USA Map Service Project PaintingThe date has been set for Saturday, February 9th to paint the USA Map at Garrison-Pilcher school. 8a - 2p We need 10-12 volunteers to assist in this project. All it takes is a willing heart. Supplies will be provided. The map will be located on the courts to the right of the school's circular driveway. Let Susan O'Neal know if you can join in on the fun for the day. 
Have you signed up for
Character CountsWe have opportunities available in February for you to spend some time with the youth of our community. Character Counts is a program in which Rotarians discuss six Character Pillars with before and after student evaluations for fifty students at The Vashti Center, Marguerite Neel Williams Boys and Girls Club, the Thomasville Community Resource Center and the Thomasville City Schools' Scott Elementary School. Each month focuses on a different character trait. Two Rotarians meet with the students to discuss how the trait of the month has impacted their personal and professional lives. The students are then involved in a discussion about how this trait could apply in their lives and the difference it could make. See Laine Reichert or email her with your interest. reichertl@tcitys.org 
This Week's Program
Sharon Edwards with SPARK ThomasvilleFINANCIAL EDUCATION AND CREDIT COUNSELOR Mrs. Edwards’ passion is helping people start businesses. She has more than 25 years’ experience managing and operating a business and helping others navigate through the rigorous task of starting their own business. She is the facilitator of SPARK Thomasville and works with a team of local entrepreneurs and supporters to help those in the under-estimated community start and grow their businesses from concept to full operation. For the first Cohort, Spark Thomasville received 23 applications, interviewed 18 participants, and 13 were selected for the Pilot Class, which started on Tuesday, January 15, 2018. The ultimate goal of Spark Thomasville is to equip new business owners with the tools necessary to become successful and create economic viability. HOUSING COUNSELOR Sharon D Edwards is an affordable housing counselor and financial education specialist with extensive experience in budgeting, money management, credit counseling, and loan packaging. She has obtained more than 15 certification in housing and homeownership counseling from NeighborWorks Training Institute; and is a Certified Loan Packager for USDA. Her non-profit organization, Community Outreach Training Center, Inc., is a Comprehensive Housing Counseling Agency dedicated to providing homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention, and housing counseling services to Southwest Georgia residents. The purpose of her program is to support other non-profit housing organizations to expand affordable housing opportunities to low to moderated income citizens. She has served as a certified housing counselor for nearly five years providing a variety of services to support homebuyers, tenants, and homeowners in maintaining their housing. Her organization has provided Homebuyer Education for more than 200 clients between 2017- 2018; and have assisted ten families with successfully obtaining a home loan. In 2018, 21 permits were pulled for new residential builds in the City of Thomasville and 5 of those recipients were clients Community Outreach Training Center. In addition to working with clients and preparing them for homeownership, she serves as the Chair for the Southwest Georgia Regional Housing Task Force and Chairs the Thomasville Thomas County Homeless Coalition. She also hosts an Annual Housing Forum and facilitates Credit Building workshops throughout Southwest Georgia. She is also a part of the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH). 
ABC's of RotaryDefinition of Rotary How do you describe the organization called "Rotary"? There are so many characteristics of a Rotary club as well as the activities of a million Rotarians. There are the features of service, internationality, fellowship, classifications of each vocation, development of goodwill and world understanding, the emphasis of high ethical standards, concern for other people and many more. In 1976 the Rotary International Board of Directors was interested in creating a concise definition of the fundamental aspects of Rotary. They turned to the three men who were then serving on Rotary's Public Relations Committee and requested that a one-sentence definition of Rotary be prepared. After numerous drafts, the committee presented this definition, which has been used ever since in various Rotary publications: "Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.' Those 31 words are worth remembering when someone asks, "What is a Rotary club?" RLI has come and gone with SUCCESS!
We had 35 registered to attend...only 29 attended? We had a blast!Part 1: Cameron Jahnke, Carlton Bryant, Debbie Goodman, Hinson Arwood, Barbara Anderson, Doris Yokley, Joe Tarver, Mike Stephenson, Philip Leabo, Trent Reynolds, Walter Marria, Morgan Bailey, Elijah Miranda, Matt Brown and newly approved member Dawna Bicknell Tanner.
Part 2: Angela Williamson, Arlen Yokley, Howard Stephens and Janet Liles 
Graduate: Ben Wilds, Carol Jones, Jeff Zoller, Joe Brown, John Brown, Kim Walden, Rick Piper, Teri White & Terry Rouse.
Discussion Leader Part 1: Andre' Marria and her club members that stayed around for the Rotary Club of Thomasville photo shoot. 
The Rotary FoundationThe Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
During the past 100 years, the Foundation has spent $3 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world. Our missionThe mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. Why should I donate to The Rotary Foundation?Your donation makes a difference to those who need our help most. More than 90 percent of donations go directly to supporting our service projects around the world. How does The Rotary Foundation use donations?Our 35,000 clubs carry out sustainable service projects that support our six causes. With donations like yours, we’ve wiped out 99.9 percent of all polio cases. Your donation also trains future peacemakers, supports clean water, and strengthens local economies. What impact can one donation have?It can save a life. A child can be protected from polio with as little as 60 cents. Our partners make your donation go even further. For every $1 Rotary commits to polio eradication, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $2. The club will pay for "FIRST TIMERS"
District Conference-April 25-28thHave you ever been to District Conference? We have GREAT news! At this time we have 14 Rotarians and 2 spouses. The Board has voted to pay REGISTRATION for first timers. (You pay for your hotel and you will be reimbursed by Thursday, April 18th .) This year there is an Adult Big Wheel contest, an airshow, fishing tournament, and a club dinner at Emeril's restaurant Saturday night. Not to mention, great speakers, great shopping, golf, and the beach. PLUS, the time spent with our club members really helps us get to know each other better and strengthen friendships. The dates are April 25-28th, 2019 in Sandestin, FL. Please let us know if you would like to join in on this great conference.
Come learn about our club during
Fireside ChatOn Tuesday, February 19th, Teri will host our Fireside Chat at her Barn. 900 Clyde Griffin Road, Thomasville 5:45p - 7:30p Join the fun, fellowship with new members, food, and great discussion. 
From the President Andre's Desk
Thank you for our program last week
Alan Carson, New City Manager for the City of Thomasville
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