Steve Farrow
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February 14th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, February 13, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
14-Feb |
|
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr. (ROBERT) |
15-Feb |
|
|
| Johnson, Larry Alan (LARRY) |
18-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Henson, Jean |
Henson, Paul E. Jr. |
14-Feb |
|
| Chambliss, Alex |
Chambliss, Darla P |
18-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
2/15/2000 |
17 |
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
2/20/2007 |
10 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
Dalton Municipal AirportMonday, February 6, 2017by Kathryn Sellers
A program about the Dalton Municipal Airport was presented by Manager Justin Morrow who obtained his pilot’s license at age 17.
The Dalton Airport is one of 19 Instrument Landing System airports in the state of Georgia with a 5,500’ runway that is 100’ wide. It takes 1,000 – 1,500 feet for a single engine airplane to land, 2,000+ for twin engine and 4,000+ plus for a King Air or jet.
Dalton handles jets and planes as large as a Gulfstream G6.
Forty two aircraft are based in Dalton. This airport is one of only a few that makes money with an income stream from hangar rental, land leases and fuel sales. Cargo operations also add to income. Funding is 90% federal, 5 % state and 5% from the City of Dalton.
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Justin Morrow
The airport produces a substantial economic impact in Dalton with pilots and customers using local restaurants, hotels and shopping.
The airport staff of five makes up the smallest department in the City. Three of these previously served in the military. Two are college students, one is a school principal and one is a retired carpet salesman. This staff is often the first face of Dalton that visitors see. They are ambassadors to the Carpet Capital greeting groups as diverse as salesmen, investors, travelers, softball teams, and business men. Their reputation for service to customers is appreciated and reaps repeat business.
Multiple tasks they facilitate:
- Southeast staging point for the Met Life Blimp
- Defense operation against rabies – 5 King Airs spread vaccine for the USDA hoping to eradicate rabies in the region
- Home base for the US Forestry Service, especially during fires like we experienced recently, housing six helicopters and many crews
- Home base for the Governor’s drug task force, housing military and state helicopters
- Training assistance for fire, police and EMT for air accidents
- Host Civil Air Patrol
- Host events for various groups: Boy Scouts camp on the property and learn about flying; Pre-school tours
- Host large events: Fly-ins, this year open to the public and Safety seminars
Soon they will be providing flight training and will have a ground school.
Upgrades in the next few years will include crack sealing and repainting the runways. They hope to open up land for more parking and to alleviate their critical need for more hangars, especially those large enough for larger aircraft. Morrow stated that they are losing business to Chattanooga for these larger aircraft. They have the land but just need the money to grow.
Announcements:
Greg Dent was voted unanimously for the position of President Nominee He will serve in 2018-19.
Polio Update:
President Bruce reported that a group from Georgia and Florida is going to India to help with vaccine distribution in the continued task of eliminating polio worldwide. He provided some interesting facts: 172 million children have been immunized by 2 ½ million vaccinators using all types of transportation from cars, trucks and buses to camels and elephants.
The large Civic Club signs at entrances to Dalton are going back up with the Rotary logo included.
Important Rotary events need your volunteer help:
Ronnie McClurg Invitational Track meet -- March 11
Earl Lusk Golf Tournament – April 11
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February 7th Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, February 6, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
12-Feb |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Adcock, Diane |
Adcock, Don W. |
7-Feb |
|
|
| Brunson, Cindy |
Brunson, Kevin M |
8-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Bronson, William III(WILLIAM) |
2/13/2007 |
10 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Cruse, Lesley Dale (DALE) |
Amy |
12-Feb |
35 |
|
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Creative Arts GuildFriday, January 27, 2017By John Hutcheson
Rotarian Will Scott introduced Amanda Michaels Brown, Director of the Creative Arts Guild. A native of Dalton and graduate of Dalton High School, Amanda first fell in love with the arts at the Guild and went on to major in theater at the University of the South. After working in Western states and earning a graduate degree, she returned to Dalton and became CAG Director in 2014.
Amanda Michaels Brown
Using a slide presentation, Amanda gave a brief survey of the Creative Arts Guild’s history and current work. With its mission “to cultivate and sustain the arts in Dalton and its surrounding counties,” the Guild seeks through all its endeavors “to make the creative arts relevant, accessible, and enjoyable.” It was founded in 1963 by a group of artistically aware civic leaders and is now the oldest multi-disciplinary community arts center in the state. At the outset the founders adopted the Guild’s distinctive logo, which first appeared around 1150 AD as a symbol for the Buonarotti family of Florence, Italy, and was used extensively by the family’s most distinguished member, Michelangelo, to represent family, home, security, honor, and wealth.
Today the CAG has a staff of eleven full- or part-time employees and contracts with 44 instructors in the performing and visual arts. As a non-profit 501c3 organization it is supported by instructional fees, commission sales, rental fees, and donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, many stemming from long-standing relationships. A particularly special group is the Golden Givers, composed of 35 donors who have pledged an annual total of $62,000. The Guild also receives funds from the General Assembly of Georgia, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Georgia Council for the Arts, and the Georgia Council for the Humanities, as well as in-kind services from the City of Dalton in return for supporting the City’s vision of progress and growth. It operates two facilities, a 10,000 sq. ft. building on West Waugh Street which holds its offices, galleries, and practice and performing spaces for the music program, and a 24,000 sq. ft. building on the Cleveland Highway which houses programs in dance, gymnastics, and the visual arts.
In 2014 the CAG formulated a new strategic plan that included updated branding, a new cloud-based system for managing information, ticketing, donations, and membership, and a redesigned website. Its four instructional departments in dance, gymnastics, music, and the visual arts all have teachers who hold professional qualifications, and in many instances, relevant advanced degrees. Many scholarships are available, among which the most notable are the Rebecca Fleischer Scholarship in Dance, the Morris Fleischer Scholarship in the Visual Arts, and the Samantha Spiegel Memorial Scholarship, named after the daughter of Bernice Spiegel, the Guild’s founding Director.
One of the CAG’s core purposes is realized through its Arts in Education program, operated in cooperation with local schools and embracing student art exhibitions, field trips, and the Artist in Residency program of the Oscar N. Jonas Memorial Foundation. At its Waugh Street location the Guild maintains the Robert T. Webb Sculpture Garden, three gallery spaces, and the Jonas Performance Hall. Important annual events include Spring for the Arts, held in March; the Low Country Boil in June; the three-day Festival on the third weekend in September, which will reach its 54th anniversary in 2017; and the holiday Festival of Trees, held in partnership with Friendship House. Especially noteworthy is the annual December production of The Snow Queen, a full-length ballet which celebrated its tenth year in 2016 by incorporating music from a 27-piece live orchestra.
On the horizon are the formation of an Artists Council to encourage and support new works by emerging artists, annual conferences for arts educators, new partnerships with suitable entities, and exploring how opportunities may arise from the growing body of scientific work demonstrating the importance of art in maintaining health and wellbeing. Amanda concluded by encouraging Rotarians to suggest new programs and events for the Guild to consider.
Announcements and Recognitions
Rotarian David Aft introduced Tom Brown, Director of DEO, a free medical clinic for low-income and uninsured patients in Whitfield and Murray Counties. President Bruce reminded the Club about the need to recruit new members, and Past President Jason Parker appealed for volunteers to assist at the Ronnie McClurg Track Meet on March 11. Past Presidents John Richmond and Bill Bowen presented a Will Watt Fellowship to Rotarian Kevin Harris, and President Bruce, acting in his capacity as Chief of the Dalton Fire Department, recognized Firefighter Bobby Blackwell as winner of the Department’s Vocational Service Award for 2016-2017—this presentation was delayed because Firefighter Blackwell was on his honeymoon when the other Vocational Service Awards were announced on January 10.
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January 31st Birthdays and AnniversariesFriday, January 27, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| McKenzie, Sandra D (SANDY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
1-Feb |
|
|
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
3-Feb |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Weaver, Virginia |
Weaver, William B |
1-Feb |
|
| Barnwell, Delle |
Barnwell, William L |
2-Feb |
|
| Minor, Laura |
Minor, John Thomas V |
3-Feb |
|
| McKenzie, Jimmy |
McKenzie, Sandra D |
6-Feb |
|
| DeLay, Avalee |
DeLay, Scott G |
6-Feb |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| McClurg, Charles R. (RONNIE) |
2/1/1989 |
28 |
|
| Kinard, Dixie (DIXIE) |
2/1/1996 |
21 |
|
| Kinard, Robert W (ROBERT) |
2/1/1981 |
36 |
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
2/1/1979 |
38 |
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
2/1/1996 |
21 |
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2/1/1972 |
45 |
|
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
2/3/2015 |
2 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this week. |
|
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Philanthropy and the Community FoundationSunday, January 22, 2017By John Hutcheson
Rotarian Miller Jones introduced Club Past President David Aft, who has been President of the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia since 2004. Prior to assuming his current position, David earned a Master’s in Social Work from Florida State University and moved to Dalton in 1996 to work with the United Way.
David Aft
David began his presentation with brief tributes to Rotarian Gordon Morehouse as the founder of the Community Foundation and to Rotarian John Neal who handled its legal work for many years. He also congratulated Rotarian Steve Farrow, whose son Hardy has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the nation’s “30 Under 30” leading change makers for his work in Memphis to transform impoverished youths into effective entrepreneurs.
Turning to his subject, David noted that charitable giving reflects who we are and what we value. Second only to taxation in providing for needed social services in the United States, in 2015 it generated $37.5 billion, of which the largest share came from individuals and the smallest—about 5%--came from corporations. With the largest part of the total amount going to religious organizations, highly religious areas generated disproportionate amounts; in 2014 Utah, with its large and devout Mormon population, led the states in charitable giving. Georgia ranked fifth, and most of the others in the top ten were in the so-called “Bible Belt.”
Locally, the Community Foundation was established in 1998 as a 501c3 entity. Rather than holding a single large amount of money, its financial framework is built around managing a wide variety of specific funding projects—currently 187—as a regional enterprise across thirteen Northwest Georgia counties. At the end of 2016 its total assets were $41.5 million, and since 1998 it has given away $45.5 million. In 2016 it received more than $8 million and made 689 grants totaling $6.4 million. Its emphasis has been local, with funds directed toward Dalton/Whitfield representing 75% of its total assets, and Whitfield County has an unrestricted endowment of $2.1 million. The Foundation’s overall endowment currently generates $880,460 per year.
For major projects in outlying areas the Foundation has created affiliate funds in Cartersville-Bartow and Calhoun-Gordon. Most of its day-to-day activity is invisible to the public, consisting of fund-raising, organizing, etc., but in all its work the Foundation is guided by three core strategies: (1) to build long-term financial resources for Northwest Georgia charities, (2) to provide tools for philanthropists to help them become even more charitable, and (3) to help strengthen nonprofit organizations by working directly with Northwest Georgia families. The Foundation is presently managing over 44 nonprofit endowments totaling more than $11 million, and a recent addition to these is the newly established Rotary Club of Dalton Charities.
Looking ahead, David said that while “predictions are for sages and the insane,” he would nevertheless venture to make three. First, the landscape of charity will continue to shift drastically, with corporations becoming the biggest single charities; presently the largest in the U.S. is Fidelity Investments. Second, comprehensive tax reform appears inevitable, and as estate taxes disappear, so too will a powerful incentive for charitable giving. This will present special challenges, as will reductions in advised funds and deductibility. Finally, entitlements and healthcare reform may change radically, with results as yet unforeseeable.
Announcements and Recognitions
Beginning a series of announcements, President Bruce pointed out the Club’s need to renew its emphasis on securing new members; after a time of growth we have lost several members through deaths, moves from the area, or increased professional obligations. He also reminded the Club that housing accommodations are still needed for the Golden Gate performers who will be in Dalton in nine days and are scheduled to provide our program on January 31. He noted that the Golf Tournament Committee will meet today and that those interested in helping should see Past President Jason Parker.
Membership Chair Tray Brantley inducted Kristie Gazaway as a new member of the Club, and Pat Townsend was awarded his Blue Badge. Finally, President Bruce recognized Visiting Rotarian Bill Harmon, a member of the Rotary Club of Saginaw, Michigan, who presented a banner from his club. Bill is in Dalton to help restore the Crescent City railroad car located outside the Old Freight Depot in downtown Dalton, and he expressed hopes that the car would be ready to host an open house sometime in February.
 
Kristie Gazaway and Bill Harmon
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January 24th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, January 22, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
24-Jan |
|
|
|
| Griffin, Ronald L (RON) |
27-Jan |
|
|
|
| Carter, Teresa (TERESA) |
28-Jan |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Chappell, Bennieta |
Chappell, William J. |
29-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
1/27/2009 |
8 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
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Vocational Awards 2017Monday, January 16, 2017By John Hutcheson
Scott Minter, Vocational Service Chair, announced the 2016-2017 First Responder Awards, recognizing those who have gone above and beyond regular duty and are exemplary members of their professions. Award recipients and their presenters are as follows:
From the Whitfield County Fire Department, Battalion Chief Terry Warnix presented Engineer Chandler Rickett
From the Dalton Fire Department, Chief Bruce Satterfield presented Firefighter Bobby Blackwell
From the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Scott Chitwood presented Deputy Charles Meadors
From the Dalton Police Department, Chief Jason Parker presented Detective Brian Shirley
From Hamilton EMS, Director Scott Raedeker presented Paramedic Alan Painter
Vocational Service Honorees
Announcements
Rotarian Dr. Zachary Taylor notified members that Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, will visit the Whitfield County Health Department on January 30 for a breakfast meeting at which she will speak on early childhood development. President Bruce reminded members to vote in today’s Georgia Senate election. He pointed out that hosts are still needed for the Golden Gates, a performing group of young Russians whose appearance in several area schools between January 26 and February 3 is being sponsored by both the Dalton and the Carpet City Rotary Clubs; the ensemble will present the program for the January 31 meeting of our Club. Finally, he recognized Past President Jason Parker, who will be Assistant Governor for District 6910 during the 2017-2018 year.
Jason Parker
Following the scheduled program, Past Presidents Bill Bowen and John Richmond joined President Bruce in welcoming Lynn Laughter, Judy Elliott, and Kevin Harris (who was unable to attend) as Will Watt Fellows for having contributed $1,000 or more the Georgia Rotary Student Program.
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Honoring Lynn Laughter, Judy Elliot, and Kevin Harris
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January 17 Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, January 16, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
17-Jan |
|
|
| Bronson, William III (WILLIAM) |
19-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Smith, Rebecca |
Smith, Clark C. |
18-Jan |
|
| Tatum, Sharon |
Tatum, Laurice A |
20-Jan |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
1/18/2011 |
6 |
|
| Hoskins, Douglas H. (DOUG) |
1/19/2010 |
7 |
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| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
1/19/2010 |
7 |
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| Brantley, Traylor M (TRAY) |
1/20/2015 |
2 |
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| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
1/20/2015 |
2 |
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| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
1/20/2015 |
2 |
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
1/23/2001 |
16 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Mixer, Mark S (MARK) |
Kimberly |
19-Jan |
4 |
| Maret, Charles D. (CHARLES) |
Sarah |
20-Jan |
49 |
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Haig Mill Lake Project UpdaeSaturday, January 7, 2017By John Hutcheson
President Bruce introduced Steve Card and Steve Robertson of the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department. As the Director of DPRD, Steve Card led a presentation on the progress of the plan to develop a recreational area around the Lower Haig Mill Lake, noting that a public meeting on the subject is scheduled for January 5 at City Hall. The Haig Mill Lake project will be funded by $7.7 million to be generated by the SPLOST approved by voters in 2015, with $5.5 million allocated to the project itself and $2.2 million designated for connectivity with an improved Lakeshore Park. Both components are parts of a larger vision that proposes a chain of recreational green spaces running from downtown Dalton to Heritage Point on the North Bypass. After eight months of permit acquisition, bids for work on the first phase should go out in the next week or two.
Steve Card
Lower Haig Mill Lake is a 125-acre reservoir, built and stocked in 1989, surrounded by 120 to 125 acres of developable land. DPRD is working in partnership with Dalton Utilities, the lake’s owner, to create what could be a “crown jewel” recreational opportunity in North Georgia, with the general feel of a state park. Safety and maintenance of water quality will be the highest priorities, and the finished project will be fenced, open only when staff are present. Swimming will not be allowed, and a 3.5 mile walking trail around the lake will always remain at least 150 feet from the waterline. Engined vessels of any kind will be prohibited, but fishing will be allowed from four fishing piers and from rented non-motorized craft such as canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats.
Near the south end of the lake an Activity Area of 15 acres will have two pavilions, a themed playground, and an outdoor classroom incorporating wetland areas as mandated by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division—this will enable the classroom to be used cooperatively with local schools and Dalton State College. The anchor facility will be a lodge which will generate revenue through rentals for meetings, weddings, and other special occasions. A 2,000-sq.ft. deck will overlook the lake and a 5,000 sq.ft. main area inside will seat 150-175 for major banquets and have partitioning for smaller functions. The lodge will also have a full kitchen, a welcome area and rental desk, and a classroom. In partnership with the Dalton Convention Center it will operate in a fashion similar to that of the Dalton-Whitfield Senior Center.
Anticipated construction costs (real ones cannot be determined until the bidding process closes) total $5 million, including $1.2 million set aside for contingencies, and construction could proceed in phases as funds become available. If the lodge is built, annual maintenance and operation expenses are estimated to be $141,000, with revenues of $129,880; without the lodge (having only a small rental shack), M & O costs would be $91,000, with revenues of $18,000. All these figures reflect conservative estimates of staffing needs and rental income.
Projected to open in early 2018, the finished project would be unique in the region and a magnet for young professionals and entrepreneurs, both those who grew up in Dalton and others contemplating a move here. For this demographic cohort, quality of life is a paramount consideration, and parks are central to realizing that ideal. DPRD has a history of successful partnerships with other entities, and this one will be no different from past engagements.
Announcements
President Bruce reminded members to vote on January 10. He announced that Past Presidents of the Club will meet today for further discussion of the Club’s upcoming 80th anniversary. He noted that hosts are needed for the Golden Gates, a performing group of young Russians whose appearance in several area schools between January 26 and February 3 is being sponsored by both the Dalton and the Carpet City Rotary Clubs. Finally, he recognized Dr. Onsy Bestawros as the Club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow and Past President Dr. John Richmond, who has qualified for his third Paul Harris Fellowship.
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Dr. Onsy Bestawros and Dr. John Richmond
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January 10th Birthdays and AnniversariesSaturday, January 7, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
14-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Kelehear, Pat |
Kelehear, Leon S. |
12-Jan |
|
| McCoy, Barbara |
McCoy, Norman D. |
14-Jan |
|
| Wright, Betty |
Wright, William B. Jr. |
14-Jan |
|
| Schneller, Douglas |
Schneller, April D |
15-Jan |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Bestawros, Onsy A (ONSY) |
Hilda |
12-Jan |
42 |
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
Jean |
13-Jan |
55 |
|
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January 3rd Birthdays and AnniversariesSaturday, December 31, 2016 By Bruce A. Satterfield
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
4-Jan |
|
|
| Smalley, Robert H. (ROBERT) |
4-Jan |
|
|
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
7-Jan |
|
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
9-Jan |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Farmer, Sierra |
Farmer, Joseph |
3-Jan |
|
| Burt, Roger |
Burt, Amanda |
5-Jan |
|
| Schwell, Judy |
Schwenn, John O. |
7-Jan |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
Pauline |
3-Jan |
3 |
| Brantley, Traylor M (TRAY) |
Valerie (VAL) |
6-Jan |
11 |
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
Tray |
7-Jan |
11 |
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
Ricky |
8-Jan |
17 |
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
Cherri |
8-Jan |
17 |
| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
Laura |
8-Jan |
12 |
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AnnouncementSaturday, December 31, 2016Announcement
Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead announced the formation of a 501(c)3 fund to enable the Club to expand the role it plays in the betterment of our community by underwriting charitable work for those who need work done such as ramps, roofing, etc. In concert with the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, we have established a fund titled “Rotary Club of Dalton Charities” to allow us to fund worthy projects, working with other agencies such as Rebuilding Hope, the Baptist Men's Ramp Group, and the Methodist Men's Group. We all have a common goal of providing service to the community in various forms. Frank asked that as members look at their year-end giving, they please consider making a tax-exempt contribution to this fund, making any checks out to The Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia with “Rotary Charities” noted on the memo line, or they may be payable directly to the Rotary Club of Dalton.
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Christmas Music From The First Baptist Church Men's EnsembleSunday, December 18, 2016By John Hutcheson
Dr. Sherwood Jones introduced the First Baptist Church Men’s Ensemble, whose annual Christmas visit has been a part of the Club’s holiday observances for more than two decades. This year the group appears with a new Director, Mrs. Susan Deal, Minister of Music at First Baptist for the past five years, and it also includes two new members with Rotary connections: Ron Nix, formerly of our club and a founder of the Carpet Capital Rotary Club, and Chip Sellers, whose father was a long-time member of our club and whose stepmother, Kathryn, is a current member. Others in the Ensemble include Randy Poplin, Paul Anderson, Bryan McAllister, Arthur Bridges, and Andrew Moore.
First Baptist Men's Ensemble
The Ensemble sang five pieces, including “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” “Coventry Carol,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Although their red sweaters familiar from past years had been replaced by dark jackets and ties, their performances, as always, earned enthusiastic applause.
Announcements
Rotarian Bitsy McFarland welcomed Crystal Tee’s parents and brother who arrived in Dalton after a 27-hour trip from Malaysia to attend Crystal’s graduation from Dalton State this week and are staying as Bitsy’s houseguests. President Bruce again reported that $3,641 was collected in extra donations to the polio fund, which will also receive $4,800 this year from the Club’s regular monthly contribution of $10 per member. Speaking for Past President Bill Bowen, Smitty Barnett reminded members to sign up to ring the Salvation Army Christmas Bell at the Walmart Marketplace.
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December 20th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, December 18, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
1-Jan |
|
|
| Woodward, Philip F (PHIL) |
20-Dec |
|
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
26-Dec |
|
|
| DeLay, Scott G (SCOTT) |
30-Dec |
|
|
| Parrott, V DeForrest III (DEFORREST) |
30-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Blackman, Linda |
Blackman, Bill M |
1-Jan |
|
| Farmer, Sierra |
Farmer, Joseph |
3-Jan |
|
| Taylor, Joanie |
Taylor, Zachary |
24-Dec |
|
| Cooke, Cathy |
Cooke, Christopher M |
24-Dec |
|
| McLeod, Carolyn (CAROL) |
McLeod, Robert S. |
27-Dec |
|
| Sanders, Mary Etta |
Sanders, Drayton M II |
28-Dec |
|
| Minter, Melissa |
Minter, B. Scott |
28-Dec |
|
| Porter, Amy |
Porter, Gerald D |
29-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Smalley, Robert H. (ROBERT) |
1/1/1995 |
22 |
|
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
1/1/1986 |
31 |
|
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
1/1/1976 |
41 |
|
| Smith, Clark C. (CLARK) |
12/31/1999 |
17 |
|
| Rowland, Bradley Wayne (BRAD) |
12/31/2001 |
15 |
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn Sr.(ROY) |
12/31/2002 |
14 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
Pauline |
3-Jan |
3 |
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
Sierra |
20-Dec |
7 |
| Underwood, Michelle (SHELL) |
Anthony |
20-Dec |
13 |
| McLeod, Robert S. (BOB) |
Carolyn (CAROL) |
21-Dec |
51 |
| Rowland, Bradley Wayne (BRAD) |
Greta |
22-Dec |
26 |
| Cope, Don (DON) |
Laurie |
24-Dec |
3 |
| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
Mary |
25-Dec |
2 |
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
Lou |
26-Dec |
18 |
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
Nancy |
27-Dec |
43 |
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
Becky |
29-Dec |
49 |
| Sanford, Robert Mitchell (MITCH) |
Teresa |
30-Dec |
26 |
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The Humane Society Of Northwest GeorgiaSunday, December 11, 2016by John Hutcheson
Devon Brooks, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Northwest Georgia (HSNG) introduced Susan Dennard, current president of the Society. Devon related that the HSNG has existed for forty years. As a 401(c)3 corporation it does not receive any financial support from either the ASPCA or local government entities, depending instead on donations, fund-raising events, and adoption fees. The HSNG is not part of nor affiliated with Whitfield County Animal Control but it does rescue animals from the county agency, where short-term retention policies lead to a high-kill ratio.
Devon Brooks
The HSNG depends very heavily on volunteers, needing 13,000 volunteer hours per year just to care for its animals and maintain a humane environment, not counting time spent on adoption processes. Most of its animals come from the county’s Animal Control, but some are surrendered by owners who no longer want or are able to care for them. Currently the Society is receiving a record number of calls about cruelty to animals, and it often works with the Sheriff’s office to remove such animals from bad treatment or unacceptable conditions. There are no set limits for animal retention in the Society’s shelter, and some special needs cases may stay for lengthy periods.
The Society can provide assistance for all sorts of situations involving animals. For example, it partners with Meals on Wheels to provide food for companion animals belonging to that program’s clients, and it has placed two dogs at the Regional Youth Detention Center to help residents there learn kindness by teaching them to train the animals—something which may also serve to relieve stress and moderate depression. As colonies of feral cats have become a huge problem, especially on the east side of Dalton where there are no veterinary services, the Society has launched a spaying campaign, supported by a grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia. It also provides education, pet safety materials, and food to needy pet owners.
Using slides of some of the Society’s animals and its facilities on the Cleveland Highway, Devon explained that the shelter currently houses 35 to 40 animals which are kept in crates but are walked three times per day. The buildings are old and hard to maintain and the property has no flat area really suitable for walking, but a $1.25 million capital campaign called “Unleashing the Possibilities” has raised sufficient funds to start work in early 2017 on a new facility at the intersection of Legion Drive and Veterans Drive. Projected construction time is eight months, and when completed there will be capacity for as many as 100 animals.
A Rotary Minute With Sandy McKenzie
Recently inducted Rotarian Sandy McKenzie joined Hamilton Health Care System in 2006 and has been its Chief Operating Officer since 2012. She grew up in Ringgold and earned a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy from Georgia State University. Married for 31 years, she has a 28-year-old son and a 23-year-old daughter. Her husband is a cabinetmaker and they have a small farm on which they are raising 30 cattle. Her son works with his father, and her daughter in studying in the public health program at Mercer University. All of her family love sports, and she is an avid Alabama fan.
Sandy McKenzie
Announcements and Awards
President Bruce reported that $3,641 was collected in extra donations to the polio fund, which will also receive $4,800 this year from the Club’s regular monthly contribution of $10 per member. He also announced today’s meeting of Past Presidents to begin planning a celebration of the Club’s 80th anniversary on July 23, 2017. Skeeter Pierce received her second Paul Harris Fellow award, and Todd Pangle was inducted into the Club by Membership Chair Tray Brantley. Past President Bill Bowen reminded members to sign up to ring the Salvation Army Christmas Bell at the Walmart Marketplace during the week beginning December 12 or to contribute at least $10 if they were unable to schedule a time to ring. He also recognized Crystal Tee, a former GRSP student under the Club’s sponsorship, who will graduate from Dalton State next week in a ceremony to be attended by her parents from Malaysia.
 
Skeeter Pierce and Todd Pangle
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December 13th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, December 11, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
14-Dec |
|
|
|
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. (MAURICE) |
17-Dec |
|
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Poehlman, Sally |
Poehlman, John H. |
17-Dec |
|
|
| Barnett, Tammy |
Barnett, George S. |
18-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
|
| Minor, John Thomas V(JOHN) |
12/17/2013 |
3 |
|
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
Barbara |
18-Dec |
56 |
|
| Bailey, Philip Bates (BATES) |
Dell |
18-Dec |
45 |
|
|
Providing Support For Nursing Mothers In The WorkplaceSunday, December 4, 2016Zachary Taylor, M.D., Director of the North Georgia Public Health District, opened the program by stressing the medical, social, and economic benefits of breast feeding. Babies who are given breast milk exclusively for their first six months and along with supplemental formula and food until the end of their first year are prone to be much healthier than their non-breast-fed counterparts, being significantly less likely to develop obesity, eczema, asthma, or infant sudden death syndrome. Mothers who have nursed have a lower risk of diabetes and ovarian or breast cancer. Breast feeding has been shown to save families $1,500 to $1,800 per year in formula and health care expenses, while employers benefit from having to grant fewer sick days to employees who are parents. Even so, while 75% of mothers begin breast feeding at their child’s birth, only 37% are still doing so when the child reaches six months. This is partly because cultural structures do not support breast feeding; new mothers frequently receive little instruction, hospitals generally separate mothers from their babies, and workplaces often provide little or no accommodation for female employees who wish to nurse or store pumped breast milk.
Carol Hendrix
Carol Hendrix, Breast Feeding Coordinator for the Public Health Department, used a slide presentation to reinforce the point that support for breast-feeding employees can generate a positive return on investment for employers who provide adequate accommodations. Almost 95% of expectant mothers would like to breast feed, but only 75% actually do so, and only 17.5% are still nursing when their children complete their first year. For working mothers, inconvenience is by far the greatest reason they stop breast feeding.
The Dalton area has done well in taking corrective action and has even attracted national notice for its efforts. Carol helps businesses comply with Federal law mandating accommodation for working mothers. The results have become a model for manufacturing facilities to follow, drawing on four components:
- To work toward establishing paid maternity leave for all employed mothers
- To ensure that employers establish lactation support programs
- To expand facilities to support breast-feeding mothers in the workplace
- To ensure that all child-care providers accommodate the needs of breast-feeding mothers
Nursing mothers need time and places to express and store milk for later feeding, and Carol showed a video produced by the Colorado Breast Feeding Coalition which pointed out that employees as well as employers have responsibilities to bring these about. Communication is essential, and specifying needs should be part of an early conversation between an employee and the employer about the employee’s pregnancy, taking place prior to the employee’s request for maternity leave. This will enable the employer to make adequate and timely arrangements, which in turn should produce the benefit of enhanced employee loyalty.
By way of providing a local example of appropriate action, Carol concluded the program by showing a video about what has been done at Shaw Industries.
Announcements
Past President Bill Bowen announced that a sign-up sheet was available in the lobby for Club members who want to volunteer to ring the Salvation Army Christmas bell at the Walmart Marketplace in Bryman Plaza during the week beginning on December 12. President Bruce noted that a group of the Club’s past presidents would meet on December 6 to begin planning observances of the Club’s 80th anniversary in 2017. He also read two thank-you notes from children whom the Club had helped attend the Space Camp last summer. Finally, he awarded Rotarian Ricky Robertson his Blue Badge.
President Bruce and Ricky Robertson
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December 6th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, December 4, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Cruse, Lesley Dale (DALE) |
6-Dec |
|
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Parrott, Eugenia |
Parrott, V DeForrest III |
10-Dec |
|
| McClure, Storm |
McClure, Douglas E |
12-Dec |
|
| Pratt, Shaun |
Pratt, Vallarie D. |
12-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Willingham, Tommy G (TOMMY) |
Denise |
6-Dec |
41 |
| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
Betty |
7-Dec |
48 |
| Johnson, Larry Alan (LARRY) |
Kathy |
8-Dec |
32 |
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
Joanne |
12-Dec |
57 |
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The Northwest Georgia Family Crisis CenterSunday, November 27, 2016By John Hutcheson
President Bruce introduced Amanda Cunningham, Assistant Director of the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center. The Center serves a comprehensive range of victims--female and male, children and adults—who suffer from any kind of domestic violence, and as this social disorder grows, the need for such a facility is intensifying. Georgia currently ranks ninth among the states in reported incidences of domestic violence, which causes hundreds of deaths annually nationwide—in Whitfield County alone there were five during the past year.
Amanda has been with the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis for four years, assisting in its services to Whitfield, Murray, and Gordon Counties. One of 46 such agencies across the state, the Center is funded by grants from state and federal sources, the United Way, and private donations. It presently has 24 beds which will be used for emergencies after another dozen beds are added, for a total of 36. All services are free and available as needed through telephones staffed on a 24/7 basis. Among the Center’s current clients are sixteen children, and because it is now running well beyond capacity, its expenses are $70,000 over budget.
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Amanda Cunningham
The world of the Family Crisis Center differs from that of the Department of Family and Children’s Services. Most domestic victims are female, and consequently many of its informational programs are aimed specially toward women. No one is compelled to remain at the Center—clients may leave at will—and many women feel compelled to return to abusive environments because of concern for their children, animals, finances, or other matters. The Center tries to accommodate these where possible (even to the extent of finding caretakers for pets and other animals), but it may nevertheless take a victim as many as seven attempts to permanently leave an abusive situation. How long a client might stay in the Center varies with circumstances. While something within ninety days is the norm, some have remained as long as six or seven months. Children who have been traumatized by witnessing abuse, or by experiencing an abrupt change in their living situations, often need particular help to regain some measure of stability, and the Center accordingly provides appropriate play and study areas. With the assistance of Shaw Industries and other corporations, the Center stages events for children around holidays and on other occasions, and during summers it sponsors Camp High Hope, hosted in recent years by St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
Along with its care for victims, the Center works to spread awareness of domestic and other kinds of interpersonal violence. It is present on social media such as Facebook and Instagram, and recently its representatives have spoken in local high schools out of a growing concern about dating violence among teenagers. It annually sponsors two major fundraisers, the Walk-a-Mile event and the Holiday Tour of Homes. Although the Center’s location is confidential, donations of Christmas toys or other items to support its work may be made by arrangement for pickup or by leaving them at the United Way office on Thornton Avenue. Amanda closed by thanking the Club for the assistance it has given to the Center over the years and in its recent drive for household and personal goods to help clients to resume their independence.
A Rotary Minute with Cherri Robertson
Cherri Robertson, who was inducted into the Club along with her husband, Ricky, this past July 19th, was born in North Carolina and is proud to be of 16% Native American extraction. She and Ricky have been married for seventeen years and have two children, ages sixteen and ten. She has sold insurance for sixteen years and has been involved in many local organizations—currently she is an officer in the Southeast Whitfield High School Raider Nation and also president of the Basketball Tipoff Club. With her family she is active at New Hope Baptist Church, and in her spare time—which is rare—she enjoys reading and photography.
Cherri Robertson
Announcements
President Bruce announced that the auction for the Swedish china bowl has closed, with himself submitting the winning bid of $175. This amount will be added to the total for the special polio collection, which will be announced after its final calculation.
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November 29th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, November 27, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Barnett, George S. (SMITTY) |
1-Dec |
|
|
| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
1-Dec |
|
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
4-Dec |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Maret, Carla |
Maret, Michael S. |
3-Dec |
|
| Mooney, Bobby |
Mooney, Patricia H |
5-Dec |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Blevins, Sheri H. (SHERI) |
11/29/2005 |
11 |
|
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
11/29/2005 |
11 |
|
| Hutcheson, John A. Jr.(JOHN) |
11/29/2005 |
11 |
|
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
11/29/2005 |
11 |
|
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
11/29/2005 |
11 |
|
| Kirkman, Lowell D. (LOWELL) |
12/1/1972 |
44 |
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr.(PAUL) |
12/1/1968 |
48 |
|
| Brooker, Robert H. (BOB) |
12/1/1976 |
40 |
|
| Clark, M Michael (MIKE) |
12/1/1980 |
36 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
Melissa |
29-Nov |
19 |
| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
Danielle |
2-Dec |
21 |
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
Kayanne |
3-Dec |
28 |
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr.(PAUL) |
Alicia |
5-Dec |
24 |
|
The Rotary Foundation: Some RemindersSunday, November 13, 2016by John Hutcheson
Rotarian Greg Dent, the Club’s Foundation Chair, showed three videos by way of reminding members about the work of the Rotary Foundation, especially its effort to eliminate polio. The 2017 will mark the Foundation’s centennial anniversary, and the first video, entitled “Our Century of Doing Good,” recounted how the Foundation has spent over three billion dollars since its establishment in 1917. Its first grant, made in 1930, went to disabled children, and now it is on the verge of making polio a thing of the past. In addition, the Foundation supports six Peace Centers to foster international understanding.
Greg noted that since its inception in 1937 the Rotary Club of Dalton has given more than $427,000 to the Foundation and now has 65 Paul Harris Fellows who have each given at least $1,000 to the Foundation. He showed a second video, “Why Zero Matters,” which summarized Rotary’s work in bringing down the worldwide incidence of polio from 350,000 cases in 1988 to 74 in 2015 and providing immunizations for 2.5 million children. A third video gave a first-person account of an African polio victim who has been assisted by Rotary and is now a Paralympics champion runner.
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Greg Dent
A Special Veterans Day Commemoration
President Bruce recognized and thanked all of the Club’s veterans for their service and called on Rotarian Pat Townsend for a brief presentation about his father’s experiences in World War II. Rembert Townsend was one of six brothers, four of whom served in the military, and at one time in 1943 three of them were simultaneously posted overseas. Pat has all of his dad’s letters, and he read from several of these, accompanied by photos, to provide glimpses of what one soldier saw in the Western European Theater during the last year of the war.
Rembert Townsend sailed from New York on June 22, 1944 aboard the Queen Elizabeth—then the world’s largest ship—with 13,000 other troops. After six weeks in England his unit landed in Normandy on August 4 and was attached to General Patton’s Third Army, XX Corps. They fought to within eighteen miles of Paris before being sent to the Argonne sector and subsequently across the Rhine, where they saw the total devastation of many German towns. Rembert’s outfit then reinforced the 19 th Division and spent 49 days shelling to soften up the area around Metz.
In another letter, dated September 25, 1944, Rembert told of a visit from Bing Crosby. At that point he had not seen much combat, although he had seen a good deal of France. On December 12 he narrowly missed transfer to a unit that soon became involved in the Battle of the Bulge, where the man who’d been selected was killed. When the European war ended in May, 1945, he worried about being sent to the Pacific Theater, but instead he was able to return home and on February 12, 1946 he married the woman who became Pat’s mother.
Pat Townsend
Announcements
President Bruce announced that the best spellers in the Whitfield Education Foundation’s Celebrity Spelling Bee last week were all from among the six Rotarians who participated, including the winner, Scott DeLay. He thanked Smitty Barnett for his work with the Spelling Bee and also on behalf of the Salvation Army food drive. That project ends today, as does the special collection for polio eradication. The auction for the Swedish china bowl remains open for bids, with proceeds going to the polio fund.
Past President John Richmond called upon Rotarian Larry Winter and the Club’s current GRSP student, Fredrik Mazur, in order to award Larry a Will Watt Fellowship for having contributed $1,000 or more to the GRSP Endowment. The Endowment’s corpus now stands at just under $13,000,000, enabling it to grant $1,950 to each of this year’s GRSP students.
Larry Winter and Fredrik Mazur
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November 15th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, November 13, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Pratt, Vallarie D. (VALLARIE) |
16-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Miller, Sara |
Miller, Charles Dalton |
15-Nov |
|
| Dickson, Sherry |
Dickson, Thomas S. |
15-Nov |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Total |
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
11/20/2012 |
4 |
4 |
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
11/20/2001 |
15 |
15 |
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA) |
11/20/2012 |
4 |
4 |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Martin, Richard G. (RICK) |
Sandy |
20-Nov |
51 |
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
Pam |
21-Nov |
30 |
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
Kristy |
21-Nov |
15 |
|
|
The Northwest Georgia Autism Initiative
Sunday, November 6, 2016
By John Hutcheson
Rotarian Pat Townsend introduced Rotarian Greg Dent and Past President David Aft for a presentation on a recent project to provide support for autistic persons and their families in Northwest Georgia. Greg is Director of the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership and David is President of the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia.
Pointing out that autism is an important issue at both the national and local levels, David stressed that it exists from mild to severe degrees, so that each autistic patient has a unique configuration and each family whose lives are affected by autism has unique needs. Representatives of the local autism community approached the Community Foundation for assistance and the Foundation’s leadership turned to the Healthcare Partnership for advice, making a small grant which led to formation of the Northwest Georgia Autism Initiative and its goal of understanding and addressing the autism group’s needs and issues.
Greg explained that the Initiative’s strategy has three phases: learning and organizing, engaging constituents and exploring programs, and establishing a full-service autism center. By way of learning, the Healthcare Partnership has completed a 148-page study (available on its website) covering nine counties in Northwest Georgia and showing the current system of autism care in the region to be very disjointed. The population of students having developmental disabilities is broken out by school systems, but these numbers only show those persons who have been diagnosed, and diagnosis itself is an issue, heavily influenced by the economic, social, and structural dimensions of family situations. Comparison of the Georgia Autism Plan with the work of the Chattanooga Autism Center shows that Georgia provides significantly more services than the Chattanooga agency, with which there are qualitative differences as well. For example, Chattanooga is stronger on family support services but not on early screening and identification or financial support for treatment.
David noted that such disparities between the Georgia Autism Plan and what’s available at the nearest autism center reinforce the urgency of Northwest Georgia’s autism needs. At the same time, though, the region covered in the Healthcare Partnership study has plentiful resources for developing a center of its own. The next task is to marshal these resources and build an income stream which will support programs to engage members of the autism community through things such as recreational events designed for autistic participants, conferences for caregivers, etc. Encouragingly, several corporations and agencies have already expressed willingness to help financially and otherwise.
Ultimately the goal is to establish a full-service autism center that will likely draw clients from an area extending beyond Northwest Georgia to Atlanta’s northern suburbs and west into Alabama, holding a population of 700,000 to 800,000. Doing so will take time—twelve to eighteen months is a reasonable estimate for developing a business plan and another three years or so to complete the full project. Meanwhile, it’s necessary to build an “army of advocates” who can unite their passion with resources and action.
A Rotary Minute with Valerie Brantley
Rotarian Valerie Brantley, who was inducted into the Club this past September 27th, related that as a military child she had moved frequently while growing up, but she regards Vero Beach, Florida, as her hometown since she graduated from high school there. After earning an undergraduate degree in English and a law degree from Mercer University, she moved to Dalton and joined the Minor, Bell firm, with whom she continues to work as general counsel for Hamilton Medical Center. She is the mother of a six-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son. Her favorite author is William Faulkner, and she collects pug dog Christmas ornaments—she has a special love for pugs. When she reaches retirement she wants to work in dog rescue and do pro bono legal work for juvenile causes.
Announcements
President Bruce noted that the special collection in observance of World Polio Day and the food drive for the Salvation Army have been extended, as has the silent auction for a collector’s plate from Sweden. He also reminded members about the Celebrity Spelling Bee to be held this evening in support of the Whitfield Educational Foundation, with several Rotarians participating.
Past President John Richmond reported that the Club’s GRSP donation of $50 per year per member generated a surplus contribution of $1993.95 which the GRSP office has returned to the Club.
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Earl Lusk Memorial Golf TournamentTuesday, January 31, 2017The annual Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament will be held April 11th, 2017 at the Dalton
Golf & Country Club to benefit our Rotary Scholarship Programs for area students.
Team entries for four-person teams are available for $600 or individual entries are available
for $150 each.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Click here for more information and to sign up online to enter a team, an individual player,
or to register as a sponsor.
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November 8th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, November 6, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bradham, Robert L. (ROB) |
8-Nov |
|
|
| Dobbins, Chuck (CHUCK) |
8-Nov |
|
|
| Townsend, Patrick J (PAT) |
14-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Campbell, Kristy |
Campbell, J Carl |
11-Nov |
|
| Hawkins, Nancy |
Hawkins, Jim R. |
11-Nov |
|
| Morehouse, Dianne |
Morehouse, Gordon C. |
12-Nov |
|
| Cope, Laurie |
Cope, Don |
13-Nov |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
11/10/2015 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
S. G. |
12-Nov |
28 |
|
Human TraffickingSunday, April 2, 2017By Ty Ross
Desperate for a job, she is offered a way out of her rural village. She is told a new life and a job in another place await her. When she gets there, her dream is shattered by the reality that she is a slave.
Rotarian John Neal introduced native Daltonian, Tiffany Adkinson, who put her nursing career on hold to pursue her heartfelt desire to end human trafficking. Tiffany is now the Executive Director of Freedom’s Promise, a non-profit corporation based in Nashville, TN with a mission to prevent human trafficking and child exploitation in Cambodia through individually community development programs, resulting in trafficking-free zones.
Tiffany Adkinson
Why Cambodia? Tiffany explained that Cambodia ranks third for the highest estimated prevalence of modern slavery per capita (Global Slavery Index, 2015). While strides have been made, children under the age of 16 once accounted for as many as 35% of the sexually exploited in Cambodia (UNICEF). What causes this? A history of war and genocide has left the country in shambles. High levels of poverty and a lack of job opportunities have resulted in cross-border migration. Cambodia also suffers from broken gender roles, corruption, a broken justice system and ill-equipped leadership. These are among the factors increasing the nation’s vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation. As a result, an estimated 256,800 live in slavery in Cambodia. Brokenness and poverty continuously feed this cycle of oppression.
Freedom’s Promise is taking steps to prevent the cyclical disease of human trafficking. Freedom’s Promise works with partners in Cambodia to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs in communities where many have been robbed of hope and joy. The communities Freedom’s Promise assists are mostly rural, strategically located in close proximity to the Thailand border. The Freedom’s Promise plan is five-fold. It fosters community through medical outreach, public outreach broadcasts and safe playgrounds for children to play. It restores hearts by empowering local churches and teaching men respectful behaviors. It educates children both in primary school and after-school care. It equips future leaders with health education and supplies housing to many seeking to further at universities. It provides vocational training to women so that they have more choices and it connects artisans to global markets to provide opportunities and spur economic growth.
Thanks to the good work of Freedom’s Promise Tiffany is proud to report the following:
- 24 future leaders have been supported during university years
- 1,800 children have received education
- 4,900 people have received medical care
- 120 women have received vocational training
- 1,058 people have grown in knowledge of the Gospel
- 400 children have access to safe play spaces
- 2,860 families have access to a local church
- 54 leaders have been trained in community health education
Thank you Tiffany Atkinson!
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April 4th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, April 2, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Anderson, Michael S (MICHAEL) |
4-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| McDonald, Frances |
McDonald, David L |
5-Apr |
|
| Ross, Jen |
Ross, James Tyson |
8-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
4/9/2013 |
4 |
|
| Carter, Teresa (TERESA) |
4/9/2013 |
4 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Smith, Ralph (RALPH) |
Sandra |
7-Apr |
34 |
| Brunson, Kevin M (KEVIN) |
Cindy |
8-Apr |
17 |
|
The Community Strategic Plan Of Sunday, October 30, 2016By John Hutcheson
President Bruce introduced Rotarian Rob Bradham, President of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce. Born in Charlotte, NC, Rob grew up in the Tidewater Virginia area. After earning a degree in history from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, he worked with one of Virginia’s largest trade association management companies and later with the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce before moving to the Chattanooga Chamber as its vice president of public strategies. In November, 2015 he assumed his position in Dalton, where he was joined at the end of the school year by his wife Melissa and their two sons.
Rob set out three objectives for his presentation to the Club: to summarize his family’s experience moving from Chattanooga to Dalton, to describe the Dalton Chamber’s strategic plan, and to tell a story. He declared that Dalton is the most welcoming community of the ten or so he has lived in, and he specially praised Brookwood Elementary School, where his son is enrolled in the fourth grade and which he called a “shining star” in Dalton. Along with the persuasive powers of Skeeter Pierce and Amy Cole, the strengths of Brookwood overcame his family’s reluctance to leave Chattanooga. Now living at Ryman Farm, they love the safety of the community and the sense of freedom it gives them. His boys have also become avid fans of Dalton High football.
Rob Branham
During his first three or four months in Dalton Rob was on a listening tour, attending more than a hundred meetings to learn the community’s expectations of him and the Chamber under his leadership. He became familiar with Dalton’s history—“a story many other towns would kill to have”—leading up to the boom years of the 1970’s and 1980’s and the Great Recession of the last decade.
Although Dalton’s industrial productivity has recovered from the disastrous downturn that began in 2009, there’s still a “recession hangover.” Nevertheless, many businesses desire to plan for the future optimistically, and the Chamber wants to be at the forefront of this process. Its recent Community Survey has been completed by 2,218 respondents, a remarkable return rate when compared with that of other jurisdictions such as Gwinnett County, where a much larger population generated only about 2,000 returns. Analysis of Dalton’s data is underway and results should be available within the next week or so.
Planning for Dalton’s economic future will be formulated by a committee of twenty-one business and civic leaders chaired by Chuck Dobbins and Bryan Hair. Scheduled to wrap up by May, 2017, it will focus on three areas:
- Workforce development and education. This is Issue No. 1 and crucial to avoid losing potential employers who require highly skilled workers.
- Economic growth and diversification to minimize adverse effects of the economic cycle.
- Downtown redevelopment, given high priority by many as a means for improving the local quality of life.
The nearby examples of Rome and Chattanooga show that a project along these lines has the potential to achieve great things and could shape the history of Dalton over the next thirty years.
By way of a story, Rob briefly recounted the history of the Moccasin Bend Task Force and its role in revitalizing the Chattanooga waterfront. In the early 1908’s Chattanooga’s river frontage was blighted, and when the Task Force was formed in 1982 the initial idea was to encourage industrial development, especially on the Moccasin Bend peninsula. This was soon abandoned in view of that area’s scenic and historic character, and the Task Force turned instead to redevelopment on a wider scale over a stretch of the Tennessee River extending from the Gorge to the Chickamauga Dam. “Return to the River” served as the slogan and guiding concept.
In 1985 the Task Force issued a report which projected all that’s been built and accomplished over the last thirty years—the Tennessee Aquarium, a 22-mile Riverwalk, the Creative Discovery Museum, Ross’s Landing, Coolidge Park, new downtown housing (now comprising more than 1,200 units), pedestrianizing the Walnut Street Bridge, and formation of a non-profit private corporation, the River City Company, to raise funding. Since 1985 $250 million has been spent on specific projects envisioned by the Task Force, and the River City Company has brought in $3.5 billion to redevelop Chattanooga’s downtown.
Rob pointed out that plans of this sort take time and require patience and commitment, but he believes Dalton has a better story to tell than either Chattanooga or Rome—he has staked his career on it. One lesson that’s been learned is, “Build it for your citizens.” If local needs and desires are satisfied in an excellent way, tourists and other outsiders will come of their own accord. Dalton can’t compete on equal terms with Chattanooga as an attractor for young professionals, but its characteristic strengths—quality education, safe environments, and a low cost of living—make it an ideal place for young families to settle.
A Rotary Minute With Celeste Creswell
Rotarian Celeste Creswell, recently a candidate for a judgeship on the Whitfield County Superior Court, grew up in Cohutta and has practiced law for twenty years, specializing in civil litigation and mediation. Licensed in Georgia and Tennessee, she works for an Atlanta law firm in its Dalton office in the Landmark Building, handling commercial litigation and mediation; intellectual property, construction, eminent domain, landlord-tenant, and real estate matters; and class action and appellate litigation.
Celeste Creswell
Announcements and Presentations
President Bruce reminded members about the special collection in observance of World Polio Day and told about Rotarians’ help to complete an access ramp at the home of a local disabled person. Smitty Barnett pointed to the ongoing food drive for the Salvation Army, noting that more than 700 families had been fed in September alone and this number would grow as the holidays approach. He also promoted the Celebrity Spelling Bee to be held on November 1 in support of the Whitfield Educational Foundation; several Rotarians will be participating.
Membership Chairman Tray Brantley introduced Douglas McClure, Mark Mixer, Gerald Porter, and April Schneller for induction into Rotary by President Bruce.
|
November 1st Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, October 30, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
6-Nov |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Richmond, Agnes |
Richmond, John D. |
2-Nov |
|
| Kirkman, Lou |
Kirkman, Lowell D. |
4-Nov |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
11/1/1977 |
39 |
|
| Jolly, Hilliard R. (HILLIARD) |
11/1/1989 |
27 |
|
| Chandler, Robert M. (ROBERT) |
11/1/1978 |
38 |
|
| Neal, John P. III(JOHN) |
11/1/1980 |
36 |
|
| Stewart, Bob T (BOB) |
11/1/1981 |
35 |
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
11/1/1982 |
34 |
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
11/1/1985 |
31 |
|
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
11/1/1972 |
44 |
|
| Campbell, J Carl (CARL) |
11/3/2015 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Rhoden, W Scott (SCOTT) |
Dina |
7-Nov |
19 |
|
A Day To Honor Our OwnFriday, March 24, 2017President Bruce opened the meeting with a demonstration of the new electronic podium (although the sound system remains problematic) and then introduced a slide show of the March 11 track meet made by Rotarian Bob McLeod.
Vocational Service Chair Scott Minter presided over announcement of the Club’s nominees for two of District 6910’s greatest honors, the W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award and the Robert S. Stubbs Guardian of Ethics Award. The selection was made by a committee of seven Rotarians, including Steve Farrow, Skeeter Pierce, Bill Bowen, John Neal, David Aft, Kevin Brunson, and President Bruce Satterfield.
The Arrendale Award recognizes Lee Arrendale, a Rotarian from Habersham County who was a recognized leader in the Georgia poultry industry and served his state as Chairman of the Georgia Board of Corrections. Guidelines for the award in his name require the nominee to show excellence in his or her vocation, achievements in the community, and academic excellence.
For 2017-2018 the Rotary Club of Dalton nominates Don Adcock. Born in Monroe, Georgia, Don graduated from Monroe Area High School, where he participated in football, baseball, and track. In 1969 he married Diane Kiker, with whom he has had two sons and a daughter. He began his career in 1968 with the Coca-Cola Company as a trade examiner, and in 1970 he moved to the Travelers Insurance Company. A year later he settled into his current role as a self-employed insurance agent in Dalton, and he is currently CEO of Adcock Financial Group, Inc., providing employee benefits along with personal insurance and investments to employers and executives. He was twice the lead agent for Franklin Life in volume of insurance sold, and he is Past President of both the Dalton Association of Life Underwriters and the Cherokee Area Estate Planning Council. In 2013 he received the Small Business Person Award from the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce. He has been a member of the Dalton Rotary Club since 1979 and has served on its Board of Directors. He is a Past Board Member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and presently he serves on the board of the Hamilton Healthcare System and the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, where he is a Life Associate Board Member.
Don Adcock
The Stubbs Award, named for Robert (Bob) Stubbs, a member of the Rotary Club of Canton, honors a person who has been a Rotarian for at least three years and has made outstanding contributions in his or her vocation while also strengthening and fostering the development of ethical practices by actions, writing, policies, and public pronouncements. This year’s nominee from the Rotary Club of Dalton is Roger Williams.
Roger has been a pillar of the Dalton business and political community for over fifty years and a member of the Dalton Rotary Club since 1978. He has been married to Joann for 62 years, and they have four children, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Roger Williams
A graduate of North Georgia College in business administration, Roger served as an infantry captain in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1962, with tours of duty in Germany and Vietnam. He returned to Dalton in 1963 to join Credit Services, Inc,, a company which he grew to six branches and of which he has been president for more than fifty years. For twenty-two years Roger served Whitfield County in the Georgia House of Representatives, from 1977 to 1986 with membership on the Ways and Means and Industrial Relations committees, and from 2001 to 2012, when he served as chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee and as a member of the Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Committee, the Industrial Relations Committee , and again on Ways and Means. In 2012 Georgia Trend magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians.
In the local community, Roger is a former member of the Family Support Council. Professionally, he has been a director of the Georgia Financial Services Association, past-president of the Georgia Industrial Loan Association, a member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and a member of the board and executive committee of the Georgia Community Bank. He continues to serve his community and the state as a member of the State Transportation Board, to which he was elected in 2013.
Roger received additional recognition from Fran Randolph of Trenton, Georgia, representing Quilts of Valor, an organization founded by a Blue Star mother in 2003 to honor service members and veterans. Since then it has given out more than 153,000 hand-sewn quilts to recognize sacrifices made in the name of freedom and to provide comfort as a sign of appreciation. For his military service, a quilt was ceremoniously placed on Roger’s shoulders to applause from the Club.
Williams and Fran Rudolph
Following these awards, Rotarian Lynn Laughter presented a banner from the Vienna International Rotary Club which she had obtained during a recent trip to Austria. She noted that this club meets at the famous Hotel Sacher in Vienna and that her meal there had cost forty euros, or about forty-three dollars.
Lynn Laughter
President Bruce concluded the meeting by presenting blue badges to Vallarie Pratt, Patricia Chute, and Cheryl Creswell.
President Bruce, Vallarie Pratt, Patricia Chute, and Cheryl Creswell
|
March 28th Birthdays and AnniversariesFriday, March 24, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Schneller, April D (APRIL) |
1-Apr |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Martin, Sandy |
Martin, Richard G. |
1-Apr |
|
| Hogshead, Carolyn |
Hogshead, Frank M. |
2-Apr |
|
| Williams, Joann |
Williams, Roger |
2-Apr |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
3/30/2010 |
7 |
|
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
3/30/2010 |
7 |
|
| Partain, Jack (JACK) |
4/1/1989 |
28 |
|
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
4/1/2008 |
9 |
|
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
4/1/1978 |
39 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| No anniversaries this period. |
|
|
|
|
October 25th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, October 23, 2016
| Birthdays and Anniversaries for 10/25/16 to 10/31/16 |
|
| |
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Jones, J. Sherwood Jr. (SHERWOOD) |
29-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| No Partner birthdays this period. |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Hogshead, Frank M. (FRANK) |
10/26/1999 |
16 |
|
| Trivino, Jessica K. (JESSICA) |
10/27/2015 |
0 |
|
| Taylor, Zachary (ZACH) |
10/27/2015 |
0 |
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
10/29/1996 |
19 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
Roger |
30-Oct |
16 |
|
Climbing the MatterhornMonday, March 20, 2017By John Hutcheson
Program Chair Henry Tharpe introduced Susan Dennard, who recently climbed the Matterhorn. In 1989 Susan and her husband came to Dalton where he practiced medicine with Past President John Richmond. They have three grown children, and she is currently president of the Humane Society.
Susan began by showing an ice axe and helmet she used on her climb. Located on the border between Switzerland and Italy near the town of Zermatt, the Matterhorn is 14,700 feet high and probably the most recognizable peak in the Alps.
 
