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President John’s Message

This week we are hearing from our GRSP and Rotary Youth Exchange students, Emilio and LaNeige, about their year.  I thought it would be good to update you on last year’s GRSP student, Panashe Sivindani, and the Grace Period project we undertook with her. 

Panashe is from Zimbabwe where she was studying electrical engineering.  After her GRSP year, she spent the last year at Kennesaw State University, completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and graduates this Thursday.  She is going to continue to stay in the US post-graduation and begin working as a systems engineer at a process control company called RoviSys Building Technology in Peachtree City this summer. 

Last year, Panashe shared with us about the difficulty girls in Zimbabwe have staying in school regularly each month due to lack of feminine products and ideas she had to address the situation.  Our club worked with her, the Belmont Rotary Club in Zimbabwe, and the organization Days for Girls to provide washable sanitary kits to 140 girls at the Mbuyazwe Primary and High Schools last summer as a pilot project. 

The reports we have received indicate mixed success.  The girls reported that these kits really assisted them because disposable products are too expensive.  Attendance was up and overall the girls are very grateful for the donation.  The downside is the lack of water sources both at the school and at the girls’ homes for washing the pads.  Even the purchase of soap can be an issue for some.  Our contact with the Belmont Rotary Club expressed the wish that the water and sanitation woes could be sorted out, which if so, would really bring joy to the girls and the community at large.

Thursday, May 11
Program: GSRP and RYE Students reporting back with their stories!

Excited to have Emilio Ochoa, our Georgia Rotary Student Program (GSRP) student from Colombia, and LaNeige, our Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) student from Thailand, at Rotary this week.  

Emilio has been attending Kennesaw State University this year with finals concluding this past week. He will be filling us in on all of the exciting things he has been a part of while being with the Roswell Rotary Club - conclaves, travels, District Conference.

LaNeige has been attending Roswell High School as an inbound RYE student.  She is the second inbound student Roswell Rotary has hosted since our district joined this longtime Rotary program.  Living with three host families with kids at Roswell High, she is sure to have stories about things she has done this year.

Come join us Thursday and find out what Emilio and LaNeige have been seeing, learning and doing! 

Charity Spotlight
Drake House Update and Request

The Roswell Rotary Club has supported residents of the Drake House for many years.  We sponsor an apartment in the Drake Village for a mom with children who has run into hard times.  Our latest “graduate”, Rose Davies, moved out of the Drake House last year and is doing well. She is working full time and has just completed some additional education so she can continue to advance in her career.   

In the spirit of giving back and service above self, she has contacted our club to see if we could help her help another single mom who needs a car.  If anyone has or knows of anyone with a used car they are willing to donate or sell at a reasonable price so a single mom can have transportation to work it would be greatly appreciated.  Please contact Robert Fezza if you can help.  404-210-5871. Robert.fezza@odysseypfa.com

Recap RRAH Social Event
After Hours Club Celebrated Cinco de Mayo last week

Roswell Rotary After Hours Club (RRAH) had a great Cinco de mayo social last week at Surcheros Fresh Mex in Alpharetta. They met several prospect members and are definitely carrying on the RRC tradition of combining fun and fellowship!