President Message
Roswell Rotarians, this week's message comes with an overflowing heart of gratitude. The Big Connect turned out exactly as I'd envisioned it — and then some. Watching our members unite across three service projects at three local Rotarian-owned breweries, all within three hours on Sunday, was a joy I won't soon forget. Thank you, thank you, thank you to every single one of you who showed up, rolled up your sleeves, and gave your Sunday afternoon to each other and to our community. This is what Strengthening Connections looks like in action.
There is something wonderfully honest about building a birdhouse alongside a fellow Rotarian — and then rebuilding it when the first attempt wasn't quite right. We laughed, we problem-solved, we got a little sawdust on our shoes, and somewhere in the middle of all that fumbling and figuring it out together, we connected in a way that a regular meeting agenda simply can't replicate. When the torrential downpour rolled in, nobody rushed for the door. We lingered under whatever cover we could find, let the conversation stretch a few extra minutes, and found that the waiting was its own kind of gift. That is the beauty of common purpose: it slows us down long enough to actually see one another. And it wasn't just members — it was members' friends, spouses, and children, all finding their own place of belonging in our Rotary family. That energy, that vibrancy, that sense of "I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be" is the whole point.
Now the question is how we carry that energy forward. As we move deeper into our Connections Challenge, I hope The Big Connect serves as proof of what's possible when we choose one another intentionally, week after week. And as we set our sights on the Golf, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament, let's bring that same spirit with us — because this event isn't just about raising funds for our local charities with our wallets; it's about doing it with purpose and heart, in a way that deepens our members' connection to the causes and the community we serve. Sunday reminded us that when we build something together — even a slightly crooked birdhouse — the thing we're really building is us. Let's keep building.
In Service,
Leslie
Georgia Supreme Court Justice John Ellington Joins Roswell Rotary August 13
On August 13th, Roswell Rotary is pleased to host Justice John J. Ellington. Justice Ellington has served on the Supreme Court of Georgia since 2018, following nearly two decades on the Georgia Court of Appeals. He began his judicial career in 1991 as one of Georgia’s youngest trial judges, serving in Treutlen County and across five judicial circuits in South Georgia.
A graduate of the University of Georgia (B.B.A., J.D.) and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, he has been widely recognized for leadership and service, including Georgia Trend’s 40‑Under‑40 and multiple Distinguished Judicial Service Awards. He is past President of the Vidalia Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, and recipient of the Robert Benham Award for Community Service. He is also a former Chairman of Four Rivers Ducks Unlimited, past President of the Soperton Lions Club, and former President of the Treutlen County Sportsman’s Club. He served as a Director of Swainsboro Technical College. Justice Ellington is a member of the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, and a fellow of the Lawyers Foundation of Georgia. Justice Ellington remains active in civic and professional organizations statewide.
Justice Ellington and his wife, Sandra Kate, live on their family farm in Treutlen County.
THIS Wed. Aug 12 6:30pm
Tennis-Pickleball Clinic
Alive in Roswell
Aug 26
Blood Drive
Sat. August 22, 2026
Run/Walk for Officer Labonte
Roswell Rotarians, join the Roswell community as we lace up our running shoes to honor a local hero. The Jeremy Labonte Memorial 5K is more than just a race; it is a community-wide tribute to a man who gave his all for our safety, and a chance for us to come together to support the men and women who wear the badge.
Running for a Cause: Every step you take, and every registration fee helps give back to the department Officer Labonte loved. All proceeds from the race will directly benefit Friends of Roswell Police and The Roswell Police Foundation.
Location: Sweet Apple Elementary (12025 Etris Rd, Roswell, GA), Date: Saturday August 22nd, 8:00 AM.
Course: Fast, Flat, and fully paved out and back on Etris Road
Who: Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are welcome!
Sign up here: Jeremy Labonte Memorial 5K
Contact: Jason Stine 770-527-2882, Elizabeth Greer 404-510-9733, or Lynne Lindsay 404-229-4558 with questions.
Sat. Sept. 19
Lake Party
Sat. Sept. 19
River Clean Up
35th Annual Rivers Alive! Cleanup Saturday, September 19, 2026
Headquartered at Chattahoochee Nature Center 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA 30075
Rivers Alive, Georgia’s annual river cleanup, comes to Roswell on September 19. The event, co-hosted by Keep Roswell Beautiful and the City of Roswell, is part of a statewide campaign to preserve Georgia’s 70,100 miles of rivers and streams. Small groups of volunteers will be dispersed across the city to perform beautification projects, including litter pick-ups, invasive plant and shrub removal, mulching, native plant planting, and storm drain marking.
Registration
Register online. The registration deadline is September 16. Pre-registered groups will be assigned a task based on preference. In addition to the online group registration, each volunteer must provide a signed waiver.
