Rotascope

President's Message

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love is as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.” – William Shakespeare

“Ve’ahavta I’reacha kamocha”. – “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

“To love at all - is to be vulnerable.” - C.S. Lewis

Valentine’s Day is almost here. Florists are swamped, restaurants are booked, and Americans will spend billions on flowers, candy, jewelry, and cards. It’s one of the most commercialized days on the calendar — yet its origins are anything but commercial.

The story traces back to Saint Valentine, a priest in ancient Rome who defied an imperial decree that banned young soldiers from marrying. The emperor believed single men made better warriors. Valentine believed love and commitment made better men. He secretly performed weddings and was ultimately imprisoned and executed around 269 A.D. Tradition holds that before his death he signed a note, “From your Valentine.” Strip away the roses and reservations, and Valentine’s Day was never about sentiment. It was about sacrifice — choosing love even when it costs something.

If you pause and think about it, “love” may be the most overworked and yet most powerful word in the human vocabulary. Linguists estimate there are roughly 7,000 living languages on earth, and most of them don’t settle for just one word for love. Many have two, three, sometimes four distinct words separating romantic love, familial devotion, loyal friendship, even sacrificial or divine love. Across cultures and centuries, that likely amounts to tens of thousands of unique words that mean some form of love.

And then there’s music. I think I broke the internet last night when I Googled-- “how many songs have love in the title?” (yes, I still Google instead of AI– I’m so 2023 with that old school search engine) With more than 100 million songs cataloged on platforms like Spotify alone, even a conservative estimate suggests millions of songs contain “love” in the title alone. It was like Googling, “how many Auburn football players have entered the transfer portal?” No one knows…..The number simply cannot be calculated!

Few words are used more loosely or carry more weight than love. We say we love our spouse, our children, our country, our team, even our favorite meal. Across cultures, languages distinguish between romantic love, family, friendship, commitment, etc. Scripture too reflects that depth. Love is described not as a thin emotion but as layered throughout the Bible and is used in many ways to cover different meanings. It is action. It is perseverance. It is service.

That is where Rotary enters the conversation. Every time we give to a campaign to help others in need, mentor a student through Interact, recognize a first responder, or support education and health initiatives, we are practicing a disciplined form of love. We may not say the word specifically, but Service Above Self is love.

In 1885, when the Statue of Liberty arrived from France, America lacked funds to build the pedestal it would stand on. Publisher Joseph Pulitzer asked ordinary citizens to contribute — no gift too small. More than 120,000 people responded, most giving less than a dollar. Schoolchildren sent pennies. Immigrants gave what little they had. The pedestal was built not by a few wealthy benefactors, but by thousands of everyday people choosing action over apathy. Love of country became service in motion. At its best, love is not something you feel. It is something you do.

It is easy to love when it is convenient. It is harder when it requires time, money, patience, and consistency. Rotarians give their time, their resources, and their willingness to show up.

So perhaps the question this week is simple: Who else needs to feel seen? Where can I give something that costs me a little so someone else gains a lot? Martin Luther King Jr. asked, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” That question sits at the intersection of Valentine’s Day and Rotary. Love is not best measured by what we purchase, but by what we are willing to give.

In Rotary, we don’t just celebrate love one day a year. We practice it every day.

Sic Vos Non Vobis

Trummie Lee Patrick III

Horst Schulze Brings a No‑Nonsense Guide to Excellence on February 12

Roswell Rotary welcomes Horst Schulze on February 12 for a program drawn from his signature philosophy: becoming the very best in a world that too often settles for compromise. His no‑nonsense approach to excellence, shaped over a lifetime of leadership in luxury hospitality, offers practical, people‑centered principles that apply to every profession and career stage. Mr. Schulze’s message challenges individuals and organizations alike to pursue uncompromising standards and to unlock the disruptive power of their true potential.
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TODAY Wed Feb 11
Blood Drive-Walk In's Welcome

The 80's

Video The 80's 

Gratitude Wall: Members Helping Members

Highlighting a few of the many acts of service our members give to each other:

Angela Medley would like to thank Dr. Scott Moscow.

"A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with shingles on my forehead. My primary doctor was very concerned about the proximity to my eye and strongly urged me to see an ophthalmologist immediately to ensure the infection had not spread. As you can imagine, this was frightening news.

I began calling around to get an urgent appointment but had no success. Offices were booked out and, unfortunately, did not share the same level of urgency my doctor expressed. Feeling anxious and running out of options, I reached out to Scott Moscow through our Rotary connection.

He responded right away with kindness and concern and had me in his office within the hour.

Dr. Moscow’s team conducted a thorough exam and was able to confirm that the shingles had not spread to my eye. The relief that brought to both me and my husband is hard to put into words. In a moment that felt stressful and uncertain, his responsiveness, professionalism, and compassion made all the difference.

I am incredibly grateful for his willingness to step in so quickly and provide such excellent care. It is a blessing to have physicians in our community who lead with both expertise and heart.

Thank you, Dr. Moscow, for taking such wonderful care of me".

Nancy Alterman would like to thank Dave Young

"Shout out to dave young who came on Sunday 4 days after my knee surgery to make sure I was doing my exercises and rehabbing like I was suppose to. He did say the energizer bunny has her battery in and going strong. Thanks Dave for your thoughtfulness ?❤️?"

Becky Nelson would like to thank Bill Swank

"Thanks to our own Bill Swank for taking a legal matter we didn’t know how to approach and making it simple. Thank you, Bill!"

Hero of the Month

Welcome New Member Cathy Pope

Roswell Rotary new member, Cathy Pope, is a native of Camilla, GA, graduating with a degree in Mathematics from Southwestern State University. Moving on to Dallas/Fort Worth Texas for 8 years, she moved to Macon, GA and raised 4 children.

In the midst of her moves, Cathy managed to eke out an MBA in Finance from TCU, a Masters in Political Science from Georgia State University, capping it off with a Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Policy Studies from University of Memphis!

Once her youngest headed to college, she threw her resume out in the Southeast, taking a position as President and CEO of food banks in Mobile AL, then in Memphis, TN. In November of 2024, Cathy moved to Alpharetta for a position as Executive Director of Senior Services North Fulton, a nonprofit that runs Meals on Wheels. This program provides for seniors in North Fulton, which along with other services, helps them remain independent in their own homes for a long as possible.

Currently in the North Fulton Leadership Class with the North Fulton Chamber, Cathy hopes to volunteer with a nonprofit that helps animals, while other service projects of interest include working with youth and veterans groups.

Divorced, Cathy is mom to 3 boys: DJ 37, Clayton 34, Sam 31 and one daughter, Catherine who is 29, all now GA residents.

Fun fact: Having been a bit of a vagabond for the last 11 years and finally feeling at home and settled, she has just purchased a townhome in Roswell and will be moving from Alpharetta to Roswell mid-February!

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