Susan Dennard
Her father had always wanted to climb the Matterhorn, and when he was 69, after a month of training Susan and her husband went to the mountain with him in 1983, but bad weather prevented them from climbing it. Thirty years later, after her father had passed away, she decided to climb it in his memory, even though she still had no rock-climbing experience. She returned to Switzerland in 2014, but once again the mountain was closed to climbers because of weather conditions. In 2015, after climbing the Grand Teton in Wyoming, she determined to make another attempt at the Matterhorn and went back in August, 2016. She prepared for Alpine climbing by ascending the Mönch, a peak of 13,474 feet between the Eiger and the Jungfrau, and fortunately had good weather for another try at the Matterhorn, carrying a picture of her father along with her.
Even for experienced climbers, use of a guide on the Matterhorn is highly advisable. Most of the guides are Swiss, and between June and September they may go up the mountain as frequently as two or three times a week. Ideally a climb will begin around 5:00 a.m., departing from a rest hut at 10,400 feet, so that the last and most difficult leg ascends 4,000 feet. At that hour it will still be dark, so that the first stages require headlamps and a good deal of cautious groping. Each year three or four persons die on the Matterhorn, but if all goes well, a climb from the hut should take about five hours for the ascent and five-and-a-half hours for the descent, concluding in the early afternoon. The views from the peak are spectacular, but very windy conditions and a temperature of 32o when Susan reached it discouraged a prolonged stay. The descent was more dangerous than the ascent since it sometimes required going backwards while being tired from going up.
Susan illustrated her presentation with a fascinating slide show and deeply impressed many members by her adventuresomeness.
Announcements
President Bruce thanked everyone who helped at the track meet on March 11 and reminded members that items are needed for the goody bags to be given to participants in the golf tournament on April 11—each bag should be worth about $75.00. President-Elect Kevin asked anyone interested in serving on the Board for 2017-1018 to contact him as soon as possible. Membership Chair Cherri Robertson introduced Michael Anderson for induction into the Club, sponsored by Janice Kiker.
Michael Anderson
President Bruce returned to remind everyone about the upcoming Hamilton Business Alliance program.
|
March 21st Birthdays and AnniversariesMonday, March 20, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Brantley, Valerie K (VAL) |
21-Mar |
|
|
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
27-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Brantley, Valerie (VAL) |
Brantley, Traylor M |
21-Mar |
|
| Woodward, Betty |
Woodward, Philip F. |
21-Mar |
|
| Pangle, Belinda |
Pangle, William T |
24-Mar |
|
| Gazaway, Johnnie |
Gazaway, Kristie |
24-Mar |
|
| Stewart, Celeste |
Stewart, Robert T |
25-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Brunson, Kevin M (KEVIN) |
3/26/2013 |
4 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Jones, Kelly McDonald (KELLY) |
Patrick |
25-Mar |
22 |
|
Dalton's Junior Achievement Business Ethics ProgramSunday, October 16, 2016By John Hutcheson
Rotarian Jessica Trivino, Director of Junior Achievement of Northwest Georgia, grew up as a minister’s daughter and came to Dalton in 2007 to attend Dalton State College, majoring in business administration. Going into work in the non-profit sector, she was employed for four years by United Way, where she met her husband Miguel, whom she married in 2012. She earned a master’s degree from Auburn University in business and marketing education and learned about Junior Achievement’s efforts to teach basic economic knowledge and business and financial skills—work which fit closely with what she was already doing for United Way.
Jessica gave a brief overview of Junior Achievement’s structure as part of a state-wide organization seeking to prepare today’s K-12 students for success in tomorrow’s global economy. Its vision is to impart economic skills shaped by core values grounded in market principles and entrepreneurship, a belief in the boundless potential of the young, the power of partnership and collaboration, the value of education, and a passionate commitment to integrity and excellence in all that’s done.
Last year JA served 6,000 students in Northwest Georgia, mainly in Gordon, Murray, and Whitfield Counties but also in Bartow, Dade, Gilmer, and Pickens. Its goal for this year is to reach 6,500 students with relevant, authentic experiences that align with school standards, connect with real-world concepts, and infuse business principles into all aspects of learning.
In partnership with Dalton State and Dalton High School, JA of Northwest Georgia works to define and demonstrate fundamental concepts of “right” and “wrong” in business, to counter the relativism of “it depends” which often pervades current culture, and to instill a strong sense of personal responsibility for business conduct. JA’s business ethics program started at North Georgia University, and with the guidance of Professors Larry Johnson and Ben Laughter at Dalton State it has been tailored to fit within the local business environment. Students visit the Dalton State campus where they spend half a day in “Cartown,” an exercise in which small groups simulate buying and selling used cars, and they attend appropriate classes with DSC faculty and students.
Junior Achievement’s work is carried out very largely by volunteers from the business community, and Jessica closed with an invitation to Club members to get involved, even if for no more than one hour per week, by contacting her at [email protected] or at (706) 847-7796.
Jessica Trivino
Announcements and Presentations
President Bruce read a letter of thanks from the Family Crisis Center for the Club’s contributions of household and personal goods for the Center’s clients. Past President Jason Parker announced the Community Justice Forum to advance police and community relations which will be held on October 25 at the Mack Gaston Community Center, sponsored by both of Dalton’s Rotary clubs.
President Bruce gave an update on Rotary International’s effort to eradicate polio. Last spring there were only three known cases, all in Afghanistan, but now there are 26, of which three are in Nigeria, a country formerly polio-free. RI has released $8.5 million to resume vaccination programs in these countries, mostly in outlying border regions. Since 1985 Rotary has spent $1.6 billion to eliminate polio, and the world is now 99.9% polio-free. While our Club typically budgets $10 per member as a monthly contribution to Polio Plus, President Bruce asked members to make extra donations over the next three or four weekly meetings. He noted that October 24 will be World Polio Day, with a special video to be streamed from the CDC in Atlanta at 6:00 p.m. on that date. He also stated that auction proceeds on a special piece of china brought from Sweden by our GRSP student, Fredrik Mazur, will go to the polio fund.
President Bruce awarded Rob Bradham his Blue Badge, and Fredrik Mazur presented a banner from his home Rotary club in Stockholm-Borgen, pointing out that it bears a symbol dating back to 900 AD.
Fredrik Mazur
A Rotary Minute with Tommy Willingham
Rotarian Tommy Willingham, recently appointed Senior Pastor at Dalton First United Methodist Church, was originally from Rome, Georgia, but moved away as a child when his father shifted from farming to an electrical business in Smyrna, Georgia, and Tommy followed his dad in this line of work until he received a call to the ministry. He has since served many different types of churches, from small rural gatherings to large downtown congregations, but he found the work of establishing new churches to be specially fulfilling. Married for 41 years to his high school sweetheart and now with three grown children and ten grandchildren, he and his wife have quickly come to love Dalton, where they hope to stay for many years. His hobbies include anything outdoors, but particularly hunting, fishing, running, cycling, and golf.
Tommy Willingham
|
October 18th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, October 16, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA) |
22-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| O'Neill, Lin |
O'Neill, Michael Paul |
19-Oct |
|
| Bowling, Becky |
Bowling, John |
20-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Winter, Larry E. (LARRY) |
10/18/2005 |
10 |
|
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
10/21/2008 |
7 |
|
| Caperton, Robert William Jr.(ROBERT) |
10/22/2009 |
6 |
|
| Rhoden, W Scott (SCOTT) |
10/23/2007 |
8 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Mathis, Ginger Minor (GINGER) |
Thomas (TOM) |
20-Oct |
9 |
|
Transportation Improvements In Whitfield CountySunday, March 12, 2017By John Hutcheson
Before introducing DeWayne Comer of the Georgia Department of Transportation, Rotarian Steve Farrow paid tribute to Rotarian and former State Senator Roger Williams, whose service on the State Transportation Board has done much to enhance and improve the road networks of Whitfield County and of Northwest Georgia generally.
DeWayne Comer is the District Engineer for the Georgia Department of Transportation’s District 6, which includes Whitfield and other Northwest Georgia counties with an office in Cartersville. A graduate of Southern Polytechnic State University, he has served with the Department of Transportation for twenty-seven years and has been particularly involved in design.
DeWayne Comer
Illustrating his presentation with slides, DeWayne gave an overview of recent Department of Transportation projects in the local district and especially in Whitfield County. Near Atlanta the southbound Metro Express lanes of I-75 are now open, and work is continuing on the Northwest Corridor, which will be a toll road with nearly thirty miles of reversible lanes, including the longest land bridge in Georgia. This work was made possible by the Transportation Funding Act of 2015, which increased the Department’s budgeted resources by three billion dollars.
In Whitfield and surrounding counties, many resurfacing projects are underway, such as that on I-75 from Whitfield County to the Tennessee line. The Rocky Face interchange reconstruction is virtually complete and rebuilding of the Carbondale interchange is in progress. Last year saw work totaling $82 million in Whitfield County.
Immediate goals for the Department include prioritizing the capital maintenance schedule, addressing the needs of many deteriorating facilities, and contracting out much specialty work such as mowing. For 2017-2018, work in District 6 will involve widespread repair of cracked concrete and potholes, edge rut repair and vegetation removal, lane striping, and guardrail protection. The amount of $12.1 million has been set aside for Invited Transportation Bids (ITB’s); these are useful for small projects that can be completed within six months and have been made much easier with the 2015 funding act in place.
Announcements
President Bruce asked for a moment of silence in memory of former Dalton Fire Chief and Rotarian Cliff Maney. Afterwards, he called for recognition of the Dalton State Roadrunners as they enter the basketball tournament for the NAIA championship. Rotarian Ricky Robertson and Past President Jason Parker reminded members about the McClurg Track Meet on March 11 and the Earl Lusk Golf Tournament on April 11 respectively. President Bruce noted that the registration fee for the Rotary International convention in Atlanta in June will increase on March 31, and Past President John Richmond said he had brochures available about the Million Dollar Dinner. Rotarian Rob Bradham asked members to attend this evening’s public meeting when the results of the first two phases of the Chamber of Commerce’s Strategic Plan for Dalton will be announced.
|
March 14th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, March 12, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Richmond, John D. (JOHN) |
20-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Temples, Noel |
Temples, Coy H |
16-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Conway, Deborah R (DEBORAH) |
3/15/2016 |
1 |
|
| Tatum, Laurice A. (LAURICE) |
3/15/2016 |
1 |
|
| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
3/15/2016 |
1 |
|
| Townsend, Patrick J. (PAT) |
3/15/2016 |
1 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Pratt, Vallarie D. (VALLARIE) |
Shaun |
19-Mar |
23 |
|
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Six Years LaterSunday, October 9, 2016By John Hutcheson
Rotarian Don Adcock introduced Mark Mixer, CEO of HealthOne Alliance and Allied Health Plans. A past president of three HMO’s and president of the largest PPO in Georgia, Mark has just moved to Dalton from Marietta.
Mark pointed out that the most controversial part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA, has been its section concerning health insurance. Intended to insure the uninsured, it achieved this to a significant degree but it has also displaced many who were formerly insured. By establishing ten essential health benefits for which everyone is required to pay, whether they need them or not, the measure goes well beyond what most people want from their health insurance—the sort of situation Henry Ford probably had in mind when he said, “If I had asked people about what they wanted, they would have said ‘faster horses.’” What they got from Ford was far more than faster horses, bringing benefits but also unintended consequences and unforeseen problems. The same can be said of the PPACA.
Using slides to give a rapid but comprehensive overview of the Act’s insurance provisions, Mark summarized the four “metal level” Exchange Plans: Platinum, with a 90% to 10% ratio of benefits to co-payments; Gold, with an 80%-20% ratio; Silver, with a 70%-30% ratio; and Bronze, with a 60%-40% ratio. The PPACA does not require uninsured people to buy insurance, nor does it require employers to offer insurance, but it does impose respective penalties if insurance is not carried or offered, and these penalties are increasing.
In Georgia last year there were 1.8 million uninsured non-elderly residents, but ultimately only 8% of these, or about 147,000 persons, were enrolled under the Act. Because of financial losses, Aetna and Cigna have withdrawn from operations in Georgia as designated by the Act, leaving only Alliant and Blue Cross/Blue Shield as eligible providers in the state.
Nationally the Congressional Budget Office projects that in 2023 only 8% of the uninsured will be enrolled under PPACA. The measure has slowed but has not halted the growth of premiums, and maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs will also increase—perhaps doubling every sixteen years. Because Federal rules have capped MOOP amounts, there will be strong pressure toward the use of high-deductible plans. These are likely to be accompanied by tiered networks of providers, domestic medical tourism and bundled payments as patients shop for services, and systemic changes such as greater transparency and tele-health modes of diagnosis and treatment.
Mark Mixer
A Rotary Minute with Chris Cooke
Officer Chris Cooke of the Dalton Police Department, who was inducted into the Club this past July, introduced himself as a military kid who lived in many places but graduated from high school here. He served in the Army for four years, of which three-and-a-half were spent in Hawaii. Now married for 25 years and with two grown sons, he has been with the Dalton Police Department for 26 years and was sponsored for Rotary by his Chief, Club Past President Jason Parker. Since his induction he has worked with Smitty Barnett to collect goods for the Family Crisis Center, on whose board he served for many years. His hobbies include building home-made campers, reading literature on leadership, working with Young Leaders of Dalton, and picking on firemen.
Chris Cooke
Announcements
Rotarian Rob Bradham urged Club members to take the Greater Dalton Strategy Survey. Secretary-Treasurer Frank Hogshead announced that the badge box is being reorganized to incorporate recently inducted members into an alphabetical sequence and that most badge numbers are likely to change. Smitty Barnett thanked members for their contributions of personal and household goods during August and September for the benefit of the Family Crisis Center which totaled almost $1,400 in value, and noted that during October canned food will be collected for distribution at Thanksgiving by the Salvation Army. President Bruce awarded her Blue Badge to Jessica Trivino. He also reminded the Club that the next Rotary R & R will be on October 18, when a cookout will take the place of the regular weekly meeting.
Jessica Trivino
|
October 11th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, October 9, 2016
| Birthdays and Anniversaries for 10/11/16 to 10/17/16 |
|
| |
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. (PAUL) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
11-Oct |
|
|
| Waugh, Derek (DEREK) |
13-Oct |
|
|
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
16-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Sponcler, Betty |
Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr. |
11-Oct |
|
| Ryman, Mary |
Ryman, Milton J. Jr. |
17-Oct |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Cruse, Lesley Dale (DALE) |
10/12/2010 |
5 |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Wright, William B. Jr.(WILLIAM) |
Betty |
14-Oct |
57 |
|
Rotary Track Meet PicturesSunday, March 12, 2017(1).jpg) .jpg)
.jpg) (1).jpg)
|
The Whitfield-Murray Historical SocietySunday, March 5, 2017By John Hutcheson
President Bruce introduced Rotarian Vallarie Pratt, Executive Director of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society (WMHS). After earning her bachelor’s degree in history at Dalton State and interning at the Bandy Heritage Center under Dr. John Fowler, Vallarie attended graduate school at the University of West Georgia with a concentration in public history, interning at the Atlanta History Center and receiving a research assistantship from the Georgia Humanities Council to assist First Lady Sandra Deal with historical research for a book on the Governor’s Mansion, Following transfer to the University of North Georgia she received an assistantship in world history and focused on early Christianity and gender studies. She currently resides on a farm in Cohutta with her husband and two sons.
Vallarie Pratt
Vallarie recognized several trustees of the WMHS who were present, along with the Society’s current intern from Dalton State. Her interest in history was first kindled by Tim Howard when she was his middle school student in Murray County. After college and an unsatisfying period of employment in financial marketing, she successfully applied to become the WMHS Executive Director, a position she has now held for a year and found to be completely fulfilling.
The origins of the WMHS go back to 1953, when a group of local women organized to preserve and restore the Chief Vann House in Spring Place, which had fallen into a ruinous condition. After more than four years’ work, the owner donated the house to the state, and it is now managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources with advice and assistance from the WMHS.
Following the completion of the Vann House project, the Society was inactive until it reorganized in 1976 at the time of the National Bicentennial. Because Whitfield had been part of Murray County until 1851, a single agency for both counties was deemed appropriate, and today it owns and maintains five properties in Whitfield and three in Murray. In Whitfield these include the Crown Gardens and Archives (location of the Society’s headquarters) in the former office building of the Crown Cotton Mill (1890s), the Hamilton House (1840), the Blunt House (1848), the Huff House (ca. 1855), and Dug Gap Battle Park (1864); in Murray are the Wright Hotel (1909), the Chatsworth Depot (1905) where a former L & N caboose (1960) is now being restored, and the Spring Place Methodist Church (1875). Vallarie illustrated each of these with slides, accompanied by brief descriptions and historical summaries.
As the Society moves forward from the 40th anniversary of its revitalization, it is striving to engage and involve younger people with its work along with those of more mature years who have traditionally provided much of its core support. In the summer of 2015 it offered its first annual History Camp for children ages 8-12, providing kid-centered tours, with appropriate activities hosted by of each of its properties, which have proven very successful. In addition, preparations are underway for genealogy camps and to train students to act as junior docents at the Society’s sites, with scholarships available to high school students based on their work with the WMHS. Among future plans are bilingual tours and an increasing emphasis on Living History exhibits.
Coming events include genealogy workshops held in cooperation with the Daughters of the American Revolution, the annual Rummage Sale on March 24th and 25th, a presentation on Mill League baseball to be presented by Dr. Tom Veve of Dalton State, the Huffabaloo at the Huff House on May 7, and “Tea With Mom” at the Wright Hotel on May 13. Most of the Society’s venues may be rented for weddings or receptions, and it has also recently published an illustrated history of the Whitfield County Schools by one of its most active members, Dr. Ellen Thompson. All of these undertakings reflect the WMHS’s community outreach, frequently in partnership with other organizations and acting upon the maxim that “there’s no use in saving it if you don’t share it.” Together they seek to honor the Society’s motto: “Preserving the past. Ensuring the future.”
Announcements
President Bruce introduced Rotarian Rich Panyik, a charter member and former president of the Rotary Club of South Gwinnett and Governor of District 6910 in 1999-2000. Rich briefly recalled the history of The Rotary Foundation, which will celebrate its centennial at the Atlanta Rotary International Convention in June. As the District 6910 Major Donor Chair, he appealed for members to consider attending the Million Dollar Dinner for the Foundation’s benefit to be hosted at at the Georgia Aquarium on June 9 by Districts 6900, 6910, and 6920; eligibility to attend requires a gift of at least $10,000 made or pledged during the centennial year of 2016-2017.
Rich Panyik
President Bruce presented Blue Badges to Rotarians Darla Chambliss and Linda Blackman.
Darla Chambliss and Linda Blackman
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Recovering Our Past: Georgia's Rural ChurchesSunday, October 2, 2016By John Hutcheson
Program Chairman Henry Tharpe introduced former Rotarian Jim Jolly, who in turn introduced Sonny Seals and George Hart, co-founders of Historic Rural Churches of Georgia (HRCG), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to research, documentation, and preservation of Georgia’s historic rural churches. Jim met Sonny and George while hunting in Hancock County, where the two, who’ve been friends since 1961 and are tireless road-trippers always on the look-out for old churches, cemeteries, and collapsing buildings, had discovered an early nineteenth-century church with much of its original structure intact but needing extensive restoration. George later took Sonny to Clinton, formerly the seat of Jones County, where George had grown up. There they found a Methodist church, built in 1821 and still functioning, although the town itself is now largely gone. These experiences were the start of Historic Rural Churches of Georgia, founded in 2012, which now works in about half of Georgia’s 159 counties (although not yet in Whitfield or Murray). Eleven photographers are providing visual documentation, and the organization publishes its findings on a website which has attracted 500,000 hits over the past year. Its Facebook page has 40,000 followers, and through the University of Georgia Press it has just published a book covering 47 churches, with a foreword by President Jimmy Carter.
Rural churches are repositories of the history of Georgia and the South in ways that differ from churches in towns or cities. Stimulated by the eight land lotteries held between 1805 and 1833, Georgia’s population rapidly expanded to the west and north from the coastal region. In much of the state, where settlements were widely scattered and governing institutions barely existed, churches provided more social cohesion than anything else and became uniquely influential centers of community life. Consequently, their stories are often those of their communities as well, making rural churches eyes through which much of Georgia’s past can be viewed. An example can be seen at Powelton in Hancock County, a town no longer extant but still the location of two important churches. On one end of town is the Baptist church, organized in 1786 and one of the oldest continuously operating Baptist churches in the state, while on the other is the Methodist church, where Sonny was astonished to discover its cemetery to be the burial place of one of his great-grandfathers, who had served in the Confederate Army.
HRCG groups churches into three categories: thriving, barely hanging on, and gone but not forgotten. Its physical preservation work is done in cooperation with local community agencies, and with an estimated average of three eligible churches in each of Georgia’s counties, there is much to be done. In closing, Sonny and George requested Club members to visit HRCG’s website and Facebook page and to feel free to nominate potential candidates for research and preservation.
George Hart and Sonny Seals
Announcements
President Bruce announced that collection of food and household supplies for the Family Crisis Center during August and September was very successful, and in October the Club will collect food for distribution by the Salvation Army. He then introduced Bruce Frazier, Public Relations Specialist for the Dalton Police Department, who now manages the Club’s Newsletter and its exposure on social media. Bruce encouraged members to visit the Club’s Facebook page, and he showed two commercial videos now running on WDNN in which Rotarians Shell Underwood, John Hutcheson, and Ricky and Cherri Robertson briefly describe Rotary’s significance for them and for the local community.
Bruce Frazier
A Rotary Minute with Ricky Robertson
Rotarian Ricky Robertson, describing himself as a Christian, a husband, and a father, told of growing up locally, attending Southeast Whitfield High School and Dalton State College and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in management information systems. His first job after college was with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Department, in which he rose to the rank of detective, specializing in white-collar crimes. From this position he was recruited by the banking industry to work in security, and he is now employed by FSG, a part of Atlantic Capital Bank. His wife, Cherri, is also a Rotarian and they have two children. They are members of New Life Baptist Church, and in his spare time Ricky enjoys marathon running.
Ricky Robertson
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October 4th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, October 2, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Willingham, Tommy G (TOMMY) |
4-Oct |
|
|
| Farmer, Joseph (JOSEPH) |
6-Oct |
|
|
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
7-Oct |
|
|
| Gilreath, Judy Ellen (JUDY) |
9-Oct |
|
|
| Aft, David (DAVID) |
9-Oct |
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Sutherland, Phyllis |
Sutherland, George W. |
5-Oct |
|
| Griffin, Brenda |
Griffin, Ronald L |
8-Oct |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Barnett, George S (SMITTY) |
10/6/2015 |
0 |
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Peterfreund, Allen David (ALLEN) |
Anna |
4-Oct |
12 |
| Chute, Patricia M (PAT) |
Bob |
9-Oct |
34 |
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
Sherry |
10-Oct |
28 |
|
March 7th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, March 5, 2017
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Henson, Paul E. Jr. (PAUL) |
10-Mar |
|
|
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
12-Mar |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Griffin, Candy |
Griffin, Joseph Bryan |
12-Mar |
|
| Harris, Lezlie |
Harris, Kevin W |
13-Mar |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
Virginia |
12-Mar |
51 |
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Interact At Christian Heritage SchoolSunday, September 25, 2016By John Hutcheson
President Bruce announced that an Interact Club has been organized at Christian Heritage School—the second such club in an area high school—and he introduced Kelsey and Meghan Schneller, twin sisters who are its co-presidents; April Schneller, the club’s advisor; and Gerald Porter, the CHS Head of School. After reading the Interact Mission Statement, President Bruce presented an official certification to the co-presidents.
President Bruce and the Interact officers
He then turned the program over to Mr. Porter, who gave a brief overview of CHS. Preparing to celebrate its 30 th anniversary this year, the school now has about 400 students enrolled in its K-12 grades, and when the new high school facility, scheduled for completion this coming November, opens in August 2017, space will be available to grow to 600 students. One critical aspect of CHS is its emphasis on service through real-world projects which are STEM-based with a fine arts component added; another is the importance attached to global outreach, exemplified by a program in Swaziland to combine Christian missionary work with the development of sustainable energy and increased food production. Moreover, CHS now enrolls twenty foreign students, and its board has mandated greater diversity in the student body.
Mr. Porter then called on Albert Laboy, Latino Outreach and International Director for CHS, who in turn introduced Chad Zhang, a junior from China, and Veljko Stojanovic, a senior from Serbia, asking them to comment briefly on their experiences in America and at CHS. Chad said he had been amazed by the diversity he’s encountered and the friendships he’s formed, while Veljko praised CHS for fostering creativity in its students—of the many schools he’s attended, he sees CHS as the best. Its teachers are rigorous, but they know when to show grace. Within the U.S. he is happiest in the South because of its warm hospitality.
CHS students Kersten Shultz, Heath Hardaway, and Darrin Pasquah presented a video about “Winds of Hope,” the project in Swaziland. Over five days CHS students built two vertical wind turbines to generate sustainable energy which can be used to support work in aquaponics that will enrich the food supply, while at the same time they energetically spread the Christian message. Through this and a current project to provide hybrid energy to a Christian school for the deaf in Jamaica, the students hope to become servant models for those who succeed them at CHS.
Interact advisor Schneller closed the program by pointing to local CHS service work, such as assisting at Friendship House, and she invited Rotarians to visit CHS for a closer look at its undertakings.
Guests from CHS
A Rotary Minute with Shell Underwood
Shell Underwood, who was inducted into Rotary a few weeks ago on August 2, introduced herself as the mother of three children ages 4, 8, and 9, along with two adult children from her husband’s previous marriage. He works much of the time on an oil platform in the South China Sea and Shell owns a local insurance practice with Modern Woodmen of America. She began attending Rotary during her recent campaign for a County Commission seat, in the course of which she learned about Rotary’s service ethic, was deeply impressed by it, and wanted to participate in Rotary’s good work.
Shell Underwood
An Announcement and Inductions of New Members
President Bruce informed the Club that it has received a District Grant of $2,100 for use in a Centennial Service Project to commemorate the 100 th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation. Membership Chair Tray Brantley introduced Celeste Creswell, Valerie Brantley, Sandy McKenzie, and Pat Chute for induction into the Club by President Bruce, who also presented Rotarian Chris Cooke with his Blue Badge.
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Telling Dalton's Stories For Education and Heritage Tourism DollarsMonday, February 27, 2017By John Hutcheson
Rotarian Bill Blackman introduced Rotarian Kathryn Sellers and Brett Huske, Director of Tourism for the Dalton Visitors Bureau. Kathryn knows well the value the history and its treasures that lie in our own backyard, and she has long promoted tourism and historical preservation, most recently through the Civil War 150th Committee and the Textile Heritage Trail. A member of the Historical Preservation Commissions both for Dalton and for Whitfield County, she has been instrumental in preserving the Huff House on Selvidge Street and in restoration and adaptation of the Martin House as part of First Presbyterian Church.
Kathryn Sellers
Kathryn began her presentation by pointing out that in addition to the economic benefits Dalton derives from hosting various recreational events and sporting competitions—especially those drawn by its proximity to the mountains—the community is also ideally situated to show visitors its rich cultural and historical context. Cultural heritage tourists seek to experience places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of an area’s past and present through its cultural, historic, and natural resources, and research shows that such visitors stay longer and spend more money than those arriving for a specific event.
In Dalton/Whitfield, tourism supports 1,604 jobs and generates $172.2 million in travel spending, which in turn produces $5.2 million in local tax revenue, with another $1,641,119 accruing in 2016 from the lodging tax. For conservation, interpretation, exhibition, and marketing, local heritage tourism is supported by the cooperative efforts of the Dalton Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, the Bandy Heritage Center at Dalton State College, Save the Dalton Battlefields LLC, the Dalton and Whitfield County Historic Preservation Commissions, and the governments of Dalton and Whitfield County.
Using slides, Kathryn illustrated and gave historical highlights for several locations, including the Crown Gardens & Archives, the Blunt House, Dug Gap Battle Park, the Huff House, the Bandy Heritage Center’s exhibition space in the Old Freight Depot, and the Crescent City Rail Car. She briefly reviewed the work of the Civil War 150th commemoration, noting that the 150 articles on local Civil War history which appeared in the Daily Citizen from 2010 to 2015 will soon be published in book form. The National Park Service has stated that Dalton has “the most still-intact Civil War defenses of any city in the United States,” and Kathryn’s slides showed views of earthen and stone works to be found at Potato Hill off Reed Road, on Blue Mountain, overlooking Mill Creek Gap, and on Rocky Face Ridge. Prater’s Mill and the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center are additional attractions for heritage tourists.
Moving beyond the Civil War era to Dalton’s industrial development as a manufacturing center, attention has begun to focus on the chenille and carpet story. An information kiosk at the Cuyler Street corner of the Freight Depot directs visitors to a number of historical tufting industry sites, and an exhibition designer has been contracted to create an exhibit in the Convention Center which will gather and present artifacts integral to the chenille-to-carpet story—Kathryn appealed to Club members for help in collecting old machinery, carpet raw materials, and examples of end products. Finally, she reminded members of the upcoming Dixie Highway Celebration on April 21-22 which will celebrate the centennial of the Dixie Highway (today’s US 41) and its importance as a supplement to the railroad for connecting Dalton to the outside world.
Announcements
Rotarian Ricky Robertson reminded the Club about the track meet on March 11 as did Past President Jason Parker regarding the golf tournament on April 11; both asked for additional assistance from members. President Bruce read articles from the March issue of The Rotarian regarding the importance of growing membership, and he presented her blue badge to Rotarian Sandy McKenzie.
Sandy McKenzie
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September 25th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, September 25, 2016
| Birthdays and Anniversaries for 09/27/16 to 10/03/16 |
|
| |
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Wright, Thomas L (THOMAS) |
2-Oct |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Trivino, Miguel |
Trivino, Jessica K. |
27-Sep |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Total |
| Sellers, Kathryn Oehler (KATHRYN) |
9/27/2011 |
4 |
4 |
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
9/30/2014 |
1 |
1 |
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
9/30/2014 |
1 |
1 |
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
10/1/2013 |
2 |
2 |
| Griffin, Joseph Bryan (BRYAN) |
10/1/2013 |
2 |
2 |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
Alex |
28-Sep |
24 |
| Taylor, Zachary (ZACH) |
Joanie |
30-Sep |
20 |
|
Georgia Northwestern Technical College: The Dalton/Sunday, September 11, 2016By John Hutcheson
Since the Dalton Country Club was closed for its annual post-Labor Day maintenance, the Rotary Club of Dalton accepted an invitation to meet on the Whitfield-Murray campus of Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC), with lunch catered by the Oakwood Cafe. President Bruce introduced Rotarian Dr. Ginger Mathis, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for GNTC’s Whitfield-Murray, Catoosa, and Walker County campuses and Manager of the Whitfield-Murray facility. She in turn introduced Dr. Pete McDonald, President of GNTC since 2013 and a member of the Rotary Club of Rome.
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Dr. Ginger Mathis and Dr. Pete McDonald
After recognizing several other GNTC administrators in the room, President McDonald briefly surveyed the Technical College System of Georgia, within which GNTC is one of 22 such institutions. On its six campuses serving nine counties GNTC pursues a three-fold mission of providing technical education, fostering economic development, and offering adult education opportunities. A video showed how GNTC works to meet the needs of business and industry in the core areas of business and industrial technology, health professions, and public service, guided by the advice of a Board of Directors composed of fourteen diverse business, industrial, and professional leaders.
During the last academic year GNTC enrolled 7,970 students, of which 32.5% were full-time, 67.5% were part-time, 63% were female and 37% were male. There were about 3,000 adult education students, and the College overall provided more than 45,000 credit hours of customized training. In addition, it awarded 276 GED’s and provided driver’s education to more than 90 students. The newest campus is a 55,000 sq. ft. facility in Ringgold, opened in the fall of 2016.
The Whitfield-Murray campus has strong partnerships with the Whitfield County Schools, Dalton State College, and the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy. It is now in Phase 2 of an expansion plan which calls for a badly needed 80,000 sq. ft. building that will house advanced skill laboratories and eliminate having to share these with the Career Academy. The state’s FY 2015 budget appropriated $900,000 for planning, and with a projected cost of $22.9 million, the structure will be built adjacent to the existing facilities, on a site of 23 acres transferred to GNTC by the Whitfield County Schools. Thanks to local assistance marshaled by President Joe Yarbrough of the Carpet and Rug Institute, the site has been graded and prepared, and further donations from private sources may encourage the Governor to approve final funding.
Future programs needed on the Whitfield-Murray campus lie in the fields of industrial technology, industrial operations, and partnerships with flooring manufacturers. Along with the necessity for physical expansion, challenges facing the campus include retaining experienced faculty, responding to area workforce needs, increasing the number of GED completers, and adjusting to a growing number of dual-enrollment high school students under the state’s Move On When Ready program.
Following the presentation and adjournment of the meeting, Whitfield-Murray campus staff provided lab tours for interested Club members.
Lab Tour
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September 13th and 20th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, September 11, 2016
| Birthdays and Anniversaries for 09/11/16 to 09/26/16 |
|
| |
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
16-Sep |
|
|
| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
17-Sep |
|
|
| Cooke, Christopher M (CHRIS) |
24-Sep |
|
|
| Dickson, Thomas S. (TOM) |
22-Sep |
|
|
| Minor, John Thomas V (JOHN) |
15-Sep |
|
|
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
12-Sep |
|
|
| Pennington, David E. (DAVID) |
22-Sep |
|
|
| Williams, Roger (ROGER) |
22-Sep |
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Parker, April |
Parker, Hoyt Jason |
24-Sep |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Total |
| Boyett, William T (BILLY) |
9/24/2013 |
3 |
3 |
| Sanford, Robert Mitchell (MITCH) |
9/20/2011 |
5 |
5 |
| Scott, William M. (WILL) |
9/23/2014 |
2 |
2 |
| Tripp, Larry E. (LARRY) |
9/23/2014 |
2 |
2 |
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Bowen, William C. III(BILL) |
Ann |
14-Sep |
42 |
| Kiker, Janice F. (JANICE) |
John |
23-Sep |
55 |
| Little, William Norris Sr.(NORRIS) |
Billie |
13-Sep |
63 |
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
Julie |
12-Sep |
45 |
| Ward, Barbara K. (BARBARA) |
Allen |
17-Sep |
49 |
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Meet Our New GRSP StudentSunday, September 4, 2016By John Hutcheson
Past President John Richmond reported on attending the GRSP conclave at Augusta State University on August 26, where 51 students in this year’s GRSP gathered for a kick-off event. Representing 17 countries, they are enrolled at 22 different colleges across the state.
Rotarian Larry Winter, whose family are the current local GRSP hosts, thanked John Richmond and Bill Bowen for their dedication to GRSP and introduced the Club’s sponsored student for this year, Fredrik Mazur of Sweden. Fredrik also thanked John and Bill for their help in getting him settled in Dalton and extended gratitude to the Club for making his stay here possible.
Fredrik Mazur
In Sweden Fredrik is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Stockholm-Borgen, where his grandfather has been a member for more than 50 years. With a current membership of about 40, this is one of several Rotary clubs in the Stockholm area.
Using slides, Fredrik gave a brief overview of Sweden and its culture. Having a population of 9.9 million and an area about three times that of Georgia, the country is a parliamentary democracy with an hereditary monarch—currently Carl XVI Gustaf—as the symbolic head of state and royal palaces at Drottningholm and Stockholm. Swedish celebrities include, among many, the actress Greta Garbo; the pop singing group ABBA; Astrid Lindgren, creator of Pippa Longstocking; tennis champion Bjorn Borg; and Alicia Vikander, who won this year’s Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Volvo and Ikea are internationally known Swedish companies, as are Spotify, Skype, Minecraft, Ericsson (software), and H & M (high-end clothing). Among notable Swedish inventors are Alfred Nobel (dynamite), Rune Elmqvist (the implantable pacemaker), Johan Petter Johansson (the adjustable wrench), and Gideon Sündback (the zipper).
Fredrik grew up in Falkenberg, a village on the west coast of Sweden, but his family moved to Stockholm three years ago. As a child he wanted to become a policeman. Over the years he spent much time playing soccer and table tennis (a very popular game in Sweden) and skiing, but he also worked hard in school where he began studying English at age ten. His favorite game now is golf, which he plays often with his best friend, whom he met in high school.
Fredrik’s parents met when they were students at the Stockholm School of Economics. His father has been Vice President for Sales with Carlsberg Beer and Campbell Nordic and now has his own company which handles nationwide advertising of grocery specials. His mother began her career as an accountant and then taught high school. His older brother is 26 and is in a doctoral program in physics, and his sister, who is 24, holds a degree from the Stockholm School of Economics and is a management consultant. To broaden their experiences, Fredrik’s family takes a major trip each year, in the past visiting places such as Switzerland, Italy, and the United States, where they went to New York and Florida.
Responding to questions, Fredrik said that the major Swedish holidays are Christmas, Easter, and Midsummer Day. He heard about GRSP through his sister, who has studied in Illinois. At Dalton State he is taking U. S. history and government, business environment, and English composition—he dropped calculus, having already taken it in high school. When he returns to Sweden, he may go into business engineering, although this isn’t yet a certainty. In the meantime, he hopes his new friends in Dalton Rotary will feel free to contact him at 706-581-7410, by email at [email protected], or on Facebook at FredrikMazur.
Family Crisis Center Project
President Bruce reminded members of the Club’s project to collect personal care items for the Family Crisis Center, such as soaps, deodorants, razors, toothpaste, laundry soap, towels, washcloths, twin-size sheets and comforters, hairbrushes, feminine products, and used cell phones that can be converted to 911 access. Collection boxes will be at the reception desk at the meetings on September 20 and 27.
Family Crisis Center Donation Boxes
A Rotary Minute with Vallarie Pratt
Vallarie Pratt, who was inducted into Rotary a few weeks ago on July 19, introduced herself in this year’s first Rotary Minute. Now Director of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, her interest in history led her to graduate school and a research assistantship at the Governor’s Mansion in Atlanta. She has been married to her husband Shaun for 23 years and is the mother of two sons. They live on a horse farm in Cohutta, where she also raises free-range chickens as a hobby.
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Vallarie Pratt
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September 6th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, September 4, 2016
| Birthdays and Anniversaries for 09/06/16 to 09/12/16 |
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| |
|
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Myers, Jeffrey Donald (JEFFREY) |
7-Sep |
|
|
|
| Miller, Charles Dalton (CHARLES) |
7-Sep |
|
|
|
| Peterfreund, Allen David (ALLEN) |
8-Sep |
|
|
|
| Taylor, Zachary (ZACH) |
8-Sep |
|
|
|
| Elliott, Judy M. (JUDY) |
9-Sep |
|
|
|
| Johnson, Roy Glenn (ROY) |
10-Sep |
|
|
|
| Mooney, Patricia H (PATTY) |
12-Sep |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Pennington, Pamela |
Pennington, David E. |
6-Sep |
|
|
| Pare', Pamela |
Pare', Michel C. |
8-Sep |
|
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Total |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Townsend, Patrick J (PAT) |
Teresa |
10-Sep |
38 |
|
| Tharpe, Henry C. (HENRY) |
Julie |
12-Sep |
44 |
|
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The Unseen Hazard To Your HealthFriday, August 26, 2016By John Hutcheson
Don Finkell
Rotarian Janice Kiker introduced Zachary Taylor, M.D., a Rotarian and Director of the North Georgia Health District, and Don Finkell, formerly a staff architect with TVA who subsequently spent more than thirty years in the hardwood flooring industry at Anderson Hardwood Floors, where he became CEO, and at Shaw Industries following its acquisition of Anderson in 2007. After retiring from Shaw in 2013 Don founded American OEM, a U.S. producer of engineered hardwood floors which offers a competitive alternative to imported private label products. Janice proudly noted that Don also happens to be her son-in-law.
Dr. Taylor began the program with general remarks on hazards associated with formaldehyde, one of the most common chemicals in our everyday environment. Popularly known for its preservative qualities and pungent odor, formaldehyde is almost universally present in small amounts, even being produced in minute quantities by the human body. Breaking down in air and easily dissolved in water, it does not build up in humans, but extended exposure to large amounts can cause disorders ranging from respiratory system irritations to several kinds of cancer. Fortunately, such dangers can be readily avoided or minimized. By way of presenting a special case, Don Finkell surveyed formaldehyde’s use in the manufacture of hardwood floor coverings, along with some of the challenges arising from its regulation in domestic production, particularly in the light of competition with products imported from countries with less stringent standards or maybe none at all.
Don noted that floor coverings can strongly affect indoor air quality, and manufacturers thus have a responsibility to their customers to reduce hazards as much as possible. Formaldehyde is an important component in the glues used in plywood and in laminate and engineered floors, and its regulation may be applied either to separate stages of the manufacturing process or to the finished products—the approach will vary from place to place in the U.S. Moreover, laminated wood floors and engineered floors each have their own sets of regulations because of different amounts of glue used in them. Since 2008 the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has imposed notably rigorous regulations, based on certifications by independent third parties, and these have been mimicked by the Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of the Federal government.
Although domestic producers of hardwood flooring are subject to extensive regulation, foreign producers are not, and by using cheaper glues foreign products gain a competitive advantage in the retail market. However, their higher formaldehyde emissions do not meet standards such as those used by CARB, and consequently their distributors have sometimes fallen into grave legal jeopardy. An example is Lumber Liquidators, a business which sold much flooring produced in China and was prosecuted following an exposé by CBS on 60 Minutes of the dangerous formaldehyde levels in Chinese flooring products.
Once a billion-dollar company, Lumber Liquidators is now in danger of failure. Further difficulties have emerged from a modification of the Lacey Act, a U.S. law passed in 1900 to restrict imports of stolen animal products. In 2008 it was amended to include certain trees and wood products, with the intent of preventing illegal logging and deforestation. This created more problems for Lumber Liquidators, for the amendment’s environmental implications engaged the interest of animal rights activists who have now become leading watchers for compliance with the measure.
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August 30th Birthdays and AnniversariesFriday, August 26, 2016
| Birthdays and Anniversaries for 08/30/16 to 09/05/16 |
|
| |
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Cope, Don (DON) |
1-Sep |
|
|
| Satterfield, Bruce A. (BRUCE) |
5-Sep |
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Hutcheson, Marilyn |
Hutcheson, John A. Jr. |
2-Sep |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Total |
| Goodroe, Robert S. (ROBERT) |
9/1/1964 |
51 |
51 |
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
9/1/1979 |
36 |
36 |
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Howard, Gary L. (GARY) |
Janie |
5-Sep |
45 |
|
A Visit From The District GovernorSunday, August 21, 2016By John Hutcheson
District Governor Kim Waters
Assistant District Governor Mary Thelma Norris, a member of Dalton’s Carpet City Rotary Club, introduced District 6910 Governor Kim Waters. A native of Gainesville, Georgia, Governor Kim served as President of the Rotary Club of Hall County in 2010-2011 and was Rotarian of the Year for 2011-2012. She can boast a perfect attendance record, holding many offices at district and state levels, and is a Level III Major Donor and member of the Paul Harris Society. A real estate and insurance professional, she is also an aviation enthusiast and a licensed pilot for land and sea flying.
Her distinguished record in Rotary notwithstanding, Governor Kim began her comments with a reminder that every Rotarian is important, regardless of office or status. As the centennial of the Rotary Foundation, the year 2017 is especially significant, for the Foundation and its work are what make Rotary different from other civic associations, and the Governor is encouraging all clubs to initiate or designate a Centennial Project. An example for our club would be its provision of benches in Brookwood Park, which was partly funded by a district grant of $2,100 from the Foundation. On a broader scale, she cited projects underwritten by the district governors in RI Zones 33 and 34 (of which District 6910 is a part) to contribute a cataract surgery machine to a Jamaican hospital and—inspired by RI President John Germ of Chattanooga—to build a peace garden at a home for abused girls. With a current endowment of more than $100 billion, the Foundation has funded over $3 billion in various projects since its establishment in 1917, of which the near-eradication of polio is one of the most recent and meaningful. Until last week only 19 known cases remained—13 in Pakistan and 6 in Afghanistan—and while two more have just been discovered in Nigeria, it’s fair to say that the end of polio is in sight. Over its 79-year history, the Rotary Club of Dalton has contributed almost $425,000 to the Rotary Foundation.
Turning to this year’s goals for both RI and for District 6910, Governor Kim pointed to membership growth as the highest priority. Like RI generally, the Dalton club’s membership has remained essentially stable for at least twenty years. She suggested that the obligations of membership may need to become more flexible, with less emphasis on maintaining perfect or near-perfect attendance and more on how Rotarians can become better parts of their community and, in the process, better persons themselves. As RI President John has said, Rotary needs willing hands, caring hearts, and bright minds, and this year’s “Strengthening Rotary” initiative focuses on extending the Rotary brand by “connecting leaders to exchange ideas and take action,” whether locally or internationally. The Foundation is the arm that enables such action, and learning about its vision and accomplishments from current Rotarians can be a powerful attractor to potential new members, many of whom are likely to join Rotary if only they are asked.
Governor Kim concluded by thanking the club for all it does and presented President Bruce a specially minted 2017 coin commemorating the Foundation’s centennial while urging members to attend the District conference in Chattanooga in October and the RI annual convention in Atlanta next June. She encouraged the Club’s continuation toward achieving a membership totally composed of Paul Harris Fellows, and she asked everyone to consider making a special centennial donation to the Foundation which would be applied to the district goal of $100,000. At the end of her remarks, club treasurer Frank Hogshead announced a $500 donation to the Foundation in Governor Kim’s honor.
Announcements and Recognitions
Past President John Richmond introduced Fredrik Mazur of Stockholm, Sweden, who is the Club’s sponsored GRSP student for the coming academic year. Fredrik will speak to the Club at its meeting on August 30.
Responding to RI President John Germ's message of “Rotary Serving Humanity,” Smitty Barnett, Community Service Chair, announced that the Brookwood Park improvement project is now almost complete, and he outlined a new program to provide assistance to local agencies on a year-round basis. The first such project is to collect needed items for the Family Crisis Center such as soaps, deodorants, razors, toothpaste, laundry soap, towels, washcloths, twin sheets and comforters, hairbrushes, feminine products, and used cell phones that can be converted for 911 access. Beginning at the August 23 meeting and continuing through September, these can be deposited in a box near the check-in desk. In October, a canned food drive will be conducted in cooperation with the Salvation Army, and throughout the year Rotarians will partner as needed with members of First United Methodist Church and the American Legion to build wheelchair ramps and decks for disabled veterans.
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Smitty Barnett
District 6910 Governor Kim Waters presented recently inducted Rotarian Will Scott with his blue badge. She also recognized Immediate Past President Jason Parker as a new Paul Harris Fellow, facilitated by an anonymous donation in honor of Jason’s service to Rotary.
 
