Bob O'Brien, a retired telecommunications executive with a 40-year career, now divides his time between addressing climate change and enjoying tennis. Holding degrees in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA, Bob brings technical expertise to his advocacy work. An Atlanta resident since 1992, he is actively involved with Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL) as the Northeast Georgia group leader and an En-ROADS Ambassador. Bob leverages his engineering background and leadership experience to drive climate action in his community.
Weekly luncheon meetings begin at 12:15 pm
on Fridays unless otherwise noted.
. . . . .
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 25
Meeting/Speaker:
Debbie Cwalina
Executive Director
Be The Voice
. . . . .
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 1
Meeting/Speaker:
Frankie Atwater
President & CEO
DeKalb County Chamber
. . . . .
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 7
Thirsty
Thursday
Universal Joint
906 Oakview Dr.
Oakhurst
. . . . .
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 8
Meeting/Speaker:
Alex Smythe
Rotary District Webmaster
. . . . .
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 15
Meeting/Speaker:
Jeff Hullinger
Broadcaster, Executive Producer | GPB
. . . . .
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 22
Meeting/Speaker:
Mike Alexander COO | Atlanta Regional Comm.
Help needed for meeting set-up
President Larus asks for volunteers to help with meeting set-up on Fridays, from 11:45 until noon. If you can help, please let Dudley know.
. . . . .
Rotary Means Business
The next social for Rotary Means Business is Tuesday, October 22, at Politan Row at Ashford Lane, near Perimeter Mall. It is a great opportunity to network with fellow Rotarians. To be on the registration list, REGISTER HERE.
Stone Mountain-Tucker area and Peachtree City are working on developing a Rotary Means Business for their area. Contact Carter Stout of the Rotary Club of Dunwoody if you want more information.
Our last social for the year is November 26, also at Politan Row. We will not meet in December.
If you’re interested in helping plan our events in 2025, or are interested in taking the lead on our Classification project, contact Carter Stout, Rotary Club of Dunwoody.
. . . . . Help Still Needed for Those Recovering from Hurricane Helene
The District Disaster Relief Team is actively working with GEMA, FEMA and partnering volunteer/relief organizations to assess needs and provide support. We are also in daily contact with our counterparts in all the impacted Rotary Districts in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina & South Carolina to share resources or best practices.
How can you help?
Money. Donate to the Disaster Relief Fund. On the relief fund website, see how your funds will be used to help with immediate needs: for example, $100 pays for 15 meal kits, $250 pays for a chainsaw, and $500 pays for a pallet of water.
Supplies. If you or your company can help procure large quantities of such items as bottled water, baby formula, cleaning supplies, portable power generation, batteries, charcoal, hand tools or other supplies you think would be helpful, please contact Chris Brand of FODAC and Stone Mountain Rotary Club at chrisbrand@fodac.org.
Work. Join fellow Rotarians on a road trip later this month to hard-hit areas, where the group will help clear debris or repair homes. The first trip is scheduled for October 30 through November 4. If you are interested in doing this kind of volunteer work, please fill out this form and we will keep you up to date as opportunities arise.
. . . . .
Committing to Ending Polio: Give to the Rotary International Fund
As we near World Polio Day on Oct. 24, Marion Curry reminds us that Rotarians are “People of Action”! As Rotarians, we are encouraged to give to the Rotary International (RI) Foundation every year (Every Rotarian Every Year - EREY). And as you know, RI has helped to vaccinate 400 million children against the polio virus. The funding for this important work around the globe comes from local clubs and the Rotary International Foundation.
Our support of the RI Foundation and Polio Plus has been down the last few years. Please consider giving this year and every year here after. The goal for our club is $1,600. Check with Pete Pfieffer, the club treasurer, to donate quarterly or go to the RI website.
Thank you for your generosity!.
. . . . .
Milestones
Club Anniversaries
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
Greeters: Tom Adams and Laura Brookshire
Guest: Jürg Frefel, a visiting Rotarian from Bern, Switzerland.
Invocation: Dee Raeside gave the invocation, inviting us all to practice the “box prayer” to calm the vagus nerve: breathe in for 7 seconds, hold breath for 7 seconds, breathe out for 7 seconds, pause for 7 seconds. Try it!
Kudos: President Dudley Larus congratulated City Schools of Decatur Superintendent Gymiah Whitaker for delivering a successful “State of the School District” address earlier in the day, which several Rotarians attended.
Congrats!: President Larus also congratulated Dan DeWoskin, who recently hosted another bourbon tasting at his home, which raised $600 for Rotary.
Welcome Back, Mac!: Mac Willett was reinstated as a club member. He was formerly a member of the Stone Mountain club.
. . . . .
Political Science Professor Dovile Budryte of Georgia Gwinnett College Was Our Speaker
Alan Yorker introduced our speaker
Dovile Budryte, a native of Lithuania, spoke about the war in Ukraine and how collective memory shapes Ukrainian views and experiences around the current Russian aggression. She also conveyed a sense of the complexity of historical memory in the Balkan states, explaining how frequently political boundaries and systems have changed in modern history, ultimately leading to narratives of collective trauma. She emphasized the importance of the experience of mass violence during the 20th century. Professor Budryte ended with possible positive outcomes for Ukraine, which include membership in NATO and the EU and hope for European and transatlantic unity.
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.
The District Disaster Relief Team is actively working with GEMA, FEMA and partnering volunteer/relief organizations to assess needs and provide support. We are also in daily contact with our counterparts in all the impacted Rotary Districts in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina & South Carolina to share resources or best practices.
.png)
