Projects
Adopt-A-Mile 23 August
The Alpharetta Rotary Club picks up trash along Old Milton Parkway between Haynes Bridge Road and Georgia 400 once a quarter to help improve the environment and make Alpharetta a nicer place in which to live and work. Rotarians meet at the Burger King and have breakfast and then spend the next two hours in fellowship with one another and often with family members, interact students, and others.
Adopt-A-Mile 3 Nov
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta picks up trash along Old Milton Parkway between Haynes Bridge Road and Georgia 400 once a quarter to help improve the environment and make Alpharetta a nicer place in which to live and work. Rotarians meet at the Burger King and have breakfast and then spend the next two hours in fellowship with one another and often with family members, interact students, and others. Adopt-A-Mile provided an excellent opportunity for Alpharetta Rotarians to fellowship while serving their community and some Rotarian’s family members, friends and Interact Students joined us in community service.
Adopt-A-Mile Mar 2015
The Alpharetta Rotary Club picks up trash along Old Milton Parkway between Haynes Bridge Road and Georgia 400 once a quarter to help improve the environment and make Alpharetta a nicer place in which to live and work. Rotarians meet at the Burger King and have breakfast and then spend the next two hours in fellowship with one another and often with family members, interact students, and others.
Alpharetta Veterans Memorial
Alpharetta Veterans Memorial Several years ago the President of Rotary International charged all clubs to assist their communities in planting trees. From that club meeting an idea germinated to not omnly plant trees in the new Alpharetta city Center , but also to build a memorial to all our military veterans. Club members, working with the City, got an idea, had it approved and now the memorial is in the building stage. From that project, another sprung to life and that is where the Alpharetta club will lead a Memorial day celebration in the new City Center. Thanks to the current President, Karen Nolan and past Presidents Dan Merkel and Bill Weeks and the vision. In addition to the Club's donation we also support a Member's matching grant for the memorial. The Member donate $1K and the Club matched. Our total contribution to the Memorial from a Rotarian the the Club is $4.5K.
Art Literacy @ Treehouse Art Gallery Sis and Moon
This year's President Signature Project for Basic Education and Literacy. Part of the multi-project program was Art Literacy. We built a program with the Treehouse Gallery at Sis and Moon in historical downtown Alpharetta, that would support a place to at risk kids with the love for art to come get additional art training and a place with other artist like themselves. Teenagers who are artistic sometimes fall out of the mainstream and the art gallery is a place for them to meet with other students and adults who share like passion. Students will participate in designing a mural for the downtown area that will include the Rotary wheel. The Art Literacy Program is a pilot for the Club this year and was started with 2 students. If successful we see the opportunity to grow the program.
Business of the Year
This year the Rotary Club of Alpharetta initiated the First Business of the Year Award to be awarded to an Alpharetta Large Business (more than 100 employees) and an Alpharetta Small Business (less than 100 employees). Our goal was to engage with our public and private neighbors in our community, to seek out nominations and via a committee select the businesses that are excellent stewards of the Rotary principles and the 4-way test. Applications were solicited over a 2 month period through the local Business Chambers and the Alpharetta Visitor Bureau and Conference Center. The businesses selected also are actively engaged in the community and give of their thinking, time, talent and treasures to address some of the world's most pressing needs. This award helps us connect with our local businesses but more importantly to acknowledge businesses that are Rotarian in nature. In addition it gave us the opportunity to get to know our local businesses and for them to learn more about Rotary. Not only did we give these two business an award to display at their business. We also donated $500.00 to the not for profit of their choice. The winner for Business of the Year (large) was LexisNexis. The International Rescue Committee was their chosen charity. The winner of the Business of the Year (small) was Alpharetta Outfitters. Wandering to Nourish Atlanta was the chosen recipient. Local Press Releases were completed by the Rotary Club and LexisNexis
Cafe Rotary
A Rotary fellowship event where Alpharetta Rotarians get an opportunity to share Fellowship in smaller groups at Rotarians home. This year we introduced Café Rotary to the Club with 4 Rotarians hosting the event at their homes. Each home hosted about 6 Rotary couples. It is an event that allows us to share Rotary stories and engage our spouses in the Rotary spirit.
City of Refuge personal items collection and visit
The Interact Clubs at Alpharetta, Independence, and Cambridge high schools are collecting personal items from the list provided by City of Refuge for their residents. Alpharetta Rotarians are contributing to this Interact project by bringing items also. March 17 we will be going to City of refuge to deliver the items and learn about their program.
Collection of linens, toiletries, food, and shopping bags
The Alpharetta Rotary Club made a collection of linens, toiletries, food, and shopping bags through-out the year. The initial project for the City of Refuge was paper products. It was though a Alpharetta Rotarian that contact was made with Kimberly Clark who donated 172 lbs of paper products to include facial tissues, paper towel, toilet tissue and sanitary napkins. Coordination with location hotels provided monthly donations of linens for the City of Refuge and Homestretch. Weekly collections from Rotarians and friends of toiletries also went to the City of Refuge and Homestretch.
Distracted Driving Campaign Challenge 2014
During the month of October Alpharetta Rotarians in coordination with our four Interact Clubs began a campaign to raise awareness about distracted driving among teens in our community. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Particularly in the teen community the temptation to texting and phone calls while driving is an ever present danger.
