President's Message

3rd Quarter Report: Momentum That Matters

As promised, I am providing you with an update of how the club is doing at the end of each quarter during this Rotary year (hold on tight Gordon Owens- this is going to be a long President’s Rotoscope article- Haha). SO, as we move through the 3rd quarter of this Rotary year, one thing is clear—Roswell Rotary is not just maintaining momentum, we are accelerating it. Across (1) membership, (2) giving, and (3) service, this club continues to lead not only locally, but across the entire district.

Membership: Growth Fueled by You

From the very beginning of this Rotary year, my number one initiative as President was clear—membership growth. While this club is incredibly successful and has been exceptionally well-led for decades, we have experienced a slow decline as a lunch club. That trend is simply not sustainable if we want to maintain the level of giving, service, and impact that defines Roswell Rotary. Membership is not just important—it is foundational. Without a growing club, our ability to give diminishes, our ability to serve is limited, and ultimately, our ability to make a meaningful impact is reduced. Growth fuels everything we do.

Membership remains the lifeblood of our club, and the numbers tell a powerful story. This year, we have inducted 36 new members, resulting in 26 net new members which is a remarkable achievement that places us firmly in first place in the district for membership growth. To put that in perspective, the entire rest of the district combined has grown by just one more member than we have grown (27 total net growth across all other clubs, not counting those that declined). That means Roswell Rotary alone is responsible for nearly half of the district’s positive growth. Courtney Lott has done an amazing job and many in the club deserve a lot of credit as well buying into this club-wide call to action.

And we’re not done. Our goal of 50 new members in a single year, a record for our club, is still firmly within reach. With 14 more members to go, the path forward is simple and clear: It starts with you. It starts at your table. It starts with an invitation. Invite a friend, a coworker, a neighbor, a family member or even someone you’ve just met. Bring them to see what we do, how we do it, and most importantly, why we do it. That’s how great clubs grow and how legacies are continue for another 75 years.

Giving: A Legacy of Generosity

Our commitment to doing good in the world continues to show up in our giving.

As of March 21, 2026:

• $70,911 contributed to the Annual Fund

• $16,810 contributed to PolioPlus

That equates to:

• $327 per member to the Annual Fund

• $77 per member to PolioPlus

• $404 total giving per member, placing us second in the district

Even more impressive, as of this 3rd Quarter 2026, Roswell Rotary has now surpassed an extraordinary milestone—over $2 million in total giving to The Rotary Foundation. That is not just a number. That is impact. That is lives changed. That is a legacy that stretches far beyond Roswell.

Service: Where Impact Meets Action

Service remains at the heart of everything we do, and this quarter reflects both our deep roots and our forward momentum. Just this past weekend,

• We continued our long-standing support of the Roswell Relays, a premier track and field tradition at Roswell High School dating back to the 1980s, showcasing outstanding athletes from across our local schools.

• We rolled up our sleeves for a hands-on service project along the Chattahoochee River, helping clean up litter and preserve one of our community’s most treasured natural spaces.

• We recognized three heroes in our community- Fire Chief Cavender in January, veteran Beau Chatham in February, and Mary Lou Austin in March.

• We also celebrated the next generation of leaders through the Skipper Hoke Award, recognizing student-athletes Wren Gilmer (Fellowship), Jake Harmon (Roswell High School), Ryder Register (Blessed Trinity), and Anne Marie Smith (Centennial High School).

• We supported Alpharetta Rotary’s Polar Plunge, with Dave McCleary taking the plunge and many Roswell Rotarians showing up in strong support of Dave and Alpharetta’s worthy causes.

• We continued investing in future leaders through Leadership 20/20, welcoming more than 80 students from Roswell High School for an impactful day of growth and development.

• We honored educators and students with the teachers and students of the year in our local middle schools,

• We supported Women in Rotary spring social and they had its largest turnout to date,

• Our Valentine’s Blood Drive collected a record 40+ pints of much-needed blood,

• And it might not have been a true service project, but our 75th anniversary party sure was fun! In a way that honored the legacy and impact Roswell Rotary has made on this community for generations, we did things in style and had a great night celebrating what this club has accomplished.

Closing Thought

As we close out the 3rd quarter, this moment should not be viewed as a finish line—but as a checkpoint. A launching pad. A place where we pause just long enough to measure our progress, recalibrate our focus, and then press forward with even greater intention. Because what we do here at the end of this third quarter, and at the start of our 4th quarter, will not simply define how this Rotary year ends—it will help determine how we begin the next 75 years. That is the opportunity in front of us.

