Projects
8 Paul Harris Fellows Recognized
On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, the Meriwether County Rotary Club recognized eight club members as Paul Harris Fellows for their generous donations to the Rotary Foundation. Bob Patterson, Lisa Thompson, and Faye Perdue were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows Plus One, meaning they have gifted $2,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Cliff Elliott, Kay Williamson, and Laurie Lewis were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows Plus Two, meaning that they have gifted $3,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Al Griffin and Lori Quinlin were recognized for the first time as Paul Harris Fellows.
Covid Precautions to Reengage
To insure our members felt safe returning to in person meetings, we changed the meeting location to a much larger facility. The new location allows members to socially distance six feet or more if they choose. We also began providing face masks with the Rotary logo for all members.
Empowering Girls with Dignity
The Rotary Club of Meriwether County Empowers Girls through the partnership with Meriwether County School System Wraparound Services Program. Through this partnership, the Meriwether County Rotary Club helps by providing feminine hygiene products within zippered dignity bags for girls within the school system.
Guiding Young Peace Builders in Youth & Peace in Action
Guiding Young Peace builders
Today’s young people have unprecedented awareness of local, regional and global issues, as well as a desire to solve problems. Yet peace is essentially absent from formal and informal education frameworks. Young people are rarely invited to create and participate in local, national and international peace projects.
James T Evans Community Service Award
On Tuesday, January 11, 2021, the Rotary Club of Meriwether County presented Yashvi Patel the James T. Evans Community Service Award.
This award is presented to Yashvi Patel, a non-Rotarian, in recognition of the community service that she has unselfishly provided to the citizens of Meriwether County, especially to our youth.
Kentucky Disaster Relief
A tornado that touched down in Kentucky has devastated communities in 18 counties in District 6710. The loss of life in so many small towns, such as Dawson Springs and Mayfield, is heartbreaking, and survivors have lost their communities, their homes, and livelihoods. In many areas, there is limited electricity, resources for food, gasoline, supplies, and medical services.
Literacy Trunk or Treat
The Rotary Club of Meriwether County partnered with the Meriwether County School System by providing support in the school-sponsored Trunk or Treat event on October 30, 2021. The event was held in the front parking area of Unity Elementary School, Greenville Middle-High School, and Manchester High School.
Meriwether Co Rotary Club Members Attend District Assembly
On Saturday, March 26, the Meriwether Co Rotary Club members attended the annual Rotary 6900 District Training Assembly at the Iron Works Convention Center in Columbus, Georgia.
The District Training Assembly is the major leadership training event in each Rotary district of the world. The workshops offer motivation, inspiration, Rotary information, and new ideas for club officers, directors, and key committee chairmen of each club.
Meriwether County Club Fellowship
The Meriwether County Rotary Club members and their families enjoyed the opportunity to be together to eat, drink and be merry. This past year, the club scheduled time to have fun and fellowship starting with the new officer induction at the Willows in Greenville, with the Harris County Rotary Club and the new District Governor Mary Ligon, the Christmas Party at Tidbits in Pine Mountain, Wine Time at Fitzgerald Farms in Woodbury, and Membership Celebration at Fitzgerald Farm. Club members were asked to bring protentional members to all of the social events.
Meriwether County Rotary Club supports the Furry Friends at the Meriwether County Animal Shelter
George Richmond, the Director of the Meriwether County Animal Shelter, was the guest speaker of the Meriwether County Rotary Club on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Mr. Richmond spoke about how the Meriwether County Animal Shelter provides care and protection for homeless, abandoned, or neglected dogs or cats. In addition, the Shelter assists in finding forever homes for the animals who come to the Shelter.
Meriwether County School System Wrap Around Centers CARE Closets (Community Access to Resources and Education) for Students
The Problem
Meriwether County is a rural county facing more economic hardships than the surrounding communities. With a modest level of commerce in stable economic periods, Meriwether has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and faces the loss of many local small businesses. Additionally, rural areas are more prone to poverty and subject to higher rates of social problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that children living in poverty are at greater risk for adverse outcomes, including poor academic performance, behavioral issues, social disconnect, emotional problems, poor health, developmental delays, and school dropout.
Rotary President Robert Griffin becomes a Paul Harris Fellow
Court Dowis, Past District Governor (PDG) and Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator (ARRFC), speaker at the Rotary Club of Meriwether County
To highlight and honor Rotary Foundation Month, the Rotary Club of Meriwether County invited Court Dowis, Past District Governor (PDG) and Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator (ARRFC
Six Meriwether County Rotary Club Members Recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow
On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, the Meriwether County Rotary Club recognized six club members as Paul Harris Fellows for their generous donations to the Rotary Foundation. Bob Patterson, Lisa Thompson, and Faye Perdue were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows Plus One, meaning they have gifted $2,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Cliff Elliott, Kay Williamson, and Laurie Lewis were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows Plus Two, meaning that they have gifted $3,000 to the Rotary Foundation.