District Grant for Literacy and Education -- Level Up Computer Lab City of Refuge After School Program
The rotary Club of Alpharetta partnered with the City of Refuge to support basic education and literacy program. We assessed their needs in the after school program. The program lacked access to automation/technology. Together we organized a plan to establish a Level-Up Computer Lab. The lab would provide computers and access to the inter for over 50 student. Five computers were purchased and se-up by Alpharetta Rotarians on Dec 11, 2014. Alpharetta Rotarians remain committed to be available to help with training and other computer lab issues.
Do You Want to Be a Business Rock Star? Entrepreneur Seminar
This year we continued to offer the entrepreneurship seminar first started in 2013-2014. The seminar is held over a 3 week period on Saturdays from 8-12. The training offers guidance in starting a business and various aspects that challenge a new business owner. Students included small business owners, those aspiring business owners, and High School Students planning their futures. This was an opportunity for Rotarians to share their vocational expertise to help other achieve their dreams. Twenty-two Rotarians, all tried and tested business owners/entrepreneurs and several inspirations speakers volunteered their time this year. Students heard from experts in areas across the business spectrum that included: The Mind of an Entrepreneur, Commercial Loans, Print Media/Web Advertising/Local Papers, Expenses, Leasing/Location, Networking, Personal Appearance, Selling Your Company, Commercial Insurance, SBA loans, Cash Flow, Contracts, Marketing, Permits and Licenses, Alternate Working Capital, payroll, benefits, workers' comp, and human resources. We also provided an open forum for the students to discuss specific obstacles they have encountered. In return for our efforts we ask the students to participate in a charitable event. This year Class was invited to attend a fundraiser for Lionheart School held at VINO. We hope to inspire those attending the seminar not only to be successful in their business aspiration but to remember to give back to their community with their thinking, time, talent, and treasures. We plan to continue this program and as it grows see more and more successful entrepreneur who will become community minded people and possibly Rotarians.
Drake House Ice Cream Social
Alpharetta Rotary supported the Drake House annual Ice Cream Social. The Drake House is a not for profit whose mission is to provide short term crisis housing, assessment, support and empowerment to homeless mothers and their children. The Ice Cream Crankin’ brings together local civic, faith and business groups for an old fashioned ice cream social, offering over 150 flavors of homemade ice cream and celebrity judges to rate the best flavors. Alpharetta Rotarians crafted their best favored ice creams and shared with the those who came out for the event. Twelve Rotarians and family members manned a booth and served homemade ice cream. While we didn't win for best favor, we got lots of compliments and we helped the Drake House reach and exceed their goal of raising over $50Kattending the event.
Ebola -- CDC Foundation Donation
The unprecedented Ebola epidemic in West Africa has taken the lives of more than 8,641 of the 21,724 people infected with the disease. “This is not just a problem for West Africa, it’s not just a problem for Africa. It’s a problem for the world, and the world needs to respond,” said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. Since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ramped up its Ebola response in early July, more than 1,000 CDC staff members have provided logistics, staffing, communication, analytics, management and other support functions. More than 200 CDC staff are deployed to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to assist with various vital response efforts such as surveillance, contact tracing, database management and health education.
Family Literacy Program @ Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center --
This year the President's Signature Project was Basic Education and Literacy. Included in the overall project is the Family Literacy Program at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. Many of society’s problems - unemployment, poverty, and increased incarceration rates- can be linked back to the individual decision to quit high school. The Family Literacy Program goal is to get more adults not only their GED but to offer life skill such as budgeting, goal setting, communications and networking, study skills and strategies in the program. The program also looks to create community among student --more accountability among each and a sense of belonging to help combat the national problem of adult student retention. The Family Literacy Program at Ray & Joan Kroc is recognized as one of the best adult literacy programs in the Atlanta area. Our funding will support laptops for student use, LCD projectors for the instructor, the CBT 100 Computer Skills Software and a calculator library. This equipment helps teach the “soft skills needed for each student to pass the new GED test. Alpharetta Rotarians will participate in the Life Skills segment of the Program which is a series that presents students with pertinent skills outside of the traditional classroom. We'll also have the opportunity to serve at events such as Reaching Out to Read. Adults and child of all age come and participate by listening to stories and books and engaging in activities around reading.
Foster Care Support Foundation
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta funded a $2500.00 grant for the Foster Care Support Foundation a 501c3 non-profit organization with the mission to enrich the lives of Georgia's foster children and help acquire and retain foster parents throughout the state of Georgia. The foundation provides free clothing, infant equipment and developmental toys to thousands of foster children in foster care. They partner with Georgia's Department of Family and Children Services for child referral, verification, foster parent recruiting, and foster parent training. The grant specifically support.....
GG 26275 (GG1326275)--Potable Water Ecuador
In October 2012 Rotarians attended District 4400 Project Fair. Both District 6900 and 4400 were part of Future Vision Pilot Program. After reviewing a number of projects the decision was to work with the RC Portoviejo Reales Tamarindos to provide potable water for communities of Las Gilses and La Boca in Ecuador. The project included the construction of a cistern and a treatment plant. It also provided training at the child, adolescent, and adult level on the proper handling of water for health and sanitation. In November 2012 the grant was submitted to the District leadership and to RI who in December 2012 approved the project to be submitted as a global grant. In June 2013 the final grant was approved and funding was provided in August 2013. Work began immediately. An interim visit was conducted in November 2013 in conjunction to the 2013 Project Fair and in May 2014 we attended the dedication. Since May the training and operational completion of the water treatment plan has been ongoing with the final report completed in November 2014. To take a project from inception to completion has been a rewarding task. Friendship formed and a relationship with the community will be lasting. While Global Grants can span multiple years a Rotary Club has to stay committed beginning to end. As a result today this project provides clean drinking water for over 2,000 residents, ensures economic development, reduces water borne illnesses and finds residents better informed on health/water sanitation issues.
