Bill Reilly (left) and Frank Harris of Fayette Daybreak Rotary Club with shoes collected for Soles4Souls. Photo: Lee Dodds.

One of the oldest and best known service organizations in America is Rotary, founded in 1905 in Chicago. Now Rotary International, it has 1.2 million members in more than 34,000 clubs around the world. The group’s name may be prosaic — in the early days, the meeting site rotated among members’ offices — but the motto is anything but: “Service Above Self.”

Rotarians are involved in a wide variety of good causes both at home and abroad. Many of the latter are conducted through the Rotary Foundation, which works to “advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.”

Rotary is best known for its efforts in the fight against polio. Since the PolioPlus program began in 1985, more than two billion children have received oral polio vaccines. And thanks to generous donations like the $355 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary is close to making the world polio-free.

Whether it’s helping provide clean water for children overseas, or raising funds for local food pantries or animal shelters, Rotarians are committed to serving their communities in ways big and small.

Here’s an overview of the five clubs in Fayette and Coweta counties. All are in Rotary District 6900, which has 68 clubs.  And all are working to provide “Peace Through Service,” this year’s theme for Rotary International.

The Coweta-Fayette club, with 17 members, calls itself “the small club with a big heart.” It was founded in 2007 to provide an option for those unable to attend the typical lunchtime meetings, and to perform service projects to benefit both counties.

“I joined Rotary for the experience that comes from giving back to the community, and I enjoy the camaraderie of community and business leaders,” says member Beth Hughes.

The club’s annual fundraiser is the Chassis for Charity Car, Truck, and Bike Show, entering its fifth year and coming to the Walmart in Newnan on Saturday, May 11. The show runs from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and admission is free.

A favorite recent service project was supporting a reading and language arts program at Eastside Elementary School in Senoia. “We received a literacy grant and members added to it,” says club president Rick Barnes. “So we’ve provided almost a thousand books.”

Last spring, the club launched an ongoing project to maintain the gazebo in downtown Senoia by painting the structure, pruning bushes, planting flowers, and spreading pinestraw and mulch. Coweta-Fayette sponsors and staffs the free Santa’s Workshop at Light Up Senoia. “This past year, we had six different crafts for the children to make, along with a coloring station and letters to Santa. We also had refreshments for adults and children,” recalls Barnes.

The club sponsors a student to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award program (RYLA). RYLA “emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth” and several local clubs sponsor students.

The Coweta-Fayette club supports Community Welcome House, Backpack Buddies, The Ferst Foundation, and God’s Eyes, as well as three club members who travel to Haiti and Peru for humanitarian work.

Coweta-Fayette is an Every Rotarian Every Year club (EREY) meaning all members contribute to the Rotary Foundation each year. More than half of its members are Paul Harris Fellows (major donors to the Foundation). For the past three years, the Club was awarded the Presidential Citation and Governor’s Citation by District 6900.

Fayette Daybreak is another small (about 10 members) but energetic club. It began as the Rotary Club of Tyrone in 1994 and changed its name — a reference to its morning meetings — in 2001.

“Rotary helps us give back to the local and world communities in ways best fitted to our individual situations of time, talent, or treasury,” observes member, and past club President, Frank Harris.

April saw the fifth annual Paws for a Purpose, the club’s signature event and a fundraiser for groups like the Fayette Humane Society, Good Shepherd Humane Society, CAREing PAWS, and Canines for Combat Veterans. “This year we added the 5K-9 Run, which helped bring in people from the active running community in Fayette County and surrounding areas,” notes club President Ken Matthews.

Fayette Daybreak volunteered at Tyrone’s Veteran’s Day Ceremony last year, supports Fayette Care Clinic, volunteers at the Toga Trot charity fundraiser with other local clubs, and donates items to The Real Life Center, Promise Place, and Fayette FACTOR. At weekly meetings, there’s also a “Pot of Gold” for donations to literacy programs at the Tyrone Public Library.

Fayette Daybreak sponsors an Interact Club (Rotary’s clubs for 12-18 year olds) at Sandy Creek High School. The Interact members support causes like Relay for Life and epilepsy research and help out at events like Paws for a Purpose.

Fayette Daybreak is one of four clubs jointly hosting an international student for a year of study as part of the Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP). Since 1946, Rotarians in Georgia have offered this scholarship program for international students recommended by a Rotary club in their home country. This year’s student, Richard Morris, shared his thoughts about the experience, “Coming from such a quiet, small island, I was told to expect amazing hospitality from Americans, and it proved true as soon as I arrived. Throughout my stay here, I have been met with nothing but open arms, both at West Georgia for my journalism studies and at Rotary clubs. In the UK, having breakfast with fifteen or so Rotarians who were expecting you to give a presentation would be seriously intimidating, but here, it’s a completely different experience of friendship and much more relaxed. I love it, and I’ll miss it when I go back.”

