You are receiving the weekly Decatur Rotary Club newsletter because you have been a guest of the club recently. If you'd like to unsubscribe, click here. We hope to see you at our next meeting.
Lunch Meeting Friday, Oct. 9
Historic DeKalb County Courthouse
101 E. Court Square | 12:15 pm
OUR SPEAKER THIS WEEK:
Karen Torghele
Author of Albert Sabin: The Life of a Polio Vaccine Pioneer
Karen Torghele, MPH, is an epidemiologist and Global Health Chronicles oral historian who worked for more than twenty-five years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Task Force for Global Health. She holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and is a member of Biographers International, where she participates in writing groups and professional development. She is the author of Albert Sabin: The Life of a Polio Vaccine Pioneer. She lives in Atlanta.
Copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing by the author.
Weekly luncheon meetings begin at 12:15 pm
on Fridays unless otherwise noted.
Friday, Oct.
16
MEETING SPEAKER
Dr. Caroline Berchuck
Women’s Health
Thursday, Oct.
22
FALL FUNDRAISER
Wine Tasting Event
Friday, Oct.
23
NO
MEETING
DeKalb Rotary Council Meets
Monday, Oct. 12
The DeKalb Rotary Council meets monthly for fellowship over lunch and to discuss what’s happening with the many clubs in DeKalb County. The council also looks for ways to partner on service projects. In early 2027, the council will host a special breakfast program to recognize DeKalb County STAR teachers and students and to give out Rotarian awards. Stay tuned for more details about that event.
Everyone is invited to attend. Get to know other DeKalb Rotarians and expand your network! Ask Lawrence Sharp or Dud Larus for more information.
DeKalb Rotary Council
Every second Monday, 11:45 am-12:45 pm
Magnolia Room Cafeteria
4450 Hugh Howell Rd., Tucker, GA 30084
Next meetings: Oct. 12, Nov. 9, Dec. 14
. . . . . Coat and Blanket Drive, Oct. 16 and Oct. 30
Bring coats and blankets to our meeting on October 16 for donation to Threshold, an outreach ministry of Decatur Presbyterian Church. This winter is predicted to be wetter and colder than average.
Your support helps to make a lasting impact right here in our community — supporting local service projects, funding scholarships as well as community grants that promote literacy and support at-risk youth. Through the spirit of “Service Above Self,” we can improve lives and help to build brighter futures and stronger families across DeKalb County.
. . . . . Applications Close Oct. 15 for RYE Study Abroad for 2027-28 School Year
Spread the word to your neighbors, friends, church members! Rotary Youth Exchange is an incredible opportunity for high school students to experience immersion in another culture, and now is the time to apply for the next school year.
Study abroad with a $24,000 scholarship
Become fluent in another language
Build friendships and memories that last a lifetime
Set yourself apart on college applications
Open to students ages 14-17 on date of application
Linton Broome, 56 years
Lawrence Sharp, 33 years
Brenda Leder, 29 years
Tim Martin, 19 years
.
Todd Speed, 19 years
Maria Alvarez, 4 years
Genevieve Hampton, 1 year
Birthdays
Doug Park, Oct. 4
Nedra White-Shaw, Oct. 6
Jennifer Topple, Oct. 10
Brian Lake, Oct. 21
Genevieve Hampton, Oct. 26
Judy Turner, Oct. 28
Rick Garnitz, Oct. 29
Douglas Tozzi, Oct. 29
Recap: Friday, Oct. 2
Jason Conn and speaker J. Tom Morgan
Last week, Jason Conn introduced our speaker (and former Decatur Rotary Club member) J. Tom Morgan. He discussed his book, A Rainy Night in Georgia, about the political assassination of DeKalb County Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown that happened while J. Tom was the District Attorney of DeKalb County. It’s a fascinating yet terrifying story of the corrupting influence of unchecked power.
J. Tom said that thanks to the investigative reporting by Dale Cardwell, we are able to know the story. Emphasizing the importance of a free press, he said, “A free press IS democracy.” J. Tom also mentioned the most influential book he read as a teen, To Kill a Mockingbird, which inspired him to become a lawyer like Atticus Finch. He wants A Rainy Night in Georgia similarly to inspire the next generation to get more involved in doing service. Finally, he reminded us of Georgia’s state motto, “Not for self, but for others.”
We welcomed a couple of visitors, Caroline Morgan Berchuck, daughter of the speaker, and Tom Brown, retired DeKalb County Sheriff, who was appointed as sheriff following Derwin Brown’s murder.
Individuals are identified from left to right.
Charlie Lutin and Rick Garnitz
Walt Drake urges you to read J. Tom’s book!
Jason Conn, Thomas Brown, and Lawrence Sharp
Gyimah Whitaker shares good news with the club
Doug Tozzi holds up a copy of J. Tom’s book, which the club will place in the Decatur Library
OUR SPEAKER THIS WEEK:
