Newsletter

Price Increases

To account for increasing costs, the price for lunch for guests has increased from $15 to $20 each, beginning at our first March meeting this year at the Plaza. Lunch for guests has been $15 since 2022, but our costs for lunch have increased incrementally over that time.  

Additionally, international and district Rotary fees have increased, but the Thomasville club has not increased dues since 2015. The board of directors is considering a dues increase to accommodate these higher dues and higher costs of living.

District Learning Assembly
Discover the Future of Rotary

Make plans now to attend the District Learning Assembly (formerly District Training Assembly).

This assembly is designed for current and incoming club leaders, committee chairs, and all Rotarians who want to strengthen their clubs and increase their impact. Connect, grow, and lead with your fellow Rotarians! Topics include:

• Rotary’s Action Plan, Membership, Public Image, Service Projects, Club Administration, and the Rotary Foundation
• Comprehensive Leadership Training
• Community Service Project Insights and Template

You need to register and attend this assembly if you will be an officer or director in 2026-2027. The Thomasville club will reimburse the fees for any of our members who attend. Some of our club members will travel to Columbus on Friday evening, and some will leave early Saturday morning. Carpooling can be arranged. 

Hotel Recommendation
Hampton Inn Columbus Downtown
1201 Broadway Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901, 706-507-4204

Thursday, March 12
TU President Kurt Stringfellow

Kurt Stringfellow will be our guest speaker at this week's Rotary meeting. Kurt has been a long-time member of the team at Thomas University and recently was named president of the university. He'll provide an update about TU, its students, and its impact on the Thomasville community. 

Remember: Regular club meetings are at the Plaza again, beginning with the first meeting of March. See you there!

Tuesday, March 17
Heroes Cookout: Police and Sheriff's Department

Rotary will host a cookout honoring local police and sheriff's department personnel – heroes of our community – Tuesday, March 17. That's St. Patrick's Day, so be sure to put on your green and come on out to support our police and sheriff's department personnel. 

The BBQ will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jail Justice Center on Smith Avenue. Rotarians who are not involved in cooking need to arrive by 11 a.m.

Wednesday, March 18
Coffee Chat

Join us Wednesday, March 18 at Grassroots Coffee anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. for a cup of coffee and a casual conversation with fellow Rotarians! Stay long enough to enjoy breakfast and get to know your fellow Rotarians better or grab your coffee to go. No agenda, no program. 

Thursday, March 19 and Saturday, March 21
Sort, Pack & Distribute Fresh Produce

The club will meet on Thursday, March 19 at 11:30 a.m. at Second Harvest Food Bank to pack food boxes for this month's fresh produce distribution. After we finish packing, enjoy a box lunch with the team or grab one to go. Please join us!

We'll distribute our fresh produce boxes on Saturday, March 21 at Weston Park. Set-up begins at 7:30 a.m., and distribution begins at 8:30 a.m. or as soon as we are ready. This month, our distribution will include tomato plants in grow bags, so we'll need all hands on deck to help. Please join us. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or trying it out for the first time, we’d love to see you there. Bring your energy, your smile, and maybe a friend or two!

Volunteer: Saturday, March 21
Thomasville Ritz Music Festival

Volunteers are needed for the Thomasville R.E.A.D. Foundation and Rotary Club of Thomasville's inaugural Thomasville Ritz Music Festival on Saturday, March 21. All volunteers will receive free entrance to the festival. Volunteer slots are available in two-hour segments and all volunteer jobs are simple: 

• Band Attendant
• Check in at Hubs & Hops
• Check in at VIP
• Check in at Jackson St.
• Drink/Raffle Ticket at Hubs & Hobs
• Drink/Raffle Ticket at Jackson St.
• Patio at T'Velo
• Unvacant Lot Security

Come volunteer with friends and enjoy a fun music festival!

The Ritz Music Festival will feature an incredible variety of music performances – country, R&B, country rock, pop, southern soul funk, and music from some of the best DJs in the Southeast – and proceeds will power R.E.A.D's literacy initiatives and support other life-changing programs and partnerships for children in K-12 schools in our community.

To become a sponsor or for more information about the festival, contact Stephan Thompson (404.488.2761). To volunteer, contact Angela Williamson (229.977.2657) or sign up here.

GRSP Update

This year's  deadline to contribute to the GRSP Foundation – and keep our club in position to potentially win the Jake Cheatham Award for the 17th consecutive year at District Conference in April – is March 18. Please get your donations in now so that our club can get our final donation of the year submitted in time.  To make a donation: Write a check to GRSP and either give it to a board member at the check-in table at a club meeting or mail it to Thomasville Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1277, Thomasville, GA 31799.

Additionally, GRSP will be the focus of our Thursday, March 26 meeting, with Dr. Czaky, the son of a first-generation GRSP student as our guest speaker. He'll share interesting recollections and talk about how GRSP shaped his family.

Then, on Friday, March 27, Thomasville will host the Larry Frosteg Pelham International Student Weekend luncheon at Pebble Hill. There will be 40-50 international students at Pebble Hill for lunch that day and last year's group raved about their lunch with local Rotarians during their busy four-day weekend in the area. Please join us for lunch that day so that we can pair more Rotarians with smaller groups of students and see GRSP in action.  

Questions: Contact Debbie Goodman at dgoodman@116dawson.com or (229) 227-8249.