The Fayette Daybreak club is an EREY club and has members who are Paul Harris Fellows. “We also donate shoes to Soles4Souls and collect eyeglasses for those in need around the world,” says Matthews. “And at Christmastime we collect for Rotary’s Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART) Fund at the Tyrone Christmas Tree Lighting where we serve free cookies and cocoa.”

Over the years, the club has received numerous honors  including Presidential Citations and awards for Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, Best New Project, and Best All-Around Club.

The Fayetteville club began in 1980 with 18 members and now has 25. A favorite project is sponsorship of the Fayetteville Junior Police Academy. The group also supports the Fayette County DFACS Bookbag project and helps with equipment purchases for Spring Hill Elementary’s Afterschool Program. They also participate in Rivers Alive clean-ups in Tyrone and at Lake Horton.

“This year we’ve been happy to join three other clubs in sponsoring Richard Morris for GRSP,” says president Richard Buchanan.

Fayetteville is a “100% Paul Harris club,” with all its members being major donors to the Rotary Foundation.

“Rotary lives by the Four Way Test in all areas of life with the first being is it the truth,” says Buchanan.

The Newnan club dates back to 1924. Among Newnan’s current roster of 82 are some second, third, and fourth generation Rotarians from charter-member families.

The Newnan club will soon be teaming up with Assistance In Healthcare (AIH) for its first annual Reverse Raffle and Social on Thursday, May 16 at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Newnan. Proceeds will go to AIH (which helps cancer patients with non-medical expenses like mortgage payments or car repairs), and to other charitable causes in Coweta.

The Newnan club is probably best known for the 4th of July fireworks display at Newnan High School’s Drake Stadium each year. “It draws 15,000 – 20,000 people from Coweta and beyond,” notes president Gerald Kemp.

The club supports Newspapers in the Classroom, assists with the Salvation Army’s famous Red Kettles, sponsors and participates in Career Day for all Coweta County middle schools, supports AIDs awareness in local high schools, and sponsors the Star Student & Star Teacher for Coweta high schools. It also contributed to the fund for a new dog for the Coweta K-9 Unit.

The Newnan club awards a Rotary Cup and scholarship annually to the most outstanding member of the graduating class at Newnan, East Coweta, and Northgate High Schools and The Heritage School. It is helping sponsor Richard Morris for GRSP, and will sponsor students for this year’s RYLA program. It’s also in the process of establishing an Interact Club at Newnan High School.

Peachtree City is the largest of the five local clubs. President Jeff Warlick reports, “We have about 100 members and are still growing. Our members are very involved and we really work hard to do as much as we can for the community, plus a few international projects.”

“I joined Rotary because helping others is very important to me,” explains member Renee Haywood. “I want to model this principle for my children, and what better way to let them see me walk the talk?” Member John Belizaire says, “I chose to join Rotary because of its long history of helping others. Rotary has done a lot for my country of birth, Haiti. As a Rotarian, I am able to give back and help the organization that has helped many Haitians over the years. And I am honored to break bread with some of Peachtree City’s finest citizens every Thursday.”

Among the club’s signature projects are distributing dictionaries to all Fayette third graders, holding the Elementary School Grand Prix races to promote fitness while raising funds for schools, and staging the International Festival and Dragon Boat Races, which attracted over 5,000 people to Drake Field last year.

The club also publishes the Rotary Smart Directory (formerly known as the Rotary Phone Book), which “turns 40” this year. More than 60,000 copies of the latest edition have been distributed, going to every household in Peachtree City as well as motels, hotels, and over 30 racks in varied locations.

Farther afield, the club is supporting a water project in Guatemala that will affect five villages and thousands of people. The group is collaborating with several governmental organizations and a Guatemalan Rotary club.

The Peachtree City club supports Fayette Samaritans, the Southern Conservation Trust, Global SOUNS, the Ferst Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk, Promise Place, and a variety of other causes.

“We have two Interact Clubs,” says  Warlick. “One at McIntosh High School and one at Counterpane Montessori. We’ve hosted a GRSP student for the last several years. This year’s student is Marianna Marino from Colombia. Next year our student will be from Sweden.” Once a Rotary Interact member at her own high school in Barranquilla, Marianna is studying communications at Georgia State.

