Projects
Rotary Big Impact Auction--first year
The inaugural Rotary Club of Thomasville Big Impact Online Auction was a rousing success, garnering proceeds of $31,000 from high-end items and creating new partnerships and broader recognition for the club's Big Impact projects. Members donated or solicited the donation of more than 50 high end auction items including vacation stays, outdoor experiences, jewelry, furniture, art, antiques, and more. Wiregrass Auction hosted our auction at no cost and the community and area participation was outstanding. The auction finale/holiday party was a dynamic social gathering for our members, spouses and friends with 90 attending. As the excitement built for the closing of online bids, Wiregrass auctioneer offered three special high end items for live bids. Total proceeds for the auction were $31,000 with net profit of more than $25,000. The auction broadened our reach into the community as businesses and individuals new to Rotary donated auction items to support the club's Big Impact projects. A valuable new partnership was formed with Wiregrass Auction and their team members.
Create Multi-faceted Plan to Engage Members
Our team ramped up member engagement activities this year, including:
New member celebrations centered around interactive activities that highlight members' special interests, careers, backgrounds;
Club assembly where directors' dynamic and fun stories successfully recruited members' commitment with "volunteer bucks" members had to spend on specific areas of service;
Vegetable Grow Bags 2x Year at Club's MonthlyFree Fresh Produce Markets
The club's Big Impact initiatives include projects aimed at improving the health and vibrancy of our community over the long term. Free Fresh Produce Markets are held each month at a local park or other venue. The Big Impact committee sources fresh vegetables, fruits, and other healthy fresh foods through Second Harvest of South Georgia as well as direct from farmers and food providers. On average 230 households representing an estimated 920 individuals receive 20 t0 30 pounds of food products at the monthly produce drops. This year, an addition to the produce markets were vegetable plants, squash in October, tomatoes in March, which were given to more than 200 households along with other seedlings, growing tips, recipes, and other information (funded in part by District 6900 Community Grant). At each of our monthly markets, participants must complete a USDA TEFAP form verifying their total household income is at or below poverty level since some food given is sourced from USDA.
Develop future leaders--add deputy directors and advisory boards
Recognizing the need to create leadership bench strength, we recruited Deputy Directors for each Director on the board as well as filling the Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary positions that had been filled. Advisory boards also were formed. The expanded board brought new ideas, energies, as well the opportunity for directors, assistants, advisory group members to better understand the organizational structure, gain leadership experience, assist key board members in carryout out their responsibilities. Success is evident in the year's accomplishments and that retiring board members have experienced deputies to step into leadership roles. This structure will benefit the club overtime, building experience leaders, depth of organizational knowledge and expertise, and a stronger and more vibrant club.Peace Poles in Thomasville & at Olmapinu Comprehensive School in Kenya
Planning with the City of Thomasville is underway as part of a major three phase restoration project for Paradise Park, which dates from the late 1800s and has significant historic relevance. Rotary will place a Peace Pole in a area within the park. Funding has been provided by a member and definitive timing for installation will established when the City has developed and approved a plan for second phase of the park renovation and the Peace Pole to be installed.
2024 World Polio Day & Related Events
The Rotary Club of Thomasville celebrated World Polio Day--October 24, 2024--with a dynamic and informative program on polio at that day's meeting. Foundation Chair Carol Jones, medical health professional retired,
Thomas University has agreed and confirmed to host and champion a new Rotaract club! Apparently, years ago, there was already an established club affiliated with Thomas University and the District was thrilled to hear we have the opportunity again. A current club member is an employee of the college and is assisting us through the process internally there with the students she teaches and coaches. There is also discussion of hosting a community based Rotaract club that makes membership and participation into service activities more accessible.
Be The Voice
In 2024-2025 the Rotary Club of Thomasville had one school participate in the Be the Voice Program. Mrs. Connie Jones, a 7th grade life sciences teacher at MacIntyre Park Middle School, championed and led the program for Thomasville City Schools. They were thrilled to receive the curriculum and we are excited to have such a committed partner for this impactful program.
Be the Voice campaign
The club's Youth Services team coordinated with City and County schools to once again implement the Be the Voice anti bullying campaign. Materials were provided to sponsors at the start of the school year and are being used in schools and with students as intended.
Character Counts
Once again, our local schools are participating in Character Counts program and members are speaking to student groups.
Character Counts- School Reading Program
Essentials/Packbags for Homeless
After becoming aware of homeless families in our community who need of essentials such as hygiene/care items and shelf stable food, the club devoted a regular meeting to put together 200 reusable pack bags with 15 useable items. Members donated all items as well as the pack bags. 45 members and guests packed the bags at the July 18 meeting. The bags were delivered over the next week to Fountain of Life homeless shelter, Thomasville Thomas County Food Bank, and other points in the community where homeless individuals and families are served. Through the year, the club has kept in touch with organizations directly serving the needs of the homeless through our members who serve as board members and volunteers for those organizations. A program was presented at a club meeting in February by the Coalition for the Homeless. In May, the club will assist the Coalition for the Homeless with its Resource Fair, which brings agencies and organizations who offer assistance, access to resources, training, and other programs to the homeless community in Thomasville and Thomas County.