Will Scott (left) and Jason Parker (right)
|
August 23rd Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, August 21, 2016
| Birthdays and Anniversaries for 08/23/16 to 08/29/16 |
|
| |
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Rhoden, W Scott (SCOTT) |
23-Aug |
|
|
| Rowland, Bradley Wayne (BRAD) |
25-Aug |
|
|
| Sanford, Robert Mitchell (MITCH) |
25-Aug |
|
|
| Jones, J Sherwood III (SHERWOOD) |
26-Aug |
|
|
| Farrow, Stephen B (STEVE) |
26-Aug |
|
|
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
27-Aug |
|
|
| Morehouse, Gordon C. (GORDON) |
27-Aug |
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Aft, Pauline |
Aft, David |
27-Aug |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Pare', Michel C. (MICHEL) |
Pamela |
23-Aug |
29 |
| Broadrick, Bruce L. (BRUCE) |
Mary Ann |
23-Aug |
40 |
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
Carolyn |
26-Aug |
49 |
| Bowling, John (JOHN) |
Becky |
27-Aug |
49 |
|
2016 High School Football PreviewSunday, August 14, 2016By John Hutcheson
President Bruce Satterfield and President-Elect Kevin Brunson
Dalton Kiwanis president John Thomas opened a joint meeting of the Rotary Club of Dalton and the Carpet City Rotary Club with the Dalton Kiwanis Club at the Dalton Convention Center. After welcoming remarks he introduced Rotarian and former Dalton High School Football Coach Ronnie McClurg, who emphasized that high school football in the Dalton/Whitfield area is blessed to have extremely talented and committed individuals in the coaching positions and called on five local coaches to give their assessments of the coming season,
Coach Jay Poag of Christian Heritage High School began by recognizing his school’s Athletic Director, Chad Jordan, and pointed to a high level of excitement at Christian Heritage following an active summer for his team. CHHS players visited Atlanta for the Cam Newton 7-on-7 tournament and traveled to Charlotte as well. This year will see a lot of new faces on offense, but with players at 6’5”, 6’7”, and 6’4” there is strong potential for good passing and receiving. One team member is Coach Poag’s son, and another is an exchange student from Spain who originally planned to play basketball but changed to football and shows much promise even though he’d never played the game before. On defense, five or six players are returning, and there are good prospects in the middle school for future squads. The team will go back to Charlotte for scrimmages and college tours and open its regular season with North Murray High on August 19.
Coach Chad Barger of Coahulla Creek High School said that “the Creek is on the rise” as it builds a tradition. While his squad of 53 (down from 75 in spring practice) lacks size and experience, they have good skills and will need to be creative. Coach Barger and his staff are stressing the importance of committing to the team’s effort rather than merely contributing to it (analogous to how a chicken’s provision of eggs to the breakfast table is a contribution, but the pig’s provision of bacon represents commitment). During the summer the CCHS team went to 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 camps, where they learned to “show up, play, and press hard.”
Coach Matt Land of Dalton High School noted that DHS, as in the last six years, finds itself in a new region with a new classification, facing a new set of opponents, including South Cobb High of Austell, Harrison High of Kennesaw, Osborne High of Marietta, and—at the season’s end—Allatoona High of Acworth, last year’s 5-A state champions. Competition of this caliber means a year of getting up early and staying late, made even more challenging by new Georgia High School Association rules about the number of practices, heat exposure, and physical contact that limit preparation and conditioning time. This year Dalton will replace twelve starters, but the quarterback is returning. The offensive line will have three seniors, two of whom are starters. With appropriate modifications, defensive strategy will be the same used since 1998. The specialty teams are good, with an excellent kicker, and for the fourth year every senior (of whom there are 27) will start or be part of a specialty team.
Coach Josh Robinson of Northwest Whitfield High School introduced several of his players and looked back on a productive summer. Although 7-on-7 is not “real” football, it does give good competitive experience, and Northwest’s players ended up second in their pool. This year they are making three replacements on the offensive line, but the new starters are adjusting well. On defense eight starters must be replaced, but here again there is much potential for success. With a new field, new jerseys and helmets, and other new equipment, Northwest is looking forward to being in the playoffs.
As in the past, Coach Sean Gray of Southeast Whitfield High School expressed gratitude to a very generous donor for enabling his school to have facilities second to none and support for players otherwise unable to afford to play. Although his team has about ninety players, there isn’t a great deal of depth, so there will be a lot of doubling. Coach Gray is excited about his defense—last year’s was the best in 23 years. His players are tough, and while the secondary needs work, it has skilled members. On offense there are a lot of new men but some good tall receivers. This year’s seniors were once Southeast’s best freshman class, and they should become the school’s winningest seniors in 31 years.
Responding to a question about who had the largest lineman, the coaches conferred and decided on a Christian Heritage player who stands 6’6” and weighs 330 pounds.
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August 16th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, August 14, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Turner, Henry J (CHIP) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| Robertson, Ricky N (RICKY) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| Ryman, Milton J. Jr. (MILTON) |
16-Aug |
|
|
| Tatum, Laurice A (LAURICE) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Hawkins, Jim R. (JIM) |
18-Aug |
|
|
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
19-Aug |
|
|
| Jones, Miller T. (MILLER) |
19-Aug |
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Robertson, Ricky |
Robertson, Cherri L |
16-Aug |
|
| Blackman, Bill |
Blackman, Linda T. |
18-Aug |
|
| Turner, Carolyn |
Turner, Henry J |
20-Aug |
|
| Dobbins, Donna |
Dobbins, Chuck |
20-Aug |
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
8/18/2015 |
1 |
|
| Minter, B. Scott (SCOTT) |
8/18/2015 |
1 |
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Sanders, Drayton M II(DRAYTON) |
Mary Etta |
16-Aug |
57 |
| Laughter, R Lynette (LYNN) |
Ben |
19-Aug |
43 |
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NGTC: New Doors To The WorkforceFriday, August 5, 2016By John Hutcheson
Ginger Mathis
Rotarian Ginger Mathis, Associate Vice President of Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC), introduced David Moeller, CEO of the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy, and Randall Griffus, Dean of the School of Science, Technology, and Mathematics at Dalton State College. Ginger, David, and Randall described how their respective institutions are cooperating to increase the supply of skilled workers for local employers and to enable smooth progression by students from high school through the bachelor’s degree in certain specialized programs.
Over the past five years enrollment on the Whitfield/Murray campus of GNTC has grown from 423 in 2012 to 1,266 in 2016, and it has increased by a further 200 for the coming academic year. The greatest growth has been in high school enrollments, which rose from 90 in 2012 to 560 in 2016. GNTC is now well ahead of all other state institutions in the number of invoiced credits in the Move On When Ready program, which allows high school juniors or seniors to receive high school and college credit simultaneously while attending college classes on a college campus. At the Whitfield/Murray facility, the largest number of high school enrollees in 2016 came from Murray High School, which sent 226, followed by North Murray High School with 124.
Since the Dalton-Whitfield economy is based on manufacturing, GNTC strongly emphasizes manufacturing skills. Nationally, more than 75% of manufacturers report moderate to severe shortages of skilled workers, and this condition is reflected locally. At the Career Academy, a new manufacturing committee is focusing on aligning programs in mechatronics, electronics, manufacturing, welding, chemical technology, and engineering and technology with post-secondary education, using dual enrollments, college credits for high school courses, and seamless transitions to college and further education. In coordination with the School of Science, Technology, and Mathematics at Dalton State, GNTC will participate in laddered programs leading from the Certificate to the Associate and Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in Chemistry and in Information Technology, along with another in Technology Management to be offered through Dalton State’s School of Business. Future program opportunities are being explored in Manufacturing Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain, Health Care, and Education.
Such growth in program offerings and enrollments necessitates physical expansion on the Whitfield/Murray campus. Currently GNTC uses about 35,000 square feet of the Career Academy’s facilities, often piggy-backing similar programs in appropriate spaces. Legislative approval has been received to study the need for additional space and to plan for a new building of 80,000 square feet, projected to house existing programs in diesel mechanics and machine tools along with several new ones.
GRSP Update
Rotarian John Richmond reported on his recent visit to Sweden, where he met the GRSP student sponsored by the Club in 2013-2014, for whom the Richmonds were hosts. He was also able to meet the Club’s student for 2016-2017, Fredrik Mazur, who will arrive in the U.S. during the coming week and have the family of Rotarian Larry Winter as his hosts.
John Richmond
New Member Induction
Membership Chair Tray Brantley introduced Shell Underwood for induction into the Club by President Bruce.
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August 9th Birthdays and AnniversariesSunday, August 7, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
|
| Minter, Barry Scott (SCOTT) |
10-Aug |
|
|
|
| Reed, Amanda (AMANDA) |
11-Aug |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
|
| Satterfield, Kayanne |
Satterfield, Bruce A. |
9-Aug |
|
|
| Smith, Sandra |
Smith, Ralph |
11-Aug |
|
|
| Laugahter, Ben |
Laughter, R Lynette |
11-Aug |
|
|
| Johnson, Kathy |
Johnson, Larry Alan |
13-Aug |
|
|
| Rhoden, Dina |
Rhoden, W Scott |
13-Aug |
|
|
| Scott, Annelle |
Scott, Trammell |
15-Aug |
|
|
| |
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Total |
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
|
| |
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
|
| Barnett, George S (SMITTY) |
Tammy |
10-Aug |
31 |
|
| Schwenn, John O. (JOHN) |
Judy |
14-Aug |
45 |
|
| |
|
Downtown Dalton: Prospects For GrowthSaturday, July 30, 2016By John Hutcheson
Above: Garrett Teems
Rotarian Patty Mooney introduced Garrett Teems, Director of the Dalton Downtown Development Authority. After a previous stint at the DDDA, Garrett served as Director of the Dalton Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he earned statewide recognition for his development of visitor centers at Ringgold and Valdosta, before returning to the DDDA a month ago when his predecessor moved away from the area.
Garrett pointed out that Dalton has the fifth largest downtown in Georgia, with 300 businesses and about 3,000 jobs. Presently only eleven properties are available for development, and several new businesses are scheduled to open in the near future. During the day the area’s population triples, and one important goal is to retain some of those people after working hours and attract new ones by developing a vibrant nightlife, with a special focus on the college-age demographic.
Since 2006, when the City decided to revitalize its downtown, most of the streetscapes have been beautified with new lighting and plantings. There has also been a strong interest in sustaining the area’s historic appearance, and the DDDA works closely with the Dalton Historic Preservation Commission. Successful recent projects include the former Southern Railway Freight Depot, restored in 2009 and now the home of DDDA and the Visitors Center, and the old Post Office, renovated in 2013 to house the Chamber of Commerce and the Carpet and Rug Institute. Proposals are now being solicited for work on the Western & Atlantic Depot, one of Dalton’s oldest and most historic structures. Property owners’ interest in such undertakings has been encouraging, as may be seen in the rising number of façade grants. Ranging as high as $5,000 and funded by the City on applications approved by the Historic Preservation Commission, these have increased from three in 2012 to five in 2014 and twelve in 2015.
Overall, the future of downtown Dalton appears to be the brightest in years, especially as new energy goes into unified planning for its place within the whole region rather than just in Dalton alone. The Friday night concert series and the Screen on the Green movies have been very successful, as have the Dalton Green farmers’ market, which has averaged 375 attendees on Saturday mornings and is now held on Tuesday evenings as well. A Beer Festival is scheduled for October 1, 2016, to coincide with the Georgia-Tennessee football game which will be shown on a Jumbotron screen at the old Lee Printing site on Hamilton Street—a location for gatherings being promoted simply as “The Spot.” The City’s revision of its open-container alcohol ordinance will allow consumers of specified alcoholic beverages to move freely within the downtown area, defined as lying between Waugh Street on the north, Thornton Avenue on the west, East Morris Street on the south, and the railroad tracks on the east, so long as such beverages are purchased from designated downtown food and beverage establishments. Law enforcement will be appropriately vigilant.
Responding to questions, Garrett said that no definite plans exist for new uses of the upper level of the parking deck next to the W & A Depot, although its structural issues have been resolved. Regarding new or projected restaurants and bars, he mentioned Conductor’s, a bar and grill; Cold Creek Growlers, a beer shop where food will be catered by Hamilton’s; Cyra’s, a bar and restaurant located in the old El Sombrero space; and the Crescent City Tavern, another bar and grill. There has also been some talk of reopening the Planet of the Grapes on the former terrace of the Landmark Building, above Maryville Jewelers.
Special Announcements
President Bruce called forward Rotarian Mike O’Neill to recognize him for his excellent photography at the Club’s weekly meetings and other events. Mike’s skill and diligence are making significant contributions to the Club’s historical record.
President Bruce also informed the Club that the Board has acted on this year’s education and literacy initiatives by funding necessary repairs on the Big Red Reads bus in the amount of $3,495.85. A decal bearing the Rotary logo will accordingly be affixed to the vehicle.
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August 2nd Birthdays and AnniversariesSaturday, July 30, 2016
| |
|
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
|
| Brunson, Kevin M (KEVIN) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| McDonald, David L (DAVID) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Robertson, Cherri L (CHERRI) |
2-Aug |
|
|
| Bundros, Thomas A (TOM) |
7-Aug |
|
|
| Adcock, Don W. (DON) |
8-Aug |
|
|
| |
| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
|
| Robertson, Cherri |
Robertson, Ricky N |
2-Aug |
|
| Chandler, Susan |
Chandler, Robert M. |
4-Aug |
|
| |
| Member Anniversaries |
|
|
|
| No member anniversaries this period. |
|
| |
| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Woodward, Philip F (PHIL) |
Betty |
3-Aug |
41 |
| Bronson, William III(WILLIAM) |
Erica |
5-Aug |
20 |
| Chappell, William J. (WILLIAM) |
Bennieta |
6-Aug |
60 |
| Pierce, Sara C. (SKEETER) |
Lamar |
7-Aug |
50 |
| Abernathy, Melburn H. (MEL) |
Gretchen |
8-Aug |
29 |
|
More than Books: Math Success Camp at the Northwest Georgia Regional LibrarySaturday, July 23, 2016By John Hutcheson
 
Above: Rotarian Linda Blackmon (left) and former Rotarian Tangela Johnson (right)
Rotarian Linda Blackman opened a program on a recent activity at the Northwest Georgia Regional Library by pointing out how libraries are now far more than just lending agencies for books or other media; in many diverse ways they have become true learning centers with equipment and resources to meet a wide array of community needs. Linda then introduced former Rotarian Tangela Johnson, Chair of the Dalton-Whitfield Library Board of Trustees and the initiator of a new outreach by the Library to support math instruction in the schools.
Tangela began by pointing to some math problems distributed to Club members on their tables, asking who had done well in math during their school years—relatively few responded affirmatively. Tangela’s own math experiences and her daughter’s struggle have taught her that there are many different ways of learning math—a problem might have one correct answer, but there can be many ways to reach it. Alluding to individual differences in right brain/left brain configurations, she noted that many students lose confidence about understanding math early in their educations. Personalized instruction is the most effective remedy, but class sizes commonly limit or preclude this in schoolroom settings, and tutoring is often prohibitively expensive.
Working with Dr. Judy Gilreath of the Whitfield County Schools, Dr. Jim Hawkins of Dalton Public Schools, and Dalton-Whitfield Library Director Darla Chambliss and her staff, Tangela and others developed a program to prepare rising 9 th graders for their first course in algebra and, more generally, to ease the transition from middle to high school. This resulted in a three-week Math Success Camp, housed at the Library and taught in sixteen two-hour sessions by certified math teachers. The Camp was built around two strategies, tutoring and encouraging connections between students, with the goals of building confidence in their ability to do math, learning how to study math, and connecting mathematical concepts to real-life applications. Through the assistance of Brian Cooksey of Shaw Industries, who saw the project’s potential for contributing to workforce development, Shaw generously provided three-quarters of the necessary financial support, anticipated to be about $8,000, and additional assistance came from the Friends of the Library and individual contributions. Thirty-two students enrolled as campers, and their instructors included Brandi Moore of Dalton Middle School, Travis Taylor of Southeast Whitfield High School, Lee Allen and Carrie Brown of Northwest Whitfield High School, and Dr. Bobby Sneed (lead teacher) of Northwest High and Dalton State College. In the end, expenses actually totaled about $7,400.
Above: Dr. Bobby Sneed
Tangela called on Dr. Sneed to address the question, “What do kids think about math?” Student feelings are strong and show a distinct love/hate pattern, with one survey indicating that 26.6% of 7,511 students like it best among their subjects while another study showed 40% like it least. Five factors have emerged as the most significant impediments to success in math: (1) weak computational ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide accurately, (2) difficulty connecting abstract or conceptual knowledge to reality, (3) inconsistent connections between numbers and the quantities they represent, (4) incomplete understanding of the language of math, and (5) difficulty comprehending visual and spatial aspects or perception skills. These shortcomings underlie the United States’ ranking as 26 th among 34 nations in math proficiency, although American students do fare better in some specific areas, especially algebraic relationships. The problems continue into college, where one-fourth of all baccalaureate students require remedial classes and one-half of students in one- or two-year programs do so. Drop-out rates for such students are concomitantly high—50% for students in four-year programs and nearly 80% for those in associate or certificate programs.
Dr. Sneed offered four suggestions to help struggling students. These include forming partnerships between teachers and parents to reinforce the importance of learning math, building student confidence through tutoring and personalized instruction, previewing and reviewing difficult concepts, and building teacher-student relationships that focus on connecting math with students’ personal interests and their social connections with each other. Math Success Camp used all of these approaches, and Dr. Sneed introduced four campers who each testified to the benefits they had received (usually in spite of an initial reluctance to attend). Tangela closed the program by expressing hopes that the camp will be repeated in future summers, that its techniques can be extended into the regular school year, and that additional camps might be established for 3 rd and 5 th grade students.
Program Responsibilities
Program Chairman Henry Tharpe reminded the Club that at some time each member will be responsible for providing a program for the weekly meeting, and he briefly summarized the criteria for selecting topics and presenters and the procedures for scheduling them.
Induction of Five New Rotarians
Membership Chair Trey Brantley presented five candidates for admission to membership in the Club, including Chris Cooke, Vallarie Pratt, Cherri Robertson, Ricky Robertson, and Terry Willingham. After receiving red badges from their sponsors, they were welcomed with a standing ovation.
Above: The new candidates for induction stand before the Rotary Club
|
Dalton Rotary In 2016-'17: An Eventful Year AwaitsFriday, July 15, 2016By John Hutcheson
Installed a week earlier as president of the Club, Dalton Fire Chief Bruce Satterfield opened his first full meeting by recognizing Keisha Lee of Shaw Industries for her capable and faithful assistance in preparing and publishing the Club’s Newsletter for the past four years, a task she is relinquishing as she assumes new responsibilities at Shaw. He then introduced each member of the Club’s Board of Directors for the next year and presented an official President-Elect pin to Kevin Brunson.
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President Bruce began his overview of events to come with a reminder that the new president of Rotary International is John Germ of Chattanooga, who has set “Rotary Serving Humanity” as the theme for his term—pins bearing this slogan are now available. The new governor of District 6910 is Kim Waters of the Hall County Rotary Club, and she will visit our Club on August 16. She has issued an eight-point “Declaration of Rotarians in Business and Professions” dealing with service, ethical conduct, fairness, respect, and impartiality. President Bruce read this document and requested that club members become familiar with it before Governor Kim’s arrival, noting that copies would be given to them as they left the meeting.
This year’s District Conference will take place in Chattanooga on October 7-9 and registration for it is now open. On June 10-14, 2017, Rotary International will hold its annual convention in Atlanta and celebrate the 100 th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation. This is an extraordinary opportunity to see Rotary in its broadest form, and Rotarians in District 6910 are being urged both to attend and to volunteer for four-hour shifts as hosts. The registration fee will be $340 until December 15, 2016, after which it will rise in stages to $490. (Past President John Richmond later mentioned that on June 13 there will be a reunion for all students, sponsors, and hosts involved with GRSP since its inception in 1946, thus showcasing a program unique in all of Rotary.) Finally, 2017 will also mark the 80 th anniversary of our own Club, and a committee of past presidents will meet over the next several months to plan appropriate observances.
Among goals for the next year, membership growth is Number One, both locally and for the District, with special attention being given to racial and gender diversity and to the recruitment of young Rotarians. The District’s goal for our Club is three new members, but we will set our own at ten. President Bruce asked members to bear in mind the challenge made by District 6910’s champion recruiters, Scott Yochum and Pepper Petit of the Dawson County club, when they visited us last April: “Find one person who would be as good a Rotarian as you are.”
Another important local goal may be described as “branding” our Club and its contributions to community betterment. Publicity concerning our projects will be stepped up in local and District publications, along with greater exposure in social media such as Facebook. Bruce Frazier, Public Relations Specialist for the Dalton Police Department, will work with Board members and others to raise our public profile. President Bruce encouraged everyone to seek out opportunities for service, whether on our own or in cooperation with other groups, pointing out that attendance at a Rotary Leadership Institute is an excellent way to learn more about Rotary and deepen one’s involvement in it. In the meantime, we will maintain our Club’s traditional activities—the track meet, golf tournament, scholarship awards, substantial support of GRSP, and sponsorship of Rotaract and Interact clubs (a new Interact club will be organized at Christian Heritage High School)—while also planning for participation in the Bill Gregory Healthcare Classic and Compassion House functions. We will continue to have quality speakers at our weekly meetings, where we should sustain our good attendance record, including make-ups—these can be banked ahead of absences and then used as necessary.
All in all, President Bruce looks forward to “a great year of working together on behalf of Service Above Self.”
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Passing the GavelFriday, July 1, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Each year the Club’s final meeting in June is marked by transition as a new president and board of officers prepare to assume their responsibilities. Like his predecessors, outgoing President Jason Parker summarized the work of the past year before passing his position to his successor.
Stating how honored he’d been to be called upon to maintain the traditions of the Dalton Rotary Club and to position it for future accomplishments, President Jason remembered being invited to join Rotary by Bill Weaver (who’d been recognized earlier in the meeting for his completion of 47 years as a member of the Club), and after little more than three years as a Rotarian he was asked by David Aft to consider the presidency. Having agreed to serve (with some misgivings about his worthiness for the job), he received much good advice and counsel from Nancy Kennedy, John Neal, and many other Past Presidents, to whom he remains deeply grateful.
The year now ending has been a good one for the Club. Among the highlights are an updating of the Strategic Plan, significant contributions in both cash and service by Club members to the Big Red Reads program, a successful Ronnie McClurg Track Meet (favored by good weather this year), and the annual Earl Lusk Golf Tournament which raised more than $12,000 for scholarships. The Club was able to give support to two superb GRSP students, and President Jason extended special thanks to Mel and Gretchen Abernathy, who hosted Clarissa Böker of Germany, and to John Richmond and Bill Bowen for their ongoing work on the Club’s behalf in support of GRSP. He also thanked Barbara Ward for coordinating our participation in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, for which unfilled openings in other clubs made it possible for the Dalton club to nominate an unusually large number of students this year. The Club also responded to District initiatives for international service, and while a proposal for cooperation with the Gainesville Rotary Club to support construction of affordable housing in Tanzania proved unfeasible because of circumstances in Africa, the Dalton Club did make a substantial contribution to Heifer International, an organization which seeks to eliminate poverty and hunger by providing livestock and training in animal husbandry and sustainable agriculture to impoverished communities around the world.
Although its expenses for the past year exceeded income by about $1.260 because revenues from the Golf Tournament were $2,000 less than anticipated, the Club has maintained its high standing for accomplishment, reaching the Gold Level within District 6910 and receiving a Presidential Citation from Rotary International. One of its more visible efforts locally has been to support connecting the Brookwood School campus to Lakeshore Park, enhancing access to the school and enabling its students to use the park as a learning resource.
President Jason closed his remarks by recognizing the past year’s Board members, thanking each of them individually for their work and noting that most will continue their service during the coming year. As a last thought, he urged all Club members to think about how they could present Rotary in an “elevator talk”—a brief description for outsiders of what Rotary is and does, emphasizing it as a worldwide group of professionals doing good work (such as the eradication of polio) by pooling their individual talents and resources for the common good.
As his last official act, Jason called President-Elect Bruce Satterfield forward, administered the presidential pledge, and handed the presidential gavel to him. He also passed on the presidential lapel pin first worn by Past President Nancy Kennedy, making President Bruce the seventh to wear that sign of office.
President Bruce began his term by thanking Past President Jason, to whom he presented a pin, badge, and ceremonial gavel. He was profoundly honored to be President and stood in awe of the tradition embodied by the many Past Presidents in the room. Like Past President Jason, he had been invited to Rotary by Bill Weaver, joining eight years ago. He quickly came to enjoy his Rotary work on committees and at Club events, and when he became chair for Club administration in 2013 he engaged Rotary’s heritage more deeply. As President-Nominee he began attending Rotary Leadership Institute sessions, where he gained much from meeting other Rotary leaders and realized that the Dalton Rotary Club has a great reputation that goes well beyond District 6910. While he will wait until the meeting on July 12 to discuss his plans for the coming year, he urged everyone in the meantime to think about how to become more involved in Rotary and more knowledgeable about all it represents.
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July 5th Birthdays and AnniversariesFriday, July 1, 2016 By Hoyt Jason Parker
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
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| Wright, William B. Jr. (WILLIAM) |
5-Jul |
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| Maney, Clifford E. (CLIFF) |
6-Jul |
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| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
7-Jul |
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| Campbell, J Carl (CARLL) |
8-Jul |
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| Neal, John P. III (JOHN) |
9-Jul |
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| |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Cruse, Amy |
Cruse, Lesley Dale |
11-Jul |
|
| |
|
|
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Venable, Margaret H. (MARGARET) |
7/7/2015 |
1 |
|
| McLeod, Robert S (BOB) |
7/10/2007 |
9 |
|
| |
|
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Brooker, Robert H. (ROBERT) |
Janet |
5-Jul |
46 |
| Parrott, V DeForrest III(DEFORREST) |
Eugenia |
6-Jul |
58 |
| Combs, William Dan (DAN) |
Donna |
11-Jul |
46 |
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The Georgia Ports Authority and the Appalachian Regional PortMonday, June 27, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Rob Bradham, President of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, introduced John Trent, Senior Director of Strategic Operations and Safety for the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). John began his career in maritime affairs with United States Lines in 1984, and since 1994 he has been with the GPA. Currently he is the “point person” for the Authority’s Appalachian Region, and he in turn recognized Wes Lanier, Director of Customer Operations for the GPA, who will oversee the new Appalachian Regional Port, and Britanny Pittman, Murray County Sole Commissioner, who worked to secure its location in her county.
John began with a survey of the GPA, the largest entity of its kind in the U.S., which is managed by a board of thirteen members appointed by the State. Functioning like a private corporation, it operates ocean and inland ports, fosters international trade for the State and local communities, promotes Georgia’s agricultural, industrial, and natural resources, and protects the natural environments affected by its work. It has 369,163 full-time employees and is directly or indirectly involved with $89.1 billion in sales, or 33.2% of the State’s gross domestic product, and 24.2% of Georgia’s total personal income.
Of the GPA’s two ocean ports at Savannah and Brunswick, Savannah is the fourth busiest port in the U.S. and the fastest growing in the country. It provides the best port service for 20% of the U.S. population, and through good road and rail infrastructure it connects easily with 44% of the nation’s people. Moreover, during the next ten years the population of the Southeastern U.S. is projected to grow by 12%, whereas that served by ports in the Northeast will grow only 3%.
The GPA’s capital investment during the last decade was $807 million, but in the next ten years it will be $1.9 billion. This will be self-funded, with no use of revenue bonds, and it will underwrite significant investment in rail and the enhancement and expansion of Savannah’s harbor facilities, a project to be completed by 2020. Among other things, this entails deepening the inner channel to 47 feet and the outer channel to 49 feet, enabling the port to handle any of the vessels transiting the newly enlarged Panama Canal. One of the tasks accomplished along the way was the careful removal and preservation of artifacts and other remains from the Civil War ironclad CSS Georgia, sunk in the channel by retreating Confederates in 1864—this alone cost $40 million.
The GPA is a component of Network Georgia, working in cooperation with railroads and other entities to provide a better transportation network for the State from six regional bases. For Northwest Georgia this will be at the Appalachian Regional Port to be built in northern Murray County, a location selected over Dalton because rail traffic passing through Dalton is already some of the heaviest on the CSX and Norfolk Southern systems and the Murray County site is a better option for serving Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Northwest Georgia and surrounding areas in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia presently handle 300,000 container units annually, and with connections through Savannah to the new Panama Canal the region will be able to attract business from the West Coast. A particularly heavy concentration of import/export customers lies along I-75, and the north Murray site offered the most adequate and available combination of flat land, good rail connections, and a major highway artery along US 411.
The new facility will cost $24 million, plus equipment, and is projected to begin operating in September 2018. The GPA will take special care to be a good neighbor to the surrounding Fairy Valley area. In its first year the port should increase daily vehicular traffic through Crandall by only 4%, and by its tenth year, when it is fully built out, the daily vehicular count will still be below that of 2004. Adequate queuing space will prevent blockage of US 411 in high traffic periods. Lighting will be focused downward, using low-glare, low-energy lights similar to those successfully used in Savannah, and the port will not operate at night for at least its first six years. Buffers will protect Sumac Creek, with a retention pond to collect storm water runoff. The GPA has been recognized for its protection of wetlands near Savannah, and it will go to extra lengths, spending as much as a million dollars, to provide attractive and protective landscaping, While recognizing that the project has excited a good deal of local controversy, John ended his presentation by appealing for its support.
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Birthdays and AnniversarysMonday, June 27, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
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| Little, William Norris Sr. (NORRIS) |
28-Jun |
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| Chambliss, Darla P (DARLA) |
3-Jul |
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| Parker, Hoyt Jason (JASON) |
4-Jul |
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| |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Maret, Sarah |
Maret, Charles D. |
1-Jul |
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| Alderman, Alicia |
Alderman, Paul Wayne Jr. |
3-Jul |
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| |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
|
| Burt, Amanda (AMANDA) |
6/30/2004 |
12 |
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| Johnson, Larry Alan (LARRY) |
7/1/2013 |
3 |
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| Mathis, Ginger Minor (GINGER) |
7/1/2013 |
3 |
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| Dent, Gregory J (GREG) |
7/1/2014 |
2 |
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| Weaver, William B (BILL) |
7/1/1969 |
47 |
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| Thomas, Don R. (DON) |
7/1/1973 |
43 |
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| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
7/1/2010 |
6 |
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| Jones, J Sherwood III(SHERWOOD) |
7/1/1996 |
20 |
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| Peterfreund, Allen David (ALLEN) |
7/1/2013 |
3 |
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| Gilreath, Judy Ellen (JUDY) |
7/1/2013 |
3 |
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| Sponcler, Maurice M. Jr.(MAURICE) |
7/1/1980 |
36 |
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| |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
Lin |
30-Jun |
32 |
| Blackman, Linda T. (LINDA) |
Bill |
1-Jul |
49 |
| Sutherland, George W. (GEORGE) |
Phyllis |
1-Jul |
49 |
| Blackman, Bill M (BILL) |
Linda |
1-Jul |
49 |
| Johnson, Roy Glenn (ROY) |
Pat |
2-Jul |
50 |
| Harris, Kevin W (KEVIN) |
Lezlie |
3-Jul |
34 |
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July 26th Saturday, July 23, 2016
| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
|
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| Combs, William Dan Jr. (DAN, JR) |
28-Jul |
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| O'Neill, Michael Paul (MIKE) |
29-Jul |
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| Howard, Gary L. (GARY) |
29-Jul |
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| |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Rowland, Greta |
Rowland, Bradley Wayne |
27-Jul |
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| Howard, Janie |
Howard, Gary L. |
29-Jul |
|
| Maney, Mary |
Maney, Clifford E. |
31-Jul |
|
| |
|
|
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
Total |
| Woodward, Philip F (PHIL) |
7/28/2015 |
0 |
0 |
| Didier, John M. (JOHN) |
8/1/1994 |
21 |
21 |
| Kelehear, Leon S. (SPARKY) |
8/1/1988 |
27 |
27 |
| McCoy, Norman D. (NORMAN) |
8/1/1967 |
48 |
48 |
| Maney, Clifford E. (CLIFF) |
8/1/1988 |
27 |
27 |
| |
|
|
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Abernathy, Sid G. (SID) |
Virginia |
28-Jul |
59 |
| Barnwell, William L (BILL) |
Delle |
28-Jul |
53 |
| Temples, Coy H (COY) |
Noel |
30-Jul |
48 |
| Smalley, Robert H. (ROBERT) |
Rachel |
31-Jul |
22 |
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Dalton State College: A Presidential UpdateTuesday, June 21, 2016By: John Hutcheson
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Rotarian Margaret Venable, President of Dalton State College, related how DSC has transitioned from an institution which primarily granted associate degrees and technical certifications to one in which 22 bachelor degree programs now outnumber the 16 remaining associate-level curricula, while nearly all technical programs have been transferred to Georgia Northwestern Technical College. As in the past, all DSC courses of study will include a core curriculum grounded in the liberal arts, with the goal of producing well-rounded graduates regardless of their majors or occupational intentions. In the words of one observer, DSC has “gone from plain vanilla to rocky road.”
Along with new directions in the College’s academic offerings have come some equally fundamental changes in its non-academic services for students and in the character of student life. The revived intercollegiate athletic program’s success has exceeded all anticipations, and the arrival of a new Interim Athletic Director who brings decades of experience promises continued advancement. This fall the new John Willis Mashburn Hall will provide on-campus housing for 350 students in a building which will replace the remaining structures of the former Wood Valley Apartments and reflect the latest concepts in collegiate residential construction. The Pope Student Center is undergoing a major renovation—its first since the early 1970’s—and will accommodate an expanded food service to meet the needs of the increased number of residential students. In addition, the Board of Regents has approved establishment of an on-campus health clinic, to be housed in the newly renovated Health Professions Building, formerly the home of Technical Education. The health education facilities themselves, featuring state-of-the-art simulation labs that enable students to develop their skills in less risky environments than hospital placements, have attracted widespread attention and will soon be showcased in a national publication. Finally, an appropriation of five million dollars from the state will supplement an equal amount derived from other sources to underwrite remodeling the School of Business’s quarters in Gignilliat Memorial Hall.
For much of the past year a committee of faculty, students, and administrators has worked to update the College’s mission, vision, and values statements and to embody these in a Strategic Plan for 2016-2019. Drawing on input from the wider community as well as from across the campus, and closely linked to the University System of Georgia’s Strategic Plan, the DSC Plan is structured around the four themes of Student Success, Academic Excellence, Community Engagement, and Operational Excellence, each of which generates a range of specific goals and action steps.
Other points Margaret mentioned include a DSC Foundation endowment now approaching two million dollars, the College’s progress toward Federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution which would make DSC eligible for new funding sources, and the growing cultural diversity of the College community. Study-abroad opportunities are increasing, and there is a firm realization that students must be prepared for participation in an evolving global culture.
Community engagement is deepening on many fronts, and the College’s ostensible isolation, supposedly symbolized by its location across the Interstate from the main body of Dalton, is now unquestionably diminished as increasingly numerous “bridges” are built. In 2015-2016 DSC awarded more than 730 degrees, and most of these graduates will stay in Northwest Georgia. According to data compiled by the University of Georgia, the College contributed $120 million to local economies during the last fiscal year. Most significantly, Dalton State is coming to be seen not as a “school of last resort,” but rather as a first-choice destination college, offering a superior education and a rich “college experience” at an affordable price.
Responding to questions, Margaret noted that the College aspires to grow a physical presence in downtown Dalton. The Bandy Heritage Center already uses the former Freight Depot as exhibition space, and there is a possibility of creating business incubators in a downtown location. Presently the only off-campus facility is the Gilmer County center in Ellijay which enrolls about 250 students, but there are distance-learning partnerships with several other University System schools, and several of these programs are completely online. Such arrangements can make graduate degrees more easily available—the MBA taught by Kennesaw State on the DSC campus is an example—and suggest that pushing for university status for DSC through establishment of fully local graduate programs may not be the best way to serve the region. On the matter of future enrollment, the College’s administration is “cautiously optimistic;” it may grow as Northwest Georgia develops, although demographic studies show the traditional college-age population to be decreasing. At DSC having residence halls may help, there is a good deal of dual enrollment in local high schools, and the College is always looking for ways to attract and serve more adult learners.
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Haig Mill Reservoir to Add Recreational ActivitiesMonday, June 13, 2016By: Kathryn Sellers
A City of Dalton partnership between Dalton Utilities and Dalton Parks and Recreation Department is diligently working toward a large project at the Haig Mill Reservoir. Five plus years ago, Mayor Pennington had a vision to provide recreational uses for this reservoir. In 2015, the voters past the SPLOST that contained 7.2 million dollars for modifications to Brookwood and to Lakeshore Parks and to develop Haig Mill Park around the reservoir.
The lake was constructed in 1993-1995 and stores 750 million gallons of water for Dalton. It is a 124-acre lake and is a deposit for 10 square miles of drainage. Because it this is part of the storage system for Dalton’s water supply, requirements from environmental agencies have control over what happens in and around the lake.
Ty Ross introduced Leslie Rush of Dalton Utilities and Steve Card of Dalton Parks and Recreation as “two of the finest civil servants in the community.” Mr. Rush described the lake behind the lower Haig Mill dam as a Class I with a normal pool of 26’ and a dam height of 55’. Because it is a raw water supply and it is a pool for less than 100 miles of drainage, there have been no recreation activities in the past. In 2005 the utility was required to renew their reservoir management plan permit so they are working with Georgia EPD for Environment planning to try to modify the allowable uses. All the requirements have to do with what would affect water quality, safety and security. Dalton is requesting approval for fishing, hiking, non-motorized boating, a playground and educational facilities. This plan would not allow non-native plants, fires, clearing foliage or trees, humans in the water, hunting or any pet/animal use.
Mr. Card said that the City had incredible vision to plan this project. The project will certainly benefit the quality of life in Dalton to help to recruit and retain young professionals. Planned for the focused area on a point off Old Haig Mill Road are a lodge or large pavilion that will have a 280 degree view of the lake that could be rented for various events like a wedding, a 5K trail with the possibility of adding another 1 ½ miles of trails, fishing piers, and educational spaces for environmental education. There would be boat rentals, restrooms, a playground and other activities, sand volleyball and outdoor classrooms. The main entrance will be off both Old Haig Mill Road and Haig Mill Road. It is hoped that Dalton State College and the public schools could utilize the property for cross county training and events and well as a rowing team plus its ideal educational opportunities.
Maintenance will be added to the responsibilities and budget of Dalton Parks and Recreation department.
As a Tier 2 SPLOST project the money must be in hand for this project so the planning is going on while the money is being accumulated. The original plan was to have it shovel ready by the end of 2016, but the permitting time table is difficult to estimate as the EPD has the protection for safety and security its topmost focus.
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New Member InductionTuesday, May 31, 2016Sponsored by Rotarian Chip Sellers, Representative Bruce Broderick was inducted into the Club. A well-respected local pharmacist and former member of the Carpet City Rotary Club, Bruce is also a member of the Georgia General Assembly for the Fourth House District.
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The Whitfield Education FoundationTuesday, May 31, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Joseph Farmer, President of the Board of Trustees of the Whitfield Education Foundation, introduced Rotarian Smitty Barnett, Executive Director of the Foundation, who assumed this position after a distinguished career in high school music, including 31 years as band director at Northwest Whitfield High School.
Following recognition of its Trustees who were present, Smitty noted that the Foundation began in 1990 with a board membership of eight, one of whom, Ken Gowin, has continued to serve until the present. He summarized the Foundation’s purpose as that of helping teachers develop a “want to” attitude toward learning among their students. To accomplish this, its mission is “to increase student learning opportunities, reward outstanding achievements, and honor retirees.”
The Foundation increases and enhances learning opportunities through grants to support innovative teaching strategies. Since 1990 it has dispensed more than $625,000 in such grants, and its goal is to award at least $25,000 per year. Grant applications are considered competitively by a panel of outside reviewers up to a maximum of $3,000 per grant; currently 63 applications are pending, which is a record number.
As an example of a successful proposal, Smitty introduced Amy Zock of Pleasant Grove Elementary School, who described her use of Foundation support to create a cross-disciplinary archaeological project for third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders called “Can You Dig It?” By designing and building dig boxes using rocks, soil, and donated artifacts from different eras, students developed skills in mathematics (involving volume, space, and measurement), language arts (through project descriptions and record-keeping), and science (by gathering and evaluating evidence and learning some fundamentals of geology). In another project, Penny Turso of North Whitfield Middle School devised a project called “The Art of Slope” which called on students to apply concepts from mathematics, geometry, and the visual arts to design and build a stained glass window.
Each year the Foundation sponsors a brunch for all teachers who have retired from the Whitfield County Schools, using this and other opportunities to recognize outstanding achievements in teaching. The Foundation derives its financial assets from annual fundraising events and several types of contributions. Among the fundraisers are the Celebrity Spelling Bee, in which a dinner is followed by a lighthearted traditional spelling bee as local notables compete to become Champion Speller; the Showcase of the Stars presenting talented students from across the region; a Golf Tournament at the Dalton Golf and Country Club, now in its 23rd year; and Blue Jean Days, whereby Whitfield County Schools staff are allowed to wear blue jeans to work on four designated days by paying five dollars for the privilege of doing so.
Contribution modes include optional payroll deductions by Whitfield County Schools employees, major gifts from individuals and corporations, memorial gifts and honoraria, and donations to a memorial scholarship fund. In addition, the Millennium Million Fellow endowment was established in 2001 to ensure continuation of the Foundation’s work for the foreseeable future and beyond by raising a corpus of at least $1,000,000 to be held in reserve apart from the general operating budget. Millennium Million Fellows pledge to give a minimum contribution of $3,000 to the Foundation over the course of ten years.
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Save The Date...Monday, May 16, 2016
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Greater Dalton Chamber’s Business ExpoMonday, May 23, 2016By: Jason Parker
The Rotary Club of Dalton took part in the Greater Dalton Chamber’s Business Expo 2016 on May 18 at the Dalton Convention Center. President Jason Parker and President-Elect Bruce Satterfield staffed the booth, but plenty of other Rotarians stopped by to visit and represent. This was our club’s first visit to the Expo, and it was a tremendous success! Approximately 30 prospects were developed, and 15 people accepted invitations to visit a club meeting in the near future.
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Rotary Scholarship Awards DayMonday, May 23, 2016By: John Hutcheson
One of the highlights of the Rotary year is the annual Scholarship Awards Day, when students selected by high schools in Dalton and Whitfield County are honored for their exceptional accomplishments in mathematics and the sciences, the humanities, career technology, and service. At this time the Club also recognizes students qualifying for its support to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp during the upcoming summer. Finally, a $500 scholarship is awarded to each participating school’s nominee as its outstanding student overall, and one of these is chosen by a committee of Club members to receive an additional $500 for truly superior achievement. This year’s scholarship committee consisted of Rotarians Jonathan Bledsoe (Chair), Rob Bradham, John Hutcheson, Judson Manley, Ginger Mathis, John Minor, Scott Rhoden, Maurice Sponcler, Barbara Ward, and Derek Waugh.
Barbara Ward presented this year’s RYLA participants, who include Meredith Barber and Rodrigo Paramo from Coahulla Creek High School; Eunice Alvarran and Erin Nelson from Dalton High School; Weston Howard and Caroline Kiker from Northwest Whitfield High School; and Josiah Hastey from Southeast Whitfield High School.
Jonathan Bledsoe opened the presentation of Outstanding Students by welcoming visiting family members and school personnel who were attending in support of their students, and he called on various committee members to announce the students and their schools.
Rob Bradham presented the Outstanding Math/Science Students:
Nathan Johnson - Coahulla Creek
Uriel Paniagua - Dalton
Wesley Carson Brock - Northwest Whitfield
Anissa Sosebee - Southeast Whitfield
Maurice Sponcler presented the Outstanding Humanities Students:
Gavin Mullis - Coahulla Creek
Akshar Patel - Dalton
Thelma Aguilar - Northwest Whitfield
Walker Stephens - Southeast Whitfield
Ginger Mathis presented the Outstanding Career Technology Students:
Jake Dean - Coahulla Creek
Refugio Trejo - Dalton
Autumn Lankford - Northwest Whitfield
Brenda Gonzalez - Southeast Whitfield
Cynthia Yarbrough - Morris Innovative
Keyly LeRoy - Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
Scott Rhoden presented the Outstanding Service Students:
Isaac Elrod - Coahulla Creek
Jared Mora - Dalton
Shelby Fernandez - Northwest Whitfield
Natalia Araujo Romero - Southeast Whitfield
Whellmer Arana - Morris Innovative
Lizett Porras - Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
Jonathan returned to announce the nominees for overall Outstanding Area Student:
Ashley Walker - Coahulla Creek
Mitul Patel - Dalton
Anisha Mittal - Northwest Whitfield
Shelby Bryant - Southeast Whitfield
From this extraordinarily competitive field Ashley Walker was selected as the Rotary Outstanding Area Student for 2016, and plaques listing her and all the other winners since the program’s beginning in 1989 will be displayed at Coahulla Creek High School during the coming year.
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The Charlie Bowen 5th Grade Service Above Self AwardsMonday, May 16, 2016By: John Hutcheson
For the sixth year the Club held its annual Charlie Bowen 5th Grade Service Above Self Awards program for students who’ve been outstanding examples of Rotary’s motto during their elementary school years. Perfectly organized by Rotarians Amanda Reed, Paul Alderman, and Scott Rhoden, the event introduced Club members to a group of boys and girls whose accomplishments and commitment to the well-being of others are truly extraordinary for persons so young.
After a welcome from President Jason, Amanda explained the purpose and criteria for the awards, followed by remarks from former Dalton Public Schools administrator Bill Weaver about the educational ideals of Charlie Bowen as exemplified in this program. Dr. Judy Gilreath, Whitfield County Schools Superintendent congratulated the students from her system, who included the following:
Morgan Knotts, age 11, from Antioch Elementary; Adrianna Hernandez, age 10, from Beaverdale Elementary; Gracey Ensley, age 11, from Cedar Ridge Elementary; Celeste Hernandez, age 10, from Cohutta Elementary; Jenna Gentry, age 11, from Dawnville Elementary; Isabella Hernandez, age 11, from Dug Gap Elementary; Jazmine Ayabar, age 11, from Eastside Elementary; Logan Jones, age 11, from New Hope Elementary; Joshua Pelico, age 10, from Pleasant Grove Elementary; Ansley Gates, age 11, from Tunnel Hill Elementary, Jade Bearden, age 11, from Valley Point Elementary; Joanna Nunez, age 11, from Varnell Elementary; and Benson Milam, age 11, from Westside Elementary.
Dr. Jim Hawkins, Superintendent of Dalton Public Schools, recognized the following students from that system:
Myrka Comacho, age 10, from Blue Ridge Elementary; Charlie Edwards, age 11, from Brookwood Elementary; Maria Perez, age 11, from City Park Elementary; Alex Lopez, age 10, from Park Creek Elementary; Gustavo Solis, age 12, from Roan Elementary; and Maryn Payne, age 11, from Westwood Elementary.
The program closed with Amanda’s reading of the winning entry in the Laws of Life essay competition. Written by Jade Bearden of Valley Point Elementary, it demonstrated a most unusually mature application of moral and social principles to service in everyday life.
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RecognitionsFriday, May 6, 2016President Jason recognized this year’s GRSP students Clarissa Böker and Maisy Murphy, who were attending their final meeting with the Club before leaving Dalton, and he presented Clarissa with a Dalton Rotary banner to take back to her home club in Germany.
John Hutcheson received his second Paul Harris Fellowship pin from President-Elect Bruce Satterfield.
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The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame: A Survey by Derek WaughFriday, May 6, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Acting more out of protocol than necessity, Rotarian Allen Peterfreund introduced Rotarian Derek Waugh, outgoing Director of Athletics at Dalton State College and recently appointed CEO of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. As one of the Club’s most prominent members physically, personally, and professionally, Derek really required no introduction, and Allen noted that he is possibly the only Dalton Rotarian with his own Wikipedia page. He summarized Derek’s truly distinguished career as a player and coach prior to his arrival in Dalton, where in less than four years he has developed a nationally acclaimed program at Dalton State.
Derek began his remarks with a tribute to the Rev. Robin Lindsey, his pastor at First United Methodist Church, who is soon to retire after more than forty years in the Methodist ministry and seven years’ membership in the Dalton Rotary club. After mentioning that his association with Robin was one of the many blessings he has received in the course of becoming part of the Dalton community, Derek expressed gratitude that his new job will allow him to remain in Dalton.
The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1956 as the Georgia Prep Sports Hall of Fame. It assumed its present form in 1963, when it expanded to include collegiate and professional athletes—the first professional inductees were Ty Cobb, Bobby Jones, and Georgia Tech football coach William Alexander. In 1978 the Sports Hall of Fame became a state-supported entity along with the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, with facilities for both constructed in Macon in the mid-1990s. Now the oldest Sports Hall of Fame in the nation, it is also the largest, with its 43,000 square foot building housing scores of exhibits and more than 3,000 artifacts detailing the state’s sports history. Derek pointed out that Georgia has produced the fifth highest number of professional athletes of any state and the second highest on a per capita basis.
As CEO, one of Derek’s primary responsibilities will be fund-raising; the Great Recession prompted the state to reduce its subsidy from 2008 onward and funding is now carried on through a foundation. Beyond this, Derek will promote partnerships with a host of agencies, such as the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Parks and Recreation Association, the Georgia High School Association, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Atlanta Braves and Falcons, and any others that can help the Hall of Fame promote the power of sports to teach crucial lessons about life. While he will not run the museum in Macon, he will have significant influence on sports all over the state. In appreciation for all Dalton has done for him and his family he will promote this community in every appropriate way he can.
Derek concluded with a short video about the Hall of Fame’s “MomentUS Project,” which seeks to promote character-building and healthier, more active lifestyles by incorporating stories of some of the Hall’s 300+ inductees into a curriculum developed in partnership with the University of Georgia’s College of Education. The project’s motto—“Celebrating the Past, Inspiring the Future—summarizes the mission of the Hall of Fame itself.
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The Georgia Department of Driver Services: An Overview from the CommissioneMonday, May 2, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Mike Mitchell, Legislative Liaison and Legal Affairs Officer for the Georgia Department of Driver Services, introduced DDS Commissioner Bert Brantley. Appointed to his current position by Governor Deal this past March, Bert is a native of Valdosta and the son of a retired member of the Georgia State Patrol and a former local and regional leader in the Georgia Department of Labor. Now a resident of McDonough, he holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Georgia and has worked in several state agencies as well as serving as Governor Sonny Perdue’s chief media spokesman during the Governor’s second term.
Bert began his remarks by recognizing Representatives Tom Dickson and Bruce Broadrick, and he paid special tribute to former Representative Dr. Don Thomas as one of the most effective and respected members of the General Assembly in recent years. Moving to his announced topic, Bert pointed out that within state government his agency has one of the highest levels of direct contact with Georgia’s residents. Everyone who carries a Georgia driver’s license must come to a DDS office personally at some point, and one of its 67 local Customer Service Centers across the state is usually where newcomers to Georgia have their first interaction with state government. In 2015 DDS had 3.7 million face-to-face transactions, involving nearly one-third of all Georgians.
Statewide the DDS has nearly a thousand employees. The Dalton center, managed by Casey Smith and operating from a location on Wagner Road, is the 29th busiest in the state, with seven full-time and a number of part-time employees offering a full range of DDS services. Along with issuing licenses and secure identification documents, the center administers tests for all different types of drivers—for commercial drivers these can last as long as two hours, and their rigorous qualifications, although necessary for the public’s safety, may be one reason for the great shortage of such licenses.
Across the state the average wait time for DDS patrons is fifteen minutes, and the agency’s goal is to have 95% of its customers complete their transactions within thirty minutes or less. Online services, which can reduce this time by as much as 50%, are available to holders of gold star licenses—those issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2012—who establish accounts with the DDS. About 20% of Georgia drivers currently have these accounts, enabling them to avoid filling out paper information forms for such things as address changes, license renewals, and even restoration of suspended licenses. These online transactions can even be conducted from smartphones.
In accordance with Federal law, obtaining a gold star license requires a one-time visit to a DDS center with identification documents (birth certificate or passport, Social Security card, two verifications of residence, and marriage license when a name change is involved), but thereafter gold star licenses can be renewed online—in some cases for as long as fifteen years. One exception is for drivers over age 64, who must take a vision test prior to each renewal. Bert noted, however, that pre-applications for renewals may be made online up to thirty days before a physical visit. By way of advice, he pointed out that DDS centers, which are closed on Mondays, are usually busiest on Tuesdays and Saturday mornings, so that Wednesdays through Fridays are the best days to arrive.
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2016 Earl Lusk Memorial Golf TournamentMonday, April 25, 2016.jpg)
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Special RecognitionsMonday, April 18, 2016At its meeting on April 12, Past President John Richmond, a Trustee of the Georgia Rotary Student Program, and Bill Bowen, the Club’s GRSP Director, presented Sheri Blevins a certificate as the Club’s newest member of the Will Watt Fellowship in recognition of her financial contributions to the GRSP.
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President Jason Parker presented Past President David Aft a District 6910 Presidential Citation for his outstanding work as President of the Rotary Club of Dalton for 2014-2015.
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Our GRSP Year: A Report from Clarissa Böker and Maisy MurphyMonday, April 18, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Mel Abernathy, whose family served as this year’s GSRP hosts, introduced GRSP students Clarissa Böker of Dalhausen, Germany, and Maisy Murphy of Edinburgh, Scotland. Clarissa was sponsored by the Dalton Rotary Club, while five other District 6910 clubs, including the Carpet City Rotary Club, sponsored Maisy. Both young women have been enrolled at Dalton State College, where they lived as roommates and became close friends.
Using a slide show, Clarissa and Maisy described some highlights of their year in Georgia, which began with a conclave of all GSRP students at Georgia Gwinnett College. On weekends they visited various places around the state, supported by the members and resources of local Rotary Clubs. The first such trip was to Clayton County, where they engaged in team-building exercises aimed at transcending cultural differences. Later they especially enjoyed their time in Savannah; the city’s history, semi-tropical ambience, and proximity to the coast at Tybee Island left strong impressions, and they were also fascinated by the military museum and the perspective it gave them about World War II from the American point of view. Just before Christmas they spent a weekend in Atlanta, and more recently they visited sites as varied as a public high school, a state prison, and an alligator farm. A few days ago, for what will be the GSRP group’s last weekend together, they returned to the coast in Camden County and spent time on Cumberland Island.
Because their Dalton State courses won’t transfer to institutions in their home countries, Clarissa and Maisy enrolled in whatever classes interested them most, including United States history and government, psychology, French, English, and Spanish, and they experienced typical extra-curricular activities such as Homecoming and various games. Meanwhile, an appearance on Judy Elliott’s television show deeply impressed their families back in Germany and Scotland. Clarissa shared the Abernathys’ celebrations of Thanksgiving (when she ate turkey for the first time), Christmas, and Easter, and with other GRSP students she and Maisy went to Orlando’s theme parks over the Thanksgiving break. Just before Christmas they visited Asheville, staying with local families and seeing Biltmore House, the Grove Park Inn, and other attractions. After Christmas they went to New York City for New Year’s, and when Clarissa’s parents came from Germany during Spring Break she and they travelled the length of Florida from St. Augustine to the Keys and then on to Puerto Rico. In the meantime, Maisy met her father in Las Vegas and toured national parks in Nevada and Arizona.
Summarizing the biggest differences they’ve found between their experiences here and what they were accustomed to at home, Clarissa and Maisy both cited America’s relative lack of extensive public transportation. American roads and streets are bigger, but they’re not conducive to bicycling. People in Georgia are generally more open and friendly toward strangers, going well beyond mere polite acknowledgements. The weather is hotter and more humid, of course, but air conditioning often tends toward the opposite extreme. They were amused by Southerners’ near-panic at the very mention of snow while on the other hand being quite casual about warnings of severe storms or even tornados. For everyday purchases, Americans are more likely than Europeans to use credit rather than cash, and tipping in the U.S. is much more important as an income source for service workers. Gasoline in cheaper here, but some basic commodities, such as bread and butter, are more expensive. Being in the country during an election year was particularly interesting, and America’s non-stop campaigning sharply contrasts with the much more limited campaign periods preceding elections in the U.K. or Germany.
Looking ahead, Clarissa and Maisy will join other GRSP students on a trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco before returning home to further their educations—in Dundee for Maisy and for Clarissa at a university yet to be determined. Whatever their futures, each of them will always remain marked by their time in Georgia and by gratitude to the state’s Rotary clubs for enabling them to experience it.
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Spring R & R with an International FlavorMonday, April 11, 2016
On March 24 the Club held its Spring R & R event at the Dalton Convention Center with an international theme carried out by presentations from members of the Dalton State College International Students Club, who were the evening’s guests.
 