GRSP ENCLAVE WEEKEND ALPHARETTA
Alpharetta Rotary Club traditionally host the GRSP Enclave weekend in November. This year was another high energy event with over 30 GRSP students participating in the get to know each other better while experiencing the many attractions in Atlanta. Over 20 Alpharetta Rotarian participated in the weekend activities under the leadership of John Norton. We started the weekend with a bonfire hosted by Sandy Springs Club. It was great fun with chili and s’mores all around the fire. Then Alpharetta Rotarians hosted students at their homes on Friday night and serving up a home cooked breakfast before bring the student to the Alpharetta YMCA to board the bus with Rotarian Chaperone to explored downtown Atlanta, visiting the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke and CNN. A night of fun and games at the Alpharetta YMCA, started with a great cook-out with Alpharetta Rotarians grilling up great chicken and beef burgers. A few not so fair of heart Rotarians volunteered to chaperone the all night event of swimming, rock climbing and socializing. Over 20 Rotarians support this event by sharing their homes, meeting and greeting, cooking and chaperoning.
GRSP Recognitions
On January 23, 2015 the Rotary Club of Alpharetta recognized three of our Rotarians for their gifts to GRSP. Glenn Guest as a new Will Wyatt Fellow for his generous gift of $1000.00 to support the Georgia Rotary Student Program and the Club Awarded Karen Hipes a Will Wyatt Fellow designation for her generous support of the GRSP as the Host Parent for the 2014-2015 student Andres Movilla. Also Eric Douglas continued his support for the GRSP program with a gift of $2500 for designation as a Hue Thomas Fellow.
GRSP Welcome
Alpharetta Rotarians welcomed our GRSP Student to the US at the airport and helped him get settled with his Alpharetta host family, John and Karen Hipes.
Holiday Cheer at Dogwood Forest
Dogwood Forest assisted living community in Georgia is much more than somewhere for seniors to live. It is home. Each year, during the Christmas season, Alpharetta Rotarians help celebrate the season with the Dogwood Forest residents. With the help of our own Santa Steve Gillard we knocked on doors, hand out fruit baskets and visit with the residents. Lawrence Mulkey, organizes the event which include assembling the fruit baskets and making the deliveries. This is a fun event, with caroling and great cheer at every door.
HOMESTRETCH APT 109
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta vision this year was to "Go Deep Not Wide" invest our thinking, time, talent, and treasures with those we support. As a Club we made a decision to resource a project that supported a serious need in North Fulton--housing for the working poor. We wanted the program to be one that was a hand up not a hand out. Homestretch was selected. At Homestretch we are able to go deep. We funded a year for a resident in apartment 109B. We painted, furnished, decorated and provided the initial inventory of non-perishable and perishable food. Alpharetta Rotarians have volunteered to serve as a life and financial mentor for the resident of the apartment. Over 15% of the Club invested their time to the project and we're not done yet. The impact Homestretch has on the community is not measurable and our impact on the family will be viewed as a success if they stay one month or for the full program. The work Homestretch does for those in our community makes for a better community. It allows families that have faced challenges to have a second chance to reintegrate back into independent living. In addition, we encourage other NF Club to join us in this project. John Creek supplied all the non-perishable breakfast foods and Sandy Springs supplied the pillows and light vacuum. Great to have Rotary Partners.
Homestretch New Members Orientation
This year the Rotary Club of Alpharetta started a New Members Orientation hosted by a Not for Profit that the Club has historically supported. This is an early evening event of fellowship for new Alpharetta Rotarians to get to know a little more about the work the Club does in the community. All Rotarians are invited to attend. Three events were scheduled for the year. One in September, Feb and May. In September we visited with Homestretch, February's event is schedule for the PAL and the final event in May will be a North Fulton Community Charities.
Honduras Wilderness Team
This year Alpharetta Rotarians John Shipes and Paul Ray will join a diverse and growing group of Rotarians and non Rotarians calling themselves the Wilderness Team. The Team that hails from a variety of professions will travels to Honduras’ impoverished Agalta Valley, and partner with its 50,000 inhabitants to improve life in the region through education, better health care and commerce. This group of travelers is bound by a desire to help, each hoping that their efforts will improve a small part of our world. While in the Agalta Valley, they lodge on a remote ranch and spend their days and nights working with the residents.
Interact Fall Conference
Interactors from Alpharetta Rotary's three Interact high schools, Alpharetta HS, Independence HS, and Cambridge HS, attended the district Interact fall conference. Alpharetta Rotarian Lyman Louis, attended with them.
Kilifi Kids Mission
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta joins the Vining Club in funding the Kilifi Kids project that is designed to leverage mobile health innovations and technologies to improve health outcomes for pregnant mothers and young children (0-5) and decrease child/maternal mor-tality rates. Based on our relationships with Kilifi Rotary and District 9212 since 2006, we expanded our “mHealth” solution in 2014-2015 to central Kenya with a catchment of 8,000 lives with training 50 health workers (spent 1/3 of $90,000 grant). (This is in addition to still covering an entire sub-country in coastal Ken-ya/Kilifi). In 2015-2016, we expect to expand to three new sites in Makueni County with an approx. $60,000 grant. Overall, we are helping thousands of moms with their antenatal care and help kids got the immunization shots they need. Innovation is at the heart of our project; we use mobile technologies to reach any person in our communities and then rely on sophisticated, open-source software to track and analyze our results. We built sustainability into the project by providing solar panels to hospital staff to charge phones and rent them to neighbors. We negotiate with the Ministries of Health to assume ownership of the project upon our departure and train staff then how to do it. Lastly, we make data-driven decisions from our software to re-allocate resources where most needed and ensure accountability.
