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Frankie Atwater
President and CEO
DeKalb Co. Chamber of Commerce
In 2021 Frankie Atwater became the president and CEO of the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce. He has more than 25 years of experience leading innovative and transformative changes for non-profit agencies and government entities.
Weekly luncheon meetings begin at 12:15 pm
on Fridays unless otherwise noted.
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THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 7
Thirsty
Thursday
Universal Joint
906 Oakview Dr.
Oakhurst
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FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 8
Meeting/Speaker:
Alex Smythe
Rotary District Webmaster
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FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 15
Meeting/Speaker:
Jeff Hullinger
Broadcaster, Executive Producer | GPB
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FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 22
Meeting/Speaker:
Mike Alexander COO | Atlanta Regional Comm.
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FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 29
No Meeting
Thanksgiving Holiday
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THURSDAY
DECEMBER 5
Thirsty
Thursday
Location TBA
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RYLA: Helping the Next Generation of Leaders
We have an opportunity to send a student or two to RYLA, an intensive training program focused on character development, leadership skills, and learning about Rotary, of course. The program takes place June 7-11, 2025, on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, and is open to teens ages 15-17 in our Rotary district. Let President Dudley know if you would like to be involved or if you know of a potential RYLA candidate.
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11/9 Service Project:
Wetland Planting at Legacy Park
When was the last time you played in the mud? Legacy Park in Decatur needs our help with restoring their wetlands, and it’s gonna be muddy. Sound fun? Join us on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Legacy, 9 am to noon. Please sign up in advance here.
Didn’t we just have a service project at Legacy? Yes!
Earlier this month, our club helped with a planting project at Decatur’s Legacy Park. Read this story about how volunteer work is having an impact (and our club gets a shout-out): “These efforts, powered primarily by volunteers, have increasingly improved the health of the forest and have served as a prerequisite for restoration of the wetlands, improving their innate capacity to improve water quality, protect against floods, and provide habitat for all manner of plants and animals.”
Our club sent two students abroad for the school year, Riley to Italy, and Minelli to South Korea. All Rotary exchange kids are asked to share their experiences in an online journal, and it’s a thrill to follow the adventures of our Decatur kids in faraway places.
“I've had multiple people ask me why I did youth exchange. Why would you leave for a year? Aren't you going to miss us? (Of course I do, guys) To me, people were always asking the wrong questions. It wasn't about what I was leaving behind, it was where I was headed and what was out there for me. . . .”
“It has been one of the strangest things to be in a place where the only person you know is yourself, but it is also one of the most rewarding and inspiring ways to figure out who you are. . . .”
Linton Broome, 54 years
Lawrence Sharp, 31 years
Brenda Leder, 27 years
Delores Crowell, 20 years
October Birthdays
Todd Speed, 17 years
Tim Martin, 17 years
Maria Alvarez, 2 years
Doug Park, Oct. 4
Jennifer Topple, Oct. 10
John Robinson, Oct. 25
Judy Turner, Oct. 28
Rick Garnitz, Oct. 29
Douglas Tozzi, Oct. 29
FRIDAY, Dec. 6 | 2024
Jason Conn and Maria Alvarez served as greeters. Todd Speed gave the invocation.
. . . . . OUR SPEAKER: Debbie Cwalina, Be THE Voice
Kelly Caudle introduced our speaker, Debbie Cwalina, who spoke to the club about Be THE Voice. It's a peer-led platform that inspires students to do what is right, not what is easy, by equipping them with the interpersonal skills to become a “voice” of kindness and inclusion within their schools and communities. Many Interact clubs, such as the one we sponsor at Decatur High, have used Be THE Voice. Debbie is also a member of the Roswell Rotary Club.
Scenes from our most recent meeting and events. Individuals are identified from left to right.
Bryan Downs and Walt Drake
Exchange student Selma Doganson and Doug Park
Dudley Larus, David Hughes, and Lawrence Sharp
Doug Park, TES, Shara Sanders, and visiting Rotarian Indigo Triplett
Thank You to Our Club Sponsors
We are grateful for the support of our local sponsors, and we encourage our members to support them in return.
Jason Conn and Maria Alvarez served as greeters. Todd Speed gave the invocation. 
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