The Peachtree City club has frequently been recognized with district awards, such as Best Club, Best International Service Project, and Best New Generation Effort. Member and past club President George Martin is this year’s Assistant District Governor for District 6900.

Coweta-Fayette Rotary Club: www.cowetafayetterotary.org

Fayette Daybreak Rotary Club: www.fayettedaybreak.org

Fayetteville Rotary Club: www.rotaryfayettevillega.com

Newnan Rotary Club: www.newnanrotary.org

Peachtree City Rotary Club: www.peachtreecityrotary.org

Membership in Rotary is by invitation, but clubs welcome queries and requests to visit meetings. All the clubs are looking for new members, so check out their websites for more details and contact information. A Rotarian’s responsibilities include taking an active role in club projects, attending weekly meetings, and paying annual dues on the club, district, and Rotary International level. 

College and Career Academies, like this one in Rockdale County, offer a wide range of learning opportunities. The facility in Fayette County is scheduled to open in 2015. Photo: Fayette College and Career Academy.

Community leaders are working to develop a College and Career Academy for Fayette County. In such an academy, an area K-12 public school system, a technical college, and a four-year college collaborate on student programs, many of which reflect input from local businesses and industries on specific needs.

A central location serves high school students, usually bussed in for part of their school day, and adult college students. Often an academy also becomes a hub for other community-building activities, such as career fairs, meetings for civic groups, and industry roundtables.

Launching an academy is a multi-year process. A Fayette steering committee was established in 2012, the opening is slated for 2015, and there are many steps in between.

Coweta County’s Central Educational Center (CEC) in Newnan was the first academy in Georgia and has helped serve as a model for more than 25 other communities across the state that have developed their own academies.

For more information on the Fayette academy, visit fayettecca.wordpress.com.

Moving day for Fayette FACTOR/AVPride/Advo-Kids CASA who will share new offices together. Photo: Lee Dodds.

A number of area non-profits have recently relocated. Various aspects of their new facilities help enhance services for clients and offer added convenience for volunteers and donors. 

The Fayette Chamber of Commerce has new space in the Waterfall Building at 600 West Lanier Avenue in Fayetteville. “It’s allowed us to expand to meet our growing needs for additional meeting space and office capacity,” says Connie Sewell, Communications Manager.  

Fayette FACTOR, AVPRIDE, and Advo-Kids CASA are now located in Suite #502 at 101 Devant Street in Fayetteville. The three organizations, which serve youth and families and are proactive about collaborating, previously shared space in an another office for about five years. “We’re thrilled to come together again to share and leverage resources so we can better serve the community,” says Pam Reid, Director of AVPride. “The new location has adequate space for the kind of training that each group needs, and allows for the growth and expansion of services.” As a bonus, United Way provided some of the office furnishings for the three groups.

Fayette Youth Protection Homes has moved to 150 Marquis Drive in Fayetteville. The new location includes facilities like a conference room for foster parent training classes and much more room for Gracie’s Closet. There, children in foster care on the south side of metro Atlanta can “shop” for free clothing, books, baby gear, school supplies, and toiletries. A new highlight is a General Store area, where a replica of a vintage train chugs along above the shelves. Executive Director Becky Davenport notes, “One of the reasons we are so excited about our new building is that we now have the space to accommodate more donations and more volunteers for Gracie’s Closet.”

The Real Life Center has moved from their location in Tyrone to 220 Parkade Court (Suite A) in Peachtree City. Cathy Berggren, Executive Director, notes “The new space offers the parking we need, as well as the opportunity to share space with another like-minded ministry, Midwest Food Bank.” 

A number of area non-profits have recently relocated. Various aspects of their new facilities help enhance services for clients and offer added convenience for volunteers and donors.

The Fayette Chamber of Commerce has new space in the Waterfall Building at 600 West Lanier Avenue in Fayetteville. “It’s allowed us to expand to meet our growing needs for additional meeting space and office capacity,” says Connie Sewell, Communications Manager.

Fayette FACTOR, AVPRIDE, and Advo-Kids CASA are now located in Suite #502 at 101 Devant Street in Fayetteville. The three organizations, which serve youth and families and are proactive about collaborating, previously shared space in an another office for about five years. “We’re thrilled to come together again to share and leverage resources so we can better serve the community,” says Pam Reid, Director of AVPride. “The new location has adequate space for the kind of training that each group needs, and allows
for the growth and expansion of services.” As a bonus, United Way provided some of the office furnishings for the three groups.

