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Pawsitivity Partnership Seal
September 4, 2025

Meetings

September is Basic Education and Literacy Month

9/8 Dr. Bryan Johnson, Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent
9/15 No Meeting: Register for Thirsty ThirdsDay
9/22 Rotary on the Road Lunch at Fulton County Animal Shelter
9/29 David E. Altig, Executive Vice President and Chief Economic Adviser, The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
10/6 District Governor Steve Ivory
10/13 No Meeting Columbus Day
10/20 Christa Pitts, Owner and Co-CEO, The Lumistellla Company
10/27 Rotary Polio Awareness Day: Robert Hall. Past Rotary International Trustee

Events

9/15 Board of Directors Meeting
9/18 Thirsty ThirdsDay
9/27 Fulton Healthy Pet Event as part of the Pawsitivity Partnership with LifeLine
10/5 Bark-A-Cue Family Event and Dinner

Our Rotary Family
BIRTHDAYS

9/2 Jim Wimberly, Jr.
9/9 Stephen Hall
9/26 David Bockel, Sr.
9/26 Allison Geisler
9/27 Jan Johnston
9/28 Jay Shirley

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

Rotary Online

https://buckheadrotary.com
https://rotary6900.org/
https://rotary.org/

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LEADERSHIP

President Shelley Hammell
President-Elect Jeff Clark, Jr.
Immediate PP Denise Starling
Vice President Jeff Clark, Jr.
Treasurer Radu Zernoveanu
Secretary Michael Stimpert
Public Image Mark Meltzer

Hey MVP's! RSVP for Buckhead Rotary Today!

Dr. Bryan Johnson, a former corporate executive and accomplished K-12 leader, serves as Superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools, bringing a unique blend of corporate and educational leadership to the role. 

RSVP HERE: Click Here to RSVP for yourself and your guest(s)

For nearly two decades, Dr. Johnson has dedicated much of his career to public education, serving as a teacher, school administrator, and district administrator. At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), he provided critical counsel as the university completed its current strategic plan and led the development and execution of the 2025-2030 strategic plan. He brings extensive experience in educational leadership, workforce development, business strategy, change management, and collaborative leadership. 

Invocation: Reeves Smith 

Need to join by Zoom, click the link below. 

 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87941219913?pwd=S15RIBjTE1TRk1NaDRNa3hTcmphUT09#success Password: 485257 


Rotary Club of Buckhead 

Maggiano’s Little Italy 

3368 Peachtree Road 



September 4: Message from the President

 I hope everyone enjoyed their long Labor Day weekend and is ready to get back to Buckhead Rotary and all we have going on in September. 

You may remember in July, I shared the findings of the Rotary International public image survey. This looked at why people join Rotary. I wanted to take a moment to highlight these three reasons again and explore how, as Buckhead Rotarians, each of us can actively participate and make a meaningful impact. 

Community Service 

We have monthly opportunities to volunteer and give back to our community. LifeLine is my signature project because I paws-itively believe in the deep bond between humans and animals. Our partnership focuses on keeping pets in their homes through dedicated volunteering, vital donations, and encouraging fostering and adoption. Our collaboration strengthens mental well-being by keeping pets with their people, finding them homes, and reducing shelter overcrowding. See below for more information on the Fulton County Healthy Pet event on September 27th. 

Social Connections 

Build better fellowships that goes beyond our lunch meetings. Join us for Thirsty Thirdsday, a monthly gathering in members’ homes where you will get a peek inside, share food and drinks, and grow your network. It’s the perfect chance to deepen friendships, make new ones, and add a little extra fun to your week as you strengthen your connections with your fellow Buckhead Rotarians. Please join us on September 18th. 

Making an Impact 

Volunteering makes an impact not just on others, but on you too. Even a small effort can spark new friendships, strengthen your sense of community, and reveal strengths you didn’t know you had. I hope you will jump in and see how you can have fun and make a difference in meaningful ways. On September 22nd we have a unique opportunity to gain a backstage tour of the new Fulton County Animal Shelter over our regularly scheduled lunch. See firsthand how LifeLine makes a difference in people’s lives.