KIVA
The Rotary Club Alpharetta has continued its participation in the KIVA Microfinance loan program by reinvesting funds repaid by borrowers since beginning the program in Rotary Year 2012-2013. Originally individual members chose small business owners in emerging and third world locations to finance start-up businesses or the expansion of existing businesses. Today we continue to recover loans and reinvesting.
Lake Lanier Shore Sweep
Lake Lanier Shore Sweep is schedules annually to bring hundreds over 1,000 volunteers together to clean over 600 miles of shoreline. Alpharetta Rotarians, Interactors, and family members continued our tradition this year in participating in this enormously successful event. We were part of the team that has successfully collected over nine tons of trash over the years. This effort not only preserves the lake for its main purpose of providing hydroelectricity, navigation, flood control and water supply for Atlanta. It also provides for continued recreational activities on the lake and the surrounding beaches.
Laws of Life
Alpharetta Rotary sponsored two high schools in Laws of Life--Alpharetta and Independence. Alpharetta High had 737 students participate, and turned in 23 essays for judging. Independence High had 147 essays written and turned in 27 essays for judging. A committee of six Alpharetta Rotarians judged the final essays to pick the school winner and runner-up from each school. We will be hosting the winners along with our scholarship winners at an April Rotary meeting. They will read their essays and answer questions.
Light Up Rotary Event
Celebrating the 110th Anniversary of Rotary at Hop Alley with 1.2 million member around the globe. We shared the history of Rotary and the vision of one man Paul P. Harris in 1905. Paul was a Chicago attorney who formed one of the world’s first service organizations, The Rotary Club of Chicago. It was a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendship. Amazing how Paul’s idea flourished and in less than 16 years Rotary had clubs on six continents. Today we have 34,282 clubs and we are on every continent. We’re truly international. The heart of Rotary is its dedicated people who share a passion for both community service and friendship. Rotarians are neighbors, friends and community leaders around the globe. We bring together great minds who share diverse perspectives, share the conversation, and take action on the world’s most pressing challenges. We make a difference at home and abroad.
So you asking what does Rotary supports…we promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, save mothers and children, support education and help grow the local economies. We not only celebrated our 110th Anniversary we also celebrate 30 years in our effort to eradicate Polio. We are close to ending this horrible disease with only 3 countries showing active cases this year down from 125 in 1988 and in the last 2 weeks there have been no cases reported. “We are this close.”
Lionheart Garden Fall Workday
Rotarians and Interactors from Alpharetta and Independence high schools all worked together at the Lionheart Garden Fall Workday. Lionheart garden is a year-round locational organic garden where students with autism and similar challenges work together. They plan purchase plant cultivate and harvest produce which they sell it at garden stand and two local restaurants. Our workday help to prepare the garden for winter.
Lionheart Grilling and Gridiron
Lionheart Grilling and Gridiron is a fundraiser for the Lionheart School. Restaurants in community group grill, and people purchase tickets to try all the grills. The event is set up tailgate style and a UGA game is shown on a giant screen TV in downtown Alpharetta. Rotarians planned, shop, grill, and passed out food at our tailgate set up.
Mayor's Corporate Challenge
On August 28, Alpharetta was alive with celebration as the Alpharetta Rotary held its annual fundraiser. In this 18th running of the Mayor’s Corporate Challenge 5K, a record 809 runners registered! We took a new approach this year, promoting the event to Alpharetta’s growing corporate community by changing the name from the Mayor’s Challenge to the Mayor’s Corporate Challenge. We also teamed with the City to hold the event during a Thursday night Food Truck Alley, a well-established downtown community event. The collective event had something for everyone. Changing this event to have a corporate dimension create an opportunity to hosted over twenty corporate teams each with 10 or more runners. Over twenty Sponsor companies hosted booths at the Sponsor’s Expo, to interact directly with community patrons. There were demonstrations for golf and massage enthusiasts, free car wash coupons, retail giveaways, technology associates networking and recruiting; children played with puppies and bubbles, and refreshing ice tea was among the brewed beverages on tap. Newcomers and seasoned attendees agreed the energy that evening was dynamic.
Member Matching Grant for Alpharetta Veterans Memorial
An Alpharetta Rotary Club member wanted to build awareness for the Alpharetta Veterans Memorial and asked the Club to match his own generous donation. The memorial was conceived as a way to honor all our military veterans. As part of the memorial process, the memorial will also help the Rotary club of Alpharetta be a bigger presence in different celebration around the city. By being a part of the memorial group, not only will the club look to lead events such as a Memorial day tribute, the club can spread the good word of Rotary and Peace. The clubs involvement can help attract new members and add visibility in the community.
Member Matching Grant for CURE Children's Cancer
Alpharetta Rotarian Brian Iroff's son lost a friend to brain cancer. He wanted to opportunity to recognize this tragedy in a positive way. He set up a fund raiser at his Jewelry Store where 20% of the purchase price would go to CURE Children's Cancer. The Club gave him a matching grant of $250.00. Cure is an organization started in 1975 with one crystal-clear mission: to save lives. CURE has helped increase the childhood cancer survival rate to 80%. CURE is passionately focused on supporting research. In addition to funding research, CURE has also made a commitment to supporting patients and their families through this life-changing journey. From providing outreach upon initial diagnosis to offer counseling, meals, and emergency financial assistance, CURE is there for our families. For life.
