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YEARS OF SERVICE
ROTARY CLUB OFTuesdays, 12:00 pm |
April 14, 2026 Meeting RecapNorth Fulton Rotary gathered for our 2nd Tuesday meeting and welcomed a number of special guests on April 14th. Past District Governor Gordon Owens was in attendance and he brought Brandon Williams, CFO at Wellstar as a guest. Dave McDougal, guest of Doug Higgins, made a second visit to our club. We were also happy to welcome Jennifer Swindell and Spencer Maxwell, today's Guest Speaker, from Heart from Africa. Happy Dollars Today's Happy Dollars was led by Steve Cory. PDG Gordon Owens got things started with a generous donation, sharing that our club has inspired the Roswell Rotary club to give generously with their Happy Dollars. Brad Serff donated some Happy Dollars to share that the Milton First Responder's Foundation Concert was coming up in Milton on April 18th. Anyone not attending the District Conference should go to the concert to support this worthy cause. Louis Weiland had a wonderful visit with his grandson in Houston, where he has relocated to pursue his PhD. Cliff Wilcox is thrilled that Michigan basketball are the National Champions! Guest Speaker Today's featured Guest Speaker was Spencer Maxwell with Heart for Africa, an organization that is especially near and dear to our hearts. Founded nearly 20 years ago by Ian and Janine Maxwell, Heart for Africa's mission is to bring hope, fight hunger, care for orphans, reduce poverty and provide education for more than 450 children. Over the years, Heart for Africa has launched several number of initiatives aimed at long-term sustainability, including farming operations, a dairy, a woodworking center and an artisan craft shop. Like many organizations, they have recently faced significant challenges. Their farming initiative has been temporarily paused due to financial losses, though they are actively seeking investors to relaunch efforts centered around vanilla farming. A regional livestock disease has made raising dairy cows more costly, leading them to purchase milk instead. Additionally, rising production costs have made it more economical to buy furniture rather than produce it on-site. One of the most difficult decisions they've faced was pausing the intake of new children beginning in January 2026. With an annual cost of approximately $3,000 per child, the organization made the thoughtful decision to prioritize and honor their long-term commitment to the children currently in their care. Despite these challenges, Spencer shared a message of hope. With continued prayers, support and a renewed focus on sustainable vanilla farming, Heart for Africa is confident they will overcome these obstacles and continue their impactful work. Thank you, Spencer, for sharing your story and inspiring us with the resilience and mission of Heart for Africa. District Conference at Lake LanierMembers of North Fulton Rotary had a fantastic time celebrating the Rotary year at the Annual District Conference at Lake Lanier this past weekend! It’s always meaningful to connect with fellow Rotarians across the district and learn how they’re making an impact in their communities. We’re proud to share that our club was awarded Club of the Year (Category 2) during the weekend festivities. Congratulations, President Erik! We appreciate your leadership and dedication to Service Above Self.
Several of our members were also recognized by District Governor Steve Ivory: Mike Mudd received the Rotary International Meritorious Service Award for his continued leadership of The Rotary Foundation at the district level. This prestigious award is presented to very few Rotarians — a truly well-deserved honor for Mike!
✨ Lisa Gelber received a Rising Star Award from District Governor Steve Ivory for her work as an Assistant Governor for five clubs: Atlanta, Alpharetta, East Cobb, Sandy Springs, and Atlanta Brasil.
Rick Clark received the Al Daniel Membership Award for making a significant impact on membership growth and retention. He was also recognized as a top new member sponsor. Keep up the great work, Rick!
https://dpw1d901g0s8f.cloudfront.net/21513.jpeghttps://dpw1d901g0s8f.cloudfront.net/21513.jpegJoy Manbeck was recognized for her three years of service as an Assistant Governor, supporting four clubs in the district: Dunwoody, Marietta Metro, Roswell, and Johns Creek–North Fulton.
Many thanks to our members who were able to be there to help celebrate our success and commitment to serving our community!
Alpharetta Flower MarketThe Flower Market order deadline has passed, but we can still use a few volunteers on the "pick up" date of April 25th. Please click here to volunteer on April 25th: Flower Market Volunteer Questions: Contact Rick Clark at (704) 807-0083
Roswell and North Fulton Rotaries Join Forces for a Blood DriveThe Rotary Club of North Fulton and Roswell Rotary are hosting a community blood drive on Wednesday, April 29 at Roswell Junction, and we need your help getting the word out so we can raise 60 pints. Use the QR code on the flyer below to sign up to donate blood or use this link: Sign Up to Give Blood The Red Cross is currently facing a critical blood shortage, and this is a great opportunity to support a life-saving cause while connecting with our community. Event Details
If you have questions, please contact: Mark Hutchins
Interfaith Prayer Breakfast: May 7, 2026This year, our signature community service event, the Rotary Club of North Fulton Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, will be held on May 7, 2026 at St. David's Episcopal Church. Please save this date on your calendar now, as we need everyone's help to make this a continued success for the community. Our keynote speaker will be fellow Rotarian, and Past District Governor, Kirk Driskell, founder of Vision Warriors. All members are encouraged to attend as a sponsor or table host. Consider splitting a table with someone else. Otherwise, we'll find a seat for you as a volunteer for the event (more to come on that). Sponsorships are currently available to everyone - our club members, other Rotarians, or anyone in the community. Please reach out to friends and acquaintances and invite them to participate in this inspirational event:
Tables are available for sale ($400 each). Please complete the registration form Steve sent via North Fulton Rotary e-mail on March 16th and reach out to him with any questions.
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Roswell Junction – 340 S. Atlanta St., Roswell
Wednesday, April 29
8:00am - 2:00 pm