Seventy-five years from now, Rotarians will look back on this era of our club and tell the story of what we chose to build, what we chose to prioritize, and how we carried the torch forward. The decisions we make today like how we grow our membership, how we strengthen our giving, and how we deepen our service…… are laying the foundation for that future legacy.

And just as importantly, what we do now sets the stage for the leaders who follow. President-Elect Leslie Bassett will soon take the reins of this great club, and it is my hope, and our goal, that she is positioned to lead one of the most successful years Roswell Rotary has ever experienced. That success does not begin on the day she takes office. It begins now.

It begins with the momentum we build in membership. It begins with the generosity we continue to grow in our giving. It begins with the impact we expand through our service. And it will culminate in the strength and unity we bring to our largest fundraiser and community event of the year—our golf, tennis, and pickleball tournaments. If we do this well—if we stay focused, committed, and aligned—then we won’t just be finishing a strong Rotary year. We will be launching the next one.

And more than that—we will be shaping the beginning of the next 75 years of Roswell Rotary.

Sic Vos Non Vobis

Trummie Lee Patrick III

Senator Blake Tillery to Address Rotary on March 26

Date: Thursday, March 26
Time: 12:15
Location: Roswell Area Park
Bill Johnson Community Activity Building
Woodstock Road
Roswell, GA 30075

Senator Blake Tillery has represented Georgia’s 19th District since 2017, serving communities across Georgia’s 19th Senate District which includes all of Appling, Bacon, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Wayne, and Wheeler counties, along with the eastern portion of Coffee County . First elected to the Senate in 2016, he brought with him a strong record of local leadership, including his prior service as Chairman of the Toombs County Commission. Sen. Tillery announced in August 2025 that he would seek the office of Lieutenant Governor in the 2026 election. [read more]

Speaker Line up for March- Invite a guest!

March. 5  William Vestal- - AI from a Different View Add To Calendar

March 12 Horst Kristen Winzeler -True North 400  Add To Calendar

March 19  Lisa Meade Romero   Add To Calendar

March. 26Sen. Blake Tillery   Add To Calendar

Meeting Details

• Rotary Club of Roswell
• Roswell Area Park
• Bill Johnson Community Activity Building
• 10495 Woodstock Road
• Roswell, GA 30075

New Member Spotlight

A native-born Pennsylvanian, Jason Stine has been a Georgia transplant for the past 51 years, the last 26 in the Roswell, East Cobb and Woodstock areas. He has been happily married for 23 years to his “amazing wife,” Tara, a local pharmacist.

Professionally, Jason is a co-owner of Junction 311 Endurance Sports. For the past nine years, they have produced running races right here in Roswell, managing their own local 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons, as well as organizing events for local non-profits. He also co-owns OTP Endurance Sports, a Roswell-based social club that brings local runners, joggers, and walkers together for weekly group runs and monthly social events.

Absolutely thrilled to be a new member of the Roswell Rotary, Jason looks forward to the fellowship and friendships and is eager to give back to our community locally, nationally and around the globe.

FUN FACT: In his spare time, Jason is a huge Atlanta United supporter and an avid runner. You can also frequently find him down on Canton Street supporting our fantastic local businesses!

Roswell Relays
The Rest of the Story

Dear Members of the Roswell Rotary Club,

On behalf of our board and the entire track and field community, I am writing to express our sincere gratitude for your incredible work in hosting the Roswell Relays this past Saturday.

Since 1996, the Roswell Rotary Club has been the driving force behind this event, and its longevity is a testament to your organization’s dedication to our youth and our local community. The tradition you have built at Roswell High School provides a premier stage for these athletes to compete, and we are honored to have your continued partnership.

During the event, I had the pleasure of meeting several of your members. Every interaction was a reminder of why this event is so special; the friendliness, warmth, and genuine kindness shown by everyone in the Rotary Club made the day seamless and enjoyable for athletes and spectators alike.

We deeply appreciate everything you do to support our track and field team. Your commitment of time and resources ensures that our program can thrive, and the impact of your generosity is felt by every student who stepped onto the track this weekend.

Thank you again for your unwavering support and for another successful year of the Roswell Relays. We look forward to many more years of working together.

With gratitude,

Nikki Gibson
RHS Track & Field Board President

Last Week at Roswell Rotary