Members Matching Grant Stand-Up for Kids
On Oct 1, 2014 a member of the Rotary Club of Alpharetta hosted the 1st Annual Oktoberfest Fundraiser as part of club's new member matching grant program. This event was to support Stand Up for Kids – North Fulton Intuitive (SUFK-NFI) a not for profit that has been a longtime charity support by the Club. The SUFK-NFI program provides financial support and life skills mentoring to homeless students who are working toward earning their high school diploma. This Rotarian became aware of the program financial struggles after losing a large portion of their annual funding from Fulton County.
Men's Health- Prostrate Cancer Coalition Mobile Unit
Men's Health- Prostrate Cancer Coalition Mobile Unit
Alpharetta Rotary Supports the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition at their Clark Atlanta University Screening Event. Frank Catroneo joined ARC for breakfast and received a $1500 grant toward upcoming screening events.
NAPA Training Center @ City of Refuge
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta funded a Grant from the City of Refuge for tools to support their new partnership with Genuine Parts and NAPA. City of Refuge constructed an 8,000 square foot Auto Repair Training Center, equipped with state of the art tools, lifts, and parts. The Auto Repair Training Center will provide six months of classroom and auto-tech training in 12 areas of auto repair certification twice per year. Presently, a custom curriculum is being developed by the Atlanta Business Group and NAPA. The six month program will run daily Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students will receive instruction in a state of the art garage outfitted with the latest automotive training technology. Recruitment and assessment of students will be in partnership with Westside Works, a workforce development initiative of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. At the conclusion of the training all students will be eligible for full time employment with NAPA and will be a certified automotive technician.
Next Generation Focus
Alpharetta Rotarians are supporting the SmarterMe Saturday programs that offer free or affordable, high-quality tutoring to children in grades K-8 who are performing below grade level in Math, Reading, and Writing. During the academic year, volunteers tutor children every Saturday for our remediation assistance and during the school week we help in a more personalized setting with homework, test prep and some enrichment activities. Certified lead teachers and teen volunteers work with students in small groups for an intensive focus on remedial skills within the Georgia Performance Standards. We hope to build foundational skills and remediate the weaknesses in literacy and mathematics for students to experience increased success as learners in the classroom, bridging the achievement gap.
North Fulton Community Charites New Members Orientation Project
We will offer newer Rotarians (along with the invitation to all Rotarians) to meet with the North Fulton Community Charities (NFCC). This will be an opportunity to better understand the organization, meet with the leadership and volunteers of the organization and to see the programs first hand. We will meet at the NFCC location. The Rotary Club of Alpharetta has a long standing relationship with NFCC - we pick up bakery products daily from a local area grocer to deliver to their food pantry. We did there computer lab which is used in conjunction with skills training, tutoring and GED training.
North Fulton Community Charity Back to School Event
North Fulton Community Charity Backpack Program
North Fulton Day of Service
Alpharetta Rotarians shared their time and talent as they served during North Fulton Day of Service. Rotarians served at Senior Service, Drake House, Homestretch and Foster Care. Activities included: painting, cleaning gutters, landscaping and running a nursery. Over 300 volunteers worked on fourteen projects across Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek made a tremendous difference in our community. As Rotarians it gave us an opportunity to work with our neighbors, friends, families and fellow Rotarians. We will continue to participate in this event and the Alpharetta Day of Service in May of this year. It is a great way to give back to the community.
North Metro Miracle League
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta funded a grant to support the North Metro Miracle League Community Skills and Fitness Program. The program provides for Summer Day Camps, After School Community Skills and Fitness Clinics, spring and fall adapted inclusive softball. Many of our members and students from the Interact Clubs volunteer at the events.
Old Soldiers' Day
Alpharetta Rotary participated in this Alpharetta tradition by supporting the American Legion with a float we built to participate in the parade recognizing and celebrating armed forces veterans. Members built the float on a Thursday night, and finished the building early Saturday morning. Members rode on the float, which played patriotic music, and threw candy to children along the route. We had a retired service member from the American Legion on the float as our honoree. We finished the day with a picnic at the park where the parade ends. Alpharetta Rotary took first prize in the parade, a tribute to the work we did, and the awareness we raised for our veterans.
One for the Chipper
One for the Chipper As part of the Rotary club of Alpharetta's committment to a clean environment, 8 Rotarians spent the day of Jan 3rd collecting used Chritmas trees. The collection point was Scottsdale nursery in Alpharetta Georgia. Rotarians led by Chris Weeber and Jason Binder assisted in the collection over 275 trees. By having the trees chipped into mulch , the trees will not end up as waste in a landfill. Also, the club paid for over $125 worth of dogwood seedlings to be given away.
Our Daily Bread -- Fresh Market to North Fulton Charities Pantry Delivery
Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Alpharetta recognized that “food insecurity” was a significant problem in our community in 2001. Then, as now, many families have to make tough choice when it comes to deciding what to pay for within their limited means. Food is always one of the choices. We decided to partner with the Food Pantry at North Fulton Community Charities who annually distributes food over 20,000 times. We needed a food source and found it at Fresh Market who was willing to make their day old breads and pastries available. Every day Monday through Friday a Rotarian makes the trip to Fresh Market. The pick-up and delivery usually take one to two hours depending on where they begin their trip and the volume of goods. After bagging and loading the breads and pastries at Fresh Market the Rotarian drives the 9 miles to deliver to the NFCC Food Pantry. There are approximately 250 pick-up and deliveries a year with an estimated value about $100K. It is fair to say over the years 95% of our memberships have participated in this service project. All new members must complete a pick-up and delivery to the Food Pantry as part of the Red to Blue checklist. To know that an hour of your time puts bread on the table of many families who are food insecure in our community increases Rotarians awareness of issues in our community. We are proud that we have accomplished this project over 10 years.
