OUR SPEAKER: Rebecca Arayan | Executive Director, Villa International Atlanta
Villa International is a 33-room residence founded in 1967 as a “home away from home” for international guests in Atlanta. Villa offers short-term housing for those looking for a friendly and affordable place to stay. Rebecca and her family live on-site at Villa. Her husband, Caren Arayan, is originally from Armenia (where Rebecca was stationed in the Peace Corps), and they have two teenaged children together.
Also speaking is Taiko Nakazawa, a student at Emory University Rollins School of Public Health.
Upcoming Meetings and Events Mark those calendars!
Weekly luncheon meetings begin
at 12:15 pm on Fridays unless
otherwise noted.
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FRIDAY
MAY 24 No Meeting
Enjoy your
Memorial Day weekend!
. . . . .
FRIDAY
MAY 31 Speaker:
Dr. Gyimah Whitaker
Superintendent
City Schools of Decatur
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THURSDAY
JUNE 6 Thirsty Thursday
Parker's on Ponce
116 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. Decatur 30030
Get a sneak peek at upcoming speakers on the website HERE.
MEETING NOTES | May 10
Guests
Michael B. Parks, District 6900 Chair, Rotary Youth Exchange
Minelli Sargent, Decatur Youth Exchange Student
Donald Sargent, Parent
Monica and Mark Paré, Parents
Pam Adams, guest of Al Adams
Riley Paré, Decatur Youth Exchange Student
All Adams introduces his guest Pam Adams
Meeting Moderator, Jason Conn, kicks off the meeting getting everyone energized.
Service project Chair Chris Brannon reminded the club about the Toy Park Clean Up on Saturday, part of a larger initiative of the Decatur Club to honor its cherished member, James Brewer-Calvert.
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Rotary Youth Exchange Project
The club was honored to receive Michael Parks, chair of the district 6900 Rotary Youth Exchange, along with outgoing exchange students Riley Paré and parents and Minelli Sargent and her parent to the meeting. Club chair John Bennett has been working tirelessly on the project and the club thanks him for all his efforts which are significant. In the meeting, Mr. Parks awarded checks of $25K which symbolize the monetary value of the exchange program for each student.
District 6900 Rotary Youth Exchange Chair, Michael Parks addresses the club.
Exchange Student Riley Paré, President-Elect Dudley Larus and Club Chair John Bennett hold the award check.
Minelli Sargent is introduced with her father.
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Thank You to All the
Rotary Fundraiser Volunteers
In the May 10 meeting, we all took a moment and thanked the contributors, sponsors and Fundraiser Team for all their efforts and work and what looks like a successful event.
Preliminary reports show that we raised about $50K with more details to come. Also, the Grant Committee has started to meet and is reviewing grant applications.
Thank you all who helped, attended and supported this event.
Fundraiser Team member, Art Rosser, thanks the club for answering his call to provide fundraising items that represented ‘unique and interesting experiences’ that people could bid on. They did it!
Dudley Larus, Fundraiser and Foundation Chair, thanks all the contributors, sponsors and Fundraising Team for all their efforts and work.
Each Fundraiser Team member received a small Rotary desk paper weight in honor of their work. The Team is:
• Jason Conn
• Kris Webb
• Jennifer Topple
• Maria Alverez
• Art Rosser
• Rick Garnitz
• David Hughes
• Dudley Larus
SPEAKER RECAP
Caston Noorullah, UGA Agriculture Agent
A Treat for All the Rotary Gardeners!
President Elect, Dudley Larus, himself an avid gardener, introduced Caston to the club.
Our speaker, Caston Noorullah, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent
UGA Agriculture Agent Caston Noorullah discussed the details about garden composting and answered a myriad of questions until time ran out. The focus of her talk was the benefits and details about composting.
What you can and cannot put into your composting pile.
Composting is beneficial for gardeners and gardens because:
Nutrient-rich soil: Compost enriches the soil with essential nutrients, making it more fertile for plant growth. It provides a natural source of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and other trace minerals that are vital for plants.
Improves soil structure: Compost helps improve soil structure by increasing its ability to retain moisture and nutrients. This enhances aeration and drainage, creating a healthy environment for plant roots to thrive.
Reduces waste: Composting diverts organic waste from landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping the environment. It's a sustainable way to manage kitchen scraps, yard waste, and other organic materials.
Suppresses diseases: Compost can act as a natural disease suppressant, helping to protect plants from soil-borne pathogens. It promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms that can combat harmful ones.
Cost-effective: Making your compost saves money on fertilizers and soil amendments. It's a cost-effective way to recycle organic materials and improve your garden's health in the long run.
Moderator Jason Conn awards a book to the Dekalb Library System in honor of Caston’s talk.
Jason Conn Announces: “Four More Years!”
This 'n That
Scenes from around the room at our most recent meeting. Individuals are identified from left to right.
Herb McCoy and Harl Pike
Art Rosser and Laura Brookshire
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.
All Adams introduces his guest Pam Adams
Exchange Student Riley Paré, President-Elect Dudley Larus and Club Chair John Bennett hold the award check.
Minelli Sargent is introduced with her father.
What you can and cannot put into your composting pile.
Moderator Jason Conn awards a book to the Dekalb Library System in honor of Caston’s talk.
Jason Conn Announces: “Four More Years!”
Herb McCoy and Harl Pike
Art Rosser and Laura Brookshire
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