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Special RecognitionsMonday, April 11, 2016
At the Club’s regular meeting on April 5, Community Service Chair Janice Kiker presented a special award to Rotarian Ronnie McClurg as a tribute to his service on behalf of the annual Track Meet over the 43 years of the event’s existence.
Rob Bradham, recently installed President and CEO of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, gave a Rotary Minute presentation in which he related his upbringing in the Tidewater Virginia area (where he was first introduced to Rotary in Norfolk), his early work as a lobbyist in Richmond, and his career transition as he developed a passion for Chamber work.
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Building and Sustaining Rotary: Some Hints on Recruiting and RetentionMonday, April 11, 2016By: John Hutcheson
 
Membership Chair Tray Brantley introduced Rotarians Scott Yochum and Pepper Pettit from the Rotary Club of Dawson County who are the District 6910 co-champion member recruiters. In a highly dynamic and engaging manner Scott and Pepper drove home their point that every Rotarian is responsible for building membership, even though fewer than 10% of all Rotarians ever sponsor a new member. Consequently, RI’s membership has held steady at about 1.2 million over the last ten years, with most new members coming from recently established clubs outside the United States. If every Rotarian brought in one new person who would be as good a Rotarian as he or she, then membership would obviously double.
With its current membership of 125 the Dalton club has an excellent reputation in this as in many other areas, but it needs to keep up the good work. In recruitment we should bear in mind that Rotary is made up of leaders joining leaders, but we also need leader-doers—people willing to get their hands dirty. These folks are everywhere in the community, and they can be identified by seeing who comes early to events and stays late, readily helping out with such things as set-up and take-down. Connections with them should be made not just about joining Rotary but on the basis of people joining people.
Four reasons that often get in the way of invitations include fear of rejection by the prospect or of non-acceptance by club, procrastination, distraction by other tasks, and apathy. Scott and Pepper emphasized that the best ideas for recruitment and retention come from within the clubs themselves—they know their needs and characteristics better than anyone else. An effective means used by the Dawson County club has been the Rotary Rush Party—a purely meet-and-greet gathering in a Rotarian’s home for which invitations are hand-delivered to prospects. The purpose is not to sell or even talk about Rotary, but rather to form connections that can evolve into relationships of the kind on which Rotary is built. By the end of the occasion guests are often asking about Rotary without any prodding from the Rotarians themselves.
Maintaining relationships is equally important for keeping people in Rotary. Folks like to be needed and to be champions both at and for whatever they do. Thus it’s important to let new and current Rotarians know how much they can help Rotary, more than how much Rotary can help them. Having people work together as peers, much like workout partners, accords with current business models and creates contagious enthusiasm and contagious accountability. New Rotarians are given a purpose, while those of longer standing can serve as mentors and coaches. In the process, both can more clearly discern their service passions.
Drawing a challenge from the heart of their presentation, Scott and Pepper closed by asking all those present, “Do you know one person who would be a good a Rotarian as you are?”
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The Opportunity School District: An OverviewMonday, April 4, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Larry Winter, who has been our area’s member of the Georgia Board of Education for more than ten years, gave a presentation on the proposed establishment of the Opportunity School District (OSD), a statewide structure which will focus on the state’s lowest performing schools.
Establishment of the OSD will require an amendment to the Georgia Constitution, to be voted on this coming November. If it is approved, the OSD will become a division of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (rather than the Department of Education) and the Governor will appoint the OSD’s Superintendent. This does not represent a state takeover of schools or an expansion of the state bureaucracy but rather an opportunity for authentic engagement of parents and communities to exercise the truest form of local control and make decisions that will best meet the needs of their own students.
To be eligible for inclusion in the OSD, a school will have received a rating of “F” under the state’s accountability system, the College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI), for three consecutive years. Currently 139 schools (6% of the state total), located across 24 local school districts, meet this criterion. Comparative socio-economic and financial data indicate that neither poverty nor lack of money lies at the root of the issue; the key involves wise use of resources to maximize a school’s ability to meet student needs.
No more than 20 schools per year will be selected for inclusion in the OSD, which will never have more than 100 schools under its supervision. Prior to a school’s selection for OSD inclusion, the law will require a public hearing to inform and enlist parent and community input, in addition to meetings with the school’s principal, the local district superintendent, and local school board members. Final selection would be decided by the OSD superintendent.
OSD’s intervention methods will be determined on a school-by-school basis and may incorporate any of four models. These include shared governance, in which the OSD superintendent enters into a contract or memorandum of understanding with the local district; direct management, whereby the OSD superintendent will select the principal, with the local school governance council exercising an advisory role; a charter school arrangement with a non-profit governing board made up of community members selected by the OSD superintendent in consultation with community members and leaders; and closure of a failing school not enrolled at full capacity, with its students reassigned to a higher-achieving district school where space is available. Selection of a model must include community input and analysis of past improvement efforts and reasons for low performance, and in any event the school will continue to serve its existing attendance zone and student population and maintain open enrollment. Since a key intention is to push authority to the local level, OSD’s primary role would be provide appropriate support and training to develop effective leadership.
Selected schools would remain in the OSD for no less than five nor more than ten years. A school performing above an “F” on the CCRPI for three consecutive years will be removed from the OSD in accordance with a transition plan determined by negotiations with the school, the local district, and community representatives. A charter school will remain under OSD auspices for the term of the initial charter, with any renewal occurring under the authority of the State Charter School Commission or local school authorities. During the period of OSD supervision, a school will continue to receive all local, state, and federal funds for which it is currently eligible. The OSD superintendent can withhold up to 3% of such funds for administrative operations, but 90% of these monies must be spent on teaching and program improvements. While the OSD will have rights to facility usage and be responsible for routine maintenance and bonded indebtedness, the local district retains ownership and responsibility for extensive repairs.
When reading and other basic skills fall behind in the early grades, students are unlikely to catch up, graduate, and become contributing members of society—low graduation rates and high incarceration rates are strongly related. The OSD project promises to be an effective tool for ensuring that all Georgia students receive equal educational opportunities, regardless of where they may live, and for guiding them toward socially constructive and personally fulfilling lives.
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2016 Rotary Track Meet a Great SuccessTuesday, March 29, 2016The rain held off, and 2016’s edition of the Ronnie McClurg Track Meet on March 12 was a great success. Area teams competed with their usual skill and spirit, providing worthy contributions to one of the Dalton Rotary Club’s signature events in the community.
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New RotariansTuesday, March 29, 2016At the Club’s regular meeting on March 15, Debra Conway, Steve Farrow, Laurice Tatum, and Pat Townsend received red badges as new inductees into the Club, and Alan Peterfreund received his blue badge as a fully qualified Rotarian.
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Prescription Drug Addictions: A Growing EpidemicTuesday, March 29, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian David Pennington began the program for March 15 by drawing attention to the growing epidemic of opiate abuse, which has become the most serious drug problem in American history. Unlike illegal opioids such as heroin, legal opiates are readily available by prescription and are commonly paid for by insurers or similar agents other than the patients for whom they are ordered. Despite its nationwide scale, the problem will be most effectively dealt with at the local level, and to that end David introduced Mike Stein, Director of Westcott Behavioral Health Services at Hamilton Medical Center. With more than 35 years of post-master’s degree clinical experience treating issues of addictive disease and behavioral health disorders, Mike has been with HMC for almost 24 years, serving in his current position for the last ten.
Mike noted that the opiate issue is not new—it can be traced back to the Civil War era, when opium attained wide use for relieving the pain of war wounds and addiction to it became known as the “soldiers’ disease.” Today the problem is exacerbated for several reasons. One of these is the large number of non-fatal workplace injuries; in Georgia these numbered approximately 80,000 in 2014 or 2.9 per 100 employees—slightly lower than the national ratio of 3.2 /100. Injuries can often lead to narcotic addiction as patients demand—and physicians prescribe—pain relievers. For example, looking only at hydrocodone use in Whitfield and Murray Counties during 2014, within a combined population of 143,000 about 14,800 people received 35,000 prescriptions, leading to 560,000 days of medication. Currently the U.S., with 5% of the world’s population, writes 75% of global prescriptions, and the country has an estimated 15 million abusers of prescription drugs. Nine of ten poisoning deaths are from prescription drugs. Opioids are the most abused class, followed by sedatives and stimulants, and between 1999 and 2010 deaths from narcotic overdose rose by 400%, with the fatality rate for women nearly twice that of men. More than half—54%--of overdose fatalities got their drugs free from a friend or relative.
In 2013 only 16% of those surveyed believed the U.S. is making progress on reducing drug addiction. Between 2007 and 2011, heroin use rose 75%, but on the legal side and apart from medical purposes, prescription drug use has grown exponentially. An estimated 52 million Americans over age 12 have used such substances recreationally, and more than half of all over age 16 have done so. Initial use is likely to be experimental rather than prompted by some traumatic cause, but the psychological and physiological effects are the same. The brain reacts to a new experience, while the body detects a toxin. In what is known as the refraction period, the brain and body try to achieve a balance and a tolerance develops, with increasing amounts of the drug needed to attain a feeling of normal balance between dysphoria and euphoria. A craving develops at the cellular level, and withdrawals become more severe, leading to a vicious circle of increased intake to avoid them. The important point to remember is that addictive drug usage is not aimed at feeling good, but at feeling normal, which requires more and more of the drug as the addiction grows.
Drug addiction is thus a biological and chemical issue rather than a moral one, and its results cannot be willed or legislated away. The easiest short-term treatment is detoxification, but the real difficulty comes later—how does the addict stay clean? Part of the solution may come from the pharmaceutical industry with drugs that enable withdrawal and recovery, but the need is greater than purely chemical in nature and must reach into all aspects of an addict’s life. Half of treatment is a matter of teaching people how to live with chemicals properly.
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Dalton/Whitfield Special OlympicsMonday, March 14, 2016By: John Hutcheson
On behalf of the Dalton Police Department, a long-standing partner with the Dalton/Whitfield Special Olympics program, President Jason introduced Lisa and Tyler Hughey. Lisa, who is Therapeutic and Recreation Director for the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department, has been Coordinator of the Special Olympics for Whitfield County for the past fifteen years, and Tyler, her son, is a very active participant in many of the program’s activities.
Lisa noted that her work with Special Olympics began as a volunteer while she was a student at Northwest Whitfield High School. There are now more than 25,000 Special Olympians in Georgia, of whom 400 are in Whitfield County, which also has 25 unified partners (individuals who train and compete alongside Special Olympics athletes) and eight certified coaches. During the fall the local program concentrates on bowling, followed by track and field in the spring. The roster of athletes includes persons from Murray as well as from Whitfield County. Dalton Police’s strong support over the years has been much appreciated—this has helped greatly in enabling area athletes to compete at the state level in Alpine skiing, bowling, bocce ball, tennis, and softball, along with numerous other sports. At all times the athletes are treated as adults and given the greatest possible independence.
Introduced by his mother, Tyler warmly thanked the Club for the opportunity to speak about what Special Olympics has meant to him. He mentioned that the program was founded in 1958 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy. Tyler has been involved with it for fourteen years in bowling, tennis (his favorite sport), and skiing, as well in as other activities. For him Special Olympics is very much a family affair, as his sister, both parents, and one of his grandfathers all take part in its operations. Competing with them and with new friends he’s been able to make, he’s come to regard the program itself as a second family, and through it he’s traveled to many places around the U.S. he probably would not have visited otherwise. He looks forward to many years of continued competition.
Responding to questions, Lisa said that local Special Olympics events draw on help from about 150 volunteers. Competing athletes must be at least eight years old, but there is also a non-competitive Young Athletes program for children as young as kindergarten age. The statewide competition has been held three times in Dalton, which is highly regarded for its excellent facilities such as Heritage Park. Attendance on these occasions runs around 1,600 and generates significant revenue for local businesses. Upcoming events include the Law Enforcement Torch Run, scheduled for March 15, and the Cops on Doughnut Shops fund-raiser, to be held on March 26 in cooperation with Dalton Police and Krispy Kreme. Its goal is $10,000, and the title is apparently to be taken literally—President Jason commented that he would in fact be found on Krispy Kreme’s roof on that date. We’ll see. . . .
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District 6910 Conference in SavannahMonday, March 14, 2016Register Now for the District 6910 Conference in Savannah
Time is running out to register for the 2016 District 6910 Conference in Savannah. You can find more details for the conference and hotel, the District 6910 website: http://www.rotarydistrict6910.org/
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Dalton Education Foundation and the Charlie Bowen Sr. Leadership and ServiceMonday, March 7, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Scott Delay began the program by announcing the Dalton Education Foundation’s establishment of the Charlie Bowen, Sr. Leadership and Service Grant, and he recognized attending members of the Bowen family and the DEF Board of Trustees. He then yielded the podium to Bob Bethel, immediate past president of the DEF, who thanked the Dalton Rotary Club for its rich history of involvement with the Dalton Public Schools and support of the system’s work.
Bob said that the DEF’s assets now exceed 1.1 million dollars, with investment services provided through partnership with the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia. Last year the DEF gave $60,000 in various grants and awards, and this time of year—late winter and early spring—is especially exciting as grant applications arrive from both teachers and students. Bob expressed deep gratitude to the Foundation’s donors, especially the school district’s own employees who increased their giving in 2015 by 16% over the previous year. Now a new challenge has arrived in the form of a proposal that the DEF establish a separate fund dedicated to helping middle and high school students develop leadership skills which embody the leadership ideals of Charlie Bowen, Sr., beloved teacher and legendary Principal of Dalton High and subsequently DPS Superintendent. The anonymous donor who suggested this cause will match contributions to it up to $50,000.
Bob then introduced Rotarian Bill Weaver, long-time DPS teacher and administrator who began by eliciting a show of numerous hands from persons who had attended—or whose children had attended—Dalton High during Charlie Bowen’s time as its Principal. He then recalled how, very soon after Charlie hired him in 1963 to teach advanced English at DHS, he realized he was working under the guidance of an exceptional leader, a man of the deepest integrity who taught leadership by example and expected his teachers to be leaders as well. At the same time, though, Charlie was a good listener and never asked others to do anything he wasn’t willing to do himself. His contributions to the community went far beyond the school itself—he was an early leader of Junior Achievement and an active supporter of Cheerhaven, the Dalton-Whitfield Mental Health Association, Georgia Highlands, the Greenhouse, and the Scouting organizations, as well as facilitating the hiring of the Whitfield County Health Department’s first psychiatric social worker. A born teacher who always wanted the best for his students, he saw his community work as an extension of his educational mission, and the grants to be made from the proposed fund will ensure his legacy of leadership lives on.
Rotarian Mike Maret, current DEF president, followed Bill and told how he met Charlie through Rotary, more specifically through Rotary Rides, which enabled Charlie to attend meetings after he was no longer able to drive himself. Charlie was a member of the Dalton Rotary Club for more than sixty years, and during these trips Mike enjoyed the vast range of Charlie’s knowledge and interests—he could talk about anything, but he took special delight in conversations about golf, the Atlanta Braves, or the history of Dalton (much of which he virtually embodied in its modern era).
On behalf of the Bowen family Charlie Bowen, Jr. thanked Bill and Mike for their tributes to his father, whose life exemplified the Rotary motto of service above self. Charlie Sr. saw service as synonymous with opportunity, and Charlie Jr. remembered several occasions while he was growing up when his dad made this point clear to him. His service continued well into his retirement, notably as chair of the local Bicentennial Commemoration Committee in 1976. If a leader’s success can be measured by the number of people who’ve been helped to reach their goals, Charlie Sr.’s life was a great success indeed. The motto of Charlie Jr.’s current employer—Southern Virginia University—is “Preparing Leader Servants,” and this is an apt summary of Charlie Sr.’s accomplishments and the purpose intended for the Charlie Bowen, Sr. Leadership and Service Grant.
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A Day of Recognition: Rotaract at Dalton State and Interact at Dalton HighMonday, February 29, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Following Rotary Minutes by Rotarians Scott Delay and Joseph Farmer and the inductions of Rob Bradham and Charles Maret as new members of the Club, President Jason introduced Scott Rhoden, Youth Service Chair, who in turn opened a program to recognize the Rotaract Club at Dalton State College and the Interact Club at Dalton High School. Over the last couple of years both of these clubs have benefitted from highly committed leadership and between them now enroll 99 student members.
Max England
Scott called on Max Alexander England, president of Rotaract at Dalton State, for an update on his club’s progress. A graduate of North Murray High School, Max attended Mercer University majoring in bioengineering before transferring to Dalton State to major in business with specialties in finance, applied economics, and marketing and management. At Dalton he met Krystal Tee, a former GRSP student from Malaysia who had invigorated Rotaract at DSC, become its president, and is now about to graduate. With her guidance and under faculty sponsorship from Derek Waugh, the club has grown to 33 signed-up members, with a goal of reaching 40 by the end of the current semester. Since most Dalton State students are on campus only during the day and many hold full- or part-time jobs, finding convenient meeting times for the club has been challenging, but the leaders hope to have three scheduled meetings before the summer. There have been effective partnerships with other campus organizations, notably the African Students Association, with whom Rotaract co-sponsored Voices of Culture, an event in which international students were able to present their respective backgrounds to each other and the College community at large. By working with other groups and building on the ideals of RI, the club hopes to raise its visibility on campus, attract new members, and find at least two more service opportunities during this term’s remaining weeks.
 
Jordan McKinney Jay Tripp
Interact at Dalton High was introduced by Dr. Larry Tripp, who oversees work-based learning for Dalton Public Schools and was instrumental in reviving Interact at DHS. Larry was accompanied by 14 members of the club, each of whom he recognized individually before calling four to the podium to speak briefly about their involvement in Interact. Jordan McKinney, a senior who’s played on the DHS football, basketball, and track teams, joined under the influence of his best friend (who happened to be Dr. Tripp’s son); Jordan will attend the University of Georgia in the fall to prepare for a career as a pediatric dentist. He was followed by his friend, Jay Tripp, who related how Interact (which he joined at his dad’s prompting) has offered him many opportunities to give back to his community, such as bell-ringing for the Salvation Army and selling parking at DHS games to raise money for building houses in Nicaragua. He spoke about his experiences at RYLA camp, and these were also the focus of remarks by Taylor Kate Boyett and Cherith Moore—both girls were grateful for the chance RYLA gave them to develop their leadership skills and to meet students from across Georgia.
 
Taylor Kate Boyett Cherith Moore
President Jason closed the program with praise for the work of both clubs and expressed hopes that their members were on the way to becoming future Rotarians.
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Some Words of Wisdom from Coach IngleFriday, February 19, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Derek Waugh introduced Dalton State College Head Basketball Coach Tony Ingle, who came to DSC in 2012 to restart a previously distinguished basketball program which had been dormant since the late 1970’s. In his first two years at DSC, Coach Ingle became the first coach in NCAA or NAIA history to lead a new program to more than fifty victories in its first two seasons, as well as the first to win a national championship in a program’s first year of eligibility. He was recognized as NAIA Coach of the Year for 2014-2015, but Derek simply called him “the Wizard of Whitfield County.”
Coach Ingle began his remarks with a tribute to Derek as Director of Athletics at DSC, calling the opportunity to work with him “a blessing.” He gave a moving remembrance of his parents, especially his mother, and he elaborated on how the lessons he learned from them have shaped his philosophy as a coach. Along with the virtues of hard work, they taught him that “life is short, serious, and frail, and we must laugh at it and live it well.” All things can be blessings, so long as we are grounded in a faith that can move mountains and remember that God can do anything. Recalling Jesus’s parable of the mustard seed, Coach Ingle passed around a jar of mustard seeds, pointing out that he takes one every day to remind himself of the importance of faith. He told a story about Mother Theresa, whom a group of nuns once praised for the love she showed in her work among the outcasts of India. She responded by telling them that while love was certainly important in life, faith was even more so, enabling one to find answers in the heart for life’s problems. “Fear” can be seen as an acronym for “False Evidence Appearing Real,” and we must always bear in mind that God wants us to live in faith.
Coach Ingle’s mother told him, “Don’t let anyone be-nice you,” and he has always tried to remember that while it’s nice to be important, it’s important to be nice. DSC’s 2015-2016 team lost eight seniors, five starters, and two All-Americans from last year’s squad, but they are working hard and improving. In a culture where instant gratification has become the normal expectation, Coach Ingle teaches his players to be humble, with faith in God, belief in themselves, and a recognition that the key to success is gratitude. At the same time, they must also be hungry in the courageous pursuit of worthy goals and also be helpful, with a spirit to serve. Finally, they are to learn to love learning, which will enable them to remain happy to the end.
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The Dalton-Whitfield Economic Development Authority: An UpdateMonday, February 15, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Kevin Harris introduced Rotarian Carl Campbell, Executive Director of the Dalton-Whitfield Economic Development Authority (DWEDA). A graduate of Dalton High School and the University of Georgia, Carl worked for the Georgia Department of Economic Development before returning to Dalton to assume his current position.
Carl began with an overview of DWEDA’s mission and operations. The authority was established to facilitate positive economic growth in local jobs, capital, and productivity by identifying appropriate targets in industry, retailing, commercial and service enterprises, and health care for recruitment to Dalton-Whitfield. Working with state-level professionals, company representatives, retailers, and local government agencies, DWEDA markets to industries that can take advantage of the strengths of the area, such as its excellent infrastructure (especially water) or improve such weaknesses as retailing, where there is much leakage to Chattanooga and Atlanta—since the typical retail prospect looks for an average annual household income of $75,000 and 75% of Dalton-Whitfield households fall below that amount, many potential retailers are discouraged from locating here. Generally speaking, prospects want a promising location and a low-cost business environment with a freeport exemption, no sales tax on energy, thorough local knowledge of applicable state and federal opportunities for grants, etc., and tax-savings through an Industrial Revenue Bond. Incentives such as these become paramount once a community makes a firm’s short list for expansion or relocation.
During the last year, DWEDA’s project pipeline comprised dealings with 59 companies, with projections for 8,308 jobs and $1,964,820,000 in capital investment. Of these, 19% were in floorcovering, 17% in automotive technology, 17% in retail, and 47% in other lines, especially food, chemicals, and plastics. Between 75% and 80% were interested in the Carbondale Industrial Park, but 68% looked at other locations as well, especially for retailing. There were more than 25 project visits to Whitfield County in 2015, and the area was a finalist for 13 projects. Current efforts focus on automotive concerns, building on proximity to Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant and its ancillaries.
Floorcovering remains the mainstay of the local economy, of course, but many potential new industries are apprehensive about competing with it for an adequate supply of skilled workers. Further insight into the challenges facing Dalton-Whitfield’s economic development can be gained from looking at some recent unsuccessful recruitment projects. Cabrera, an automotive stamping company, went to a Tennessee location after incentives from Chattanooga and Volkswagen proved more attractive than those offered by Dalton-Whitfield. Comet, a manufacturer of consumer health textiles, cited a lack of suitable buildings (in particular, those with a minimum ceiling of 32 feet) and reluctance to build their own. Lion King, a food distributor, found local business costs too high relative to other communities, while Royal Scepter, a manufacturer of automotive components, asked for unreasonable incentives such as a 20-year tax abatement.
Overall, Dalton-Whitfield faces an extremely competitive environment, notably from Cartersville and Calhoun. Dalton has relatively less flat land, and many apparently vacant buildings are actually full of local companies’ inventory and thus not available. Many of those which are empty are either not for sale or unacceptable because of unsuitable square footage or low ceilings. Also, despite its good road and rail transportation, Dalton sometimes seems too far from Atlanta.
Dalton has great strengths—local companies such as Shaw, Mohawk, Engineered Floors, IVC, Challenger, and Lyle Industries have all shown encouraging growth recently—but the region nevertheless faces a new reality and cannot afford complacency. During the last five to seven years, for example, the only sector of the floorcovering industry which did not dip was luxury vinyl tile, but nearly all new manufacturing facilities for this high-demand product were outside Dalton. The area has excellent foundations to build from, but it must not lose sight of its principal challenges—available, affordable land which is economically feasible to prepare and close to utilities; suitable buildings meeting the same criteria; and an adequate-size skilled workforce which can be quickly adapted to a prospect’s specific needs.
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The New Hamilton Cancer InstituteMonday, February 8, 2016By: Kathryn Sellers
Hamilton Medical Center (HMC) is again embarking on a significant initiative in order to stay abreast of the newest technologies and care standards for cancer screening, diagnostics and treatment. The planned $30 million facility will be built on property directly across from Hamilton Medical Center on Memorial Drive. As past president David Aft stated, HMC has always been “unapologetically ambitious” to provide for this community.
Rotarian Jeff Myers, HMC President and CEO, introduced Rotarian Gary Howard, Vice President of Hamilton Medical Center, who stated that there are 1.6 million cancer diagnoses per year with 1 of 3 women and 1 0f 2 men likely to deal with the diseases. There are 1,300 new cases in the Hamilton area annually with 715 of those in Whitfield and Murray counties alone. (As an aside, he stated that this number is not above any state or national averages for our population.) There is a “staggering demand for capacity, with ten times the need for those people age 65 and above.”
The 18 months of planning by Oncology Solutions analyzed the need for diagnostics, admissions, consultations and treatment, and, along with staff and physicians wanted to answer the question “what if all cancer care was under one roof here? ESO Architects of Nashville started work on the planning for the building with expanded services, 38,000 sq. ft. on three levels. The architectural firm is working with staff, physician and patients to define the needs. The state Certificate of Need is expected in March and the Project will begin in July and should culminate in 2017. The existing Judd and infusion centers will be repurposed.
The Whitfield Healthcare Foundation under Scott Sellers, Chairman and Rotarian Robert Smalley, campaign cabinet chair, has offered complete support of the“collaborative oncology building for a healing, patient-centered environment” and are developing the campaign to raise $8 million of the funds from local sources.
Core staffing exists but will need to be expanded. The “best in class services, building and technology” will be more enticing to attract physicians and technicians.
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A Day of Recognition and AwardsFriday, January 29, 2016By: John Hutcheson
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President Jason Parker introduced the club’s Foundation Chair, Greg Dent, who gave a brief history of the Rotary Foundation and its support by the Rotary Club of Dalton. The Foundation’s origins go back to 1917 and the establishment of “an endowment for doing good in the world.” In 1928 this was reconstituted as the Rotary Foundation, an independent entity which made its first grant in 1929 to assist disabled children—this subsequently evolved into the Easter Seals organization. In 1947 the Foundation offered the first Ambassadorial Scholarships, and in 1950 it began its program of matching grants in coordination with local districts. The Three-H program—for Health, Hunger, and Humanity—came in the 1970’s, and the 1980’s brought Polio Plus and the first Peace Forums. Since the first donation of $26.50, in 1917, the Foundation has received over a billion dollars, and in 2014-2015 it was able to make 487 District Grants totaling $25.2 million and 1,078 global grants totaling $68.7 million. Recognition for support of the Foundation centers on the Paul Harris Fellowships, awarded to members for each $1,000 contributed to the Foundation. The Dalton Club hopes to have 100% of its members become Paul Harris Fellows by 2017, when Rotary International will meet in Atlanta and the Foundation will observe its centennial. Presently the club is about 46 members short of achieving this goal, but arrangements whereby members with extra Paul Harris points may donate them to others who are nearing the $1,000 threshold certainly makes it attainable.
Returning to the podium, President Jason called forward several Rotarians for their service and support during the past year. For recruiting new club members, Kevin Brunson, who sponsored two new members, and Brian Griffin and Barbara Ward, who sponsored one each, were recognized. Don Adcock achieved his second Paul Harris award, and Sheri Blevins became the club’s newest Paul Harris Fellow. John Hutcheson was introduced as a Will Watt Fellow for his support of the Georgia Rotary Student Program.
As Vocational Service Chair, Kevin Brunson presided over the announcement of the club’s nominees for two of Rotary District 6910’s greatest honors, the Robert S. Stubbs II Guardian of Ethics Award and the W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award. The selection was made by a committee of six Dalton Rotarians, including Nancy Kennedy and John Neal (both past nominees), President Jason Parker, Past President David Aft, Scott Minter, and Kevin.
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The Stubbs Award recognizes a person who has been a Rotarian for at least three years and has made outstanding contributions in his or her vocation and has by actions, writing, policies, and public pronouncements strengthened and fostered the development of ethical practices. For 2015-2016 the Dalton winner of the Stubbs Award is Skeeter Pierce, a highly respected financial consultant since 1981, member of the Dalton Rotary Club since 1994, and its president in 2002-2003. In her work and her personal life she lives by and embodies the Four-Way Test, and her colleagues, friends, and family eagerly attest to her exceptional qualities.
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The Arrendale Award is given for a nominee’s excellence in his or her vocation, for achievements in the community, and for academic accomplishments. This year’s Dalton winner is Robert Henry “Bob” Brooker, whose name was announced by his family’s long-time friend, Community Service Chair Janice Kiker. In formally presenting the award, Kevin noted Bob’s education in the Whitfield County schools and at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he held a football scholarship and earned a degree in business management. After graduation he joined his father in the family’s automobile dealership, a firm now well over fifty years old and one of the community’s most respected businesses. Bob has demonstrated that being successful includes creating an environment in which one’s employees can thrive and the community can benefit in addition to whatever financial reward one’s company is able to derive. Over a career extending across more than forty-five years he has consistently given back to his community, following his father into Dalton Rotary in 1976 and serving as the club’s president in 1989-1990 and as a member of numerous business and charitable boards. In all his endeavors he has earned respect and admiration for his qualities of integrity, compassion, and commitment to the principles of the Four-Way Test.
Skeeter and Bob each received standing ovations from their fellow Rotarians, and President Jason concluded the meeting with congratulations for all the day’s award recipients.
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PreVasive: the Future of Infection ControlMonday, January 25, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Dan Combs, Jr. introduced Scott Mullis of Firestar, Inc., sister company to Parker Young Construction of Atlanta and a 24/7 provider of emergency fire, water, mold mitigation, and storm damage services. Scott described the development and capabilities of PreVasive, a new pathogen control system which offers a means to disinfect objects and areas at lower cost but more easily and effectively than with other techniques.
The product of a multi-million-dollar research effort in both industrial and academic settings, PreVasive uses a photocatalytic protective sealant in conjunction with EPA-registered antimicrobials. When applied as a spray, it essentially becomes part of the destination surface, powered by light and lethal even to mutant microorganisms or “superbugs” which have become resistant to other disinfectants. PreVasive attacks its targets in three ways simultaneously—by cell wall decomposition, by cell oxidation, and through x-coenzymes. Using a specialized sprayer developed at Georgia Tech, it becomes an electrostatically charged mist which, much like water fog, actively seeks places to ground. While rooms sprayed with conventional fog disinfectants may need a waiting period of twelve to twenty-four hours before reoccupation, a room sprayed with PreVasive may be reoccupied in about five minutes. Surfaces must be clean before an application, but no wipe-down is necessary afterward. The result is high-binding, fast-acting, long-lasting, odorless (except for a slight lemon scent at the beginning of an application), and effective across a broad spectrum, killing 99% of the pathogens the CDC deems most troublesome. An area of 500 square feet may be treated in less than five minutes and one of 1,000 square feet in less than two hours. Reapplication needs can range from monthly to annually, depending on traffic and usage patterns.
PreVasive is non-flammable, anti-corrosive, and usable on delicate electronics or even organic materials. Composed of all-natural ingredients such as titanium oxide, silver nitrate, and citrates, it has the EPA’s lowest toxicity rating. Although a gallon costs $600, it will cover 10,000 square feet, making it competitive with rival products per unit of application. Currently used in many kinds of institutions in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, it requires trained applicators, but a mass-market version for the general public is under consideration.
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Cross Plains Community Partner: An OverviewMonday, January 18, 2016By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Mel Abernathy introduced Deborah Conway of Cross Plains Community Partner (CPCP, known until 2005 as Cheerhaven). English by birth and accent, Deborah has thirty years’ experience in social services in the U.K. and U.S, serving for the last decade as Executive Director of CPCP and leading it to statewide recognition.
Deborah recounted how her agency was founded as Cheerhaven by a group of concerned Whitfield County citizens nearly sixty years ago, to provide schooling for developmentally disabled children. In effect segregating them from the social mainstream, the agency’s original operational model changed as new laws mandated such children’s integration into public school systems, and Cheerhaven then shifted its mission to providing services for adults. Between 75 and 80 clients attended each day—often manifesting challenging behaviors—in an environment that remained apart from ordinary social settings and incorporated a one-for-all program which gave little recognition to individual preferences or other differences.
In 2000 Cheerhaven changed its service strategy to focus on its people as persons having distinctive characteristics and each needing individually meaningful activities. Rather than conducting these only within the organization’s confines, the goal became that of connecting clients to the wider community by offering appropriate services, either as volunteers or as paid employees, in partnership with schools, businesses, and non-profit community agencies. The name change from Cheerhaven to Cross Plains Community Partner signified the new approach, and currently 75% of CPCP’s assistance occurs in community settings. Consequently, the agency now sees itself more as a bridge between its clients and the community than as a service provider to a special population. Especially noteworthy is an engagement with the arts through the Creative Arts Guild, where CPCP people may be found taking lessons and participating in showings.
Although many CPCP persons work in the community as volunteers—logging over 900 hours of volunteer service last year—facilitating paid employment is central to CPCP’s mission. Deborah introduced Elizabeth Hunter, CPCP’s Supported Employment Manager, who spoke of her passion for helping young people achieve dreams based on high expectations. Elizabeth described how CPCP assists with job-seeking, with matching prospective employees’ abilities to employers’ needs, and with development of interviewing skills. To help achieve maximum independence, CPCP can also help in areas such as driving, budgeting, and even apartment-hunting. Work hours provided through CPCP may be part-time or full-time, but in any case these employees will very likely demonstrate high loyalty and dedication. For example, at Hamilton Medical Center, Royal Oaks, and in the schools, CPCP partners often work in housekeeping or food services, while at Shaw Industries they are involved in office work, manufacturing, and distribution, sometimes even at the level of job-shadowing. At both Hamilton and Shaw, CPCP employees have achieved success rates of 100%.
Responding to questions, Deborah noted that while CPCP funding comes partly from Federal and state sources, this is often encumbered by extensive regulations. In that connection she promoted CPCP’s next annual fund raiser, the Grizzly Trail Run, a 5K event scheduled for March 12, 2016.
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State Legislators Provide an Update on the Upcoming Legislative SessionThursday, January 7, 2016.jpg)
Representative Tom Dickson reported from the Education Review Committee on the education recommendations they provided to the Governor’s office. All were in-depth studies of issues, such as the Pre-Kindergarten recommendation to have the lead teacher’s pay to included training and to have a reduction in class size. All of these recommendations if implemented would cost $70 million dollars; however, the Governor has already stipulated that he would add $50 million to the budget for education for the upcoming year. Dickson said that a new funding formula was recommended but it is not any less complicated than before because the issues are very complicated. One good forecast is that the austerity cuts of the last few years will be phased out; only $204 million are left to remove.
Representative Bruce Broadrick stated that they will be addressing many items that are still on the table in this second portion of the session. The first job will be to create the year end budget, filling in gaps for the period through this coming June. Next they will create the new budget for fiscal year 2016-2017.
A major push will be to revise the prescription drug monitoring program allowing for various professionals – doctors, pharmacists, etc – to communicate between each other about concerns for patients who may be duplicating usage from various sources. This is all to try to alleviate the major problem of prescription drugs addictions.
Broadrick is on the industry and labor committee that will address the classification of employees as to whether they are contract labor or real employees. This is a problem especially with truck drivers who drive for a company that owns the trucks.
Concerning healthcare, “Of course, says Broadrick, “even though our revenues will be up seven to nine percent, we want to be cost effective in treating all patients in healthcare which takes up 23% of the whole state budget.”
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Senator Charlie Bethel suggested that you will read about several story lines in the media because various parts of the legislature will be working on different projects providing stories from only one portion of the work in progress – a lobbyist, a single legislator who has a pet project, or others who have a vested interest in that project. The media even picks up on items that are not currently being worked on but are controversial and, therefore, sell papers and TV coverage.
Locally, major issues for our delegation will be higher education. The new building at Ga Northwest Technical College is number 2 on the list for the budget at $23 million. And Dalton State wants to improve its business school with a private financial gift that needs to be matched by the state. Keeping those in the budget will be top of mind. Bill Ireland spoke up and commented that their emphasis should be on education because that is where our future lies.
Bethel stated that the first amendment issue will be considered about government employees and officials having immunity for expressing their religion, sometimes called the “pastor protection act.”
Other issues:
- an education reform model that will shift funding from program to student-based so that each student will generate x dollars rather than the program getting funding.
- merit pay versus state scale. Performance based pay is difficult to refine.
- Gambling and horseracing,
- medical marijuana will also be discussed.
- in tax reform; Bethel predicts no big change, only small steps.
Questions about the repair/fix of the northern I 75 interstate should be let in early 2016. The northwest corridor should be complete in 2018.
When asked about Gov. Deal’s legacy, Bethel with a nod from the other legislators listed “making a path for the least” that includes criminal justice reform, education reform plus the Savannah harbor, which is a major legacy for Deal.
Bethel stated that the inland port in Murray County should be a substantial driver of economic development investment for logistically-oriented businesses. The facts are that there will be “less traffic than in 2009” on Hwy 411 on the existing infrastructure. Highways 411, 52 and 136 will be enhanced with passing lanes and in some parts, four lanes in the future.
The impact of last year’s transportation bill will provide 30% more state dollars in LMIG funds to local governments.
In response to a comment by Frank Hogshead to restore trust and faith in our government, Bethel stated that government’s reputation is both deserved and undeserved. “The majority are trying to do good. Legislators have complex commitments. The general population should have commitments to help with problems rather than blaming others for not getting things done.” He said his goal is to “do less” and not more costly programs and allow people to take care of themselves and each other.” He added, “we need to celebrate our own contributions rather than finding ‘victims’.”
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The Men’s Ensemble of First Baptist ChurchMonday, December 21, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotary was entertained again by the Men’s Ensemble of First Baptist Church, one of the favorite programs of the year reflected by the large number of visitors present. As Rev. Bill Ireland stated when he introduced the group, “They have blessed the church and the community for twenty seven years.” Retirement and illnesses are blamed for the ending of this group. Many of those 27 years, they performed for Rotary in December. The group consists of director Larry Flanagan, Allen Wells, John McDonald, Paul Anderson, Ron Nix, Anthony Bridges, Bryan McAllister and Randy Poplin.
Their program included Christmas music beginning with “We Need a Little Christmas” and going through pieces as diverse as” Jingle Bells,” the Caribbean carol, “Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy” spirituals, and finally “Go Tell It on The Mountain.”
It is sad to think they won’t be together again. Someone in the group said we all will be looking for the reunion tour!
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A Christmas Message from Robin LindseyMonday, December 14, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Robin Lindsey, Senior Pastor of Dalton’s First United Methodist Church, offered the club a three-part Christmas Message which brought forward figures as diverse as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Charles Dickens, and Robin himself.
He began with an account of Rudolph’s origins and path to the central place he now holds in American Christmas tradition. In 1939 Robert L. May, an advertising copywriter for Montgomery Ward, was asked to write a children’s book for his company to distribute during the Christmas season. The request came at a sad time in May’s life, for he had recently lost his wife, leaving him with a small daughter. With her help he composed a story in rhyming couplets which related how Rudolph, though rejected by other reindeer because of his large glowing nose, was discovered by Santa during his travels one foggy Christmas Eve and became a hero by guiding Santa’s sleigh through the bad weather, enabling him to finish his deliveries on time. Robin read the original story from a facsimile copy of the first edition and related how in 1949 Johnny Marks, May’s brother-in-law, made a slightly modified version of the story into a song. After many producers had refused it, the song was recorded by Gene Autry and within a year had sold 2.5 million copies, eventually reaching 25 million copies and holding the title of best-selling recording until the 1980’s.
Robin then turned to Charles Dickens and paraphrased an essay Dickens wrote in 1851 entitled “What Christmas Is as We Grow Older.” In a set of observations rather than a story, Dickens reflected on how the experience of Christmas changes as we move from childhood through parenthood, grandparenthood, and finally to old age. At each stage, the joy we take from Christ’s birth embraces ever-widening circles of family and friends, until in our late years we open our hearts and homes to all without boundaries or barriers, including even our enemies and those who have passed on before us.
Finally, Robin mentioned the difficulty many clergy like himself have faced over the past few weeks to proclaim the Christmas message convincingly in a world that seems to have become exceptionally violent. Our generation is not the first to have to live in that situation, however—he recalled the Christmas of 1941, following Pearl Harbor, and other Christmases in time of war or social strife. The peace of Christ endures through all, and Robin reminded us of the story behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” written in 1863 after Longfellow had seen his wife burned to death in an accidental fire and his son severely wounded in the Civil War. The bells of Christmas gave the poet hope in his despair—“The Wrong shall fail, / The Right prevail, / With peace on earth, good-will to men!” Set to music, the poem has become a familiar Christmas carol, which Robin sang to close his message for Christmas, 2015.
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An Economic Analysis from David PenningtonMonday, December 7, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Former Dalton mayor David Pennington III was introduced by fellow Rotarian John Didier, who pointed out that economic issues were the primary focus of David’s gubernatorial campaign in 2014. Recalling James Carville’s advice in 1992 to Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign that “it’s the economy, stupid,” David emphasized that without a healthy economy every other issue becomes secondary, and whether they agreed with him or not, he challenged his audience to think about the current economy in its national, state, and local contexts.
Nationally, David found it “amazing” that after six years of interest rates at virtually zero there’s been little or no inflation, and many key indicators have remained flat or declined. Growth in real wages since 2009 has been negligible, despite a drop in unemployment from 10% to 5.9%. Labor force participation is currently 62%—the lowest since the 1970’s—and the recovery overall is the first since World War II in which GDP hasn’t grown by at least 3% in any year. Productivity declined 1.9% in the first quarter of 2015, and factory orders in October were down for the third straight month. Nearly 70% of small business owners see the economy as only fair or poor in this sixth year of recovery.
In Georgia, median family income fell 16% from 2006 to 2013, as higher-paying jobs were replaced by lower-paying ones. Moreover, 82% of all new jobs created this year have been in Metro Atlanta, leaving much of the rest of the state, especially the rural areas, in great difficulty. Even then, Atlanta has been ranked the 4th worst city in the U.S. in which to build wealth. Financial well-being in the state as a whole is the 3rd worst in the country, with the nation’s 3rd highest uninsured population and Valdosta, Macon, and Albany as three of America’s seventeen poorest cities.
Dalton’s median income fell from $46,000 to $37,000 between 2010 and 2013, and the city’s poverty rate stands at 26%. Whitfield County’s poverty rate is 21%, and between 2002 and 2012 the county lost $120,000,000 in annual payroll. Overtime work is a thing of the past, as is the boomtown atmosphere many older and middle-aged Daltonians grew up with.
David argued that the key to understanding what’s gone wrong lies in the decline of the small business sector. Noting that small businesses generate two-thirds of new jobs in the U.S. and are the main source of innovation, he pointed to a steady reduction in new business formation since the 1990’s—in 2012 that rate was 30% lower than in the 1980’s. Large-scale enterprises now dominate local economies, and workers’ share of corporate income has fallen to its lowest level since 1951, standing now at $3,770 per worker. There is much less competition for labor, and available jobs are likely to carry few benefits.
A community’s small businesses and local banks constitute their own ecosystem, interacting with each other to everyone’s mutual benefit. The arrival of big chain stores and regional or national banks drains off equity and profits from local concerns, who find it increasingly difficult to acquire capital—lending to small businesses by the top ten U.S. banks today is down 38% from its 2006 level and small businesses needing loans are referred to high-interest lenders. Dalton was formerly a case of “small businesses on steroids,” but those days are no more. The change can be seen in the Dalton Rotary Club itself, where shrinkage in the number of small business members over the years has made it what David called “a perfect example of a struggling ecosystem.” If the small business economy isn’t turned around, our best days are over.
Responding to questions, David called for breaking up the big banks and restoring the Glass-Steagall Act’s separation of commercial and investment banking. Government’s scope should be shrunk—its over-extension reflects the influence of big business, whose interests it primarily serves. Dalton retains many of its assets, including location on I-75, supportive and well-managed utilities, and a relatively strong industrial base, though that’s unlikely to grow more and no longer justifies “Carpet Capital” complacency. The future should be built around Dalton State College and Hamilton Medical Center, which will produce and attract highly educated people in high-paying jobs. Dalton will remain the economic hub for Northwest Georgia, but its recovery must be led by small businesses.
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The Georgia Rotary Student Program: an UpdateMonday, November 30, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Past President John Richmond presented an overview of the Georgia Rotary Student Program, drawing on his host family experiences and his current position on the GRSP Board of Trustees. He began by showing a video which recounted how GRSP began in 1946 in the wake of World War II, when Rotarian William A. Watt of Thomasville initiated a scholarship project to bring international students to Georgia for a year with American students and with each other, focusing on their similarities rather than their cultural or national differences—Will Watt’s desire to “get the politics out” was inspired by hearing a story of the unselfish help a German youth gave an American student during a bicycling accident in pre-war Germany. The video used interviews with some of the sixty GRSP students who attended the 2014 GSRP Conclave in Columbus and several of the program’s Rotarian leaders to demonstrate how the students arrived as “ambassadors” from their homelands and left at the end of their year in the state as ambassadors for Georgia and the United States. No program like GSRP exists anywhere else in the world of Rotary.
Moving to a slide presentation, John noted that by the end of the 2014-2015 school year GRSP had sponsored 3,507 students since its origin. Using host families is unique to GRSP and encourages students to immerse themselves fully in their local communities as well as in their academic environments. Scholarships are based on the costs of attending public colleges at in-state rates and currently run between $20,000 and $25,000 per student, including tuition, room and board, and books. Funding comes from annual assessments of $7.00 per member in each of the three Georgia Districts, support from club budgets, and members’ discretionary contributions of $25.00 per quarter to the GRSP Endowment. About one-third of the total annual amount is derived from each of these sources, with 85% going to the students and 15% to administrative costs. The Endowment corpus is never touched and presently stands at more than $10,113,000; its earnings are used to supplement contributions from the clubs and enable them to redirect their resources toward other youth-oriented programs.
GRSP is coordinated from an office in Savannah and typically receives 200 to 250 applications each year from around the world, with about 50 to 55 usually accepted—in 2015-2016, 46 students are enrolled. Historically most students have come from Europe—home for 35 of this year’s cohort—but efforts are underway to inform Rotary clubs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America of GRSP’s existence and to promote applications from those areas.
Locally, the Dalton club has contributed more than $258,000 to GRSP over the years, and it administers the Carlton McCamy Scholarship, named in honor of a District Governor from our club who bequeathed $100,000 to GRSP in his will—there are only two other such club scholarships in the state. Joined by Past President and long-time GRSP worker Bill Bowen, John ended the program by presenting President Jason a check for $2165 from the Endowment in recognition of Dalton’s support of GRSP—a first-time honor for the club.
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1000 Words: the Dalton Public Art ProjectMonday, November 16, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Tray Brantley introduced Deanna Mathis, director of the Dalton Public Art Project. A Dalton native and former Rotary Scholar, Deanna graduated from Northwest Whitfield High School and Georgia Tech, where she earned a degree in industrial engineering. She is now employed by Shaw Industries and is chair of the Young Professionals of Northwest Georgia, with a vision for giving voice to local artists and making that voice apparent in downtown Dalton.
Deanna began with a quotation from Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation: “It is impossible to have a society that is civil and educated without public art. It lifts up humanity and challenges the individual who encounters it to think differently about the world.” In Dalton the 1000 Words initiative was founded earlier this year, taking its name from the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. If that’s the case, then we should want our community to say that we are thriving, value creativity and our public spaces, support beautification, and are proud of our town. The 1000 Words initiative seeks to build on examples of public art already in place, such as the Creative Arts Guild’s sculpture garden and the Morris Innovative School’s downtown mural of eminent figures from Dalton’s history.
Four major benefits can be derived from an active public art program. One is community identity, creating a sense of place; Deanna cited a Gallup poll of 43,000 people in 43 different cities which found that the “aesthetics of a place—its art, parks, and green spaces” ranked higher than education, safety, and the local economy as a “driver of attachment.” Another benefit is cultural value, bringing a community together and generating a sense of common ownership, and a third is economic growth—beauty and inspiration attract people to shop, dine, play, and live in a community, thus keeping revenue local. Finally, public art is accessible and inclusive, open to those unable to visit a gallery or museum or participate in formal art classes.
Describing the initiative’s process, Deanna related how each project involves a project manager who coordinates, artists who design and create, a location owner who provides the blank space and has final say about a design, community volunteers who help prepare a location, and sponsors who provide capital, all working under the initiative’s steering team which oversees strategic direction and comprises representatives from the Dalton Downtown Development Authority, the Creative Arts Guild, the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, Dalton Public Schools, and local businesses. Any of these functions offers opportunities for participation in the initiative.
By the end of 2015 the initiative hopes to complete two projects. The first is the Mapco wall on Thornton Avenue, across from First Baptist Church, where Keep Dalton Beautiful is sponsoring a sustainability-themed mural by local artist Henry Green. The second is an interactive work at The Bucket List on Hamilton Street, following a precedent begun in New Orleans and now replicated in seventy places around the world; here individuals are invited to write items from their personal “bucket lists”—things they want to do before they die—on an open exterior wall. As the 1000 Words initiative gathers momentum in the future, it may move from murals to sculpture.
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Reaching Out to TanzaniaTuesday, November 10, 2015By: John Hutcheson
To inform the Club about the Tanzania Global Grant Project in which it’s participating with the Rotary Club of Gainesville, Rotarian Mack Boyd of the Gainesville Club gave a slide presentation entitled “The Brick that Saved the World,” describing the work of a Tanzanian non-profit company called Villages Inc. Africa. One of its objectives is to teach Tanzanians to produce bricks inexpensively from locally available materials, rather than importing them from outside the country, and to use the bricks to build affordable houses that are far superior to common Tanzanian types. A four-room house with indoor plumbing can be built for $7,000 within 60 days, using bricks costing about 35¢ apiece. Along with greatly improved housing standards, the project will help reduce unemployment since at least three brick makers are required for each house and sixteen jobs will be created by its construction.
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The Dalton/Whitfield Archway Partnership: Past, Present, and FutureTuesday, November 10, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Dalton Rotarian Lynn Laughter summarized the history of the Dalton/Whitfield Partnership with the University of Georgia from its inception as the state’s eighth Archway community to its formal conclusion this year. Lynn noted that many Rotarians have participated in Archway, from the initial Visioning Session in August, 2009 through the pursuit of its “Communit-E3” vision that focused on three areas--the economy, education, and environment/quality of life issues.
Melissa Lu was hired in 2009 as the Archway Professional, managing the entire Archway process and serving as the main contact between the community and the University. She worked tirelessly to realize Archway’s vision of Dalton/Whitfield as “the economic engine of Northwest Georgia, internationally recognized for its innovative business environment, its commitment to high-quality educational opportunities, and its stewardship of the abundant natural resources with which our community has been entrusted.” Assisted by more than fifty UGA students over the life of the project, Archway fostered myriad achievements—of which Lynn offered numerous examples—and developed a true partnership that gave the students real-world experience while providing the community their expertise and the University with practical learning and direct interaction with its constituents—a true win-win-win for everyone involved.
In addition to the main Archway Professional, the community partnered with UGA’s College of Education to fund a position dedicated to education concerns, leading to the hiring of Katy Green in 2013 as the first-ever Education Archway Professional, with a specific focus on birth-to-five issues. This in turn contributed to Whitfield County’s selection in the fall of 2014 (along with Catoosa, Murray, Gilmer, and Gordon Counties) as recipient of an Early Education Empowerment Zone (E3Z) grant which will bring in $1.2 million over a three-year period to promote initiatives aimed at better educational outcomes for young children. It will also shape future work as the Archway Partnership transforms from “active” to “alumni” status and is restructured as the Archway Alliance for Community Development.
While the new Archway organization will still be guided by the original “Three E’s,” its initial emphasis will be on education. A search is underway for an Early Childhood Education Coordinator who will manage all of the education initiatives going on across the community, with an office at Dalton State College and oversight by the Archway Alliance Board. Eventually attention will go toward Quality of Life issues, and Lynn mentioned the possibility of holding another community-wide Visioning Session. Whatever the result, the Archway structures will continue to function as a “community think tank.”
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Ending the HIV Epidemic: Where Are We Now?Monday, November 2, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Archana Srivastava, this year’s International Service Chair, introduced Dr. Bharat S. Parekh from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, where he is Team Leader of the HIV Serology/Incidence Team in the Division of Global HIV/AIDS of the Center for Global Health. Dr. Parekh holds degrees in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Bombay in India and the Ph.D. in biochemistry and virology from Louisiana State University. After post-doctoral research at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, he joined CDC in 1990, and his laboratory has led the field in the development of innovative assays, now used worldwide, to identify new infections for identifying HIV-1 incidence. His team provides critical laboratory support to CDC’s global HIV work as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which focuses on high-burden countries for early diagnosis, prevention, care, treatment, and surveillance.
Using slides, Dr. Parekh described the physiology of HIV, pointing out that the virus has an unusual RNA, enabling it to infect a subject for life—a “persistent infection” which can be suppressed by medication but not eliminated. An infected person can seem healthy, but in the meantime the virus will multiply in many organs. Although it will prompt the creation of antibodies, dead virus will remain in the blood and other bodily fluids. HIV testing focuses on identifying the antibodies and is now much less costly and cumbersome than previously, but in the U.S. requirements for approval of testing methods by the Food and Drug Administration make them more expensive here than elsewhere.
An estimated 37 million persons worldwide are infected with HIV, of which the majority, about 25 million, live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, new infections are running at about two million per year, of which about 1.4 million are in the Sub-Saharan region. In the United States about 1.2 million persons are infected, a figure which is slowly increasing.
Such numbers generate the epidemic’s greatest challenges. With 5,600 new infections each day worldwide and no effective vaccine on the horizon, countries with limited resources face the highest burdens. Sexual activities are the main means of transmission, but needle-sharing, mother-to-child passage, and tainted blood transfusions are also significant. There is a shortage of personnel trained for diagnosis, clinical care, treatment, and prevention, and treatment is not widely available—even in the U. S. fourteen to fifteen thousand new infections occur each year, despite abundant education and resources.
Since its inception in 2003, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has become America’s largest global public health commitment as the Centers for Disease Control coordinate with the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense, and other agencies. Bipartisan support in Congress has increased funding from two billion dollars in 2004 to five billion in 2014. The initiative has had a major impact, working in most African countries and also in parts of South America and Asia. In 2014 six million people were tested in laboratory settings worldwide, using procedures that pick up tuberculosis and other diseases as well as HIV while also enabling scientists to monitor viral resistance to drug effectiveness. Thousands of testing sites have been established—5,000 in Kenya alone, for example—which operate cooperatively with the World Health Organization and national ministries of health. Outside the labs, testing is even more extensive, increasing from two million in 2004 to 57 million in 2014. The U.N. is pursuing a 90-90-90 goal, aspiring to test 90% of the world’s population by 2020, with 90% of these in treatment and 90% of those having suppressed their infections. Despite better treatment, however, the overall number of HIV cases has remained level for several years, partly because in many areas testing faces strong cultural obstacles, with diagnosis carrying a heavy stigma that makes it disruptive socially as well as biologically.
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Rotary R&RMonday, October 26, 2015By: John Hutcheson
On October 20 Dalton Rotarians took a break from their usual lunch buffet and programming to enjoy some cookout fare and informal R & R. Many thanks to President-Elect Bruce Satterfield for making the arrangements.
 