PAL New Member Orientation Project
We will offer newer Rotarians (along with the invitation to all Rotarians) to meet with the Alpharetta Police Athletic League (PALS). This will be an opportunity to better understand the organization, meet with the leadership and volunteers of the organization and to see the programs first hand. We will meet at the PALS location, inside the Independence High School facility.
Peace Initiative
Dedication of Peace Pole, Day at the United Nations, Peace through education, and Community Understanding Day
Peace Pole at Freedom Park
On March 2, 2013 the Rotary Zone 34 hosted a Peace Symposium. Alpharetta Rotarians were inspired by the speakers from around the globe. We left with a desire to show our community Rotary’s commitment to peace and to create an ever present reminder of Peace through understanding. Knowing the City of Milton was embarking on a Freedom Park project we approached them to place a Peace Pole, an internationally-recognized symbol of Peace, in the park. The Peace Pole would be surrounded by the flags of our Armed Forces, our State and Nation. We helped select the Peace Pole. While it is normal that a pole has multiple sides and is inscribed with “May Peace Prevail on Earth” on each side in various languages, the Milton’s Peace Pole is unique. Each of the six sides on this Pole reflects the distinct heritage of those living within the young city -- English, Spanish, Cherokee, Irish, Gaelic and Hindi. This year, joined by the newly named Club of Milton-Windward, the Rotary Club of Alpharetta and the City of Milton dedicated the Peace Pole. A plaque at the base includes a quote from President Ronald Reagan, "There are some who've forgotten why we have a military. It's not to promote war, it's to be prepared for peace." It was a great honor for Alpharetta Rotary to be part of the creation of this park that is a constant reminder of the brave men and women who serve in our military.
Pray America -- Water Filtration System Guatemala
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta approved and funded a grant for engineering services, filtration equipment and installation for a potable water system on the Monte Flor Campus in Chichcastenango Guatemala. Chichicastenango is an area of about 50K members. A vast majority are Mayan Indian. Average income in the area is below $2US/Day and the illiteracy rate is above 80%. The area is heavily impacted by at least 36 civil wars that ended in 1996 and killed and estimated 20K Mayans and left over 70K widows.
Public Safety Luncheon
Rotarians from Alpharetta volunteered their time to serve those who work in Public Safety at their annual Holiday Luncheon. This service allowed those in Public Safety to enjoy their lunch with fellow workers.
Rotary Children’s Sharing Library @ the Ed Isakson/Alpharetta YMCA
Alpharetta set aside $10K for the President’s Signature Project in Basic Education and Literacy. The goal was to leave a lasting legacy in adult, teen, and child literacy. Included in the overall project is Rotary Children’s Sharing Library. The Library for Infants through 3rd grade allows children to experience the value of - and love for – reading. Initiated with District Grant funds, we purchased $500.00 of books from First Book, a discount supplies, valued at $1500.00. In addition, we provided the seed money $1500.00 for other supplies to open the library. The Library was dedicated and opened in September. With the books in place children are encouraged to choose a book to take home, and in return share a favorite book. To help replenish the library Alpharetta Rotary provides books endorsed by our weekly Speakers. Following the opening of the Library, Rotarians attended the "Read Right from the Start" Language and Literacy workshop. The primary objective of the RRFTS program is to ensure children are well-equipped to enter elementary school. The half-day session help Rotarians be effective volunteer readers for the children at the YMCA now and in the future. The impact will be felt by over 2,000 community children in after-school programs and 500 more in day camps daily. They will benefit not only from the library but from trained volunteers. Our initiative to support the Library is the start of a pilot program for a strong literacy and reading program that we hope to continue to support.
Rotary Day at the United Nations
Local Rotarian and daughter attend RI UN Day Youth Program Each year, the United Nations honors Rotary International by holding a day filled with events at the United Nations headquarters in New York. On November 1, 2014, John Shipes (Rotary Club of Alpharetta) and his daughter Alexa, a freshman at Eaton Academy in Roswell, along with 600+ Interact (high school) and Rotaract (young professional) members from around the world, attended the Rotary International UN Day Youth Program in New York. During the program (led by Rotaract and Interact members), different organizations spoke about various humanitarian efforts around the globe, and ways they can “Think Global Act Local”. UNICEF and Pace Universal were two of the groups presenting, and the attendees also heard about a microfinance project that is helping seed new businesses in Detroit. In the afternoon session, Rotary International President Gary C.K. Huang spoke to the group. After the event, Alexa Shipes said “I loved the entire event. I learned more about the three types of poverty, activities supporting women’s rights and helping girls, and also the Interact clubs of Rotary”. In summary, this day was a great opportunity to learn more about Rotary and the various organizations and clubs we work with around the globe.
Rotary Strong Member of the 2nd Quarter
This year the Rotary Club of Alpharetta began a program to recognize each quarter our "Rotary Strong" member. This is a Rotarian that during the quarter or during this year exemplifies the values of Rotary. These values include: service above self, fellowship, leadership, and diversity. The Rotary Strong nominee is one who shares of their thinking, time, talent and treasures in our club and in support of our community and world. The Rotary Strong nominee is most likely a Rotarian that serves in no official position and may not be high visible to the Club in general. Most important what they do for the Club is selfless and done with no intent for recognition. The nominee for the second quarter Rotary Strong member was John Norton.
