Club Stories
ShelterBox
President Surendra introduced our guest speaker, Mr. Danny Broyles, District Governor Nominee Designate. Danny is also an ambassador for the ShelterBox program. A check oof $1000 was presented to ShelerBoxas a sponsor from the Rotary Club of Augusta.
Danny shared that ShelterBox was formed in 2000 in Cornwall, England. It is not a Rotary program; however, it was founded by Rotarians and is an endorsed effort to help around the world.
So far, ShelterBox has helped with 300 disasters, affecting 100 countries and over 2 million people. The kits are customized based on the needs of the area. Most include a tent for shelter, a water filtration system, clothes, and solar powered lighting.
Danny challenged the club members to help ShelterBox by doing the following things.
- Telling others, talking about the program to raise awareness
- Make a personal gift
- Become a HERO Club by donating at the following levels:
- Bronze $1000, Silver $3000, Gold $5000
- Host a ShelterBox Fundraiser
- Taking on a challenge for ShelterBox
- Becoming an ambassador, like Danny
Three New Members George Daniel, Angie Cox and Hunter Roberson were inducted in the Club meeting during the month of March 2025.
Human Trafficking – Beverly Trainer, DGE 2024-25
Kelly Knitter, Assistant District Governor and Augusta West Rotary member, introduced our guest speaker, Ms. Beverly Trainer. Beverly will be District Governor for the 2026-2027 Rotary year. She joined our club today to discuss a topic that is extremely important to her and our area, sex trafficking.
She shared that Rotary has formed the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery to help raise awareness for and fight against this terrible activity. Sex trafficking is a $150 billion annual business and it is estimated 40.3 million people worldwide are enslaved. Trafficking includes labor, sex, organs trafficking, child soldiering, and child marriage.
Beverly shared many informative statistics about sex trafficking but perhaps the most disturbing was that Richmond County has the second highest number of cases in the state. This is not an Atlanta problem, but a statewide issue.
To help fight against this abuse, there will be two training classes offered March 28-29. One will be for law enforcement, educators, hospitals/first responders, and hospitality staff to teach them how to recognize victims of sex trafficking. The second will be for parents and children and will share information from industry experts and survivor testimonials.
Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI)
RLI Traing was conducted on Saturday March 8th in Augusta, Ga in Summerville Campus.
- Thanks to Brenda and Zach for initiating and persuading the District Sunshine Division to host RLI Training in Augusta, Georgia.
- 21 Rotarians from South GA participated.
- District DGE, DGEN, Past DG, Past Presidents also attended the training.
- Brenda, Zach and Dat from our club attended the training.
- I was invited to observe the presentations of the Trainers.
- Augusta University venue was liked by everyone.
Visit from the District 6920 Governor,
Todd Freesemenn on February 10, 2025.
Area Governor Kelly Kittner introduced our guest speaker, Mr. Todd Freesemann, District Governor for District 6920. Mr. Freesemann has 21 years of service with Rotary following a distinguished 30-year career in the Army and Air Force. He also currently serves as a Deputy Sheriff in Chatham County and is a Will Watt Fellow and a Paul Harris Fellow +8.
Todd shared with the club that District 6920 includes 2700 Rotarians from 59 clubs across the eastern and southern parts of the state down to I-95 and up to Macon. We are part of a worldwide organization made up of 40,000 clubs and 1.4 million members.
His area of focus during his time as District Governor is for clubs to focus on peace building and conflict resolution. He asked that we all try to build peace within ourselves, that we take care of ourselves and that we try to de-escalate conflict within our club and our communities.
He stated that membership is our number one priority as all clubs needed to focus on growing their numbers to replace members who retire or withdraw from the club.
Todd had a meeting one hours earlier with the Board Members and exchanged thoughts on membership, variety of clubs formation and weakness and strengths of our club. He thanked the President and the Board to manage a large club. He was well versed with the bragg sheet prepared by the club president.
Todd also award Paul Harris Fellow Pins to William Keogh (PHF +5)and Surendra Gupta (PHF+7)
Women’s Empowerment Day
In recognition of International Women’s Day March 8, President Surendra listed traits of successful women and shared the five traits that all powerful female leaders have in common. He said they are quick to empower other women in the workplace; emotionally intelligent; fueled by a strong vision and sense of purpose; risk-takers and extraordinarily resilient.
Angie Cox, President and CEO of Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce shared her thoughts on empowering women. Angie shared that her middle school basketball coach, Coach Strickland, made a lasting impression on her by putting Angie in the team’s starting lineup and refusing to let her quit the team, despite Angie being frustrated that she struggled with basic basketball skills. Angie ultimately stood her ground against a very aggressive opponent, which gave her confidence, and a technical foul! Angie said Coach Strickland’s encouragement taught her to be resilient and comfortable in her own skin. Through her experiences then and since as a female leader, she said that you may not always be the best in what you endeavor, but you will grow from, “showing up, stepping up and volunteering to go where others have not gone before.”
