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Join us in celebrating this special occasion in honor of Mr. Sharian, one of our longtime Rotary members, featuring a presentation on the history of Sharian Rugs in Decatur by Walt Drake. Don’t miss this special event!
Weekly luncheon meetings begin at 12:15 pm
on Fridays unless otherwise noted.
. . . . . FRIDAY
AUGUST 15
MEETING Paul J. Welty
Vice Provost,
Emory University
. . . . . FRIDAY
AUGUST 22
MEETING Lisa Moultrie
DeKalb County DA's Office
. . . . . FRIDAY
AUGUST 29 No Meeting
Enjoy the
Labor Day Weekend
. . . . .
SERVICE PROJECT SATURDAY! FODAC Equipment Drive, August 9
Some of our 2024 FODAC volunteers.
The next FODAC (Friends of Disabled Adults and Children) home medical equipment drive is happening on Saturday, August 9, 2025, 9 am to 1 pm, hosted by the DeKalb Rotary Council. Gently used items like wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, and pediatric equipment will be collected at the 57th Fighter Squadron Restaurant, next to PDK Airport.
Our club has long participated in this annual service project. Make plans to be there!
How to Sign Up
The Rotary FODAC Team needs to know who will be attending ahead of time so they can assign routes, trucks and personnel. So, Contact Bob Ettensohn ASAP, bob@ettensohn.com or 863-838-2400 to sign up for this event and let him know if you are planning on bringing a truck or van.
. . . . . SERVICE PROJECT SUNDAY! Rotary Youth Exchange Welcome Picnic, August 10
Come and meet our district’s inbound students from Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Taiwan. The entire Rotary Youth Exchange community comes together at this event: host families, volunteers, past exchange students, future exchange students, and of course, this year's inbound class.
Our club is the local host for this event. We need volunteers to help set up, serve food, and clean up. Email Kelly Caudle or call 404-931-3725 if you would like to help.
Even if you can’t volunteer, join us anyway for the social time! Please RSVP here.
Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Picnic
Aug. 10, 1 to 4 pm
Mason Mill Park Pavilion
1406-1458 McConnell Dr., Decatur, GA, 30033
. . . . .
Service Project: Food for Hagar’s House
Kelly Caudle, Doug Tozzi, and David Ewing pack up surplus food.
Every week, we pack up our lunch surplus and deliver it to Hagar’s House on Church Street (close to Twain’s). Hagar’s House is an emergency shelter for families with children and is a program of Decatur Cooperative Ministries, one of Decatur Rotary’s longtime partners.
We need people to help with two tasks: packing up food and driving it to the shelter. Your participation counts toward our club’s service project numbers.
To deliver the food to Hagar’s, just down Church Street, please sign up here.
Thanks for your help!
. . . . . SERVICE PROJECT: DEAM Support During August
August is our DEAM month. What is DEAM? DEAM (Decatur-area Emergency Assistance Ministry) is a ministry supported primarily by 18 area churches that seek to meet the emergency needs of the less fortunate in the community.
Decatur Rotary is partnering with Decatur Presbyterian Church to support DEAM during the month of August as one of our key service projects this summer.
What Can You Do?
The next time you go grocery shopping, pick up a few items from the list below and bring them to the club on any Friday in August. Place them in the basket on the front table. That's it!
Urgent and Ongoing Food Pantry Needs
DEAM relies on contributions of non-perishable food and basic health supplies. DEAM buys many canned goods from the Atlanta Community Food Bank at pennies on the dollar, but the items listed below are always in short supply.
Opportunities to Host and to Travel: Rotary Youth Exchange 2025-2026
Become a Host Family
Decatur Rotary will host a new exchange student, Max, from Taiwan, for the upcoming school year, and we still need two more host families. Hosting a Rotary International high school exchange student is a life-enhancing experience for your entire family. It’s a unique opportunity to get new perspectives, explore new customs, and share American culture and community with others. Most of all, you’ll build special friendships and connections that last a lifetime. By opening your hearts and home you share in international understanding and fellowship.
Want to know more? Click here for more details about hosting requirements. Contact John Bennett for more information.
Apply to Attend High School in Another Country
Know a student who would enjoy an immersive experience abroad? Applications for the 2026-2027 school year will open on August 1, 2025, and the application deadline is October 15, 2025.
Student applicants must be 14 to 17 years old at the time they apply. Students pay a non-refundable application fee of $150 to be considered for the program. Rotary International has one of the biggest student exchange programs in the world. About 10,000 high school students participate in the exchange each year worldwide. The program allows students to immerse themselves in a different culture.
Want to know more?Click here for more details about studying abroad. Contact John Bennett for more information.
. . . . .
Milestones | August
Club Anniversaries
Tom Adams, 46 years
John Bennett, 19 years
Desiree Peagler, 19 years
Doug Park, 11 years
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Donna Phillips, 3 years
Marion Curry, 3 years
Laura Brookshire, 2 years
Desiree Peagler, August 3
Mac Willett, August 6
William Harshman, August 13
Dave Jollay, August 15
Friday, August 1 Recap
(Left) Dud introduces our speaker, Alex Urban (right).
Dud Larus introduced our lunch speaker, Alex Urban, the executive director for the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, the culminating event for the PGA tour. Alex emphasized that the championship at East Lake is a catalyst for community growth in three key ways: 1) economic impact (driving local revenue and boosting tourism), 2) community service (supporting local charities), and 3) global awareness (attracting worldwide attention and driving future investment). The Tour Championship has an annual $182 million economic impact. Alex noted that they strive to make it a local event, with an Atlanta “vibe” and local vendors. This year’s event is Aug. 20-24 and tickets are available!
Visitors included Doug Sullivan, guest (and spouse) of Elizabeth Sullivan; and Cynthia Fripps and Toni Smith, guests of Jack Kirivong. We look forward to welcoming you back!