Prospective and current Rotarians are looking for community, connection, and the ability to make an impact. In September we have a multitude of ways to achieve this through all we have going on. 

Sincerley, 

Shelley 


 

Rotary on the Road! RSVP today!

RSVP HERE: https://www.buckheadrotary.org/meeting/14101

LifeLine made history in 2019 by achieving a no-kill rate, where at least 90% of all pets coming into the shelter are saved. This is thanks to the community of pet lovers, adopters, fosters, volunteers, and donors! Their focus is about saving every healthy and treatable animal and making decisions that are best for every individual pet that comes into care.   Please join us for lunch and a brief presentation of how shelters provide a safe place for animals.  This is a unique opportunity to experience a behind the scenes tour of the state of the art 50,000-square-foot facility which is three times the size of the county's previous shelter and features a full-service vet clinic, a cat condo, designated play and adoption areas for new owners and increased capacity to house more animals.  Please sign up on the calendar so we have enough food for everyone. 

September 18: Thirsty Thirdsday

Get ready for a sneak peek inside a fellow Rotarian’s home.  No secret passwords or decoder rings required.  Join us for casual conversation, drinks, and tasty nibbles, all served with a side of Rotary fellowship.  In September, we are heading over to the home of Jeff and Nanette Nicholson.  Don't miss out, be sure to RSVP so we can get a headcount for all the food and drinks! 

RSVP Here: https://www.buckheadrotary.org/reservation/create?event=8395


September 27: Healthy Pet Event RSVP Today!

Come out and support our Pawsitivity Partnership with LifeLine's Healthy Pet event. There will be 1,500+ pets and their people in attendance. This event provides the much-needed vaccinations for dogs and cats as well as chipping and vouchers for spaying and neutering. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to engage with the animals as you help direct people, check them in, and assist with paperwork. Come for an hour or stay for the entire time. Families and children of all ages are welcome to attend. LifeLine provides breakfast and coffee plus lunch for all staff, volunteers, and event attendees. But you must sign up on the calendar if you want to volunteer.  

RSVP HERE! Click HERE to RSVP Today!

Bark-A-Que and Pet Adoption Event!

RSVP Here: https://www.buckheadrotary.org/reservation/create?event=8572

You’d be barking mad to miss out on our annual fall event.  This year, we're changing things up a bit.  Instead of our traditional shrimp boil, we're serving up some bark-a-cue, well that’s barbecue for us humans of course!  Your whole family is welcome, and yes, that includes your four-legged friends!  We'll have a frisbee contest and plenty of other fun and games.  Because this event is catered, you must sign up on the calendar so we can make sure there's enough food for everyone. Don't be a copy-cat; get your spot now!  Hope to see you there!

Betsy Barge is my HERO!

Betsy Barge completed the Bosphorus swim competition on Sunday (August 24th) with a time of 1:55:40! 

Betsy finished 3rd out of the 5 women competing in the 70 -74 age category. 

The second leg of her open water swimming quest is the Dardanelles race this Saturday (August 30th). 

Notice Betsy was the 29th oldest out of more than 2800 registered swimmers! 

Member Spotlight: Jim Coleman

Congratulations Jim Coleman on your 45-year anniversary with Buckhead Rotary, one of our longest serving members. Thank you for your dedication and commitment on reaching this milestone. Jim does not suffer from FOMR, Fear Of Missing Rotary! 

Support Lifeline! We need donations and cute pet photos!

Don't forget to show off your pet! Email a photo of you and your pet to Mark Johnson mejgeorgia@gmail.com  

LifeLine Donations: We are collecting the following items, every week at our Monday luncheons to include the following:  

Newspapers 

Linens  

Towels  

Pet Food  

Pet Toys  

Cleaning Supplies  

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