Brad Usry, Chairman of the New Arena Committee
Augusta Richmond County Coliseum Authority
Thank you to Brad Usry, Chairman of the New Arena Committee for the Augusta Richmond County Coliseum Authority, for speaking with us today. He shared a project update with us about the new arena. He also addressed about inclusion of Augusta Hockey.
Georgia and Augusta Economy Outlook at Marriott – January 7, 2025
Georgia Economic Outlook was started by Surendra Gupta, President of Rotatory Club of Augusta, Georgia in the Rotary Format with the pledge and invocation at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. Dr. Jerome Whirl introduced the speakers.
Benjamin Ayers, Dean of the Terry College of Business, UGA told an audience of about 200 people at the that there will be “slightly more economic growth” but it will be strong enough to anticipate “a positive year” in 2025.
According to the printed report, several high-profile economic development deals, “the U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Eisenhower, and commercial operation of two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle are major positives for Augusta’s economy.”
“I view this as a good-news forecast for the state of Georgia,” Ayers said. “We are predicting a slowdown, but not much, and we’re expecting a growth rate that will continue to be
Angie Cox, executive director of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that the chamber welcomed more than 175 new members, suggesting an increase in businesses in 2024 mirrors a slight rise in the Augusta area population. More people are moving to Augusta to work in cybersecurity and health care, two labor sectors that drive the area’s economy.
“Positive net migration is expanding our labor force here in Augusta, ensuring that talent is available for growth, and that population gain obviously increases our demand here in Augusta for housing, for health care and for other consumer-facing industries,” Cox said.
In 2024, several companies made the choice to move operations to Augusta or to expand their current facilities.
Dynamic Consulting
Katie Wynn has been facilitating workshops in personnel and team effectiveness for the last 20 years. She was born and raised in Augusta but started her career in Seattle where she was living with her husband Rob Wynn, Founder of Wynn Capital, who served in the Navy as an officer on a US Submarine. She has worked with Uber, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, TaxSlayer Marketing Team, Meybohm Marketing Team, Heritage Academy, Aurubis, and AU Development Team. She is an expert in the Insights Color Energy Tool, Enneagram, and Situational Leadership. She is mostly a lifelong student in what makes people, teams and organizations thrive.
Retired General Perry Smith as a Program Speaker
January 6, 2025
Retired Major General Perry Smith, for speaking to our club. Major Smith served over 30 years in the Air Force and is the author of “Courage, Compassion, Marine” and “Rules and Tools for Leaders”. He spoke about current world affairs on January 6, 2024.
Rotary Club of Augusta Christmas Party December 16, 2024
Rotary Club of Augusta had a Christmas Party at the Fat Man Restaurant meeting room on December 16, 2024, club meeting. A special meal was served to all the Rotarians and guests. Milli Huff, Erin Armstrong and Susan Jernigan decorated 10 tables with Christmas decorations.
The meeting started with Pledge and Invocation. Gould Hagler talked to 2 children about Christmas during his sunshine report. The president invited Milli and Erin to take over the podium to conduct the Christmas Party Program. They introduce Santa Clause. A trivia game was played for 15 minutes, and the winners won the gifts. Everybody sang three Christmas songs along with Millie and Erin. The piano was played by Joe.
In addition, the president gifted the club flag to our guest Jeff Jowdy from Nashville Club.
DR Lauren Bingham – Program Speaker
Henry Holt introduced our guest speaker, Dr. Lauren Bingham. Dr. Bingham is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. She is also the Director of the Psychosocial Oncology Service at the Georgia Cancer Center. As a licensed psychologist, she provides support and therapy for patients and families undergoing treatment at the Georgia Cancer Center. She spoke to the club about the state of mental health care services in Georgia and stressed the opportunity for improvement and how our club can help the community. She shared that Georgia is the seventh most stressed state in the U.S. due to factors related to financial concerns, family matters, and health-related stressors. She shared what to look out for in yourself and others and how to be an advocate for mental healthcare. She also provided resources to assist individuals or others during a crisis or to seek mental healthcare services through counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists.
Welcome To GRSP Student Kaushini Pathirana
Welcome Reception for the GSRP Student Kaushini Pathirana at the Susan Jernigan's house in July 2021. Many members of the GRSP committee attended the Reception.
Hamsa Thota, DG, Presented Paul Harris Fellow Pins to Rotarians 2021
$10000 Donation to the RIP Ministries
Preparation of Packages by Rotarians for Salvation Army Center of Hope
Passing of Gavel from Dustin Young to Shanda Vaughn 2021
Support Education
•Goal: Support Education
•$2,840 in supplies purchased
•Partner with Richmond County Schools
•5 members stuffed backpacks and delivered supplies to schools