Questions? Contact Dutch Earle 770-403-0755
URGENT - Please Help Keep YE Alive for Roswell Rotary
Roswell Rotary Club has a long-standing tradition of supporting Rotary Youth Exchange and the global connections it fosters. This year, we have an urgent need for a host family for our 17‑year‑old student from Vimercate, Italy, who will be entering the 11th grade at Roswell High School. She arrives next week, and while host families are already secured for the fall and winter terms, we are in immediate need of a family to host her for the Spring 2027 semester.
We are looking for a caring family willing to open their home and hearts to her for a three‑month hosting period. You do not need to have a high school student of your own to participate, just a willingness to share your family life, offer support, and embrace a meaningful cultural exchange . Families do not have to be in Rotary. If you know of a great family in the Roswell High School district, please approach them about this opportunity!
The Rotary Youth Exchange Program thrives because of families who generously welcome students they have never met, creating bonds that last a lifetime. In a world that feels increasingly divided, hosting an exchange student is a powerful way to build understanding, broaden perspectives, and help our young people, and ourselves, see the shared hopes and dreams that connect us across cultures.
If you would like to explore this opportunity for global friendship, either for this school year or next, or know a neighbor or friend who would open their home, please contact Alesia Booth, Deb Perkins, or email roswellrotaryye@gmail.com.
Please Listen
Important Video
Click HERE for Video Message
Sunday, Sept 13
Tournament Tailgate
Sept 14
Tournament Time is Here
Weekly Golf, Tennis, Pickleball Tournament Meetings Begin This Week!
Meet in gym at 11:15 before the lunch meeting. Weekly updates on tournament. All new members encouraged to attend!
Link to Website
Download Golf Flyer
Download Tennis-Pickleball Flyer
Download Golf Tri-Fold
Download Tennis-Pickleball Tri-Fold
Sponsorships- The Tournament Engine
Sponsorships are the engine that drives the Golf-Tennis-Pickleball Tournament.
As Rotarians, we know service above self is more than a motto — it’s a call to action. That’s why the Roswell Rotary Golf, Tennis, & Pickleball Tournaments are more than just fun on the fairways and fierce matches on the courts. They’re engines of change for our community.
Every dollar raised through our annual tournaments goes directly to local charities that make a difference in the lives of children, veterans, seniors, and families in need. Corporate sponsorship helps fund programs that provide winter clothing for students, medical equipment for veterans, meals for homebound seniors, and educational support for at-risk youth — to name just a few.
Thank you to the Sponsorship Committee for stepping up to serve in this critical role. But remember, the Sponsorship Committee will need the help of every Roswell Rotary member. We have to fire up this engine with our friends, neighbors, contacts, and networks. We are all part of the sponsorship team!
To sponsor or learn more, visit the Tournament Website or contact Kurt Hilbert khilbert@kaufmanhilbert.com
Commit early! The Big Connect event is on August 9th, and all committed and paid sponsors will get a free beer at one of our three event breweries while we perform a service project for one of the tournament charities. Great way to get your company involved and experience hands-on exactly where your sponsorship dollars go!
New for Premium Sponsors (Silver and Above): Special exclusive invitation-only event before the tournament and VIP perks. Contact Kurt Hilbert khilbert@chalmersadams.com
Volunteers-The Heart of the Tournament
Volunteers – The secret sauce to our day of service and fundraising for charities is our volunteers. Secure your spot now so you know how you’ll contribute…and how you’ll enjoy the fellowship the rest of the day. Volunteering has a not-so-secret side benefit of building relationships (dare I say Strengthening Connections?? ?) with fellow Rotarians!
For many Roswell Rotarians, the Golf, Tennis, Pickleball Tournament is the place where they, as a new member, felt most engaged and made the most connections with their fellow club members. Volunteer, make new friends, serve our community-We all win!
Sign Up to Volunteer
Where does the Tournament Money Go?
If you were at the Roswell Rotary meeting when the charity grant checks from the Golf, Tennis, Pickleball tournament were handed out, you remember the energy and the joy from the recipients as they received their checks. Just look at what this club accomplished! How many amazing charities are stronger and able to serve more of our community because of your efforts at the 2025 tournament?
This is the WHY of the tournament.
One event with far reaching effects!
Thank You Golf Tournament Sponsors
Thank You Tennis & Pickleball Sponsors
Coming Up Sept. 3rd
US Treasurer Brandon Beach Speaking at Roswell Rotary
Upcoming Roswell Rotary Events
Strengthen Your Connections Here!
Tennis Pickleball Clinic
Wednesday, August 12
6:30pm - 8:00pm Country Club of Roswell
Add To Calendar
Officer Labonte 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, August 22 8am
Sweet Apple Elementary
Add To Calendar
Blood Drive
Wed. Aug 26 8am-2pm
The Tavern
Add To Calendar
Tournament Tailgate
Sunday, September 13 6pm - 8pm
Add To Calendar
2026 Golf, Tennis, Pickleball Tournament
Monday, Sept. 14
Add To Calendar
Rivers Alive Clean Up
Saturday, September 19
Add To Calendar
Lake Day at Gordon Owens
Saturday, September 19
Add To Calendar
So Busy!!!!
Last Two Weeks at Roswell Rotary