Fayette Youth Protection Homes has moved to 150 Marquis Drive in Fayetteville. The new location includes facilities like a conference room for foster parent training classes and much more room for Gracie’s Closet. There, children in foster care on the south side of metro Atlanta can “shop” for free clothing, books, baby gear, school supplies, and toiletries. A new highlight is a General Store area, where a replica of a vintage train chugs along above the shelves. Executive Director Becky Davenport notes, “One of the reasons we are so excited about our new building is that we now have the space to accommodate more donations and more volunteers for Gracie’s Closet.”

The Real Life Center has moved from their location in Tyrone to 220 Parkade Court (Suite A) in Peachtree City. Cathy Berggren, Executive Director, notes “The new space offers the parking we need, as well as the opportunity to share space with another like-minded ministry, Midwest Food Bank.”

Girl Scouts from Junior Troop #11324 collected items for Fayette Youth Protection Homes at this year’s World Thinking Day. Photo: Troop #11324.

There’s no doubt that youth groups are making a difference in our community.

In March, Junior Girl Scout Troop #11324 in Fayette County hosted World Thinking Day for their Service Unit #616. The annual event is held by Girl Scout troops around the globe with a focus on issues affecting children. Troop #11324 invited participants to bring toiletries to donate to Fayette Youth Protection Homes (FYPH) and were delighted by all the contributions from both scouts and their Moms. The weekend following the event the girls delivered the donations to FYPH and were given a tour of their new facility.

In April, the Peachtree City Optimist Club, family, and friends gathered to honor members of the Octagon Club at Starr’s Mill High School. The Peachtree City Optimists sponsor the student club and the two groups worked together on several projects throughout the past year. Octagon members helped raise funds to provide clothes, food, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas gifts, and Easter Baskets for a family “adopted” by their club. They also helped stuff 7,500 Easter eggs for the annual egg hunt sponsored by the Peachtree City Optimist Club and Peachtree City Fire Department. Octagon members also volunteered at the Halloween House of Clues event held in October.

And at Huddleston Elementary School in Peachtree City, the Student Council recently held a Sack-A-Snack Fundraiser to support the school’s snack program which provides weekly items for students who would otherwise go without. Through donations from students, staff, and parents, 1,400 snacks were received.

Farmers Markets are in full swing. Photo: Lee Dodds.

Here’s a quick look at some of the non-profit events coming up in MAY. A more complete listing can be found on our Events Calendar.

Farmers Markets
Our Community Farmers Market (Wednesdays at Historic Train Depot in Newnan, Saturdays at McDuff Crossing Shopping Center in Peachtree City)
Mainstreet Newnan Farmers Market – first Saturday of the month
Peachtree City Farmers Market – Wednesday and Saturday (Aberdeen Village Shopping Center)
Fayette Market Day in Downtown Fayetteville – third Saturday of the month

Blood Drives
Glenloch Recreation Center in Peachtree City – 5/7
Piedmont Fayette Hospital in Fayetteville – 5/9
Fayette County Public Library in Fayetteville – 5/13
Fayetteville Christian Church – 5/20
Kroger in Peachtree City – 5/24
Kroger in Newnan – 5/24
Bruster’s Ice Cream in Fayetteville – 5/28
Bruster’s Ice Cream in Peachtree City – 5/29
Resurrection Lutheran Church in Newnan – 5/29

Food Assistance
Mobile Food Pantry sponsored by The Real Life Center and held at Grace Evangelical Church in Fayetteville – 5/16
Bridging the Gap food distribution for low-income residents of Coweta County (Tuesdays and Saturdays)

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Historic Senoia Bike Tour – 5/4
Benefitting the Senoia Historical Society.

Fayette Celebrity Dancers – 5/4
Dance competition fundraiser benefitting several local non-profits.

Plant Sale and Garden Tour – 5/4
Sponsored by the Fayette Master Gardeners.

Red Shield Run/Walk - 5/4
Fundraising event sponsored by the Salvation Army in Newnan.

Chasis for Charity Car Show - 5/11
Sponsored by the Coweta-Fayette Rotary Club, held in the Newnan Walmart shopping center.

Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America in Peachtree City made a donation to the Breast Cancer Survivors’ Network (BCSN). Photo: BCSN.

Here are some of the stories you’ll find in our May/June issue of Fayette-Coweta Volunteer. Click on the “Pick Up a Paper” tab (above) to find the closest place to get your copy!