 
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2015 Rotary Vocational Service 1st Responder AwardsMonday, October 19, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Kevin Brunson, this year’s Vocational Service Chair, began the club’s annual Vocational Service 1st Responder Awards presentation with a reminder that Rotary’s recognition of vocational service has a three-fold focus. First is adherence to, and promotion of, the highest ethical standards in all occupations; second is recognition of the value of all useful occupations, not just those pursued by Rotarians; and third is contribution of one’s vocational talents to meeting the needs of the community. Each year our club recognizes public safety employees who go above and beyond the call of duty in performing their official tasks and who are exemplary representatives of their respective departments. Kevin then called upon the official leaders of each local first-responding agency to present their nominees for this year’s awards and to summarize their qualifications.
From the Dalton Police Department, Chief Jason Parker presented Officer Mathias Castillo.
From the Whitfield County Fire Department, Chief Ed O’Brien presented Lieutenant Allen Kendrick.
From the Dalton Fire Department, Chief Bruce Satterfield presented Battalion Chief Mike Russell.
From the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Scott Chitwood presented Sergeant Kerry Page.
From Hamilton Emergency Medical Services, Director Scott Radeker presented EMT-1 Todd Bush.
Each supervisor gave an impressive account of how his nominee routinely displayed an extraordinary professional dedication and strength of character universally admired and acclaimed by fellow workers. They fully justify their respective awards on behalf of the wider community in Rotary’s spirit of “service above self,” and at the end of the program the club responded with a standing ovation.
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The Founders of Card-Monroe Were True Tufting PioneersMonday, October 12, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Zack Monroe and Louis Card of Card-Monroe Corporation were presented by Pete Sigmon, saying these are the fourth generation of Cards and Monroes who have produced the most sophisticated machinery in tufting. Zack’s grandfather and Louie’s father began their companies in the 1950s, and now the combined corporation has 70% of the tufting machinery business in the world. Pete suggested that this highly technological machinery is another example of the sophistication of the carpet industry which presents challenges in finding the skilled, educated workers to run it.
Their machines are engineered to each specific order to meet the demands of the carpet manufacturer. There are 2200 machines installed in 31 countries and their costs are sometimes $2 - $3 million each. In 1981, a machine was about $150,000. Their manufacturing facilities are in Chattanooga and Ringgold and employ over 200 employees. Each machine is very complex with thousands of parts and complex assembly.
Of their production, 39% is exported and 61% is domestic. Zach stated that it is likely for carpet manufacturing to stay in this country because the machines are so costly and are more efficient, requiring only 2 – 3 operators per machine. These machines now run at very high speeds for cut and loop carpet at 1800 RPM.
Historically, 2005 and 2006 were the best years since 1987. As everyone might guess, 2009 was a terrible year, but 2013-15 has rebounded in all markets and globally. China, Belgium, England, and Australia lead the list of major customers. There is massive growth with carpet tile, greater patterning and styling in residential, very sophisticated “grass” or turf products, and growth in auto and boat industries and in sample machines.
The newest machines, especially for commercial contract carpet, are “Infinity” machines for patterned carpet with servo-controlled yarns, in which every stitch is controlled by a servo motor and is able to produce both loop and cut pile. The latest innovation is the Colorpoint technology that produces more colors, more variety, less linear patterns, less corporate-looking, more patterns and designs. The men displayed beautiful samples that, at first glance, appeared to be woven patterns. “This is a huge development,” according to Monroe, “that has the same look as a woven fabric but is made with tufting efficiency.” Inserted logos and signatures and very bold designs are possible.
Their Creative Tufting Center is a first for the industry in which carpet designers can “test drive the machines” and work on designs. So far, they have trained 775 students from various companies, one company at a time, where the designers learn about the technology in their “Tufting University.”
Monroe stated that with this technology and others in the industry, this is now a “very progressive industry.”
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PDG Announces Rotary Foundation Grant to Dalton ClubMonday, October 5, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Past District Governor Bill Strickland visited to convey the Dalton Rotary Club’s portion of the latest District Grant from the Rotary Foundation. After noting that the Foundation annually returns half its donated funds to the districts for support of local projects, he presented President Jason Parker a check for $1,440 as the Dalton club’s share for 2015. This amount will be included in the Club's contribution of $4,000 to Big Red Reads, Dalton Public Schools' program for sustaining reading skills by providing students ready access to free or borrowed books during the long summer vacation. Accepting on behalf of DPS from Past President David Aft were Alice Ensley, DPS district literacy trainer; Kathryn Sellers, volunteer; and Dr. Jim Hawkins, DPS Superintendent.
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Heritage Preserved: A Report on the Resaca BattlefieldMonday, October 5, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Sparky Kelehear introduced Ken Padgett, Chairman of the Gordon County Historical Preservation Commission and an eminent figure in the preservation of Gordon County’s Civil War sites. Ken’s interest in Civil War history began when he was a child visiting his uncle’s property on a part of the Resaca battleground and easily retrieving mini? balls and other relics. The idea of preserving the field began in the early 1990’s when Philip Secrist, subsequently author of The Battle of Resaca (Mercer University Press, 1998), contacted Ken about relic hunting, and in 1994 the Friends of Resaca Battlefield was organized to solicit funds for the acquisition of appropriate properties. Ken recounted how vigorous work, frequently mixing success with disappointment, finally brought about State support. Although the original intent was to secure 1,200 acres, the initial effort only brought in about 550 acres, but that made up the core area of the battlefield. Future plans include a museum to enhance interpretation for visitors, and Ken pointed out that preserved and protected historic sites of this type are often powerful generators of public revenue, attracting thousands or even millions of “heritage tourists” whose needs create business opportunities and expanded tax digests.
Ken gave a brief summary of the First Battle of Resaca, in May 1864, when elements of William T. Sherman’s Union army flanked Joseph E. Johnston’s Confederates through an unguarded pass at Snake Creek Gap, forcing the Southerners to retreat from Dalton and meeting them in a spirited action at Resaca. A Second Battle of Resaca occurred the following October, when John Bell Hood’s Confederate troops unsuccessfully attempted to cut the Western and Atlantic Railroad and thus isolate Sherman’s army, which by then had captured Atlanta and depended on supply lines running through Northwest Georgia.
What might be called the Third Battle of Resaca comprises the efforts at preservation over the past 20-25 years. Exclusive of the Resaca Confederate Cemetery (established in 1866), the protected area now includes about 1,200 acres, sometimes acquired in the face of strong opposition from property owners confronted with legal condemnation of historically desirable land. After some anecdotes about incidents and personalities associated with Resaca during the Civil War, Ken noted that even for those with little interest in history, Resaca should still be attractive since the battlefield is environmentally significant for its natural beauty and for the presence of a type of wildflower and kind of frog which are both considered endangered species.
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Whitfield County DFACS: Blueprint for ChangeFriday, September 25, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Scott Rhoden introduced Danny Nuckolls, Director of the Whitfield County Division of Family and Children Services, a position to which he has recently been appointed after serving for a year in an interim capacity. Using a PowerPoint presentation, Danny outlined a “Blueprint for Change” now being implemented by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services under the able statewide leadership of Director Bobby Cagle, followed by a summary of needs and challenges in Whitfield County.
With the goal of achieving a world-class quality of service and care, the Blueprint consists of three components. The first is adoption of a practice model that will serve as the foundation for safeguarding children and strengthening families. Second is development of a robust workforce through increased staffing and expertise, research-based caseload ratios (in Whitfield County the current average case load is 23—the goal is to lower it to 15), mentoring for supervisors, improved compensation based on proven competency, and definition of a career path. Finally, the plan calls for creating greater constituent engagement through advisory boards at the state and local levels; organized “roadshows” to involve and inform the public, stakeholders, and media; and heightened consensus and collaboration among partners, staff, and stakeholders.
Turning to Whitfield County’s situation, Danny provided an array of information about the Office of Family Independence (OFI), Child Protective Services (CPS), and PLC-Permanency which handles placement of children in foster care. OFI locally administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly known as “food stamps”), Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Danny noted that SNAP issued $1,732,737 in August 2015 and a total of $23,047,920 in 2014, while TANF provided $236,663 in assistance during the same year.
CPS investigates reports of child abuse and neglect. From January 1 through August 31, 2015 there were 1,049 reports of abuse or neglect, of which the majority involved neglect, followed in descending order by reports of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. As of September 17, 2015, 55 active investigations were underway.
In the area of foster care Whitfield County faces an emergency. Between January 1 and June 30, 2015 the County saw 108 children enter foster care, and that figure now stands at 241 for the year thus far, or 100 more than at this time in 2014. At the same time, facilities for foster children in the County have generally declined, from 37 homes with 79 beds and 16 vacancies in 2010 to 19 homes with 52 beds and one vacancy in 2014. Currently there are 22 homes with 54 beds and no vacancies. Danny listed many ways to help the foster care program, such as becoming a foster parent; providing unreimbursed care; activating various modes of individual or organizational sponsorships; donating gifts, supplies, or financial support; and mentoring children or parents.
Danny closed by listing appropriate contact information. Child abuse may be reported 24/7 by calling 1-855-422-4453. Interest in becoming a foster or adoptive parent can be directed to 1-877-210-5437. More information is available at http://dfcs.georgia.gov or locally by telephone at 706-272-2710 or 706-272-2834, or online at [email protected] .
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Joining With The 2015 United Way KickoffMonday, September 21, 2015.jpg)
Past-President Chuck Dobbins; S.G. Elliott; Judy Elliott; Donna Dobbins; Past-President John Richmond
Many Rotarians joined in helping the United Way of Northwest Georgia announce the kickoff of its annual campaign. The annual goal announced by campaign chair, J.T. Finley, was set at $3.7 million. Before the big announcement, the spectators got a special treat in the form of the CEO Trike Race. The Beaulieu of America team are now the reigning champions! It was fun to watch, and serves a good cause.
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Meet Clarissa Böker, Dalton’s Newest GRSP StudentFriday, September 4, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Mel Abernathy introduced Clarissa Böker, our club’s most recent GRSP student, for whom he and his wife Gretchen are serving as host family. Mel observed that this is the third time they have done so and that each time seems better than the last.
At age nineteen, Clarissa comes to us from Dalhausen, Germany, a small town of 1,600 located in North Rhine-Westphalia between Hanover and Düsseldorf. She has been in Dalton for one month, living in student housing at Dalton State College. Her father is a food chemist and her mother is an official in town government supervising gender equality. They have been married for 22 years, and Clarissa has two sisters, ages fifteen and eight.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Clarissa described her hometown and her upbringing there. During the 19th and much of the 20th centuries, Dalhausen’s economy was largely engaged with basket weaving, using reeds from nearby rivers—today the town even boasts a museum of basket weaving. Some of the local traditions include the Alm-Abtrieb, an annual festival for livestock herders coming in from surrounding pasturelands prior to the onset of winter; the Kartoffelbraten, or community potato roast; and the Schützenfest, two summer weekends of shooting matches and marksmanship contests culminating in a big town party. Her home Rotary club is in the town of Höxter, in District 1900. Founded in 1980, it consists of about fifty members and has a number of projects concerned with preservation of the local cultural heritage—one of these is restoration of a pipe organ in an former monastery that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Although many German students attend grades five through twelve in a type of school called a Gymnasium, Clarissa attended a Catholic school about twenty miles from her home which offered courses not available in the public system.
Asked what she misses most about her home, Clarissa mentioned the difficulty of finding good German bread in this area. On the other hand, now that she is in the U.S. she really likes hamburgers, barbeque, and corn. She first heard about GRSP from another student rather than through her Rotary club, which was unaware of it, and decided to apply. As for her American academic experience so far, she much prefers the smaller classes at Dalton State to the large classes she would be assigned to in Germany. When complimented on her very fluent English, she pointed out that German students her age know English well—her eight-year-old sister is now beginning to study it—and that she herself was taught in both German and English from the seventh grade on. Her biggest surprise since arriving in the U.S. was having to be picked up at the Atlanta airport and the absence of convenient public transportation from there to Dalton. Clarissa ended her presentation by displaying a plaque given to her at the recent GRSP Convocation which honors Dalton Rotary Past President Carlton McCamy for his vital work with GRSP in its early years.
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United Way Kickoff Block Party & CEO Trike RaceMonday, August 31, 2015It’s United Way Campaign Kickoff time, and we are ready to celebrate! Rotary is partnering with United Way for this event, so there will be no Rotary club meeting on Tuesday, September 15.
Come party with United Way Campaign Chairman JT Finley on Monday, September 14th at 6:00 p.m. at Dalton Green Park located on Selvidge Street beside the Whitfield County Courthouse!
Come watch local CEOs and their relay teams race to the finish line – on tricycles- to claim the 2015 title of WINNER!
Immediately following the race, join us in Dalton Green Park for a night of fun with a LIVE performance from Ben Honeycutt – who appeared on American Idol season 9.
There will be entertainment for the kids and a host of local food vendors. This is a family friendly event, so bring your blanket and lawn chairs for a fun-filled evening.
The Block Party is open to the public; dinner tickets are $10.00 - sold in advance. Rotary members are covered by the club, but please register online at www.ourunitedway.org to secure your ticket. Child meals tickets can be purchased at the door for $5.00.
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Rotary in Brazil: a Guest from São PauloFriday, August 28, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Club Past President Chuck Dobbins introduced Mr. Nahid Chicani of São Paulo, Brazil, who has been a member of the São Paulo Rotary Club since 1984, serving as its president in 1996-1997 and as Governor of District 4610 in 2001-2002. A graduate in law from the Faculdade Católica de Santos, he has had a distinguished career in international business, especially with General Electric do Brasil where he held executive positions from 1959 to 2002. He is a Paul Harris Fellow and a Major Donor, and after serving for nine years as vice president of the Board of Directors for the Fundação de Rotarianos de São Paulo, in 2013 he was chosen as its president for a term ending in 2016.
Nahid began with an overview of Rotary’s presence in Brazil, where 2,400 clubs enroll 55,000 Rotarians, of whom 13,000 are women. Six hundred Rotoract clubs have a total of 13,600 members, and 21.700 young people hold membership in 945 Interact clubs. Three presidents of Rotary International have come from Brazil and three RI Conventions have been held in the country—most recently in 2015 in São Paulo, attended by 14,838 Rotarians from around the world.
The São Paulo club was founded in 1924, and after those in Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro it is the third oldest Rotary club in the Southern Hemisphere. For almost seventy years its most important project has been the Fundação de Rotarianos de São Paulo (FRSP), founded in 1946 and hailed at the 2012 RI Convention as the biggest and most important education project in RI’s history. FRSP’s mission is “to serve with excellence through education, forming ethical, solidary and competent citizens,” thereby realizing its vision “to be a national and international reference in Education.” Operating on three campuses through five “Rio Branco” units, FRSP focuses on excellence, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Its educational opportunities range from the MBA degree in seven fields through a wide variety of undergraduate and professional courses, often in partnership with colleges and universities both inside and outside Brazil. There are also secondary- and elementary-level programs, and one unit is dedicated to providing professional learning for the deaf and persons with physical disabilities, particularly those from poor families.
In addition to his slide presentation, Nahid showed a video giving further details about FRSP’s work, and the program ended with an exchange of banners between our club and his.
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August 25th ProgramMonday, August 24, 2015We have a very special guest for our program on August 25th. We are honored to have Mr. Nahid Chicani from Brazil, as our guest speaker. Mr. Chicani is a past president of the Rotary Club of Sao Paulo (a 90 year old club), past District Governor of district 4610, a Paul Harris Fellow and major donor. We are thrilled to have Mr. Chicani speak on behalf of his club and experience as a Rotarian in one of the oldest clubs outside of North America.
Nahid Chicani, his wife, Yara Curry Chicani and past president Chuck Dobbins in Brazil
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A Visit from the District GovernorMonday, August 24, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Following his induction of three new members into Rotary, District 6910 Governor Alan Smith was introduced by his close friend and fellow Methodist minister, Rotarian Robin Lindsey. A native of Savannah, Governor Alan joined Rotary in Thomson, Georgia, in 1987, and after holding membership in four other Rotary clubs during his career as pastor to various congregations, he has now returned to the Thomson club where his life as a Rotarian began. Dalton Rotarians welcomed the Governor and his wife Judy with a standing ovation.
Governor Alan began his remarks by recognizing that the Dalton Rotary Club clearly makes a difference in its community, but he asked whether that difference was sufficiently recognized. If the club were to suddenly surrender its charter and disappear, would people really know what the club had accomplished and how and by whom? If Rotary is to grow and avert a crisis, it cannot hide its light; people in the community need to be aware of its commitments and how Rotary meets them. Public image thus become critical. As a child in Savannah, Governor Alan’s conception of Rotary was shaped indelibly when his father described it to him as an organization whose people made a difference for their city. The Dalton club does this well through events such as the annual track meet and golf tournament; through educational projects such as expanding and enhancing literacy, the essay contest for fifth graders, and the scholarship program; and through strong involvement with Rotoract and Interact. One important need is for a similar outreach to young adults age 30 and under who will become a pool from which to draw future members.
The Governor reflected on how much Rotary has been transformed since he joined in 1987. Welcoming women was perhaps the most obvious change, but equally striking has been its role in the near-eradication of polio—an example of the fallacy of saying that something simply won’t or can’t happen. He also noted that in 2015 the assets of The Rotary Foundation finally reached the long-anticipated goal of one billion dollars and that since 1985 progress toward this mark has been without reinforcement from matching funds or other outside help—it has been entirely the result of Rotarians’ own efforts. In that spirit he challenged club members to forego at least one meal during the next year and donate its cost to the Polio Plus project to help achieve the disease’s final elimination.
Despite all that has been accomplished, worldwide membership in Rotary since 1987 has remained flat at 1.2 million as net losses offset equal gains. Each club needs to learn why members leave, and if they do so by moving out of the area, clubs near their destinations should be alerted and encouraged to contact them. Every effort must be made to show young people the benefits of Rotary, not least through the opportunities membership provides for networking. Current Rotarians must be encouraged to take advantage of resources for learning more about Rotary and sharing ideas for its growth, such as Rotary Leadership Institutes, Pillars for Success programs, and conferences at various levels. Finally, and not least, Rotarians must remember to celebrate their successes and achievements, especially when conferences are held in attractive settings—the District 6910 conference scheduled for next April in Savannah being a case in point. Governor Alan closed with thanks on behalf of the District to the Rotary Club of Dalton for its many years of service.
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Prater’s Mill: Past, Present, and FutureMonday, August 17, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Paul Alderman briefly surveyed the history of Prater’s Mill—the oldest mill of its kind in Northwest Georgia and the last to cease regular operation. Its location on Coahulla Creek was called Fish Trap Shoals by the early Native American inhabitants, and by 1847 a grist mill had been established across the creek from the present mill site. In 1855 Tilman Howard Pitner and Benjamin Franklin Prater built the existing mill. Prater bought out Pitner’s share in 1858, and by the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, the mill was the center of a complex which also included a saw mill and cotton gin. Using slides, Paul showed the building’s massive post-and-beam construction and the water-driven machinery that converted raw corn and wheat to market-ready meal and flour. During the Civil War the premises were successively occupied by Confederate and Union forces who drew supplies from it and fought a heated skirmish in its vicinity. Despite the harsh economic conditions of the postwar years, the mill continued to operate and even modernize, with roller mills installed in 1895 and a general store added to the property in 1898. Although it closed in 1949, the mill remained in the hands of the Prater family until 1954, when it was sold to C. T. Pratt, locally known as leader of the Church of God of the Union Assembly. Operating as the Whitfield Milling Company, the business was purchased in 1962 by Dalton Asphalt Company. Regular operations finally ended in 1969, and in 1971, the Prater’s Mill Country Fair was begun to raise funds for the mill’s restoration. The Prater’s Mill Foundation was established in 1972 and the mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, later winning recognition from the Library of Congress as a “Legacy of American Tradition” in 1999 and in 2005 from the Georgia General Assembly as a “Legacy of Georgia Tradition.” In 2010 the Boring family donated the mill and its adjacent property to Whitfield County.
Paul introduced Greg Bruner, Board President of the Prater’s Mill Foundation, who summarized current activities and future plans for the mill and its facilities. Pointing to construction of a European-style cross-country course on part of the mill’s land, he noted that Dalton State College will hold a meet there on September 4 with men’s and women’s teams from seven colleges in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The next Country Fair will be on October 10-11, with help from 39 civic organizations. Crafts exhibited at the fairs must be handmade from natural materials using traditional methods, and these events generate 70% of the Foundation’s annual income.
Assistance in caring for the mill comes from Whitfield County, the City of Varnell, the Dalton Convention and Visitors Bureau, and through the generosity of the Boring family, but Greg gave special recognition to Judy Alderman, who with her husband Wayne has worked tirelessly for 44 years to fulfill the Foundation’s mission to preserve and protect the mill and present its heritage to future generations. Present as a guest, Judy received a standing ovation from the Club.
Looking to the future, Greg focused on the presentation component of the Foundation’s mission. Plans are underway to literally bring the mill to life as a year-round learning experience by making it the center of a working farm which will represent the period of the mill’s operation between 1855 and 1950. The Foundation hopes to partner with local schools, Dalton State, and clubs such as Future Farmers and 4-H, from which students and members will commit to a year of work under the leadership of a hired Famer/Miller to grow organic crops and tend limited livestock, producing food to be shared with local churches and food banks. In addition, Prater’s Mill would demonstrate the origins of the area’s textile industry, using cotton grown on site and ginned, dyed, spun, and woven by traditional methods and technology. In this way Prater’s Mill can become the northernmost anchor of the West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail under development by the Center for Public History at the University of West Georgia. Greg ended with an appeal for Rotarians to join the Friends of Prater’s Mill, using the application attached to this issue of the Newsletter.
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Prater's Mill Membership Application Monday, August 17, 2015
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High School Football Preview for 2015Thursday, August 6, 2015By: John Hutcheson
In one of the Club’s much-anticipated annual events, Rotarian and former Dalton High School Football Coach Ronnie McClurg presented four local high school football coaches who gave their previews of the coming season. He noted that Coach Preston Poag of Christian Heritage School was out of town with his team at a football camp, and he conveyed Coach Poag’s expectations for a successful year. Emphasizing that high school football in the Dalton/Whitfield area is blessed to have extremely high-quality individuals as coaches, he introduced Coach Josh Robinson of Northwest High School, Coach Chad Barger of Coahulla Creek High School, Coach Sean Gray of Southeast High School, and Coach Matt Land of Dalton High School.
Coach Robinson said that after a disappointing 5-5 record in 2014, the Northwest program conducted a thorough off-season reassessment. The players have responded well to changes, including a high stress on character growth. While the 2015 team is young, most of the offensive line is returning, though none have previously been starters. The defensive line is small, but they play hard and should be better than last year, and the secondary is strong.
Coach Barger reminded the Club that the Coahulla Creek program remains developmental, making progress but still building in a new school—last year’s seniors were the first to graduate from Coahuila Creek. While 2014’s record was not successful, the quarterback is returning this year, and the four freshmen who out of necessity were starters last year are now back as experienced sophomores. The team has improved physically, mentally, and emotionally, with a strong defense and a fast, physical style of play.
Coach Gray noted that Southeast has been blessed to have a very generous anonymous donor whose gifts enable ongoing improvement of his program’s facilities. This is Southeast’s 40th year, and he has tried to build a strong sense of community around his program, partly by inviting record-setting teams from past years at Southeast and its predecessors, Valley Point and Eastbrook, for recognition at particular games. In 2014 Southeast had its first winning season and playoff game in 28 years, and despite losing thirty seniors the team in 2015 is the strongest and most athletic Coach Gray has had in his four years at the school. With a center ranked 11th in the country, the return of five starters apiece on offense and defense (including the top two defensive tackles), and an especially aggressive group of juniors, Southeast can look forward to another good year.
Coach Land said that Dalton High’s move into 5-A competition last year presented a range of challenges, but expectations have always been that these will be met successfully and that new rivalries will emerge. He pointed out that of the 17 games Dalton has lost over the last five years, 15 were to eventual state champions or to teams playing for the championship. This year’s team is very young and offers great chances for development, while the coaching staff—which remains intact from last year—will emphasize that “little things lead to big things” by way of building on strengths and eliminating weaknesses. On offense only one starter is returning, but Coach Land is confident that others will be found among the 19 available candidates. On defense—always Dalton’s strong point—replacements must be found for two players who between them had 300 tackles. State limitations on practice time may delay optimum physical development of the team until two or three weeks into the season, but several players’ experience in soccer justifies hopes for great kicking. Coach Land concluded by urging Club members to remember that the most desirable product of playing high school football is developing young men of fine character rather than simply winning games.
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Rotary in Dalton: Historical Reflections from a Long-time MemberMonday, August 3, 2015By: John Hutcheson
As a member of the Dalton Rotary Club since 1969, Bill Weaver skillfully connected the early years and developmental highlights of Rotary International with the history of the local club. He began with an overview of the remarkable life of Paul Harris, Rotary’s founder, and the series of meetings in Chicago in 1905 that were the origins of Rotary, and he described how Rotary’s symbol evolved from a wagon wheel motif to the gear-wheel universally used since its adoption in 1923. Bill also noted the establishment in 1917 of an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the World;” in 1928 this was reorganized as The Rotary Foundation. Since 1917 the Foundation has received more than 1.8 billion dollars in contributions, of which $407,338.31 has come from the Dalton club as of last June 30. Closer to home, our club has long supported the Georgia Rotary Student Program, founded in 1946 to further “World Peace Through Understanding” by bringing international students to Georgia for a year of study in one of the State’s colleges or universities. By last March the Dalton club had contributed $258,443.33 to the GSRP.
Turning to the beginnings of Rotary in Dalton, Bill recounted how twenty-seven young businessmen, sponsored by the Atlanta Rotary Club, were issued Charter 4352 on July 23, 1937 and held a celebratory dinner a week later at the Hotel Dalton—the club’s meeting place for many years afterward. Although the club has lent its name to relatively few corporate projects over the years, from the earliest days its members have played leadership roles in every worthwhile activity in the community, consistently upholding the ideal of Service Above Self. The club’s first project was to provide a blood bank for Hamilton Memorial Hospital, for which the club later purchased its first X-Ray machine. Among many other undertakings since 1937, the club has helped provide housing for local teachers, given thousands of dollars in various scholarships, and collaborated with organizations such as the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, the Community Chest/United Way, and other civic clubs, as well as with such public agencies as the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department, the Juvenile Court, the city and county school systems, and Dalton State College. In 1973 two Dalton Rotarians spearheaded a drive to build the first regulation track in the community, on which the club sponsored the first in the series of annual track meets that have become one of its signature activities. Our club has facilitated development of clubs in Chatsworth and Ellijay and also an early-morning club in Dalton itself. The club has produced two District Governors, in 1951-1952 and 1988-1989, and shortly after the Supreme Court’s 1987 decision opening Rotary membership to women, Carole Jones became the Dalton club’s first female member, succeeding to its Presidency about ten years later.
While touching on these and other landmarks in the club’s history, Bill also noted a number of curiosities. For example, consideration for membership was formerly very secretive, conducted without candidates’ knowledge and subject to a process of black-balling. For many years newspaper reporters covered the meetings, which included group singing (accompanied by the club’s own piano) and brief news reports given by members from local broadcasting media. Movie stars and other celebrities visited from time to time, especially in connection with what used to be called Ladies’ Night. On one occasion fourteen members of the club decided to hold a make-up meeting aboard an airliner as it carried them to a carpet industry convention in Las Vegas; despite minutes conscientiously recorded on the back of an airsickness bag, an attempt to secure formal recognition of their efforts proved unsuccessful.
In the end, Bill reminded us that Rotary is not just what the club does, but what each of its members does to fulfill RI President Ravindran’s call for Rotary to “Be a Gift to the World”—or, as Dalton Rotary Past President Joe Tuggle put it, “Do itbecause it is Rotary.”
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Combined Cycle System – for more Efficient Electric GenerationMonday, July 27, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Henry Tharpe introduced Michelle Crane, plant manager of the Thomas A. Smith Energy Facility, located on Dalton Utility’s wastewater treatment plant property just over in Murray County (the largest tax payer in Murray County). Crane explained the Oglethorpe Power Plant which is a part of Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the nation’s largest power supply cooperative with 38 Electric Membership Corporations. The plant operates 24/7 and produces 7800 MW of power for our region with combined cycle units. A combined cycle plant utilizes two types of power turbines, a natural gas turbine that rotates an electrical generator to produce electricity; the exhaust gas from this turbine is then passed through a steam generator to rotate the steam turbine generator to produce more electricity; and lastly, the steam is cooled and condensed back into water. The existing reservoir for Dalton Utilities provides the 6 – 10 million gallons of treated waste water used each day to supply the cooling towers. This plant has two combined cycle systems on site.
With this very efficient method of producing energy, this plant produces 125 MW or enough power to service 625,000 homes or the size of the city of Chattanooga. Only 34 employees are needed and at slower production times, there are only 5 present.
Ms. Crane suggested that it is necessary to have diversity of methods of producing energy since each method has pros and cons. Wind and solar production are a small portion of the mix. The fuel is the largest component of the cost of energy production. Since gas is now just $3 per dekatherm (equivalent to 1 million BTU), it is cost efficient at $30 per megawatt compared to coal at $45 per megawatt. Nuclear power generation is the cheapest producer but has very large up-front costs. With a diverse system in Georgia providing redundancy, anytime there is a breakdown from a storm or equipment problems, the systems operations would immediately find other providers from the efficient integrated system state wide.
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Rotary Leadership Institute TrainingMonday, July 27, 2015By: Jason Parker
If you are new to Rotary, or if you are a long-time member, Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is a great next step toward learning more about the key elements of Rotary, both at the District/International level, as well as club operations. It’s also a great way for current or future potential Board members to learn how we can add value to our community, and worldwide, through our club and individual service.
Our club’s goal during the 2015 - 2016 year is to send at least six members between now and January 2016. The next opportunity to attend RLI is on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at the Forsyth Conference Center in Cumming, GA. The training usually starts at 8:30 a.m.and ends around 3:30 p.m., with lunch included. If you can make it this time, please register at www.rlitraining.org. The club will reimburse you for the cost of registration. If you register, or are thinking about attending, please email President-Elect Bruce Satterfield at [email protected].
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Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau and Dalton Area TourismThursday, July 16, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Kathryn Sellers introduced Brett Huske, Director of Tourism at the Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau and also Director of the Dalton Convention Center (formerly the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center). Brett has been in the hospitality industry for 39 years, and prior to arriving in Dalton in 2010 he held managerial positions with hotels and resorts in California, Hawaii, Texas, Florida, and Colorado.
In Georgia the travel industry is a 25 billion dollar business which supports over 247,000 jobs, and Brett noted that in Whitfield County tourism has generated $166.4 million in spending, $33.09 million in payroll, 1,500 jobs, $6.1 million in state tax, and $4.91 million in local taxes. Success is measured by the lodging tax collected on hotel stays, and in Whitfield that revenue rose almost 50% from 2010 to 2014 and so far in 2015 is running more than 7.8% over last year. Beyond this, of course, is the stimulus from travelers’ spending on food, gas, shopping, etc.
Administratively united for the last 2½ years and now using a versatile new logo, the CVB and DCC are the hospitality arm of our community. Within this the CVB is the Designated Marketing Organization for Greater Dalton, financed by the lodging tax and tasked with growing Dalton’s economy through tourism. In our area this can be seen under five categories, including transient tourism from the Interstate, leisure tourism for cultural or heritage purposes, group meetings such as regional or statewide conventions, sporting events (currently the largest segment), and special events such as weddings, reunions, etc. Among these types, much of our recent success has been from leisure tourism, for which a community call to action was made in 2009. This drew on Dalton’s rich history to identify four areas of heritage tourism—Civil War heritage, textile heritage, train heritage, and American Indian/Cherokee heritage—and for each of these Brett summarized past achievements and future intentions.
Capitalizing on the Civil War’s sesquicentennial and our region’s deep involvement in the conflict, CVB coordinated closely with the Dalton Civil War 150th Commission and the Bandy Heritage Center at Dalton State College to enhance existing connections with the war as well as to identify and mark new sites and to organize guided group tours commemorating local events during it. This work won recognition from several state and regional agencies, and later this month release of a free app will provide visitors with video of all our local Civil War sites, enabling them to tailor their own experience of them.
As our Civil War work winds down, CVB’s focus for the next several years will shift to our textile heritage. A Textile Heritage Trail Conference earlier this year generated a brochure outlining a self-guided tour of buildings significant to our textile history, and application has been made to the State Department of Economic Development for a $15,000 grant to fund interpretive signs, an information kiosk, and audio and visual presentations to enhance the tour. Over the longer term, CVB hopes to partner in efforts to restore the appearance of “Peacock Alley” along a segment of US 41 by renovating one of more of the old spread houses, with interpretive signage, exterior displays of chenille robes and bedspreads, and interior exhibits of historic tufting machinery already donated for such use. To complete visitors’ experience of Dalton’s textile history, CVB would like to see modern machinery installed on a demonstration scale in a downtown location, where requests to see carpet being manufactured could be satisfied by volunteer operators on a regularly scheduled basis without inconveniencing or disrupting local plants. Downtown restaurants, shops, and other businesses are, of course, likely to benefit from having such an attraction in the area.
Dalton’s train heritage centers on the Old Freight Depot and the nearby Crescent City executive passenger car currently undergoing restoration. Recent installation of the ATS system gives visitors reports on incoming trains and allows them to listen to communications with the trains. The existing viewing facility is already heavily used and another is planned for elsewhere in the downtown district. Finally, a framework to identify and present aspects of our area’s American Indian and Cherokee heritage will be addressed more directly after Dalton hosts the Trail of Tears annual convention in 2016.
Volunteers to assist in bringing Dalton’s heritage to both locals and visitors will always be welcome!
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A Journey Instead of a Destination: The 2015-2016 Year for the Rotary Club Thursday, July 9, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Leading his first full meeting as the Club’s President, Dalton Police Chief Jason Parker observed that newly installed Presidents like himself are currently beginning their terms at Rotary Clubs all across Georgia. He looks forward to working with them and to building on the work of former Presidents of the Dalton Club, whom he asked to stand and be recognized. He then introduced each person on the Club’s Board of Directors for 2015-2016, pointing out that these individuals are evenly divided between new members and those continuing from last year’s Board. Touching on the coming year’s Rotary International theme, “Be a Gift to the World” recently set by RI President K. R. “Ravi” Ravindran, he briefly reviewed our club’s place in District 6910 as part of the larger structure of Rotary and noted that District Governor Alan Smith will meet with us on August 18th.
President Jason emphasized that leadership in Rotary is a collaborative effort and surveyed the goals he wants the Club to aspire to during the next year, along with the special events and other items the Club needs to sustain or enhance. Continuing the high quality of our weekly programs is part of our bedrock, and we should also work toward having 100% of our members qualify as Paul Harris Fellows—currently we are at about 85%. This is creditable for us as one of the larger clubs in District 6910, but increasing it would be a very appropriate part of preparing to help host the RI meeting in Atlanta in June 2017, as well as for celebrating the 80th anniversary of our club a few weeks later in July 2017. We need vigorous efforts to grow and diversify our membership, especially by active recruiting among the younger cohorts in groups such as the Emerging Leaders Institute and Leadership Dalton/Whitfield while also strongly fostering early involvement with Rotary through Interact and Rotaract. It may be possible to develop some sort of “green room” as a vehicle to accommodate and prepare persons not yet able to meet the financial obligations of full membership in Rotary but who are interested in engaging with its work and eventually becoming members. Encouragement of participation by non-Rotarians in the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament could be another effective recruitment tool.
President Jason encouraged Rotarians to consider attending the Rotary Leadership Institute at Lanier Tech this coming August 22nd — an excellent way to learn more about Rotary and get ideas for our local work. We will use our District Grant of $4,000 for the coming year to expand the summer reading initiative of Dalton Public Schools (known as Big Red Reads) through financial support of a mobile library in a converted bus that will advance reading in difficult-to-reach neighborhoods. Also, our club should seek to send a winning candidate for the Arrendale Vocation/Stubbs Ethics Award at the District level. We will continue our program of “Service Above Self” awards in honor of the late Charles Bowen to deserving fifth-graders, our scholarship awards to outstanding high school graduates, and our cooperation with Dalton State in support of a GRSP student and other international initiatives. Everyone should plan to participate in some way in the annual track meet, and all are invited, of course, to attend the Fall R & R event and the Spring Banquet, as well as the 2016 District Conference to be held in Savannah in April. All things considered, President Jason and the new Board anticipate a great year together.
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President David Aft’s Rotary Year in ReviewMonday, July 6, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
President David Aft recognized his board and all other Rotary volunteers who served in any way and stated that because of the participation of almost every member in our club, we act at the highest level of effectiveness and are an example for other clubs. And, of course, his “secret weapon” has been Frank Hogshead who keeps all the finances and paper work in order. He thanked the club for allowing him to serve and to experience this great group of Rotarians.
To make a point about Rotary’s ability to evolve, David talked about some big changes within Rotary’s history:
1964: female members were proposed for the first time
1977: a California club admits women in violation of the ruling
1983-6: there was a lawsuit to challenge the ruling
May 4, 1987: the Supreme Court decided for admitting women
By 1990, there were over 20,000 and by 2010, over 200,000 women.
Rotary evolved and is better for it.
In 1983, Rotary suggested that a non-profit executive was not a businessman. Now, non-profits are third sector business leaders equal to other business sectors showing that Rotary has evolved, adapted and grown to reflect the whole community of business.
Rotary’s greatest accomplishments are because of their adaptations and collaborations with this comprehensive approach.
We, Rotarians, are all the inheritors of the legacy of the 1.1 million people in Rotary; part of a thread throughout the world.
David graciously received the accolades from Chief Jason Parker and a standing ovation from members for a very good year of his presidency. Jason presented David’s gavel and past president’s pin and immediately assumed the Rotary Club of Dalton’s presidency for 2015-16.
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Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership The Next 20 YearsMonday, June 29, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Skeeter Pierce introduced Rotarian Greg Dent, Executive Director of the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership, and Esther Familia-Cabrera, Director of the Partnership’s Community Health Workers/Promotoras. Greg began with an overview of the agency’s history and mission. Founded in 1992, it serves Whitfield, Murray, and Gordon Counties with 11 full-time employees and a budget of $600,000, seeking “to improve community health by identifying sustainable solutions to significant health issues via innovation, benchmarking, and application of best practices.” Since studies have shown that 51% of the factors influencing individuals’ health status arise from personal lifestyles, the Partnership’s four Vision Elements are built around healthy lifestyles, quality of life/end of life, disease management, and access to healthcare. In each of these areas value is created and measured clinically, socially, and financially.
Esther described how the Partnership works to bridge cultural differences within the community, using trained healthcare workers who emphasize preventive healthcare, often in response to referrals or requests from schools, businesses, and industries. Greg continued by summarizing how the Partnership’s primary focus has evolved from indigent care to a broader stress on disease management and is now moving toward analysis and influence on public policy from the healthcare perspective. In the future it hopes to expand geographically by extending its work into Dade, Walker, Chattooga, Catoosa, Gilmer, and Fannin Counties, and functionally by becoming a respected voice for the un- and underserved, a research partner for academic institutions such as Dalton State, and a regional center for piloting healthcare solutions from the State and Federal governments. In addition, it can also serve as a fiscal agent for smaller nonprofits, an incubator for community projects, a contractor for industry providers and insurers, and a consultant for cultural competency and nonprofits.
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Aquaponics, a Closed-loop System for Raising Fish and Food at Christian HeFriday, June 19, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Gerald Porter, headmaster of Christian Heritage since 2013, said that their newest projects are designed to help kids get excited about learning and work toward solutions for feeding people. “We want the students to be part of a solution,” he said. Students are given the challenge of solving problems by researching the problem and then designing a system as a solution. They then present their solution to a panel for a real-life project to be funded.
Their newest projects are in the field of aquaponics, a closed loop system which is the combination of raising fish in a tank, pumping the water from the fish tank to plants with bacteria converting ammonia and nitrite to nitrate which the plants absorb; the filtered water is returned to the fish tank, clean, losing only 10% of the water. With this system they hope to raise fish and vegetables for three purposes – their own dining facility at the school, for local community people in need, and for restaurants who want to use the “farm to table” system. Potential species to raise will be trout and tilapia.
Their missional opportunity is to design these systems to be shipped to third world countries so that others can feed themselves at little cost.
They are also interested in raising Koi, which can be very expensive fish – in the thousands of dollars – and utilizing the proceeds to produce more food and ship more systems to places like Nicaragua.
They want to build a $2.5 million dollar facility to raise the fish and plants, while giving the students a chance to solve world’s problems. The fish and vegetables and koi will be a source of income as well as a means for students to understand a business model.
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AwardsFriday, June 12, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
The “Best side of Rotary” is the way President David Aft introduced the day upon which we acknowledge fine Rotarians who exemplify Rotary’s motto “Service above Self” and the Four Way Test. He stated, “Rotary is a breeding ground for service and we are all proud to be partners in this endeavor.”
Kevin Brunson, chairperson of Vocational Service thanked his committee who was made up of past winners Nancy Kennedy, John Neal and Brian Anderson, and Chief Jason Parker, President-elect. Both awards were established by various clubs in the Rotary district 6910 to honor leaders in their clubs and are very significant awards for Rotary club members.
The “Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational Excellence” recipient is Larry Winter who exemplifies the evaluation guidelines: excellence in his vocation, achievements in the community and in academic achievements. Larry, CPA and Partner at Winter & Scoggins CPAs has been in practice for 40+ years and has 38 years of service on non-profit boards. His volunteer focus on education, especially the Dalton Whitfield Education Revolution Alliance to improve student achievement and adult literacy in the community, led to being appointed by the governor to the State Board of Education where he chaired the Audit and Finance Committees and is the board liaison to Georgia’s Bright from the Start Pre-K program. Larry is an excellent example of how one can use his education and occupation to service society both locally and state-wide.
President David Aft presenting Larry Winter with the Lee Arrendale Award
The Robert Stubbs “Guardian of Ethics Award” recognizes a Rotarian who has made outstanding contributions that foster ethical practices, made significant contributions to his vocation and who by his actions (writing, policies and public pronouncements) strengthened and fostered development of ethical practices, exemplifying the tenets of the Four-Way Test. He must exemplify a fine reputation with his peers, provide community contributions relating to ethics and vocation and have a record of personal integrity.
This year’s recipient is Dr. Don Thomas who has fostered ethical practices in all aspects of his personal, professional and political life. His career as a family practice physician stretches over 50 years. As State Senator (1997-2010) he authored the State of Georgia public smoking ban, taking four years to pass, and sponsoring and pushing through the seat belt requirement for pickup trucks in the state. Lt. Governor summed up Don’s service upon his retirement from the Senate, ”Senator Thomas’ example was stellar. He has been a wonderful example to us all of leading with integrity and a servant’s heart.”
Dr. Thomas has made significant contributions as a Rotarian, physician and a public servant to strengthen and foster the development of ethical practices. He is a leader held high by his peers; he puts others first in all pursuits and provides an excellent example of ethical standards.
Dr. Don Thomas receiving the “Guardian of Ethics Award”
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Dalton’s School Facilities DilemmaThursday, June 4, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Danny Crutchfield, chairman of the Dalton School Board, introduced the school issues by saying “If you want to go quickly, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together” in order to set the stage for the decisions for resolving the capacity challenges that exist in the middle and high schools in Dalton’s system. He stated that we all need to be in this together, City, Schools, businesses, and the people. He introduced Jim Hawkins, school superintendent who presented research and facts about the situation. Jim said, “this school board has truly done its due diligence along with a group of dedicated staff, administration, teachers and towns people.” He offered a copy of his power point presentation, the annual school report and a sheet of frequently asked questions with their answers. All the information can be found at http://www.daltonpublicschools.com/images/uploads/docs/SecondaryPresentREVnops.4.24.15.pdf
The challenge: The middle school has 1800 students and is the eighth largest in the state. They feel that quality of education is impeded by the overcrowding. “Smaller is better, especially with poverty students who don’t have the privileges that others do. These children need to be connected to the school with strong relationships,” he stated.
There is no room in these over capacity schools to provide career pathway courses. Also, the larger size school has huge implications for all sports because the teams and coaches need more time away from academics and the students and families have to travel long distances.
The plan that seems to be the most desirable will be at a cost of $70 to 90 million and would be placed either in east Dalton (at a 15 – 17 million dollar premium because of land costs) or on the outer edge of Dalton with less cost but more transportation costs for students. It would be a 6 – 12 school with 6 to 8 and 9 – 12 separated although their research shows that this becomes no concern at all in other schools like this.
Whether there will be school choice or zoning will be decided later. And the funding decision will also be decided later between revenue bonds or general obligation bonds that have to be decided by the city voters. This could be augmented by a millage increase and E-SPLOST proceeds.
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Rotary Sends Youth to Leadership CampFriday, May 22, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Each year the Rotary Club of Dalton provides scholarships for four high school sophomores to attend the three-day leadership camp at Tallulah Falls School in Tallulah Falls Georgia. Each area high school nominates two students whose applications are evaluated by a panel of five Rotarians. Rotary is enthusiastic about the future for these sophomores who will learn leadership skills through motivational speakers, team building, white water rafting and other fun activities as they experience friendships with other north Georgia students.
The recipients this year are:
Taylor Kate Boyett, Dalton High, who is involved in Interact, Pep, Beta, Drama, French, Skills, Yearbook, Catamount singers and thespian clubs or groups and is a top ten student in her class.
Henley Brueckner, Northwest Whitfield High, who is involved in varsity basketball, Spanish, FBLA, FCA clubs and coaches a 10-year-old team.
Cherith Moore, Dalton High, is active in Interact and Beta Club and the Student Council.
Bailey Palmer, Southeast Whitfield High, who is active in Drama, Leadership Council, Book Club, FCCLA, and cheerleading and is a top ten student.
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NO Rotary Meeting Scheduled for May 26th
Thursday, May 14, 2015
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Rotary Honors Outstanding Students with ScholarshipsFriday, May 22, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
For more than thirty years, The Rotary Club of Dalton has recognized outstanding area high school students with scholarships. This year 24 high school students received $12,500 in scholarships and awards. Rotary scholarship committee members Jonathan Bledsoe, Maurice Sponcler, Barbara Ward, Graham Fox, John Hutcheson, Judson Manley, Scott Rhoden, John Minor, Ginger Mathis and Teresa Carter reviewed the students’ achievements and essays, and met some of the students to determine the winners. There were winners in four distinct categories, Math/Science, Humanities, Career Technology and Service
These students were not only great academic achievers, they were active in sports, clubs, student councils, honor groups, drama, music, dance, agricultural events and mentoring younger students. They also volunteer all over town in diverse charities and churches.
Rotary also recognized those who have helped the students get to where they are – superintendents, school board members, administrators, counselors, teachers and their parents and families.
Outstanding Math/Science winners
Amber Morgan, Coahulla Creek
Josue Garza, Dalton
Phillip Hammonds, Northwest Whitfield
Braydon Barnett, Southeast Whitfield
Outstanding Humanities winners
Macey Fossett, Coahulla Creek
Tommy Ridley, Dalton
Bailey Everett, Northwest Whitfield
Aldara Ramirez, Southeast Whitfield
Outstanding Career Technology winners
Chase Lynch, Coahulla Creek
Mario Arzate, Dalton
Elli Hayes, Northwest Whitfield
Shayla Bryson, Southeast Whitfield
Jacqueline Ventura, Morris Innovative
Zachary Shaw, NWGA College and Career Academy (absent, not pictured)
Outstanding Service winners
Gisel Maldonado, Coahulla Creek
Shanikwa Hayes, Dalton
Aliaa Al Baba, Northwest Whitfield
Clarissa Martinez, Southeast Whitfield
Ronal Bueso, Morris Innovative
Bryan Lopez, NWGA College and Career Academy
Finally, there were four students recognized as outstanding area all-round students.
Outstanding Area Students
Andrew Fisher, Coahulla Creek
Kendall Brown, Dalton
Tilea West, Northwest Whitfield
Katie Cox, Southeast Whitfield
The one overall winner among all the schools and receiving the $1,000 scholarship was Kendall Brown, daughter of Valerie and Vance Brown.
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Dalton State College Scholarship DayThursday, May 14, 2015By: Jason Parker
The Dalton State College Foundation held its annual Scholarship Awards Day on April 17, 2015, at the Dalton Convention Center. During the ceremony, total awards of $309,230 were presented to 155 rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Dalton State College. On behalf of President David Aft, and the Rotary Club of Dalton, President-Elect Jason Parker attended the ceremony and presented the scholarship to this year’s winner, Ms. Ashley Salter, who is a senior psychology major. After the award, Ms. Salter relayed her thanks to everyone in the club.
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Northwest Georgia Library SystemThursday, May 14, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Darla Chambliss, the new director of the Northwest Georgia Library System and our local library, was introduced by Bitsy McFarland who is on both boards, local and district. Since Darla’s first day on April 1, she has already appreciated the connection between Rotary and libraries as they have helped statewide with various needed tasks, even creating a logo for one library’s summer reading program.
Darla reiterated the mission of the library which is to put the library’s books, digital technology and educational training in the hands of the public. This happens in many ways: summer reading programs to prevent the “summer slide” put over 18,000 books in the public’s hands last summer. Many families responded to the goal of either reading to a child or having the child read 1,000 books by preschool. This summer’s reading program NRGL, a “super hero” – will be in the library and county schools.
The new technology and learning center in the lower level of the library with over 50 computers impacts over 300 people per day with mentoring students, helping create resumes for job searchers, research of all types and with classes on all types of computer use and software.
Chambliss talked about the many on line assets that begin with the PINES system in which you may order a book from any library in Georgia and have it in three days. There is another program in which you may order any book from ANY library in the United States. There are even means of assistance for the blind. There are digital magazines, audio books and digital books to download for free.
There are a few issues to work on including the always crowded parking lot. There is hope that more parking can be created on the existing land. Darla also dreams about a small library and mentoring center for non-English speaking students. Volunteers are always welcome!
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Rotary’s Charlie Bowen Service Above Self 5th Grade AwardsThursday, May 7, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
The Rotary Club of Dalton took great pride in awarding a group of Dalton and Whitfield County students the Charlie Bowen 5th Grade “Service Above Self” Awards for 2015. The awards are named for Rotarian Charlie Bowen who for many years was the Superintendent of Dalton Schools and exemplified the Rotary Four-Way Test. These honored students were designated as those who practice Rotary’s guiding principle of service above self and the Rotary Four-Way Test.
The students are selected by the faculty and staff of their respective schools as the student who best portrays values of service and respect exhibited toward their fellow classmates, teachers and family, rather than their academic standing or athletic ability. In honoring the students, Judy Gilreath, Superintendent Whitfield County Schools and Jim Hawkins, Superintendent, Dalton City Schools, spoke of these attributes as those which help students excel in school and in life. Respect and Ethics are two of the tenets that are goals of schools, along with academics.
The elementary students who were honored with the plaques and were given bags of books and gifts from their respective schools were Saul Flores, Antioch; Will Bates, Beaverdale; Ethan Head, Cedar Ridge; Teagyn Blair, Cohutta; Ramon Montoya, Dawnville; Destiny Sharp, Dug Gap; Zoey Bonner, Eastside; Kaylee Cameron, New Hope; Jordan Dyer, Pleasant Grove; Drew Patton, Tunnel Hill; Alondra Mendoza, Valley Point; Vanessa Marinez, Varnell; Elizabeth Rodriguez, Westside; Trinity Santizo, Blue Ridge; Valentina Flammini, Brookwood; Gabriela Alegria, City Park; Maritza Casillas, Park Creek; Mia Carvajal, Roan; Bailey Gleaton, Westwood.
Many of the students participated in an essay contest in which they were to write about “Laws of Life” and in so doing were rewarded with a check for $25: Saul Flores, Will Bates, Ethan Head, Drew Patton, Alondra Mendoza and Vanessa Martinez.
Winners of the contest were: First Place awarded $200, Kaylee Cameron; second place awarded $100, Valentina Flammini.
David Aft, Rotary president, complimented the Rotarians who coordinated this project for the club: Amanda Reed chairperson, Paul Alderman and Scott Rhoden and repeated that this is one of the highlights of the year as Rotarians pass forward the mantra of serving others above one’s self and honor students who already have shown their abilities of dealing with others in a kindhearted way.
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Hamilton Medical Center Business Alliance LuncheonFriday, May 1, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Rotarians enjoyed news about Hamilton Medical Center’s latest accomplishments including a completed 1.2 million dollar campaign for state-of-the-art equipment.
Board chair Robert Smalley and Business Alliance chair Chuck Dobbins both participated in the event and all enjoyed the presentation of Dr. Gregory Jantz of Edmund, Washington, concerning the extreme usage of phones, tablets and computers that is rampant in our society. Especially concerning are young people using screens from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. unsupervised, and adults’ seemingly addictive attention to our phones/screens. There is a fear of “missing out” if we don’t answer at any hour of the day. And Jantz said, “with teens, the phone is now second in importance to clothing.”
Jantz suggested that over-use of phones/screens is over-stimulating to the brain and provides reduced concentration on important daily activities. Overstimulation creates a craving brain that exhausts and is addictive. It produces anxiety as with any addiction, altars brain chemistry and upon removal, creates withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms include being restless, moody and wanting to avoid relationships. A “blue light syndrome” of too much screen time makes people lose sleep.
Using the phone while doing other things leads to continuous partial distraction – not focusing on people and conversations – like an attention deficit disorder or social isolation.
For families, he suggests a “tech break” or “tech detox” one day a week. Put all screens in a locked closet and encourage interaction. His family uses one night a week just to talk about new digital topics – new apps, new ways people are using them – all to keep abreast of what children are doing and staying ahead of potential issues. That way, children and teens tend not to keep secrets about their screen use.
For all of us he suggests, “When you are with someone, BE with them, not dividing your attention to a screen.”
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Rotary Golf Tournament ResultsMonday, March 17, 2014By: Chuck Dobbins
We had a beautiful spring day on April 21 for the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament. Thanks to our sponsors and the 86 players, we raised the funds for the scholarships to be awarded to area high school seniors in May.
The tournament was so competitive that each flight involved a scorecard playoff to determine the prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each flight.
Here are the tournament results:
Flight 1:
1st: Michel Pare, Lee Phillips, Bruce Jennings, Ben Rickett 53
3 teams tied at 56 - 2nd and 3rd place determined by a scorecard playoff
2nd: Mitch Sanford, Chris Shifflet, Eric Bagwell, Cameron Whaley 56
3rd: Tony Elrod, Rob Neil, Clay Shaw, Joey Westmoreland 56
Flight 2:
2 teams tied at 62 - 1st and 2nd determined by a scorecard playoff
1st: Bob Caperton, Derek Waugh, Bill Blackwood, M. Oliver 62
2nd: Brandon Knight, Gib Roland, K.D. Wright, Rhett McGowan 62
3rd: Jim Hunt, Howard Hunt, Pat Townsend, Barry Blevins 63
Closest to the Pin Winners:
Hole 9: Ben Rickett - 9'1''
Hole 14: Jeremy Talley- 3'1''
Long Drive Winners:
Hole 13 - Joey Westmoreland
Hole 17 - Stephen Tibbetts
Thanks to the Golf Committee - David Aft, Brian Anderson, Kevin Brunson, Dan Combs, Scott Delay, Chuck Dobbins, Doug Hoskins, Miller Jones, Jason Parker and Mitch Sanford for your work to plan the tournament. We also appreciate Carole Hoskins, Kathryn Sellers, Rick Cobb, Bruce Satterfield, Greg Dent, and Dan Combs Jr. who helped on tournament day.
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AwardsWednesday, April 15, 2015By: David Aft
Rotarians John Didier and Roy Johnson are recognized for their contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Each has achieved the sapphire level of Paul Harris Fellowship. This level is known and the “Paul Harris +1” and can be reached by any Pauli Harris donor by contributing an extra $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Thank you John and Roy!
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Dr. Stephen Angle, Chancellor, University of ChattanoogaWednesday, April 15, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Rotarian Kevin Harris introduced Dr. Stephen Angle, chancellor, who has been at the University of Chattanooga (UTC) since mid-2013. His goals are student successes and strengthening the community connections for the university.
UTC has 11,700 students (fall 2014) and record ACT and high school GPAs. In the last eight years the university has increased from 8,000 students to approximately 12,000. Total alumni are 61,000. One third of the student body is from Hamilton county but the second county of influence is Memphis TN. Angle’s goal is to have easy transfer pathways from Dalton State to UTC. UTC has departments in arts and sciences, Business (with an MBA) and Health, Education and Professional Studies (nursing, therapies, interior design, teacher ed., etc.) with many masters and doctorate programs.
The tuition is $8,000 per year not including lodging and out-of-state is $24,000. The University is working to eliminate in-state tuition for the close, multi-state/county region, including Dalton. “We want to reduce or eliminate in-state tuition for north Georgia students and partner with Dalton State to create the best possibilities for our students,” stated Angle.
UTC has invested $300 million since 2000 in a new library and a 600-bed residence hall among other projects. The focus is experiential learning with lots of hands-on learning in cooperation with businesses—internships, research and performance opportunities. Now they are delving into data and analytics research with businesses, such as VW (their academy), and a veteran’s entrepreneurship to develop business ideas and then get venture capital for those businesses.
The university coordinates actively with Drive to 55, the goal for the population having college degrees or certificates, and Thrive 2055, the regional focus to work together to build relationships together for economic development, transportation and education.
Sr. Angle stated, “UTC has an international visibility and reputation for doing things right. Our students are our future and our focus and we want to help them understand that throughout life, relationships matter. We want to be an unselfish partner in the community and the region, to engage students, inspire change and develop community through applied research and solving problems.”
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Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament - April 21stMonday, March 9, 2015By: Chuck Dobbins
Please remember that April 21st is the Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament at the Dalton Golf and Country Club. Lunch will be served beginning at 11:30 AM and the tournament will be a shotgun start at 1:00 PM. This is an event where we need every Rotarian to participate. Please help us by securing sponsors, being a sponsor, getting a team together, donating prizes, or working the tournament.
To register to play or sponsor online visit:
https://fs18.formsite.com/foundation/RotaryGolf/index.html
For more information contact:
Chuck Dobbins 706-532-4512 - [email protected]
Kevin Brunson 706-428-2521 - [email protected]
Doug Hoskins 706-260-5011 - [email protected]
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Isabel Vinterbladh, GRSP studentWednesday, April 8, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Mel Abernathy, host Rotarian
Isabel, our GRSP student from Sweden was introduced by Mel Abernathy, host Rotarian. Both Isabel and Mel spoke about some of the things that had impressed her during her nine months in Dalton. She is amazed that we don’t walk or take public transportation. The weather is unpredictable. There are so many fast foods, where Sweden has only McDonalds, Burger King and Subway! Isabel has enjoyed fried chicken but she is surprised at the large number of foods that are fried. She says all the portions are much bigger, even drinks. Many things are bigger, even cars!
She has been exposed to football for the first time at Dalton High and then at an Auburn game where she said that she enjoyed the marching band and the eagle more than the game! She enjoyed the traditions surrounding homecoming but was surprised that they elected a king and queen.
Holidays were fun, but somewhat different – many more decorations, lights, and more food than she had ever seen at family events. Frying a turkey for Thanksgiving was a first for her. She carved a pumpkin at Halloween and went trick or treating for candy – more food. She said she had seen and eaten more cookies and fried chicken than ever.
The 50 GRSP students gather together for events across the states which give them great opportunities to learn about all cultures as they are from all over the world. They also spent time doing outreach projects, such as packing 10,000 meals for those in hunger.
She has been surprised at the differences in her college courses. New to her were multiple choice questions, projects for extra credit, and for her, much easier courses as she had done much of the current work in her high school. She has enjoyed homecoming there, basketball games and especially winning the national championship.
Isabel has enjoyed traveling to Miami, across Georgia, Washington D.C., New York and Niagara Falls. She plans to go to the western U. S. before she leaves.
What was her favorite experience? -- experiencing American culture and the South in particular. For all of this, she expressed extreme gratitude for the opportunity Rotary has given her.
Isabel Vinterbladh, GRSP Student
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Focus on LeadershipThursday, April 9, 2015By: David Aft
As part of a world-wide organization, the Rotary Club of Dalton has always understood that its impact is felt both locally and internationally. In an effort to deepen our understanding of Rotary’s work outside the United States, the Club reinstated the position of International Service Chair.
Given the importance of our work, identifying a capable and energetic leader to fill the role was a top priority. With this noted, the board recruited Archana Svrivastava to fill the position and bring some much-needed leadership to this facet of our annual Rotary program.
Her efforts are already making an impact, as she secured a program from internationally known public health advocate Dr. Steven Wassilak, who detailed his work with the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization in the fight to eradicate polio. In her introduction of him, Archana noted Rotary’s invaluable role in eradicating this terrible disease.
Her determination to secure Dalton State College’s Professor of Political Science and Director of International Studies Dr. Baogang Guo as our keynote speaker at the Rotary International dinner was deeply appreciated. In her introduction of Dr. Guo, Archana encouraged those in attendance to embrace Dalton’s diversity and build stronger bridges between themselves and individuals with different backgrounds and faiths.
In addition to her efforts to secure relevant and provocative speakers, she has begun to develop a process through which the Club can identify and evaluate international projects for possible support by the Club.
If you have a moment or two, please make an effort to meet Archana and thank her for her many contributions to Rotary.
If you have any thoughts on Rotary’s international efforts and how our Club may become more involved, please reach out to Archana and share your ideas.
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Bill Strickland's VisitThursday, April 9, 2015
Bill Strickland, District Governor, Rotary 6910, visited our club and spoke about the upcoming Rotary conference at Hilton Head.
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International Night for RotariansMonday, March 30, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Rotary members and their guests for the evening thoroughly enjoyed the food, fellowship and presentations of Dr. Baogang Guo, Professor of Political Science and Director of International Studies at Dalton State College and international students who are taking advantage of all the educational opportunities and the assets and warmth of Dalton State College.
Rotarian Jason Parker introduced Dr. Baogang Guo who received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Brandeis University in Massachusetts, USA, and BA and MA from Zhengzhou University in China. He is currently Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for International Education at Dalton State College and a Research Associate at China Research Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He was President of Association of Chinese Political Studies (ACPS) between 2008 and 2010, and has published and co-edited eleven books on Chinese politics.
Dr. Guo spoke about the welcoming atmosphere of the staff and students of Dalton State and said that both the students and the college benefit from the students’ presence there. He introduced four students who echoed that message and spoke about their families, their homes and families and the values of their education at Dalton State. They were Cynthia Carriles (Mexico), Chigozie Obonna (Nigeria), Laurely Caycho (Spain/Peru) and Krystal Tee (Malaysia) who was our Rotary student last year.
It was a delightful evening for all Rotarians in attendance.
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Estella LiermannMonday, April 6, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Bruna Langner introduced her friend Estella Liermann, who, like Bruna, is originally from Brazil. Estella told the Club how she had contracted polio sixteen months after her birth in 1960, a year before polio vaccine was available in Brazil and two years before it arrived in her locality. She thanked Rotary for its fight against polio, noting that in 1980 there were 1,280 cases in Brazil but only 122 in 1982 after a campaign of mass vaccination.
Initially thought to have the flu, Estella suffered paralysis in her right leg and was diagnosed with polio in a Sao Paulo hospital, where she was placed in an iron lung for a month and received the first corrective polio surgery to be performed in Brazil. As she grew, additional surgeries were performed, leaving her with one leg 1.5 inches shorter than the other. Realizing during her hospital stays that others were far more seriously stricken than she, she considered herself “so, so lucky,” and she strove to encourage and entertain her fellow patients even as she struggled privately with her own fears. At school her disability led many to bully or ostracize her, but with seven siblings (including five brothers), she had learned to be tough and she “worked twice as hard” to prove herself.
In 1989 Estella came to the United States to look for opportunities where she would not face professional barriers like those her situation generated in Brazil. Speaking no English, she settled in Sarasota and worked first as a housecleaner, but she resolved to surround herself with Americans and master their language and culture. Eventually she went into automobile sales, and in 1996 she moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, where she operated a car sales business for twenty years. Although the onset of neurological problems in 1998 led to a diagnosis of post-polio syndrome, this disappeared after a couple of years and she continued her business until she closed it two years ago and began searching for new paths to follow. By its overcoming of physical adversity and achievement of professional success, Estella’s life dramatically illustrates the importance of Rotary’s work to eradicate polio.
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NO Rotary Meeting Scheduled for March 24th
Monday, March 16, 2015
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Rotary Spring Banquet & Reception - March 26thMonday, March 9, 2015Greetings, fellow Rotarians:
Make your reservations now for the Rotary Spring Banquet and Reception planned for March 26, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Northwest GA Trade and Convention Center!
Please let me know if you and your spouse or significant other will be joining us for the March 26th dinner.
We had a great time at last year’s event, and fellowship is an important ingredient in the Rotary experience. This year’s program will highlight Rotary’s international impact, and how the fabric of our own community is enhanced by many international members and students. Let’s get together and celebrate the great success of our club, and the impact we have around the world!
The cost is $18 for members and $30 for guests. The banquet cost for members will be added to your next quarter invoice. For guest reservations, you may pay by check or we will be glad to add that to your invoice as well.
YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUESTED
Over the next week or so, I hope to finalize our list of attendees and with this in mind, please RSVP by return e-mail to [email protected] or by telephone at 706-260-8718.
As always, if you have any questions please reach out to me, or President David Aft, and we look forward to seeing you on March 26 at the Trade Center!
Jason Parker
President-Elect
Rotary Club of Dalton
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The Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at HMCMonday, March 23, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Rotarian Kelly Jones
Rotarian Kelly Jones, herself the mother of twins who were born prematurely, introduced Jessica Truelove, the mother of Rosalie who was born at 28 weeks and spent 73 days in the Hamilton NICU. Jessica said her tiny daughter, 1 lb, 15 oz, was cared for beautifully and was given two medicines for her lungs and heart helping to prevent open heart surgery. The special rooms for these babies are private, helping the parents to stay with the baby. Because of the fine care Rosalie received, Jessica committed to making the community aware of the Hamilton NICU for the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes is now working to fight against premature births, to spare families from the harsh toll of having a very sick baby and to reduce the financial burden of premature birth.
Jessica Truelove and daughter Rosalie
Lizbeth Kennedy, MD neonatologist, who also has an MBA, and formerly at Erlanger, updated Rotary on the amazing services that have touched our community through this NIC unit. They have cared for 1650 babies in the last five years with 20 beds and an average daily census of 15. They serve babies in a large region from Cartersville to Fannin county and Jasper to the Hutcheson area in Ft. Oglethorpe. This unit is the only one between Atlanta and Nashville with private rooms. Parents have access 22 hours a day.
Dr. Lizbeth Kennedy
The unit is quiet for good developmental outcomes and the rooms are outfitted with windows so that those other than parents can see the babies. The babies are usually sent home by the time they would be 38 weeks but some very sick and very small babies stay 24 weeks and above. The babies stay in what Kennedy called a “giraffe” or an artificial womb with a humidifier that holds heat so the baby can stay clear of infection but care can be given by medical staff and parents. The equipment is very hi-tech, able to do extensive analysis with real time data rather than waiting for test results to come back from a lab.
Since this is a preeminent Level III unit, there is a specially-trained transport team of RNs and a respiratory therapist to move the babies from other hospitals. They transported 7 in 2010 and 39 in 2014. Dr. Kennedy says her excellent, “takes pride in providing this service at home – in Dalton.” They love seeing their babies later as healthy children all over town. What they wish to do is to save those children so that you will never know they had to be in an NICU. They are now working with OBGYNs to be alert to high-risk mothers and help prepare for their needs. The unit is now so successful as a Level III unit, they are working toward a certificate of need for more beds.
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Ronnie McClurg Invitational Track Meet - March 14thMonday, March 9, 2015Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the Ronnie McClurg Invitational Track Meet (scheduled for this past Saturday) was canceled. As always, we appreciate everyone's willingness to volunteer!
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Key West, A Kaleidoscope of LifeMonday, March 16, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Frank Hogshead entertained Rotary with a history and current status of Key West which is a four-mile-long island within a 200-mile long coral archipelago south of the coast of Florida. It is the western-most point in the United States and just off its seaward coast is the third largest barrier reef in the world. It has been under the U. S. flag since 1822 after changing flags many times.
Some of its wealthiest residents earned their money from salvaging large amounts of gold, silver and other valuables from the many shipwrecks that occur on the reefs. One salvaged by the Mel Fisher Co was valued at $470 million.
Other important inhabitants over time have been James Audubon, ornithologist, and Earnest Hemingway, prolific writer, whose 1931 two-story house was built by Ann Tift with slave labor. It was way ahead of its time with running water on the second floor. It also has the many descendants (supposedly 40) of a group of six-toed cats, considered lucky by one of Hemingway’s four wives.
Over time, one of the largest industries was cigars, begun by the influx of Cubans, at one point making 100 million cigars a year. This industry moved to Ibor City (Tampa) so that industry is no longer there. Henry Flagler was one of the successful developers who built the railroad from the tip of the mainland with his own $40 million (about $1.3 billion in today’s dollars.
Today’s economy is almost totally tourism. Within its 5.9 square miles, they have 360 current liquor licenses – one being named “husband day care center.” A favorite Key West activity, that we can describe, is watching the very special sunsets there. Cruise ships can be fined $30,000 if they block the sunset from the watchers on the beach.
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Patrick Frawley, CEO of Community and Southern BankThursday, March 5, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
David Gregg, Market President of the Community and Southern Bank in Dalton, introduced Patrick Frawley, CEO. This bank group, which now has deposits of $3.6 billion dollars, purchased Dalton’s Alliance Bank. Gregg and Frawley introduced Dawn Sanders, formerly a Dalton Rotarian, who is their Senior Credit Officer.
Frawley is known as a turn-around specialist in the banking industry. He has been in banking for over 42 years, particularly on the regulatory side prior to the last few years. He worked with the old C & S bank and then with banks in Alabama and Integrity Bank in Atlanta. With 90 bank failures in Georgia since 2008, he was aware that when banks are closed and then assets purchased, the banks in smaller towns lose all their identity and the local people because the merged banks are consolidated into the national headquarters of the buyer. He created Community and Southern Bank, keeping the management from Integrity, with the goal of growing this bank by buying failed banks in Georgia. He raised $370 million and now, with 13 acquisitions, has the fifth largest bank in Georgia with 610 employees, 42 branches in 23 counties. He says that when an entity buys a failed bank, they get all of the good with the bad.
As for Georgia banking, he thinks the worst is over as there are fewer banks in trouble: only about 40 with liquidity problems. He noted that the failures followed the pattern of the failing mortgage industry between ’08 and ’10 with “loosey goosey” deals, the over-development of homes and resort properties compounded by the many under-qualified home buyers’ mortgages. The industry has gotten progressively better.
Frawley wants to expand his bank in Georgia, predominantly on the I 75 corridor and into contiguous states.
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We are “this close” in the Eradication of Polio WorldwideMonday, March 2, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Dr. Steven Wassilak of the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta enlightened Rotary about the successes in the fight against polio worldwide. Dr. Wassilak, who has worked on vaccines since 1980, and worked with the World Health Organization from 1996 to 2004, is now working toward polio eradication full time. He shared that the goal for Rotary volunteers and the World Health Organization (WHO) was set in 1988 to complete the eradication in 2000. We are close, but not quite there. There is only one disease that has been eliminated for people – small pox (1979). He thanked Rotary for providing millions of dollars and volunteers to this project along with WHO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Polio causes a devastating paralysis of the limbs and the diaphragm. Five to ten percent of children die with the disease but it is even more serious in adults as it is a common infection in the developing world. Polio is only one virus of many that causes paralysis so the patient has to be tested to diagnose polio. It is eliminated with routine immunization of every child and supplementary immunizations.
Polio was eliminated in the Americas in 1991, in the western Pacific in 1997 and in Europe in 1998, but it was still in circulation in 125 countries in 1988 with 350,000 cases. By 2000 the world was 99% free of polio. By 2006 it was in only four countries and, unfortunately, was shared and reestablished from India to Angola, Pakistan, and the Arab countries. By 2009 there were only about 900 cases and those were centered in fewer places.
In 2012 WHO declared a programmatic emergency and had a full strategy to attack with emergency operation centers in strategic places spending one billion dollars a year.
The last case of Type 2 polio was in 1999, the last Type 3 was in 2012 and almost all Type 1 cases were in Pakistan and Nigeria. In 2013 there was a set back as it was transmitted to Syria, Israel, the West Bank, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Guinea and Iraq from Pakistan – much of this stemming from Taliban war areas. Countries were encouraged to immunize travelers. Other countries have done this half way or with little effort. The unstable countries were challenges because of lack of access and danger and inefficiencies and resistance to organizers. But these programs have become more accountable and have made serious progress in immunizations. The new risks are the program’s safety and security, getting Islamic support and containing the disease in small areas. The good result of the developed infrastructure for immunizations has helped in the fight of Ebola because they could track the disease better and avoid transmissions.
Now 80% of the world’s population lives in polio free areas. It is hoped that the outbreaks will be stopped in 2015 and the world will be free of the disease by 2018.
Rotarians, congratulate yourselves for assisting in this very successful worldwide project!
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The SPLOST 2015Monday, February 23, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Mike Babb, Whitfield County Commission Chair, Dennis Mock, Mayor of Dalton, were introduced by Rotarian Robert Smalley. Mayor Mock deferred to Chairman Babb who spoke about all the facts involved with the upcoming vote on the SPLOST, the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. The special election is to be held on March 17. To pass, the majority must be 50% plus one. It would go into effect on July 1, 2015 and last for four years.
Babb pointed out that Whitfield County has a “pull factor” of 1.41 which means that about 41% of our sales taxes would be paid by people who live outside the county, a positive for residents. He also pointed out that Whitfield is one of only 7 counties without a SPLOST now, meaning other counties see the value of this method of funding projects. (Whitfield has the second largest homestead exemption ($20,000) so the county collects about 15-18% less.)
To obtain the necessary funds for the needed advancements, the only other option is to levy a larger millage rate for property taxes. When comparing our millage of 8.061 % to nearby counties, both Floyd (11.1%) and Bartow (9.68%) are much more and each spends more per capita.
If passed, the SPLOST would benefit the City and County and the smaller cities in the county and thus is the first intergovernmental agreement with all our cities. It would raise an expected $63.6 million. 79% would go to transportation or roads and bridges, including the straightening of Hwy 201. Twelve million would go to fund an upgraded public safety digital communications system that will partner with the Tennessee Valley System cutting the formerly projected cost in half. A new northwest area fire station, $9.9 million for upgraded ladder trucks, fire engines and patrol cars are in the public safety portion. Quality of Life projects vary from technology and materials for the Whitfield Library to a walking track at the Miracle Field, the Haig Mill recreation project and the Rocky Face bike park.
Brian Anderson of the Dalton Whitfield Chamber commented that this plan is the best conceived method of blending sales tax and property tax so that property owners and businesses don’t bear all the burden.
President Aft suggested that we all become educated about the issues and summed up with this pertinent message, “If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice!
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Dr. Bill Underwood, President of Mercer University Monday, February 16, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Dr. Bill Underwood, President of Mercer University was introduced by Bill Ireland whose daughter will soon graduate from Mercer.
Dr. Underwood, who has been at Mercer for nine years, spoke about Mercer’s close connection with a Vietnamese professor who has, along with his students, been responsible for helping to invent/create advanced prosthetics for the thousands of Vietnamese people who are maimed each year by the remaining land mines and booby traps. Most are pitifully poor (average per capita income $1,000/year or less) and prosthetics are not even in their dreams. This professor and students created adjustable sockets to fit anyone, leg mechanisms and flexing feet that make the patients much more comfortable. They are light weight, durable and cost just about $200 rather than the former cost of $10,000 and up. Mercer Bio Med students now produce these prosthetics and have the privilege to travel to Viet Nam, a truly inspiring task and travel opportunity.
Underwood spoke about the normal complaints about college education now in the media and debunked them with his own facts and theories:
“Graduation rates are lower”: Because these reported figures are only those who enter and graduate from the same college, they are misunderstood and are an incomplete picture. He says graduation rates are actually going up and are at the highest level in 75 years.
“Most take more than four years for graduation”: Fewer than half graduate from the school where they first registered, but the four year graduates are the highest since tracking began.
“College costs are going up”: The average net tuition and fees for a public college is $3,129, almost a constant number. And private college costs are constant when adjusted by scholarships.
“There is a student debt crisis”: There are many more students, therefore more aggregate debt. However individual debt is lower than 1992: fewer than 2% have $100,000 in debt. The average debt is less than $30,000 and one third have no debt. Mercer concentrates on counseling students about debt and their alternatives.
Blackwood feels that the college experiences are every bit as important as the academics and feels that every student must be in co-curricular activities such as athletics. They learn lessons that supplement academics like team building, responsibility, perseverance and self-discipline. Most importantly they build community!
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Welcoming New Member...Monday, February 9, 2015
John Neal, sponsor, greeting Onsy Bestawros, new member
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A Dirt Farmer’s Perspective on Risk ManagementMonday, February 9, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Andrew Moore, introduced by Rotarian Graham Fox, intrigued Rotarians with his presentation about his farming of canola, barley, black oats, sun flower seeds, soy beans, wheat and yellow peas, and his various businesses that provide vertical integration between planting and harvesting the crops and the production of the end products.
Moore, who graduated from Mercer and has been a teacher and coach, is now a full-time, third generation farmer of 8,000 acres with two crops a year on all the land. Moore’s Seed and Grain grows the crops, Resaca Sun Feeds produces vegetable oils, meals and animal feed pellets from the crops for seven different animals (poultry, cattle, sheep, etc.
He spoke about one of his end users for the feed produced: the huge broiler business in Georgia, the largest poultry producer in the nation, producing 8 billion pounds or $38 billion annually. Poultry is 47% of the agriculture money in Georgia.
Moore talked about a farmer’s risks:
- They have no control over the price received. It is often controlled by overseas purchases as well as US market issues.
- Weather is a constant challenge
- Bugs and weeds; chemical sprays are necessary constantly to avoid bugs such as the kudzu beetle that eats soy beans and fungicides to avoid diseases.
- Death of a family member. He says succession planning is essential in a family farming business.
To manage these risks, he contracts futures with his crops; has storage for 1.2 million bushels of products to manage distribution; has his own trucking; always purchases crop insurance, has a definite succession plan for his family and is totally vertically integrated – land to end product. He focuses totally on non-genetically modified crops and can grow five crops per acre every three years in his crop rotation.
For more information: Resacasun.com
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Professor Tom Mullen, Dalton State CollegeMonday, February 2, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Dr. Tom Mullen, Professor of Political Science at Dalton State College, spoke to the Club about conditions in the Middle East, focusing on Syria, Iraq, and the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He noted that while the regimes of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad in Syria and of Saddam Hussein in Iraq provided their people’s stability in exchange for the sacrifice of democracy and any right of political dissent, there was relative freedom in both countries for religious minorities such as Christians and unorthodox Muslims, so long as they posed no political threat. This gained the Assad and Saddam governments’ strong support from these groups, who became crucial to their retention of power and who have suffered acutely since its destabilization or destruction.
When a coalition led by the United States overthrew Saddam Hussein in 2003, it purged the leadership class of all his supporters, thus creating a power vacuum that has never really been filled. The “Arab Spring” revolt against Bashar al-Assad in 2011 did not remove him, but instead led to ruthless repression and civil war. Unlike such disorders in the past, newly created social media revealed this one to the world in great detail, and the U.S. was strongly pressured to assist the rebels. Though initially inclined to do so, the Obama Administration ultimately bowed to public resistance to further American military involvement in the region. Thus another power vacuum developed, with a variety of radical groups playing dominant roles in the opposition. The most organized and best financed of these was ISIS, which Saudi Arabia strongly supported as a vehicle for reducing the influence in Syria of the Saudis’ archrival, Iran.
Professor Mullen argued that the best policy for the U.S. would be to avoid giving the Syrian rebels more than humanitarian and minimal military support and to work mainly for a stable, though weakened, Bashar regime. America should also reach a working arrangement—a modus vivendi—with the Iranians, who despise ISIS and don’t want it to succeed in either Iran’s client state of Syria or in neighboring Iraq. As shown recently in Paris and Brussels, ISIS sympathizers are a growing danger to U.S. allies in Europe, and American collaboration with Iran would be a practical, short-run response to a common enemy, similar to the relationship between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during World War II. The Saudis and Israelis would object, but American policy must be guided by American interests, not theirs.
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Welcome New MembersThursday, January 22, 2015 
Patty Mooney, Retail Sales Associate with Community and Southern Bank, sponsor: Judy Elliott
Trey Brantley, Financial/Wealth Advisor with FSG Bank, sponsor: Chuck Dobbins
Scott DeLay, Associate Attorney with Coppedge and Associates, PC, sponsor: John Minor
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Veronica Rollins, Director, Downtown Dalton Development AuthorityThursday, January 22, 2015By: John Hutcheson
Rotarian Bob Caperton presented Veronica Rollins, Director of the Downtown Dalton Development Authority, who spoke to the Club about the growth of the downtown area and the work of the DDDA since she became its head in 2008. During that time vacant downtown properties decreased from 25% to 10%, despite the challenges arising from the Great Recession, and the DDDA enabled Dalton to win major awards for development and design from the Georgia Downtown Association in 2012 and 2014. Veronica noted that the DDDA is one of few such authorities in the state that was legislatively created, and it has functioned as one of the leanest and most economically run governmental organizations in Dalton.
The downtown area is the heart of the Dalton/Whitfield area, and the DDDA’s job is to keep that heart healthy. It does so by promoting downtown through special events and consistent advertising; by encouraging economic restructuring that incorporates low-interest funding, tax relief, and business assistance; by fostering design improvements through façade grants, liaison with University of Georgia design experts, and representation before the Historic Preservation Commission; and by organizing committees, partnerships, and other community awareness vehicles. In recent years the DDDA has worked hard to attract residents, especially millennials, to live in the downtown area, and in 2015 it will seek to mobilize greater community support by launching a “Friends of Downtown” campaign.
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Sherry Blevins, Whitfield Probate JudgeFriday, January 16, 2015By: Kathryn Sellers
Rotarian Probate Judge Sherry Blevins provided insight into what a probate judge does and how it matters. Her office has a Chief Clerk and six others who handled $2.3 million dollars in 2014. Elected in 2008, Blevins is now training other clerks and judges in the state as well as handling her own position in Whitfield County.
Blevins said, “Most people come in contact with the probate judge for marriage, children hurt in an accident, death of a family member, a parent who is losing mental capacity or to purchase a permit for a concealed weapon. In order to avoid contentious issues, my advice is to first have a will, then upon a death, call a lawyer.” Her office will provide the check list for working through legal requirements, including public notice to creditors and debtors, and will provide assistance. When family infighting occurs during any of these situations, their office sometimes appoints an attorney.
The probate office also handles traffic tickets, administering the oath to elected public officials and permits for fireworks, cattle brands, partition boundaries and removing obstructions from a roadway.
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Legislative PreviewThursday, January 8, 2015By: Ty Ross
Our first meeting of 2015 was a preview of the 153rd General Assembly of the state of Georgia which will convene its first session on January 12th at the State Capital in Atlanta. Our local legislative delegation includes Club members Charlie Bethel and Tom Dickson. Charlie represents the 54th Senate District and Tom represents the 6th House District. Dalton's delegation is also led by Bruce Broadrick who represents the 4th House District.
Representatives Broadrick and Dickson were out of town so Senator Bethel (pictured above) stood and provided the club with the legislative session preview. Senator Bethel said that there is great potential for substantive legislation in several areas that could benefit citizens of the state. Those areas include:
- Ways to help partially close the funding gap for transportation needs
- Improvements to public education delivery
- Assessments of criminal justice reform efforts
- On the healthcare front doctor recommended medical marijuana uses and programs of early intervention for children with autism may be considered
- On the local front, Senator Bethel is hopeful the local delegation can successfully include funding for expansion and renovation projects at the campuses of DSC and GNTC in next year's bonding program.
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GRSP Host FamilyThursday, January 8, 2015In other business Rotarian John Richmond stood and provided words of encouragement to club members considering becoming GRSP host families. John reiterated what a rewarding experience hosting can be.
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Human Trafficking Right in our Midst!Monday, December 15, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
David McCleary, a Rotarian from the Roswell Club, presented information about the problem our society is facing with human trafficking. Rotary has taken note and has committed to providing awareness about the issue with actions for prevention and slowing the problem. With 34,000 clubs worldwide, Rotary can make a difference in this issue as they have in polio.
McCleary stated that you may think this is a problem with a lower class of people and places like sleazy nightclubs but it can happen to any child, boy or girl, from any type of background. It is especially prevalent with the 1.6 million runaways each year and the 1 in 4 who are sexually abused by the time they are 18. The children at most risk and the most vulnerable are both affluent and poor; those who have been previously abused; those who are typically unsupervised or the parents don’t know their friends; or those from dysfunctional families. (Over 60% of children are on free lunch!) The average age is 12 – 14 and their life after being taken is usually only seven years because of beatings and abuse. The aggressor may come from friends or from neighbors.
Warning signs to look for are having an older boyfriend, expensive jewelry or clothes – gifts from the boyfriend and have access to phones and computers without parental oversight. Victims are usually looking for love, may want to walk home or to the store alone, and may come home with a tattoo of the friend’s name. The older person befriends the younger, gains commitment and devotion and then takes the younger one.
Other means of obtaining children are by peer recruitment, parents selling children, false advertising for modeling, acting, dancing or photo sessions, sexting, by simple seduction and coercion and internet enticement. After being saved, the girl usually says “they chose me.”
You may think this happens in “other places.” In 2012 there were 134 children rescued in the Atlanta area and many more who were not. A startling statistic is that 7,200 men paid for sex acts in our area – 300 per day! This is a $32 – 39 billion business globally and $9.8 billion in the US. In the Atlanta area it is $290,000 business.
What is being done?
Awareness and Advocacy:
- Hot line is being advertised every place children are.
- It is now mandatory reporting for those volunteering with kids.
- Website for information: endhtnow.com
- Video: “How to Stop the Candy Shop”
- Programs for early children: “Kidsmartz” and middle and high school: “Chosen”
- Hotline posters in schools, hotels, etc
- GBI trainings for police
Prevention:
- Rotary has a HT Committee to disseminate information, especially in schools. (Rotaract and Interact helping)
- Classes p0rovided for large groups and health classes
- Large conclave at the Carter Center in 2015 for which you can register at www.endhtnow.com
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First Baptist’s Men’s Chorus – our Twentieth Treat!Monday, December 15, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Bill Ireland introduced First Baptist Men’s Chorus who entertained Rotary again this year. It was determined that they have been jump-starting every Rotary Christmas for 20 years or more.
Larry Flanagan, the group’s leader, provided background for each selection and its significance to the Christmas season. The selections were very diverse and included typical standards, such as “Drummer Boy” and a new version of Jingle Bells which was originally written in Savannah Georgia, to a Caribbean carol “Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy,” a gospel song “Jesus What a Wonderful Child” and Elvis’s “Blue Christmas. They concluded with “have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” which was their musical wish for all.
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Interact Club Rings the Bell for the Salvation ArmyMonday, December 15, 2014
Jordon McKinney, Makayla Karabensh, Erin Goldberg, Molly Lambert.
Charlie Alderman and Henry Stevenson
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GRSP Students VolunteerMonday, November 24, 2014
Rotary’s international students Helena Bendixen (left) from Denmark and Isabel Vinterbladh (right) from Sweden helped to retrieve the flags on Veterans Day. The students attend Dalton State College and are getting into our lifestyles and customs during their year in Dalton.
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Not your Mother’s Library Anymore!Monday, November 24, 2014 By Chuck Dobbins By: Kathryn Sellers
Linda Floyd, executive director of the Northwest Georgia Regional Library System, along with her staff talked about the many community collaborations in which the library has engaged in the last year with diverse organizations in order to take reading for all ages to a new level in our area. These collaborations have resulted in incredible growing numbers of visits to the library and numbers of books read by children.
In 2014 the Library has reached over 3500 children in various programs and those children read over 25,000 books.
Ages 2 – 8: develop pre-reading skill at Early Literacy stations on computers with 70 educational software programs. They have focused on enticing them with story times that included science, technology and math.
The Early Literacy program encourages children 0 - 5 to read 1,000 books before kindergarten. The Every Child Ready to Read focus teaches parents to teach children to read.
Ages 5 – 14: after school programs such as “Sensational Science” and the summer reading program produced over 1,000 children reading all summer and improving their ability to stay on grade level. There is also pre-school outreach to churches, schools and head starts to introduce children to the library and a program of outreach in county schools for those who can’t get to the library.
Over 100 teenagers, the hardest group to entice, came to programs this summer. A new Teen room with computers, teen books and magazines, board games and cozy seating is promoted by the Teen Advisory Group “TAG” who give feedback to programs and books to order and encourage their friends to utilize the library. They do unusual things that teens like such as a “zombie make up and wounds” class before Halloween and a teens only book club. Tinker CAD system is used to create items that can come to life with the 3D printer.
The newly created and renovated Learning and Technology Center on the lower level of the library contains over 50 computers with WIFI in classrooms as well as tutoring rooms. Computer classes are taught on all types of computer work in order to teach people skills for 21st century jobs. That includes classes on the basics, intermediate skills, social media, Windows 8, Microsoft office, Internet security and 3D printing.
The library offers free e-books, audio books and digital magazines that can be accessed on the internet.
So, you see, our library is certainly not like the one we visited as children! There is a dream floating around within the Library board and other community partners to build a new library downtown on the old Lee Building property. It could house all we have now plus a teen area, a coffee shop and retail and have loft apartments above. All of this would bring more people downtown. Rotarians, you can help to make this dream a reality!
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Congratulations to Dalton RotariansWednesday, November 12, 2014
Pictured above President David presents Dan Combs Jr. with his well-deserved Blue Badge. Also Lynn Laughter, Scott Rhoden, and Ty Ross are recognized for bringing new members to the club this year.
Pictured above President David shows off the Clubs latest recognition banner for the Clubs 100% in Rotary Foundation.
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DSC Rotaract Students volunteer at City Park School's Fall FestivalWednesday, November 12, 2014
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Looper Speech & Hearing CenterWednesday, November 12, 2014By: Ty Ross
Today's program was brought to us by fellow Rotarian John Minor. John introduced Kathie Edwards (pictured above) who explained the good work of the Looper Speech & Hearing Center. Since 1969, the Looper Speech & Hearing Center (the Center) has served a wide range of speech and hearing needs of patients from infants through seniors. As important technological advances have been made, the Center has incorporated state-of-the-art equipment and therapies into its program. Today, the Center has the latest technologies and knowledge of new therapies to make communication possible.?
In keeping with the mission of the Center that no patient in need should be denied medical treatment, the Center serves the community, offering need-based financial assistance where appropriate. The Center is one of three not-for-profit speech and hearing centers remaining in the state of Georgia. The Center’s services include speech evaluation/therapy, swallowing evaluations, hearing testing, and hearing aid sales/service.
The Center is a private, not for profit 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization governed by a local voluntary Board of Directors dedicated to meeting the speech, language and hearing needs of our area's children and adults..
The Center is accredited by the National Association of Speech & Hearing Centers. Audiologists are certified by the American Academy of Audiology. Speech Pathologists are certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Professional staff are licensed by the State of Georgia.
The Center is proud to be a United Way Agency and a member of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce and thanks one of its many valuable board members, John Minor, for allowing the Center to be this week's Rotary program.
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Congratulations to Dalton RotariansMonday, November 10, 2014Congratulations to Dalton Rotarians:
*Paul Harris Fellow – plus one! Bill Barnwell
* Relatively new Member going from red badge to blue badge – Seth Cole
*Lynn Laughter who went to Bucharest Romania on a mission trip and visited a Rotary Club there. She brought back a flag of greeting from the Bucharest club, and also put the children’s mission group in touch with potential philanthropists in that Rotary Club!
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Biggest Health Killer in the US?Monday, November 10, 2014By: Kathryn Sellars
Heart disease is notoriously the number one health killer and stroke is the number one cause of disability. Terran Anderson, the regional director for The American Heart Association (AHA) based in Chattanooga, works to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular and stroke diseases. Ms. Anderson stated “Our goal is to both improve health and reduce deaths by 20% by 2020.”
The American Heart Association is ninety years old and now has 22.5 million volunteers and six international offices. From their donations, they fund innovative research and strive to educate people to prevent disease.
Locally, the annual Heart Ball celebrates survivors and memorializes heart disease’s victims and raises over $200,000. This year’s ball will be on March 14, 2015.
Educational and fund raising events are staged for all ages:
- A “Go Red” Luncheon to educate women and to raise funds (Chattanooga).
- For children they promote heart health with “Jump Rope for Kids.”
- In high schools, basketball helps to educate with “Hoops for Heart.”
- “Fit Friendly Businesses” have employers showing care for the health of their employees by providing education and various physical activities for heart health.
“CPR Anytime” teaches students how, why and what to do with hands only CPR to rescue someone in distress. Their goal is to have all high school students certified before graduation. To this end, they have provided 40 education and materials kits for schools and bus drivers in our county.
If you want your business to encourage heart health, plan for February, National Heart Month, when businesses “Go Red.” Contact the AHA for materials and support or contact Tom Bundros, Dalton Utilities, who is on the AHA local board, 706.278.1313.
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Rotary Club of Dalton Encourages Youth in ServiceMonday, November 10, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Rotary now has a Dalton High School Interact Club and a Dalton State College Rotaract Club that encourage students to embrace Rotary’s motto, Service above Self. Each group has recently organized their projects for the year. The Interact Club collected 60 pairs of cleats for impoverished children in Latin America through the Latin American Community Development group. They also sold parking spaces for the football games to raise funds and their fun project was Hat Day.
The Rotaract Club which is new this year started with a pool party in September. Their first project will be to ring the Salvation Army bell during the Christmas season.
Cleat Collection:
L-R: Katherine Griffin, Abby Rogers, Madeline Hughes, Laura Kate Wright
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Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim EcholsThursday, October 30, 2014By: Ty Ross
Pictured above is Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols.
Commissioner Echols, the proud parent of seven children, is from Bogart, GA, and is one of five elected representatives to the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) which is a regulatory body established by the General Assembly to keep watch over public service monopolies such as natural gas, electricity, and telecom. In fact the PSC was first formed in 1879 to regulate railroad monopolies in Georgia.
A proponent of alternative fuels Commissioner Echols praised Dalton Utilities for its trend setting work in the areas of solar power and liquid natural gas.
Commissioner Echols is not a proponent of recent EPA rules which he said would penalize use of coal fired power plants by certain GA utilities. He felt that nuclear waste was a more important regulatory issue than carbon emissions and criticized the NY Times coverage of those topics.
Commissioner Echols was also proud to tell the story of his mentor, Truett Cathy. Echols credits a fateful visit with the late founder of Chicf-fil-A at the Atlanta Airport Rotary Club some 29 years ago with his success today. Back then Echols said that Cathy promised him his very own Chick-fil-A store to run and in fact Cathy provided Echols with Zig Ziglar tapes to prepare him for store management. When Echols finished college and was about to settle down and start a family he asked Cathy about that store he was promised. Cathy said that Echols could choose between two he currently had available. The problem was that both stores were out of state and Echols had already committed to running for statewide office here in GA. Echols put those Zig Ziglar tapes to good use and indeed won his statewide office with the Public Service Commission.
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Rotary R&RFriday, October 24, 2014By: John Hutcheson
At its regular Tuesday meeting on October 21 the Club enjoyed a day of R & R, courtesy of President-elect Jason Parker, with a lunch of burgers and hot dogs, all the trimmings, and an array of unusually tempting desserts. The weather was spectacularly perfect, and since Chief Parker already had a history of ordering it up for the track meet and the golf tournament, many members remarked that continuing his super meteorological record should become part of his official duties. Thanks so much, President-elect Jason!
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Vocational Excellence AwardsWednesday, October 15, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
"Rotary’s Vocational Service awards focus on recognizing the value of and the highest ethical standards in all occupations, and those who use their vocational talents in meeting the needs of the community,” stated Kevin Brunson, Rotary Vocational chair.
Each year Rotary Club of Dalton recognizes public safety employees in our community who go above and beyond the call of duty in performing their official tasks and who are exemplary representatives of their respective departments. They were chosen by both their superiors and their peers for the awards. Brunson added, “The award winners have contributed to our quality of life and have served far beyond their normal job requirements, living the Rotary motto, Service above Self.”
Rotary congratulates and, on behalf of the community, thanks the following for their exemplary service:
Lieutenant Mike Miracle, Whitfield County Fire Department, presented by Assistant Chief Randy Kittle.
Firefighter II Barry Gilley, Dalton Fire Department, presented by Chief Bruce Satterfield.
Deputy Roelof Steyn, Whitfield County Sheriff’s Department, presented by Captain Wesley Lynch.
Officer First Class Michael Houck, Dalton Police Department, presented by Assistant Chief Truman Whitfield.
Paramedic Christina Barrett for the year 2013. (not pictured)
EMT–l Mauricio Palacio, presented by Whitfield EMS Director, Chuck Kearns
Shown with each award winner and the presenter is President of the Rotary Club of Dalton, David Aft.
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Welcome New MembersThursday, October 2, 2014Beth Royalty, the new priest at St. Mark Episcopal, sponsored by John Hutcheson, was inducted as a new member.
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Proposed Constitutional Amendments on the November BallotWednesday, October 8, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
David Elrod explained what a yes vote will mean to Dalton State College (DSC). When DSC was envisioned in 1963, it was announced that Dalton had won the latest college over the competition, Cartersville and Rome, but there were two conditions: We must 1. Provide the property and 2. Pay to build the college. With Truett Lomax’s leadership, the property was identified before I 75 was there, and the four owners were persuaded to gift the property. A May 1965 there was a referendum on the ballot to issue bonds to build the five buildings of the college for $1.8 million. This passed with 98% of the vote!
In 2005, the Foundation bought the Wood Valley apartments and the eleven acres, negotiated for $3.7 million. (Sometime in the late 60s this undeveloped property was offered to the college for $30,000. The college could not afford that at the time.) In 2009 this property was leased to the Board of Regents for student housing. Now there are 292 students living in this 40-year old property. The college foundation wants this property to be used for student housing, built by a private developer. The plan is to use the three acres that are closest to the campus for the housing and the apartments on the remaining acres will be torn down. In the interim, other apartments nearby will be utilized.
On this and eight other campuses in Georgia, there is a desire for private development for student housing. This bill would continue the university system’s tax exemption for any private development on college campuses. This development would be at the developer’s own expense and leased to the college for housing. The college would market the housing to the students. This is only the second time the voters have had a say in this college that has touched 100,000 lives over the 50 years. This bill needs a YES vote.
Brian Anderson spoke about the leadership in Dalton that has always had a culture of getting things done. The redevelopment bill on the ballot is another tool for the economic development leaders to be able to get things done that they haven’t been able to do. It will create an agency – a group of people who will make the decisions concerning districts to redevelop. They will plan and develop the properties that may be from one piece to many blocks square. The developer will finance it himself, assuming all risks. As the improved and appreciated land becomes more valuable is it then taxable. It is essentially a reimbursement plan for the City.
Brian summarized by saying “vote YES” on every ballot issue. People in incorporated cities will have to vote twice – in their city and in the county. Vote YES, twice! The other ballot issue is to prohibit an increase in state income taxes. Vote YES.
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District Foundation Grant Thursday, October 2, 2014
Rotary Club of Dalton received a District Foundation grant of $2,000 and matched it with another $2,000 in order to provide a total of $4,000 to the Mobile Health unit that Rock Bridge Church is developing. This will serve the under and uninsured with healthcare in our community. This is one of 36 district grants totaling more than $91,000 of Rotary Foundation monies that have been given by members and come back to the community.
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Welcome New MembersThursday, October 2, 2014Two new members were inducted and welcomed to the club: Janice Kiker sponsored by Ronnie McClurg and Miller Jones sponsored by Lynn Laughter
 
