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February 4, 2025

Thursday, Feb. 6
Fellowship and Fun

Angela Williamson will lead an interactive program to help build friendships and fellowship. You’ll discover many of our members have surprising experiences, lineage, hobbies, talents and abilities.

(Rescheduled) Thursday, Feb. 13
Thomas County's Homeless Population

President-elect Nate Tyler and special guests will give us an update on the homeless population in Thomas County and the organizations that work together to support that population.

  • Thomas County CARES (Community Awareness Reaching & Equipping the Streets) helps the homeless and less fortunate in Thomas County obtain a better quality of life to become productive members of society. In 2024, Thomas County CARES provided more than 11,000 manna bags, blessing boxes and Street Feed plates to the hungry and food insecure and nearly 100 tents and sleeping bags to the unsheltered.
  • Fountain of Life Rescue Shelter operates as an emergency shelter and saw a 62% increase in beds filled in 2024 over 2023. In addition to its regular schedule, Fountain of Life opens every night that the temperature falls below freezing.

Learn more about both of these organizations and how you can support their missions to improve the quality of life for those less fortunate in our community.

Friday, Feb. 14
Rotarians Have Heart for Seniors

Join us for a day of fun as we honor our seniors at the Scott Senior Center. We'll have games and shower them with gifts. Look for hearts at TNB or Rotary to help buy gifts. 

To join in the festivities with your fellow Rotarians and District Governor Gordon Owens, contact Angela Williamson to sign up.

Rotary Youth Exchange Student
Ivan Santoya to Study Abroad


Ivan Correa Santoyo (above with French teacher Kelly Arno), a sophomore at Thomas County Central High School, has been selected as a Rotary Youth Exchange student and will study abroad in France for the 2025-2026 academic year. This is the first time Rotary Club of Thomasville has ever sponsored a Rotary Youth Exchange high school student for study abroad!

Fifteen-year-old Ivan exemplifies leadership, service and scholarship, as evidenced by his selection as one of just six students from District 6900 to experience life as an exchange student. Throughout the nine-month academic year, he’ll live with three different host families, learning about various customs, traditions and lifestyles in France and honing his French language skills. While he’s abroad, his family will help host a student from France.

Ivan maintains a 4.0 GPA, has participated in the MERIT program since sixth grade, and has also been involved in a variety of organizations, including Scouts, Science Academy, Spanish Club, the Stock Market Game, National Junior Honor Society, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, Debate Club, Youth Assembly, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and KEY Club. He also is a year-round swimmer with the YMCA and volunteers with Hands on Thomas County (HOTC), Project Backyard, Hands and Hearts for Horses, and Thomasville Rotary Club. Ivan’s interests in geopolitics and finances fuel his aspiration to become a political analyst.

As Ivan looks forward to his new experience, he encouraged his fellow classmates to dive head first into opportunities to see the world and grow from new cultures. “This is going to be a great eye-opener,” he said. “It is going to change lives and it’s a great experience to have. I’m so thankful to the local and (district) Rotary Club.”

Read more in the Thomasville Times-Enterprise.

Upcoming Events
Mark Your Calendar

Plan your next few weeks with Rotary, at a glance! 

  • Thursday, Feb. 6: Fellowship and Fun + Blood Drive
  • Thursday, Feb. 6: Wine or Whine
    Drop in at the Plaza between 5:30 and 7 p.m. for casual conversation with fellow Rotarians, spouses and potential new members. 
  • Monday, Feb. 10: Board meeting at Chamber of Commerce at 5:15 p.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 13: Thomas County's Homeless Population 
  • Thursday, Feb. 13: Meet District Governor Gordon Owens and his wife, Ashley, at T'velo for drinks and appetizers. RSVP.
  • Friday, Feb. 14: Rotarians Have Heart for Seniors
  • Wednesday, Feb. 19: Coffee Chat
    No agenda, no timeline. Grab coffee to go or sit and chat with fellow Rotarians at Grassroots Coffee anytime between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 20: Pack & Sort Produce
    Meet at 11:30 a.m. at Second Harvest Food Bank
  • Saturday, Feb. 22: Free Produce Market at Weston Park
  • Tuesday, Feb. 25: Honoring our Heroes and First Responders
    At Camp Pineywoods – Contact Barbara Williams-Anderson for more details.
  • Thursday, Feb. 27: Thomasville Antiques Show

Find the Rotary calendar anytime:
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