Rotary Strong Member of the 3rd Qtr
This year the Rotary Club of Alpharetta began a program to recognize each quarter our "Rotary Strong" member. This is a Rotarian that during the quarter or during this year exemplifies the values of Rotary. These values include: service above self, fellowship, leadership, and diversity. The Rotary Strong nominee is one who shares of their thinking, time, talent and treasures in our club and in support of our community and world. The Rotary Strong nominee is most likely a Rotarian that serves in no official position and may not be high visible to the Club in general. Most important what they do for the Club is selfless and done with no intent for recognition. The nominee for the third quarter Rotary Strong member was Lee Doernberg.
Rotary Strong Member of the First Quarter
This year the Rotary Club of Alpharetta began a program to recognize each quarter our "Rotary Strong" member. This is a Rotarian that during the quarter or during this year exemplifies the values of Rotary. These values include: service above self, fellowship, leadership, and diversity. The Rotary Strong nominee is one who shares of their thinking, time, talent and treasures in our club and in support of our community and world. The Rotary Strong nominee is most likely a Rotarian that serves in no official position and may not be high visible to the Club in general. Most important what they do for the Club is selfless and done with no intent for recognition. The nominee for the first quarter Rotary Strong member was Brian King.
Safe House @ City of Refuge
For the second year the Rotary Club of Alpharetta has committed our support as a Safe House Room Sponsor at the City of Refuge. These rooms provide a safe haven for victim of human trafficking. These rooms provide a immediate safe place for those rescue pending their decision to a long-tern recovery & restoration program. The metro Atlanta currently is #1 in the nation in the area of human trafficking with more than 12,000 transactions related to money for sex take place each month. Our partnership with the City of Refuge offers some relief for the victims.
Salvation Army Holiday Bell Ringing
Christmas the Salvation Army has one of its larges fundraisers, the Christmas Kettle Drive. This year the Rotarians, family members, and Interact Students from Independence Milton and Alpharetta High School partner with the Salvation Army in their effort to raise monies to fund their programs. We manned our post outside the Macy’s Department store at North Pointe Mall to ring the bell and greet people coming and going with a smile and a Christmas cheer. Like previous years, we filled our bucket from shoppers who gave generously to the cause. The day is always one for great Rotarian fellowship.
Senior Center Thanksgiving Luncheon
Past Presidents Sophia and Harvey Crouch carry on the Club's tradition of serving Thanksgiving Lunch for our community seniors. Please note that Sophia was also a GRSP student in the class of '48. Sophia does all the food preparation for this marvelous event that is appreciated each year by a full house. Sophia and Harvey only ask for a few Rotarians to come and help serve. What an amazing opportunity to work with them. We love you Sophia and Harvey!
Senior Service Grant
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta funded a grant to purchase and provide Meals On Wheels to older adults in need. Our goal was to help reduce senior hunger and move seniors off the waiting list in North Fulton County. In addition, we have 10 Rotarians who are volunteering their time to deliver meals.
Shop with a Cop
On December 9, 2014 the Rotary Club of Alpharetta once again support our Alpharetta Police Athletic League (PAL) annual holiday Shop with a Cop program. The program provides a $100 holiday shopping experience with a uniformed policeman or fireman. Referrals for participants come from North Fulton Community Charities. The program also provides for 50 family Holiday the Dinner Gift Baskets which were provided December 13, 2014
Special Pops Fall Tennis Event
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta not only funds a grant to helps cover the cost of the Special Pops spring training academy but also participates with our members as partners in the matches with the Special Pops tennis players at the Fall event. The Special Pops program introduces people with intellectual disabilities (“athletes”) to the lifetime sport of tennis; to promote fitness and nutrition education; to foster positive social relationships between peers and between athletes and volunteers; to have fun with new friends and old!
Special Pops Spring Tennis Event
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta not only funded a grant to helps cover the cost of the Special Pops spring training academy and t-shirts for the March Round Robin. Our members also participate as partners in the matches with the Special Pops tennis players. The Special Pops program introduces people with intellectual disabilities (“athletes”) to the lifetime sport of tennis; to promote fitness and nutrition education; to foster positive social relationships between peers and between athletes and volunteers; to have fun with new friends and old!
Stand Up for Kids Dream Trust
Stand Up for Kids has been a program the Rotary Club of Alpharetta has invested our members thinking, time, talent and treasures for a number of years. It was Past President Steve Gillard signature project. Rotarians from the Club have continued to be mentors in the program, and annually we support the Holiday and Winter and Spring Graduation Parties. Most important this year we help fund the Dream Trust. The Dream Trust motivates the students to excel in school and achieve a diploma. The financially award at graduation serves as an incentive for the student to earn good grades and stay in school. Each semester a student can earn $50 for one A and $30 for a B.
Stop Hunger Now
Alpharetta Rotarians joined the Windward-Milton Rotary Club in support of their District Grant to Stop Hunger Now. The Meal Packing Event includes Interact students, Milton business owners, Milton staff and Milton firefighters packing 10,000 meals in 2 hours. It was an immensely fun, hands-on and rewarding experience for everyone. Stop Hunger Now meals are nutritiously sound. Every dehydrated rice/soy meal is fortified with 23 essential vitamins and nutrients. This event addressed the problem of hunger. Hunger is the single point where we can leverage relief for all humanitarian issues. For example, delivering meal with the essential vitamins and nutrients that can provided a hot meal during school gives parents an incentive to send their children to school. Through receiving a primary school education, the cycle of poverty can begin to be broken by leveraging change in many other issues including education, maternal health, childhood mortality, gender equality and combating HIV/AIDS. Organization like Stop Hunger Now require that our in-country partners to report on the impact of the shipments they received.