Janice Kiker pinned by Ronnie McClurg Miller Jones pinned by Lynn Laughter
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Dalton State Rotaract ClubThursday, October 2, 2014
Bitsy McFarland announced that a pool party was hosted at her home for the Dalton State Rotaract Club and they had 30 delightful attendees. Our thanks to Scott Rhoden for his guidance and Chrystal ……. For her leadership!
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Federal Judge Charles Pannell honors Judge Vining for 50 years of ServiceThursday, October 2, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Judge Boyett introduced the two senior judges, Charles Pannell and Robert Vining who have both been superior court judges and federal judges in the US district court.
Judge Vining started 50 years ago when Charles Pannell, Senior, called in 1962 to ask him to run for district attorney. He had always wanted to be a lawyer from the time he was 7-8 years old. He served as district attorney for five years and became a Superior Court Judge in 1969. His first person to see in court was a character in Murray County he knew as “Justin” who was a constant drunk. He appeared in court at 9 a.m., was sentenced and given credit for his time already served and released by 9:15. By noon he was back in jail drunk. Unfortunately, he drowned in a drainage ditch soon after.
Vining wanted to be a Federal judge for several reasons, but mainly because he was tired of having people say they’d vote and then didn’t. He also hated to hear divorces. In 1973, he heard 490 divorces and 1244 domestic relations other than divorces. He served in the Federal Court for thirty five years. When asked how he wants to be remembered, he answered, “he did his job.”
Past President Dobbins thanked both men for their service to our community and our region.
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Upcoming Events....Requesting VolunteersFriday, September 26, 2014Volunteers are needed for the Library Learning and Technology Training Center grand opening for one or more hours, on Tuesday September 30, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. Email Linda Floyd ([email protected]) or Jessica Miles ([email protected]) if you can help!
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Welcome New Rotarians!Friday, September 26, 2014Rotary Club of Dalton welcomed new members, Rev. Will Scott, pastor at First Presbyterian Church and Larry Tripp, leader for the Interact Club at Dalton High School. (Shown pinning the new members: Scott’s sponsor – Kathryn Sellers, Tripp’s sponsor – Scott Rhoden)
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Is Dalton Haunted?Friday, September 26, 2014 By Chuck Dobbins By: Kathryn Sellers
Connie Hall Scott of Dalton Ghost Tours spoke about Dalton’s rich past and amazing personalities who may be ghosts now. Fear of the unknown has always drawn people into stories and Connie’s business plays to that fear. About 11 years ago, Connie started doing 90 minute walks through downtown talking about properties that have ghosts attached in stories related to her over the years. Those included among others are the Wink Theater with noises of children playing and doorknobs turning, Dalton Little Theater (the old fire house) with a long dead fireman “Carl” who seems to return, make noise and take equipment and in the Landmark Building in which weeping is heard late at night from a female who committed suicide in the building about 1968.
The tours are each Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. during October beginning on the wooden deck across from the Wink Theater.
Connie’s book “Haunted Dalton Georgia” is available from Amazon and other book stores. She can be reached at Ghost Tours, Downtown Dalton on facebook for reservations or special tours.
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“Be a Game Changer – in the Game of Real Life”Thursday, September 18, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
This was the theme of the kick-off luncheon for United Way’s campaign for 2014 at which Rotary was singled out for their attendance and for their motto of Service above Self. This motto is certainly is in sync with United Way’s goals.
United Way brings together social service agencies, faith-based organizations, corporations, government agencies, volunteers and individual donors to improve the education, basic needs and health of people in Northwest Georgia. A goal for this year’s campaign was set at $3.55 million.
Rotarian Brian Anderson, the 2014 Campaign Chairman, requested that Rotarians join one of the giving societies to improve lives in Northwest Georgia: Alexis De Tocqueville Society ($10,000 and up) The Leadership Circle ($1,000 and up), Women’s Leadership Council ($1,000 and up) and the Young Leaders Society ($365 and up).
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Honors for RotariansThursday, September 11, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Judson Manly was honored for 50+ years of perfect attendance in Rotary having joined on March 3, 1964
John Richmond was honored as a new Georgia Rotary Student Program Benefactor.
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Upcoming Events....Requesting VolunteersThursday, September 11, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
- The Alzheimers Walk will be held in Dalton on September 27. The chairperson, Jerry Henderson, says they want the largest walk in Georgia and encouraged Rotarians to participate.
- The Learning Technology and Training Center at the Dalton Whitfield Library will have its grand opening on September 30, 3;30 to 6:30 for one or two hour shifts. They need Rotary volunteers to greet the public. You may contact Tangela Johnson to participate.
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Isabel Vinterbladh, our Georgia Rotary Student ParticipantTuesday, September 2, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Host family, Mel Abernathy, introduced Isabel Vinterbladh, this year’s exchange student who will be attending Dalton State College. Isabel has just returned from the weekend conclave at which she met all the other Georgia students from all over the world. Mel explained that this part of the project helps the students to make life-long friends who share their differences and soon learn that there are more similarities than they ever imagined. The opportunity for Isabel to get to know Dalton, Dalton State and our country is the focus of the exchange program. But getting to know students from all over the world also helps Americans to have a greater understanding of those from other lands. This camaraderie between peoples of every corner of the earth promotes peace throughout the world.
Isabel explained that Sweden, a country of 9.7 million people is very different from north to south. The north contains many mountains and with only 3 months of summer is very cold and lightly populated. Her home, Malmo, in the south has four seasons, a river and encourages walking, biking and public transportation. A 10 mile-long bridge connects Malmo to Copenhagen where her father works as an air traffic controller. Her mother is an economist in a local business.
Isabel finished her high school and focused on the natural sciences. She loves to travel, to read and dances ballet. And she, of course, is very interested in learning about other cultures.
At Dalton State, she is taking chemistry, biology, calculus and social studies. When asked about her excellent English, she said she stated English in the third grade.
Rotarians are asked to include Isabel in any family activities during her year here. She would enjoy sports events, outdoor activities and taking part in any typical activities with your family. Please call her on her cell if you wish to have her interact with your family: 706.934.2894.
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Karem Daser, new Dalton State CoachThursday, August 21, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Derek Waugh introduced Karem Daser or “Coach K” by saying he fits the desired traits for all the coaches at Dalton State: enthusiastic, experienced (NAIA and NCAA), an engaging personality, a will to be active in our community, and is complimentary of Derek in his interview! In Karem’s 19-year career he has coached at Wake Forest, UNC Chapel Hill and Georgia State and others. He is the third all-time winningest coach in the Colonial division and has great recommendations from NCAA and local coaches and players.
Karem stated that he intends to “recruit like crazy and get out in the community.” Most coaches want international players totally, but Coach K stated he may have a few international kids (3 or 4), but we really wants more from our region (8 – 9 players). He is courting fine local players like Eder Mora who has already been offered a full ride at U. Alabama Birmingham as the #1 player in the country who also has a 3.9 GPA. Another player he has his eyes on is Ramero who made 120 goals at Dalton High and is a great talent. Ramero is working and not in college, so that may be an opportunity for DSC. Knowing there is so much local talent is encouraging. Coach K strives for the kids who say yes to academics and soccer and no to drugs.
In order to get into the community, Karem is going to provide “Wacky Wednesday” free clinics beginning the last week in September. He will bring in role models for the players in age groups 8 – 10, 11 – 13 and High Schoolers. He will bring in older players who can become the role models for the younger ones.
His theory is respect for both young enthusiastic players and the older coaches like Bob Heck whom he has befriended. Heck is age 84 and is the oldest softball coach in the country. Karem stated that it took him a few years to gain respect from this older man, but now they are fast friends.
Karem compared Dalton to his hometown in Turkey saying they are both in the warmer south and are friendly. He will be loyal to Dalton State and the blue and white and to Dalton, just as he stays loyal to his home team in Turkey. When asked what he needs for the program, he stated the obvious – money for development and he needs mentors for the kids.
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New GRSP StudentWednesday, August 13, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Mel Armstrong introduced our new GRSP student Isabel Vinterbladh. Please remember to engage her with your family and community events over the next 10 months as she tastes the culture of Northwest Georgia.
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Teen MazeWednesday, August 13, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Daltonian Steve Laird requested Rotary volunteers for the “Teen Maze” September 29 to October 3 in which they promote public safety issues to literally hundreds of students in Whitfield and Murray counties. Information is available at our meetings for how you may serve.
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District Governor Bill StricklandWednesday, August 13, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Mary Thelma Norris, former Dalton morning club president and now Assistant Governor, introduced our new District Governor Bill Strickland who is from Cartersville and has held many district positions and has attained many Rotary awards.
His presentation began by asking “What is Rotary?” He said you will get as many answers as there are Rotarians. It may be the Rotary Foundation in which any money you give comes back to our local club as district grants. It may be international projects, such as wells in underdeveloped countries. Or it may be our fight against polio. In his update about polio eradication he mentioned that over 2 billion dollars has been raised between the World Health Organization, Rotary and the Bill Gates Foundation. There are three types of polio and only one is left in few numbers in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Much of the reason for those areas comes from their doubts about the governments and that is being addressed by talking with the tribal leaders.
To you, Rotary may be the extensive efforts with youth like the youth international exchanges, Interact or the Rotary Leadership Institute that help kids to be leaders and to understand international issues. He stated, “Peace is possible through understanding.” All of these efforts are long term investments in kids. He himself was positively influenced by a boy scout troop sponsored by Rotary.
Strickland encouraged Rotarians to continue to encourage new members.
District conference will be at Hilton Head in April and the international conference will be in Atlanta in 2017. Plan ahead to volunteer or attend to get a great view of Rotary International.
Strickland took great pleasure in presenting Paul Harris awards to Nancy Kennedy (+5) and Kelly Jones (+1).
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Mike Reynolds, Retired Army Master SergeantThursday, August 7, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
You could hear a pin drop. The Rotary crowd was enthralled with Mike Reynolds, U.S. Army Retired Army Master Sergeant as he talked in a very engaging way about his traumatic brain injury in Iraq in 2009. He spoke about his desire to be a first responder since he was a small boy. After being a volunteer fireman and ambulance helper at age 15, he finally obtained an Associate degree at Dalton College and went to EMT school. He wasn’t allowed to drive a multi-thousand dollar ambulance because he wasn’t 21 so he enlisted in the army and soon was in charge of a $5.9 million dollar black hawk helicopter in Germany. He handled advanced technology and support for Special Forces units at Fort Bragg. He also supported drug interdiction efforts throughout Central America. He noted that it was always funny to him when he would read about local law enforcement arresting someone for six marijuana plants when he routinely flew eradication missions involving 400 acre marijuana plantations.
In May of 1999 he got out of the army, but had a hard time adjusting to civilian life and soon went back to the Georgia Guard. He was deployed 16 months just after his marriage and was a medic for VIPs in the Guard and was a “Readiness Coordinator” for his unit in Iraq. He became the Director of EMT Services in Northern Iraq, north of Bagdad in a very “toxic environment” created by difficult commanders.
He compared his arrival condition in Iraq to being a “full can of Coke,” able to handle most anything. His schedule was grueling and harrowing. As a medic he averaged double the number of pediatric deaths in 18 months that he had had in his entire 18 year career. “They were stupid accidents, not gun shots. And each little 8-year old girl you see seems like your own,” Mike said. This type of work “empties your can.” He compared this intense work with all the things that “empty our can” – health issues, bad relationships, children, money, stress, government. “And stuff keeps coming,” he added. He worked 44 hours on and 4 hours off with a group of soldiers that had good book training, but little practical experience with emergency medicine. In a period of 700 calls, he was on the scene 94% of the time.
His accident happened when he was called suddenly to a scene where two girls had been burned. In his haste to get on his bullet proof vest over his head in the truck (taking off his helmet and seat belt in the process), an Iraqi rammed their vehicle and he was shaken tremendously and thrown to the back of the vehicle with major brain repercussions. He had 18 months of rehabilitation and was told by inept Army therapists that he needed to have a job – though their choices were very menial and demeaning. He got himself a job with the fire department at Fort Benning and lived at the station. Afterwards, he worked at the Chatsworth Fire Department. He continued to be plagued by symptoms arising from his injury including brain infections.
His most effective treatment has been with the Bernie Marcus Outpatient training center at the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta. It even included scuba diving at the Atlanta Aquarium to build up his equilibrium and stability.
When introducing, Mike, Kiwanis president Cliff Wood stated that Mike had impacted many families as he went through this journey. Mike’s over- arching message is that when you “change in shape, you must change your mission. You need to find joy in life and focus on impacting others.”
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NEXT Meeting Monday, August 4thWednesday, July 23, 2014NEXT Meeting Monday, August 4th at the NWGA Trade Center
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NO Meeting August 5th
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
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Whitfield County Schools Accountability Report – Summer 2014Wednesday, July 23, 2014By: Ty Ross
School may be out for summer but there is still plenty going on at Whitfield County Schools (WCS) as reported by Superintendent, and Club member, Dr. Judy Gilreath.
WCS is involved in a whole host of community activities that spill over into the summer months. Such activities include WCS’s ongoing collaboration with the Archway Partnership. Through Archway WCS has fully embraced the Readers to Leaders program. In support of Readers to Leaders WCS now couples learning opportunities such as “Lunch and Learn” and “Feeding and Reading” with its summer nutrition program that serves over 100,000 meals to area children. In further support of learning opportunities WCS now keeps open two elementary school libraries throughout the summer. Besides daily learning opportunities at meal time and at the open libraries WCS also participates in the Readers to Leaders annual “Literacy Celebration” at the Mack Gaston Community Center.
For WCS administrators the summer season is “grant season” and WCS is proud to report the following recent grant awards:
- Striving Readers Grant
- Birth to 5 Grant
- GA State Technology Grant
All told these grants total over $3 million worth of additional resources for area children!
Particularly informative was the WCS “District Report Card” that was distributed in a full color brochure format to each Rotarian at the meeting. If you happened to miss the meeting the District Report Card can be accessed on the WCS website at this link: http://www.whitfield.k12.ga.us/WebFiles/assessment-accountability/reports/wcs-accountability-report-en.pdf
Dr. Gilreath was assisted by her central office administrative team which divided the program into segments to better discuss the topics mentioned above as well as update the club on curriculum highlights and students achievements at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Speakers included:
- Karey Williams, Assistant Superintendent
- Dr. Merry Boggs, Elementary Curriculum Director
- Michelle Caldwell, Middle School Curriculum Director
- Tom Appleman, High School Curriculum Director
The Club appreciates all that WCS parents, staff, and students are doing to keep up an Expectation of Excellence.
 
