President's Message
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” Cicero
There are moments in life when “thank you” doesn’t feel like an adequate response. This past Saturday night was one of those moments. As I stood in a room filled with more than 200+ Rotarians celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Roswell Rotary Club, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of appreciation. Appreciation for the people in that room, for the generations who came before us, and for the privilege of leading this club during such a meaningful year.
For seventy-five years, this club has lived out Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self in extraordinary ways. Millions of dollars raised to support charities in our community. Lives changed through scholarships, youth programs, and Interact clubs in our schools. Children around the world are protected through Rotary’s fight to eradicate polio. We have honored veterans, helped families in need, and strengthened our community through service projects too numerous to count. And on Saturday night, all of that history was sitting in one room.
An evening like that does not happen by accident. It happens because people step forward to serve. Bob Clarkson, Alicia Hughes, Bob Hagan, and Kathy Igou worked tirelessly to make sure such a great night came together. And as is so often the case in our club, there were so many more working quietly in the background, solving problems, filling gaps, and making sure everything ran smoothly so the rest of us could simply enjoy the celebration. Thank you as well to Chris Patterson (valet), the PP video team, the goodie bag team, the registration team, and so many others whose efforts made the evening truly unforgettable.
I am grateful for each and every one of you. To that end, I think it’s important to remember to be grateful for the big gestures and for the small. And if I can be honest for a moment, I lost sight of that for a period of time on Saturday night. As I got ready for the celebration, my mind wasn’t on the milestone but it was on the details. The small things. The things that I didn’t believe were quite right. A timing issue here, a setup detail there, the little imperfections that, in the moment, felt bigger than they really were. I carried those thoughts with me into the evening. It probably wasn’t noticed by all, but it certainly was to me, and it had its effect…
But as the night unfolded, I began hearing a very different story from everyone around me. People were smiling, laughing, and celebrating. They spoke about how special the night felt, how meaningful it was, how proud they were to be part of something so much bigger than themselves. To them, it wasn’t a night of small flaws, but it was a perfect celebration of 75 years of service, fellowship, and impact.
Somewhere along the way, I realized the problem wasn’t about these small things of the night. The issue was my perspective. I had been staring at the small dots, missing the wide, beautiful canvas around them. I missed the forest for the trees as the saying goes….And when I finally stepped back and chose gratitude, I saw what everyone else had seen all along… It wasn’t just a good night. It was a perfect one.
When I chose gratitude, when I intentionally looked for the blessings around me, it shifted my perspective and made me a better man that night! Perhaps the greatest feeling of gratitude I carried home that evening was the honor of serving as president of this remarkable club during its 75th year. Leadership in Rotary is never about one person. It is about standing on the shoulders of those who came before us and doing our best to carry the torch forward. Seventy-five years ago, a group came together with a simple idea: By serving others, they could make Roswell a better place to live.
To every member of this club, thank you for the honor of leading during this historic 75th year. Thank you for your support, your service, and your friendship. And most of all, thank you for continuing a legacy that began 75 years ago and will continue long after us.
That is something truly worth being grateful for today!
Sic Vos Non Vobis
Trummie Lee Patrick III
Empowering Act of Saying No: Lisa Meade Romero
Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 12:15
Location: Roswell Area Park
Bill Johnson Community Activity Building
10495 Woodstock Road
Roswell, GA 30075
Roswell Rotary welcomes Lisa Meade Romero , a keynote speaker, strategist, and facilitator whose professional path spans science, education, law enforcement, federal investigations, beauty education, and leadership development. Over the years she has worked as a teacher, police officer, bomb technician, investigator, beauty educator, sales director, moderator, and emcee , giving her a broad perspective on how people communicate and adapt across different environments. Lisa encourages audiences to consider the many roles they take on, both by choice and by expectation, and how those roles shape identity and decision-making. Drawing on real-life experience, she discusses how intentional communication, clear boundaries, and honest dialogue can help individuals and teams navigate change more effectively. Her clear takeaway will be: "Saying no isn’t selfish, it’s responsible leadership as service does not mean self-exhaustion. When leaders set clear limits, they create purposeful direction for the people around them."
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Sat. March 21
Sweep the Hooch- Save the Date
It's time to register for the March 21st, Chattahoochee River Keepers 16th annual Sweep the Hooch river cleanup.
Please sign up ASAP Our team will be cleaning up trash and debris on Riverside Road Roswell.
This is a great event for the entire family and wonderful way to enjoy a morning outdoors by our beautiful river.
Slots fill up quickly and even though this is our designated site, non Rotarians can sign up and participate.
Call or text Dutch Earle, 770.403.0755 if you have any questions or need help registering. There will be a slot available for all Rotarians and guests!
March 21
Volunteer for Roswell Relays
We're gearing up for another great event with 26 teams participating in this year's Relay at Roswell Highschool on Saturday March 21, 2026. Per usual Mindy and her hospitality team will have a great spread for the coaches (and volunteers) in the cafeteria.
Please feel free to distribute to any interested parties and keep in mind Interact Clubs can get service hours for participating.
2026 Roswell Rotary Relay Sign-Up
We will send out additional information closer to the event but if you have any questions please reach out to Michael Curling michael.curling@gmail.com (678) 480 - 3746 or James Stone james@stonelaw.com
Note: Excellent opportunity for new members to volunteer. It's a full day of fun!
75 Years-Oh What a Night
So many special moments and memories. Here are a few links to bring the evening back to you to savor!
Photo Booth Pictures
RRC on Instagram!
$20 Million in Foundation Giving
Roswell Rotary Hits $2 Million Foundation Contribution Mark
Gratitude Wall: Members Helping Members
Highlighting acts of service our members give to each other:
Karen Schwank would like to thank the Roswell Rotary Club!
"As Charlie returns home after successful surgery, he and I would like to send a big Thank You to all those who prayed and reached out to us. It was so special and kind, and we will always remember."
Last Week at Roswell Rotary