Students & Teachers 2nd Qtr
Alpharetta Rotary hosted the Student and Teacher of the Quarter from Alpharetta HS and Webb Bridge Middle School at our meeting, and recognized them with certificates. The principals of both schools are members of our club and were there to introduce them. The student of the quarter's parents also attended. We submitted photos to the Alpharetta newspaper.
Students and Teachers 1st Quarter
Alpharetta Rotary hosted the Student and Teacher of the Quarter from Alpharetta HS and Webb Bridge Middle School at our meeting, and recognized them with certificates. The principles of both high schools are members of our club and were there to introduce them. The student of the quarter's parents also attended. We submitted photos to the Alpharetta newspaper.
USO - 5 Mar 2015
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta has a long history of service to our community. One of the most enduring facets of the club is it’s unwavering support of the men and women of our military. After 9/11,the club looked for ways to deepen it’s involvement with our service members. Through contacts with other Rotarians, the Alpharetta Club was able to join with the Atlanta USO to support our soldiers. Each quarter between 8 and 10 Rotarians from Alpharetta spend the day at the USO serving lunch and assisting service members passing through the airport. A full bar-b-que lunch is served complete with all the trimmings.
USO 2 Oct 2014
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta has a long history of service to our community. One of the most enduring facets of the club is it’s unwavering support of the men and women of our military. After 9/11,the club looked for ways to deepen it’s involvement with our service members. Through contacts with other Rotarians, the Alpharetta Club was able to join with the Atlanta USO to support our soldiers. Each quarter between 8 and 10 Rotarians from Alpharetta spend the day at the USO serving lunch and assisting service members passing through the airport. A full bar-b-que lunch is served complete with all the trimmings.
USO 6 NOV
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta has a long history of service to our community. One of the most enduring facets of the club is it’s unwavering support of the men and women of our military. After 9/11,the club looked for ways to deepen it’s involvement with our service members. Through contacts with other Rotarians, the Alpharetta Club was able to join with the Atlanta USO to support our soldiers. Each quarter between 8 and 10 Rotarians from Alpharetta spend the day at the USO serving lunch and assisting service members passing through the airport. A full bar-b-que lunch is served complete with all the trimmings.
Voice Victims' Sexual Abuse Retreat
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta support 5 victims of sexual abuse to attend a 3 day retreat focused on healing and restoration. It is a very special time for survivors of child sexual abuse to receive peace, healing, and restoration through the power of faith in God, His Word and His Will. The program provides for each participant to complete an evaluation and continue follow-up after the retreat.
World Food Day
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta takes pride as having the “Best Breakfast in Rotary”. If not the best we are certainly known for the fabulous breakfast spread. As World Hunger Day approached in October we decided we wanted to do something special to recognize that around the world the average dollars available for breakfast is $1.25. We coordinated with our Chef and asked him to prepare a meal for the Club that the cost per Rotarian would on exceed $1.25. The dollars saved would be provided to the YMCA for their summer hunger program. Rotarians were told to expect a different breakfast but still the shock of seeing a toaster and a loaf of bread replacing the table of donut, bagels and other delicious treats was a shock. As was the buffet line with only three basic items eggs, beans and rice, replacing a normal array of meats, egg, pancakes, waffles, grits, oatmeal and more. Even with the most basic meal not a complaint was heard and many suggested we consider doing this again. It was an incredible way to share a real world reality where all the members were engaged. In the end we didn’t miss the lavish breakfast and were able to help those who are food insecure in our community.
World Water Day
Alpharetta Rotary partnered with Wash Me Fast on World Water day to raise awareness of the global need for clean water and raise funding to provide for water treatment solutions. This is the second year Alpharetta Rotary is partnering with Wash Me Fast, owner, Jim Dudley an Alpharetta Rotarian to raise funds. In 2014-2015 we funded grant for Just 1 Africa and Pray America water projects.
YMCA Lunch Program
The Rotary Club of Alpharetta partnered with Ed Isakson/Alpharetta YMCA and MUST Ministries to help feed the children at the Aspen Pointe apartment complex 5-days per week throughout the summer. Without free and reduced lunch programs during the school year, many of these children and families fall into the category of “food insecure,” with insufficient resources to provide nutritious meals each day. With funding provided in part, by a grant from the Walmart Foundation, the Y and committed community volunteers like the Rotary Club of Alpharetta we were able to ensure these children receive a nutritious lunch and an opportunity to engage in fun, enriching activities.
Youth Service -- RYLA
The Alpharetta Rotary sponsored three students for the Rotary Youth Leadership Award. During January and February, we solicited nominations and selected our winners. Winners will attend a youth day at Alpharetta Rotary meeting in April 2015 to be recognized, and will also attend RYLA in June.
Youth Service -- Scholarships
Our scholarship committee put together applications for two different scholarships during the month of January. One scholarship is awarded to an Alpharetta resident who is graduating from high school and continuing their education at a college or trade school. The scholarship winner is chosen for being well-rounded, successful academically and in work and/or extracurricular activities, and in service. The second scholarship goes to an Alpharetta resident who has graduated from high school and will be attending when net technical college. The scholarship committee solicits applicants from local high schools and holds a selection meeting to select the winners. Scholarship winners will be recognized on youth day at Alpharetta Rotary.