President's Message, October 6, 2026
Submitted by President Dan Jenkins
We have a great program lined up for our next meeting on Tuesday, October 13th!
Our guest speaker will be Paul A. Zanardo, CEO and Founder of Zanardo Dezingz, who will share his personal journey as a successful entrepreneur, his faith, and some practical business tips for building a stronger website and online presence.
Paul is also connected to Rotary through his family - his father is is an Area Governor in Gwinnett County, mentoring Rotary Presidents. Paul recently spoke to another Rotary Club in Gwinnett and is excited to join us here in North Fulton.
This promises to be an engaging, inspiring and very practical program, whether you're a business owner, work for an organization, serve on a nonprofit board, or simply want to learn more about how to effectively use your website and digital presence.
So, mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 13th and plan to join us! Bring a prospective member or a friend who would enjoy the program.
We look forward to welcoming Paul and hearing his story!
ER Nurse Appreciation Dinner at Wellstar North Fulton
What: Dinner service for the Emergency Department nursing staff at Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
- When: October 15, 6:00 to 8:00 pm
- Where: Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
- Who we need: Volunteers to assist with set up and serving
If you can help, please sign up here: Volunteer at Wellstar North Fulton
If you have questions, contact Steve Cory.
Thank you for helping us show appreciation to the ER nurses who serve our community.
North Fulton Supports Roswell Rotary Red Cross Blood Drive
North Fulton is proud to once again partner with the Red Cross Blood Drive hosted by Roswell Rotary on October 28th at Roswell Junction. We have also added one of District 6900's newest Rotary Clubs, North Atlanta Professional Alliance (NAPA) to our volunteer efforts! Please see the flyer (thanks to Kathleen and her team for cleaning up the Blood Drive flyer!) for full details about the event.
Why this matters
Since the American Red Cross launched an emergency blood shortage appeal on July 13th, thousands of people have stepped up to help. Unfortunately, donations are still not keeping pace with hospital demand. Their inventory of type O blood is especially dire. Right now, they have less than a one-day supply of type O positive blood. In just the second time in their history, The Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis and escalated their appeal efforts on Monday, July 27.
How you can help
- If you are healthy and eligible, please consider donating; every donation helps.
- Share the event information with friends, family, and neighbors to encourage broader community participation.
- Refer to the flyer for details on times, eligibility, and any steps needed to participate.
To register to donate blood use the QR code below or click here: Donate Blood
To volunteer to help at the blood drive, sign up here: Volunteer at Blood Drive
Building More Than a House
Saturday, October 3rd, was a special day of service for the Rotary Club of North Fulton as our members joined Habitat for Humanity of North Central Georgia for a First Nail Ceremony and the start of framing on a new home.
Our club is proud to support this Habitat build both financially and with hands-on volunteer service. On Saturday, October 3, our volunteers picked up their hammers and worked alongside the family who will ultimately call this house home.
Having the family there made the day especially meaningful. They worked side-by-side with volunteers and shared their heartfelt gratitude with everyone helping to make their dream of homeownership a reality.
There is something powerful about watching the walls of a home begin to rise — and knowing that behind every nail, board and volunteer hour is a family looking forward to a new chapter.
We are grateful to Habitat for Humanity of North Central Georgia for the opportunity to be part of that journey and proud of our North Fulton Rotarians who continue to put Service Above Self into action.
North Fulton Rotary: First Annual Fall Gala
Save the Date: Fall Gala on October 24th
The North Fulton Rotary Club is pleased to announce its First Annual Fall Gala Event at St. Ives Country Club on Saturday, October 24. The Roswell Rotary Club will join forces with our club as a co-sponsor for a fun night of dinner, dancing and raising money for two worthy causes.
Proceeds from the event will support Areté Scholars and HomeStretch, two organizations dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our community.
Tickets can be purchased using this link: Fall Gala Tickets
You can also use the QR code on the flyer. If you have any questions, please reach out to Rick Clark, Fundraising Chair (704) 807-0083.
CDA Treasure Hunt Recap
What a great morning our members had at Children’s Development Academy in mid September! Our members helped organize a treasure hunt for the children, bringing plenty of fun and excitement to a special preschool that provides high-quality early education to underserved children in our community. Sometimes service is simply about creating a special experience and a few big smiles!
Let's Score for the Foundation
Football for The Foundation
This year we have 12 members vying for the coveted "Most Generous Foundation Dona via Football Results" award. With 5 weeks of college play, 8 weeks of pro and high school behind us, the results are impressive. The total amount pledged so far is $2,512! The college teams have been particularly high scoring. UGA is in the lead with 257 points and President Dan has pledged $2 per point, bringing his pledge to date to $514! In second place is Bob MacDonald and his Rams at $318 and tied for third is William Bennett and yours truly with our ROLL TIDE! Richard's 5th grade Oconee Warriors and Oconee Flag football were later starting their seasons so expect him to gain steam as the season progresses along with the NFL teams. Thanks to all who are participating and let's hope for a very high scoring season!
Golfing for Respite
Companion Club members, Tom and Stacy Georges, hosted a successful golf tournament to raise funds for their non-profit, Special Needs Respite. Several members of our club turned up to show their support for this worthy cause: Richard Matherly, Steve Cory, Mark Hutchins, Rick Clark and Dan Jenkins.
Club Branded Items Available to Order
Show Your North Fulton Rotary Pride!
Our new North Fulton Rotary online store is officially open! Members can now order branded clothing and gear to show off their Rotary pride wherever they go.
Orders will ship every two weeks, so take a look and see what your wardrobe might be missing. Your closet could probably use a little more Rotary!
Order Here: North Fulton Rotary Merch
Membership
Fellowship Beyond the Meeting
Some of the strongest Rotary bonds are formed nowhere near a lectern - over coffee before a service project, at a social mixer, or a fundraiser committee call at 9 pm. Look for one none-meeting touchpoint this month. Fellowship is the glue that turns members into friends.
Companion Club
The next meeting of the Companion Club will be on October 15th at 6:30 pm, location TBD.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Joseph Powell, (912) 662-2246.