- Rotary Clubs Put “Service Above Self”

- Youth Groups Lend Helping Hand

- Dance Gala Aids Fayette Care Clinic

- Panasonic Donates to Breast Cancer Survivors’
Network

- Local Groups Celebrate New Digs

- Fayette Plans College and Career Academy

- Poverty Program Raises Awareness

- Fayette Humane Launches Building Fund

- Kiwanis Club Donates Van

Check out these stories and lots more in our latest issue!

Earth Day Celebration at the Newnan-Coweta ReStore is Saturday, April 20.

On Saturday, April 20, The Newnan-Coweta Habitat for Humanity ReStore will hold its 3rd Annual Earth Day Celebration at their location on 150 Pine Road in Newnan. The event will begin at 10:00 am and last until 2:00 pm. There will be informational booths as well as vendors offering handmade, homemade, and homegrown items.

The ReStore celebrates Earth Day as part of it’s mission to promote “recycle, reuse, and reduce”. Since 2005 the ReStore has helped keep 1,300 tons of material out of landfills. Plus, items donated to the ReStore not only provide bargain opportunities for thrift store shoppers, but all proceeds from sales go directly to the work of Habitat for Humanity in Coweta county.

For more information visit www.nchfh.org or call 770-252-4061.

L-R: Diane Bartels, CLT; Vicky Turner, Piedmont Fayette; Janet McGregor Dunn, CLT; Tavari Taylor-Brown, Piedmont Fayette; Bob Cover, CLT; and Debbie Britt, Piedmont Fayette. Photo: Piedmont Fayette Hospital.

The Clothes Less Traveled Thrift Shop in Peachtree City has donated $35,000 to the Cancer Wellness center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital in Fayetteville. The center offers free services and programs to anyone affected by cancer, whether or not they are a Piedmont patient.

“We are humbled by this generous grant,” said Michael Burnett, chief administrative officer at Piedmont Fayette. “Clothes Less Traveled is a staple in our community and we sincerely thank them for all the support they have provided local charities like Cancer Wellness throughout the years.”

“We are very pleased to support Cancer Wellness and help those it serves in our community,” responds Wendy Binfield, grants coordinator at Clothes Less Traveled. “We receive great support from the community, allowing us in turn to provide support to impactful programs like this one.”

Clothes Less Traveled has donated more than $2.4 million to Fayette charities since its founding in 1997. This year, it projects over $500,000 in support of local non-profits.

Since opening in 2010, Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette has helped more than 800 cancer patients/survivors, family members, and caregivers. Programs include education, stress reduction, exercise, support groups, individual nutritional and psychological counseling, cooking demos, and social events.

For more information, visit piedmontfayette.org or clotheslesstraveled.org.

MARCH

Farmers Markets
Farmers Market – Mainstreet Newnan (first Saturday of the month)
Peachtree City Farmers Market (Saturdays in March)

Blood Drives
Fayetteville Christian Church – 3/18
Peachtree City UMC Scout Lodge – 3/19
Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran – 3/25
Starbucks – Peachtree City – 3/29
Summit YMCA – 3/29

Food Assistance
Mobile Food Pantry sponsored by The Real Life Center and held at Grace Evangelical Church in Fayetteville – 3/21
Bridging the Gap food distribution for low-income residents of Coweta County (Tuesdays and Saturdays)

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Yard Sale – 3/2
Hosted by the MOMS Club of Fayetteville. Proceeds to benefit the Church Street Playground Project.

APRIL

Farmers Markets
Farmers Market – Mainstreet Newnan (first Saturday of the month)
Peachtree City Farmers Market (Saturdays in April)

Blood Drives
Glenloch Recreation Complex in Peachtree City – 4/2
Fayette County Public Library in Fayetteville – 4/9
Fayetteville First United Methodist Church – 4/14

Food Assistance
Mobile Food Pantry sponsored by The Real Life Center and held at Grace Evangelical Church in Fayetteville – 4/18
Bridging the Gap food distribution for low-income residents of Coweta County (Tuesdays and Saturdays)

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Paws for a Purpose – 4/6
Annual Charity Dog Walk in Tyrone sponsored by Fayette Daybreak Rotary Club.

Coweta’s Dancing Stars – 4/17
Dance competition fundraiser benefitting Community Welcome House in Newnan.

Dog and Pony Show – 4/20
3rd annual free fundraising event at haven Hills Therapeutic Riding Center featuring dog shows, pony rides, bake sale, and more.

Fly Fishing for Vets Day - 4/20
Free event of fly fishing, fellowship, and fun hosted by Georgia Fly Fishing for Veterans.

Taste of Senoia - 4/21
4th annual fundraising event sponsored by the Optimist Club of Senoia to support their work in the community.