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Dalton’s Expanding “Turf Wars”Thursday, July 17, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
The Daily Citizen’s 7-on-7 tournament, or “Turf Wars” just completed its fourth year. The tournament has grown to the point that they have a waiting list of teams and work to select the best talent available to travel to Dalton. William Bronson said, “It is the fastest growing 7-on-7 tournament in the country.”
The coaches that have attended love the opportunity to build team chemistry and get in good football shape. The tournaments popularity is also fueled by its depth in talent and its price tag, FREE. Most tournaments like ours could cost teams a $1,000 or more just to attend. Our free price tag is all made possible by the local community sponsors.
7-on-7 football is played with only helmets and no pads and is uniquely played in Dalton on 100% artificial turf fields. One of our goals beyond showcasing our great community to outsiders is to create an opportunity to showcase our carpet industry’s newest turf products at the four locations used: Dalton High, Dalton Rec’s James Brown complex, Christian Heritage and Lakeshore Park. Each local school sponsored a location and helped with volunteers and concessions from which they can benefit.
GHSA referees are utilized for the more than 200 games played from noon Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday. Games are played on short fields from the 40 yard line to the end zone, allowing two games at a time with a 22 minute running clock per game. Day one they play a round robin format that is used to qualify for either the day two champions or consolation bracket based on number of games won. This year Dalton lost to Colloquia County in the Champions bracket final while Christian Heritage beat Baylor of to win the consolation side of the tournament.
The tournament is free to spectators and the stands were full. “Dalton’s hospitality was superb,” stated Bronson, “The economic impact as estimated by the city of Dalton in year one was about a half million dollars for the Dalton area!”
A new piece of the tournament in the planning stage is to add workshops by D1 college coaches about the latest trends in strategy, training and nutrition next year.
The tournament is limited only by sponsorships, number of turf fields and volunteers available. Bronson stated that we need one more turf field in the area to expand even more. Bronson finished by saying, “It’s a great way to promote Dalton, to allow our turf companies to promote their products and allow the kids to have a great time honing their skills.”
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Aimee CopelandMonday, July 14, 2014By: Ty Ross
Whether it was from the newspaper, or television, or the radio we all caught a sliver of the story when it happened.
In May 2012, Aimee Copeland, a 24-year old grad student contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacterial disease, after she fell from a zip-line into the Little Tallapoosa River. Doctors performed multiple amputations to save her life. Ms. Copeland’s left leg, right foot and hands were removed.
While the fact that she survived was, in the words of her doctors, “astonishing, mindboggling, and unbelievable,” it was what Ms. Copeland has been able to accomplished since her terrible ordeal that is truly amazing.
Ms. Copeland credits this experience, which she said, “happened for a reason,” with bringing real purpose and focus to her life. In fact, one of her first memories in recovery at the Shepherd Center was the heartfelt sorrow she felt for the patients next to her that were in many ways worse off than her. She recalled meeting a young man who did not have the use of his limbs or even his neck. She said she felt so fortunate to have all of her remaining abilities including the ability to move, talk, and even tie her hair in a ponytail (which she taught herself after a thousand failed attempts).
Now Ms. Copeland just wants to help others. This is why she is pursuing her graduate degree in social work and plans to spend the rest of her life helping others with injuries and disabilities get the resources they need through organizations like Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) which provides refurbished home medical equipment and home modifications in Georgia, and across the United States, at little or no cost to recipients. She also hopes to someday harness her passion for the great outdoors to brainstorm new ways to connect persons with injuries and disabilities to wilderness experiences.
Aimee Copeland carries a suitcase of courage and it was truly a pleasure to hear her speak. We thank Scott Rhoden and President David for bringing us a program we will not soon forget.
Today was a perfect example of why you never want to skip a meeting. You never know what you might miss!
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President David Aft presents the Upcoming Year Plans for RotariansMonday, July 7, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
David Aft, new 2014-2015 Dalton Rotary president, welcomed all to the new Rotary year with an excellent board guiding us. His board is:
Immediate Past Chair Chuck Dobbins
President-Elect Chief Jason Parker
Youth Service Scott Rhoden
International Service Archana SriVastava
Kevin Brunson Vocational Service
Kathryn Sellers Public Image
Frank Hogshead Treasurer
Sandra Stone Rotary Foundation
Rick Cobb Membership
Ty Ross Club Service
Bruce Satterfield Program Chair
With David’s guidance, this board had a planning retreat in March and committed to several focuses during this year:
- Meeting with other service clubs during the year – we will meet with Kiwanis on Monday, August 4 at the Trade Center to share the program about the region’s football programs.
- The board would like to recruit more committee members so please say yes when you are asked to do a small job.
- The club intends over the next year or two to spread out or “declutter” our schedule so that multiple projects don’t fall in the spring.
- They want to make room for “timely” programs so that when you find a really interesting one, there will be space in the schedule.
- The Track Meet has gotten so successful and so large that decisions need to be made about the scheduling and the use of the facilities.
- Build on our District Grant Successes by doing more and perhaps tapping other financial opportunities to augment our funds. Our grant this year is for the Rock Bridge Mobile Medical Project
David introduced the club to Gary Huang, Rotary International President, whose focus this year is “Light Up Rotary.” Just as each of us can light a candle to light a room or a large space, each of us, all 1.2 million of us can do our part and together, our clubs will do big things in our communities and the world.
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Congratulations to Paul Harris FellowsFriday, June 27, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Sharing a few moment of the last Rotary Meeting of 2013-2014
From left to right: Kathryn Sellers, Scott Rhoden and Judy Elliott
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....And the Gavel PassesThursday, June 26, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Sharing a few moments of the last Rotary Meeting of 2013-2014.
Chuck thanked everyone for our club having such a great year!
Passing of the gavel
David Aft becoming President
Chuck Dobbins becoming Past President
The Aft administration has begun!
Congratulations Rotary Club of Dalton on a very successful year!
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Wow! End of the Rotary Year Already?Monday, June 23, 2014By: Chuck Dobbins
It's hard to believe my year as your president is coming to an end. To my own surprise, it went by rather quickly. It seems, by the time we had it all organized to start last July, we rolled on through the year in a flash. The time flew by because serving this club was something I enjoyed doing and I was able to do it with people who I respect and whose company I enjoy!
We are truly fortunate to belong to Rotary International and more specifically, to the Rotary Club of Dalton. As Rotarians, we make a difference. It is not big talk. Rotarians take enormous actions that make this community better and the world a safer, healthier place. We are all part of the spokes of this big Rotary wheel that brings a helping hand to those in need.
So many of you have served so well and it has been reflected in the quality of the programs, the community service projects, foundation giving, service to youth, vocational service, financial strength of the club, administrative service (sergeants at arms, prayers, greeters), publicity of programs and events, fellowship, and membership growth. Your board and the various committees have worked diligently to ensure that this club continues to be the premier service club in our community as it has been for 77 years now. The list of people to thank for serving so well this year would clearly fill the entire newsletter. I will sum it up by saying that I so am grateful for the outstanding work of the board, the committees and each of you.
What a blessing you have given me! As president, I have had a unique view into how much you, as Rotarians, do for our club, the community, our state and the world. Your service to others has inspired me and serving you has been such an honor. Rotary International President, Ron Burton, asked us for 2013-2014 to “Engage Rotary, Change Lives.” As your president, I can affirm that the members of the Rotary Club of Dalton have engaged Rotary and changed lives this year!
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Welcome New Rotarians!Wednesday, June 18, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Seth Cole, sponsored by Ty Ross and Greg Dent, sponsored by Nancy Kennedy were inducted as new Rotarians.
Seth is a Business Banker with Regions Bank, is married to Dr. Marybeth Cole and they have a 3 ½ year old daughter Susanna. Seth loves the outdoors and being with his family.
Greg is the new Executive Director for Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership with a background in public accounting and the securities industry. He comes to Dalton from Macon where he was a county commissioner, and was CEO of Community Health Works. Greg has a 17-year-old son and says he is ready to go to work for Rotary.
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Host Family, Richmond HonoredWednesday, June 18, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Agnes and John Richmond were thanked for being our host family for Elsa Hellsten, our GRSP student this past year. Because John is already a Will Watt Fellow, Agnes was honored with this award. In speaking about the experience, Agnes encouraged Rotarians to think about this rewarding program, rewarding for both the student and the family. She said, “you will find room for another teenager in your home, and you heart will be big enough for another love. After all, we now have new friends in Sweden.”
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Rotary Minute with John MinorWednesday, June 18, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Rotarian John Minor is an attorney who earned his degrees at Vanderbilt and Mercer and now practices in estate planning and probate. He says he is comfortable with seldom being in court! The grandson of longtime Rotarian Tom Minor, we are glad to have John as one of our newer members.
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Michel Pare, Reconstructive Surgery and Injury PreventionWednesday, June 18, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Michel Pare was introduced by Jeff Myers who said that Pare was educated in Canada and at the Mayo Clinic and is now vitally involved in the development of the Spine Center at Hamilton Medical Center. The Center was created in 2009 when they added Dr. T. Bunker, then Drs Bors, Pittman (Neurosurgeon) and Hare (Pain specialist) were added in 2013. By 2015 the Biomechanics Lab will be completed at the Bradley Wellness Center.
This group promotes programs about concussions and spine care, all intended to demystify spinal pain. He stated that spine care is a 3 Billion dollar industry in which only 15% problems are surgical or life threatening. The other 85% is mechanical where age breaks down the spine. “Functional restoration” is the group’s focus of this complex system. The spinal motion or neurological integrity affects the whole body and how it moves together and is often determined by other issues.
To the goal of “move well and move often” the group performs mobility and fitness tests for biomechanical issues. New equipment called Optogait analyzes the kinetic gait and provides instant results about the power and stride length with LEDs on joints that show ground reaction to movement. Over time, it can document improvement.
The newest device is a markerless motion capture system in which cameras film movement from different angles and will calculate the physics of movement. The results are accurate, reproducible and very versatile. In the large Bradley Wellness expansion by 2015 they will be able to analyze mechanics for all sports to keep people moving by age and skill set. Gait speed and longevity are very related so it is important to start an athlete with technique and then move to high performance. This will be possible for golf, baseball and any other sports.
Concussion management is top of mind today and Pare suggested that function is the issue and that is hard to measure. He said that the person must be treated right and given time to recover, usually 7 – 10 days because a second concussion is a real problem. There are now concussion laws in Georgia and all states – the “return to play” law. The rules include education and a “cleared to play” protocol. “Don’t hide it, report it, take time to recover.” And “when in doubt, set them out.”
It is important to get a cognitive baseline before the season. They have tested over 1,000 local athletes in 8 high schools in the last year. After an injury they will be retested until they are symptom free because cognition is very important. The tests involve visual, balance and a neurotracker. They feel it is important to also test in middle schools. These test results are held in a cloud-based system so that they can be accessed anywhere. He said that concussion insurance is a wise choice.
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Congratulations Tangela JohnsonMonday, June 23, 2014By: Chuck Dobbins
Our own Tangela Johnson, President of North Georgia Center for Educational Excellence (NGCEE) has been newly appointed to Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning Board. Tangela has successfully worked as an organizational development consultant and strategist for the past 16 years. She also served as an adjunct faculty member at Dalton State College.
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (Bright from the Start) is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia's children and their families.
Tangela, we congratulate you and are so pleased that you are a member of our club!
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Rotary’s Historic Climb in SydneyWednesday, June 11, 2014By: Adam Ross
Rotary members climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and break the world record for most flags flown.
Photo Credit: Rotary International/Alyce Henson
During Friday's world record-breaking Sydney Harbour bridge climb, Rotary members raised enough money to protect 240,000 kids from polio.
Despite the physically grueling four-hour trek up and down the bridge's storied steel arches, the 340 participants kept their good spirits and stood side-by-side waving 278 flags.
"When the helicopters were going around, you just felt like one great big nation," says Graeme Davies, district governor of the Rotary Club of Kincumber in Australia.
The massive turnout eclipsed Oprah Winfrey's world-record climb in 2011 when she summited the bridge alongside 315 of her most ardent fans. But for Rotary members, the record paled in comparison to the experience and the opportunity to take a step closer to ending polio forever. The event raised 110,000 Australian dollars (US$102,300).
"It made me even prouder to be a Rotarian," said John Avakian from Healdsburg, California, USA. "It was an incredible experience of tremendous camaraderie."
Rotary members cheered for each of the 26 groups as they made way through the lobby to the entrance of the bridge climb. Cloud cover hid the sun for most of the morning, but light broke through briefly as the climbers unfurled their flags, which had been tucked into their sleeves during the ascent. Helicopters circled overhead from a variety of local Sydney news stations. Climbers cheered, danced, and even broke into the "Wave" from 400 feet above ground.
"I think that's exactly what Rotary needs," said Nate Harimoto of Thousand Oaks, California, "a show of force from all around the world."
Climbers from Taiwan, Australia, China, Japan, United States, and dozens of other countries and regions supported each other during the event. They watched each other's backs, literally and figuratively, helping to steer climbers' heads away from hanging steel beams. For a day, their commitment to help others also became a commitment to help each other. And in the process, they raised enough money to show the world how committed they are to polio eradication.
For Leilani Ross of Queensland, however, the climb was also about closing an important family chapter. She had long wanted to climb the bridge with her father, but didn't get the chance before he died a few years ago.
"The friendliness is just wonderful," Ross said. "Everyone is very welcoming."
Cheryl Drozdowicz, a former Youth Exchange student from Wisconsin, USA, who stayed with Ross 35 years ago, watched her go up. After the convention, Drozdowicz will travel back to Queensland for the first time since her program all those years ago.
"I always feel like a piece of my heart is still there," Drozdowicz said.
Fondly known as the "Coat Hanger," the bridge officially opened in 1932. The bridge is also referred to as the "Iron Lung" because it employed so many Australians during the Great Depression. Tourists began climbing the bridge in 1998, which is now considered a tourist must with over 3 million visitors from more than 130 countries in that time.
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Big Red Reads, Alice EnsleyWednesday, June 11, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Teachers know that children progress well in their studies during the school year. But, Alice Ensley, the District Literacy Trainer, asked, “ what happens when they are on summer vacation for the three months, especially those children in poverty who have no or few books in their homes?” According to studies, those children lose three months of their previous gains. It’s called the “summer slide.” When this pattern continues, by the end of their 12th grade, they are four years behind!
In Dalton, over 50% of the children have less than 10 books in their homes. The library is their only resource and often, transportation is difficult.
When books of appropriate difficulty and books that are engaging are available, they perform 35 to 40% better when school begins again in the fall. The Big Red Reads program began as Alice’s idea of a way to provide books supporting the early readers all the way to high school students who need to do their summer reading assignments.
So, how could they find the children in the summer? 80.4% of all Dalton public school children get free and reduced lunches. 18 native languages are spoken and our students are from 38 immigrant countries. Free lunch for over 8,000 children is served daily at 63 sites across our community! Lunch and books are a great combination so they decided to take books to where those children are.
In the beginning, they used the Dalton trolley to take books to these sites, but it is too busy now to continue this. So Alice and volunteers have taken books in her SUV to these public parks, centers and schools so that 2,800 on-grade-level books have been checked out and over 8,100 free books have been given to begin the students’ home libraries.
Other Readers to Leaders programs have provided books in places where children gather and wait, such as doctor’s offices. Dalton Rotary helped provide some of these “Book Nooks” that are in 16 locations. There are also “Lunch and learn” programs at Whitfield County schools and a program called “ROAR” in which every newborn is given a book at the pediatricians’ offices.
So, how can you help? You can donate gently used or new books. You can volunteer to read to the children at these sites. Your organization or church can adopt a lunch site and visit on a regular basis. Or, you can give money to Big Red Reads through the Dalton Education Foundation. They particularly need a vehicle that could travel more frequently to these sites with books. Any help with this would be welcomed.
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Rotary sets Guinness Record with ‘World’s Biggest Commercial’Tuesday, June 3, 2014By: Gabriela Simionato Klein
More than 100,000 people from 171 countries have posted ‘selfies’ in support of humanitarian group’s ‘End Polio Now’ initiative
EVANSTON, Ill., USA (29 May 2014) — To help raise much-needed funds and public awareness for the global effort to eradicate polio, Rotary has collected more than 100,000 messages of support from celebrities, world leaders, and regular "folks next door," all of whom have added their names and photos to "The World's Biggest Commercial," an ever-growing public service announcement on the End Polio Now website.
And just as it neared the 100,000-participant threshold, The World's Biggest Commercial received Guinness World Record recognition as Largest Photo Awareness Campaign. Guinness looked specifically at the celebrity contingent of campaign supporters, confirming that Rotary had enlisted 177 celebrity participants, more than three times the number of the previous record holder.
Rotary's Polio Eradication Ambassadors include philanthropist Bill Gates; actors Jackie Chan and Archie Panjabi; golf great Jack Nicklaus; Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu; Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan; and music stars Ziggy Marley; Angelique Kidjo, and Psy. In a series of print and video spots, each ambassador makes the "this close" gesture with thumb and forefinger to illustrate the tagline: "We are this close to ending polio."
As Rotary anticipated, the opportunity to rub shoulders – online that is – with such high-profile notables enticed thousands of students, educators, business leaders and others worldwide to add photos of themselves making the "this close" sign to the ever-expanding photo collage video, which is set to music and interspersed with visual messages. The World's Biggest Commercial now clocks in at about three and a half hours. Rotary was aiming for the 100,000-participant mark before the end of the campaign in June 30. With that target reached, Rotary now is determined to add as many more as it can before the sun sets.
"The fact that so many people from so many countries and so many walks of life are taking the time to show their support for our effort to stop this disabling, incurable – but preventable—disease once and for all underscores that this is a true global cause," says Carol Pandak, director of Rotary's PolioPlus program, launched in 1985. "When people understand what is at stake, they want to do something about it. In many countries, the online campaign spurred volunteers to create offline events to inform the general public about polio and what it means to eradicate this disease, as well how close we are to success."
Pandak said the outpouring of support strengthens Rotary's advocacy work to encourage national governments to provide the funding and resources needed to vaccinate the world's children against polio, halting further transmission. World's Biggest Commercial participants can also contribute directly to Rotary's PolioPlus program by going to endpolionow.org.
Following Rotary's pioneering work in the mass immunization of children in the late 1970s, proving polio eradication was feasible, the organization in 1988 became a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, joined by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and later, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Since then, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to only 416 for all of 2013.
Rotary's main responsibilities within the initiative are fundraising, advocacy, and social mobilization. Through 2018, every new dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication will be matched two-to-one by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation up to $35 million a year.
For more information, visit Rotary.org or endpolio.org.
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Rotary Minute with Bryan GriffinWednesday, June 4, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Bryan Griffin provided a Rotary minute as a relatively new member. Bryan, a Rome GA native is married with two children and is the Area Manager of Georgia Power covering the six North West GA counties’ business offices and commercial power distribution. He’s happy to be in Dalton and wants to stay longer than the last area managers have been able to stay!
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Thank you from Sweden!Wednesday, June 4, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
John Richmond reported that Elsa Hellsten, our 2013-2014 GRSP student, is back in Sweden and sent a sincere thank you for her marvelous year in Dalton.
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Rich Monzingo, GM of the Chattanooga LookoutsTuesday, June 3, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Rich Mozingo, president and general manager of the Lookouts, has over 20 years in professional baseball and has been in Chattanooga since 2011. He talked about the long heritage of the Lookouts, who first played in 1885, that is a member of the Southeastern Association. “The management, doesn’t have much control over what happens on the field as the Dodgers management determines which players go to the AAA to A teams. It’s the trickle down process in baseball, stated Mozingo.” So, this year they have a “great staff, but the players aren’t doing so well.” To date, they have 23 wins and 35 losses and have had lots of rain outs.
Mozingo says, at this level, the staff is in the sales business for events or something exciting for the fans. “It’s a promotional game for the fans.” They try to create something exciting and different every night. It may be a night for collectible cars, about the great outdoors, used car night where registered fans can win one of 11 cars, a Harry Potter night, Star Wars night or the Super hero night, all to entertain the fans.
They will host the Southern League All Stars on June 16 and 17 and work hard this season for RBI – Revitalizing Baseball in Inner Cities. The team does great work in the community opening the park to charity events, such as the heart walk and one for the buddy program.
There is a new ticket plan for either 7, 14 or 21 games just for entertainment for the fans, regardless of what is happening on the ball field. Seven nights contain fireworks.
He talked about the players who range in age from 20 to 35 who are generally good kids who just want to play ball. He suggested that any of us would benefit from any job contract that contains the first word “play.”
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Australian prime minister opens Rotary International convention with $100M Monday, June 2, 2014By: Adam Ross and Ryan Hyland
RI President Ron Burton gives the keynote address at the opening plenary session on 1 June at the 2014 Rotary Convention in Sydney.
Photo Credit: Rotary International/Alyce Henson
As Rotary members from around the world filed into Allphones Arena for the opening ceremony of the 2014 International Convention in Sydney, they were greeted by news that the Australian government will commit $100 million over five years to help eradicate polio.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and New South Wales Premier Mike Baird were on hand to address the convention and assure Rotary members of Australia's commitment to their cause. Abbott has been at the center of attacks in recent days for his proposed federal budget, but he walked out to a standing ovation. "I don't normally get such an enthusiastic welcome," he quipped after the audience returned to their seats. "I just hope there are plenty of Australians out there."
"Please do not applaud the Australian government for what it does," Abbott added. "Applaud yourselves for what you do."
Before Abbott delivered his remarks, he met with Rotary International President Ron Burton, General Secretary John Hewko, and other senior leaders. They implored him to build on his country's fiscal commitment to polio with additional leadership, specifically in polio endemic countries. The prime minister was receptive, asked questions, and said he looked forward to continue building pathways toward a healthier world. Burton presented him with a few gifts, including his presidential tie.
Later in the program, Burton delivered the keynote address, and spoke passionately about Rotary's inability to get a fair return on its monetary investments into Youth Exchange, RYLA, Rotaract, and Interact.
"I would submit to you that we fail to adequately capitalize on our investment [to those programs]," he added. "It's our own fault. We need to start treating our New Generations as family and welcome them all into Rotary before we lose them."
Burton has invested a great deal of his time in the last two years to youth programs, helping to ensure Rotary prospers well into the future.
"The bottom line is that Rotary's future – its very survival – is up to us," he said. "We can either get up out of our chairs and really make something happen, or we can just sit there and become an endangered species and eventually die off."
He went on to applaud Rotary members for their work to eradicate polio in India, which reminded him that if Rotary members can do that, "they can do anything."
Tara Pullen, a member of the Rotaract Club of Gunargarang, Australia, appreciated Burton's message and love of Rotary.
"I know there are times when you feel stressed and overworked, but you should remember what is at the core of what you're doing for Rotary," she added. "It was an inspirational thing for me to think about."
Donald Young, a member of the Rotary Club of Cromwell, New Zealand, was also moved by Burton's speech.
"I think we are all aware of some of the membership issues facing Rotary," he said. "I was glad to hear President Ron speak so bluntly about where we stand, and what we need to do to ensure our future."
Other Rotary members expressed their excitement about the Australian donation.
"I got goosebumps when the prime minister told us about the $100 million their government will give toward polio eradication," said Bernd Egger, from the Rotary Club of Halberstatd, Germany. "It was really amazing and an honor for us."
Later in the program, Australian pop vocal group Human Nature entertained the audience. The four-man group has a long-running Motown-themed show in Las Vegas.
To close out the opening session, Rl Director-elect Julia Phelps introduced the flags of the Rotary world. Two hundred and thirteen flags were presented, including the newest one, Myanmar. The Surf Lifesavers of New South Wales helped to inspire the flag ceremony, and a video of them rowing flags across the Sydney Harbor accompanied the presentation.
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Heritage Point Pavilion, Rotary’s Contribution to RecreationTuesday, May 27, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Rotary’s contribution in the early 2000s was over $50,000 toward the building of the Heritage Point pavilion in the million dollar complex that is now our active Heritage Point Park. David Aft introduced Steve Card, the director of Dalton’s Parks and Recreation and presented a check from Rotary of $1,000 for the upkeep of the Disc Golf course that is located just behind the pavilion. The Community Foundation will match that gift for a total of $2,000. Rotary will soon have a work day at the course for hands-on contributions as well.
Steve Card, who came to Dalton’s Recreation Department from coastal Georgia about three years ago, said that the pavilion and the park has been a real boon to Dalton with over 50,000 visitors since it was dedicated in July of 2004. Renting for $150 for a 4 hours and $10 for each additional hour brings in reunions, parties, weddings, meetings, picnics and has rented an average of 120 times a years.
The recreation department serves over 6,000 youth per year in all sports with soccer now a big portion, feeding the strong high school programs in our area. Special population staff serve another 1,500 to 2,000 kids a year. The department is focusing now on our Dalton population being active and fit and has recently opened the Mt. Rachel trail for hiking and history. Raisin Woods partners with SORBA to bring biking events. Lakeshore Park partners with schools, the CVB and Dalton State bringing events in volleyball, tennis, cross country and now soccer and research into wetlands.
We know that recreation attracts business and young professionals. After spending $200,000 per child on K-12 education, we need to bring them back to Dalton after they are college-educated. Recreation helps exponentially with that.
The recreation departments’ economic impact has risen to over $8 million a year with all the tournaments brought to our area. The first ever disc golf tournament in Dalton was held at Heritage Point Park on April 5, 2014, an example of the economic boost recreation can provide to hotels, restaurants and retail businesses.
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Rotary Club of Dalton Scholarships Recognize Outstanding StudentsThursday, May 22, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Left to right: Jonathan Bledsoe, Rotary scholarship committee chairman, Scholarship winner Luis Rosales, Rotary President Chuck Dobbins
“If all the young people in our community were like this group, we would be in excellent hands for the future,” stated Jonathan Bledsoe, chair of the Rotary Club of Dalton’s scholarship committee. He also commended educators and parents for the part they play in educating and encouraging our youth in good work ethics and determination. Hearing about the accomplishments of these students impressed Rotarians with the dedication of the students and the quality of our school systems.
Rotarian Barbara Ward introduced the winners of the scholarships for younger high school students to the Rotary Youth Leadership Camp that will be held in June at Tallulah Falls School. The recipients were Autumn Lankford, a 10th grade student at Northwest Whitfield High, Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Cloud, a junior at Dalton High, Zachary Williams, a sophomore at Coahulla Creek High School, and Jay Tripp, a sophomore at Dalton High. Liz and Jay are co-presidents of the Interact Club at Dalton High.
For more than 30 years, this Rotary Club has recognized outstanding area high school seniors with scholarships and this year’s group of 24 will be recognized with a total of $12,500 in scholarships and awards. This year students were recognized in four categories: Career Technology, Humanities, Math/Science and Service with each receiving scholarship checks for $500. For each of these students we are mentioning only a few of their many activities and accomplishments.
Outstanding Mathematics/Science students:
Amanda Pham, Dalton High,
James Ziangyu Zhong, Northwest Whitfield High
Anthony “Rhett” Harper, Southeast Whitfield High
Samantha Vazques-Lopez, Coahulla Creek High
Outstanding Humanities students:
Erin Farmer, Dalton High,
Matthew Pipkin, Northwest Whitfield High,
Olivia Taylor, Southeast Whitfield High,
Sarah Kate Gossett, Coahulla Creek High,
Outstanding Career Technology Students:
Nicholas Nelson, Dalton High
Dylan Richards, Northwest Whitfield High,
Desiree Anderson, Southeast Whitfield High,
Eric C. Zock, Coahulla Creek High,
Jonathan D. Griggs, Morris Innovative High,
Kaige Dodson, Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
Outstanding Service Awards:
Silvia Moreno, Dalton High,
Hannah Hutchinson, Northwest Whitfield High
Daisy Maya, Southeast High
Alexandria Wilbanks, Coahulla Creek High
Kayla Bell, Morris Innovative High,
Yuleika Nunez, Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy
Four Outstanding Area Students
These students were nominated by faculty of the various schools and were asked to provide a portfolio of their activities including an essay describing the opportunities available in the greater Dalton area and what contributions could be made to improve and strengthen our community. Each participated in a personal interview with the selection committee. Each received a $500 scholarship and the overall winner, Luis Rosales, received a $1,000 scholarship.
Luis Rosales, Dalton High, maintained all A’s in high school in almost all AP and IB courses; recipient of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, an AP Scholar with Honors, in the top ten of his class for all four years, attended the Governor’s Honors in chemistry and social studies,; a member of Beta Club and Student council; is an athlete in tennis, captain of the varsity swim team and was on the 2013 State Championship swim team; a found member of Dalton’s first water polo team; volunteers with United Way buddy program and is a DEM camp volunteer, active with the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church youth group; was commended for a research study that was on par with graduate level. Luis came to the United States from Venezuela at age 7 and has taken advantage of community opportunities that value education and athletics. He will attend University of Notre Dame to study chemical engineering and business. He wants to return to Dalton because “it has made too much of an impact on me for me not to come back and imprint my own legacy here and made a positive change.”
Macie Maret, Northwest Whitfield, has a 4.0 GPA in AP courses and recipient of Georgia Certificate of Merit and Scholar Athlete award. She received outstanding band awards and attended District Honor Band and Georgia Girls State. She is a member of several clubs, has participated in marching band and wind ensemble and is on the swim and track and field teams; she is active in youth group, plays in the hand bell choir, participated in mission projects and other activities at her church. She volunteers with City of Refuge, Operation Christmas Child, Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Pennies for Patients and tutoring programs. She is described as a pleasure to teach with her positive and respectful attitude. Macie wrote about overcoming adversity and maintaining her ambitions with a positive attitude. She plans to attend University of North Georgia to pursue a degree in pharmacy.
Julie Stafford, Southeast Whitfield High, maintained a 4.0 GPA with honors and AP courses; she earned academic awards in honors courses in world literature, composition, world history, biology, American government, economics, American literature, Spanish, and AP courses in US History, Language, Math, Physics and Psychology. She has been on the highest honor roll for four years, was a nominee for the US Senate youth Program, received the Georgia Certificate of Merit and won awards in digital storytelling, applied technology and Future Career and Community Leaders. Sh was in several clubs, a member of the JV basketball team and is active in her church in the choir, youth praise and worship band, youth group, mission team and volunteer. Teachers describe her as “trustworthy, dependable and energetic, exhibiting professionalism each day in the classroom and on campus.” Her essay described her motivation to serve and care for her community. Julie plans to attend Lee University to pursue nursing.
Hannah Yarbrough, Coahulla Creek High, 4.0 GPA with a chanlenging course load; received the Georgia Certificate of Merit and departmental awards for Math, US History and Spanish. She lettered in track, was prom queen and vice president of her senior class, a member of Beta Club, National Honor Society, Girls State and N Georgia Summer Honors, a member of the delegation at a leadership conference with Congressman Tom Graves, devotes time to Special Olympics and the buddy program. Her teachers describe her as” capable, focused, accomplished and an inspiration to her peers and a focus of pride of the Coahulla Creek faculty, a true leader.” Her essay detailed her desire to major in biology as a foundation for medical school at the University of Georgia.
We are grateful to our Scholarship Committee, Jonathan Bledsoe (chair), Judson Manly, Maurice Sponcler, Sherwood Jones III, John Hutcheson, Ginger Mathis, Graham Fox, John Minor, Scott Rhoden, Barbara Ward and Teresa Carter, for their excellent work on the scholarship program.
Our club should be proud of this tradition to recognize and encourage students who excel so that they can pursue their academic and service dreams.
Left to right Judson Manly, Rotary scholarship committee, Luis Rosales, Dalton High; Macie Maret Northwest Whitfield High; Julie Stafford, Southeast Whitfield High; Hannah Yarbrough, Coahulla Creek High, Sherwood Jones, Rotary scholarship committee
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May 27th Meeting at Rotary PavilionFriday, May 16, 2014By: Chuck Dobbins
We will have our May 27th meeting at the Rotary Pavilion at Heritage Park. What a great time of year to enjoy a "picnic" and have some good Rotary fellowship at the Rotary Pavilion. We are pleased to have this opportunity to have our meeting there to celebrate the pavilion made possible thanks to funds raised by our club members.
Lunch will be catered by the Oakwood Cafe. Steve Card, Dalton Parks & Recreation, will give a brief update on use of the Pavilion and Heritage Park.
Please plan to join us. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Rotary Club of Dalton Presents Service above Self Awards to 5th GradersThursday, May 15, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
The Rotary Club of Dalton provides Charlie Bowen 5th Grader Service above Self Awards recognizing students in Whitfield County’s elementary schools who practice Rotary’s guiding principle of service above self and the Rotary Four-Way Test. The students are selected by the faculty and staff of their respective schools as the student who best portrays values of service and respect exhibited toward their fellow classmates, teachers and family, rather than their academic standing or athletic ability. In introducing each student, Judy Gilreath, Superintendent Whitfield County Schools and Jim Hawkins, Superintendent, Dalton City Schools, spoke of these attributes as those who help students excel in school and in life. Respect and Ethics are two of the tenets that are goals of schools, along with academics.
This year’s honored students from each county elementary school are Jasmin Hernandez, Antioch; Cayman Lankford, Beaverdale; Sydney Burnette, Cedar Ridge; Jace Ledford, Cohutta; MacKenzie Jones, Dawnville; Giselle Estrada, Dug Gap; Lizbeth Federico, Eastside; Chloe Hutchison, New Hope; Braden Goforth, Pleasant Grove; Emily Anne Gates, Tunnel Hill; Samantha Ibarra, Valley Point; Estrella Avila, Varnell; McKenzie Brueckner, Westside.
This year’s honored students from each city elementary school are: Tiffany Whitney, Blue Ridge; John Nimmons, Brookwood; Stephanie Lara-Sanchez, City Park; Lyam Clark, Park Creek; Lupita Lopez, Roan; Emily Brunson, Westwood.
When being introduced, Rotarians used glowing phrases to describe the honored students including the following: is amazing with acts of kindness and selflessness; has a clear picture of generosity; is courageously kind; is always there for those who can’t help themselves; is encouraging; complements others on their strengths; is full of humility; has a nurturing attitude; shows respect to others in order to be respected; is self-motivated to help the community of people and animals; demonstrates empathy and concern for others
These students were given the option of writing a “Laws of Life” essay about life lessons they have learned. Financial awards were given to Lupita Lopez for second place and Lyam Clark for first place.
Rotary applauds all of these students for their attitudes and actions toward others exemplifying “service above self.”
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Rotary Attendance and Make UpsMonday, May 12, 2014By: Chuck Dobbins
Through District Conference and Rotary Leadership Institute, I have come to know the President of the Rotary Club of Thomson. Their club requires 100% attendance as a condition of membership. They ask for it and they get it. That club was recognized as a 100% attendance club at District Conference this year. Can you imagine? Every member is either present or has a make up for the entire year. While we have never required 100% attendance, we do ask that all active members maintain a minimum attendance of 60%.
When you are not able to be present at a club meeting, we sincerely miss you. Hopefully, your participation in Rotary means so much to you that you miss being there for the programs and the fellowship on those days when you are not able to be at Rotary. While we prefer that you are with us every week, we know that busy people have other commitments from time to time that cause a need to be elsewhere. When those occasions occur, we ask that you be sure to complete a make up.
There are so many ways to have a valid make up. As Rotarians, we are involved in many other organizations where our volunteer work can qualify as a make up. Attending another Rotary Club meeting always qualifies. In addition, you can complete a make up on line at the E-Club of the South ( http://makeup.rotaryeclubofthesouth.org/).
To record a make up, please complete the make up form at the badge table or send an email to Frank Hogshead ( [email protected] ) with the make up information.
If you have a question about where your attendance stands, please ask our Club Secretary, Frank Hogshead. Thanks for your help in remembering to complete make ups and for being present as much as you possibly can!
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Casey Cagle, Georgia’s Lt. GovernorThursday, May 8, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Senator Charlie Bethel introduced Casey Cagle, Lt. Governor of Georgia. Charlie pointed out that he was raised by a single mother and at age 20 started a business in men’s wear and later founded a bank. Cagle became Ga State senator from Hall county at age 28 and was made Lt. Governor in 2006. His desire for economic development in the state is for a focus on education, especially for school choice and for the strength of career and technical colleges. He has also worked tirelessly for the health of our children finding state resources outside of insurance.
Cagle stated that Georgia is the “capitol of the South” and has grown to success because it is unique and has made forward-thinking investments. In the 70s, Birmingham and Atlanta were the same size, but Georgia invested in Hartsfield airport and Zell Miller worked to expand the Savannah port to serve the large retailers he enticed to the state. Those ideas were an investment in the future and that is what we need now. “We need vertical thinkers to plan forward,” stated Cagle, “and we need the courage to invest in the future.”
Cagle predicted more billionaires in the next decade because we have good opportunities with new technology that does not confine us to geographical boundaries. We need to be ready for the technology in manufacturing with highly skilled workers. This requires an investment in education, not a “one-size-fits-all” education but a focus on the needs of the students and the needs of industry. An example is dual enrollment where a student can graduate not just from high school, but also with an associate’s degree in IT for healthcare or other career paths.
We have learned in the recent downturns that we can be more efficient. Georgia leads the nation in many areas, but especially in research institutions. Cagle is pushing for “Invest Georgia” and asking for $100 million to focus on the essentials of discovery in the research institutions. “Georgia needs to use our assets in the most efficient way, “ said Cagle. An example of efficient asset use is the dual use of highways for heavy traffic times. This is certainly something the Atlanta area could do to alleviate the snarled traffic problems in the major corridors and is an example of efficiency in asset use.
When asked about the stall in funding the port expansion, Cagle said he thinks the issue can be worked out between the state and the federal government. All realize this is a critical need.
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Requesting Donations for 5th Grade Awards ProgramFriday, April 25, 2014By: Scott Rhoden / Amanda Reed
The Fifth Grade Awards Program that honors one fifth grader from each of the 19 local elementary schools is fast approaching. Each of these students will be recognized for service above self. This year, we are asking our fellow Rotarians to donate items for this event.
Fifth graders are at a transitional age; therefore, we are looking for small toys, books, educational supplies, t-shirts, water bottles, accessories for smartphones, gift cards or anything else that would be encouraging and appropriate for a 10 or 11 year-old child. We would need 19 of each item. Rotarians could bring things to promote their businesses, such as pens, mugs, or any other items that children would enjoy.
Please make your donations no later than May 6th. Feel free to bring your items to one of the next two Rotary Club meetings. Please contact Amanda Reed ([email protected]) with questions.
As always, thank you for your continued support!
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2014 District Conference ReportWednesday, April 30, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Your club was represented well at the District Conference in Jeykll Island and your work as Rotarians was widely recognized as the Club of the Year for clubs our size. As President Chuck Dobbins proudly said, “Our club is full of members who do so much work in the community and do it so well. Our members are committed to the work of Rotary, whether it is club administration or doing our service projects in the community and for the global community. This recognition for their work is very rewarding.”
In addition, the club was recognized for three other top awards: the Gold Award recognizing the total club points on district goals, the Presidential Citation with Distinction for the work of the club related to Rotary International President, Ron Burton’s key initiatives for 2013-2014, and the District Governor’s award for Service and Leadership.
For other Rotary activities and goals, the club walked away with the membership award for a club with the best net membership growth and the Certificate for Continuing Engagement which is given to the club that meets the goals for district training called Rotary Leadership Institute. We were presented with the Literacy Certificate for our literacy projects, such as the work with Readers to Leaders, providing books to the local library and fifth grader “Service Above Self Awards”, recognition of high school seniors by providing college scholarships and other literacy initiatives.
Thanks to your contributions, the club was given the Rotary Foundation Award for producing the highest per capita Foundation giving for our size club.
While being recognized for our work was certainly rewarding, those of us who attended particularly enjoyed the fellowship with other Rotarians.
Bill Bowen’s leadership and our club - Ann Bowen, Lowell and Lou Kirkman, Dave and Nancy Kennedy, Chuck and Donna Dobbins, David and Pauline Aft, Kathryn Sellers, John and Agnes Richmond and Peggy Hallman and Penny Charrance from Chatsworth - made the registration process the best ever! Thanks to this group and to Bitsy McFarland and our GRSP students for stuffing the registration bags.
We congratulate Nancy Kennedy who served as a Co-Chair of the conference on her work and that of the conference team in making this a great event!
It was a great weekend to be a Dalton Rotarian!
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The Inside Story about the Kentucky Derby from Rick HooperWednesday, April 30, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Horseracing insider, Rick Hooper, shared fascinating facts and tips about the Kentucky Derby and what leads up to the race and what the criteria are for entry into the Derby. Did you hear the best hot tip?
Getting into the Derby is long odds for the three-year-old horses. Out of thousands of foals born each year, only .0008% get to run the Derby. Horses must compete in the graded stakes races, earning points for various wins that provide the standings from which the invitations to the Derby are based. (Sounds a little like the Masters to me!)
Interesting tidbits about the Derby:
- There are no female horses but there is a female jockey this year, Rosie Napravnik.
- The Artiz brothers are also jockeys
- The horse, “Uncle Sigh” will have 10% of his winnings given to the Wounded Warriers Project.
- The stakes races that lead up to the Derby are:
- The Louisiana Derby
- Wood Memorial
- Arkansas Derby, won by “Danza”
- Santa Anita Derby, which this year was the most lopsided with “California Chrome” winning by many lengths.
- Post position: being #1 is not necessarily good because that horse can be left in the rear
- Weather, which is not predictable, has a lot to do with the outcome
Rick provided some tips for the most-favored horses for the win this year (he claims he got tips form Johnny Avello in Las Vegas): “Danza,” “Hoppertunity,” “Intense Holiday” that has had some good workouts this week, and “Wicked Strong” of Boston.
Rick has had the privilege of serving on the Race Track Chaplaincy board for a number of years and is proud that this organization provides support for the jockeys and staff of the various race tracks. They provide clothing and food for the community and try to support the staff members’ spiritual needs with devotions.
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Vocational Training Team VisitFriday, April 25, 2014By: Chuck Dobbins
Johannes Seer presents his club banner to President Dobbins
What an experience all the participants had during the visit on April 22- April 24 with the Vocational Training Team from Rotary District 1820, Hesse, (near Frankfurt) Germany!
The team had as its focus an exchange of information related to second language learning and inclusion of immigrants into new schools and cultures. The D1820 VTT traveled to District 6910 from April 14-27, 2014. During their stay they will visit educational programs serving Spanish-speaking/immigrant adults and children, as well as conducting workshops with D6910 educators on best practices and ideas from Germany. The itinerary included observations, presentations, and meetings with K-12 schools and colleges, in the communities of Gwinnett County, Dalton, Gainesville, and Athens. They completed their visit by attending the District 6910 Conference in Jekyll Island.
Meet our visitors:
Johannes Seel (Team Leader): A member of the Rotary Club of Bad Homburg-Schloss, he is head of the secondary modern school branch at the “Am Gluckenstein” comprehensive school, and has experience as a secondary teacher in Frankfurt.
• Martina Gossmann: Principal of the “Schule in Angelgarten” elementary school in Gross-Zimmern, she is also a consultant for German as a Second Language at the supervisory school authority in Darmstadt and has a certificate in German as a Second Language from the University of Heidelberg.
• Eva-Maria Jakob: School psychologist and administration team member at the supervisory school authority for Frankfurt, she also has long-term experience in the statewide coordination of a program for immigrant students in primary schools.
• Jona Jasper: Teacher at the “Hermann-Ehlers” comprehensive school in Wiesbaden, with experience in reading/language support for second language learners; also involved with the supervisory school authority for the Rheingau-Taunus district and for Wiesbaden, in German as a second language.
• Birgitt Klingkowski: Director of the supervisory school authority for the districts of Gross-Gerau and Main-Taunus, she has many years of experience in various projects for language development relating to German as a second language and is responsible for second language training in the schools of her district.
• Christopher Textor: Principal of the “Heinrich von Brentano” comprehensive school in Hochheim am Main, he has many years of experience in projects focused on language development for students learning German as a second language, including through the Hessian Ministry of Education.
During their time in Dalton, we hosted them for dinner at the Dalton Country Club and at Dalton State College. The team visited several schools in Dalton and Whitfield County systems as well as enjoyed a lunch prepared by the culinary arts students at the Career Academy. Thanks to Sandra Stone, Jim Hawkins, Judy Gilreath and Ginger Mathis for their work on the team and their getting everything coordinated with their systems! Our guests were very impressed with the work all of your teams do here and quite appreciative of the experience you provided them.
Bitsy and Stuart McFarland, Skeeter and Lamar Pierce and Linda and Bill Blackman hosted our 6 guests in their homes during their stay. Thank you all for your hospitality!
Many thanks also to Bitsy McFarland, Drayton Sanders, and Mark Gibson who either drove or provided drivers for our guests.
Johannes proudly wore his "D" tee shirt at District Conference
VTT team members Jona Jasper and Martin Gossman with Caroline Woodason (Dalton Schools) and Rotarians John Richmond and Jim Hawkins
We made some wonderful new friendships during our days with them in Dalton and during our time together in Jekyll Island.
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Whitfield County’s Miracle FieldFriday, April 25, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
The Miracle Field in the Westside area was the topic of today’s program, presented by Amanda Reed who introduced Chip and Millie Hicks who are the co-directors of the Miracle Field and the Miracle League. The field was created for children and adults with special needs, either mental or physical challenges to have the opportunity to play baseball, to value and include children and adults with special needs, regardless of ability, in team play, and to promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and community involvement.
The field was built by Whitfield County and with many private donations. It is a fully equipped, level rubberized field for handicapped play and serves 112 players who vary in age from 4 to 64. Players come from a wide region, from Chattanooga and Ringgold to Calhoun and Summerville. Chip Hicks described the field as the most beautiful scenery in the state with a beautiful lake, fields and woods around.
There are over 40 community volunteers each Saturday who partner with a player to become a buddy for the day and to assist and protect the players. Team sponsors who donate $350 help to provide high quality uniforms and free hot dogs and drinks for the teams. Volunteers are always needed but right now there is a waiting list of groups who want to participate.
Chuck Dobbins presented Chip and Millie with a donation from the Rotary Club of Dalton and thanked them for their tireless work.
For further information about being a sponsor or a volunteer, click on whitfieldcountymiracleleague.com or call Millie Hicks: 706.260.8861
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Rotary’s Golf Tournament Raising Funds for Youth ScholarshipsFriday, April 25, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
The Earl Lusk Memorial Golf Tournament was very successful, according to chairman Doug Hoskins, with over 60 players. Rotarians won five out of the six awards so we had very good players as well. Many Rotarians were thanked for participation, for sponsorships and for donations. Especially thanked was Mel Abernathy for securing the signs for the sponsorships, to Chuck Dobbins for securing the premier sponsor, Shaw Industries and to the Daily Citizen for the publicity. The NET proceeds are $14,426 and will be used for youth scholarships! Thank you to all who helped!
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Contribute to Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY)Monday, March 10, 2014 By Chuck Dobbins The Annual Fund of the Rotary Foundation makes it possible for Rotary clubs to transform lives worldwide. Your generous support funds local and international projects that advance projects of Rotary International and our club.
The Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative encourages all Rotary club members to contribute to the Annual Fund every year to help us support the Rotary Foundation. We sincerely hope that you will be (or continue to be) a Sustaining Member, which means that you give at least $100 annually to the Annual Fund.
As your quarterly dues invoice comes to you from Frank Hogshead, we have included a $25 per quarter discretionary contribution to the Annual Fund. It is that easy to be a both a part of EREY and be a Sustaining Member. Simply elect to pay the discretionary amount for the Rotary Foundation. The club will handle making sure you receive the credit at the Rotary Foundation.
Please see Sandra Stone, Frank Hogshead, Dixie Kinard, or Chuck Dobbins for more information on EREY and The Rotary Foundation.
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Earl Lusk Memorial Rotary Golf Tournament Friday, April 18, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
The 2014 Earl Lusk Memorial Rotary Golf Tournament went off without a hitch with the good planning of chairmen, Doug Hoskins and Mitch Sanford and the entire Golf Tournament Committee. A good time was had by the 64 players even though the cold was piercing and the wind was relentless. We appreciate each of our sponsors, contributors and participants for their contributions that will make funding this year's scholarships possible!
President Dobbins tried to assure players that it was better day for Golf than work!
Chairman Hoskins isn’t happy about the cold and wind.
Carole Hoskins welcomes Nancy Kennedy
Check out these Golf swings!
 
