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Dr. Robert M. Franklin Jr. Candler School of Theology
Emory University
In his position as the inaugural James T. and Berta R. Laney Chair in Moral Leadership at Candler, The Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin, Jr. challenges students to explore the concept of moral leadership in the 21st century in different cultures and contexts in the United States and around the world. Now in his second term at Emory, Franklin is a former Presidential Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics and a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, both at Emory, and was also the founding director of Candler’s Black Church Studies program from 1989 to 1995.
Weekly luncheon meetings begin at 12:15 pm
on Fridays unless otherwise noted.
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FRIDAY
DECEMBER 27
No Meeting
Happy Holidays!
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FRIDAY
JANUARY 3
No Meeting
Happy New Year!
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THURSDAY
JANUARY 9
Thirsty Thursday
Location TBA
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FRIDAY
JANUARY 10
Ray James
The Ansley School
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FRIDAY
JANUARY 17
Dr. David Wright Emory University School of Medicine
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FRIDAY
JANUARY 24
Dov Wilker Regional Director, AJC Atlanta
Decatur Rotary Means Service
Luis Abularach, Dudley Larus, and Lawrence Sharp gather coats for delivery to Threshold
In the past month, we collected winter coats for the Threshold Ministry at Decatur Presbyterian, donated canned protein for the Atlanta Food Bank, delivered leftover food from our lunches to Hagar’s House in Decatur, and volunteered as Salvation Army bell ringers.
Scroll down to join your fellow Rotarians for the MLK service project January, 18, 19, 20!
Sign up for a project, and enlist a couple of friends to help, too. Let’s work together to support our community!
SERVICE SIGN UPS
MLK Sign up for Shifts:sign up HERE
Home and yard maintenance and repair for elderly residents
Help Setup Rotary Meetings: sign up HERE
Setup for the weekly meeting and breakdown afterward
Food Donation:sign up HERE
Drive leftover lunch food to shelter on Church St., 1.5 mi from courthouse
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Milestones
Club Anniversaries
Judy Turner, 34 years
Al Adams, 27 years
David Hughes, 23 years
December Birthdays
Elliot Augustine, 18 years
Pete Pfeiffer, 16 years
Dud Larus, 3 years
Delores Crowell, Dec. 4
Brian Deutsch, Dec. 6
Tim Martin, Dec. 12
Dan Coursey, Dec. 18
Kris Webb, Dec. 21
Mary Ann Cathopoulis, Dec. 25
FRIDAY | JANUARY 31, 2025
Harl Pike gave the invocation. Tim Martin (right) reminded everyone that this week’s special program starts early: hosts for STAR program guests should arrive at 11:30, and lunch will be served at 11:45. Doug Robinson (above, left), house captain for our MLK service project, reported that inclement weather prevented us from completing the finishing touches. He’s looking for three consecutive good-weather days for us to return to the home and complete the painting job. Stay tuned for those make-up days.
Wondering where some of our club members are? Are you missing having conversations with anyone? If you notice someone hasn’t been attending meetings, take the initiative and call or email them (use our handy Club Runner directory). Make sure our members know that we care, and we want to see them at lunch. Let’s take care of our Rotary Club community!
Maria Alvarez reached out to Mary Ann Cathopoulis, who has been recuperating from illness. Eric Lucas said that he had contacted Barbara Tedrow, who has also been out because of illness.
Speaker Jon Thompson with Club President Dudley Larus
Maria Alvarez introduced speaker Jon Thompson, CEO and co-founder of the nonprofit organization Comunidad Connect, which offers programs in Nicaragua and Dominican Republic designed to improve public health, community development and sustainability, and opportunities for young people through sports. Jon talked about how critical relationships are to his organization’s success. He said, “Real change happens at the speed of trust.”
Visitors were Nedra White-Shaw, guest of John Bennett; Candiace Williams, guest of Danielle Jones; Misty Palmer, guest of Dan DeWoskin; Jailah Zanders, guest of Lawrence Sharp; Dr. Mohamed Saleh, president of the Cairo Rhine-Nile Club in Egypt.
Meeting Recap
Dan DeWoskin gave the invocation.
Carl Seville (left) introduced speaker Jay Arnold.
Carl Seville introduced our speaker, Jay Arnold, Corporate Relations Manager of the Atlanta Food Bank. They recently opened a new HQ in East Point, from which the Food Bank serves 29 counties across the metro area. One of their local partners is Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry (DEAM). They help alleviate food insecurity through partnerships and programs with Community Food Centers, mobile/school pantries, Food as Medicine, Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and much more.
Jay told the club about the many ways companies can support the Atlanta Food Bank. Some of those ways are:
Engage/volunteer
Community events, such as Hunger Walk/Run; Full Course Classic
Industry competitions, such as Georgia Accounting Food Fight; Georgia Legal Food Frenzy; Food-A-Thon; Food for All; Food Actually
Food and fund drives
Board membership
President Dudley Larus thanked everyone who worked as a Salvation Army Bell Ringer. Special thanks to Bob Ettensohn, who made it all happen, and a salute to Jamaal Ellis, Salvation Army captain and Decatur Rotary member.
Jennifer Topple would like help filling a speaker opportunity for Feb 2. Let Jennifer or Herb McCoy know if you have suggestions!
Scenes from our most recent meeting and events. Individuals are identified from left to right.
Harl Pike gave the invocation. Tim Martin (right) reminded everyone that this week’s special program starts early: hosts for STAR program guests should arrive at 11:30, and lunch will be served at 11:45. Doug Robinson (above, left), house captain for our MLK service project, reported that inclement weather prevented us from completing the finishing touches. He’s looking for three consecutive good-weather days for us to return to the home and complete the painting job. Stay tuned for those make-up days. 
Speaker Jon Thompson with Club President Dudley Larus
Carl Seville (left) introduced speaker Jay Arnold.
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