Supporting Local Educators
Rotary Club of Meriwether County wants to show their support of our local educators.
In our school system, teachers are given a stipend for sponsoring a club for the students. Since Interact is a closed club, not open to any student, the school system is not allowed to pay a stipend.
Meriwether County Rotary Club Supports Polio Plus
The Rotary Club of Meriwether County supports the Polio Plus initiative with donations and public awareness. Since October is Polio Plus month, the Club honored the District Governor with a special donation/gift.
The Polio Wall of Fame, designed by Edmond Romulus Amateis (1926–1977), consists of a linear grouping of sculptured busts of fifteen scientists and two laymen who made important contributions to the knowledge and treatment of poliomyelitis. It is found on the outside wall of what is called Founders’ Hall of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation in Warm Springs, Georgia, USA. Eleanor Roosevelt represented her husband at the 1958 unveiling ceremony.
Cotton Pickin Fair Fundraising Event
The Cotton Pickin' Fair is the signature fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Meriwether Co. The Fair is held twice a year on the first weekends in May and October.
The Meriwether County Rotary Club cooks over 1200 foot long hot-dogs with slaw, chili and cheese. Other items include candy apples, tea, lemonade, coffee, and muffins for breakfast.
Dorcas Food Pantry Ministry
The DORCAS Ministry is the name of a local food bank. The DORCAS ministry was named for the seamstress Dorcas, or Tabitha, whose story can be found in Acts 9:36-43. She was known for her generosity to the disadvantaged in her community. Today, Dorcas serves as the inspiration for our ongoing efforts to provide for those in our community who are facing immediate crises for emergency food.
Leap Frog Learning Books For Kids
The Meriwether County Rotary Club purchased LeapFrog Learning books for the Get Meriwether Reading “Reading Cubs” Program for 19 children. With the COVID 19 restrictions with education, the LeapFrog Learning books are an added bonus for the students,
Meriwether Co Rotary Club Supports and Judges Essays For the Law of Life Program
The Rotary Club of Meriwether Co sponsored and judged essays for the GA Laws of Life Essay Contest. We traveled to Columbus, GA and particiaped in the judging of some great essays.
The Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest asks students to select their own Law of Life, and to write about how it applies to their lives. In doing so, students reflect deeply and write from the heart about what they think matters most. The contest celebrates the students’ stories and their often profound reflections, and proudly presents significant cash awards to students and teachers.
Meriwether Co Sponsors 3 Students For Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
Each Rotary Club in Georgia (District 6900) is invited to select rising juniors to receive a Rotary Youth Leadership Award and attend the RYLA Conference. Awardees are sought from the community and are carefully selected on the basis of character, leadership qualities, general education, personality, and leadership potential.
Real People Read at Meriwether Co Elementary Schools
On March 4th and 5th, eleven Meriwether Club Rotary members participated in the Real People Read program at Mountain View Elementary and Unity Elementary School in the Real People Read event during National Reading Month. The Rotary Members Read Real Books to the students at Unity and Mountian View Elementary schools.the month of March 2021. This literacy event is a day for the community to come and read to our students. What a great way to promote literacy to the students the the elementary school.
Santa For Seniors
Playing Santa for the Seniors
December is officially the Christmas season in Warm Springs. Unfortunately, not everyone can attend in-person holiday festivities or spend time with their extended family because they reside in a nursing home or an assisted living facility. However, this situation does not mean that they are forgotten.
Saving Lives Through Prevention and Responsibility - PARC Program
On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, the Rotary Club Meriwether County welcomed Buffy Mitchell and David Rumph as guest speakers with the Prevention and Responsible Choices (PARC) program at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation. In support of the program, the club donated $900 towards equipment and maintenance needs within the program this year.
Serving India's Differently Abled
In keeping with Rotary’s commitment to Polio, the Rotary Club of Meriwether County and Starfish Ministry are serving the people of India affected by Polio and other life-altering disabilities.
With over 30 years of service in various roles of vocational rehabilitation, Past President, Bob Prater combines the goals of this Rotary mission work is to be able to provide education in rehabilitation services to communities, families, and individuals in need.
St. Mary's College Students Build for Habitat for Humanity
On March 12th, a team of students from St Mary's College traveled to Meriwether County for the annual college challenge build for Habitat for Humanity.
On Sunday, March 13th, The Rotary Club of Meriwether Co provided dinner that included 12 homemade pizzas, fresh garden salads, hot peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream and chocolate brownies with nuts.
Summer Soccer Camp For Kids
The Meriwether County Rotary Club sponsors a youth Summer Camp with Warm Springs Baptist Church.
The 4-way test Coin is presented to the kids and they have discussions about the meaning of the Rotary 4 Way Test.
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