Free Little Lending Libraries for Community
The club maintains a dozen Free Little Lending Libraries that the club placed 10 years ago in strategic locations throughout the community. The libraries offer members and others in the community the opportunity to share books and encourage reading. Each year the committee repairs, restores, and replenishes the little libraries on as as needed basis.
Honoring First Responders -- Our Heroes
Each year, the club hosts three cookouts for our local first responders, who are community heroes. During COVID, the club necessarily changed the lunches from full service/banquet style meals to pick up lunches, which greatly decreased club members' interaction with our first responders. This year, the committee improved the events significantly by sending an emailed invitation to the first responders being honored, expanding the menu with homemade sides and fresh vegetables, assigning members specific duties that enhanced interaction with our first responder guests. In October, we hosted a cookout for all law enforcement officers and support staff. Attending were 90 officers and staff from City Police and County Sheriff's departments and 25 members of the club. Our BBQ team grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, and committee members provided fresh buns and fixings, homemade side dishes, and freshly made desserts. Our members joined officers at the tables and enjoyed sharing the meal, getting to know them and expressing admiration and appreciation. In February, the expanded/improved heroes' lunch for first responder linemen was held at Camp Pineywoods for 45 participants with 15 members assisting. In March, 90 fire fighters and emergency service heroes were hosted for lunch at their facility with 20 members participating.
Interact Club
Olmapinu Comprehensive School Sanitation and Hygiene Project in Kenya
The main objective of the project is to improve the sanitation and hygiene for 424 students and the staff of the Olmapinu
Rotary Big Impact/United Way Golf Classic
Rotary's annual golf classic to raise funds for the club's Big Impact projects and United Way agencies was held on August 24, 2024. In the weeks prior five members solicited dozens of community sponsors and players to fill 24 teams. On the day prior and on the event day, 25 members assisted set up and managing the tournament. The golf classic raised $34,000 for United Way and an estimated $15,000 for the club's Big Impact projects. Community partners and players were informed about Rotary's impact in the community through the event--with a printed insert and messaging during the tournament.
Rotary Has Heart for Seniors September Luau
This year's Scott Senior Center Birthday sponsorship was held September 27, 2024. The Rotary Club of Thomasville provided leis, flower clips and decorations along with food, cupcakes a choice of a fruity tuitty or pina colada. We asked questions to our seniors which sparked interesting conversation (Have you been to Hawaii, what were your dreams as a teenager, what is the most important lesson you've learned in life, etc). We always enjoy our time visiting with the seniors.
Rotary Has Heart for Seniors Valentine's Party
Rotary Club of Thomasville hosted an annual Valentine's Party at Scott Senior Center for 50 participants. At this year's event, seniors were given items they requested and Rotary members or community members purchased as a Valentine's gift. Club members grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch, served with all the fixings and homemade desserts. Entertainment was provided by Hands and Hearts for Horses as they brought their pony to share. Volunteers from Thomas University and Florida State University assisted in the fun activities of serving our area seniors. District Governor Gordon Owens was our special guest host at the event.Second Harvest Pack and Sort Monthly Service
On the third Thursday of every month, Rotary Club of Thomasville hosts its meeting at Second Harvest of South Georgia to pack and sort produce and other foods for the club's free fresh produce markets or to assist Second Harvest with other needs. Second Harvest is co-sponsor of the club's monthly free fresh produce markets, providing sourcing expertise, donation of a large portion of food items, coordination, warehouse cold storage, meeting space, transportation and staffing support.
September Coat/Blanket Drive
The club's annual drive to collect gently used coats and cash donations for the purchase of coats and blankets was conducted in September 2024. All coats and cash collected are donated the Thomas County Food Bank, which provides coats to more than 1000 individuals from late October through early November each year. Our club has been supporting this effort for 20+ years.
Students of the Month Honored
Outstanding students are chosen each month by Thomasville's three school districts--City, County, and Private schools. Each month, students being honored are invited to a regular club meeting with a teacher and their parents. Students are introduced, asked to present about their academic, extracurricular, and community involvement and what their plans are after graduation. Students are presented with a certificate and recognized with photos on social media.
Tax Aide Saves Local Retirees Estimated $234,000 this year
Tax-Aid is delivered through a partnership of the IRS, Volunteers in Tax Assistance, Rotary Club of Thomasville, Thomas County Library, Envision Credit Union, Thomas University and community volunteers. It provides free tax preparation to individuals whose income is from pensions and/or Social Security.
Touching Base
Touching Base was launched in July 2025 to encourage members to connect with individuals in their lives who may live in isolation or need regular contact. Family members, friends, and neighbors are potential participants, especially widowed or single or disabled indiviuals. This is a mental health initiative and members are receiving appreciation from individuals they are touching base with at the time and frequency each individual prefers.