This week, we are honored to host District Governor Steve Ivory of Rotary District 6900 as he visits our club and shares his vision for Rotary. The position of District Governor is one of the most important leadership roles in Rotary International. A governor doesn’t just hold a title — he/she serves as the bridge between Rotary International and the local clubs that carry out Rotary’s mission on the ground.  Roswell Rotary has had three past District Governors who served from our club: Cheryl Greenway, Bob Hagan, and Gordon Owens. We are proud of them and proud to welcome DG Steve to our meeting. 

The role of a District Governor is grounded in service, support, and vision. DG Steve provides guidance to dozens of clubs across our State, helping presidents and members align with Rotary International’s priorities, while inspiring us to continue serving our communities with energy and purpose. He is charged with visiting every club in the district, listening to our challenges, celebrating our successes, and encouraging us to dream big about what Rotary can achieve. As Arch Klumph, founder of The Rotary Foundation, once said: “The Rotary Foundation is not to build monuments of brick and stone. If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work upon brass, time will efface it… but if we work upon immortal minds… we are engraving on that which is eternal.”

For Roswell Rotary, DG Steve’s visit is more than ceremonial — it is a reminder that our work in this community is part of something much bigger. As we reflect on DG Steve’s visit, we are reminded that the true measure of Rotary lies not just in ceremony, but in the tangible good we create—through service, building friendships that transcend differences, and focusing on a shared vision of a better world. These foundational values are not confined within club walls; they ripple outward, offering guidance for how we engage with the broader world. As Paul Harris, Rotary’s founder, wrote: “Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.”  

Just as Rotary calls us to elevate service above self and to cherish understanding over discord, so too does our daily life demand a commitment to genuine communication and empathy. In a time when listening is rare and conflict too easily found, Rotary’s principles invite us to be bridges—connecting not only communities, but hearts and minds. By embracing the spirit of Rotary, we can choose dialogue over division, compassion over contention, and, ultimately, become agents of the positive change our world so urgently needs.

Rotary reminds us that we are at our best not when we shout louder, but when we listen with respect and come together for a common cause of service. As Stephen Covey put it: “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” Rotary asks us to do better —calling us to lead with listening, empathy, and the courage to act—demonstrating that service is not just a value, but a living practice. Rotary challenges us not only to aspire to higher principles but to bring them to life through our actions, big and small. 

Today, our club puts these values into motion as we recognize an individual who personifies the courage to act.  As part of our monthly program of recognizing our local heroes, we are proud to honor our Roswell Rotary Hero of the Month, Captain Jeff Mealor, from the Roswell Fire Department. He represents the courage and dedication of all who serve, putting Service Above Self each day by protecting our families and our community. We are grateful for his commitment and sacrifice, and we celebrate him as an example of what it truly means to serve others first.  Join me in honoring him and let's let him know what he means to our community!

• Polio Awareness Tailgate – October 3 at the UGA vs. Kentucky football game in Athens.

• Roswell Youth Day Parade – October 4, celebrating our community and showcasing Rotary’s impact.

• First Responders Family Farm Day – October 12 at Gary Garrett’s farm, honoring those who protect and serve us daily.

• Roswell Youth Council – recently launched in partnership with the City of Roswell, empowering the next generation of leaders.

• Backpacks for Homeless Veterans – Rotary Community Grant project to support those who have served our nation and now need our care.

Next week, Senator Saxby Chambliss will be speaking to our club.  Please remember to invite your friends and colleagues.

Sic Vos Non Vobis,

Trummie Lee Patrick III
State Farm Insurance