 
Thanks to Mike O’Neill for braving the cold to get these photos!
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Stubb’s Guardian of Ethics AwardThursday, April 10, 2014By: Ty Ross
Our Vocational Service Chair, Chief Jason Parker, with the assistance of fellow RotarianKevin Brunson, presented the Stubb’s Guardian of Ethics Award to Mrs. Nancy Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy is not only a past President of our club but also currently the Area 1 Assistant Governor of Rotary District 6910. In the picture President Chuckpresents her with this prestigious award. Standing beside her is her husband Dave.
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Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational ServiceThursday, April 10, 2014By: Ty Ross
Our Vocational Service Chair, Chief Jason Parker, with the assistance of fellow RotarianKevin Brunson, presented the Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational Service to Brian Anderson. Mr. Anderson is not only a past President of our local club but also is a two time recipient of this honor. Brian received the Arrendale Award during his prior service to the morning club. In the picture President Chuck presents him with this prestigious award. Standing beside him is his wife, Heather.
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Rotary Club of Dalton Day - April 15thThursday, April 10, 2014By: Chuck Dobbins
The Mayor Pro Tem and City Council of Dalton have proclaimed April 15 as Rotary Club of Dalton Day in the city of Dalton. We appreciate their recognition of the contributions our club makes to the community.
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Salvation Army with Major Art FultzThursday, April 10, 2014By: Ty Ross
The April 8th Rotary Program was brought to us by club member Bill Wright. Mr. Wright has been a longtime volunteer with the Salvation Army and currently serves on the local advisory board. For the program Mr. Wright invited fellow Rotarian Major Art Fultz who presented the major highlights of the Salvation Army’s operation in our community. The Army actually has two local offices. One in Dalton at 11002 N. Thornton Ave. and another at 500 S. 3rd St. in Chatsworth.
The local operation has four major components. First is the Salvation Army Store which offers moderately used clothing, furniture, electronics, books and toys at extremely affordable prices. The second is the financial services offered to those in need. The financial services include, rent/mortgage payments, utility payments, and help with prescription medication costs. The third is the food center which houses major food service programs for the poor including, USDA, GNAP and General Food. Last but not least is the transitional housing component. The Army owns and operates 4 local residential units that are available for families in distress. Last year alone the Army helped 7 local families get back on their feet.
Truly our local Salvation Army is living up to its tagline “Doing the Most Good” and our club is proud to contribute to the cause by continuing to staff the donation kettle and ring the Salvation Army bell at the Green Spot each holiday season. HELPFUL TIP: If you would like to schedule a pick-up of donated items please call the Salvation Army office at 706-278-3966.
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New Rotary Member!Thursday, April 3, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Dan Combs, Jr. was welcomed into the membership of Rotary. Dan’s father, Dan Sr. was his sponsor. Dan Jr, Company is responsible for HazMat and Trauma and Crime Scene issues with Fire Star, a disaster Repair Specialist company and division of Parker Young Construction.
Welcome Dan, Jr!
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GRSP Student, Elsa HellstenThursday, April 3, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
John and Agnes Richmond, who were her host family this year, introduced Elsa Hellsten, our Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) student from Sweden. John said she had been a delightful member of their family, now a new daughter.
Our club helps to pay for the entire package for the education of the student which is about $9,000 of the total $13,500 fee for Dalton State College. Elsa has taken advantage of everything this year, enjoying all the activities while she made a 4.0 average in academics.
Elsa greeted us with “Hi Y’all!” She has loved the stay here and has loved the weekends with the other GRSP students as they visited all over the state. She traveled with the Richmonds and the McFarlands as well as the group of other internationals students and visited other friends in New York and California. She says she will remember the year fondly forever, especially the warm greetings that she sees in stores and public places, something that is not common in Sweden. She was not a sports fan previously, but she has enjoyed sports of all types in the US, taking part in every basketball game with the Road Runners. And she especially mentioned the great holiday experiences here.
Bill Bowen followed with presenting certificates to the many Rotarians who have made donations to the GRSP program. Bill said you can see from Elsa’s experiences that the program is a fine one that Rotary can certainly share this program with pride.
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Shelter Box with Mike FreemanThursday, March 27, 2014 By Chuck Dobbins By: Kathryn Sellers
Mike Freeman, a Rotarian from the Gainesville GA club, told us about “Shelter box” a charitable organization started in England by Rotary and now a partner with Rotary worldwide. Volunteers train to be on 24 hour notice to take shelters around the world where disasters have taken place.
Mike has just returned from the Philippines where they are still trying to recover from the November cyclone which produced 175 mile per hour winds. Mike traveled with a team from all over the world, by boat, motor cycle, bus, truck, car to take tents for the people. The tents are shelter only whereas the shelter boxes have shelter and minimum necessities, such as pots/pans, stove, bedding mosquito netting and water. The Filipinos had much of their necessities, so the tents were ideal and less expensive to provide. The team partners in cluster meetings with the UN for logistics on providing needs.
Cooperation is different in various countries depending on the stability of the government. In most cases, Rotarians help more than the government.
We can be proud that the Rotary Club of Dalton has just funded a Shelter box, for $1,000 as part of our commitment to International service projects. Mike expressed appreciation for that support.
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42nd Ronnie McClurg Rotary Invitational Track Meet ResultsFriday, March 28, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Who? Over 80 Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Dalton and Interact volunteers plus 20 school and community volunteers
What? The 42nd Ronnie McClurg Rotary Invitational Track Meet on March 15th.
42 Teams from 21 high schools!
 
Coach McClurg starts a race. Dalton Rotarians hard at work!
Touching over 600 high school participants with hundreds of friends and family in the stands to watch the fine athletes.
Results: many meet records and individual records were broken!
Coaches love this meet because the Rotarians and Interactors do all the work and let them do only what they love – coaching the athletes
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Many Thanks for a Successful Track MeetMonday, March 17, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
 
The track meet was a rousing success! The meet was planned beautifully and like clock-work by Coaches McClurg, Thompson and Brackett. The 20+ teams were excited to be there, the stands were full of spectators and the weather was perfect.
Rotarians were at their best, showing interest in the athletes, enthusiasm for their jobs and getting a little sunburned in the process. The Interact Club was such a big help, filling in for Rotarians, acting as greeters, timers, runners, measurers, all with smiles on their faces.
The newspaper responded with absolutely great publicity. (Note both Saturday and Sunday’s papers) Please thank them when you get a chance.
THANK YOU to all who were involved!
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Spring Banquet and ReceptionFriday, March 21, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
 
The foyer and ballroom at the Farm was alive with great conversation and handsome Rotarians and their guests at the Rotary Spring Banquet. Dixie Kinard and her committee planned the event beautifully. During the delightful evening, there was much good fellowship and the honoring of a group of our own. David Aft introduced the focus of the evening, the history and value of our Rotary Foundation and how it has impacted Rotarians and people all over the world. Charlie Miller spoke about the importance of the Rotary Foundation to his Father who, in turn, was a major influence on Charlie.
First time and multiple Paul Harris Fellow pins and designations were bestowed upon Chip Turner, Sandra Stone, Bill Bowen, Robert Smalley, John Richmond and Bates Bailey.
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Celebrating Our Dear Friend Charlie BowenMonday, March 10, 2014 By Chuck Dobbins By: Chuck Dobbins
While we grieve at the passing of our dear friend and fellow Rotarian, Charlie Bowen, we take this time to celebrate a life well lived and the blessing to have known and served with him! Mr. Bowen was a Rotarian in the truest sense of the word. He placed service to others above himself. As his son, Charles said at his funeral service on March 9, 2014, “The Rotary motto of service above self spoke to him and embodied how he wanted to live his life.”
Charlie Bowen joined the Rotary Club of Dalton on October 21, 1941. For 72 years, he was a member of this club, served as president during 1954-1955, and was an example of servant leadership to all he encountered. He was the oldest member and the one with the longest service in the history of our club. There may never be another Rotarian with that tenure in the club. There will certainly never be one who has the full history of the club or who is remembered with the honor and respect so justly due Mr. Bowen.
Today, we celebrate, with fond memories, the nearly 101 year life of Charlie Bowen. We also continue to pray for his family during these days.
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Georgia Northwestern Technical College OverviewThursday, March 13, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Rotarian Ginger Mathis introduced Pete McDonald, President of Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) and a Rotarian in Rome who provided an overview of the college.
GNTC serves nine counties and has a board of 18 including three Whitfield County people. Joe Yarbrough of Mohawk is the chairman. The college provide three levels of academics: a standard associate degree (Business and IT, Allied health, Industrial, and Public Service), technical diplomas in skills like welding, and a technical certification of credit in other skills. Hope and PELL scholarships assist students with tuition. Tuition is only $85 per credit hour or less than $1,000 per year.
All the technical colleges in the system are different because they are linked to employment opportunities in the region. Here it is manufacturing and medical. Currently the system has over 16,000 students, 8,000 who are in for credit courses. Non-credit courses are the GED and others. The Whitfield Murray campus, partnered with the Career Academy, is at capacity and is growing exponentially: 2011 – 223 students, 2012 – 492 and in 2013, 767 students! Their placement rate for students going into the workplace is at an average of 85%, with some fields being 100%.
GNTC is planning now for a new building of 80,000 square feet to house the anticipated 2500 students. The ACCEL program provides dual enrollment of high school students. These courses transfer right into the University system.
The main challenge is two-fold: (1) to explain to parents and students the changing global workplace. We must stay competitive with the world and we must do better than our rating of 38th in the world in math. The other challenge is (2) to continue funding for rapid change in industries and in the training for them. GNTC must upgrade their industrial hardware and computers annually to keep up with industry.
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Ross Woods PresentationThursday, March 13, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Chuck Dobbins presented a $4,000 check to Carla Jones and Laurie Parker for a sensory room for Ross Woods. Half of the funds came from a Rotary district grant and were matched by our club. The sensory room consists of a low-light, quiet room with glider chairs, soft music massage and healing movements to the music. It has been very well-received by the residents of Ross Woods for calming and healing.
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42nd Annual Ronnie McClurg Rotary Invitational Track MeetMonday, March 3, 2014 By Chuck Dobbins If you’re looking for signs of Spring, look no further than the upcoming Ronnie McClurg Rotary Invitational Track Meet on March 15, 2014!
This is the 42nd annual occasion of the meet, and a signature Rotary event in our community. Our namesake of the event and fellow Rotarian, Coach McClurg, reports that 25 teams have already signed up to attend and the event will be held on the renovated track facilities at Dalton High School.
This year’s event includes participation of 25-30 DHS Interact Club members, so it promises to be a special day for being active in the community and meeting these students. Interact is recognized by Rotary as a club for youth ages 12-18 who want to connect with others in their community or school; carry out service projects and learn about the world. Interact students will be partnered to work alongside our club members for the meet.
Many members have already signed up to volunteer for the track meet, but opportunities still exist to join in and spend part of that day in fellowship with these athletes and fellow Rotarians. Check your table at the next meeting for sign-up sheets, and for an alternate way you can participate!
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First Five Coalition – the Result of years of Research and PlanningThursday, March 6, 2014 By Chuck Dobbins By: Kathryn Sellers
Dixie Kinard proudly announced the new First Five Coalition that has been in the works by Archway for over four years. Katie Green, coordinator for this project said, “this is a partnership between many groups in education and healthcare with three main goals:
1) To provide access to quality early care and educational programs for the needs of families and for the children’s school readiness. Over 200 children in our community don’t get into the universal prekindergarten program and badly need the preparatory work.
2) For parents to gain knowledge about caring for children and the capacity to succeed with preparing children for their education
3) To create availability for these families of services in health, nutrition and mental health. Only 68.8% of mothers in our community receive prenatal care.” It is available for the first trimester at the health center, but not full term. The coalition is trying to uncover the reason why our area has so many premature births and then to prevent them as much as possible.
The “First Five Coalition” is beginning several projects for early learning:
- “book nooks” or small lending/giving libraries for children where the children and their families gather or wait, such as pediatricians’ offices. There are also United Way’s Little Libraries that will be placed in parks and other outdoor locations.
- Learning opportunities in the summer at the library and other community places.
- A Pilot study called “Saturday Academy for early learners,” a family education environment at the Gaston Center where at-risk families are recruited from various non-profit agencies for educational help.
- “Every child ready to read” with Dalton State and the Library partnering
- Story times at the Boys and Girls Club
Both Katie and Melissa Lu, Archway director, thanked the community for stepping up to fulfill this desire for a transformation in Dalton for early learners. Volunteers of all types are needed.
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Chuck McClurg Updates Rotary about the Sports Turf Market and MoreMonday, March 3, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
“Diversification is the name of the game,” stated Chuck McClurg, Vice President of Shaw Turf, “and the business is growing.” McClurg reported that the market is up to $328 million in 2011 and is expected to be more than $375 million in 2015. That reflects the use of 24 million square yards going to 28 million. Of that, 46% is for contact sports, but the growing market, 54%, is for leisure and landscaping. In North Georgia, there are about eight companies in this segment, including Field Turf, Astroturf, Sprint, Challenger and Shaw.
There are over 8,000 sports fields in North America with over 1,000 new annually. The issues driving growth for sports fields are: Durability for fields that have demands of 24/7 activity and more rental time for fields. The fields now have a life time of 8,000 hours of play, usually 8 – 10 years. Existing fields are usually upgraded by changing to another fiber like the “Bolt” fiber of Shaw that reflects light better, making the fields look like real grass. Soccer fields are now approved by FIFA, the professional soccer licensing organization. There are multi-sports fields for baseball, soccer and youth soccer. Locally, there are “bolt” fields at Dalton High, Christian Heritage, Gaston Center and the Dalton Recreation Department.
The new technology to address heat dissipation is Shaw’s “hydrochill” fiber that reduces heat by absorbing moisture and slowly releasing it. Helmet-to-field injuries are being addressed with different infills of rubber and sand. There is an organic system called “geofill.”
The environmental field for turf products has large potential. Capping landfills and levees with turf is so good for the industry because it means acres instead of square yards of fabric sold. The average Corp of Engineers levee is 12,000 acres. This is a three layer turf that caps a landfill or levee, provides erosion control and limits off-gasing. Levees usually have a sand and cement fill.
Golf courses, embankments, shorelines and other places where erosion is prevalent are using turf to solve this problem and is an emerging market.
Landscape and Leisure is the final area for these products which is a cut and ship type product used primarily in commercial landscaping.
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Russ DeLozier describes the good work of Compassion House, a local non-profFriday, February 21, 2014By: Ty Ross
Bob McLeod introduced our club’s Youth Service Chair, Scott Rhoden, who’s day job is executive director of Compassion House, a local non-profit that serves the needs of families struggling to stay together. In turn Scott introduced one of Compassion House’s most enthusiastic board members, Russ DeLozier, who further explained the operations of Compassion House. Russ is the Director of Sustainability at J&J Industries and he is proud to give back to the Dalton community through his service at Compassion House. At Compassion House Russ is able to align his actions with his principles because he truly believes that strong families form the backbone of sustainable communities.
Compassion House offers clients (children, teenagers and adults) referred by local agencies practical programs to give them access to hope, dignity, and emotional healing. They are taught that they can choose their future by how they respond to their past. Compassion House recognizes that feelings of helplessness are generally rooted in a sense of powerlessness. They help people move from situations of indignity and hurt to a place where they feel like they have hope and control over their lives and future.
Core services include:
- Grief and Loss Recovery Workshops
- Nurturing Parenting Classes
- Marriage Enrichment Classes
Compassion House’s physical address is 108 Hill Road here in Dalton. Mr. McLeod added that this facility is completely inadequate for the service levels Compassion House is attempting to provide and that Rotarians should support and spread the word of a building campaign that is currently in process.
To support or learn more about Compassion House you can:
- Pull up a chair beside Scott at the next meeting, or
- Call Compassion House at 706-272-2843, or
- Visit their website at www.compassionhouseinc.com
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The First Four RotariansMonday, February 17, 2014 By Chuck Dobbins In celebration of Rotary International’s 109th anniversary this week, following is an article from Rotary International on the first meeting of Rotarians.
The first four Rotarians. From left: Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, Hiram E. Shorey, Paul P. Harris. Between 1905 and 1912. Courtesy of Rotary International.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Rotary International.
On 23 February 1905, Paul P. Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram E. Shorey gathered in Loehr’s office for what would become known as the first Rotary club meeting.
Harris’s desire for camaraderie among business associates brought together these four men and eventually led to an international organization of service and fellowship.
Read about each of the first four Rotarians below, and about Harry L. Ruggles, who is often called the "fifth Rotarian."
Rotary’s founder, Harris, was born in Wisconsin, USA, on 19 April 1868. He was raised by his paternal grandparents in Vermont and attended the University of Vermont, Princeton, and the University of Iowa. He was Rotary president from 1910 to 1912 and a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago until his death on 27 January 1947.
Loehr, a mining engineer, was born on 18 October 1864 in Carlinville, Illinois. He was a Rotarian for only a few years, never holding office at the club or international level. But that first Rotary meeting was held in his office, Room 711 of the Unity Building in downtown Chicago. He died in Chicago on 23 May 1918.
A Rotarian for only a few years, Shorey served as recording secretary during the club’s first year. He was born in Maine in August 1862 and died in March 1944.
Schiele, a coal dealer, served as the Chicago club’s first president in 1905 and Rotary International’s third treasurer in 1945. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in June 1870, Schiele attended Terre Haute Business College and served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. He was president of the Schiele Coal Company from 1902 until his retirement in 1939. He and Harris became lifelong friends and lived near each other on the South Side of Chicago. Schiele died on 17 December 1945 and is buried near Harris at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Originally from Michigan, Ruggles was a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and joined Rotary at its second meeting. He was treasurer of the Chicago club during its first year, president from 1908 to 1910, and a Rotary director from 1912 to 1913. He is known for having introduced singing to Rotary club meetings. His printing company, H.L. Ruggles & Co., printed the first issue of The National Rotarian and the first Rotary songbook. He died on 23 October 1959, an honorary member of seven clubs in addition to his home club, the Rotary Club of Chicago.
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Seth Hopkins Describes the Booth Museum’s Art and ActivitiesFriday, February 7, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Seth Hopkins, Executive Director of the Georgia Museums, Inc., was introduced by Rotarian Paul Henson. The three museums managed by this group are the Booth Western Museum, the Bartow History Museum and the NW Ga Science Museum, formerly the Weinman Mineral Museum, a total of 275,000 sq feet. Seth also has strong connections with the Museums West Consortium that includes all the fine museums in our western states. His theory is that museums should offer exhibits for life-long learning. To that end, the Booth Museum brings historians, artists, and western entertainers for lectures and events every month, including weekend festivals.
The Bartow History museum is in the old 1869 courthouse in Cartersville, rehabilitated with SPLOST funds. The Tellus Science museum now entertains over 50,000 school children each year in their 120,000 sq. feet of exhibit space, enticing students with world class collections of minerals, planes, trains, automobiles and space exhibits.
The Booth Museum is in a group of 13 other museums but it has more western art than any other and is the largest in the country. The Booth’s main collections are of living artists, especially contemporary art – expressionism, cube, pop, and modern perceptions of the West. Because they own little historical western art, the other museums in the group share their art and sculpture. The Booth also has a Presidential gallery, a collection of portraits of every President and letters from each. There is also an exhibit of Civil War art by contemporary artists.
For your pleasure, from now until April 18, there is an exhibit at the High Museum of art from the Cody Wyoming museum of the first hundred years of Western art and the Booth has an exhibit of living artists and contemporary Western art.
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Dr. Mary Beth Cole, DermatologistThursday, January 30, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Dr. Mary Beth Cole warmly greeted the sparse crowd at Rotary during a very cold snowy and icy Tuesday, noting that it is ironic that she would speak about sun damage to skin on such a day! Dr. Cole is a board-certified dermatologist and is a life-long resident of Chatsworth, a Murray County schools graduate and a magna cum laude graduate of University of North Georgia. She attained her medical degree at Mercer University and did her dermatology training at Vanderbilt University. She joined Dr. Reginald Sherrill in 2011 adding dermatology services to the existing plastic surgery and spa services. Because of space crowding in the practice, she moved to Professional Blvd, has a nurse practitioner and is now providing aesthetic services by two aestheticians. Dr. Cole is trained in the medical and surgical diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions, such as skin cancer, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema, and performs a wide array of cosmetic treatments.
Dr. Cole spoke specifically about the damage that too much sun can do to the skin. The scariest diagnosis is melanoma. One in 24 will have melanoma over time, but surprisingly, only 90% is in the skin. Of that percentage, 30% arise from a mole and others arise on unaffected skin and can be “where the sun don’t shine.” The answer to prevention or catching it early: have a routine skin exam once a year either by your primary doctor or by a specialist. Make an appointment in the Fall after a summer of sun, or each year during your birthday month.
Sunscreen that helps to avoid damage should have both UVA and UVB care which is a “broad spectrum” sunscreen. Most sun rays that are the strongest and cause the most photo damage and wrinkles are UVB. She says, the higher the SPF, the better. Most of us don’t apply enough sunscreen and do not apply it often enough (every 2 hours!) so with a higher SPF you get more protection over a longer time period. Whether it is spray, cream, or any version, be sure to get a water resistant version. Men usually prefer a spray.
Cole also suggested that we should also wear a hat, with a top and a brim to cover both nose and ears. The best hats have a protection factor built in. She suggested the Tilley hat for men and women and the Wellaroo brand for ladies.
When asked about tanning beds, Cole advised against them wholeheartedly saying that they have more lCink to melanoma, are not regulated very much and can be addictive.
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Career Academy CEO, David MollerFriday, January 24, 2014
David Moller, CEO of the Career Academy, was introduced by their board member, Brian Cooksey of Shaw Industries. Moller came to the Academy by way of the Juvenile Justice system where he worked with at-risk students and understood the need to encourage them toward education opportunities so that they might refocus on life skills and job opportunities and avoid trouble.
The goals of the Career Academy are multi-faceted: to develop a 21st century work force through tech courses for all students, not just those that are non-college bound, and to entice tech-interested students into the workforce training and create an atmosphere for successful High School graduation. All of this is at no extra cost to the student.
The Academy works to increase “completers” of high school requirements by designing curriculums that are aligned with economic data and, particularly, relevant local data on the needs of the various industries. They intend to focus on job trends where the students will have the most opportunities and will have the ability to work in local high-tech companies. However, they would also have the training to compete globally for jobs.
The Academy provides opportunities for dual enrollment (high school and college), for professional certifications in a variety of skills and pathways to successful completion of high school. Dual enrollments are available in “mechatronics” (all engineering fields, e.g. electrical, mechanical, Information Technology) plus certifications in early childhood development, healthcare, e.g. CNA certification, Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing, the Microsoft IT Academy in business technology, and Serve Safe certification in the food industry. The focus for mechatronics is not just for the carpet industry but also automotive and other industries. Following these programs a student could obtain one of two associate degrees or just a High School diploma. This helps students to make career decisions, to be ahead in college courses and to save money on their college education.
Rotarians in management will be happy to hear that another focus is imbedded in every course – teaching the “soft skills” that are often lacking in youth today: attitude, coachability, collaboration, persistence, problem solving and critical thinking, professionalism (appearance), attendance, time management, work ethic, self-discipline, and good communication skills. The technical skills and the soft skills should position these students for success.
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Polio Nearing EradicationFriday, January 17, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Aft also announced that there is very positive news in the global eradication efforts against polio. There have been three years since the last case of polio in India! Polio still exists in only two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is a major victory and is very relevant for Rotarians in Dalton who have faithfully participated in the Rotary Foundation as this foundation and the Bill Gates efforts have been primary in this successful effort.
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Noteworthy RotariansFriday, January 17, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
President Chuck Dobbins suggested that all of us need to get an autograph from Dan Combs who is now seen in national State Farm commercials. It was also announced that three of our members are noted in the latest issue of Georgia Trend: “100 Most Influential” Georgians are Brian Anderson and Charlie Bethel, and David Pennington is a “notable” Georgian. Rotarians are proud of them.
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Are you ready for the Consequences of Alzheimers?Friday, January 17, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
It’s coming, ready or not -- Alzheimers! Rotarian Teresa Carter introduced Chris Shiflitt, who has been with Bank of America since 1994, has a keen eye for recognizing the needs of the community. Although he has been involved primarily in youth activities with his children since his move to Dalton a few years ago, he had to experience the care of his aging parents and soon learned that there are great needs in the area for assisted living care. After he built the new facility, Tranquility, in north Dalton, he quickly noticed that most of the needs were for memory care. They changed a wing of the facility of ten rooms to memory care and filled seven of those in two weeks!
He explained that while he is happy that his facility is serving a need, he is very concerned that the public understand that MOST of us will have to deal with memory care for ourselves, a family member or friend, at some time in our lives. There has been a 45% increase of Alzheimers in Georgia, a rate that is far above the national average and the rate of increasing diagnoses of Alzheimers is exponentially exploding. There is going to be a “bubble” of drastic increase for baby boomers, those born between 1948 and 1961, since that group is coming of age for diagnoses of memory problems. People are being diagnosed earlier, many in the earliest stages, and they can live for years in an ever-decreasing state of cognizance, needing more and more care.
When someone in the family has the disease, the dynamics in the family change immediately. It is like having a small child in the family who is not learning, has no daytime/night time schedule, is confused, cannot be left alone and needs 24 hour care. What are the options for the care taking? There are just four choices for the family: the spouse or family can provide the care; one can hire help in the home; the patient can be placed in a memory care facility or in a nursing home. Each is demanding on family time and is extremely demanding on finances.
How can you prepare? Knowing the resources available is a great step and Tranquility wants to be a community partner in helping people to find resources. Shiflitt suggested that the following are invaluable:
The Alzheimers Association’s director, Rebecca Davis, has lots of information for families, for care, for assistance and for moral support from others dealing with the disease in their office on Morris Street.
The Veterans Administration provides significant support for veterans and their spouse that can be researched at their office on Chattanooga Avenue.
Ross Woods Day Care Facility, directed by Carla Jones and Laurie Parker, is a very valuable asset for families with patients. The care is only for the daytime hours but this can be a life saver for families who need respite from care-taking.
Elder abuse is a real concern for families of patients and for help when problems develop, one can turn to an attorney who deals specifically with senior issues. Fortunately, Dalton has one of the seven such attorneys in the state, David McGuffey.
One can also turn to an ombudsman who is an advocate for the patients in facilities and their families. They check on facilities randomly and constantly to avoid any abuse and can help when abuse is suspected.
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The Salvation Army says Thank You!Friday, January 3, 2014Thank you to all who rang the bell for the Salvation Army! Bill Bowen reported that while Rotary was on duty, $2600 was raised. And this time allotted meant that the Army didn’t have to pay ringers from the receipts.
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Two New Members for the Rotary Club of DaltonFriday, January 3, 2014Bruna Langner is a native Brazilian and is now the Volleyball head coach at Dalton State College. Bruna enjoys golf, volleyball, arts, music and helping others. Dereck Waugh, her sponsor, said she is anxious to get active in Rotary.
John Minor is an attorney with Minor, Bell and Neal and is very active in the community serving on the Board of Looper Speech and Hearing, Past President of Cherokee Area Estate Planning Council, a member of Leadership Dalton-Whitfield and Leadership Catoosa.He and his wife Laura have two children George and Lillian. Sponsor John Neal said it will be great to have another generation of Minors in Rotary.
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Legislative UpdateThursday, January 9, 2014By: Kathryn Sellers
Senator Charlie Bethel and Representatives Tom Dixon and Bruce Broadrick introduced the update for the upcoming Legislative session in Atlanta.
Representative Tom Dixon explained that this is the second year of a two-year session so there are already some bills in the pipeline ready to be presented to the full legislature so the session should get off to a quick start. Also, since this is an election year, the legislators will want to make this session short so they can return home in time for the election.
Dixon said that the first items for discussion will be the mandatory ones, particularly the budget. Education takes about $185 million and higher education another $70 million. With Medicaid and Peach Care taking another $155 million there is little left for new items in the budget. His goal is to fund fully what we have, returning to the budget prior to the cutbacks in education of the last few years.
Since the Georgia budget is a balanced one, more portions each year are going to zero based accounting. He feels the first new legislation may be the HB 512 or “gun legislation” that has had some changes over the summer and is probably ready to go to the floor for a vote early in the session.
Representative Bruce Broadrick says he know we want less government and the state is trending toward smaller government. They have cut from 80,000 employees to 55,000. Since he is on the Health and Human Services committee he is watching closely and is pleased with the state’s posture on Obamacare. Healthcare is already 23% of the state budget. His goal is to push to retain and enhance the existing status to make it a smaller part of the whole. Right now 80% of the dollars go to the aged, blind, etc. moving from $271 million in 2003 to $664 million in 2013.
Bruce is pleased that the state requires a balanced budget and has retained its AAA Bond rating, allowing the state to provide better economic development incentives and capital investments.
Senator Charlie Bethel stated that one of the first actions in the legislator will probably be to change the primary dates to coincide with the federal dates -- qualifying in March and the election on May 20.
There should be a new bill for criminal justice reform to assist those whose re-entries into society previously have been difficult. He thinks the bill will include a way to help the inmates to prepare while in prison for reentry. This should help them to be more responsible for their own moral and economic status and not return to the prison system for lack of training.
Charlie encouraged Rotarians to attend the Dalton-Whitfield Day on Monday evening at the capital to interact with legislators on behalf of our community.
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Robin Lindsay presents Christmas MessagesFriday, January 3, 2014
Robin, who says he still gets nervous speaking after 40 years of preaching, presented three “true” stories for Rotary, each one very meaningful in this season when we should become more attentive to the real meaning of Christmas and to “the least of these” in our community.
The first was first published in 1926 in a sermon book by James A. Frances and was entitled “One Solitary Life.” It was a metaphor for the incredible impression on our world the one solitary life of Jesus has been.
The second was from a 1954 Reader’s Digest and was about a husband and wife, who were amazingly reunited through the actions of a minister, a storm that damaged his sanctuary and his acquisition of a table cloth that had belonged to the couple prior to their being separated by the Nazis during World War II.
The third was a personal story of Robin’s early experiences growing up in Cave Springs, GA, where the School for the Deaf set the stage for many encounters with deaf friends. Because of their profound hearing loss, these children were often “on the fringes” of activities there. The Methodist Church there had a tradition of Santa coming to give fruit and candies to each child in the community. The year the Santa was deaf and he and the non-hearing children signed excitedly to each other, provided the other children and adults the sense of what it feels like to be “on the fringe” themselves. Those who could not hear became the “first” and all of the others the “last.
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First Baptist Men's EnsembleSunday, December 15, 2013
By Kathryn Sellers
Rotary was treated again this year with exceptional Christmas music, both secular and religious, by the Men’s Ensemble of First Baptist Church. The group entertained in beautiful harmony with traditional carols, such as I’ll be Home for Christmas and Ding Dong Merrily on High, and then interspersed the Christ-oriented carols with readings from the story of Christ’s birth. Highlights were Angels we Have Heard on High, Rise Up Shepherd and Follow and a piece new to the group called Fum, Fum, Fum that included a delightful piano duet accompaniment by Sandra Blackwell and Patti Cannon.
The group ended the delightful performance with Mary Did you Know and finally, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
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Dalton High School InteractSunday, December 15, 2013By Kathryn Sellers
Dr. Jim Hawkins, presented the officers of the two newly organized
Rotary-sponsored Interact groups at Dalton High. With hard work from Scott
Rhoden, Barbara Ward and with a good push from Dr. Hawkins, the club had 80
plus interested students at the first meeting. The group's sponsor will be
Larry Tripp and they are off to a good start, helping the Rotary Club with
ringing the Salvation Army bell and planning other service projects.
Since this is effort has taken quite a while to get underway, our hats go
off to Jim, Scott and Barbara for the success!
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Thanks To All Who Rang The Bell For The Salvation ArmySunday, December 15, 2013
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 Thanks to Bill Bowen and Bill Wright for their leadership this year as our club rang the Salvation Army bell at the Green Spot bell for two weeks. We appreciate all Rotarians who commited time to participate. Special thanks also go to the Dalton High Interact Club and Vonda Bledsoe and her staff for taking full days to ring the bell.
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Dr. Merrilyn Helms, Dalton State professor of Business ManagementSaturday, December 7, 2013by Kathryn Sellers
Knowing Dalton’s carpet industry is the result of entrepreneurial people gives us first-hand experience in the success of businesses that are started by regular folks, sometimes those without a lot of formal education and without a “business plan.” Dr. Merrilyn Helms, Sesquicentennial Professor of Business Management, spoke about how people in other parts of the world start small businesses. Because she teaches International Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Helms has taken students to the far reaches of the world, especially behind the iron curtain, to see how people in evolving countries develop businesses. First, in any country, it takes someone who is willing to take a calculated risk to start a company. People search out or create an innovative product or service to provide and perhaps a new way of presenting that product or service. It is truly “venture creation.” In the U.S., most have a desire for flexibility and control over their own lives. They are usually full of creativity. It is no different in other countries.
Dr. Helms spoke of her experiences in Russia, Peru and Cuba where most small enterprises are based on a product that is available locally and has a consumer base for that product. Examples are foods, especially quick foods, clothing made of local fibers, supplies for local needs like the beach or flowers or alpaca and llama wool in Argentina. It is also important to take that service or product where it is needed. Her interesting example is the business that washes your car for you in the shopping center parking lot, while you shop.
In most of these countries it is easier to start a business than in the U. S. because there are fewer regulations for business, for food service and for services. Even in Cuba Castro has loosened the regulations for businesses so that even restaurants in homes are now common.
Dalton State College has a strong Business Management curriculum that includes how to start a business, focusing on all the varied skills necessary in Entrepreneurship, and with a large group of seniors graduating soon. Knowing that small businesses hire the most employees in our country, this should be good news for our region as we strive to create more jobs.
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What do you know about The Rotary FoundationTuesday, November 26, 2013 By Kathryn Oehler Sellers
Our Foundation chair, Sandra Stone introduced Scott Parmenter of Cartersville who is the district 6910 Foundation chair. Scott is an insurance man but has a rich background in Rotary, having held almost every job in his club and the district and received many awards. His passion now is for the Rotary Foundation which spends funds from the 35,000 worldwide clubs across the world. Overhead for the Foundation comes only from interest on the monies making this a highly rated Foundation.
Spending the money – a laundry list of options:
·local and district grants -- much of the money, about 50%, comes back to the local clubs grants or for smaller international projects
·scholarships for international students
·vocational teams exchanging with other nations;
·global grants of over $30,000 where more than one club is involved for projects that create a solution such as a water well and continues its maintenance;
·package grants were a club partners with a non-profit;
·peace scholarships for graduate students in conflict resolution (one at Duke and UNC);
·eradicating polio: Since ’85 over $1 billion has been spent with CDC and the Gates Foundation and other countries and we are very close to eradication. There are new cases in Syria and the region due to war.
Parmenter paused to present a check for $2,000 for Dalton’s newest local project, a Therapy room at Ross Woods Adult Care Facility. Our club will match this grant. |
L to R: Scott Parmenter, David Aft, Chuck Dobbins, Sandra Stone |
Raising the money – the variety of ways to give to the Rotary Foundation
·Rotarians are encouraged to give at least $100/year “Every Rotarian Every Year” Our club has been 100 percent and wants to attain that again this year. Our club’s average giving is $108 per capita with the district giving $12,535 last year.
·Paul Harris Fellow – when one attains the $1,000 level
·Major Donor – where one gives $10,000 cash over time
·Paul Harris Fellow Club – where members are 100% Paul Harris Fellows
·Paul Harris Society -- member commits to $1,000 per year
·Endowment levels:
o Benefactor – leaves $1,000 in your will
o Bequest Society – leaves $10,000 in your will
Parmenter ended by encouraging members to get involved in Rotary, especially in the Foundation to make a statement worldwide. |
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Derek Waugh, Dalton State College AthleticsTuesday, September 3, 2013 By Kathryn Oehler Sellers
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With great enthusiasm, Derek Waugh introduced his full complement of staff and coaches in all sports for the Dalton State College Road Runners. He told the Rotary Club that the programs are getting organized and equipped in lightning speed. He bragged about all the staff by saying they all meet his initial criteria: Intelligence, lots of charisma, and they have a passion for their sport and the community. However, they are working with several obstacles including a low salary (several are working multiple jobs); they had less than six months to get the team recruited and the equipment in hand and to create a schedule of competitions.
They have recruited over 100 students to Dalton State and more than 75% of these were on the academic honor roll. They are all competitive in their sport. Derek contends that DSU is definitely developing a great future work force with these students, but the program will develop sports leaders that lead to leadership in communities, work places and families. The staff, along with basketball coach Tony Ingle, has already sold 521 season tickets for basketball games, a record for the college size.
Bruna Langer, a Brazilian who came to the US with no English language, but excelled in college, will be the volleyball coach. The talented team was nervous in their first game, but when comfortable they were very competitive. Their first home game is September 19.
Michelle Bates is an all-SEC tennis player at Auburn and played as a professional for a while. Along with Zack Rogers who excelled at Young Harris College and had a stint with professional kayaking, they are great recruiters who have brought in eight transfers from other colleges. Their spring tennis schedule will have 20 matches.
The Cross Country coaches Margie Bruner, a well-known local running enthusiast, and Andy Meyer who graduated with honors from UTC and was 7th in the Atlanta Marathon have recruited mostly from Whitfield and Murray counties. Most are freshmen this year but they are a good mix of talented kids. They have several meets scheduled this year, the first on September 6, but none locally.
Robin Newell, the Cheer Coach is from LFO high school background and is totally positive about the program. Derek mentioned that she was in a devastating car accident a few years ago and came back beautifully showing great determination. She did lots of recruiting through Facebook and had over 200 hits in a month. She has recruited a large roster of both spirit and competition teams. Robin said that they will participate in all sports and will also help with community events as crowd leaders to “be supportive” in every way. The team of 16, male and female participated in Orlando national competition in June and placed one spot under the past national champions!
The golf coaches are Ben Rickett, British born and on the number one team in the country, and Jim McGraw who was in golf at Northwest High School, is part time but will be full time later. They are joined by Marsha Whitener, a fine local lady golfer. Their male and female golfers, who are from all over the world, practice many hours on all three courses in the Dalton area – The Farm, Nob North and the Dalton Country Club. They are delighted to have access to all three, a real asset for their teams. They will play some NAIA teams along with some with Division I and II NCAA teams.
Derek encouraged Rotarians to follow all the teams on their website: www.dsroadrunners.com |
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The Dalton Education FoundationTuesday, November 12, 2013 By Kathryn Oehler Sellers
Bob Bethel, president of the Dalton Education foundation reflected on the vision of his grandfather, Tom Jones, to provide excellence in public school education for our community. Tom Jones was on the school board for 26 years and knew the value of a quality education. He was instrumental in founding the Dalton foundation in 1987. The Whitfield foundation was founded a little later. The Dalton and the Whitfield County Education Foundations are still promoting a fine education for all students in our systems.
Bethel noted that Dalton’s system continues to be signaled out for excellence. US News and World Report has listed Dalton’s system four out of the last six years as in the top three percent of schools in the nation. This is the highest ranking of public schools north of metro Atlanta. The system continually beats expectations by test scores surpassing state averages when students reach the seventh grade. Dalton still has small town values but reflects the international community. Dalton High has only one of four statewide International Baccalaureate programs, a definite strength for a student body that represents 35 countries and speaks sixteen native languages!
The million dollar endowment was initially raised for grants and scholarships. Following a slump in financial markets, the finances of the foundation are now in balance with over $100,000 added in the last year. The grant program which seeks to move “adequate” education to “excellence” are given for projects that can be replicated in other schools. The pattern for the board is to raise money for classroom projects in the fall and provide grants and scholarships the following spring.
Jim Hawkins, superintendent for Dalton Public Schools, lauded the work of the Foundation, stating that what every parent wants for his child – an excellent education – is what our community should want for every child for good quality of life, a good basis for economic development and a stronger community. The Foundation strives to help that to happen.
Hawkins guided Rotarians to utilize the Dalton Public Schools web site for the calendar of all events and to see stories of teachers and students and how they are succeeding in Dalton and the larger world. |
Pictured: Rotarian Jim Hawkins, Superintendent Dalton Public Schools,
Bob Bethel, President Dalton Education Foundation;
Rotarian Frank Thomason, retired Dalton Schools Superintendent
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Multiple Recognitions for Outstanding Dalton RotariansTuesday, November 5, 2013 By Chuck Dobbins
A large group of Dalton Rotarians were recognized for various accomplishments during the visit of our District Governor Anton Zellman.
Will Watt Fellow (over $1,000 to Georgia Rotary Student Program): Mike O’Neill
Governor’s Associate ($500) Tangela Johnson
Attaining 35 years in Rotary: Bob Chandler and Sid Abernathy
Paul Harris Fellow +4 Nancy Kennedy
Paul Harris Fellow +3 Dr. Sherwood Jones
Paul Harris Fellow +2 Sherwood Jones and Judson Manly (who also has 50 years perfect attendance)
Ty Ross, appearing for mayor Pennington, read a proclamation making this day Anton Zellman day.
District Governor Zellman entertained Rotary by displaying his memory skills and talking about his life of changes, many reflective of Rotary’s Four Way Test.
In speaking about rotary he reiterated the importance of Every Rotarian Every Year – 100% participation in the Rotary Foundation giving. Fifty percent of the funds come back to the district for local project. Anton encouraged members to consider the Bequest Society by stating in estate plans a gift of $10,000 to Rotary Foundation.
He emphasized the value of networking in Rotary which helps to bond us and consequently builds strong membership.
Zellman encouraged all to view the new updated website often to see what is happening in other clubs and across the world in Rotary projects.
He also encouraged members to consider going to the district conference in April at Jekyll Island. |
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July 19th Birthdays and AnniversariesSaturday, July 16, 2016
| Birthdays and Anniversaries for 07/19/16 to 07/25/16 |
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| Member Birthdays |
Birthday |
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| Smith, Ralph (RALPH) |
20-Jul |
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| Partner Birthdays |
Member Name |
Birthday |
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| Tharpe, Julie |
Tharpe, Henry C. |
22-Jul |
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| Bundros, Laura |
Bundros, Thomas A |
22-Jul |
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| Member Anniversaries |
Start Date |
Years |
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| None |
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| Wedding Anniversaries |
Partner's Name |
Anniversary |
Years |
| Srivastava, Archana (ARCHANA) |
Vinai |
20-Jul |
39 |
| Maret, Michael S. (MIKE) |
Carla |
21-Jul |
14 |
| Combs, William Dan Jr.(DAN, JR) |
Melissa |
24-Jul |
11 |
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DEO, Free Medical Care for UnderprivilegedTuesday, October 8, 2013 By Kathryn Oehler Sellers
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Dr. Drayton Sanders filled in with our program for Dr. Rodriguez, who was unable to be here. He was assisted by Martha Wassum, volunteer coordinator at the clinic. Drayton spoke about the “elephant in the room” – the 27% of our community who do not have health insurance. This community has worse insurance participation than the region, state or national statistics. DEO, trying to fill that void, is an organization that grew out of a mission for the homeless that started at St. Marks church in 2004. Over 61 total volunteers, both medical and support staff, provide compassionate healthcare for the underserved and the uninsured. Other healthcare places have either graduated fees, or in the case of the Health Department are accepting no new patients. This care takes burdens off of the ER.
This facility has moved to new quarters at 411 Central Avenue, the building of the former Bakkum-deLoach survey firm. The workers and clients are ecumenical, multi ethnic and have 10 – 12 medical professionals. They are open Monday and Thursday nights 5 – 8:30 p.m. and Friday mornings bimonthly. Hamilton Medical Center provides discount lab work and referrals. Medicines are coordinated with the local Med Bank. Clients come from Whitfield, Murray and Gordon counties. This year they have over 577 active patients with 635 visits who receive primary care and specialty services.
Many of these clients are embarrassed to seek care. They are the working poor who make about $7.25 per hour. The clinic does not take children who are covered by Peachcare; they do not take over 65 who are covered by medicare or pregnant women because they are not set up for that care.
As we all know, there are huge changes taking place in healthcare. When asked if Obamacare will help, Martha Wassum stated that she doesn’t think so. Those who can’t afford insurance now, probably won’t purchase it later. The insurance industry takes 25 to 30% of all healthcare money and has a huge lobby to keep this percentage.
DEO has an annual budget of $25,990 and charges $20 per patient visit. Their only additional funding comes from grants, community foundations and donations. Their volunteer hours this year have amounted to a $133,702 equivalent. Their challenges are limited specialty coverage and a lack of funds and volunteers.
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New MembersTuesday, October 8, 2013 By Kathryn Oehler Sellers
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Rotary has three new members including one new Rotarian and two transfers! This brings our new member total to nine (9) year to date.
The new Rotarian is Rev. Bill Ireland, pastor of First Baptist Church. Chuck Dobbins sponsored Bill who is married to Virginia, “Ginny,” and they have one daughter Mary Virginia.
Bryan Griffin, who is manager of the local office of Georgia Power Company, comes to us from Rotary District 6900 in Polk County. Bryan and his wife, Candy, have two children, Ashley & Ben.
Tom Bundros is transferring from the Carpet Capitol Rotary Club. With Dalton Utilities, he is taking over the role of Chief Operating Officer at year end. He is married to Lara and their two children are Anthony 15, and Anna Grace 13.
We are delighted to have these new members to share in our “Service Above Self:” locally and throughout the international Rotary fellowship. |
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